S-4
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2012

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1531   58-2086934
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary standard industrial
classification code number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260, Atlanta, Georgia 30328

(770) 829-3700

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of Registrants’ principal executive offices)

 

 

Kenneth F. Khoury

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

(770) 829-3700

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: The offering of the securities will commence promptly following the filing of the Registration Statement. No tendered securities will be accepted for exchange until after this Registration Statement has been declared effective.

If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.    ¨

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

  Large accelerated filer    ¨   Accelerated filer   x
  Non-accelerated filer    ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company   ¨

If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)    ¨

Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)    ¨

 

 

 


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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
  Amount to be
Registered(1)
  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share(2)
  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(2)
  Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

 

27,898,740

  $3.63  

$101,272,462.20

 

$11,605.82

 

(1) This Registration Statement registers the maximum number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, that may be issued in connection with the exchange offers by the Registrant for any and all of the Registrant’s outstanding 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2013 and any and all of the Registrant’s outstanding 7.25% Tangible Equity Units.
(2) The registration fee has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(f)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proposed maximum offering price is estimated solely for purpose of calculating the registration fee.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated February 13, 2012

 

BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.

 

LOGO

 

Offers To Exchange Common Stock of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. for

Any and All of its Outstanding 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2013

and

Any and All of its Outstanding 7.25% Tangible Equity Units

Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus

 

 

 

Beazer Homes USA, Inc., or the Company, hereby offers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and the accompanying letters of transmittal, to exchange newly issued shares of its common stock, $0.001 par value per share, or Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, if any, for (i) any and all of its outstanding 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2013, or the Notes, and (ii) any and all of its outstanding 7.25% Tangible Equity Units, or the Units. The offer to exchange the Notes (the “Notes exchange offer”) and the offer to exchange the Units (the “Units exchange offer” and together with the Notes exchange offer, the “exchange offers”) are two separate and distinct offers and neither offer is conditioned upon the consummation of the other offer or on any minimum aggregate principal amount of Notes or aggregate number of Units being tendered. The Notes and the Units are sometimes referred to collectively as the “Subject Securities.”

 

Each of the exchange offers will expire at 12:00 a.m., New York City time, March 12, 2012, unless either exchange offer is extended or earlier terminated by the Company. You may withdraw Subject Securities tendered in either exchange offer at any time prior to the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer. You should carefully review the procedures for tendering Subject Securities beginning on page 34.

 

Pursuant to the Notes exchange offer, holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their Notes will receive, for each $25 principal amount of Notes, 5.7348 shares of Common Stock. On January 15, 2013, which is the mandatory conversion date of the Notes, holders may be entitled to a maximum of 5.4348 shares per Note depending on the trading price of our Common Stock at such time. Accordingly, the Notes exchange offer allows tendering holders to receive the maximum number of shares of Common Stock they could receive on the mandatory conversion date, plus an additional 0.30 shares of Common Stock (the “premium”). Holders who tender their Notes in the Notes exchange offer will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest.

 

Pursuant to the Units exchange offer, holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their Units will receive, for each Unit, 4.9029 shares of Common Stock. Each Unit is comprised of a prepaid stock purchase contract and a senior amortizing note. As of February 13, 2012, each amortizing note had a remaining principal amount of $2.96. On August 15, 2013, the maturity date, each purchase contract will automatically settle for a maximum of 4.3029 shares of our Common Stock depending on the trading price of our Common Stock at such time. Accordingly, the Units exchange offer allows tendering holders to receive the maximum number of shares of Common Stock they could receive at maturity, plus an additional 0.60 shares of Common Stock. Holders who tender their Units in the Units exchange offer will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest on the amortizing notes that comprise a part of their tendered Units.

 

As of February 13, 2012, $57.5 million aggregate principal amount of Notes was outstanding and 3,000,000 Units were outstanding. The Notes are listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “BZMD.” The Units are listed for trading on the NYSE under the symbol “BZU.” Our Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “BZH.” The closing price of our Common Stock on February 10, 2012 was $3.63 per share. We expect the shares of Common Stock offered by this prospectus to be listed on the NYSE.

 

Consummation of each of the exchange offers is subject to the conditions described in “The Exchange Offers — Conditions of the Exchange Offers.” The exchange offers are not conditioned on any minimum amount of Subject Securities being tendered.

 

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 for a discussion of factors you should consider in evaluating each of the exchange offers.

 

 

 

You must make your own decision whether to tender Subject Securities in the exchange offers, and, if so, the amount of Subject Securities to tender. Neither we, the dealer managers, the information agent, the exchange agent, nor any other person is making any recommendation as to whether or not you should tender your Subject Securities for exchange in either of the exchange offers.

 

We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The dealer managers for each of the exchange offers are:

 

Citi                          Credit Suisse

 

The date of this prospectus is February     , 2012.

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     iii   

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     iii   

SUMMARY

     1   

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     8   

RISK FACTORS

     10   

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE EXCHANGE OFFERS

     15   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     22   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     23   

MARKET PRICES OF COMMON STOCK, NOTES AND UNITS AND DIVIDEND POLICY

     24   

CAPITALIZATION

     25   

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     26   

CERTAIN UNAUDITED PRO FORMA SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     28   

THE EXCHANGE OFFERS

     29   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     40   

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     46   

INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     52   

LEGAL MATTERS

     53   

EXPERTS

     53   

 

 

 

IMPORTANT

 

As used in this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Beazer Homes USA, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

All the Subject Securities were issued in book-entry form, and all the Subject Securities are currently represented by one or more global certificates held for the account of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC.

 

Should you have any questions as to the procedures for tendering your Subject Securities, please call your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, or call the information agent at its telephone number set forth on the back cover page of this prospectus.

 

You may tender your Subject Securities by transferring the Subject Securities through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, or following the other procedures described under “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities.”

 

We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures and therefore you must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of DTC on or prior to the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer. If you hold your Subject Securities through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should consider that such entity may require you to take action with respect to the exchange offers a number of days before the applicable expiration date in order for such entity to tender Subject Securities on your behalf on or prior to the applicable expiration date.

 

We are incorporating by reference into this prospectus important business and financial information that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus. This information is available without charge to security holders upon written or oral request. Requests should be directed to Beazer Homes USA, Inc., Attn: Secretary, 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Telephone: (770) 829-3700 or at our website at www.beazer.com. In order to ensure timely delivery of such documents, security holders must request this information promptly. Accordingly, any request for documents should be made as soon as possible to ensure timely delivery of the documents prior to the applicable expiration date of each of the exchange offers.

 

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You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The Company has not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. The Company is not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of the date appearing on the front cover of this prospectus or the date of the document incorporated by reference only, as applicable. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such applicable date.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. You may obtain these materials from us at no cost by writing or telephoning us at Beazer Homes USA, Inc., Attn: Secretary, 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, Telephone: (770) 829-3700 or at our website at www.beazer.com. In order to ensure timely delivery of such documents, security holders must request this information promptly. Accordingly, any request for documents should be made as soon as possible to ensure timely delivery of the documents prior to the applicable expiration date of each of the exchange offers. Except for the documents described below, information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In addition, the SEC maintains a web site, http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, including the Company, that file electronically with the SEC.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about the Company from documents filed with the SEC that are not included in or delivered with this prospectus. We “incorporate by reference” important information by referring you to another document we filed separately with the SEC. This means that the information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, unless superseded by information included in this prospectus or by information in subsequently filed documents that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus.

 

Specifically, we incorporate herein by reference the documents set forth below:

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011;

 

   

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011;

 

   

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on November 22, 2011 and February 8, 2012;

 

   

Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on December 22, 2011;

 

   

The description of the Notes, at pages S-28 to S-44 of our prospectus supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) on January 7, 2010;

 

   

The description of the Units, including the description of the purchase contracts and the description of the amortizing notes that comprise a part of the Units, at pages S-30 to S-52 of our prospectus supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) on May 5, 2010; and

 

   

The description of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act filed on January 28, 1994, and any subsequently filed amendments and reports updating such description.

 

In addition, we also incorporate by reference into this prospectus all documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, from the date of this prospectus to the date that the exchange offers are completed (or the date that the exchange offers are terminated).

 

Unless specifically stated to the contrary, none of the information that we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 (or information disclosed in Item 9.01 to the extent it relates to Items 2.02 or 7.01) of any Current Report on Form 8-K that we may from time to time furnish to the SEC will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus.

 

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference herein (excluding exhibits) as described above under “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

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SUMMARY

 

The following summary contains basic information about each of the exchange offers. It is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Because this is a summary, it may not contain all the information you should consider before deciding whether to participate in either of the exchange offers. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the section titled “Risk Factors,” before making an investment decision. In addition, certain statements include forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

 

We are a geographically diversified homebuilder with active operations in 16 states. Our homes are designed to appeal to homeowners at various price points across various demographic segments and are generally offered for sale in advance of their construction. Our objective is to provide our customers with homes that incorporate exceptional value and quality while seeking to maximize our return on invested capital over time.

 

We are a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, telephone (770) 829-3700.

 

 

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The Exchange Offers

 

We have summarized the material terms of each of the exchange offers below. Before you decide whether to tender your Subject Securities in the applicable exchange offer, you should read the entire prospectus, including the detailed descriptions under the headings “The Exchange Offers” and “Risk Factors.”

 

Offeror

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

 

Securities Subject to the Exchange Offers

Any and all of our outstanding 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2013 and any and all of our outstanding 7.25% Tangible Equity Units. As of the date of this offer to purchase, $57.5 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is outstanding and 3,000,000 Units are outstanding.

 

  On January 15, 2013, the mandatory conversion date of the Notes, holders may be entitled to a maximum of 5.4348 shares per Note depending on the trading price of our Common Stock at such time (the “maximum conversion rate”). The Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.50% per annum paid quarterly on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year until maturity. On January 15, 2013, the maturity date of the Notes, the Notes automatically convert into shares of Common Stock based on the conversion rates described therein. In addition to the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes at maturity, holders of Notes have the right to receive an amount in cash equal to all accrued and unpaid interest on their Notes up to but excluding the maturity date.

 

  Each Unit is comprised of two parts:

 

      •     a prepaid stock purchase contract; and

 

      •     a senior amortizing note.

 

  As of February 13, 2012, each amortizing note had a remaining principal amount of $2.96. On August 15, 2013, the mandatory settlement date of the Units, each purchase contract would automatically settle for a maximum of 4.3029 shares of Common Stock depending on the trading price of our Common Stock at such time.

 

  Each amortizing note had an initial principal amount of $5.246, bears interest at the rate of 7.00% per annum and will have a scheduled final installment payment date on the mandatory settlement date. On each August 15, November 15, February 15 and May 15 until settlement, we pay equal installments of $0.453125 on each amortizing note. Each installment constitutes a payment of interest and a partial repayment of principal.

 

The Exchange Offers

The Company is offering, upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and the accompanying letters

 

 

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of transmittal, to exchange shares of Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock for any and all of its outstanding Notes and Units.

 

  Pursuant to the Notes exchange offer, holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their Notes prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date will receive 5.7348 shares of Common Stock for each $25 principal amount of Notes. Holders who tender their Notes in the Notes exchange offer will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest on tendered Notes.

 

  The Notes exchange offer allows tendering holders to receive the maximum number of shares of Common Stock they could receive on the mandatory conversion date, plus an additional 0.30 shares of Common Stock.

 

  Pursuant to the Units exchange offer, holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their Units prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date will receive for each Unit 4.9029 shares of Common Stock.

 

The Units exchange offer allows tendering holders to receive the maximum number of shares of Common Stock they could receive upon settlement of a purchase contract at maturity, plus an additional 0.60 shares of Common Stock.

 

Holders who tender their Units in the Units exchange offer will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest on the amortizing notes that comprise a part of their tendered Units.

 

  No fractional shares of Common Stock will be paid to holders of the Subject Securities in connection with the exchange offers. The Company’s transfer agent will aggregate all fractional shares and will sell them as soon as practicable after the settlement date at the then prevailing prices on the open market on behalf of those tendering holders who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share. We expect that the transfer agent will conduct the sale in an orderly fashion at market prices and that it may take at least several days to sell all of the aggregated fractional shares of our common stock. After the transfer agent’s completion of such sales, tendering holders will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the transfer agent in an amount equal to their respective pro rata share of the total net proceeds of the transfer agent’s sales.

 

  The Company will accept for exchange all Subject Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and the accompanying letters of transmittal.

 

  As of the date of this prospectus, all of the Subject Securities are registered in the name of Cede & Co., which holds the Subject Securities for DTC participants. See “The Exchange Offers — Terms of the Notes Exchange Offer” and “The Exchange Offers — Terms of the Units Exchange Offer.”

 

 

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Conditions of the Exchange Offers

Among other conditions, the exchange offers are conditioned upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, contemplated or threatened by the SEC and the other closing conditions described in “The Exchange Offers — Conditions of the Exchange Offers.” The exchange offers are not conditioned on any minimum amount of Subject Securities being tendered. Except as to the requirements that the registration statement be declared effective by the SEC and there be no stop orders suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, which the Company will not waive, the Company may waive the conditions to either of the exchange offers in its sole and absolute discretion. See “The Exchange Offers — Conditions of the Exchange Offers.”

 

Purpose of the Exchange Offers

The purpose of the exchange offers is to exchange any and all outstanding Subject Securities for Common Stock in order to reduce our indebtedness and ongoing interest expense.

 

Accrued and Unpaid Interest

As described under “— The Exchange Offers” above, security holders participating in the exchange offers will forgo accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes and the amortizing notes that comprise a part of the Units.

 

Expiration Date

The expiration date for each of the Notes exchange offer and the Units exchange offer will be 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on March 12, 2012, or the expiration date, unless extended or earlier terminated by the Company. The Company may extend the expiration date for either exchange offer for any reason in its sole and absolute discretion. If the Company decides to extend an expiration date, it will announce any extension by press release or other public announcement no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the scheduled expiration date of the applicable exchange offer. See “The Exchange Offers — Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments.”

 

  If a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee holds your Subject Securities, such nominee may have an earlier deadline for accepting the offer. You should promptly contact the broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee that holds your Subject Securities to determine its deadline.

 

Settlement Date

The settlement date in respect of any Subject Securities that are validly tendered prior to the applicable expiration date is expected to be promptly following such expiration date and is anticipated to be March 14, 2012 for each exchange offer. See “The Exchange Offers — Settlement Date.”

 

 

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Termination of the Exchange Offers

The Company reserves the right to terminate either or both of the exchange offers at any time prior to the completion of such exchange offer in its sole and absolute discretion if any of the conditions under “The Exchange Offers — Conditions of the Exchange Offers” have not been satisfied. See “The Exchange Offers — Termination of the Exchange Offers.”

 

Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities

Holders of Subject Securities desiring to accept either of the exchange offers must tender their Subject Securities through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP. A security holder who wishes to tender its Subject Securities must either deliver an Agent’s Message or sign and return the applicable letter of transmittal, including all other documents required by the applicable letter of transmittal, as described under “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities.” We are not providing for tenders of Subject Securities by guaranteed delivery procedures. See “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities.”

 

  If your Subject Securities are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should contact that registered holder promptly and instruct him, her or it to tender your Subject Securities on your behalf.

 

  You are urged to instruct your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee as soon as possible in order to allow adequate processing time for your instruction.

 

  WE ARE NOT PROVIDING FOR GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES AND THEREFORE YOU MUST ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE NECESSARY TENDER PROCEDURES TO BE COMPLETED DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS OF DTC PRIOR TO THE APPLICABLE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

Acceptance of Subject Securities and Delivery of Common Stock

The Company will, subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus, accept all Subject Securities that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date. The shares of Common Stock issued as part of the exchange offers will be delivered promptly after the Company accepts the Subject Securities. See “The Exchange Offers — Acceptance of Subject Securities for Exchange; Delivery of Common Stock.”

 

Withdrawal Rights

Holders may withdraw the Subject Securities they have tendered at any time prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date. See “The Exchange Offers — Withdrawal Rights.”

 

 

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Consequences of Failure to Exchange Subject Securities

Subject Securities not exchanged in the exchange offers will remain outstanding after consummation of the applicable exchange offer and will continue to accrue any interest in accordance with their terms. Following completion of, and as a result of, the exchange offers, the trading market for the remaining outstanding Subject Securities may be less liquid and the Subject Securities may no longer be listed on the NYSE. See “Risk Factors — The liquidity of any trading market that currently exists for the Subject Securities may be adversely affected by the exchange offers, and holders of the Subject Securities who fail to tender their Subject Securities may find it more difficult to sell their Subject Securities.”

 

  Holders of Subject Securities that remain outstanding will continue to have the same rights under the Subject Securities as they are entitled to today.

 

Use of Proceeds

The Company will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offers.

 

Risk Factors

You should carefully consider in its entirety all of the information set forth in this prospectus, as well as the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and, in particular the section entitled “Risk Factors,” before deciding whether to participate in either of the exchange offers.

 

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

For a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of the offer, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” You should consult your own tax advisor for a full understanding of the tax consequences of participating in either of the exchange offers.

 

Market Price and Trading

On February 10, 2012, the closing price for our Common Stock on the NYSE was $3.63 per share, the closing price for the Notes on the NYSE was $19.00 per Note and the closing price for the Units on the NYSE was $16.50 per Unit. The Notes are currently traded on the NYSE under the symbol “BZMD.” The Units are currently traded on the NYSE under the symbol “BZU.” We expect the shares of our Common Stock offered by this prospectus to be listed on the NYSE under the symbol “BZH” prior to the settlement of the applicable exchange offer.

 

Brokerage Commissions

No brokerage commissions are payable by the holders of the Subject Securities to the dealer managers, the information agent, the exchange agent or us. If your Subject Securities are held through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who tenders the Subject Securities on your behalf, such nominee may charge you a commission for doing so. You should consult with your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.

 

 

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Dealer Managers

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC are the dealer managers for each of the exchange offers.

 

Exchange Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the exchange agent for each of the exchange offers.

 

Information Agent

D.F. King & Co., Inc. is the information agent for each of the exchange offers.

 

Fees and Expenses

The Company will pay all fees and expenses it incurs in connection with each of the exchange offers. See “The Exchange Offers — Fees and Expenses.”

 

Appraisal Rights

Holders who do not tender their Subject Securities pursuant to the exchange offers will have no appraisal rights under applicable state law or otherwise.

 

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the terms of the exchange offers, please contact the dealer managers. If you have questions regarding the procedures for tendering Subject Securities in the exchange offers, please contact the exchange agent. If you have any other questions or requests for assistance, or requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the accompanying letters of transmittal, please contact the information agent. The contact information for the dealer managers, the exchange agent and the information agent is located on the back cover of this prospectus.

 

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

We have made statements in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein that are not historical in nature and constitute forward-looking statements. These statements generally are accompanied by words such as “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” “will,” “should,” “would” or similar statements. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, are inherently uncertain, are subject to risks and should be viewed with caution. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

   

the final outcome of various putative class action lawsuits, multi-party suits and similar proceedings as well as the results of any other litigation or government proceedings and fulfillment of the obligations in the deferred prosecution agreement and consent orders with governmental authorities and other settlement agreements;

 

   

additional asset impairment charges or writedowns;

 

   

economic changes nationally or in local markets, including changes in consumer confidence, declines in employment levels, volatility of mortgage interest rates and inflation;

 

   

the effect of changes in lending guidelines and regulations;

 

   

a slower economic rebound than anticipated, coupled with persistently high unemployment and additional foreclosures;

 

   

continued or increased downturn in the homebuilding industry;

 

   

estimates related to homes to be delivered in the future (backlog) are imprecise as they are subject to various cancellation risks which cannot be fully controlled;

 

   

continued or increased disruption in the availability of mortgage financing or number of foreclosures in the market;

 

   

our cost of and ability to access capital and otherwise meet our ongoing liquidity needs including the impact of any downgrades of our credit ratings or reductions in our tangible net worth or liquidity levels;

 

   

potential inability to comply with covenants in our debt agreements or satisfy such obligations through repayment or refinancing;

 

   

increased competition or delays in reacting to changing consumer preference in home design;

 

   

shortages of or increased prices for labor, land or raw materials used in housing production;

 

   

factors affecting margins such as decreased land values underlying land option agreements, increased land development costs on communities under development or delays or difficulties in implementing initiatives to reduce production and overhead cost structure;

 

   

the performance of our joint ventures and our joint venture partners;

 

   

the impact of construction defect and home warranty claims including those related to possible installation of drywall imported from China;

 

   

the cost and availability of insurance and surety bonds;

 

   

delays in land development or home construction resulting from adverse weather conditions;

 

   

potential delays or increased costs in obtaining necessary permits as a result of changes to, or complying with, laws, regulations, or governmental policies and possible penalties for failure to comply with such laws, regulations and governmental policies;

 

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potential exposure related to additional repurchase claims on mortgages and loans originated by Beazer Mortgage Corporation;

 

   

estimates related to the potential recoverability of our deferred tax assets;

 

   

effects of changes in accounting policies, standards, guidelines or principles;

 

   

terrorist acts, acts of war and other factors over which the Company has little or no control; and

 

   

those matters listed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011.

 

It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement or disclose any facts, events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Any investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 and elsewhere in our reports filed with the SEC before making an investment decision. Our results of operations, financial condition and business prospects could be harmed by any of these risks. This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks faced by us described below and elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Risks Related to the Exchange Offers

 

Upon consummation of the applicable exchange offer, holders who tender their Subject Securities will lose their rights under the Subject Securities, including, without limitation, rights to future interest and automatic conversion at maturity with respect to the Notes and rights to future principal and interest payments on the amortizing notes and settlement of the purchase contracts with respect to the Units, and rights as a creditor of the Company.

 

If you tender your Subject Securities pursuant to the applicable exchange offer, you will be giving up all of your rights as a noteholder or unitholder, as applicable, including, without limitation, as applicable, rights to future payments of interest on the Notes and the automatic conversion of the Notes at maturity and rights to future principal and interest payments on the amortizing notes and settlement of the purchase contracts with respect to the Units, and you will cease to be a creditor of the Company. You also will be giving up the right to convert your Subject Securities in accordance with their terms and the right to adjustments in the conversion or settlement rate, as applicable, for the Subject Securities in the event the Company pays dividends or engages in certain other transactions.

 

The liquidity of any trading market that currently exists for the Subject Securities may be adversely affected by the exchange offers, and holders of the Subject Securities who fail to tender their Subject Securities may find it more difficult to sell their Subject Securities.

 

If a significant percentage of the Subject Securities are exchanged in the exchange offers, the liquidity of the trading market for the Subject Securities, if any, after the completion of the exchange offers may be substantially reduced. Any Subject Securities exchanged will reduce the amount of Subject Securities outstanding. As a result, the Subject Securities may trade at a discount to the price at which they would trade if the applicable exchange offer was not consummated, subject to prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. The smaller outstanding amount of the Subject Securities may also make the trading prices of the Subject Securities more volatile. If the exchange offers are consummated, there might not be an active market in the Subject Securities and the absence of an active market could adversely affect your ability to trade the Subject Securities or the prices at which the Subject Securities may be traded. In addition, the NYSE will consider de-listing any outstanding Notes if, following the Notes exchange offer, the aggregate principal amount of publicly-held outstanding Notes is less than $2.5 million (such amount representing 100,000 tradable units of Notes in $25 denominations), the number of holders of outstanding Notes is less than 100, the aggregate market value of the outstanding Notes is less than $1 million, or for any other reason based on the suitability for the continued listing of the outstanding Notes in light of all pertinent facts as determined by the NYSE. The NYSE will consider de-listing any outstanding Units if, following the Units exchange offer, the number of publicly-held outstanding Units is less than 100,000, the number of holders of outstanding Units is less than 100, the aggregate market value of outstanding Units is less than $1 million, or for any other reason based on the suitability for the continued listing of the outstanding Units in light of all pertinent facts as determined by the NYSE. We do not intend to reduce the number of Subject Securities accepted in either of the exchange offers to prevent the de-listing of the Subject Securities from the NYSE.

 

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Following the exchange offers, we may repurchase additional Notes or Units that remain outstanding, and the terms of such repurchases may be more or less favorable than the exchange offers.

 

Following completion of each of the exchange offers, we may repurchase additional Notes or Units that remain outstanding in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Future purchases of Notes or Units that remain outstanding after the exchange offers may be on terms that are more or less favorable than the exchange offers. However, Exchange Act Rule 14e-5 and 13e-4 generally prohibit us and our affiliates from purchasing any Notes or Units other than pursuant to the applicable exchange offer until 10 business days after the expiration date of such exchange offer, although there are some exceptions. Future purchases, if any, will depend on many factors, which include market conditions and the condition of our business.

 

The Company has not made a recommendation with regard to whether or not you should tender your Subject Securities in either of the exchange offers, and the Company has not obtained a third-party determination that the exchange offers are fair to the holders of the Subject Securities.

 

None of the Company, the dealer managers, the information agent, or the exchange agent is making a recommendation as to whether holders of the Subject Securities should exchange their Subject Securities pursuant to either of the exchange offers. The Company has not retained and does not intend to retain any unaffiliated third party representative to act solely on behalf of the holders of the Subject Securities for purposes of negotiating the terms of these offers and/or preparing a report concerning the fairness of these offers. You must make your own independent decision regarding your participation in the exchange offers based upon your own assessment of the market value of the Subject Securities, the likely value of the Common Stock you will receive, your liquidity needs and your investment objectives.

 

The failure to timely complete the exchange offers successfully could negatively affect the market price of the Common Stock and the trading price of the Subject Securities.

 

Several conditions must be satisfied or waived before we may complete the exchange offers, including that no material adverse change to our business, operations, properties, condition, assets, liabilities, prospects or financial affairs occurs prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date. In addition, to the extent permitted by law, we reserve the right to extend either or both of the exchange offers in our sole discretion. If either or both of the exchange offers is not timely completed, the market price of the Common Stock and the trading price of the Notes or Units, as applicable, may decline to the extent that such prices reflect the assumption that the applicable exchange offer will be completed on the scheduled expiration date. In addition, to the extent that we extend either or both of the exchange offers, many of the risks described elsewhere in these “Risks Related to the Exchange Offers” may be exacerbated.

 

The tax benefits of our net operating loss carryforwards and any future recognized built-in losses in our assets will be substantially limited if we experience an “ownership change” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code in connection with the exchange offers.

 

Based on recent impairments and our current financial performance, over the past few years we have generated and are currently carrying forward certain net operating losses and could possibly generate additional net operating losses in future years. In addition, we believe we have significant “built-in losses” in our assets (i.e. an excess tax basis over current fair market value) that may result in tax losses as such assets are sold. Net operating losses generally may be carried forward for a 20-year period to offset future earnings and reduce our federal income tax liability. Built-in losses, if and when recognized, generally will result in tax losses that may then be deducted or carried forward. However, if we experience an “ownership change” under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, our ability to realize these tax benefits may be significantly limited.

 

Section 382 contains rules that limit the ability of a company that undergoes an “ownership change,” which is generally defined as any change in ownership of more than 50% of its common stock over a three-year period, to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards and certain built-in losses or deductions, as of the ownership change

 

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date, that are recognized during the five-year period after the ownership change. These rules generally operate by focusing on changes in the ownership among shareholders owning, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the company’s common stock (including changes involving a shareholder becoming a 5% shareholder) or any change in ownership arising from a new issuance of stock or share repurchases by the company.

 

If the exchange offers result in an “ownership change” for purposes of Section 382, our ability to use certain of our net operating loss carryforwards and recognize certain built-in losses or deductions would be limited by Section 382. Based on the resulting limitation, a significant portion of our net operating loss carryforwards and any future recognized built-in losses or deductions could expire before we would be able to use them. Our inability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and any future recognized built-in losses or deductions could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Risks Related to the Common Stock

 

Our stock price is volatile and could further decline, which could result in substantial losses for stockholders.

 

The securities markets in general and our Common Stock in particular have experienced significant price and volume volatility over the past few years. The market price and volume of our Common Stock may continue to experience significant fluctuations due not only to general stock market conditions but also to a change in sentiment in the market regarding our industry, operations or business prospects. In addition to the other risk factors discussed in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, the price and volume volatility of our Common Stock may be affected by:

 

   

operating results that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors;

 

   

factors influencing home purchases, such as availability of home mortgage loans and interest rates, credit criteria applicable to prospective borrowers, ability to sell existing residences, and homebuyer sentiment in general;

 

   

the operating and securities price performance of companies that investors consider comparable to us;

 

   

announcements of strategic developments, acquisitions and other material events by us or our competitors; and

 

   

changes in global financial markets and global economies and general market conditions, such as interest rates, commodity and equity prices and the value of financial assets.

 

We cannot assure you that the market price of the Common Stock will not fluctuate or decline significantly in the future. In addition, the stock market in general can experience considerable price and volume fluctuations that may be unrelated to our performance.

 

Future sales of shares of Common Stock may depress the market price of the Common Stock.

 

Any sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock by us or our stockholders in the public market following the settlement of each of the exchange offers, or the perception that such sales might occur, may cause the market price of the Common Stock to decline following the settlement of the exchange offers. For example, if holders who tendered their Subject Securities for exchange immediately sell the shares of Common Stock they receive upon exchange, the price of the Common Stock may decline substantially soon after the settlement of the exchange offers. In addition, sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock by our stockholders before the settlement of the exchange offers, or the perception that such sales may occur, may reduce the value of the shares of Common Stock that we will deliver to holders who tender their Subject Securities for exchange.

 

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The Company may issue additional shares that may cause dilution and may depress the market price of the Common Stock.

 

The Company may issue additional shares of Common Stock or preferred stock in connection with future equity offerings or acquisitions of other companies or their assets. In addition, we may issue shares of preferred stock that have preference rights over the Common Stock with respect to dividends, liquidation, voting and other matters. The issuance of additional Common Stock could be substantially dilutive to your shares received in the exchange offers and may depress the market price of the Common Stock. The issuance of shares of preferred stock that have preference rights over the Common Stock may depress the price of the Common Stock.

 

All of our debt obligations will have priority over our Common Stock with respect to payment in the event of a liquidation or bankruptcy.

 

The shares of Common Stock that you receive in the exchange offers will not provide you with any priority on claims or any degree of protection to which holders of debt claims, such as the Notes or the Units, are entitled. If the Company were to file for bankruptcy, creditors, including any holders of the Subject Securities, would generally be entitled to be paid prior to holders of Common Stock. As a holder of Common Stock, however, your investment will be subordinate to debt claims against the Company and to all of the risks and liabilities affecting the Company’s and its operating subsidiaries’ operations. As a result, if the Company were to file for bankruptcy before the maturity date of the Notes or the settlement date of the Units, a holder that decides not to tender its Subject Securities in the applicable exchange offer might receive greater value than a holder that decides to tender its Subject Securities in the applicable exchange offer. In addition, because the market price of the Common Stock that you would receive in exchange for your Subject Securities could decline as a result of various factors, including the results of operations, financial condition and business prospects of the Company, in the future the value of Common Stock that you receive in exchange for any Subject Securities that you tender may be less than the principal amount of your tendered Subject Securities.

 

Future offerings of debt securities, which would be senior to the Common Stock in liquidation, or equity securities, which would dilute our existing stockholders’ interests and may be senior to the Common Stock for the purposes of distributions, may depress the market price of the Common Stock.

 

In the future, we may seek to access the capital markets from time to time by making additional offerings of debt and/or equity securities, including commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes, convertible debt, preferred stock or Common Stock. We are not precluded by the terms of our organizational documents from issuing additional debt or equity securities. Accordingly, we could become more highly leveraged, resulting in an increase in debt service that could harm our ability to make distributions to stockholders and in an increased risk of default on our obligations. If we were to liquidate, holders of our debt and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets before the holders of Common Stock. Additional equity offerings by us may dilute your interest in us or reduce the market price of your shares of Common Stock, or both. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Further, market conditions could require us to accept less favorable terms for the issuance of our securities in the future. Thus, you will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of your shares of Common Stock and diluting your interest in us.

 

We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

 

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, earnings and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Effective November 2, 2007, our board of directors suspended payment of quarterly dividends. The board concluded that suspending dividends, which allows us to conserve approximately $16 million of cash annually, was a prudent effort in light of the continued deterioration

 

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in the housing market. In addition, the indentures under which our senior notes were issued contain certain restrictive covenants, including limitations on payment of dividends. At December 31, 2011, under the most restrictive covenants of each indenture, none of our retained earnings was available for cash dividends. Hence, there were no dividends paid in the first three months of fiscal 2012 or in fiscal 2011. The agreements governing our current and future indebtedness may not permit us to pay dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

 

Provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the agreements governing our indebtedness and Delaware law may discourage a takeover attempt even if doing so might be beneficial to our stockholders.

 

Provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws could impose impediments to the ability of a third party to acquire us even if a change of control would be beneficial to you. Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws impose various procedural and other requirements, which could make it more difficult for stockholders to effect certain corporate actions. For example, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of unissued series of preferred stock, without any vote or action by our stockholders. Thus, our board of directors can authorize and issue shares of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting or other rights of holders of our Common Stock. We are also subject to provisions of Delaware law that prohibit us from engaging in any business combination with any “interested stockholder,” meaning, generally, that a stockholder who beneficially owns more than 15% of our stock cannot acquire us for a period of three years from the date this person became an interested stockholder unless various conditions are met, such as approval of the transaction by our board of directors. These provisions may have the effect of delaying or deterring a change of control of the Company, and could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our Common Stock. See “Description of Capital Stock” herein.

 

Non-U.S. Holders who receive our Common Stock in the exchange offers and who own, or in certain cases have owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Common Stock will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the disposition of such stock.

 

Because we have significant U.S. real estate holdings, we believe that we may currently be or become a “United States real property holding corporation” (USRPHC) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a “non-U.S. holder” (as defined in Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Non-U.S. Holders”) will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on a sale or other disposition of our Common Stock received in the exchange offers if such non-U.S. holder has owned, actually or constructively, more than 5% of our Common Stock at any time during the shorter of (a) the five-year period ending on the date of disposition and (b) the non-U.S. holder’s holding period in such stock. Non-U.S. holders who may own, or may have owned, directly or constructively, more than 5% of our Common Stock should consult their own U.S. income tax advisors concerning the consequences of disposing of such stock.

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE EXCHANGE OFFERS

 

These answers to questions that you may have as a holder of our Notes or Units are highlights of selected information included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. To fully understand the exchange offers and the other considerations that may be important to your decision whether to participate in either of them, you should carefully read this prospectus in its entirety, including the section entitled “Risk Factors,” as well as the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference.” For further information about us, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

Why are we making the exchange offers?

 

We are making the exchange offers in order to reduce our indebtedness and ongoing interest expense.

 

What aggregate principal amount of Subject Securities is being sought in the exchange offers?

 

We are offering shares of Common Stock in exchange for any and all of our outstanding Notes and any and all of our outstanding Units. As of the date of this prospectus, $57.5 million aggregate principal amount of Notes is outstanding and 3,000,000 Units are outstanding.

 

What will I receive in the exchange offers if I tender my Subject Securities and they are accepted?

 

For each $25 principal amount of Notes that you validly tender and we accept for exchange pursuant to the Notes exchange offer, you will receive 5.7348 shares of Common Stock, which includes a premium of 0.30 shares over the maximum conversion rate of the Notes. You will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest for any tendered Notes. See “The Exchange Offers — Terms of the Notes Exchange Offer.”

 

For each Unit that you validly tender and we accept for exchange pursuant to the Units exchange offer, you will receive 4.9029 shares of Common Stock, which includes a premium of 0.60 shares of Common Stock over the maximum number of shares of Common Stock a holder of Units could receive upon settlement of a purchase contract at maturity. You will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest for the amortizing notes that comprise a part of any tendered Units. See “The Exchange Offers — Terms of the Units Exchange Offer.”

 

No fractional shares of Common Stock will be paid to holders of Subject Securities in connection with the exchange offers. The Company’s transfer agent will aggregate all fractional shares and will sell them as soon as practicable after the settlement date at the then prevailing prices on the open market on behalf of those tendering holders who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share. See “The Exchange Offers — Fractional Shares.”

 

Your right to receive the consideration in each of the exchange offers is subject to all of the conditions set forth in this prospectus and the accompanying letters of transmittal.

 

How does the consideration I will receive, if I exchange my Subject Securities in the exchange offers, compare to the payments I would receive on the Subject Securities if I do not exchange now?

 

If you do not tender Notes for exchange pursuant to the Notes exchange offer, you will continue to receive interest payments at an annual rate of 7.50%. Interest payments are made quarterly on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year until January 15, 2013, or until such earlier time as you convert your Notes. You will have the right to receive the shares of Common Stock upon the automatic conversion of your Notes on January 15, 2013 and the option to require us to purchase Notes on certain fundamental changes. You will also continue to have the right to convert your Notes, subject to certain conditions, and the right to an adjustment of the conversion rate on certain events. On January 15, 2013, holders may be entitled to a maximum of 5.4348 shares per Note depending on the trading price of our Common Stock at such time.

 

If you do not tender Units for exchange pursuant to the Units exchange offer, you will continue to have the right to settlement on the purchase contracts that comprise a part of the Units and to receive installment payments on the amortizing notes that comprise a part of the Units. As of February 13, 2012, each amortizing note had a remaining principal amount of $2.96. On the mandatory settlement date, each purchase contract would

 

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automatically settle for a maximum of 4.3029 shares of our Common Stock depending on the trading price of our Common Stock at such time. Each amortizing note had an initial principal amount of $5.246, bears interest at the rate of 7.00% per annum and will have a scheduled final installment payment date on the mandatory settlement date. On each August 15, November 15, February 15 and May 15 until settlement, we pay equal installments of $0.453125 on each amortizing note. Each installment constitutes a payment of interest and a partial repayment of principal.

 

See “Documents Incorporated By Reference” and “Where You Can Find Additional Information” in this prospectus for information as to where you can find a complete description of the Notes and the Units.

 

If, however, you participate in either of the exchange offers, you will receive the consideration described above in “— What will I receive in the exchange offers if I tender my Subject Securities and they are accepted?” in lieu of any future payments on the Notes or Units.

 

What other rights will I lose if I exchange my Subject Securities in either of the exchange offers?

 

If you validly tender your Subject Securities and we accept them for exchange, you will lose the rights of a holder of the Notes and/or Units, as applicable. For example, with respect to the Notes, you would lose the right to receive quarterly interest payments and the automatic conversion of the Notes upon maturity and, with respect to the Units, you would lose the right to receive principal and interest payments on the amortizing note and settlement of the purchase contracts. You will also be giving up the right to convert your Subject Securities in accordance with their terms and the right to adjustments in the conversion or settlement rate, as applicable, for the Subject Securities in the event the Company pays dividends or engages in certain other transactions. You would also lose your rights as our creditor.

 

May I exchange only a portion of the Notes or Units that I hold?

 

Yes. You do not have to exchange all of your Notes or Units to participate in either of the exchange offers. However, you may only tender Notes for exchange in integral multiples of $25 principal amount of Notes and you may only tender whole Units.

 

If I hold both Notes and Units, am I required to participate in both exchange offers to be able to participate in either exchange offer?

 

No. Each exchange offer is a separate and distinct offer and participation in one exchange offer is not conditioned upon participation in the other exchange offer. You may tender all, a portion or none of your Notes and/or you may tender all, a portion or none of your Units. If you choose to tender all or a portion of your Notes, you are not required to tender all or any portion of your Units and vice versa.

 

If the exchange offers are consummated and I do not participate in either of the exchange offers or I do not exchange all of my Subject Securities in the exchange offers, how will my rights and obligations under my remaining outstanding Subject Securities be affected?

 

The terms of your Subject Securities, if any, that remain outstanding after the consummation of the exchange offers will not change as a result of the exchange offers. However, if a sufficiently large aggregate principal amount of Notes or number of Units does not remain outstanding after either of the exchange offers, the trading market for the remaining outstanding principal amount of Notes or Units may be less liquid.

 

What do you intend to do with the Subject Securities that are tendered and accepted by you in the exchange offers?

 

Subject Securities accepted for exchange by us in each of the exchange offers will be retired and cancelled.

 

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What happens if some or all of my Subject Securities are not accepted for exchange?

 

If we decide not to accept some or all of your Subject Securities because of invalid tender, the occurrence of the other events set forth in this prospectus or otherwise, the Subject Securities not accepted by us will be returned to you, at our expense, promptly after the expiration or termination of the applicable exchange offer by book-entry transfer into an account with DTC specified by you.

 

Are you making a recommendation regarding whether I should participate in the exchange offers?

 

Neither the Company, the dealer managers, the information agent nor the exchange agent are making any recommendation regarding whether you should tender or refrain from tendering your Subject Securities for exchange in either of the exchange offers. Accordingly, you must make your own determination as to whether to tender your Subject Securities for exchange in either of the exchange offers and, if so, the amount of Subject Securities to tender. Before making your decision, we urge you to read this prospectus carefully in its entirety, including the information set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

Will the Common Stock to be issued in the exchange offers be freely tradable?

 

Yes. Our Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “BZH,” and we expect the shares of our Common Stock to be issued in the exchange offers to be approved for listing on the NYSE under the symbol “BZH” prior to the settlement of the applicable exchange offer. Generally, the Common Stock you receive in either of the exchange offers will be freely tradable, unless you are considered an “affiliate” of ours, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. For more information regarding the market for our Common Stock, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Market Prices of Common Stock, Notes and Units and Dividend Policy.”

 

What are the conditions to the exchange offers?

 

Each of the exchange offers is conditioned upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and the other closing conditions described in “The Exchange Offers — Conditions of the Exchange Offers.” Except as to the requirements that the registration statement be declared effective by the SEC and that there be no stop orders suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, which we will not waive, we may waive all of the conditions to either of the exchange offers in our sole and absolute discretion.

 

How will fluctuations in the trading price of the Common Stock affect the consideration offered to holders of Notes or Units?

 

If the market price of our Common Stock declines, the market value of the shares of Common Stock you would receive in the exchange for your Notes or Units will also decline. However, the number of shares of Common Stock you would receive in either of the exchange offers will not vary based on the trading price of the Common Stock. The trading price of the Common Stock could fluctuate depending upon any number of factors, including those specific to us and those that influence the trading prices of equity securities generally. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Common Stock — Our stock price is volatile and could further decline, which could result in substantial losses for stockholders.”

 

When do the exchange offers expire?

 

Each of the exchange offers will expire at 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on March 12, 2012, unless either is extended or earlier terminated by us.

 

Under what circumstances can the exchange offers be extended, amended or terminated?

 

We expressly reserve the right to extend either or both of the exchange offers in our sole and absolute discretion. We also expressly reserve the right to amend the terms of either of the exchange offers in any manner

 

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which would not adversely affect holders of the Notes or Units, as applicable. Further, we may be required by law to extend either or both of the exchange offers if we make a material change in the terms of such exchange offer or in the information contained in this prospectus or waive a material condition to such exchange offer. During any extension of an exchange offer, Subject Securities that were previously tendered for exchange and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the applicable exchange offer. We reserve the right, in our sole and absolute discretion, to terminate an exchange offer at any time prior to completion of the exchange offer if any conditions to such exchange offer have not been satisfied. If an exchange offer is terminated, no Notes or Units, as applicable, will be accepted for exchange and any Notes or Units, as applicable, that have been tendered for exchange will be returned to the holder promptly after the termination. For more information regarding our right to extend, amend or terminate the exchange offers, see the sections of this prospectus entitled “The Exchange Offers — Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments” and “— Termination of the Exchange Offers.”

 

How will I be notified if either of the exchange offers is extended or amended?

 

We will issue a press release or otherwise publicly announce any extension or amendment of either of the exchange offers. In the case of an extension, we will promptly make a public announcement by issuing a press release no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date of the applicable exchange offer.

 

What if not enough Subject Securities are tendered?

 

Neither of the exchange offers is conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of Subject Securities being tendered. If less than all of the Subject Securities are validly tendered, all Subject Securities properly tendered will be accepted and the exchange offer consideration per $25 principal amount of Notes or per Unit will be paid to all tendering holders, as applicable, unless we terminate the applicable exchange offer.

 

What risks should I consider in deciding whether or not to tender my Subject Securities?

 

In deciding whether to participate in either of the exchange offers, you should carefully consider the discussion of risks and uncertainties affecting our business, the Subject Securities and the Common Stock that are described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

What is the impact of the exchange offers to the Company’s earnings per share?

 

The Company’s earnings per share (“EPS”) subsequent to the consummation of the exchange offer will be impacted by (1) the incremental increase in weighted average shares outstanding (a maximum increase of 27.9 million shares), (2) a decrease in pre-tax interest expense and (3) a non-recurring debt extinguishment charge (estimated at $2.2 million, assuming a Common Stock price of $2.48 per share as of December 31, 2011). See “Certain Unaudited Pro Forma Selected Financial Data” for pro forma EPS, excluding the impact of the non-recurring debt extinguishment charge, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 and the three months ended December 31, 2011.

 

How many shares of the Company’s Common Stock will be outstanding assuming exchange of all of the Subject Securities for Common Stock pursuant to these exchange offers?

 

As of December 31, 2011, there were 76,406,697 shares of our Common Stock outstanding. If all of the outstanding Subject Securities are tendered and accepted for exchange in accordance with these exchange offers, there would be an aggregate of approximately 104,305,437 shares of our Common Stock outstanding.

 

What are the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of my participating in the exchange offers?

 

Please see the section of this prospectus entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” You should consult your own tax advisor for a full understanding of the tax considerations of participating in either of the exchange offers.

 

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How will the exchange offers affect the trading market for the Subject Securities that are not exchanged?

 

If a significant percentage of the Subject Securities are exchanged in the applicable exchange offer, the liquidity of the trading market, if any, for the Subject Securities after the completion of the exchange offers may be substantially reduced. Any Subject Securities exchanged will reduce the aggregate principal amount of Subject Securities outstanding. As a result, the Subject Securities may trade at a discount to the price at which they would trade if the applicable exchange offer was not consummated, subject to prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. The smaller outstanding amount of the Subject Securities may also make the trading prices of the Subject Securities more volatile. If the exchange offers are consummated, there might not be an active market in the Notes or Units, as applicable, and the absence of an active market could adversely affect your ability to trade the Notes or Units or the prices at which the Notes or Units may be traded. In addition, the NYSE will consider de-listing any outstanding Notes if, following the Notes exchange offer, the aggregate principal amount of outstanding publicly-held Notes is less than $2.5 million (such amount representing 100,000 tradable units of Notes in $25 denominations), the number of holders of outstanding Notes is less than 100, the aggregate market value of the outstanding Notes is less than $1 million, or for any other reason based on the suitability for the continued listing of the outstanding Notes in light of all pertinent facts as determined by the NYSE. The NYSE will consider de-listing any outstanding Units if, following the Units exchange offer, the number of publicly-held outstanding Units is less than 100,000, the number of holders of outstanding Units is less than 100, the aggregate market value of outstanding Units is less than $1 million, or for any other reason based on the suitability for the continued listing of the outstanding Units in light of all pertinent facts as determined by the NYSE. We do not intend to reduce the number of Subject Securities accepted in either of the exchange offers to prevent the de-listing of the Subject Securities from the NYSE.

 

Are our financial condition and results of operations relevant to your decision to tender your Subject Securities for exchange in either of the exchange offers?

 

Yes. The price of our Common Stock, the Notes and the Units are closely linked to our financial condition and results of operations. For information about our financial condition and results of operations, see the sections of this prospectus entitled “Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges,” “Capitalization,” “Selected Financial Data” and “Certain Unaudited Pro Forma Selected Financial Data” and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For information about the accounting treatment of the exchange offers, see the section of this prospectus entitled “The Exchange Offers — Accounting Treatment.”

 

Are any Subject Securities held by our directors or officers?

 

Two of our executive officers beneficially hold an aggregate amount of 1,560 Units and 1,467 Notes. Our President and Chief Executive Officer, Allan P. Merrill, holds 1,000 Units and 1,000 Notes and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Robert L. Salomon, holds 560 Units and 467 Notes. Our executive officers have advised us that they intend to tender all their Subject Securities in the exchange offers (including Subject Securities they are deemed to beneficially own). As a result, our executive officers will cease to own any Subject Securities. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Interests of Directors and Officers.”

 

Will we receive any cash proceeds from the exchange offers?

 

No. We will not receive any cash proceeds from either of the exchange offers.

 

How do I tender Subject Securities for exchange in the exchange offers?

 

Holders of Subject Securities desiring to accept either of the exchange offers must tender their Subject Securities through DTC’s ATOP. A security holder who wishes to tender its Notes or Units must either deliver an

 

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Agent’s Message or sign and return the applicable letter of transmittal, including all other documents required by such letter of transmittal, as described under “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities.”

 

Until when may I withdraw Subject Securities previously tendered for exchange?

 

Holders may withdraw Subject Securities that were previously tendered for exchange at any time until 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer, which will be March 12, 2012 unless extended or earlier terminated by us. For more information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “The Exchange Offers — Withdrawal Rights.”

 

How do I withdraw Subject Securities previously tendered for exchange in the exchange offers?

 

For a withdrawal to be effective, the exchange agent must receive a computer generated notice of withdrawal, transmitted by DTC on behalf of the holder in accordance with the standard operating procedure of DTC or a written notice of withdrawal, before 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date. For more information regarding the procedures for withdrawing Subject Securities, see the section of this prospectus entitled “The Exchange Offers — Withdrawal Rights.”

 

What must I do to participate if my Subject Securities are held of record by a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee?

 

If you wish to tender your Subject Securities and they are held of record by a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you should contact such entity promptly and instruct it to tender Subject Securities on your behalf.

 

You are urged to instruct your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee as soon as possible in order to allow adequate processing time for your instruction.

 

Should you have any questions as to the procedures for tendering your Subject Securities, please call your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, or call the exchange agent, at its telephone number set forth on the back cover page of this prospectus.

 

WE ARE NOT PROVIDING FOR GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES AND THEREFORE YOU MUST ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE NECESSARY TENDER PROCEDURES TO BE COMPLETED DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS OF DTC ON OR PRIOR TO THE APPLICABLE EXPIRATION DATE. IF YOU HOLD YOUR SUBJECT SECURITIES THROUGH A BROKER, DEALER, COMMERCIAL BANK, TRUST COMPANY OR OTHER NOMINEE, YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT SUCH ENTITY MAY REQUIRE YOU TO TAKE ACTION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER A NUMBER OF DAYS BEFORE THE APPLICABLE EXPIRATION DATE IN ORDER FOR SUCH ENTITY TO TENDER SECURITIES ON YOUR BEHALF ON OR PRIOR TO SUCH EXPIRATION DATE.

 

Will I have to pay any fees or commissions if I tender my Subject Securities for exchange in the exchange offers?

 

No fees or commissions are payable by the holders of the Notes or Units to the dealer managers, the information agent, the exchange agent or us. If your Notes or Units are held through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who tenders the Notes or Units on your behalf (other than those tendered through the dealer managers), such nominee may charge you a commission for doing so. You should consult with your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.

 

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With whom may I talk if I have questions about the exchange offers?

 

If you have any questions regarding the terms of the exchange offers, please contact the dealer managers. If you have questions regarding the procedures for tendering Subject Securities in the exchange offer, please contact the exchange agent. If you have any other questions or requests for assistance, or requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the accompanying letters of transmittal, please contact the information agent. The contact information for the dealer managers, the exchange agent and the information agent is located on the back cover of this prospectus.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any cash proceeds from either of the exchange offers. We will pay all of the fees and expenses incurred by or on behalf of us related to each of the exchange offers. Any Subject Securities that are properly tendered pursuant to each of the exchange offers and accepted for payment will be retired and cancelled.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated is as follows:

 

     Three
Months

Ended
December 31,
2011
     Year Ended September 30,  
        2011      2010      2009      2008      2007  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)

     —           —           —           —           —           —     

 

(1)   Computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges. “Earnings” consist of (a) income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, (b) amortization of previously capitalized interest and (c) fixed charges, exclusive of capitalized interest cost. “Fixed charges” consist of (a) interest incurred, (b) amortization of deferred loan costs and debt discount and (c) that portion of operating lease rental expense (33%) deemed to be representative of interest. Earnings for fiscal years ended September 30, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the three months ended December 31, 2011 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $71 million, $16 million, $37 million, $523 million, $390 million and $3 million, respectively.

 

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MARKET PRICES OF COMMON STOCK, NOTES AND UNITS AND DIVIDEND POLICY

 

Our Common Stock, the Notes and the Units are traded on the NYSE. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of our Common Stock, the Notes and the Units, as reported on the NYSE during the periods indicated.

 

     Common Stock      Notes     Units  
     High      Low      High     Low     High     Low  

Year Ended September 30, 2010

              

First Quarter

   $ 6.06       $ 3.90         —       —       —   **      —   ** 

Second Quarter

   $ 5.44       $ 3.83       $ 27.73   $ 22.08     —   **      —   ** 

Third Quarter

   $ 7.08       $ 3.61       $ 35.73      $ 21.03      $ 25.50 **    $ 18.34 ** 

Fourth Quarter

   $ 4.69       $ 3.10       $ 24.71      $ 18.58      $ 25.15      $ 16.33   

Year Ended September 30, 2011

              

First Quarter

   $ 5.67       $ 3.88       $ 29.25      $ 22.00      $ 24.34      $ 19.00   

Second Quarter

   $ 6.23       $ 4.13       $ 31.19      $ 22.90      $ 26.10      $ 19.50   

Third Quarter

   $ 4.79       $ 2.99       $ 25.50      $ 17.70      $ 21.80      $ 14.99   

Fourth Quarter

   $ 3.68       $ 1.48       $ 19.88      $ 8.96      $ 17.14      $ 8.19   

Year Ended September 30, 2012

              

First Quarter

   $ 2.59       $ 1.35       $ 14.08      $ 8.69      $ 12.12      $ 8.53   

Second Quarter (through February 10, 2012)

   $ 3.98       $ 2.46       $ 20.11      $ 13.32      $ 17.91      $ 12.50   

 

*   The Notes were issued on January 10, 2010.
**   The Units were issued on May 10, 2010.

 

On February 10, 2012, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the NYSE was $3.63 per share, the last reported sale price of the Notes on the NYSE was $19.00 per Note and the last reported sale price of the Units on the NYSE was $16.50 per Unit.

 

We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will depend upon our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, earnings and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Effective November 2, 2007, our board of directors suspended payment of quarterly dividends. In addition, the indentures under which our senior notes were issued contain certain restrictive covenants, including limitations on payment of dividends. At December 31, 2011, under the most restrictive covenants of each indenture, none of our retained earnings was available for cash dividends. Hence, there were no dividends paid in the first three months of fiscal 2012 or in fiscal 2011. The agreements governing our current and future indebtedness may not permit us to pay dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

 

The table below sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2011 on (1) a historical basis and (2) a pro forma basis giving effect to the exchange offers as if the exchange offers were consummated on December 31, 2011.

 

The “Pro Forma” column reflects adjustments related to the consummation of the exchange offers assuming that all outstanding Notes and Units are tendered and accepted, resulting in an estimated pre-tax debt extinguishment charge of approximately $2.2 million and including non-recurring costs related to the exchange offers in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, which are estimated at $1.3 million. “Pro forma” cash and cash equivalents below reflect a $1.4 million principal and interest payment related to the Units that is contractually due on February 15, 2012.

 

As of December 31, 2011, the Notes had a principal value of $57.5 million and the amortizing notes component of the Units had a principal value of $8.9 million. The Company would issue approximately 27.9 million shares of Common Stock in the exchange offers if all of the Notes and Units were exchanged in the exchange offers. On a Pro Forma basis, stockholders’ equity has been increased by approximately $63.8 million due to this issuance assuming the exchange offers were consummated on December 31, 2011 with a closing price of our Common Stock of $2.48 per share on that date. Changes from the assumptions used in the unaudited pro forma data could result in an increase or decrease from the pro forma stockholders’ equity and total capitalization.

 

     As of December 31, 2011
(in thousands, except
per share amounts)
 
     Actual     Pro Forma  
     Unaudited  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 272,524      $ 269,865   

Restricted cash

     277,241        277,241   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

   $ 549,765      $ 547,106  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt:

    

Revolving credit facility

   $ —        $ —     

Cash-secured facilities

     247,368        247,368   

Senior notes

    

6 7/8% Senior notes due 2015

     172,454        172,454   

8 1/8% Senior notes due 2016

     172,879        172,879   

12% Senior notes due 2017

     250,000        250,000   

9 1/8% Senior notes due 2018

     300,000        300,000   

9 1/8% Senior notes due 2019

     250,000        250,000   

Senior amortizing notes due 2013

     8,880        —     

Subordinated notes

    

Junior subordinated notes

     50,053        50,053   

7 1/2% Mandatory convertible subordinated notes due 2013

     57,500        —     

Other secured notes payable

     1,929        1,929   

Unamortized debt discounts

     (22,278     (22,278
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total debt, net

   $ 1,488,785      $ 1,422,405   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, authorized shares, 180,000,000 at $.0001 par value; 76,406,697 outstanding shares and 104,305,437 outstanding shares, pro forma

   $ 76      $ 104   

Paid-in capital

     626,014        692,009   

Accumulated deficit

     (425,707     (427,890
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 200,383      $ 264,223   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 1,689,168      $ 1,686,628  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following table sets forth historical consolidated financial and operating data for each of our fiscal years ended September 30, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 derived from our audited historical financial statements and for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 derived from our unaudited historical financial statements. Our unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of our management, reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this data. The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full fiscal year.

 

The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. This information should be read in conjunction with “Certain Unaudited Pro Forma Selected Financial Data” included elsewhere in this prospectus and our historical consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contained in the annual, quarterly and current reports file by us with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

     Three Months
Ended December 31,
    Year Ended September 30,  
         2011             2010         2011     2010     2009     2008     2007  
     ($ in millions, except per share amounts)  

Statement of Operations Data: (i)

              

Total revenue

   $ 189      $ 109      $ 742      $ 991      $ 962      $ 1,726      $ 2,934   

Gross profit (loss)

     22        11        48        84        16        (249     (91

Gross margin(i), (ii)

     11.8     10.3     6.5     8.4     1.7     (14.4 )%      (3.1 )% 

Operating loss

     (17     (28   $ (132   $ (113   $ (239   $ (617   $ (511

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     1        (48     (200     (30     (173     (779     (346

EPS from continuing operations — basic and diluted

     0.01        (0.65     (2.71     (0.49     (4.48     (20.28     (9.01

Dividends paid per common share

     —          —          —          —          —          —          0.40   

Balance Sheet Data (end of period) (iii):

              

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

   $ 550      $ 522      $ 647      $ 576      $ 557      $ 585      $ 460   

Inventory

     1,193        1,246        1,204        1,204        1,318        1,652        2,775   

Total assets

     1,874        1,901        1,977        1,903        2,029        2,642        3,930   

Total debt

     1,489        1,306        1,489        1,212        1,509        1,747        1,857   

Stockholders’ equity

     200        350        198        397        197        375        1,324   

Supplemental Financial Data (iii):

              

Cash provided by (used in):

              

Operating activities

   $ (71   $ (137   $ (179   $ 70      $ 94      $ 316      $ 509   

Investing activities

     (9     (35     (260     (6     (80     (18     (52

Financing activities

     (17     87        273        (34     (91     (167     (171

Financial Statistics (iii):

              

Total debt as a percentage of total debt and stockholders’ equity

     88.2     78.9     88.2     75.3     88.5     82.3     58.4

Net debt as a percentage of net debt and stockholders’ equity(ii)

     82.9     70.1     81.5     62.9     83.6     75.6     51.4

Operating Statistics from continuing operations:

              

New orders, net

     724        534        3,927        4,045        4,016        5,123        7,919   

Closings

     867        519        3,249        4,421        4,152        6,331        9,738   

Units in backlog

     1,307        787        1,450        772        1,148        1,284        2,492   

Average selling price (in thousands)

   $ 215.5      $ 209.3      $ 219.4      $ 222.1      $ 230.9      $ 254.3      $ 289.5   

 

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(i)   Statement of operations data is from continuing operations. Gross profit (loss) includes inventory impairments and lot options abandonments of $32.5 million, $50.0 million, $93.6 million, $403.4 million and $531.2 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively and $3.5 million and $0.6 million for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Gross profit (loss) also includes warranty recoveries of $1.4 million, $4.9 million, $8.5 million and $12.5 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively and $11.0 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Operating loss also includes goodwill impairments of $16.1 million, $48.1 million, and $49.7 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The aforementioned charges were primarily related to the deterioration of the homebuilding environment over the applicable years. Loss from continuing operations for fiscal 2011, fiscal 2010, fiscal 2009 and the quarter ended December 31, 2010 also include a (loss) gain on extinguishment of debt of $(2.9) million, $43.9 million, $144.5 million and $(2.9) million, respectively.

 

(ii)   Net Debt equals Debt less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash related to the cash secured loan; Gross margin equals Gross profit divided by total revenue.

 

(iii)   Discontinued operations were not segregated in the consolidated balance sheets or statements of cash flows.

 

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CERTAIN UNAUDITED PRO FORMA SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following unaudited pro forma selected financial data should be read in conjunction with all of the financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated herein by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. The historical data for the year ended September 30, 2011 and the three months ended December 31, 2011 have been derived from historical financial statements. Since the material aspects of the exchange offers have been reflected in the pro forma capitalization table elsewhere in this prospectus, we have not separately presented a pro forma balance sheet.

 

The unaudited pro forma data below for the year ended September 30, 2011 and for the three months ended December 31, 2011 are presented on a pro forma basis giving effect to the exchange offers as if they were consummated at the beginning of the period presented. In accordance with Article 11 of S-X, we have excluded from the pro forma data below the non-recurring costs resulting from the exchange offers which are estimated at $1.3 million. We have also excluded a non-recurring debt extinguishment charge of approximately $2.4 million which was estimated assuming the exchanges were consummated at the beginning of the period presented. Assuming the exchanges were consummated on December 31, 2011 (as assumed in the Capitalization table above), this non-recurring debt extinguishment charge would have been approximately $2.2 million.

 

The unaudited pro forma data has been prepared by our management. The unaudited pro forma data may not be indicative of the results that would have actually occurred if the completion of the exchange offers had occurred on the date indicated, nor do they purport to represent our results of operations for future periods. The unaudited pro forma data should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and notes thereto as of September 30, 2011 and for the year then ended (which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2011) and our unaudited financial statement and notes thereto as of December 31, 2011 and for the three months then ended (which are contained in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2011). The unaudited pro forma data reflect the consummation of the exchange offers assuming that all outstanding Notes and Units are tendered and accepted and that such offers are accounted for in accordance with the accounting treatment described later in this document. See “The Exchange Offers—Accounting Treatment.” Changes in these assumptions from those used in the unaudited pro forma data could result in an increase or decrease from the pro forma net income (loss) and pro forma earnings (loss) per share.

     Three Months Ended
December 31, 2011
    Year Ended
September 30,  2011
 
     (in millions, except per share amounts)  
     Actual     Pro Forma     Actual     Pro Forma  

Total revenue

   $ 189      $ 189      $ 742      $ 742   

Gross profit

     22        22        48        48   

Operating loss

     (17     (17     (132     (132

Nonoperating expenses:

        

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —          —          (3     (3

Other expense, net

     (18     (17     (62     (56
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations before income taxes

     (35     (34     (197     (191

Benefit (provision) from income taxes

     36        36        (3     (3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     1        2        (200     (194

Loss from discontinued operations, net

     —          —          (5     (5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 1      $ 2      $ (205   $ (199

Weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     74        102        74        102   

Diluted

     87        102       74        102  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:

        

Continuing operations

   $ 0.01      $ 0.02      $ (2.71   $ (1.91

Discontinued operations

     —          —          (0.06     (0.04
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 0.01      $ 0.02      $ (2.77   $ (1.95

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFERS

 

Purpose of the Exchange Offers

 

The purpose of the exchange offers is to exchange any and all of the outstanding Subject Securities in order to reduce our indebtedness and ongoing interest expense.

 

Terms of the Notes Exchange Offer

 

The Company is offering, upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal, to exchange shares of Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock for any and all of its outstanding Notes. Holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their Notes prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the Notes exchange offer will receive, for each $25 principal amount of Notes, 5.7348 shares of Common Stock. Holders who tender their Notes in the Notes exchange offer will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest on tendered Notes.

 

On January 15, 2013, the mandatory conversion date of the Notes, holders may be entitled to a maximum of 5.4348 shares per Note depending on the trading price of our Common Stock at such time. Accordingly, the Notes exchange offer allows tendering holders to receive the maximum number of shares of Common Stock they could receive on the mandatory conversion date, plus an additional 0.30 shares of Common Stock.

 

Holders may only tender Notes in multiples of $25. Holders of Notes may tender less than the aggregate principal amount of Notes held by them, provided that they appropriately indicate this fact on the applicable letter of transmittal accompanying the tendered Notes (or so indicate pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer).

 

As of the date of this prospectus, $57.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes is outstanding. As of the date of this prospectus, there is one registered holder of the Notes, Cede & Co., which holds the Notes for DTC participants. Only a holder of the Notes (or the holder’s legal representative or attorney-in-fact) may participate in the Notes exchange offer.

 

The Company will accept Notes as validly tendered Notes when, as and if it has given oral or written notice of acceptance to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders of Notes. If you are the record owner of your Notes and you tender your Notes directly to the exchange agent, you will not be obligated to pay any charges or expenses of the exchange agent or any brokerage commissions. If you own your Notes through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and your such nominee tenders the Notes on your behalf, they may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult with your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply. Except as set forth in the instructions to the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes, if any, on the exchange of Notes pursuant to the Notes exchange offer will be paid by the Company.

 

Terms of the Units Exchange Offer

 

The Company is offering, upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in this prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal, to exchange shares of Common Stock for any and all of its outstanding Units. Holders who validly tender and do not validly withdraw their Units prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the Units exchange offer will receive, for each Unit, 4.9029 shares of Common Stock. Holders who tender their Units in the Units exchange offer will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest on the amortizing notes that comprise a part of their tendered Units.

 

Holders of Units may only tender whole Units. Holders of Units may tender less than the full amount of Units held by them, provided that they appropriately indicate this fact on the applicable letter of transmittal accompanying the tendered Units (or so indicate pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer).

 

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As of the date of this prospectus, 3,000,000 Units are outstanding. As of the date of this prospectus, there is one registered holder of the Units, Cede & Co., which holds the Units for DTC participants. Only a holder of the Units (or the holder’s legal representative or attorney-in-fact) may participate in the Units exchange offer.

 

The Company will accept Units as validly tendered Units when, as and if it has given oral or written notice of acceptance to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders of Units. If you are the record owner of your Units and you tender your Units directly to the exchange agent, you will not be obligated to pay any charges or expenses of the exchange agent or any brokerage commissions. If you own your Units through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and such nominee tenders the Units on your behalf, they may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult with your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply. Except as set forth in the instructions to the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes, if any, on the exchange of Units pursuant to the Units exchange offer will be paid by the Company.

 

Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares of Common Stock will be paid to holders of the Subject Securities in connection with the exchange offers. The Company’s transfer agent will aggregate all fractional shares and will sell them as soon as practicable after the settlement date at the then prevailing prices on the open market on behalf of those tendering holders who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share. We expect that the transfer agent will conduct the sale in an orderly fashion at market prices and that it may take at least several days to sell all of the aggregated fractional shares of our Common Stock. After the transfer agent’s completion of such sales, tendering holders will be entitled to receive a cash payment from the transfer agent in an amount equal to their respective pro rata share of the total net proceeds of the transfer agent’s sales.

 

Recommendation

 

None of the Company, the dealer managers, the information agent or the exchange agent has made a recommendation to any security holder, and each is remaining neutral as to whether you should tender your Subject Securities in either of the exchange offers. You must make your own investment decision with regard to each of the exchange offers based upon your own assessment of the market value of the Subject Securities, the likely value of the Common Stock you will receive, your liquidity needs and your investment objectives.

 

Status of Common Stock under the Securities Act

 

Our Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “BZH,” and we expect the shares of our Common Stock to be issued in the exchange offers to be approved for listing on the NYSE under the symbol “BZH” prior to the settlement of the applicable exchange offer. Generally, the Common Stock you receive in either of the exchange offers may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred without further registration under the Securities Act and without delivery of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, unless you are considered an “affiliate” of ours within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(1) under the Securities Act. Any holder who is our affiliate at the time of the exchange must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resales, unless such sale or transfer is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements and the requirements under applicable state securities laws. For more information regarding the market for our Common Stock, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Market Prices of Common Stock, Notes and Units and Dividend Policy.”

 

Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments

 

Each of the exchange offers will expire at 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date, unless the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, extends one or both of the exchange offers, in which case the expiration date will be the latest date to which the applicable exchange offer is extended.

 

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The Company expressly reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion at any time and from time to time, to extend the period of time during which each of the exchange offers is open, and thereby delay acceptance for exchange of any Subject Securities. If the Company decides to extend an expiration date, it will announce any extension by press release or other public announcement no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the scheduled expiration date of the applicable exchange offer.

 

This prospectus, the applicable letter of transmittal and other relevant materials are being mailed to record holders of Notes and Units, as applicable, and furnished to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the security holder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency’s security position listing, for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Notes or Units, as applicable.

 

If the Company makes a material change in the terms of either of the exchange offers or the information concerning either of the exchange offers, or if it waives a material condition of either of the exchange offers, the Company will extend such exchange offer consistent with Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act. The SEC has taken the position that the minimum period during which an offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of an exchange offer or information concerning an exchange offer (other than a change in price, a decrease, or an increase of more than two percent, in the percentage of securities sought, for which an extension of ten business days is required) will depend upon the facts and circumstances, including the relative materiality of the terms or information. For purposes of both of the exchange offers, a “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, and consists of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through 12:00 midnight, New York City time.

 

The Company also expressly reserves the right (1) to delay acceptance for exchange of any Notes or Units tendered pursuant to either or both of the exchange offers, regardless of whether any such Notes or Units were previously accepted for exchange, and (2) at any time, or from time to time, to amend either of the exchange offers in any manner which would not adversely affect the holders of Notes or Units, as applicable. The Company’s reservation of the right to delay exchange of Notes or Units that it has accepted for payment is limited by Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, which requires that a bidder must pay the consideration offered or return the securities deposited by or on behalf of security holders promptly after the termination or withdrawal of any offer. Any extension, delay in payment, or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by press release or public announcement thereof, such announcement in the case of an extension to be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date of the applicable exchange offer. Without limiting the manner in which the Company may choose to make any public announcement, the Company will have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement, other than by issuing a press release.

 

Termination of the Exchange Offers

 

The Company reserves the right to terminate either or both of the exchange offers at any time prior to the completion of such exchange offer if any of the conditions under “The Exchange Offers — Conditions of the Exchange Offers” have not been satisfied, in its sole and absolute discretion, and not accept any Subject Securities for exchange.

 

Effect of Letters of Transmittal

 

Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance of the Subject Securities, by executing and delivering a letter of transmittal (or agreeing to the terms of a letter of transmittal pursuant to an Agent’s Message) the holder of Subject Securities:

 

   

irrevocably sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the order of the Company all right, title and interest in and to, all claims in respect of or arising or having arisen as a result of the holder’s status as a Holder of the Subject Securities;

 

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waives any and all right with respect to the Subject Securities tendered; and

 

   

releases and discharges the Company from any and all claims such Holder may have, now or in the future, arising out of or related to the Subject Securities.

 

Conditions of the Exchange Offers

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the exchange offers to the contrary, each of the exchange offers is subject to the following conditions that the Company may not waive:

 

   

the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part shall have become effective; and

 

   

no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, or to our knowledge, be contemplated or threatened by the SEC.

 

In addition, each of the exchange offers is subject to the conditions that none of the following shall have occurred (or has been determined by the Company to have occurred) and be continuing that in the Company’s reasonable judgment and regardless of the circumstances, makes it impossible or inadvisable to proceed with such exchange offer or with the exchange of Common Stock for Notes or for Units, as applicable:

 

   

there shall have been instituted, threatened in writing or be pending any action or proceeding before or by any court or governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or instrumentality, or by any other person, in connection with the exchange offer, that is, or is reasonably likely to be directly or indirectly materially adverse to our business, operations, properties, condition, assets, liabilities or prospects, or which would or might directly or indirectly prohibit, prevent, restrict or delay consummation of the applicable exchange offer or materially impair the contemplated benefits to us of the applicable exchange offer;

 

   

an order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, stay, decree, judgment or injunction shall have been proposed, enacted, entered, issued, promulgated, enforced or deemed applicable by any court or governmental, regulatory or administrative agency or instrumentality that would or would be reasonably likely to directly or indirectly prohibit, prevent, restrict or delay consummation of the applicable exchange offers or materially impair the contemplated benefits to us of the applicable exchange offer, or that is, or is reasonably likely to be, materially adverse to our business, operations, properties, condition, assets, liabilities or prospects;

 

   

there shall have occurred or be reasonably likely to occur any material adverse change to our business, operations, properties, condition, assets, liabilities, prospects or financial affairs;

 

   

there has been a decrease of more than 10% in the market price for our shares or in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, New York Stock Exchange Index, Nasdaq Composite Index or the Standard and Poor’s 500 Composite Index measured from the close of trading on February 13, 2012, or any significant increase in interest rates;

 

   

a tender or exchange offer for any or all of the Common Stock, or any merger, acquisition, business combination or other similar transaction with or involving us or any subsidiary, has been proposed, announced or made by any person or has been publicly disclosed or we have entered into a definitive agreement or an agreement in principle with any person with respect to a merger, acquisition, business combination or other similar transaction, other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

   

we learn that:

 

   

any entity, “group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) or person has acquired or proposed to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 5% of our outstanding Common Stock, whether through the acquisition of stock, the formation of a group, the grant of any option or right, or otherwise (other than as and to the extent disclosed in a Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on or before February 13, 2012);

 

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any entity, group or person who has filed with the SEC a Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G relating to the Company on or before February 13, 2012 has acquired or proposes to acquire, whether through the acquisition of stock, the formation of a group, the grant of any option or right, or otherwise (other than by virtue of the Offer), beneficial ownership of an additional 1% or more of our outstanding shares;

 

   

any new group has been formed that beneficially owns more than 5% of our outstanding shares (options for and other rights to acquire shares that are acquired or proposed to be acquired being deemed to be immediately exercisable or convertible for purposes of this clause); or

 

   

any entity, group or person shall have filed a Notification and Report Form under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, or made a public announcement reflecting an intent to acquire us;

 

   

any approval, permit, authorization, favorable review or consent of any domestic or foreign governmental entity or any third party consents required to be obtained in connection with the applicable exchange offer shall not have been obtained; or

 

   

there shall have occurred:

 

   

any general suspension of, or limitation on prices for, trading in securities on any United States national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter markets in the United States;

 

   

a declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect to banks in the United States;

 

   

any limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any government or governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or other event that, in our reasonable judgment, would or would be reasonably likely to affect the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions;

 

   

a commencement or significant worsening of a war or armed hostilities or other national or international calamity, including but not limited to, catastrophic terrorist attacks against the United States or its citizens; or

 

   

any change in the general political, market, economic or financial conditions in the United States or abroad that is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects or the value of our securities or otherwise materially impair the contemplated future conduct of our business or adversely affect trading in our Common Stock.

 

The foregoing conditions are solely for the Company’s benefit, and the Company may assert one or more of the conditions regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such conditions. The Company may also, in its sole and absolute discretion, waive these conditions in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time in our discretion, except as to the requirements that the registration statement be declared effective by the SEC and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending, or to our knowledge, be contemplated or threatened by the SEC, which conditions the Company will not waive. The failure by the Company at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right and each such right shall be deemed a continuing right that may be asserted at any time and from time to time. Any determination by us concerning the events described above will be final and binding on all parties. Any condition, must be satisfied or, other than the receipt of government approvals or the requirements that the registration statement be declared effective by the SEC and that there be no stop orders suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, waived at or prior to the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer.

 

Neither of the exchange offers is conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Notes or Units being tendered, as applicable.

 

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Consequences of Failure to Tender Subject Securities

 

Following the expiration of the applicable exchange offer, the liquidity of the market for a security holder’s Subject Securities could be adversely affected if a significant percentage of the Subject Securities are exchanged in the applicable exchange offer. In addition, the NYSE will consider de-listing any outstanding Notes if, following the Notes exchange offer, the aggregate principal amount of outstanding publicly-held Notes is less than $2.5 million (such amount representing 100,000 tradable units of Notes in $25 denominations), the number of holders of outstanding Notes is less than 100, the aggregate market value of the outstanding Notes is less than $1 million, or for any other reason based on the suitability for the continued listing of the outstanding Notes in light of all pertinent facts as determined by the NYSE. The NYSE will consider de-listing any outstanding Units if, following the Units exchange offer, the number of publicly-held outstanding Units is less than 100,000, the number of holders of outstanding Units is less than 100, the aggregate market value of outstanding Units is less than $1 million, or for any other reason based on the suitability for the continued listing of the outstanding Units in light of all pertinent facts as determined by the NYSE. We do not intend to reduce the number of Subject Securities accepted in either of the exchange offers to prevent the de-listing of the Subject Securities from the NYSE. Holders who do not exchange their Notes in the Notes exchange offer will continue to be entitled to convert their Notes and to receive interest and automatic conversion upon maturity in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing the Notes. Holders who do not exchange their Units in the Units exchange offer will continue to be entitled to receive installment payments on the amortizing notes that comprise a part of the Units and to settlement on the purchase contracts that comprise a part of the Units. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to the Exchange Offers — The liquidity of any trading market that currently exists for the Subject Securities may be adversely affected by the exchange offers, and holders of the Subject Securities who fail to tender their Subject Securities may find it more difficult to sell their Subject Securities.”

 

Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities

 

The tender of a security holder’s Subject Securities described below and the acceptance of tendered Notes or Units by the Company will constitute a binding agreement between the tendering security holder and the Company upon the terms and conditions described in this prospectus and in the accompanying letters of transmittal. A security holder who wishes to tender Subject Securities must either deliver an Agent’s Message, as defined below, or sign and return the applicable letter of transmittal, including all other documents required by the applicable letter of transmittal, and follow the procedures for book-entry transfer described below. We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures. All Subject Securities not exchanged for Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock in response to either of the exchange offers will be returned to the tendering security holders at our expense promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the applicable exchange offer.

 

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF NOTES, UNITS, THE APPLICABLE LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE SECURITY HOLDER. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT REGISTERED MAIL, PROPERLY INSURED, WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, BE USED. INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE SECURITY HOLDER USE AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

 

To effectively tender Subject Securities held through DTC, DTC participants should electronically transmit through ATOP, for which the transaction will be eligible, and DTC will then edit and verify the acceptance and send an Agent’s Message (as defined below) to the exchange agent for its acceptance. Delivery of tendered outstanding Subject Securities held through DTC must be made to the exchange agent pursuant to the book-entry delivery procedures set forth below. The term “Agent’s Message” means a message transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the exchange agent which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgement from the DTC participant tendering Subject Securities that such DTC participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the exchange offers as set forth in this prospectus and the applicable letter of transmittal and that we may enforce such agreement against such participant.

 

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Delivery of the Agent’s Message by DTC may be done in lieu of execution and delivery of the applicable letter of transmittal by the participant identified in the Agent’s Message. Accordingly, the applicable letter of transmittal need not be completed by a holder tendering through ATOP.

 

The exchange agent will establish one or more accounts with respect to the outstanding Subject Securities at DTC for purposes of the exchange offers. Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC may make book-entry delivery of their outstanding Subject Securities by causing DTC to transfer their outstanding Subject Securities to the exchange agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for transfer. DTC will then send an Agent’s Message to the exchange agent. Although delivery of outstanding Subject Securities may be effected through book-entry at DTC, the applicable letter of transmittal, with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent’s Message in connection with a book-entry transfer, plus, in any case, all other required documents, must be transmitted to and received by the exchange agent at one or more of its addresses set forth in this prospectus prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer.

 

Each signature on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed, unless the Subject Securities surrendered for exchange with that letter of transmittal are tendered (1) by a registered holder of the Subject Securities who has not completed either the box entitled “Special Exchange Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” in the applicable letter of transmittal, or (2) for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a participant in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program, each known as an eligible institution. In the event that a signature on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, is required to be guaranteed, the guarantee must be by an eligible institution. If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of the Subject Securities, the Subject Securities surrendered for exchange must either (1) be endorsed by the registered holder, with the signature guaranteed by an eligible institution, or (2) be accompanied by a bond power, in satisfactory form as determined by us in our sole discretion, duly executed by the registered holder, with the signature guaranteed by an eligible institution. The term “registered holder” as used in this paragraph with respect to the Subject Securities means any person in whose name the Subject Securities are registered on the books of the registrar for the Subject Securities.

 

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of Subject Securities tendered for exchange will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The Company’s determination will be final and binding. The Company and the exchange agent reserve the absolute right to reject any and all Subject Securities not properly tendered and to reject any Subject Securities the acceptance of which might, in the Company’s judgment or in the judgment of the exchange agent or their counsel, be unlawful. The Company and the exchange agent also reserve the absolute right to waive any defects or irregularities or conditions of the exchange offers as to particular Subject Securities either before or after the expiration date (including the right to waive the ineligibility of any security holder who seeks to tender Subject Securities in the exchange offers). The interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offers (including the applicable letter of transmittal and the instructions) by the Company will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Subject Securities for exchange must be cured within the period of time the Company determines. The Company and the exchange agent will use reasonable efforts to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Subject Securities for exchange but will not incur any liability for failure to give the notification. The Company will not deem Subject Securities tendered until irregularities have been cured or waived.

 

If any letter of transmittal, endorsement, bond power, power of attorney or any other document required by the applicable letter of transmittal is signed by a trustee, executor, corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, the signatory should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by the Company, submit proper evidence of the person’s authority to so act, which evidence must be satisfactory to the Company in its sole discretion.

 

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Any beneficial owner of the Subject Securities whose Subject Securities are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender Subject Securities in either of the exchange offers should contact the nominee promptly and instruct the nominee to tender on the beneficial owner’s behalf. If the beneficial owner wishes to tender directly, the beneficial owner must, prior to completing and executing the applicable letter of transmittal and tendering Subject Securities, make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the Subject Securities in the beneficial owner’s name. Beneficial owners should be aware that the transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time.

 

Acceptance of Subject Securities for Exchange; Delivery of Common Stock

 

Upon satisfaction or waiver, as permitted, of all of the conditions to the applicable exchange offer, and assuming the Company has not previously elected to terminate such exchange offer, the Company will accept any and all Notes or Units, as applicable, that are properly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer. The Company will deliver (or cause to be delivered) the Common Stock promptly after acceptance of the Subject Securities. For purposes of the exchange offers, the Company will be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Subject Securities, when, as, and if the Company has given oral or written notice of its acceptance of the Subject Securities to the exchange agent.

 

In all cases, the issuance of Common Stock for Subject Securities that are accepted for exchange pursuant to the exchange offers will be made only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of the Subject Securities, a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and all other required documents (or of confirmation of a book-entry transfer of the Subject Securities into the exchange agent’s account at a book-entry transfer facility and the receipt of an Agent’s Message). The Company reserves the absolute right to waive any defects or irregularities in the tender or conditions of either of the exchange offers. If any tendered Subject Securities are not accepted for any reason, those unaccepted Subject Securities will be returned without expense to the tendering security holder thereof as promptly as practicable after the termination, expiration or withdrawal of the applicable exchange offer.

 

Settlement Date

 

The settlement date in respect of any Subject Securities that are validly tendered prior to the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer is expected to be promptly following such expiration date and is anticipated to be March 14, 2012 for each exchange offer.

 

Withdrawal Rights

 

Tenders of the Subject Securities may be withdrawn by delivery of (1) a computer-generated notice of withdrawal to the exchange agent, transmitted by DTC on behalf of the holder in accordance with the standard operating procedures of DTC or (2) a written notice to the exchange agent, at its address listed on the back cover page of this prospectus, in either case at any time prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer, which will be March 12, 2012. Any written notice of withdrawal must (1) specify the name of the person having deposited the Subject Securities to be withdrawn, (2) identify the Subject Securities to be withdrawn (including the certificate number or numbers and principal amount of the Subject Securities, as applicable), and (3) be signed by the security holder in the same manner as the original signature on the letter of transmittal by which the Subject Securities were tendered and must be guaranteed by an eligible institution. Any questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion. The Subject Securities so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the applicable exchange offer. Any Subject Securities which have been tendered for exchange but which are withdrawn will be returned to the security holder without cost to the security holder promptly after withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Subject Securities may be re-tendered by following one of the procedures described under “— Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” at any time on or prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date. In addition, if not previously returned, Subject Securities tendered in the exchange offers that are not accepted by us for exchange may be withdrawn after the expiration of 40 business days from February 13, 2012.

 

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Dealer Managers

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC have been appointed as the dealer managers for each of the exchange offers. As dealer managers for the exchange offers, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC will perform services customarily provided by investment banking firms acting as dealer managers of exchange offers of a like nature, including, but not limited to, soliciting tenders of the Subject Securities pursuant to the exchange offers and communicating generally regarding the exchange offers with brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies and other persons, including the holders of the Subject Securities. The dealer managers will receive customary compensation for such services and will be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in performing their services, including reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel. We will also indemnify the dealer managers against certain liabilities and expenses in connection with the exchange offers, including liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

The dealer managers and their affiliates have rendered and may in the future render various investment banking, lending and commercial banking services and other advisory services to us and our subsidiaries. The dealer managers have received, and may in the future receive, customary compensation from us and our subsidiaries for such services. The dealer managers have acted as underwriters and initial purchasers of equity and debt securities issued by us in public and private offerings, including having acted as initial purchasers of the convertible notes, and may continue to do so from time to time.

 

The dealer managers and their affiliates may from time to time hold Notes, shares of our Common Stock, Units and other securities of ours in their proprietary accounts, which holdings may be substantial. The dealer managers and their affiliates currently hold Notes and Units, and, to the extent they own Notes and Units in these accounts at the time of the exchange offers, the dealer managers and their affiliates may tender such Notes or Units for exchange pursuant to the applicable exchange offer. During the course of the exchange offers, the dealer managers and their affiliates may trade Notes, shares of our Common Stock and Units or effect transactions in other securities of ours for their own accounts or for the accounts of their customers. As a result, the dealer managers and their affiliates may hold a long or short position in the Notes, our Common Stock, the Units or other of our securities.

 

Exchange Agent

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company has been appointed as the exchange agent for each of the exchange offers. We have agreed to pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services. We will also indemnify the exchange agent against certain liabilities and expenses in connection with the exchange offers, including liabilities under the federal securities laws. All completed letters of transmittal and Agent’s Messages should be directed to the exchange agent at one of the addresses set forth below. All questions regarding the procedures for tendering in the exchange offers and requests for assistance in tendering your Notes or Units also should be directed to the exchange agent at one of the following telephone numbers or addresses:

 

If Delivering by Mail:

 

If Delivering by Hand or Courier:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042

New York, New York 10272-2042

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

By facsimile

(For Eligible Institutions Only):

(718) 234-5001

 

Confirm by Telephone:

(718) 921-8317

Toll free: (877) 248-6417

 

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Information Agent

 

D.F. King & Co., Inc. has been appointed as the information agent for each of the exchange offers. We have agreed to pay the information agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse the information agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. We will also indemnify the information agent against certain liabilities and expenses in connection with the exchange offer, including liabilities under the federal securities laws. Any questions and requests for assistance, or requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the accompanying letters of transmittal should be directed to the information agent toll-free at (800) 859-8509.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

Tendering holders of outstanding Subject Securities will not be required to pay any expenses of soliciting tenders in either of the exchange offers, including any fee or commission payable to the dealer managers. However, if a tendering holder handles the transactions through its broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other institution, such holder may be required to pay brokerage fees or commissions. We will bear the fees and expenses relating to each of the exchange offers. Fees and expenses in connection with the exchange offers, assuming all outstanding Notes and Units are tendered and accepted, are estimated to be approximately $1.3 million, including the fees of the dealer managers, the exchange agent, the information agent, the financial printer, counsel, accountants and other professionals.

 

Accounting Treatment

 

To the extent Subject Securities are tendered and accepted by us, we expect to account for the exchange offers as a conversion of the Subject Securities in equity securities, net of any expenses associated with the exchange offers.

 

For Notes validly tendered and accepted and retired by us, we will recognize an inducement expense equal to the fair value of all securities or other consideration transferred in the exchange of the Notes in excess of the fair value of securities issuable pursuant to the original conversion terms.

 

We will estimate the value of the consideration surrendered to security holders attributable to the debt and equity components of the Units. We will compare the estimated fair value attributable to the debt component of the Units to the carrying value of the debt component of the tendered and accepted Units. If the estimated fair value of the debt component of the tendered and accepted Units is greater than the carrying value of that debt, we will record a loss in our statement of operations, and if the estimated fair value of the debt component is less than the carrying value of the tendered and accepted Units, we will record a gain in our statement of operations. The gain or loss will equal the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of the debt component of the tendered and accepted Units.

 

We expect to record the net result of the induced conversion charge and the gain/loss on settlement of a convertible instrument related to these exchange offers as a debt extinguishment charge. We will also recognize an extinguishment of the related liabilities and an increase in common stock and additional paid-in capital related to these exchange offers.

 

Appraisal Rights

 

There are no dissenter’s rights or appraisal rights with respect to either of the exchange offers.

 

Transfer Taxes

 

We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of Notes and Units pursuant to the exchange offers. The tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if:

 

   

certificates representing Notes or Units for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of Notes or Units tendered;

 

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shares of common stock are to be delivered to, or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of the Notes or Units;

 

   

tendered Notes or Units are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the applicable letter of transmittal; or

 

   

a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of Notes or Units under the exchange offers.

 

If satisfactory evidence of payment of transfer taxes is not submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of any transfer taxes will be billed to the tendering holder.

 

Future Purchases

 

Following completion of each of the exchange offers, we may repurchase additional Notes or Units that remain outstanding in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. Future purchases of Notes or Units that remain outstanding after the exchange offers may be on terms that are more or less favorable than the exchange offers. However, Exchange Act Rule 14e-5 and 13e-4 generally prohibit us and our affiliates from purchasing any Notes or Units other than pursuant to the applicable exchange offer until 10 business days after the expiration date of such exchange offer, although there are some exceptions. Future purchases, if any, will depend on many factors, which include market conditions and the condition of our business.

 

Additional Information

 

Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13e-4 we have filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (the “Schedule TO”), which contains additional information with respect to the exchange offers. We will file an amendment to the Schedule TO to report any material changes in the terms of the exchange offers and to report the final results of the exchange offers as required by Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(c)(3) and 13e-4(c)(4), respectively. The Schedule TO, including the exhibits and any amendments thereto, may be examined, and copies may be obtained, at the same places and in the same manner as is set forth under “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference.”

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

General

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 180,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share.

 

The following description of our capital stock summarizes general terms and provisions that apply to our capital stock. Since this is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. The summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Common Stock

 

Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share with respect to each matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders, subject to voting rights that may be established for shares of our preferred stock, if any. Except as may be provided in connection with our preferred stock or as otherwise may be required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our Common Stock is the only capital stock entitled to vote in the election of directors. Our Common Stock does not have cumulative voting rights.

 

Subject to the rights of holders of our preferred stock, if any, holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends and distributions lawfully declared by our board of directors. If we liquidate, dissolve, or wind up our business, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of our Common Stock will be entitled to receive any assets available for distribution to our stockholders after we have paid or set apart for payment the amounts necessary to satisfy any preferential or participating rights to which the holders of each outstanding series of preferred stock are entitled by the express terms of such series of preferred stock.

 

The shares of our Common Stock issued through the Notes exchange offer and the Units exchange offer will be fully paid and nonassessable. Our Common Stock does not have any preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. We may issue additional shares of our authorized but unissued Common Stock as approved by our board of directors from time to time, without stockholder approval, except as may be required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our board of directors has been authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of our preferred stock in multiple series without the approval of stockholders. With respect to each series of our preferred stock, our board of directors has the authority to fix the following terms:

 

   

the designation of the series;

 

   

the number of shares within the series;

 

   

whether dividends are cumulative;

 

   

the rate of any dividends, any conditions upon which dividends are payable, and the dates of payment of dividends;

 

   

whether there are any limitations on the declaration or payment of dividends on common stock while any series of preferred stock is outstanding;

 

   

whether the shares are redeemable, the redemption price and the terms of redemption;

 

   

the amount payable to you for each share you own if we dissolve or liquidate;

 

   

whether the shares are convertible or exchangeable, the price or rate of conversion or exchange, and the applicable terms and conditions;

 

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whether the shares will be subject to a purchase, retirement or sinking fund and the manner in which such fund shall be applied to the redemption of the shares;

 

   

voting rights applicable to the series of preferred stock; and

 

   

any other rights, preferences or limitations of such series.

 

Our ability to issue preferred stock, or rights to purchase such shares, could discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For example, we could impede a business combination by issuing a series of preferred stock containing class voting rights that would enable the holders of such preferred stock to block a business combination transaction. Alternatively, we could facilitate a business combination transaction by issuing a series of preferred stock having sufficient voting rights to provide a required percentage vote of the stockholders. Additionally, under certain circumstances, our issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our Common Stock. Although our board of directors is required to make any determination to issue any preferred stock based on its judgment as to the best interests of our stockholders, our board of directors could act in a manner that would discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of our stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over prevailing market prices of such stock. Our board of directors does not at present intend to seek stockholder approval prior to any issuance of currently authorized stock, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements.

 

Protective Provision of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation includes a provision that is intended to help preserve certain tax benefits primarily associated with the Company’s net operating losses (the “Protective Provision”).

 

Prohibited Transfers. The Protective Provision generally restricts any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of the Company’s stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own the Company’s stock) if the effect would be to:

 

   

increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any Person (as defined below) from less than 4.95% to 4.95% or more; or

 

   

increase the percentage of our Common Stock owned directly or indirectly by a Person owning or deemed to own 4.95% or more of our Common Stock.

 

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation or other legal entity, including persons treated as an entity pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.382-3(a)(1)(i), and includes any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

 

Restricted transfers include sales to Persons whose resulting percentage ownership (direct or indirect) of our Common Stock would exceed the 4.95% thresholds discussed above or to Persons whose direct or indirect ownership of our Common Stock would by attribution cause another Person to exceed such threshold. Common Stock ownership rules prescribed by the Code and regulations issued thereunder (the “Treasury Regulations”) will apply in determining whether a Person is a 4.95% stockholder under the Protective Provision. A transfer from one member of a “public group” (as that term is defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “Code”), and applicable Treasury Regulations (“Section 382”)) to another member of the same public group does not increase the percentage of our Common Stock owned directly or indirectly by the public group, and, therefore, such transfers are not restricted. For purposes of determining the existence and identity of, and the amount of our Common Stock owned by, any stockholder, we will be entitled to rely on the existence or absence of certain public securities filings as of any date, subject to our actual knowledge of the ownership of our Common Stock. The Protective Provision includes the right to require a proposed transferee, as a condition to registration of a transfer of our Common Stock, to provide all information reasonably requested regarding such person’s direct and indirect ownership of our Common Stock.

 

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These transfer restrictions may result in the delay or refusal of certain requested transfers of our Common Stock or may prohibit ownership (thus requiring dispositions) of our Common Stock due to a change in the relationship between two or more persons or entities or to a transfer of an interest in an entity other than the Company that, directly or indirectly, owns our Common Stock. The transfer restrictions will also apply to proscribe the creation or transfer of certain “options” (which are broadly defined by Section 382) with respect to our Common Stock to the extent that, in certain circumstances, the creation, transfer or exercise of the option would result in a proscribed level of ownership.

 

Consequences of Prohibited Transfers.     Any direct or indirect transfer attempted in violation of the Protective Provision will be void as of the date of the prohibited transfer as to the purported transferee (or, in the case of an indirect transfer, the ownership of the direct owner of our Common Stock would terminate simultaneously with the transfer), and the purported transferee (or in the case of any indirect transfer, the direct owner) will not be recognized as the owner of the shares owned in violation of the Protective Provision for any purpose, including for purposes of voting and receiving dividends or other distributions in respect of such Common Stock, or in the case of options, receiving Common Stock in respect of their exercise. Common Stock purportedly acquired in violation of the Protective Provision is referred to herein as “excess stock.”

 

In addition to a prohibited transfer being void as of the date it is attempted, upon demand, the purported transferee must transfer the excess stock to the Company’s agent along with any dividends or other distributions paid with respect to such excess stock. The Company’s agent is required to sell such excess stock in an arm’s-length transaction (or series of transactions) that would not constitute a violation under the Protective Provision. The net proceeds of the sale, together with any other distributions with respect to such excess stock received by the Company’s agent, after deduction of all costs incurred by the agent, will be distributed first to the purported transferee in an amount, if any, up to the cost (or in the case of gift, inheritance or similar transfer, the fair market value of the excess stock on the date of the prohibited transfer) incurred by the purported transferee to acquire such excess stock, and the balance of the proceeds, if any, will be distributed to a charitable beneficiary. If the excess stock is sold by the purported transferee, such person will be treated as having sold the excess stock on behalf of the agent and will be required to remit all proceeds to the Company’s agent (except to the extent the Company grants written permission to the purported transferee to retain an amount not to exceed the amount such person otherwise would have been entitled to retain had the Company’s agent sold such shares).

 

To the extent permitted by law, any stockholder who knowingly violates the Protective Provision will be liable for any and all damages the Company suffers as a result of such violation, including damages resulting from any limitation in the Company’s ability to use its net operating losses and unrealized tax losses (collectively, “NOLs”) and any professional fees incurred in connection with addressing such violation.

 

With respect to any transfer of Common Stock that does not involve a transfer of our “securities” within the meaning of the Delaware General Corporation Law but that would cause any stockholder of 4.95% or more of our stock to violate the Protective Provision, the following procedure will apply in lieu of those described above: in such case, such stockholder and/or any person whose ownership of our securities is attributed to such stockholder will be deemed to have disposed of (and will be required to dispose of) sufficient securities, simultaneously with the transfer, to cause such holder not to be in violation of the Protective Provision, and such securities will be treated as excess stock to be disposed of through the agent under the provisions summarized above, with the maximum amount payable to such stockholder or such other person that was the direct holder of such excess stock from the proceeds of sale by the agent being the fair market value of such excess stock at the time of the prohibited transfer.

 

Public Groups; Modification and Waiver of Transfer Restrictions.    In order to facilitate sales by stockholders into the market, the Protective Provision permits otherwise prohibited transfers of our Common Stock where the transferee is a public group. These permitted transfers include transfers to new public groups that would be created by the transfer and would be treated as a 4.95% stockholder.

 

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In addition, the Board of Directors has the discretion to approve a transfer of our Common Stock that would otherwise violate the transfer restrictions if it determines that the transfer is in stockholders’ best interests. In deciding whether to grant a waiver, the Board of Directors may seek the advice of counsel and tax experts with respect to the preservation of the Company’s federal tax attributes pursuant to Section 382. In addition, the Board of Directors may request relevant information from the acquirer and/or selling party in order to determine compliance with the Protective Provision or the status of the Company’s federal income tax benefits, including an opinion of counsel selected by the Board of Directors (the cost of which will be borne by the transferor and/or the transferee) that the transfer will not result in a limitation on the use of the NOLs under Section 382. If the Board of Directors decides to grant a waiver, it may impose conditions on the acquirer or selling party.

 

In the event of a change in law, the Board of Directors is authorized to modify the applicable allowable percentage ownership interest (currently 4.95%), to modify any of the definitions, terms and conditions of the transfer restrictions or to eliminate the transfer restrictions, provided that the Board of Directors determines, by adopting a written resolution, that such action is reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve the NOLs or that the continuation of these restrictions is no longer reasonably necessary for such purpose, as applicable. Stockholders will be notified of any such determination through a filing with the SEC or such other method of notice as the Secretary of the Company shall deem appropriate.

 

The Protective Provision will expire on the earliest of (i) the Board of Directors’ determination that the Protective Provision is no longer necessary for the preservation of the Company’s NOLs because of the amendment or repeal of Section 382 or any successor statute, (ii) the beginning of a taxable year to which the Board of Directors determines that none of the Company’s NOLs may be carried forward (iii) such date as the Board of Directors otherwise determines that the Protective Provision is no longer necessary for the preservation of the Company’s NOLs and (iv) November 12, 2013.

 

Rights Agreement

 

Our Board of Directors has adopted, and our stockholders have approved a Rights Agreement pursuant to which holders of our Common Stock will be entitled to purchase from us one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock if any Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) acquires beneficial ownership of 4.95% or more of our Common Stock or if a tender offer or exchange offer is commenced that would result in a person or group acquiring beneficial ownership of 4.95% or more of our Common Stock. The exercise price per right is $50, subject to adjustment. These provisions of the Rights Agreement could have certain anti-takeover effects because the rights provided to holders of our Common Stock under the Rights Agreement will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires our Common Stock or engages in other specified events without the rights under the agreement having been redeemed or in the event of an exchange of the rights for Common Stock as permitted under the agreement.

 

Limitation on Directors’ Liability

 

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, as authorized by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, that our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:

 

   

for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

for acts or omission not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

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The inclusion of this provision in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors, and may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited us and our stockholders.

 

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that our directors and officers will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law or by other applicable law. In addition, to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, we will advance funds to certain directors and officers sufficient for the payment of all expenses in connection with the investigation of, response to, defense (including any appeal) of or settlement of any proceeding. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided in our bylaws shall be deemed independent of, and is deemed exclusive of or a limitation on, any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled or acquired under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or of disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. In addition, our bylaws provide that the corporation may purchase and maintain liability insurance for directors and officers for certain losses arising from claims or charges made against them while acting in their capacities as directors or officers of the corporation.

 

In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors providing such officers and directors indemnification and expense advancement and for the continued coverage of such person under our directors’ and officers’ insurance programs.

 

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

 

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits a defined set of transactions between a Delaware corporation, such as us, and an “interested stockholder.” An interested stockholder is defined as a person who, together with any affiliates or associates of such person, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 15% or more of the outstanding voting shares of a Delaware corporation. This provision may prohibit business combinations between an interested stockholder and a corporation for a period of three years after the date the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. The term “business combination” is broadly defined to include mergers, consolidations, sales or other dispositions of assets having a total value in excess of 10% of the consolidated assets of the corporation, and some other transactions that would increase the interested stockholder’s proportionate share ownership in the corporation.

 

This prohibition is effective unless:

 

   

the business combination is approved by the corporation’s board of directors prior to the time the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder;

 

   

the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation, other than stock held by directors who are also officers or by qualified employee stock plans, in the transaction in which it becomes an interested stockholder; or

 

   

the business combination is approved by a majority of the board of directors and by the affirmative vote of 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

Special Bylaw Provisions

 

Our amended and restated bylaws contain provisions requiring that advance notice be delivered to us of any business to be brought by a stockholder before an annual meeting of stockholders and providing for certain procedures to be followed by stockholders in nominating persons for election to our board of directors. Generally, such advance notice provisions provide that the stockholder must give written notice to our Secretary not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of our notice of annual meeting for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the meeting

 

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is changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received no later than the close of business on the 10th day following the earlier of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public disclosure was made. The notice must set forth specific information regarding such stockholder and such business or director nominee, as described in the bylaws. Such requirement is in addition to those set forth in the regulations adopted by the SEC under the Exchange Act.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company serves as the registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.

 

Stock Exchange Listing

 

Our Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The trading symbol for our Common Stock is “BZH.”

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations related to the exchange of Notes or Units for Common Stock pursuant to the exchange offers and of the ownership and disposition of Common Stock received upon the exchanges.

 

This summary is based on the provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authorities and administrative rulings, all as in effect as of the date of this registration statement and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders that do not hold Notes or Units as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). Further, this discussion does not address any aspect of foreign, state, local, estate, gift or other tax law that may be applicable to a holder.

 

This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances or to a holder that may be subject to special rules, such as:

 

   

a bank, insurance company or other financial institution,

 

   

an S corporation,

 

   

a regulated investment company or real estate investment trust,

 

   

a tax exempt investor,

 

   

a dealer in securities or currencies,

 

   

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for its securities holdings,

 

   

a person who holds a Note, a Unit or Common Stock as a position in a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction,” “constructive sale” or other integrated transaction for tax purposes,

 

   

a U.S. expatriate, “controlled foreign corporation” or “passive foreign investment company,”

 

   

a person subject to the alternative minimum tax, or

 

   

a “U.S. holder” (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

 

If an entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Notes, Units or Common Stock, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership holding Notes, Units or Common Stock, or a partner in such a partnership, you should consult your tax advisor.

 

This summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations is for general information only and is not tax advice. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of the exchange offers and of owning Common Stock, as well as any tax consequences arising under the U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws, or under the laws of any state, local, foreign or other taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax treaty.

 

Characterization of Notes and Units

 

Notes

 

We have consistently treated the Notes as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the remainder of this discussion assumes that such treatment is correct. Such treatment, however, is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or the courts, and there can be no assurance that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a different treatment which could result in U.S. federal income tax consequences that would differ significantly from those described below.

 

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Units

 

We have consistently treated, and by acquiring a Unit each holder has agreed to treat, each Unit as an investment unit composed of two separate instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) a prepaid purchase contract for our Common Stock, and (ii) an amortizing note that is indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such treatment, however, is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and there can be no assurance that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a different treatment which could result in U.S. federal income tax consequences that would differ significantly from those described below.

 

U.S. Holders

 

This section applies to you if you are a U.S. holder. As used herein, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of Notes or Units that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

a citizen or resident of the United States,

 

   

a corporation (or other entity classified as a corporation) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia,

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or

 

   

a trust if (1) its administration is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or (2) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

 

Exchange of Notes for Common Stock Pursuant to the Notes Exchange Offer

 

The exchange of Notes for Common Stock pursuant to the Notes exchange offer should be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and as a result a U.S. holder should not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange, except with respect to any cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock. A U.S. holder will have a tax basis in the Common Stock received equal to such U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Notes surrendered less the portion of such tax basis allocable to the fractional share. A U.S. holder’s holding period for the Common Stock will include its holding period for the Notes surrendered.

 

The treatment of cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock is described below under “ — Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares.”

 

Exchange of Units for Common Stock Pursuant to the Units Exchange Offer

 

As discussed above under “Characterization of Notes and Units,” each Unit is treated as an investment unit composed of two separate instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) a prepaid purchase contract for our Common Stock, and (ii) an amortizing note that is indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a U.S. holder that exchanges Units for Common Stock in the Units exchange offer will be treated as engaging in two exchanges: (i) an exchange of the purchase contract for Common Stock and (ii) an exchange of an amortizing note for Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock received by a U.S. holder must be allocated between these two exchanges.

 

Exchange of Purchase Contract for Common Stock.    Although there is no authority directly on point and therefore the matter is not free from doubt, we intend to treat the exchange of a purchase contract for Common Stock as an early settlement of such purchase contract. Under this treatment,

 

   

U.S. holders will not recognize any gain or loss on the exchange except with respect to any cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock,

 

   

a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Common Stock received will be equal to its tax basis in the purchase contract less the portion of such tax basis allocable to the fractional share, and

 

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a U.S. holder’s holding period for the Common Stock received in the exchange will begin the day after that stock is received.

 

Alternatively, the exchange of a purchase contract for our Common Stock could be treated as a recapitalization. In that case, the consequences to U.S. holders would be the same as those described in the bullet points above, except that a U.S. holder’s holding period would include its holding period for the Unit. In either case, any cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock would be treated as described below under “ — Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares.”

 

Exchange of Amortizing Notes for Common Stock.    The treatment of the exchange of an amortizing note for Common Stock will depend on whether such amortizing note constitutes a security for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The term “security” is not defined in the Code or in Treasury Regulations and has not been clearly defined by judicial decisions. The determination of whether a particular debt instrument constitutes a security depends on an evaluation of the overall nature of the debt instrument. One of the most significant factors considered in determining whether a particular debt instrument is a security is its original term. In general, debt instruments with a maturity at issuance of less than five years do not constitute securities. Based on the terms of the amortizing notes, including their stated maturity of approximately 3.25 years, we believe, and the remainder of this discussion assumes, that the amortizing notes are not “securities” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Accordingly, a U.S. holder’s exchange of an amortizing note for Common Stock should be a taxable transaction, the consequences of which are summarized below:

 

   

The U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the fair market value of Common Stock received (reduced by the amount of any Common Stock treated as received in respect of accrued but unpaid interest not previously included in income, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income) and (ii) the holder’s tax basis in the amortizing note.

 

   

Subject to the discussion below regarding the market discount rules, any such gain or loss will be treated as capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holder’s holding period for the amortizing note exceeded one year on the date of the exchange. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders are taxed at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 15% under current law. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

   

The holder’s tax basis in the Common Stock generally should equal the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the exchange.

 

   

The holder’s holding period for the Common Stock received in the exchange will begin the day after that stock is received.

 

If a U.S. holder’s basis in an amortizing note immediately after its purchase of a Unit (other than in the initial offering of Units) was less than the stated redemption price of the note, then (subject to a de minimis exception) the difference would be treated as market discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under the market discount rules, any gain recognized on the exchange of an amortizing note for Common Stock generally would be treated as ordinary interest income to the extent of market discount accrued during the U.S. holder’s holding period for the note, unless the holder had elected to include the market discount in income as it accrued.

 

Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares

 

A U.S. holder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock will be treated as having received the fractional share of Common Stock pursuant to the exchange offers and then as having sold the fractional share of Common Stock for the amount of cash received. In general, a U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss on such sale equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash received by such U.S. holder and (ii) the portion of the holder’s basis allocable to such fractional share. Such gain or loss generally will constitute capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for such

 

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fractional share (which in the case of an exchange treated as a recapitalization will include the holder’s holding period for the securities surrendered in the exchange) is greater than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Taxation of Common Stock Received in the Exchange Offers

 

Distributions

 

In general, distributions paid on shares of our Common Stock (other than certain pro rata distributions of Common Stock) will be treated as a dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, and will be includible in income by a U.S. holder as ordinary dividend income when received. If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital (up to the holder’s tax basis in the Common Stock) and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of such Common Stock. Dividends received by a non-corporate U.S. holder in tax years beginning prior to January 1, 2013 will be eligible to be taxed at reduced rates if the holder meets certain holding period and other applicable requirements. Dividends received by corporate U.S. holders will be eligible for the dividends-received deduction if the U.S. holder meets certain holding period and other applicable requirements.

 

Sale or Other Disposition

 

Upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares of our Common Stock, a U.S. holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the shares of Common Stock. Any such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period in the shares of Common Stock is more than one year on the date of the sale, exchange or other disposition. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. holders recognized in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 are generally subject to a 15% maximum U.S. federal income tax rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Non-U.S. Holders

 

This section applies to you if you are a non-U.S. holder. As used herein, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a Note or Unit that is not a U.S. holder and not a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for tax purposes).

 

Exchange of Notes for Common Stock Pursuant to the Notes Exchange Offer

 

Subject to the discussion below under “— Cash In Lieu of Fractional Shares,” a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the exchange of Notes for Common Stock, regardless of whether we are classified as a United States real property holding corporation (a “USRPHC”). In general, a domestic corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its “United States real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the fair market value its trade or business and real property assets.

 

Exchange of Units for Common Stock Pursuant to the Units Exchange Offer

 

As discussed above under “Characterization of Notes and Units,” each Unit is treated as an investment unit composed of two separate instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) a prepaid purchase contract for our Common Stock, and (ii) an amortizing note that is indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a non-U.S. holder that exchanges Units for Common Stock in the Units exchange offer will be treated as engaging in two exchanges: (i) an exchange of the purchase contract for Common Stock and (ii) an exchange of an amortizing note for Common Stock.

 

Exchange of Purchase Contract for Common Stock.    Subject to the discussion below under “— Cash In Lieu of Fractional Shares,” a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the exchange of a purchase contract for Common Stock, regardless of whether we are a classified as a USRPHC.

 

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Exchange of Amortizing Note for Common Stock.    A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain recognized on the exchange of an amortizing note for Common Stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the non-U.S. holder in the United States (or, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder); or

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the exchange, and certain other conditions are met.

 

Additionally, a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax on any amount realized on the exchange that is properly allocable to accrued interest on the amortizing notes, provided that the non-U.S. holder:

 

   

does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

   

is not a “controlled foreign corporation” with respect to which we are, directly or indirectly, a “related person;”

 

   

is not a bank receiving interest pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business; and

 

   

provides or has provided the holder’s name and address, and certifies, under penalties of perjury, that the holder is not a U.S. person (which certification may be made on an IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form)), or, if the holder holds the amortizing notes through certain foreign intermediaries, such holder and the foreign intermediaries satisfy the certification requirements of applicable Treasury Regulations.

 

If a non-U.S. holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above, such non U.S. holder will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax unless the non-U.S. holder provides or has provided a properly executed (1) IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding under the benefit of an applicable U.S. income tax treaty or (2) IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form) stating that the interest is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

 

Cash in Lieu of Fractional Shares

 

A non-U.S. holder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock will be treated as having received the fractional share of Common Stock pursuant to the exchange offers and then as having sold the fractional share of Common Stock for the amount of cash received. Any gain recognized on such sale should be treated in the same manner as gain recognized on a sale of Common Stock as described below under “— Taxation of Common Stock Received in the Exchange Offers — Sale or Other Disposition.”

 

Taxation of Common Stock Received in the Exchange Offers

 

Distributions

 

Distributions with respect to our Common Stock that are treated as dividends, as described above under “— U.S. holders — Taxation of Common Stock Received in the Exchange — Distributions,” paid to a non-U.S. holder will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30%, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable treaty so long as the non-U.S. holder can provide an IRS Form W-8BEN certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. If, however, the dividends are (i) effectively connected with a trade or business carried on by the non-U.S. holder within the United States and (ii) if a tax treaty applies, attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder, such dividends will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis at applicable individual or corporate rates but will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax if certain certification requirements are satisfied. You can generally meet the certification requirements by

 

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providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI or appropriate substitute form to us or our paying agent. A non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).

 

If we are or have been a USRPHC as described above, distributions to non-U.S. holders that are not dividends will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 10% rate. Any such withholding will be creditable against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. income tax liability, and a non-U.S. holder may be able to claim a refund for any such withholding taxes imposed on return of capital distributions up to the non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in our shares, if such non-U.S. holder files a federal income tax return.

 

Sale or Other Disposition

 

Any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of our Common Stock generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the non-U.S. holder in the United States (or, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment of the non-U.S. holder);

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of that disposition, and certain other conditions are met; or

 

   

we are or have been a USRPHC.

 

An individual non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point immediately above will be subject to tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated United States federal income tax rates. An individual non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point immediately above will be subject to a flat 30% tax on the gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by United States source capital losses, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States. If a non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation falls under the first bullet point immediately above, it will be subject to tax on its net gain in the same manner as if it were a United States person as defined under the Code and, in addition, may be subject to the branch profits tax equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits or at such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

 

With respect to the third bullet point above, because we may currently be or become a USRPHC, certain non-U.S. holders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on a sale or other disposition of the Common Stock. However, so long as our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the disposition of Common Stock unless the holder actually or constructively owns more than 5% of our Common Stock at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or, if shorter, the holder’s holding period for the Common Stock. The rules related to dispositions of interests in USRPHCs are complex and we urge non-U.S. holders to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application of these rules to their situations.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares, dividend payments made with respect to shares of our Common Stock and proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of shares of our Common Stock may be subject to information reporting requirements, and to possible U.S. backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the amount of any backup withholding imposed on a payment to a holder will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

 

U.S. Holders.    In general, backup withholding will apply with respect to reportable payments made to a U.S. holder unless (i) the U.S. holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient and, if required, demonstrates such

 

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exemption, or (ii) the U.S. holder furnishes the payor with a taxpayer identification number on IRS Form W-9 in the manner required, certifies under penalty of perjury that such U.S. holder is not currently subject to backup withholding and otherwise complies with the backup withholding requirements.

 

Non-U.S. Holders.    A non-U.S. holder may be required to certify as to its non-U.S. status on IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) in order to establish an exemption from backup withholding. The payment of proceeds of a sale of common stock effected by or through a U.S. office of a broker is subject to both backup withholding and information reporting unless you provide the payor with your name and address and you certify your non-U.S. status or otherwise establish an exemption from such withholding. In general, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to the payment of the proceeds of a sale of common stock by or through a foreign office of a broker. If, however, such broker is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. person, a controlled foreign corporation, a foreign person that derives 50% or more of its gross income for certain periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the United States or a foreign partnership that at any time during its tax year either is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States or has as partners one or more U.S. persons that, in the aggregate, hold more than 50% of the income or capital interests in the partnership, backup withholding will not apply but such payments nonetheless will be subject to information reporting, unless such broker has documentary evidence in its records that you are a non-U.S. holder and certain other conditions are met or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

“FATCA” Withholding Tax on Certain Dividends and Sales Proceeds

 

Under legislation enacted in 2010, dividend payments, and the payment of gross proceeds of a disposition of our Common Stock, to a “foreign financial institution” (as specially defined for this purpose) generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax of 30%, unless the institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of the institution (including certain equity and debt holders of the institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners). The legislation generally also provides for a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on dividends and the gross proceeds of a disposition of our Common Stock paid to a foreign entity that is not a foreign financial institution, unless the entity provides the withholding agent either with (i) a certification identifying the substantial U.S. owners of the entity, which generally include any U.S. person who directly or indirectly owns more than 10 percent of the entity (or more than zero percent in the case of some entities), or (ii) a certification that the entity does not have any substantial U.S. owners. The withholding taxes described above will apply to dividend payments made after December 31, 2013 and payments of gross proceeds made after December 31, 2014. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of any taxes withheld under this legislation. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of these rules on their investment in our Common Stock.

 

INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

As of February 13, 2012, two of our executive officers beneficially owned an aggregate amount of 1,560 Units and 1,467 Notes. Our President and Chief Executive Officer, Allan P. Merrill, held 1,000 Units and 1,000 Notes and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Robert L. Salomon, held 560 Units and 467 Notes, representing 0.052 percent and 0.064 percent of the total number of outstanding Units and Notes, respectively. To our knowledge, other than Allan P. Merrill and Robert L. Salomon, none of our directors, other executive officers or controlling persons, or any of their affiliates, beneficially own any Subject Securities or will be tendering any Subject Securities pursuant to the exchange offers. Our executive officers Allan P. Merrill and Robert L. Salomon are entitled to participate in the exchange offers on the same basis as other holders, and they have advised us that they intend to tender all of their Subject Securities in the exchange offers (including Subject Securities they are deemed beneficially to own). As a result, our executive officers will cease to own any Subject Securities.

 

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The following table sets forth, as of February 13, 2012, the aggregate number and percentage of Subject Securities that were beneficially owned by our executive officers, Allan P. Merrill and Robert L. Salomon. The address of each person listed is c/o Secretary at Beazer Homes USA, Inc., 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260, Atlanta, Georgia 30328.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

  Number of
Notes  Beneficially Owned
    Percent of Outstanding     Number of
Units Beneficially Owned
    Percent of Outstanding  

Executive Officers:

       

Allan P. Merrill

    1,000        0.043     1,000        0.033

Robert L. Salomon

    467        0.020     560        0.019

 

Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries nor, to our knowledge, any of our directors, executive officers or controlling persons, nor any affiliates of the foregoing, have engaged in any transaction in the Notes or Units during the 60 days prior to the date hereof.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the Common Stock being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by King & Spalding LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the dealer managers by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Los Angeles, California.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 and the effectiveness of Beazer Homes USA, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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The Dealer Managers for the exchange offers are:

 

Citi

 

390 Greenwich Street, First Floor

New York, New York 10013

Attn: Equity Capital Markets Group

 

Banks and Brokers call: (212) 723-7367

Toll free: (877) 531-8365

 

and

 

Credit Suisse

 

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

Attn: Equity Linked Origination

 

Banks and Brokers call: (212) 325-2130

Toll free: (800) 820-1653

 

The Information Agent for the exchange offers is:

 

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

 

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

 

Banks and Brokers call: (212) 269-5550

Toll free: (800) 859-8509

 

The Exchange Agent for the exchange offers is:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

 

By facsimile

(For Eligible Institutions Only):

(718) 234-5001

 

Confirm by Telephone:

(718) 921-8317

Toll free: (877) 248-6417

 

 

By Mail:

 

By Hand or Courier:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042

New York, New York 10272-2042

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Indemnification of the Officers and Directors of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. under Delaware Law.

Beazer Homes USA, Inc. is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) enables a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware to eliminate or limit, through provisions in its original or amended certificate of incorporation, the personal liability of a director for violations of the director’s fiduciary duties, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) any liability imposed pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware may indemnify any person or persons, including officers and directors, who are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such officer, director, employee, or agent acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, for criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe that the challenged conduct was unlawful. A corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware may indemnify officers and directors in an action by or in the right of the corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must provide indemnification against the expenses that such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred.

Section 145(g) of the DGCL authorizes a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware to provide liability insurance for directors and officers for certain losses arising from claims or charges made against them while acting in their capacities as directors or officers of the corporation.

 

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The certificate of incorporation of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. provides that no director shall be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for violations of the director’s fiduciary duties, except to the extent that a director’s liability may not be limited as described above in the discussion of Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL.

Indemnification of the Officers and Directors of Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

The bylaws of Beazer Homes USA, Inc., provide that the corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law or by other applicable law as then in effect, any person who was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in (including, without limitation, as a witness) any proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer, or employee of the corporation or, while a director, officer, or employee of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or manager of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter, an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, agent or manager or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or manager, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA taxes or penalties and amounts to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith.

Furthermore, the bylaws of Beazer Homes USA, Inc., provide that the corporation shall, to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware law, advance (or if previously paid by any Indemnitee who serves or served as a director or executive officer of the corporation on or after June 30, 2008 (each a “Class 1 Indemnitee”), reimburse) to any Class 1 Indemnitee funds sufficient for the payment of all expenses (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees and disbursements and court costs) actually and reasonably incurred by such Class 1 Indemnitee in connection with the investigation of, response to, defense (including any appeal) of or settlement of any proceeding, in the case of each such proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Class 1 Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Class 1 Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation against such expenses. No collateral securing or other assurance of performance of such undertaking shall be required of such Class 1 Indemnitee by the corporation.

The bylaws of Beazer Homes USA, Inc., also provide that the corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, grant rights to advancement of expenses to any Indemnitee who is not a Class 1 Indemnitee and rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to any agents of the corporation with the same scope and effect as the provisions with respect to the indemnification of and advancement of expenses to Class 1 Indemnitees. By resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may delegate to the appropriate officers of the corporation the decision to grant from time to time rights to advancement of expenses to any Indemnitee who is not a Class 1 Indemnitee and rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses to any agents of the corporation.

 

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Under the bylaws of Beazer Homes USA, Inc., no Indemnitee shall be entitled to any advance or reimbursement by the corporation of expenses, or to indemnification from or to be held harmless by the corporation against expenses, incurred by him or her in asserting any claim or commencing or prosecuting any suit, action or proceeding (or part thereof) against the corporation (except as provided below) or any subsidiary of the corporation or any current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or of any subsidiary of the corporation, but such advancement (or reimbursement) and indemnification and hold harmless rights may be provided by the corporation in any specific instance as permitted by the bylaws, or in any specific instance in which the Board shall first authorize the commencement or prosecution of such a suit, action or proceeding (or part thereof) or the assertion of such a claim.

Notwithstanding the above, if a claim is not timely paid in full by Beazer Homes USA, Inc. after a written claim has been received by the corporation, an Indemnitee or Class 1 Indemnitee (as appropriate) may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, to the extent successful in whole or in part, the Indemnitee or Class 1 Indemnitee (as appropriate) shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such suit. The Indemnitee or Class 1 Indemnitee (as appropriate) shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification and advancement of expenses under upon submission of a written claim (and, in an action brought to enforce a claim for an advancement of expenses where the required undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the corporation), and thereafter the corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome the presumption that the Indemnitee or Class 1 Indemnitee (as appropriate) is not so entitled. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification shall be a defense to the suit or create a presumption that the Indemnitee is not so entitled. These rights to indemnification and advancement (or reimbursement) of expenses shall be enforceable by any person entitled to such indemnification or advancement (or reimbursement) of expenses in any court of competent jurisdiction. Notice of any application to a court by an Indemnitee shall be given to the corporation promptly upon the filing of such application; provided, however, that such notice shall not be a requirement for an award of or a determination of entitlement to indemnification or advancement (or reimbursement) of expenses.

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided in the Beazer Homes USA, Inc. bylaws shall be deemed independent of, and shall not be deemed exclusive of or a limitation on, any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled or acquired under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or of disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

In addition, the bylaws of Beazer Homes USA, Inc., provide that the corporation may purchase and maintain liability insurance for directors and officers for certain losses arising from claims or charges made against them while acting in their capacities as directors or officers of the corporation.

 

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Beazer Homes USA, Inc. has also entered into indemnification agreements with each of its executive officers and directors providing such officers and directors indemnification and expense advancement and for the continued coverage of such person under its directors’ and officers’ insurance programs.

Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

The following exhibits are filed as a part of this registration statement. Unless otherwise noted, all exhibits were filed under File No. 001-12822.

 

Exhibit

Number

       Exhibit Description

1.1*

     Form of Dealer Manager Agreement

3.1

  —      Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed on December 2, 2008

3.2

  —      Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of April 13, 2010 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed May 3, 2010

3.3

  —      Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed November 5, 2010

3.4

  —      Certificate of Amendment dated February 3, 2011 to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Beazer Homes, USA, Inc. — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 8, 2011

4.1

  —      Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 13, 2003 among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee, related to the Company’s 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2013 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003

4.2

  —      Form of 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2013 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003

4.3

  —      Form of 6 7/8% Senior Notes due 2015 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 13, 2005

4.4

  —      Form of Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 8, 2005, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 13, 2005

4.5

  —      Seventh Supplement Indenture, dated as of January 9, 2006, to the Trust Indenture dated as of April 17, 2002 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2006

4.6

  —      Form of Senior Note due 2016 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2006

4.7

  —      Form of Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 6, 2006, by and among the Company, the guarantors named therein and UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc., Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Greenwich Capital Markets — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2006

4.8

  —      Form of Junior Subordinated indenture between the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, dated June 15, 2006 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 21, 2006

4.9

  —      Form of the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Chase Bank USA, National Association and certain individuals named therein as Administrative Trustees, dated June 15, 2006 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 21, 2006

 

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Exhibit

Number

       Exhibit Description

  4.10

  —      Form of Indenture, dated as of September 11, 2009, by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and Wilmington Trust FSB, as notes collateral agent — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2009

  4.11

  —      Form of Senior Secured Note due 2017 — incorporated herein by reference to incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 /A filed on February 23, 2010

  4.12

  —      Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 11, 2009, by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Moelis & Company LLC — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2009

  4.13

  —      Indenture dated January 12, 2010 between the Company and the U.S. Bank National Association — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2010

  4.14

  —      First Supplemental Indenture dated January 12, 2010 between the Company and the U.S. Bank National Association — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2010

  4.15

  —      Form of 7 1/2% Mandatory Convertible Notes due 2013 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2010

  4.16

  —      Form of Tangible Equity Unit, Form of Purchase Contract and Purchase Contract Agreement, dated May 10, 2010, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2010

  4.17

  —      Form of Amortizing Note and Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 10, 2010, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association - incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2010

  4.18

  —      Form of Senior Note due 2018 and Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 20, 2010, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee — incorporate herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 20, 2010

  4.19

  —      First Supplemental Indenture, dated October 27, 2010, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors signatory thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.23 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed on November 5, 2010

  4.20

  —      Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated November 12, 2010, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (includes the form of Note) — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2010

  4.21

  —      Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 12, 2010, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and the initial purchasers party thereto — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2010

  4.22

  —      Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated July 22, 2011, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, amending and supplementing the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 20, 2010, and the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated November 12, 2010 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2011

  4.23

  —      Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2010

  4.24

  —      First Amendment to Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated December 6, 2010, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2010

  5.1*

  —      Opinion of King & Spalding LLP.

12.1*

     Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

21.1

     Subsidiaries of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. — incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

23.1*

     Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

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Exhibit

Number

   Exhibit Description
23.2    Consent of King & Spalding LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1*    Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages to this registration statement).
99.1*    Form of Notes Letter of Transmittal.
99.2*    Form of Units Letter of Transmittal.
*    Filed herewith.

Item 22. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

4. That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

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(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

5. That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and (iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

The undersigned registrant, hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933:

(i) The information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

(ii) Each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Atlanta, State of Georgia, on February 13, 2012.

 

BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
By:  

/s/ Allan P. Merrill

  Allan P. Merrill
 

President and Chief Executive

Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Allan P. Merrill, Robert L. Salomon and Kenneth F. Khoury and each of them his or her attorneys-in-fact, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and any related registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his or her substitute, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ Brian C. Beazer

Brian C. Beazer

   Director and Non-Executive Chairman of the Board   February 13, 2012

/s/ Allan P. Merrill

Allan P. Merrill

   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   February 13, 2012

/s/ Robert L. Salomon

Robert L. Salomon

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer)   February 13, 2012

/s/ Laurent Alpert

Laurent Alpert

   Director   February 13, 2012

 

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/s/ Peter G. Leemputte

   Director   February 13, 2012
Peter G. Leemputte     

/s/ Norma A. Provencio

   Director   February 13, 2012
Norma A. Provencio     

/s/ Larry T. Solari

   Director   February 13, 2012
Larry T. Solari     

/s/ Stephen P. Zelnak, Jr.

   Director   February 13, 2012
Stephen P. Zelnak, Jr.     

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

Unless otherwise noted, all exhibits were filed under File No. 001-12822.

 

Exhibit
Number

       

Exhibit Description

1.1*       Form of Dealer Manager Agreement
3.1       Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed on December 2, 2008
3.2       Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as of April 13, 2010 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed May 3, 2010
3.3       Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed November 5, 2010
3.4       Certificate of Amendment dated February 3, 2011 to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Beazer Homes, USA, Inc. — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed February 8, 2011
4.1       Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 13, 2003 among the Company, the Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee, related to the Company’s 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2013 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003
4.2       Form of 6 1/2% Senior Notes due 2013 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003
4.3       Form of 6 7/8% Senior Notes due 2015 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 13, 2005
4.4       Form of Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 8, 2005, by and among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 13, 2005
4.5       Seventh Supplement Indenture, dated as of January 9, 2006, to the Trust Indenture dated as of April 17, 2002 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2006
4.6       Form of Senior Note due 2016 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2006
4.7       Form of Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 6, 2006, by and among the Company, the guarantors named therein and UBS Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc., Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Greenwich Capital Markets — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2006
4.8       Form of Junior Subordinated indenture between the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, dated June 15, 2006 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 21, 2006
4.9       Form of the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Chase Bank USA, National Association and certain individuals named therein as Administrative Trustees, dated June 15, 2006 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 21, 2006
4.10       Form of Indenture, dated as of September 11, 2009, by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and Wilmington Trust FSB, as notes collateral agent — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2009
4.11       Form of Senior Secured Note due 2017 — incorporated herein by reference to incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 /A filed on February 23, 2010

 

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Exhibit
Number

       

Exhibit Description

  4.12       Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 11, 2009, by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Moelis & Company LLC — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2009
  4.13       Indenture dated January 12, 2010 between the Company and the U.S. Bank National Association — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2010
  4.14       First Supplemental Indenture dated January 12, 2010 between the Company and the U.S. Bank National Association — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2010
  4.15       Form of 7 1/2% Mandatory Convertible Notes due 2013 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 12, 2010
  4.16       Form of Tangible Equity Unit, Form of Purchase Contract and Purchase Contract Agreement, dated May 10, 2010, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2010
  4.17       Form of Amortizing Note and Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 10, 2010, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association - incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 10, 2010
  4.18       Form of Senior Note due 2018 and Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 20, 2010, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee — incorporate herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 20, 2010
  4.19       First Supplemental Indenture, dated October 27, 2010, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors signatory thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.23 of the Company’s Form 10-K filed on November 5, 2010
  4.20       Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated November 12, 2010, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (includes the form of Note) — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2010
  4.21       Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 12, 2010, among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and the initial purchasers party thereto — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2010
  4.22       Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated July 22, 2011, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, amending and supplementing the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 20, 2010, and the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated November 12, 2010 — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2011
  4.23       Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2010, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2010
  4.24       First Amendment to Section 382 Rights Agreement, dated December 6, 2010, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent — incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2010
  5.1*       Opinion of King & Spalding LLP
12.1*       Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
21.1       Subsidiaries of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. — incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011
23.1*       Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2       Consent of King & Spalding LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto)
24.1*       Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages to this registration statement)
99.1*       Form of Notes Letter of Transmittal
99.2*       Form of Units Letter of Transmittal

 

* Filed herewith.

 

II-12

EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.

Dealer Manager Agreement

New York, New York

February 13, 2012

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.,

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

  as Dealer Managers

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), plans to make offers (each such offer as described in the Prospectus (as defined below), an “Exchange Offer,” and collectively, the “Exchange Offers”), for (i) any and all of its $57.5 million aggregate principal amount of outstanding 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “Convertible Notes”) in exchange for consideration consisting of, with respect to each $25 principal amount of Convertible Notes tendered in such Exchange Offer, 5.7348 newly issued shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Note Exchange Securities”) and (ii) any and all of its 3,000,000 outstanding 7.25% tangible equity units (the “Units” and together with the Convertible Notes, the “Existing Securities”) in exchange for consideration consisting of, with respect to each Unit tendered in the Exchange Offer, 4.9029 newly issued shares of Common Stock (together with the Note Exchange Securities, the “Exchange Securities”), in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offering Documents (as defined below). Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 14 hereof.

In connection with the Exchange Offers, the Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-4, including a preliminary prospectus (including any documents incorporated by reference in such preliminary prospectus and as supplemented or amended from time to time prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (as defined below), the “Preliminary Prospectus”). The term “Registration Statement,” as used in this Agreement, shall mean such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein, in the form in which it becomes effective and, in the event of any amendment or supplement thereto or the filing of any abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act relating thereto and any information contained in a prospectus subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act after the effective date of such registration statement, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or supplemented, together with any such abbreviated registration statement. The final prospectus


included in the Registration Statement (including any documents incorporated in the Prospectus by reference) at the time it becomes effective or is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Pre-Effective Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 11 of Form S-4 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the filing of the Pre-Effective Registration Statement, the effective date of the Registration Statement (the “Effective Date”) or the issue date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Pre-Effective Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the initial filing of the Pre-Effective Registration Statement, the Effective Date or the issue date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

The Company has prepared and filed, or agrees that prior to or on the Commencement Date it will file, with the Commission under the Securities Act a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO with respect to the Exchange Offers, including the required exhibits thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein. The term “Schedule TO” as used in this Agreement shall mean such Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, including any amendment or supplement thereto.

The Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Schedule TO, letters of transmittal and any newspaper announcements, press releases and any other information the Company may use, prepare, approve, publicly disseminate, provide to registered or beneficial holders of Existing Securities or authorize for use in connection with the Exchange Offers are herein collectively referred to as the “Offering Documents.”

1. Appointment as Dealer Managers.

(a) The Company agrees that Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC will act, severally and not jointly, as the exclusive joint dealer managers for the Exchange Offers (each a “Dealer Manager” and collectively, the “Dealer Managers”) in accordance with your customary practices, including without limitation by soliciting tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offers, communicating with brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies with respect to the Exchange Offers and assisting in the distribution of the Offering Documents.

(b) You agree that all actions taken by you as Dealer Manager have complied and will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, regulations and rules of the United States, including, without limitation, the applicable rules and regulations of the registered national securities exchanges of which you are a member and of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

(c) Each Dealer Manager, in its sole discretion, may continue to own or dispose of, in any manner it may elect, any Existing Securities, the Common Stock or any other securities of the Company it may beneficially own at the date hereof or hereafter

 

2


acquire, in any such case, subject to applicable law. The Dealer Managers have no obligation to the Company, pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, to tender or refrain from tendering Existing Securities beneficially owned by it in any Exchange Offer. The Dealer Managers acknowledge and agree that if either Exchange Offer is not consummated for any reason, the Company shall have no obligation, pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise, to acquire any applicable Existing Securities from the Dealer Managers or any holder of Existing Securities or otherwise hold the Dealer Managers harmless with respect to any losses it may incur in connection with the resale to any third parties of any Existing Securities.

(d) The Company agrees that it will not file, use or publish any material in connection with the Exchange Offers, use the names Citigroup Global Markets or Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC or the names of any of their affiliates or refer to the Dealer Managers or their respective relationship with the Company, without such Dealer Manager’s prior written consent to the form of such use or reference. There shall be no fee for any such permitted use or reference other than as set forth herein.

2. Compensation. The Company shall pay to each Dealer Manager, in respect of its services as Dealer Manager, the fee set forth in the attached Schedule I (the “Fee”). The Company shall also promptly reimburse the Dealer Managers, without regard to consummation of the Exchange Offers, for their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses in preparing for and performing their functions as Dealer Managers, including the reasonable and documented fees, costs and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel to the Dealer Managers for their representation of the Dealer Managers in connection therewith.

3. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with you, as of the Commencement Date, during the period of the Exchange Offers, and as of the applicable Expiration Date and Exchange Date:

(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission the Schedule TO and the Pre-Effective Registration Statement on Form S-4, including the related Preliminary Prospectus, for registration under the Securities Act of the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities in connection with the Exchange Offers. Following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will file with the Commission a final Prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. As filed, such Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, Prospectus and Schedule TO shall contain all information required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

(b) (i) The Pre-Effective Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each case, together with any amendments and supplements thereto, comply, and will comply, in all material respects with the Securities Act and Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, (ii) the Pre-Effective Registration Statement and the Registration Statement, in each case, together with any amendments and supplements thereto, did not contain, and will not contain, any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit, and will not omit, to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each case, together with any

 

3


amendments and supplements thereto, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Pre-Effective Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any supplement or amendment thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of any Dealer Manager expressly for inclusion therein (the “Dealer Manager Information”), it being understood that the Dealer Manager Information in the Preliminary Prospectus shall include only the names and the contact information of the Dealer Managers on the front and back covers of the Preliminary Prospectus.

(c) Any “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act relating to the Exchange Offers (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) does not and will not conflict with the information contained in the Pre-Effective Registration Statement, Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus; Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in each case as supplemented by and taken together with the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation and warranty does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with the Dealer Manager Information.

(d) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the Schedule TO conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus prior to the Exchange Date, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or, in the case of an Annual Report on Form 10-K, omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, in the case of any other document filed under the Exchange Act, omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Dealer Manager Information.

(e) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission.

 

4


(f) The Company has not received from the Commission any written comments, questions or requests for modification of disclosure in respect of any reports filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference into the Offering Documents, except for comments, questions or requests (i) that have been satisfied by the provision of supplemental information to the staff of the Commission, or (ii) in respect of which the Company has agreed with the staff of the Commission to make a prospective change in future reports filed by it with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, of which agreement the Dealer Managers and its counsel have been made aware.

(g) The Company has not paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for (i) soliciting another to purchase any of its securities or (ii) soliciting tenders by holders of Existing Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offers (except as contemplated in this Agreement).

(h) None of the Company, its Affiliates or any of its or their respective directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the Exchange Offers.

(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the law of the State of Delaware with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, to execute and deliver this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver the Exchange Securities as contemplated in Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(j) All of the issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of each of the Company’s corporate subsidiaries (the “Corporate Subsidiaries”) and the Company’s trust subsidiary (the “Trust Subsidiary”) have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and each of the capital stock of the Corporate Subsidiaries and the Trust Subsidiary, the membership interests of each of the Company’s limited liability company subsidiaries (the “LLC Subsidiaries”) and the partnership interests of each of the Company’s limited partnership subsidiaries and limited liability partnership subsidiaries (the “Partnership Subsidiaries” and, together with the LLC Subsidiaries, the Corporate Subsidiaries, and the Trust Subsidiary, the “Subsidiaries”) have been duly authorized and to the extent owned by the Company, are owned free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest, preemptive right or other claim except for pledges, liens, encumbrances, and security interests securing obligations under the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of August 5, 2009 (the “Credit Agreement”), among the Company, Citibank, N.A., as swing line lender and agent, and the lenders party thereto and the Indenture, dated as of September 11, 2009 (the “Secured Note Indenture”), by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and Wilmington Trust FSB, as notes collateral agent. Attached as Schedule II is a true and complete list of each entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect majority equity or voting interest, their jurisdictions of incorporation or formation, and percentage equity ownership by the Company.

 

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(k) Each of the Corporate Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated, and each of the Trust Subsidiary, the LLC Subsidiaries and Partnership Subsidiaries has been duly formed, and is validly existing as a corporation, in the case of the Corporate Subsidiaries, as a trust, in the case of the Trust Subsidiary, as a limited partnership or a limited liability partnership, in the case of the Partnership Subsidiaries or as a limited liability company, in the case of LLC Subsidiaries, and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation or formation with full corporate, trust, partnership or limited liability company power, as the case may be, and authority to own its respective properties and conduct its respective business as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(l) As of December 31, 2011, the Company had the authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock as set forth under the heading “Actual” in the section of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus entitled “Capitalization” in the common stock line item. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar right. Except as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding subscriptions, calls, options, warrants, rights, or other agreements with respect to the capital stock, membership interests, or partnership interests of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

(m) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries are duly qualified or licensed by and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of their respective businesses or their respective ownership or leasing of their respective properties requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein). Other than the entities listed on Schedule II hereto, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity other than the entities listed on Schedule III hereto. A “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or other), results of operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(n) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(o) The Exchange Securities to be issued in exchange for the Existing Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offers have been duly authorized by the Company, and, when issued and delivered as contemplated herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the issuance of the Exchange Securities as contemplated by Offering Documents gives rise to any preemptive or similar rights, other than those which have been waived or satisfied.

 

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(p) The Company has filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)(1) under the Exchange Act (or Rule 425 under the Securities Act) or otherwise all written communications made by the Company or any affiliate of the Company in connection with or relating to the Exchange Offers that are required to be filed with the Commission, in each case on the date of their first use.

(q) The Company has complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in connection with the Exchange Offers, the Offering Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

(r) None of the Company or any Subsidiary is (A) in violation of its charter, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, operating agreement or other constitutive documents, (B) except as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus, in default (or, with notice or lapse of time or both, would be in default) in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, lease, license, franchise agreement, authorization, permit, certificate or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of their assets or properties is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective assets or properties or (D) in violation of any judgment, order or decree of any domestic or foreign court or governmental agency or authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective assets or properties or other governmental or regulatory authority, agency or other body, which in the case of clauses (B), (C) and (D) herein, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There exists no condition that, with notice, the passage of time or otherwise, would constitute a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under any such document or instrument or result in the imposition of any penalty or the acceleration of any indebtedness, other than penalties, defaults or conditions that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(s) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the conduct and consummation of the Exchange Offers, the consummation of any other transactions relating to the Exchange Offers as contemplated herein or in the Offering Documents, or the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, violate or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of or a default (or an event that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, or require consent under, or result in the creation or imposition of a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, (A) the charter, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, partnership agreement, operating agreement or other constitutive documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, (B) any of the Agreements and Instruments, (C) any law, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective assets or properties or (D) any judgment, order or decree of any domestic or foreign court or governmental agency or authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective assets or properties.

 

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(t) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration, qualification, license or permit of or with, any court or governmental agency, body or administrative agency, domestic or foreign, is required to be obtained or made by the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated herein or in the Offering Documents, or in connection with the conduct and consummation of the Exchange Offers.

(u) Except as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there is (A) no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency, body or official, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, to which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may be a party or to which the business, assets or property of such person is or may be subject, (B) no statute, rule, regulation or order that has been enacted, adopted or issued or, to the knowledge of the Company, that has been proposed by any governmental body or agency, domestic or foreign, (C) no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a federal or state court or foreign court of competent jurisdiction to which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may be subject that if determined adversely to the Company or any Subsidiary, could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected, (1) to have a Material Adverse Effect or (2) to interfere with or adversely affect the issuance of the Exchange Securities in any jurisdiction or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by any of the Offering Documents.

(v) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, no labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or the Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent.

(w) The business, operations and facilities of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries have been and are being conducted in compliance with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, licenses, permits, approvals, plans, authorizations or requirements relating to occupational safety and health, or pollution, or protection of health or the environment, or reclamation (including, without limitation, those relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants or hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes into ambient air, surface water, groundwater or land, or relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of chemical substances, materials or wastes, whether solid, gaseous or liquid in nature) or otherwise relating to remediating real property of any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality of the United States, any state or political subdivision thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction, and all applicable judicial or administrative agency or regulatory decrees, awards, judgments and orders relating thereto, except any violation thereof which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice from a governmental instrumentality or any third party alleging any violation thereof or liability thereunder (including, without limitation, liability for costs of investigating or remediating sites containing hazardous substances and/or damages to natural resources).

 

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(x) There is no claim pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated under any federal, state, local or foreign law, rule, regulation, decision or order governing pollution or protection or restoration of the environment (the “Environmental Laws”) against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which, if adversely determined, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; there are no past or present actions or conditions including, without limitation, the use, disposal or release of, or human exposure to, any hazardous or toxic substance or waste regulated under any Environmental Law that are likely to form the basis of any such claim against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which, if adversely determined, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Subsidiary maintain a system of internal environmental management controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance of compliance in all material respects of their business facilities, real property and operations with requirements of applicable Environmental Laws.

(y) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has all necessary permits, licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary authorizations, consents and approvals from other persons, material to the conduct of its respective business. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default under, any such license, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries the effect of which could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) All legal or governmental proceedings, contracts or documents of a character required to be described in a prospectus pursuant to Regulation S-K have been so described as required.

(aa) The statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” fairly summarize the matters therein described; the statements under the headings “Description Of Capital Stock” fairly summarize the material terms of the Exchange Securities.

(bb) The Company and the Subsidiaries have good title to all properties and assets owned by them and have good leasehold interest in each property and asset leased by them, in each case free and clear of all pledges, liens, encumbrances, security interests, charges, mortgages and defects, except for liens permitted under the Credit Agreement and the Secured Note Indenture or such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such properties by the Company or the Subsidiaries.

(cc) The Company and each Subsidiary have, own, possess or have the right to employ all patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names and other

 

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intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary to conduct the businesses operated by them as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus, except where the failure to own, possess or have the right to employ such Intellectual Property could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with (and neither knows of any such infringement or a conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing that, if such assertion of infringement or conflict were sustained, could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The use of the Intellectual Property in connection with the business and operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries does not infringe on the rights of any person, except for such infringement as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(dd) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local or foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed and all such returns are true, complete and correct in all material respects. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries have paid all taxes shown thereon as due, and there is no material tax deficiency which has been or is reasonably likely to be asserted against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries; all material tax liabilities of the Company and the Subsidiaries are adequately provided for on the books of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

(ee) The Company, either directly or through one or more Subsidiaries, has in effect, with financially sound insurers, insurance with respect to its business and properties and the business and properties of the Subsidiaries against loss or damage of the kind customarily insured against by corporations engaged in the same or similar businesses and similarly situated, of such type and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other corporations; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (A) has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that substantial capital improvements or other material expenditures will have to be made in order to continue such insurance or (B) has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ff) The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), except where the failure to be in such compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA and with respect to which the 30-day notice provision has not been waived) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA for which the Company or any Subsidiary would have liability; except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Subsidiaries have not incurred and do not expect to incur liability under (A) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (B) Section 412, 430 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,

 

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including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“Code”); and each “pension plan” for which the Company and the Subsidiaries would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

(gg) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the transaction contemplated hereby and in the Offering Documents, will not be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act.

(hh) The Company is subject to and in compliance in all material respects with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(ii) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for its assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(jj) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and the Subsidiaries is made known to the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company by others within the Company or any Subsidiary, and such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably effective to perform the functions for which they were established subject to the limitations of any such control system. The Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the board of directors of the Company have been advised of: (A) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. As of December 31, 2011, the Company and the Subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting were reasonably effective to perform the functions for which they were established, subject to the limitations of any such control system, and the Company and the Subsidiaries are not aware of any material weakness in their internal control over financial reporting.

 

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(kk) As of December 31, 2011, none of the Company or any Subsidiary had any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, that were not set forth in the consolidated balance sheet as of such date or in the notes thereto set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. Since December 31, 2011, except as set forth or contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, (a) none of the Company or any Subsidiary has (1) incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (2) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business, or (3) purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, (b) there has not been any material adverse change, prospective change, event or development in respect of the business, properties, prospects, results of operations or condition (financial or other) of the Company and the Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (c) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock and (d) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

(ll) Deloitte & Touche LLP is an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act. The historical financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries at the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods presented (except as disclosed in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus). The other financial and statistical information and data included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are accurately presented in all material respects and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and the books and records of the Company and the Subsidiaries.

(mm) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including without limitation Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications, other than any such failures which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(nn) None of the Company, its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in

 

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contravention of the FCPA; and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its Affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(oo) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(pp) None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

(qq) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Dealer Managers or counsel for the Dealer Managers in connection with the Exchange Offers shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company as to matters covered thereby to the Dealer Managers.

4. Agreements. The Company agrees with the Dealer Managers that:

(a) Prior to the termination of the Exchange Offers, the Company will not file any amendment to the Pre-Effective Registration Statement or the Registration Statement or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (other than an amendment or supplement as a result of filings by the Company under the Exchange Act of documents incorporated by reference therein) unless the Company has furnished the Dealer Managers a copy of such proposed amendment or supplement, as applicable, for its review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Dealer Managers reasonably object. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration Statement has become or becomes effective, or filing of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus is otherwise required under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will cause the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) or in an amendment to the Registration Statement, whichever is applicable, within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Dealer Managers of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Dealer Managers (i) when the Registration Statement, and any amendment thereto, shall have become effective, (ii) when the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto or any document incorporated therein, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission, (iii) when, prior to termination of the Exchange Offers, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall

 

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have been filed or become effective, (iv) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Pre-Effective Registration Statement or the Registration Statement or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or for any additional information, (v) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Exchange Securities for sale in any jurisdiction within the United States or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. In the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, the Company will use promptly its reasonable best efforts to obtain its withdrawal.

(b) The Company will furnish to the Dealer Managers and counsel for the Dealer Managers, without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and as many copies of the Offering Documents as the Dealer Managers may reasonably request.

(c) The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Exchange Securities issued in the Exchange Offers, as contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Exchange Offers is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, in connection with use or delivery of the Offering Documents, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Dealer Managers of any such event, (ii) upon the request of Dealer Managers, prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus, and (iv) supply any supplemented Offering Documents to the Dealer Managers in such quantities as it may reasonably request.

(d) The Company agrees to advise the Dealer Managers promptly of (i) any proposal by the Company to withdraw, rescind or modify the Offering Documents or to withdraw, rescind or terminate any Exchange Offer or the exercise by the Company of any right not to exchange the Existing Securities pursuant to any Exchange Offer, (ii) its awareness of the issuance of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use by the Commission or any other regulatory authority, or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose (and will promptly furnish the Dealer Managers with a copy of any such order), (iii) its awareness of the occurrence of any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change relating to or affecting the Exchange Offers and (iv) any other non-privileged information relating to the Exchange Offers, the Offering Documents or this Agreement which the Dealer Managers may from time to time reasonably request.

 

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(e) To the extent it is permitted by law, the Company will inform the Dealer Managers of any material litigation or administrative action with respect to the Exchange Offers as soon as practicable after the Company becomes aware of it.

(f) As soon as practicable, but in any event not later than twelve months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Securities Act), the Company will make generally available to its security holders an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158).

(g) The Company will promptly from time to time to take such action as the Dealer Managers may reasonably request to qualify the Exchange Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Dealer Managers may reasonably request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the Exchange Offers; provided, however, that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.

(h) The Company will cause all Existing Securities accepted in the Exchange Offers to be cancelled.

(i) The Company will cooperate with the Dealer Managers to permit the Exchange Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

(j) None of the Company, its Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf will take, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to cause or result, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Exchange Securities or the tender of Existing Securities in the Exchange Offers; provided that the Company shall not be responsible as to any action taken or to be taken by the Dealer Managers.

(k) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the transactions contemplated hereunder, whether or not the Exchange Offers are consummated and whether or not this Agreement has expired or has been terminated, including, without limitation, the following: (i) all fees and expenses of the Registrar, Transfer Agent, the Information Agent, the Exchange Agent and any trustee; (ii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; (iii) all expenses of preparation, printing (or reproduction) and mailing of the Offering Documents and each amendment or supplement thereto; (iv) all filing fees applicable to the Exchange Offers;

 

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(v) all expenses of printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Offering Documents (and all amendments or supplements thereto) as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the Exchange Offers; (vi) all expenses of preparation, printing, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Exchange Securities, if any; (vii) any registration or qualification of the Exchange Securities for offer and sale under the blue sky laws of the several states or any non-U.S. jurisdiction (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Dealer Managers relating to such registration and qualification); (ix) without regard to consummation of the Exchange Offers, the reasonable and documented fees, costs and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel to the Dealer Managers for their representation of the Dealer Managers in connection with your services as Dealer Managers, as described in Section 2; and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the Exchange Offers.

(l) The Company will arrange for American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as the exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”), named in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus to inform you during each business day during the Exchange Offers as to the principal amount of Existing Securities that have been tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offers.

(m) The Company shall arrange for D.F. King & Co., Inc. to serve as information agent in connection with the Exchange Offer (the “Information Agent”)and shall authorize the Dealer Managers to communicate with the Information Agent to facilitate the Exchange Offers.

(n) The Company agrees not to exchange any Existing Securities during the period beginning on the Commencement Date and ending on the Exchange Date except pursuant to and in accordance with the Exchange Offers or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties hereto and permitted under applicable laws and regulations.

(o) The Company will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, in connection with the Exchange Offers, the Offering Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company will file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c)(1) under the Exchange Act (or Rule 425 under the Securities Act) or otherwise all written communications made by the Company or any affiliate of the Company in connection with or relating to the Exchange Offers that are required to be filed with the Commission, in each case on the date of their first use.

5. Conditions to the Obligations of the Dealer Manager. The obligations of the Dealer Managers under this Agreement shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein at the Commencement Date and the applicable Expiration Date and the Exchange Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective on or prior to each Expiration Date.

 

16


(b) As of the Exchange Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of the Company, threatened by the Commission.

(c) At the Commencement Date, the applicable Expiration Date and the Exchange Date, the Dealer Managers shall have received from King & Spalding LLP, counsel to the Company, an opinion addressing the matters set forth in Exhibit A.

(d) At the Commencement Date, the applicable Expiration Date and the Exchange Date, the Dealer Manager shall have received from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, special counsel for the Dealer Manager, such opinion or opinions addressed to the Dealer Manager with respect to the Exchange Offers, the Offering Documents (as amended or supplemented at the Exchange Date, in the case of the opinion delivered on the Exchange Date) and other related matters as the Dealer Manager may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) At the applicable Expiration Date and Exchange Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Dealer Managers a certificate of the Company, signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated as of the Exchange Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Offering Documents, any amendment or supplement to the Offering Documents and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct or true and correct in all material respects where such representations and warranties are not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect at all times during the period from the Commencement Date to the applicable Expiration Date and Exchange Date, as the case may be, with the same effect as if made on the Exchange Date;

(ii) the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Exchange Date;

(iii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and

(ii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Documents (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Change, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Offering Documents (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

17


(f) At each of the Commencement Date, the applicable Expiration Date and the Exchange Date, the Company shall have requested and caused the Company Auditors to furnish to the Dealer Manager letters, dated respectively as of the Commencement Date, the applicable Expiration Date and the Exchange Date, in the form and substance satisfactory to the Dealer Managers.

(g) Subsequent to the Commencement Date or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Preliminary Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Dealer Managers, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market or deliver the Exchange Securities or solicit tenders of Existing Securities as contemplated by the Preliminary Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(h) Prior to the Exchange Date, the Company shall have obtained all consents, approvals, authorizations and orders of, and shall have duly made all registrations, qualifications and filing with, any court or regulatory authority or other governmental agency or instrumentality required in connection with the making and consummation of the Exchange Offers and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

(i) Prior to the Exchange Date, the Exchange Securities shall have been approved for listing, subject to notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange.

(j) Prior to the Exchange Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Dealer Managers and its counsel such further information, certificates and documents as they may reasonably request.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, this Agreement and all obligations of the Dealer Managers hereunder may be cancelled by the Dealer Managers at, or at any time prior to, the Exchange Date. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

6. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Dealer Manager, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Dealer Manager and each person who controls any Dealer Manager within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal, state or foreign statutory law or regulation, at common

 

18


law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) relate to, arise out of, or are based upon (1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or in any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (2) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), the Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (3) the Company’s failure to make or consummate the Exchange Offers or the withdrawal, rescission, termination, amendment or extension of the Exchange Offers or any failure on the Company’s part to comply with the terms and conditions contained in the Offering Documents, (4) any action or failure to act by the Company or its respective directors, officers, agents or employees or by any indemnified party at the request or with the consent of the Company, or (5) otherwise related to or arising out of the Dealer Manager’s engagement hereunder or any transaction or conduct in connection therewith, except that this clauses (3) and (5) shall not apply with respect to the portion of any losses that are finally judicially determined to have resulted primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such indemnified party, and in the case of clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) of this sentence, the Company agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Offering Documents, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, in reliance upon and in conformity with the Dealer Manager Information. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Each Dealer Manager will, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Dealer Managers, but only with reference to the Dealer Manager Information. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Dealer Managers may otherwise have.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel

 

19


(including local counsel) of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel, other than local counsel if not appointed by the indemnifying party, retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel (including local counsel) to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest as determined in such counsel’s reasonable judgment; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party in writing to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 6 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company on the one hand and the Dealer Managers on the other agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively, the “Losses”) to which the Company one the one hand and the Dealer Managers on the other may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Dealer Managers on the one hand and the Company on the other from the Exchange Offers; provided, however, that in no case shall the Dealer Managers be responsible for any amount in excess of the Fee due (or anticipated to be due) to the Dealer Managers hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Dealer Managers shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Dealer Managers on the other in connection with the statements, omissions, actions or failure to act that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received (or anticipated to be received) by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the principal amount of the securities in respect of which: (a) if the Exchange

 

20


Offers are consummated, valid tenders of Existing Securities are received, or (b) if the Exchange Offers are not consummated, valid tenders are or were sought pursuant to the Exchange Offers, and benefits received (or anticipated to be received) by the Dealer Managers shall be deemed to be equal to the Fee paid by the Company to the Dealer Managers hereunder (exclusive of amounts paid for reimbursement of expenses or paid under this Agreement). Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company on the one hand or the Dealer Managers on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Dealer Managers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 6, each person who controls a Dealer Manager within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of a Dealer Manager shall have the same rights to contribution as such Dealer Manager, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each officer and director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

7. Certain Acknowledgments. The Company understands that you and your affiliates (together, the “Group”) are engaged in a wide range of financial services and businesses (including investment management, financing, securities trading, corporate and investment banking and research). Members of the Group and businesses within the Group generally act independently of each other, both for their own account and for the account of clients. Accordingly, there may be situations where parts of the Group and/or their clients either now have or may in the future have interests, or take actions, that may conflict with our interests. For example, the Group may, in the ordinary course of business, engage in trading in financial products or undertake other investment businesses for their own account or on behalf of other clients, including, but not limited to, trading in or holding long, short or derivative positions in securities, loans or other financial products of the Company or other entities connected with the Exchange Offers.

In recognition of the foregoing, the Company agrees that the Group is not required to restrict its activities as a result of this engagement, and that the Group may undertake any business activity without further consultation with or notification to the Company. Neither this Agreement, the receipt by the Group of confidential information nor any other matter shall give rise to any fiduciary, equitable or contractual duties (including without limitation any duty of trust or confidence) that would prevent or restrict the Group from acting on behalf of other customers or for its own account. Furthermore, the Company agrees that neither the Group nor any member or business of the Group is under a duty to disclose to the Company or use on behalf of the Company any information whatsoever about or derived from those activities or to

 

21


account for any revenue or profits obtained in connection with such activities. However, consistent with the Group’s long-standing policy to hold in confidence the affairs of its customers, the Group will not use confidential information obtained from the Company except in connection with its services to, and its relationship with the Company.

The Company hereby acknowledges that you are acting as principal and not as a fiduciary of the Company and the Company’s engagement of you in connection with the transactions contemplated herein is as an independent contractor and not in any other capacity. Neither this Agreement, your performance hereunder nor any previous or existing relationship between the Company and any member of or business within the Group will be deemed to create any fiduciary relationship. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the transactions contemplated herein (irrespective of whether any member of or business within the Group has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters).

8. Representations, Acknowledgments and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, acknowledgments, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Dealer Managers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Dealer Managers or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 6 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Exchange Securities. The provisions of the last sentence of Section 2 and the provisions of Section 6 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

9. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Dealer Managers, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the Citigroup Global Markets General Counsel (fax no.: (212) 816-7912) and confirmed to Citigroup Global Markets at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, Attention: General Counsel; Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (fax no. (212) 325-4296) and confirmed to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010-3629 Attention: LCD-IBD, with a copy to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (fax no. (213) 621-5341) and confirmed to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 300 South Grand Avenue, 34th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Casey T. Fleck or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the Company’s General Counsel (fax no. (770) 481-7364) and confirmed to it at 1000 Abernathy Road, Atlanta Georgia 30328, Attention: General Counsel with a copy to King & Spalding LLP (fax no. (404) 572-5133) and confirmed to King & Spalding LLP, 1180 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Attention: William Calvin Smith.

10. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 6 hereof, and, no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

11. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York. Any right to trial by jury with respect to any claim or proceeding related to or arising out of this Agreement or any transaction or conduct in connection herewith, is waived.

 

22


12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

13. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

14. Definitions. The following terms, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

“Affiliate” shall have the meaning specified in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D.

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in The City of New York.

“Citigroup Global Markets” shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

“Credit Suisse” shall mean Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

“Commencement Date” shall mean the date of commencement of the Exchange Offers.

“Commission” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Effective Date” shall mean the time the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act.

“Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“Exchange Date” shall mean each date on which the Company issues the Exchange Securities in connection with applicable Exchange Offer.

“Expiration Date” shall mean the last time that validly tendered Existing Securities may be withdrawn from the applicable Exchange Offers before being accepted by the Company for exchange.

“FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

“Information Agent” shall mean D.F. King & Co., Inc.

“Investment Company Act” shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

23


“Material Adverse Change” shall mean, with respect to the Company, any change that is materially adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business.

“Pre-Effective Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement, filed by the Company with the Commission registering the Exchange Offers under the Act, including exhibits thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein or deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430C under the Act, in the form in which it is initially filed with the Commission.

“Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

“U.S.” or the “United States” shall mean the United States of America.

“We” or “us” shall mean the Company.

“You” or “Your” shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

 

24


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement between the Company and the Dealer Managers.

 

Very truly yours,
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

25


Schedule I

Dealer Manager Fee

 

S-A-1


Schedule II

 

S-B-1


Schedule III

 

Ex-A-1


Exhibit A

Form of Opinion of King & Spalding LLP

 

FN-1

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

      

1180 Peachtree Street

Atlanta, Georgia 30309

Phone: 404/572-4600

www.kslaw.com

 

February 13, 2012

 

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 260

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

 

  Re:   Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Form S-4 Registration Statement

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel for Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the issuance by the Company of up to 27,898,740 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), pursuant to the Company’s offer to exchange (i) 5.7348 shares of Common Stock for each $25 principal amount of the Company’s 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinate Notes due 2013 (the “Notes”) (the “Notes Exchange Offer”) and (ii) 4.9029 shares of the Company’s Common Stock for each of the Company’s 7.25% Tangible Equity Units (the “Units”) (the “Units Exchange Offer” and together with the Notes Exchange Offer, the “Exchange Offers”).

 

As such counsel, we have examined and relied upon such records, documents, certificates and other instruments, including the Registration Statement and the forms of letters of transmittal to be used pursuant to the Exchange Offers (the “Letters of Transmittal”), as in my judgment are necessary or appropriate to form the basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth. In all such examinations, we have assumed the genuineness of signatures on original documents and the conformity to such original documents of all copies submitted to us as certified, conformed or photographic copies. We have relied, as to the matters set forth therein, on certificates of public officials. As to matters of fact material to this opinion, we have relied, without independent verification, upon certificates of officers of the Company.


Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

February 13, 2012

Page 2

 

The opinions expressed herein are limited in all respects to the federal laws of the United States of America and the corporate law of the State of Delaware (which includes the Delaware General Corporation Law, applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial interpretations concerning those laws), and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may have on the opinions expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the other limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Common Stock has been duly authorized, and when issued in accordance with terms and conditions of the Exchange Offers set forth in the Registration Statement and Letters of Transmittal, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that come to our attention or changes in law that occur which could affect the opinions contained herein. This letter is being rendered for the benefit of the Company in connection with the matters addressed herein.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement.

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ King & Spalding LLP

 

EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

 

     Fiscal Year Ended September 30,     Three Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011     2010     2011  
                                   unaudited  

Earnings

            

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

     (536,072     (710,188     (181,781     (147,925     (196,818     (48,865     (35,049

Plus: Fixed charges

     154,502        145,345        137,533        130,760        134,490        33,117        33,037   

Less: Capitalized interest

     (148,444     (84,474     (50,451     (53,102     (57,378     (13,443     (13,408

Add: Interest amortized to COS

     127,530        112,262        54,714        52,243        46,382        6,894        12,843   

Add: Interest impaired to COS

     12,350        13,795        3,376        2,313        1,907        —          28   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Earnings available for fixed charges

     (390,134     (523,260     (36,609     (15,711     (71,417     (22,297     (2,549
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed Charges

     154,502        145,345        137,533        130,760        134,490        33,117        33,037   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     (a     (a     (a     (a     (a     (a     (a

 

(a)   Earnings for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and the quarters ended December 31, 2010 and 2011 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $390 million, $523 million, $37 million, $16 million, $71 million, $22 million and $3 million, respectively.
EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-4 of our reports dated November 15, 2011, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Beazer Homes USA, Inc., and the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. for the year ended September 30, 2011, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

February 13, 2012

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

 

 

LOGO

 

BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.

 

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

Common Stock of

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

for

Any and all of its Outstanding 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinated Notes

Due 2013 (the “Notes”)

(CUSIP NO. 07556Q402)

 

Pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions described in the Prospectus, dated February 13, 2012

 

THE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MARCH 12, 2012 UNLESS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED IN OUR SOLE DISCRETION (AS SUCH DATE MAY BE EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED, THE “EXPIRATION DATE”). HOLDERS MUST VALIDLY TENDER, AND NOT WITHDRAW, THEIR NOTES ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND CASH IN LIEU OF FRACTIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK. TENDERED NOTES MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO 12:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

 

If Delivering by Mail:   If Delivering by Hand or Courier:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042

New York, New York 10272-2042

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

 

By facsimile

(For Eligible Institutions Only):

(718) 234-5001

 

Confirm by Telephone:

(718) 921-8317

Toll free: (877) 248-6417

 

 

Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal (as it may be amended or supplemented) to an address other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery. The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, any Notes and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent, including delivery through The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and any acceptance or Agent’s Message (as defined below) delivered through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, is at the election and risk of holders of Notes (“Holders”). We do not intend to permit tenders of Notes by guaranteed delivery procedures.

 

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a Holder desiring to tender 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2013 of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (“Beazer” or the “Company”) pursuant to the Exchange Offer (as defined herein) unless such Holder is executing the tender through ATOP.

 

Holders that are tendering by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC can execute the tender through ATOP. DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC. DTC will then send an Agent’s Message to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance. The term “Agent’s Message” means a message transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the Exchange Agent which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgement from the DTC participant tendering Notes that such DTC participant


has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Exchange Offer as set forth in the prospectus dated February 13, 2012 (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”) and this Letter of Transmittal and that the Company may enforce such agreement against such participant. Delivery of the Agent’s Message by DTC may be done in lieu of execution and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal by the participant identified in the Agent’s Message. This Letter of Transmittal need not be completed by a Holder tendering through ATOP.

 

For a description of certain procedures to be followed in order to tender the Notes, see “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” in the Prospectus and the instructions to this Letter of Transmittal.

 

THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

 

DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO DTC DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.

 

2


This document relates to the Exchange Offer by Beazer to exchange any and all of its outstanding 7.50% Mandatory Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2013 for shares of Beazer’s Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus, and this letter of transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”).

 

The consideration in this Exchange Offer for each $25 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and accepted for exchange (the “Offer Consideration”) is 5.7348 shares of Common Stock.

 

Only Notes validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date will be accepted for exchange.

 

Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

 

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a Holder desiring to tender Notes, unless such Holder is executing the tender through ATOP. This Letter of Transmittal need not be completed by a Holder tendering through ATOP. Holders who wish to tender through DTC’s ATOP procedures should allow sufficient time for completion of the ATOP procedures during the normal business hours of DTC on or before the Expiration Date.

 

Tenders of Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to 12:00 a.m. New York City time, on the Expiration Date. For a withdrawal of Notes to be effective, the Exchange Agent must receive a written or facsimile transmission containing a notice of withdrawal prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, by a properly transmitted “Request Message” through ATOP. Such notice of withdrawal must (i) specify the name of the Holder who tendered the Notes to be withdrawn, (ii) contain the aggregate principal amount represented by such Notes, (iii) contain a statement that such Holder is withdrawing the election to tender such Holder’s Notes, and (iv) be signed by the Holder in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Company that the person withdrawing the tender has succeeded to the beneficial ownership of the Notes. Any notice of withdrawal must identify the Notes to be withdrawn, including the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited, and otherwise comply with the procedures of DTC.

 

For a description of certain procedures to be followed in order to tender or withdraw Notes (through ATOP or otherwise), see “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” in the Prospectus and the Instructions to this Letter of Transmittal.

 

Holders who do not tender their Notes prior to the Expiration Date will continue to hold their Notes.

 

Your bank or broker can assist you in completing this form. The instructions included with this Letter of Transmittal must be followed. Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Information Agent. See Instruction 11 below.

 

3


List below the Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the space provided is inadequate, list the principal amounts on a separately executed schedule and affix the schedule to this Letter of Transmittal. Holders may tender Notes in integral multiples of $25 principal amount.

 

DESCRIPTION OF NOTES TENDERED (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 4 AND 5)

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) or

Name of DTC Participant and Participant’s DTC

Account Number in which Notes are Held

(Please Fill in Exactly as Name Appears on the Notes or

the Security Position Listing)

   Notes Tendered

(Attach Additional List if Necessary)

   Certificate
Number(s)*
   Aggregate
Principal
Amount
Represented
   Principal
Amount
Tendered**

  

                
                
              
                
     Total Principal Amount     

*    Need not be completed by Holders of the Notes tendering by book-entry transfer.

**  Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Notes represented by any certificates delivered to the Exchange Agent are being tendered. See Instructions 4, 7 and 9 below.

 

The undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer (as defined below).

 

TENDER OF SECURITIES   

¨       CHECK HERE IF TENDERED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

  
Name of Tendering Institution:   

 

  
DTC Account Number:   

 

  
Transaction Code Number:   

 

  

 

If tendered by a participant in DTC, the participant name(s) and address(es) should be printed exactly as such participant’s name appears on a security position listing as the owners of the Notes.

 

4


NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, which together constitute the Company’s offer to exchange (the “Exchange Offer”) Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock for any and all outstanding Notes, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal.

 

The undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the above-described Notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

The undersigned understands that tenders of Notes pursuant to the procedures described in the Prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” and the instructions to this Letter of Transmittal will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal. The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to surrender and deliver the above-listed Notes, and to tender, sell and assign the Notes being tendered pursuant hereto, without restriction and that when such Notes are accepted for exchange, such Notes may be duly cancelled and will be free of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claim or right. The undersigned shall, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents necessary or desirable to complete the surrender of such Notes. The undersigned has read and agrees to all of the terms of the Exchange Offer.

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as the undersigned’s true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest, subject only to the right of withdrawal described in the Prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offers — Withdrawal Rights,” to deliver to the Company the above-described Notes or transfer ownership of such Notes on the account books maintained at DTC (together, in each case, with all accompanying evidence of authority), against receipt by the Exchange Agent (as agent of the undersigned) of the shares of Common Stock that the undersigned is entitled to receive for such Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred herein shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and all obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and assigns of the undersigned.

 

Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance of the Notes tendered hereby, by executing and delivering this Letter of Transmittal (or agreeing to the terms of this Letter of Transmittal pursuant to an Agent’s Message) the undersigned: (i) irrevocably sells, assigns, and transfers to or upon the order of the Company all right, title and interest in and to, and all claims in respect of or arising or having arisen as a result of the undersigned’s status as a Holder of the Note(s) tendered thereby; (ii) waives any and all rights with respect to the Notes tendered; and (iii) releases and discharges the Company from any and all claims such Holder may have, now or in the future, arising out of or related to the Notes.

 

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company, the Dealer Managers, the Information Agent and the Exchange Agent (each, an “Indemnified Party”) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any Indemnified Party may become subject, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon a breach of the foregoing representations and warranties and will reimburse any Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claims as such expenses are incurred.

 

The undersigned recognizes that, under certain circumstances set forth in the Prospectus, the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, terminate or amend the Exchange Offer or may postpone the acceptance for

 

5


exchange of Notes tendered or may not exchange any of the Notes tendered hereby other than in accordance with their terms. Except as to the requirements that the registration statement related to the Exchange Offer be declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission and there be no stop orders suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, which the Company will not waive, the undersigned understands that the Company reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to waive any and all conditions of the Exchange Offer.

 

The undersigned understands that a valid tender of the Notes is not made in acceptable form and risk of loss therefore does not pass to the Exchange Agent until receipt by the Exchange Agent of this Letter of Transmittal (or an Agent’s Message in lieu thereof), duly completed, dated and signed, together with all accompanying evidences of authority and any other required documents and signature guarantees in form satisfactory to the Company (which may delegate power in whole or in part to the Exchange Agent). All questions as to validity, form and eligibility of any tender of the Notes hereunder (including time of receipt) and acceptance of tenders and withdrawals of the Notes will be determined by the Company in its sole judgment (which may delegate power in whole or in part to the Exchange Agent) and such determination shall be final and binding.

 

Unless otherwise indicated under the “Special Exchange Instructions,” the undersigned request(s) that the Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock and any untendered Notes be credited to the account indicated above maintained at DTC. In the event that both the “Special Exchange Instructions” and the “Special Delivery Instructions” are completed, the undersigned requests that the Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock and any untendered Notes be issued in the name(s) of, and credited to the account maintained at DTC so indicated.

 

6


PLEASE COMPLETE AND SIGN BELOW

 

(This page is to be completed and signed by all tendering

Holders except Holders executing the tender through DTC’s ATOP)

 

By completing, executing and delivering this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby tenders the principal amount of the Notes listed in the box above labeled “Description of Notes Tendered” under the column heading “Principal Amount Tendered” (or, if nothing is indicated therein, with respect to the entire aggregate principal amount represented by the Notes described in such box).

 

Signature(s):  

 

 

(Must be signed by registered Holder exactly as name appears on a security position listing as the owner of such Notes. If signature is by an officer of a corporation, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title. For general information see the Instructions. For information concerning signature guarantees see Instruction 3 below.)

 

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Name(s):                                                                                                                                                                                                          

(Please Print)

Capacity (Full Title):                                                                                                                                                                                  

(See Instructions)

Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                           

(Including Zip Code)
Area Code and Telephone Number:                                                                                                                                                       

Tax Identification or Social Security Number:                                                                                                                                  

 

PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE IRS FORM W-9 ATTACHED TO

THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR IRS FORM W-8, AS APPLICABLE)

 

GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES

(SEE INSTRUCTION 3 BELOW)

 

Authorized Signature:                                                                                                                                                                                
Name:                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Title:                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Name of Firm:                                                                                                                                                                                              
Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Area Code and Telephone Number:                                                                                                                                                       

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

7


SPECIAL EXCHANGE INSTRUCTIONS

 

To be completed ONLY if Notes not tendered or accepted for exchange or Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock received in the Exchange Offer are to be issued in the name of someone other than the person whose signature appears above.

 

Issue:

(check as applicable)

 

¨ Return Notes

 

¨ Common Stock

 

¨ Cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock

 

To:    
Name  

 

    (Please Print)
Address  

 

    (Include Zip Code)
DTC Account Number:  

 

Tax Identification or SSN:  

 

    (See Substitute Form W-9 Below)

 

 

 

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

 

To be completed ONLY if Notes not tendered or accepted for exchange or Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock received in the exchange offer, issued in the name of the person whose signature appears above, are to be sent or credited to someone other than the person whose signature appears above or to the person whose signature appears above at an address or DTC account other than that shown above.

 

Deliver:

(check as applicable)

 

¨ Return Notes

 

¨ Common Stock

 

¨ Cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock

 

To:    
Name  

 

    (Please Print)
Address  

 

    (Include Zip Code)
DTC Account Number:  

 

Tax Identification or SSN:  

 

    (See Substitute Form W-9 Below)

 

 

8


INSTRUCTIONS

FORMING PART OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

 

1. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. This Letter of Transmittal is being provided to you to effect the exchange of Notes for Common Stock and acceptance of the Exchange Offer.

 

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed if tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for tender by book-entry transfer set forth in “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” in the Prospectus and an Agent’s Message is not delivered. Timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC, as well as this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein on or prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer. Tenders by book-entry transfer may also be made by delivering an Agent’s Message in lieu thereof. Notes may be tendered in whole or in part in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25.

 

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE OPTION AND SOLE RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER, AND THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, THEN REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

 

The Issuer will not accept any alternative, conditional or contingent tenders. Each tendering Holder, by execution of a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waives any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of such tender.

 

2. SIGNATURES. (a) All signatures must correspond exactly with the way your name is written on any Note certificate(s) without alteration, variation or any change whatsoever.

 

(b) If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a participant in DTC whose name is shown on a security position listing as the owner of the Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name shown on the security position listing as the owner of such Notes.

 

(c) If the Note(s) surrendered with this Letter of Transmittal is (are) owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

 

(d) If your Note(s) are registered in different names on several certificates or security positions, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Notes.

 

(e) If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity and such person is not the registered Holder of the Note(s), such person must indicate their capacity when signing this Letter of Transmittal and must submit proper evidence of his or her authority to act.

 

3. SIGNATURE GUARANTEE. Each signature on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed unless the Notes surrendered for exchange pursuant hereto are tendered (i) by a registered Holder of the Notes who has not completed either the box entitled “Special Exchange Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” in this Letter of Transmittal, or (ii) for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage

 

9


houses) that is a participant in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (each, an “Eligible Institution”). In the event that a signature on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, is required to be guaranteed, such guarantee must be by an eligible institution. If the Holder of the Note(s) is a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal, see Instruction 6 below.

 

4. DESCRIPTION OF NOTES TENDERED. Please complete the form entitled “DESCRIPTION OF NOTES TENDERED” which sets forth the Notes which are to be delivered to the Exchange Agent with this Letter of Transmittal upon your acceptance of the Exchange Offer.

 

5. INADEQUATE SPACE. If the space provided is inadequate, the numbers of the Note certificate(s) delivered for exchange should be listed on a separate signed schedule and attached hereto.

 

6. BOND POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered Holder of the Notes, the Notes surrendered for exchange must either (i) be endorsed by the registered Holder, with the signature thereon guaranteed by an eligible institution, or (ii) be accompanied by a bond power, in satisfactory form as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, duly executed by the registered Holder, with the signature thereon guaranteed by an eligible institution. The term “registered Holder” as used herein with respect to the Notes means any person in whose name the Notes are registered on the books of the registrar.

 

7. PARTIAL TENDERS (NOT APPLICABLE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES WHO TENDER BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER). If less than the entire principal amount of Notes represented by any Note certificate delivered to the Exchange Agent is to be tendered, fill in the principal amount of Notes that is to be tendered in the box entitled “Principal Amount Tendered.” In such case, a new Note certificate for the remainder of the principal amount of Notes represented by the old Note certificate will be sent to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the “Special Exchange Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” boxes on this Letter of Transmittal, promptly following the termination or withdrawal of the Exchange Offer. The entire principal amount of the Notes represented by Note certificates delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

 

8. WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS. Tenders of the Notes may be withdrawn by delivery of (1) a computer-generated notice of withdrawal to the Exchange Agent, transmitted by DTC on behalf of the Holder in accordance with the standard operating procedures of DTC or (2) a written notice to the Exchange Agent at any time prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. Any written notice of withdrawal must (1) specify the name of the person having deposited the Notes to be withdrawn, (2) identify the Notes to be withdrawn (including the certificate number or numbers and principal amount of the Notes, as applicable), and (3) be signed by the Holder in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which the Notes were tendered and must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. Any questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion. The Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are withdrawn will be returned to the Holder without cost to the Holder promptly after withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Notes may be re-tendered by following one of the procedures described in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” at any time on or prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

 

9. SPECIAL EXCHANGE INSTRUCTIONS AND SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. Unless instructions to the contrary are given in the Special Exchange Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions on this Letter of Transmittal, shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal, together with any untendered Note(s), will be issued to the registered owner and credited to the account indicated herein maintained at DTC.

 

10


10. IRREGULARITIES. The Company will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the form of documents, validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of any tender of Notes, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance of which, or exchange for which, may, in the view of counsel to the Company, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the absolute right, subject to applicable law, to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offers — Conditions of the Exchange Offer” or any conditions or irregularities in any tender of Notes of any particular Holder whether or not similar conditions or irregularities are waived in the case of other Holders. The Company’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions hereto) will be final and binding. No tender of Notes will be deemed to have been validly made until all irregularities with respect to such tender have been cured or waived. Neither the Company, any affiliates or assigns of the Company, the Exchange Agent, nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

 

11. ADDITIONAL COPIES. Additional copies of this Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from, and all inquires with respect to the surrender of the Notes should be made directly to, D.F. King & Co., Inc., as the Information Agent for the Exchange Offer, at its address and telephone numbers listed on the back of this Letter of Transmittal.

 

12. TRANSFER TAXES. Except as set forth in this Instruction 12, the Company will pay or cause to be paid any transfer taxes with respect to the transfer and exchange of Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If payment is to be made to, or if Common Stock or untendered Notes are to be registered in the name of, any persons other than the registered owners, or if tendered Notes are registered in the name of any persons other than the undersigned, the amount of any transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered Holder or such other person) payable on account of the transfer to such other person will be deducted from the payment unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes or exemption there from is submitted.

 

13. SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9; WITHHOLDING. Each surrendering Holder of the Notes is required, unless an exemption applies, to provide the Exchange Agent with such Holder’s correct Taxpayer Identification Number, or TIN (generally the Holder’s social security number or employer identification number), on the Substitute Form W-9 provided below and to certify under penalties of perjury that such TIN is correct. The TIN that must be provided is that of the registered Holder of the Note(s) or of the last transferee appearing in the transfers attached to or endorsed on the Note certificate(s). Failure to provide the information on the Substitute Form W-9 may subject the surrendering Holder to backup withholding on payments made to such surrendering Holder with respect to the Notes. A Holder of the Note(s) must cross out item (2) in the Certification box of Substitute Form W-9 (Part III) if such Holder has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, that such Holder is currently subject to backup withholding. The box “Certificate Of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number” on the Substitute Form W-9 should be completed if the surrendering Holder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box “Certificate Of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number” is completed and the Exchange Agent is not provided with a TIN by the time of payment, the Exchange Agent will withhold 28% of all reportable payments made to such surrendering Holder until a TIN is provided to the Exchange Agent. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the need to complete IRS Form W-8 and any other forms that may be required. See “Important Tax Information.”

 

14. WAIVER OF CONDITIONS. The Company reserves the absolute right to waive satisfaction of any or all conditions enumerated in the Prospectus.

 

11


TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS OF NOTES

 

 
PAYER’S NAME:
 
Payee’s Name (if in joint names, list first and circle the name of the person or entity whose number you enter in Part I)
 

Payee’s Business Name (Sole proprietors see the instructions in the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 (the “Guidelines”))

 

Check appropriate box:    ¨  Individual/Sole Proprietor    ¨  Corporation    ¨  Partnership

 

¨       Limited Liability Company. Enter the tax classification (D=disregarded entity, C=corporation, P=partnership)             

 

¨       Other                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

Payee’s Address                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

SUBSTITUTE

 

Form W-9

Department of the

Treasury Internal

Revenue Service

  

Part I — Taxpayer Identification Number. Please enter your taxpayer identification number in the box at right. (For most individuals, this is your social security number. If you do not have a number, see Obtaining a Number in the enclosed Guidelines.) Certify by signing and dating below.

Note: If the account is in more than one name, see chart in the enclosed Guidelines to determine which number to give the payer.

  Social Security Number

 

 

                                                               

OR

Employer Identification Number

 

 

                                                               

(If awaiting TIN write

“Applied For”)

    
   
     Part II — For Payees exempt from backup withholding, write “Exempt” in this space:
   

Payer’s Request for

Taxpayer Identification

Number (“TIN”) and

Certification

  

Part III — Certification — Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

(1)    The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me);

 

(2)    I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (c) the IRS notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and

 

(3)    I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

 

Certification Instructions — You should cross out item (2) above if the IRS has notified you that you are subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding you received another notification from the IRS that you were no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2). (Also see instructions in the enclosed Guidelines.)

 

The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.

   
     SIGNATURE                                                     DATE                                                   , 2012

 

12


YOU SHOULD COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU

WROTE “APPLIED FOR” IN PART I OF THIS SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

 

CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

 

I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that, notwithstanding the information I provided in Part III of the Substitute Form W-9 (and the fact that I have completed this Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number), all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be subject to backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 28%), but any amounts withheld will be refunded to me if I furnish my taxpayer identification number within 60 days after the Depositary receives this certification.

 

Signature                                                                                            Date:                                                                                 , 2012

 

 

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX (CURRENTLY AT A RATE OF 28%) ON ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

 

13


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

 

Guidelines for Determining the Proper Identification Number to Give the Payer. The taxpayer identification number for an individual is the individual’s Social Security number. Social Security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: e.g., 000-00-0000. The taxpayer identification number for an entity is the entity’s Employer Identification number. Employer Identification numbers have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: e.g., 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to give the payer.

   
For this type of account:  

Give the

SOCIAL SECURITY

number of —

  1.   An individual’s account

  The individual

  2.   Two or more individuals (joint account)

  The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account(1)

  3.   Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)

  The minor(2)

  4.    a. The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is also trustee)

  The grantor-trustee(1)

        b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under State law

  The actual owner(1)

  5.   Sole proprietorship account or disregarded entity owned by an individual

  The owner(3)
   
For this type of account:  

Give the EMPLOYER

IDENTIFICATION

number of —

  6.   Disregarded entity not owned by an individual

  The owner

  7.   A valid trust, estate or pension trust

  The legal entity (Do not furnish the identifying number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)(4)

  8.   Corporate account or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832

  The corporation

  9.   Association, club, religious, charitable, educational or other tax-exempt organization

  The organization

10.   Partnership or multiple-member LLC

  The partnership

11.   A broker or registered nominee

  The broker or nominee

12.   Account with the Depart-ment of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a State or local government, school district or prison) that receives agriculture program payments

  The public entity
 

 

14

(1) List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has a Social Security number, that person’s number must be furnished.
(2) Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s Social Security number.
(3) You must show the name of the individual. The name of the business or the “doing business as” name may also be entered. Either the Social Security number or the Employer Identification number may be used.
(4) List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate or pension trust.

 

NOTE: IF NO NAME IS CIRCLED WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE NAME, THE NUMBER WILL BE CONSIDERED TO BE THAT OF THE FIRST NAME LISTED.


Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Obtaining a Number

 

If you do not have a taxpayer identification number or you do not know your number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, at the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and apply for a number.

 

To complete the Substitute Form W-9, if you do not have a taxpayer identification number, write “Applied For” in the space for the taxpayer identification number in Part I, sign and date the Form, and give it to the requester. If the requester does not receive your taxpayer identification number within 60 days, backup withholding, if applicable, will begin and will continue until you furnish your taxpayer identification number to the requester.

 

Payees Exempt from Backup Withholding

 

For certain payees, exemptions from backup withholding apply and no information reporting is required. For interest and dividends, all payees listed below are exempt except item (9). For broker transactions, payees listed in (1) through (13) and a person registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 who regularly acts as a broker are exempt. Payments subject to reporting under sections 6041 and 6041A are generally exempt from backup withholding only if made to payees described in items (1) through (7); however, payments made to a corporation that are reportable on Form 1099-MISC and that are medical and healthcare payments, attorneys’ fees (including gross proceeds paid to an attorney under section 6045(f), even if the attorney is a corporation), or payments for services paid by a federal executive agency are not exempt from backup withholding or information reporting. Only payees described in items (2) through (6) are exempt from backup withholding for barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends.

 

(1)   A corporation.

 

(2)   An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), or an individual retirement plan (“IRA”), or a custodial account under 403(b)(7), if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2).

 

(3)   The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

(4)   A State, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of its political subdivisions or instrumentalities.

 

(5)   A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities.

 

(6)   An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

(7)   A foreign central bank of issue.

 

(8)   A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States.

 

(9)   A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

(10)   A real estate investment trust.

 

(11)   An entity registered at all times during the year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(12)   A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a).

 

(13)   A financial institution.

 

(14)   A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian.

 

(15)   A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947.

Payments of dividends and patronage dividends generally not subject to backup withholding include the following:

 

   

Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under section 1441.

 

   

Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the United States and that have at least one nonresident alien partner.

 

   

Payments of patronage dividends not paid in money.

 

   

Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

 

   

Section 404(k) distributions made by an ESOP.

 

Payments of interest generally not subject to backup withholding include the following:

 

   

Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals.

 

Note: You may be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and is paid in the course of the payer’s trade or business and you have not provided your correct taxpayer identification number to the payer.

 

   

Payments described in section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens.

 

   

Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under section 1451.

 

   

Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

   

Mortgage or student loan interest paid by you.

 

Payments that are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup withholding. For details see sections 6041, 6041A(a), 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, 6050A and 6050N, and the regulations under those sections.

 

Exempt payees described above should file Substitute Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. ENTER YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. WRITE “EXEMPT” IN PART II OF THE FORM, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE PAYER.

 

Privacy Act Notice

 

Section 6109 requires you to give your correct taxpayer identification number to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to you, mortgage interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA, or Archer MSA or HSA. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your tax return. The IRS may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia and U.S. possessions to carry out their tax laws. The IRS may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, or to federal and state agencies to enforce federal non-tax criminal laws and to combat terrorism. You must provide your taxpayer identification number whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold (currently at a rate of 28%) on taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

 

Penalties

 

(1) Penalty for Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number. If you fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

 

(2) Civil Penalty for False Information with respect to Withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis which results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

 

(3) Criminal Penalty for Falsifying Information. Falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX

CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

 

 

15


The Information Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

 

D.F. KING & CO., INC.

 

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

 

Banks and Brokers call: (212) 269-5550

Toll free: (800) 859-8509

EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

 

LOGO

 

BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.

 

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

Common Stock of

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.

for

Any and all of its Outstanding 7.25% Tangible Equity Units (the “Units”)

(CUSIP NO. 07556Q501)

 

Pursuant to, and subject to the terms and conditions described in the Prospectus, dated February 13, 2012

 

THE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MARCH 12, 2012 UNLESS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED IN OUR SOLE DISCRETION (AS SUCH DATE MAY BE EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED, THE “EXPIRATION DATE”). HOLDERS MUST VALIDLY TENDER, AND NOT WITHDRAW, THEIR UNITS ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND CASH IN LIEU OF FRACTIONAL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK. TENDERED UNITS MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO 12:00 A.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

 

AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

 

If Delivering by Mail:

 

If Delivering by Hand or Courier:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042

New York, New York 10272-2042

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, New York 11219

 

By facsimile

(For Eligible Institutions Only):

(718) 234-5001

 

Confirm by Telephone:

(718) 921-8317

Toll free: (877) 248-6417

 

Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal (as it may be amended or supplemented) to an address other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery. The method of delivery of this Letter of Transmittal, any Units and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent, including delivery through The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and any acceptance or Agent’s Message (as defined below) delivered through DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, is at the election and risk of holders of Units (“Holders”). We do not intend to permit tenders of Units by guaranteed delivery procedures.

 

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a Holder desiring to tender Tangible Equity Units of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (“Beazer” or the “Company”) pursuant to the Exchange Offer (as defined herein) unless such Holder is executing the tender through ATOP.

 

Holders that are tendering by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC can execute the tender through ATOP. DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC. DTC will then send an Agent’s Message to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance. The term “Agent’s Message” means a message transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the Exchange Agent which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgement from the DTC participant tendering Units that such DTC participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Exchange Offer as set forth in the prospectus dated February 13, 2012 (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”) and this Letter of Transmittal and that the Company may enforce such agreement against such participant. Delivery of the Agent’s Message by DTC may be done in lieu of execution and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal by the participant identified in the Agent’s Message. This Letter of Transmittal need not be completed by a Holder tendering through ATOP.


For a description of certain procedures to be followed in order to tender the Units, see “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” in the Prospectus and the instructions to this Letter of Transmittal.

 

THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

 

DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO DTC DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.

 

2


This document relates to the Exchange Offer by Beazer to exchange any and all of its outstanding 7.25% Tangible Equity Units, each unit being comprised of a prepaid stock purchase contract and a senior amortizing note due August 15, 2013 for shares of Beazer’s Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”) and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and this letter of transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”).

 

The consideration in this Exchange Offer for each Unit validly tendered and accepted for exchange (the “Offer Consideration”) is 4.9029 shares of Common Stock.

 

Only Units validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date will be accepted for exchange.

 

Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

 

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a Holder desiring to tender Units, unless such Holder is executing the tender through ATOP. This Letter of Transmittal need not be completed by a Holder tendering through ATOP. Holders who wish to tender through DTC’s ATOP procedures should allow sufficient time for completion of the ATOP procedures during the normal business hours of DTC on or before the Expiration Date.

 

Tenders of Units may be withdrawn at any time prior to 12:00 a.m. New York City time, on the Expiration Date. For a withdrawal of Units to be effective, the Exchange Agent must receive a written or facsimile transmission containing a notice of withdrawal prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, by a properly transmitted “Request Message” through ATOP. Such notice of withdrawal must (i) specify the name of the Holder who tendered the Units to be withdrawn, (ii) contain the aggregate principal amount represented by such Units, (iii) contain a statement that such Holder is withdrawing the election to tender such Holder’s Units, and (iv) be signed by the Holder in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Company that the person withdrawing the tender has succeeded to the beneficial ownership of the Units. Any notice of withdrawal must identify the Units to be withdrawn, including the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited, and otherwise comply with the procedures of DTC.

 

For a description of certain procedures to be followed in order to tender or withdraw Units (through ATOP or otherwise), see “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” in the Prospectus and the Instructions to this Letter of Transmittal.

 

Holders who do not tender their Units prior to the Expiration Date will continue to hold their Units.

 

Your bank or broker can assist you in completing this form. The instructions included with this Letter of Transmittal must be followed. Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Information Agent. See Instruction 11 below.

 

3


List below the Units to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the space provided is inadequate, list the certificate numbers and number of Units on a separately executed schedule and affix the schedule to this Letter of Transmittal.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS TENDERED (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 4 AND 5)

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) or
Name of DTC Participant and Participant’s DTC
Account Number in which Units are Held
(Please Fill in Exactly as Name Appears on the Units or the

Security Position Listing)

   Units Tendered

(Attach Additional List if Necessary)

   Certificate
Number(s)*
  Aggregate
Number
of Units
   Number
of Units
Tendered**

  

               
               
             
               
     Total Number of Units     

*    Need not be completed by Holders of the Units tendering by book-entry transfer.

**  Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Units represented by any certificates delivered to the Exchange Agent are being tendered. See Instructions 4, 7 and 9 below.

 

The undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer (as defined below).

 

TENDER OF SECURITIES   

¨       CHECK HERE IF TENDERED UNITS ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

  
Name of Tendering Institution:   

 

  
DTC Account Number:   

 

  
Transaction Code Number:   

 

  

 

If tendered by a participant in DTC, the participant name(s) and address(es) should be printed exactly as such participant’s name appears on a security position listing as the owners of the Units.

 

4


NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, which together constitute the Company’s offer to exchange (the “Exchange Offer”) Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock for any and all outstanding Units, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal.

 

The undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the above-described Units for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

The undersigned understands that tenders of Units pursuant to the procedures described in the Prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” and the instructions to this Letter of Transmittal will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions described in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal. The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to surrender and deliver the above-listed Units, and to tender, sell and assign the Units being tendered pursuant hereto, without restriction and that when such Units are accepted for exchange, such Units may be duly cancelled and will be free of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claim or right. The undersigned shall, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents necessary or desirable to complete the surrender of such Units. The undersigned has read and agrees to all of the terms of the Exchange Offer.

 

The undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as the undersigned’s true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest, subject only to the right of withdrawal described in the Prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offers — Withdrawal Rights,” to deliver to the Company the above-described Units or transfer ownership of such Units on the account books maintained at DTC (together, in each case, with all accompanying evidence of authority), against receipt by the Exchange Agent (as agent of the undersigned) of the shares of Common Stock that the undersigned is entitled to receive for such Units pursuant to the Exchange Offer. All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred herein shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and all obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives and assigns of the undersigned.

 

Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance of the Units tendered hereby, by executing and delivering this Letter of Transmittal (or agreeing to the terms of this Letter of Transmittal pursuant to an Agent’s Message) the undersigned: (i) irrevocably sells, assigns, and transfers to or upon the order of the Company all right, title and interest in and to, and all claims in respect of or arising or having arisen as a result of the undersigned’s status as a Holder of the Unit(s) tendered thereby; (ii) waives any and all rights with respect to the Units tendered; and (iii) releases and discharges the Company from any and all claims such Holder may have, now or in the future, arising out of or related to the Units.

 

The undersigned shall indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company, the Dealer Managers, the Information Agent and the Exchange Agent (each, an “Indemnified Party”) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which any Indemnified Party may become subject, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon a breach of the foregoing representations and warranties and will reimburse any Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claims as such expenses are incurred.

 

The undersigned recognizes that, under certain circumstances set forth in the Prospectus, the Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, terminate or amend the Exchange Offer or may postpone the acceptance for

 

5


exchange of Units tendered or may not exchange any of the Units tendered hereby other than in accordance with their terms. Except as to the requirements that the registration statement related to the Exchange Offer be declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission and there be no stop orders suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement, which will not be waived by the Company, the undersigned understands that the Company reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to waive any and all conditions of the Exchange Offer.

 

The undersigned understands that a valid tender of the Units is not made in acceptable form and risk of loss therefore does not pass to the Exchange Agent until receipt by the Exchange Agent of this Letter of Transmittal (or an Agent’s Message in lieu thereof), duly completed, dated and signed, together with all accompanying evidences of authority and any other required documents and signature guarantees in form satisfactory to the Company (which may delegate power in whole or in part to the Exchange Agent). All questions as to validity, form and eligibility of any tender of the Units hereunder (including time of receipt) and acceptance of tenders and withdrawals of the Units will be determined by the Company in its sole judgment (which may delegate power in whole or in part to the Exchange Agent) and such determination shall be final and binding.

 

Unless otherwise indicated under the “Special Exchange Instructions,” the undersigned request(s) that the Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock and any untendered Units be credited to the account indicated above maintained at DTC. In the event that both the “Special Exchange Instructions” and the “Special Delivery Instructions” are completed, the undersigned requests that the Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock and any untendered Units be issued in the name(s) of, and credited to the account maintained at DTC so indicated.

 

6


PLEASE COMPLETE AND SIGN BELOW

 

(This page is to be completed and signed by all tendering

Holders except Holders executing the tender through DTC’s ATOP)

 

By completing, executing and delivering this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby tenders the Units listed in the box above labeled “Description of Units Tendered” under the column heading “Number of Units Tendered” (or, if nothing is indicated therein, with respect to the entire aggregate number of Units described in such box).

 

Signature(s):  

 

 

(Must be signed by registered Holder exactly as name appears on a security position listing as the owner of such Units. If signature is by an officer of a corporation, trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title. For general information see the Instructions. For information concerning signature guarantees see Instruction 3 below.)

 

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Name(s):                                                                                                                                                                                                          

   (Please Print)

Capacity (Full Title):                                                                                                                                                                                  

   (See Instructions)

Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                           

   (Including Zip Code)
Area Code and Telephone Number:                                                                                                                                                       

Tax Identification or Social Security Number:                                                                                                                                  

 

PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE IRS FORM W-9 ATTACHED TO

THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR IRS FORM W-8, AS APPLICABLE)

 

GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES

(SEE INSTRUCTION 3 BELOW)

 

Authorized Signature:                                                                                                                                                                                
Name:                                                                                                                                                                                                               
Title:                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Name of Firm:                                                                                                                                                                                              
Address:                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Area Code and Telephone Number:                                                                                                                                                       

Dated:                                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

7


SPECIAL EXCHANGE INSTRUCTIONS

 

To be completed ONLY if Units not tendered or accepted for exchange or Common Stock and cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock received in the Exchange Offer are to be issued in the name of someone other than the person whose signature appears above.

 

Issue:

(check as applicable)

 

¨  Return Units

 

¨  Common Stock

 

¨  Cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock

 

To:    
Name  

 

    (Please Print)
Address  

 

    (Include Zip Code)
DTC Account Number:  

 

Tax Identification or SSN:  

 

    (See Substitute Form W-9 Below)

 

 

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

 

To be completed ONLY if Units not tendered or accepted for exchange or Common Stock received in the exchange offer, issued in the name of the person whose signature appears above, are to be sent or credited to someone other than the person whose signature appears above or to the person whose signature appears above at an address or DTC account other than that shown above.

 

Deliver:

(check as applicable)

 

¨  Return Units

 

¨  Common Stock

 

¨  Cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock

 

To:    
Name  

 

    (Please Print)
Address  

 

    (Include Zip Code)
DTC Account Number:  

 

Tax Identification or SSN:  

 

    (See Substitute Form W-9 Below)

 

 

8


INSTRUCTIONS FORMING PART OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

 

1. LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. This Letter of Transmittal is being provided to you to effect the exchange of Units for Common Stock and acceptance of the Exchange Offer.

 

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed if tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for tender by book-entry transfer set forth in “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” in the Prospectus and an Agent’s Message is not delivered. Timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Units into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC, as well as this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein on or prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer. Tenders by book-entry transfer may also be made by delivering an Agent’s Message in lieu thereof. Units may be tendered in whole or in part in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25.

 

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE OPTION AND SOLE RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER, AND THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, THEN REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

 

The Issuer will not accept any alternative, conditional or contingent tenders. Each tendering Holder, by execution of a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waives any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of such tender.

 

2. SIGNATURES. (a) All signatures must correspond exactly with the way your name is written on any Unit certificate(s) without alteration, variation or any change whatsoever.

 

(b) If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a participant in DTC whose name is shown on a security position listing as the owner of the Units tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name shown on the security position listing as the owner of such Units.

 

(c) If the Unit(s) surrendered with this Letter of Transmittal is (are) owned of record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

 

(d) If your Unit(s) are registered in different names on several certificates or security positions, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Units.

 

(e) If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity and such person is not the registered Holder of the Unit(s), such person must indicate their capacity when signing this Letter of Transmittal and must submit proper evidence of his or her authority to act.

 

3. SIGNATURE GUARANTEE. Each signature on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, must be guaranteed unless the Units surrendered for exchange pursuant hereto are tendered (i) by a registered Holder of the Units who has not completed either the box entitled “Special Exchange Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” in this Letter of Transmittal, or (ii) for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a participant in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (each, an “Eligible Institution”). In the event that a signature on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, is required to be guaranteed, such guarantee must be by an eligible institution. If the Holder of the Unit(s) is a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal, see Instruction 6 below.

 

9


4. DESCRIPTION OF UNITS TENDERED. Please complete the form entitled “DESCRIPTION OF UNITS TENDERED” which sets forth the Units which are to be delivered to the Exchange Agent with this Letter of Transmittal upon your acceptance of the Exchange Offer.

 

5. INADEQUATE SPACE. If the space provided is inadequate, the numbers of the Unit certificate(s) delivered for exchange should be listed on a separate signed schedule and attached hereto.

 

6. SECURITY POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered Holder of the Units, the Units surrendered for exchange must either (i) be endorsed by the registered Holder, with the signature thereon guaranteed by an eligible institution, or (ii) be accompanied by a security power, in satisfactory form as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, duly executed by the registered Holder, with the signature thereon guaranteed by an eligible institution. The term “registered Holder” as used herein with respect to the Units means any person in whose name the Units are registered on the books of the registrar.

 

7. PARTIAL TENDERS (NOT APPLICABLE TO HOLDERS OF THE UNITS WHO TENDER BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER). If less than the entire principal amount of Units represented by any Unit certificate delivered to the Exchange Agent is to be tendered, fill in the principal amount of Units that is to be tendered in the box entitled “Principal Amount Tendered.” In such case, a new Unit certificate for the remainder of the principal amount of Units represented by the old Unit certificate will be sent to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the “Special Exchange Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” boxes on this Letter of Transmittal, promptly following the termination or withdrawal of the Exchange Offer. The entire principal amount of the Units represented by Unit certificates delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

 

8. WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS. Tenders of the Units may be withdrawn by delivery of (1) a computer-generated notice of withdrawal to the Exchange Agent, transmitted by DTC on behalf of the Holder in accordance with the standard operating procedures of DTC or (2) a written notice to the Exchange Agent at any time prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. Any written notice of withdrawal must (1) specify the name of the person having deposited the Units to be withdrawn, (2) identify the Units to be withdrawn (including the certificate number or numbers and principal amount of the Units, as applicable), and (3) be signed by the Holder in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which the Units were tendered and must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. Any questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion. The Units so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Units which have been tendered for exchange but which are withdrawn will be returned to the Holder without cost to the Holder promptly after withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Units may be re-tendered by following one of the procedures described in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offers — Procedures for Tendering Subject Securities” at any time on or prior to 12:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.

 

9. SPECIAL EXCHANGE INSTRUCTIONS AND SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. Unless instructions to the contrary are given in the Special Exchange Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions on this Letter of Transmittal, shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal, together with any untendered Unit(s), will be issued to the registered owner and credited to the account indicated herein maintained at DTC.

 

10. IRREGULARITIES. The Company will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the form of documents, validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of any tender of Units, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance of which, or exchange for which, may, in the view of counsel to the Company, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the absolute right, subject to applicable law, to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus under “The

 

10


Exchange Offers — Conditions of the Exchange Offer” or any conditions or irregularities in any tender of Units of any particular Holder whether or not similar conditions or irregularities are waived in the case of other Holders. The Company’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions hereto) will be final and binding. No tender of Units will be deemed to have been validly made until all irregularities with respect to such tender have been cured or waived. Neither the Company, any affiliates or assigns of the Company, the Exchange Agent, nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

 

11. ADDITIONAL COPIES. Additional copies of this Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from, and all inquires with respect to the surrender of the Units should be made directly to, D.F. King & Co., Inc., as the Information Agent for the Exchange Offer, at its address and telephone numbers listed on the back of this Letter of Transmittal.

 

12. TRANSFER TAXES. Except as set forth in this Instruction 12, the Company will pay or cause to be paid any transfer taxes with respect to the transfer and exchange of Units pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If payment is to be made to, or if Common Stock or untendered Units are to be registered in the name of, any persons other than the registered owners, or if tendered Units are registered in the name of any persons other than the undersigned, the amount of any transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered Holder or such other person) payable on account of the transfer to such other person will be deducted from the payment unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes or exemption there from is submitted.

 

13. SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9; WITHHOLDING. Each surrendering Holder of the Units is required, unless an exemption applies, to provide the Exchange Agent with such Holder’s correct Taxpayer Identification Number, or TIN (generally the Holder’s social security number or employer identification number), on the Substitute Form W-9 provided below and to certify under penalties of perjury that such TIN is correct. The TIN that must be provided is that of the registered Holder of the Unit(s) or of the last transferee appearing in the transfers attached to or endorsed on the Unit certificate(s). Failure to provide the information on the Substitute Form W-9 may subject the surrendering Holder to backup withholding on payments made to such surrendering Holder with respect to the Units. A Holder of the Unit(s) must cross out item (2) in the Certification box of Substitute Form W-9 (Part III) if such Holder has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, that such Holder is currently subject to backup withholding. The box “Certificate Of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number” on the Substitute Form W-9 should be completed if the surrendering Holder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box “Certificate Of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number” is completed and the Exchange Agent is not provided with a TIN by the time of payment, the Exchange Agent will withhold 28% of all reportable payments made to such surrendering Holder until a TIN is provided to the Exchange Agent. Foreign investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the need to complete IRS Form W-8 and any other forms that may be required. See “Important Tax Information.”

 

14. WAIVER OF CONDITIONS. The Company reserves the absolute right to waive satisfaction of any or all conditions enumerated in the Prospectus.

 

11


TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS OF UNITS

 

 
PAYER’S NAME:
 
Payee’s Name (if in joint names, list first and circle the name of the person or entity whose number you enter in Part I)
 

Payee’s Business Name (Sole proprietors see the instructions in the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 (the “Guidelines”))

 

Check appropriate box:    ¨  Individual/Sole Proprietor    ¨  Corporation    ¨  Partnership

 

¨       Limited Liability Company. Enter the tax classification (D=disregarded entity, C=corporation, P=partnership)

 

¨       Other                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

Payee’s Address

 

 

SUBSTITUTE

 

Form W-9

Department of the

Treasury Internal

Revenue Service

  

Part I — Taxpayer Identification Number. Please enter your taxpayer identification number in the box at right. (For most individuals, this is your social security number. If you do not have a number, see Obtaining a Number in the enclosed Guidelines.) Certify by signing and dating below.

Note: If the account is in more than one name, see chart in the enclosed Guidelines to determine which number to give the payer.

  Social Security Number

 

 

                                                               

OR

Employer Identification Number

 

 

                                                               

(If awaiting TIN write

“Applied For”)

    
   
     Part II — For Payees exempt from backup withholding, write “Exempt” in this space:                                        
   

Payer’s Request for

Taxpayer Identification

Number (“TIN”) and

Certification

  

Part III — Certification — Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

(1)    The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me);

 

(2)    I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (c) the IRS notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and

 

(3)    I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

 

Certification Instructions — You should cross out item (2) above if the IRS has notified you that you are subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding you received another notification from the IRS that you were no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2). (Also see instructions in the enclosed Guidelines.)

 

The IRS does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.

   
     SIGNATURE                                                     DATE                                                    , 2012

 

12


YOU SHOULD COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU

WROTE “APPLIED FOR” IN PART I OF THIS SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

 

I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that, notwithstanding the information I provided in Part III of the Substitute Form W-9 (and the fact that I have completed this Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number), all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be subject to backup withholding tax (currently at a rate of 28%), but any amounts withheld will be refunded to me if I furnish my taxpayer identification number within 60 days after the Depositary receives this certification.

 

Signature                                                                                            Date:                                                                                 , 2012

 

 

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX (CURRENTLY AT A RATE OF 28%) ON ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

 

13


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION

NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

 

Guidelines for Determining the Proper Identification Number to Give the Payer. The taxpayer identification number for an individual is the individual’s Social Security number. Social Security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: e.g., 000-00-0000. The taxpayer identification number for an entity is the entity’s Employer Identification number. Employer Identification numbers have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: e.g., 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to give the payer.

For this type of account:  

Give the

SOCIAL SECURITY

number of —

  1.   An individual’s account

  The individual

  2.   Two or more individuals (joint account)

  The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account(1)

  3.   Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)

  The minor(2)

  4.    a. The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is also trustee)

  The grantor-trustee(1)

        b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under State law

  The actual owner(1)

  5.   Sole proprietorship account or disregarded entity owned by an individual

  The owner(3)
For this type of account:  

Give the EMPLOYER

IDENTIFICATION

number of —

  6.   Disregarded entity not owned by an individual

  The owner

  7.   A valid trust, estate or pension trust

  The legal entity (Do not furnish the identifying number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)(4)

  8.   Corporate account or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832

  The corporation

  9.   Association, club, religious, charitable, educational or other tax-exempt organization

  The organization

10.   Partnership or multiple-member LLC

  The partnership

11.   A broker or registered nominee

  The broker or nominee

12.   Account with the Depart-ment of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a State or local government, school district or prison) that receives agriculture program payments

  The public entity
 

 

14

(1) List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has a Social Security number, that person’s number must be furnished.
(2) Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s Social Security number.
(3) You must show the name of the individual. The name of the business or the “doing business as” name may also be entered. Either the Social Security number or the Employer Identification number may be used.
(4) List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate or pension trust.

 

NOTE: IF NO NAME IS CIRCLED WHEN THERE IS MORE THAN ONE NAME, THE NUMBER WILL BE CONSIDERED TO BE THAT OF THE FIRST NAME LISTED.


Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Obtaining a Number

 

If you do not have a taxpayer identification number or you do not know your number, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, at the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and apply for a number.

 

To complete the Substitute Form W-9, if you do not have a taxpayer identification number, write “Applied For” in the space for the taxpayer identification number in Part I, sign and date the Form, and give it to the requester. If the requester does not receive your taxpayer identification number within 60 days, backup withholding, if applicable, will begin and will continue until you furnish your taxpayer identification number to the requester.

 

Payees Exempt from Backup Withholding

 

For certain payees, exemptions from backup withholding apply and no information reporting is required. For interest and dividends, all payees listed below are exempt except item (9). For broker transactions, payees listed in (1) through (13) and a person registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 who regularly acts as a broker are exempt. Payments subject to reporting under sections 6041 and 6041A are generally exempt from backup withholding only if made to payees described in items (1) through (7); however, payments made to a corporation that are reportable on Form 1099-MISC and that are medical and healthcare payments, attorneys’ fees (including gross proceeds paid to an attorney under section 6045(f), even if the attorney is a corporation), or payments for services paid by a federal executive agency are not exempt from backup withholding or information reporting. Only payees described in items (2) through (6) are exempt from backup withholding for barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends.

 

(1)   A corporation.

 

(2)   An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), or an individual retirement plan (“IRA”), or a custodial account under 403(b)(7), if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2).

 

(3)   The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

(4)   A State, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any of its political subdivisions or instrumentalities.

 

(5)   A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities.

 

(6)   An international organization or any of its agencies or instrumentalities.

 

(7)   A foreign central bank of issue.

 

(8)   A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a possession of the United States.

 

(9)   A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

 

(10)   A real estate investment trust.

 

(11)   An entity registered at all times during the year under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

(12)   A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a).

 

(13)   A financial institution.

 

(14)   A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian.

 

(15)   A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947.

Payments of dividends and patronage dividends generally not subject to backup withholding include the following:

 

   

Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under section 1441.

 

   

Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the United States and that have at least one nonresident alien partner.

 

   

Payments of patronage dividends not paid in money.

 

   

Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

 

   

Section 404(k) distributions made by an ESOP.

 

Payments of interest generally not subject to backup withholding include the following:

 

   

Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals.

 

Note: You may be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and is paid in the course of the payer’s trade or business and you have not provided your correct taxpayer identification number to the payer.

 

   

Payments described in section 6049(b)(5) to nonresident aliens.

 

   

Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under section 1451.

 

   

Payments made by certain foreign organizations.

 

   

Mortgage or student loan interest paid by you.

 

Payments that are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup withholding. For details see sections 6041, 6041A(a), 6042, 6044, 6045, 6049, 6050A and 6050N, and the regulations under those sections.

 

Exempt payees described above should file Substitute Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. ENTER YOUR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. WRITE “EXEMPT” IN PART II OF THE FORM, SIGN AND DATE THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE PAYER.

 

Privacy Act Notice

 

Section 6109 requires you to give your correct taxpayer identification number to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to you, mortgage interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA, or Archer MSA or HSA. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your tax return. The IRS may also provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation, and to cities, states, the District of Columbia and U.S. possessions to carry out their tax laws. The IRS may also disclose this information to other countries under a tax treaty, or to federal and state agencies to enforce federal non-tax criminal laws and to combat terrorism. You must provide your taxpayer identification number whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold (currently at a rate of 28%) on taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

 

Penalties

 

(1) Penalty for Failure to Furnish Taxpayer Identification Number. If you fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

 

(2) Civil Penalty for False Information with respect to Withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis which results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

 

(3) Criminal Penalty for Falsifying Information. Falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX

CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

 

 

15


The Information Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

 

D.F. KING & CO., INC.

 

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, New York 10005

 

Banks and Brokers call: (212) 269-5550

Toll free: (800) 859-8509