As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 17, 2004. |
Registration No. 333- |
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8/S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
58-2086934 (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200 Atlanta, Georgia (Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
30328 (Zip Code) |
BEAZER HOMES USA, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED 1994 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Ian J. McCarthy President and Chief Executive Officer Beazer Homes USA, Inc. 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200 Atlanta, Georgia 30328 (Name and address of agent for service) (770) 829-3700 (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) |
Please address a copy of all communications to: Elizabeth H. Noe Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP Suite 2400 600 Peachtree Street, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30308-2222 Telephone: 404-815-2287 |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title 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 (1)(3) |
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Common Stock $0.01 Par Value Per Share | 3,875,000 | $96.23 | $372,891,250 | $9,519 | ||||
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights (3) | 3,875,000 | |||||||
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. Plan Information*
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information*
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
Up to 3,875,000 Shares of
Common Stock
The stockholders of Beazer Homes identified in this prospectus may offer and resell the shares from time to time, for their own accounts. See "Selling Stockholders." The selling stockholders have acquired or may acquire the shares pursuant to the terms of the Beazer Homes Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan or the Beazer Homes Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan.
The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from the sale of the shares. These stockholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any, applicable to the sale of the shares. Beazer Homes will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares. The selling stockholders may offer their Beazer Homes stock through public or private transactions, at prevailing market prices or at privately negotiated prices. Such future prices are not currently known.
Beazer Homes common stock is reported on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "BZH." On June 15, 2004, the last reported sale price of the common stock was $95.78 per share.
You should carefully consider the "Risk Factors" beginning on page 3 of this prospectus before purchasing any of the Common Stock.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is June 17, 2004.
THE COMPANY | 2 | |
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS |
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RISK FACTORS |
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION |
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USE OF PROCEEDS |
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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION |
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LEGAL MATTERS |
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EXPERTS |
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WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BEAZER HOMES |
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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE |
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You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information from that contained in the prospectus. If anyone provides you with additional or different information, you should not rely on it. The selling stockholders are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of Beazer Homes's common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus and any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the shares.
In this prospectus, unless indicated otherwise, "Beazer Homes," "we," "us," and "our," refer to Beazer Homes USA, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
We design, sell and build single family homes in the Southeastern, Western, Central, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the United States and, based on home closings, are one of the ten largest builders of single family homes in the nation. Our Southeastern region includes Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee; our Western region includes Arizona, California, Colorado and Nevada; our Central region includes Texas; our Mid-Atlantic region includes Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia; and our Midwest region includes Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
We design our homes to appeal primarily to entry-level and first-time move-up homebuyers. Our objective is to provide our customers with homes that incorporate quality and value while seeking to maximize our return on invested capital. To achieve this objective, we have developed a business strategy which focuses on the following elements:
Geographic Diversity and Growth Markets. We compete in a large number of geographically diverse markets in an attempt to reduce our exposure to any particular regional economy. Most of the markets in which we operate have experienced significant population growth in recent years. Within these markets, we build homes in a variety of projects, typically with fewer than 150 homesites.
Quality Homes for Entry-Level and First Move-Up Homebuyers. We seek to maximize customer satisfaction by offering homes which incorporate quality materials, distinctive design features, convenient locations and competitive prices. We focus on entry-level and first time move-up homebuyers because we believe they represent the largest segment of the homebuilding market. During our fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004, the average sales price of our homes sold was approximately $231,500.
Additional Products and Services for Homebuyers. In order to maximize our profitability and provide our homebuyers with the additional products and services that they desire, we have incorporated design centers and mortgage origination operations into our business. Recognizing that homebuyers want to choose certain components of their new home, we offer limited customization through the use of design centers in most of our markets. These design centers allow the homebuyer to select certain non-structural customizations for their homes such as cabinetry, flooring, fixtures, appliances and wallcoverings. Additionally, recognizing the homebuyer's desire to simplify the financing process, we originate mortgages on behalf of our customers through our subsidiaries Beazer Mortgage Corporation, or Beazer Mortgage, and Crossmann Mortgage Corp., or Crossmann Mortgage. Beazer Mortgage and Crossmann Mortgage originate, process and broker mortgages to third party investors. Beazer Mortgage and Crossmann Mortgage generally do not retain or service the mortgages that they broker. We also provide title services to our homebuyers in many of our markets.
Decentralized Operations with Experienced Management. We believe our in-depth knowledge of our local markets enables us to better serve our customers. Our local managers, who have significant experience in both the homebuilding industry and the markets they serve, are responsible for operating decisions regarding design, construction and marketing. We combine these decentralized operations with a centralized corporate-level management which controls decisions regarding overall strategy, land acquisitions and financial matters.
Conservative Land Policies. We seek to maximize our return on capital by limiting our investment in land and by focusing on inventory turnover. To implement this strategy and to reduce the risks associated with investments in land, we use options to control land whenever possible. In addition, we do not speculate in land that is not generally subject to entitlements providing basic development rights to the owner.
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Value Created. We evaluate our financial performance and the financial performance of our operations using Value Created, a variation of economic profit or economic value added. Value Created measures the extent to which we exceed our cost of capital. It is calculated as earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, less a charge for all of the capital employed multiplied by our estimate of our minimum weighted average cost of capital.
We were incorporated in Delaware in 1993. Our principal office is located at 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 1200, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 and our telephone number is (770) 829-3700. We maintain an internet site at www.beazer.com which contains information concerning us and our subsidiaries. The information contained on our internet site and those of our subsidiaries is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and should not be considered a part of this prospectus.
On May 28, 2004, we increased and extended our existing bank credit facility. The new $750 million credit arrangement, which matures in June 2008, was increased from $450 million. The facility includes both a $550 million revolving credit facility and a $200 million term loan. The facility also contains an accordion feature under which the aggregate commitment may be increased up to $1 billion, subject to the availability of additional commitments.
On June 8, 2004, we sold $150 million aggregate principal amount of 45/8% Senior Convertible Notes due 2024 in a private placement. The net proceeds from the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, including land acquisition and share repurchases from time to time under our previously announced repurchase program. The notes are convertible into our common stock at an initial conversion rate of 6.48 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes only under certain circumstances. The notes bear interest at 45/8% per annum payable semiannually. We will also pay contingent interest on the notes during any six month interest period beginning June 15, 2009, in which the trading price of the notes for a specified period of time equals or exceeds 120% of the principal amount of the notes.
You should carefully consider the risk factors described below, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before purchasing any of the shares of common stock.
Our home sales and operating revenues could decline upon the occurrence of macro-economic and other factors outside of our control, such as changes in consumer confidence and declines in employment levels.
Changes in national and regional economic conditions, as well as local economic conditions where we conduct our operations and where prospective purchasers of our homes live, may result in more caution on the part of homebuyers and consequently fewer home purchases. These economic uncertainties involve, among other things, conditions of supply and demand in local markets and changes in consumer confidence and income, employment levels, and government regulations. These risks and uncertainties could periodically have an adverse effect on consumer demand for and the pricing of our homes, which could cause our operating revenues to decline. A reduction in our revenues could in turn negatively affect the market price of our securities.
A substantial increase in mortgage interest rates or unavailability of mortgage financing may reduce consumer demand for our homes.
Virtually all purchasers of our homes finance their acquisitions through lenders providing mortgage financing. A substantial increase in mortgage interest rates or unavailability of mortgage financing would adversely affect the ability of prospective first time and move-up homebuyers to obtain financing for our homes, as well as adversely affect the ability of prospective move-up homebuyers to sell their current homes. As a result, our margins, revenues and cash flows may also be adversely affected.
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If we are unsuccessful in competing against our homebuilding competitors, our market share could decline or our growth could be impaired and, as a result, our financial results could suffer.
Competition in the homebuilding industry is intense, and there are relatively low barriers to entry into our business. Increased competition could hurt our business, as it could prevent us from acquiring attractive parcels of land on which to build homes or make such acquisitions more expensive, hinder our market share expansion, and lead to pricing pressures on our homes that may adversely impact our margins and revenues. If we are unable to successfully compete, our financial results could suffer or our ability to service our debt could be adversely affected. Our competitors may independently develop land and construct housing units that are superior or substantially similar to our products. Furthermore, some of our competitors have substantially greater financial resources and lower costs of funds than we do. Many of these competitors also have longstanding relationships with subcontractors and suppliers in the markets in which we operate. We currently build in several of the top markets in the nation and, therefore, we expect to continue to face additional competition from new entrants into our markets.
We could experience a reduction in home sales and revenues or reduced cash flows due to our inability to acquire land for our housing developments if we are unable to obtain reasonably priced financing to support our homebuilding activities.
The homebuilding industry is capital intensive, and homebuilding requires significant up-front expenditures to acquire land and begin development. Accordingly, we incur substantial indebtedness to finance our homebuilding activities. Although we believe that internally generated funds and available borrowings under our revolving credit facility will be available to fund our capital and other expenditures (including land purchases in connection with ordinary development activities), the amounts available from such sources may not be sufficient. If such sources are not sufficient, we would seek additional capital in the form of equity or debt financing from a variety of potential sources, including additional bank financing and/or securities offerings. The amount and types of indebtedness which we may incur are limited by the terms of our existing debt. In addition, the availability of borrowed funds, especially for land acquisition and construction financing, may be greatly reduced nationally, and the lending community may require increased amounts of equity to be invested in a project by borrowers in connection with both new loans and the extension of existing loans. If we are not successful in obtaining sufficient capital to fund our planned capital and other expenditures, we may be unable to acquire land for our housing developments. Additionally, if we cannot obtain additional financing to fund the purchase of land under our option contracts, we may incur contractual penalties and fees.
Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition, limit our growth and make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations.
As of March 31, 2004, on an actual basis and an as adjusted basis giving effect to the note offering described under "Recent Developments", we had approximately $949.0 million and $1,094.5 million, respectively, of indebtedness outstanding, in each case, net of unamortized discount of approximately $9.9 million and $14.4 million, respectively. Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to us, including among other things,
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In addition, subject to restrictions in our existing debt instruments, we may incur additional indebtedness. In particular, as of March 31, 2004, on an as adjusted basis giving effect to the events described under "Recent Developments," we had available borrowings of approximately $247.5 million under our revolving credit facility. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify. Our growth plans and our ability to make payments of principal or interest on, or to refinance, our indebtedness will depend on our future operating performance and our ability to enter into additional debt and/or equity financings. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows in the future to service our debt, we may be required to refinance all or a portion of our existing debt to sell assets or to obtain additional financing. We may not be able to do any of the foregoing on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
Changes in government regulations could restrict our business activities, increase our operating expenses and cause our revenues to decline.
Regulatory requirements could cause us to incur significant liabilities and operating expenses and could restrict our business activities. We are subject to local, state and federal statutes and rules regulating, among other things certain developmental matters, building and site design, and matters concerning the protection of health and the environment. Our operating expenses may be increased by governmental regulations such as building permit allocation ordinances and impact and other fees and taxes, which may be imposed to defray the cost of providing certain governmental services and improvements. Other governmental regulations, such as building moratoriums and "no growth" or "slow growth" initiatives, which may be adopted in communities which have developed rapidly, may cause delays in home projects or otherwise restrict our business activities resulting in reductions in our revenues. Any delay or refusal to grant us necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government agencies could have an adverse effect on our operations.
We may incur additional operating expenses due to compliance programs or fines, penalties and remediation costs pertaining to environmental regulations within our markets.
We are subject to a variety of local, state and federal statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations concerning the protection of health and the environment. The particular environmental laws which apply to any given community vary greatly according to the community site, the site's environmental conditions and the present and former use of the site. Environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to implement time consuming and expensive compliance programs and may prohibit or severely restrict development in certain environmentally sensitive regions or areas. We expect that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on homebuilders in the future. In addition, environmental regulations can have an adverse impact on the availability and price of certain raw materials such as lumber. Our projects in California are especially susceptible to restrictive government regulations and environmental laws.
We may be subject to significant potential liabilities as a result of construction defect, product liability and warranty claims made against us.
As a homebuilder, we have been and continue to be subject to construction defect, product liability and home warranty claims, including moisture intrusion and related mold claims, arising in the ordinary course of business. These claims are common to the homebuilding industry and can be costly.
We and certain of our subsidiaries have been and continue to be named as defendants in various construction defect claims, complaints and other legal actions that include claims related to moisture intrusion and mold. Furthermore, plaintiffs in certain of these legal proceedings (including cases in our Midwestern and Western markets) are seeking class action status with potential class sizes that vary from case to case. Class action lawsuits can be costly to defend and if we were to lose any certified class action suit, it could result in substantial potential liability for us. We record reserves for such matters in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
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With the exception of the matters discussed below, we do not believe that material additional losses related to such matters are reasonably possible.
As of March 31, 2004, our subsidiary, Trinity Homes LLC, had received 759 construction defect and warranty complaints related to water intrusion. As of March 31, 2004, there were seven pending lawsuits related to these complaints. One of these suits is a putative class action suit that was filed in Indiana in August 2003 against Trinity and Beazer Homes Investment Corp., another one of our subsidiaries and Trinity's parent. As part of that case, the plaintiffs are asserting that Trinity and Beazer Homes Investment Corp. violated applicable building codes. The complaint attempts to define the purported class to include all owners of a residential structure in Indiana constructed and marketed by Trinity and Beazer Homes Investment Corp. in which a one-inch gap with a vapor barrier does not exist between an exterior brick veneer wall and the surface of the underlying exterior wall. Excluded from the class are any residents who suffer personal injuries caused by mold infestation. No monetary amount was stated in this claim. No hearing on class certification has been held at this time and no hearing for such certification is currently scheduled. Either no or immaterial monetary amounts were stated in the other six lawsuits pending at March 31, 2004.
Although we have obtained insurance for construction defect claims, such policies may not be available or adequate to cover any liability for damages, the cost of repairs, and/or the expense of litigation surrounding current claims, and future claims may arise out of uninsurable events or circumstances not covered by insurance and not subject to effective indemnification agreements with our subcontractors.
Our operating expenses could increase if we are required to pay higher insurance premiums or litigation costs for claims involving construction defect and product liability claims, which could cause our net income to decline.
The costs of insuring against construction defect and product liability claims are high, and the amount and scope of coverage offered by insurance companies is currently limited. This coverage may be further restricted and may become more costly.
Increasingly in recent years, lawsuits (including class action lawsuits) have been filed against builders, asserting claims of personal injury and property damage caused by the presence of mold in residential dwellings. Our insurance may not cover all of the claims, including personal injury claims, arising from the presence of mold, or such coverage may become prohibitively expensive. If we are not able to obtain adequate insurance against these claims, we may experience losses that could reduce our net income.
Historically builders have recovered from subcontractors and their insurance carriers a significant portion of the construction defect liabilities and costs of defense that the builders have incurred. Insurance coverage available to subcontractors for construction defects is becoming increasingly expensive and the scope of coverage is restricted. If we cannot effectively recover from our subcontractors or their carriers, we may suffer greater losses which could decrease our net income.
Builders' ability to recover against any available insurance policy depends upon the continued solvency and financial strength of the insurance carrier that issued the policy. Many of the states in which we build homes have lengthy statutes of limitations applicable to claims for construction defects. To the extent that any carrier providing insurance coverage to us or our subcontractors becomes insolvent or experiences financial difficulty in the future, we may be unable to recover on those policies and our net income may decline.
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We are dependent on the services of certain key employees and the loss of their services could hurt our business.
Our future success depends upon our ability to attract, train, assimilate and retain skilled personnel. If we are unable to retain our key employees or attract, train, assimilate or retain other skilled personnel in the future, it could hinder our business strategy and impose additional costs of identifying and training new individuals. Competition for qualified personnel in all of our operating markets is intense. A significant increase in the number of our active communities would necessitate the hiring of a significant number of additional construction managers, which are in short supply in our markets.
We are dependent on the continued availability and satisfactory performance of our subcontractors, which, if unavailable, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We conduct our construction operations only as a general contractor. Virtually all construction work is performed by unaffiliated third-party subcontractors. As a consequence, we depend on the continued availability of and satisfactory performance by these subcontractors for the construction of our homes. There may not be sufficient availability of and satisfactory performance by these unaffiliated third-party subcontractors. In addition, inadequate subcontractor resources could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We experience fluctuations and variability in our operating results on a quarterly basis and, as a result, our historical performance may not be a meaningful indicator of future results.
Our operating results in a future quarter or quarters may fall below expectations of securities analysts or investors and, as a result, the market value of our securities may fluctuate. While we have reported positive annual net income for each of the past five fiscal years, we historically have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, variability in home sales and net earnings on a quarterly basis. As a result of such variability, our historical performance may not be a meaningful indicator of future results. Our quarterly results of operations may continue to fluctuate in the future as a result of a variety of both national and local factors, including, among others,
The occurrence of natural disasters could increase our operating expenses and reduce our revenues and cash flows.
The climates and geology of many of the states in which we operate, including California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, present increased risks of natural disasters. To the extent that hurricanes, severe storms, earthquakes, droughts, floods, wildfires or other natural disasters or similar events occur, our homes under construction or our building lots in such states could be damaged or destroyed, which may result in losses exceeding our insurance coverage. Any of these events could increase our operating expenses, impair our cash flows and reduce our revenues, which could in turn negatively affect the market price of our securities.
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Future terrorist attacks against the United States or increased domestic or international instability could have an adverse effect on our operations.
Adverse developments in the war on terrorism, future terrorist attacks against the United States, or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, including the armed conflict with Iraq, may cause disruption to the economy, our company, our employees and our customers, which could adversely affect our revenues, operating expenses, and financial condition.
We may issue preferred stock and additional shares of common stock and thereby materially and adversely affect the price of our common stock.
Our organizational documents allow us to issue preferred stock with rights senior to those of our common stock without any further vote or action by our stockholders. The issuance of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of our common stock or could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of our common stock. In some circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock. Additionally, we are not restricted from issuing additional common stock during the life of the notes and have no obligation to consider your interests for any reason. If we issue additional shares of common stock, it may materially and adversely affect the price of our common stock.
Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and Delaware law make any change in the control of our company more difficult.
We are subject to provisions of the Delaware corporation law that, in general, prohibit any business combination with a beneficial owner of 15% or more of our common stock for five years unless the holder's acquisition of our stock was approved in advance by our board of directors. Further, we have adopted a stockholder rights plan which is designed to prevent, or make more expensive, a hostile takeover of the Company. Under our plan, once an acquirer acquires more than 20% of our common stock, rights to purchase shares of preferred stock that attach to each share of common stock that we issue become exercisable by all common stockholders other than the acquirer, diluting substantially the value of the common stock previously purchased by the acquirer.
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This prospectus contains (including by incorporation by reference of statements in other documents) forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events, and no assurance can be given that the results described in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference herein will be achieved. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of statements that include words such as "estimate," "project," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "foresee," "likely," "will," "goal," "target" or other similar words or phrases. Except as may be required under applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, the matters discussed in this prospectus in the sections captioned: "The Company" and "Risk Factors." Additional information about factors that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Such factors may include:
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all such factors.
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If shares are resold by the selling stockholders, Beazer Homes will receive no proceeds from such sale. The shares will be offered for the respective accounts of the selling stockholders.
The shares that may be offered from time to time pursuant to this prospectus have been or will be acquired by the selling stockholders from time to time upon payment of awards granted under the Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan and the Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plans").
The following table sets forth (i) the name of each selling stockholder; (ii) the position, office, or other material relationship between Beazer Homes and each selling stockholder; (iii) the amount of common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholder prior to the offering as of May 31, 2004, including shares each selling stockholder may acquire pursuant to the exercise of previously granted options under the Plans which have vested or may vest within 60 days of May 31, 2004; (iv) the amount of common stock that may be offered by the selling stockholder; and (v) the amount of common stock to be beneficially owned by each selling stockholder subsequent to the offering.
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Common Stock that would be Owned Subsequent to the Offering(2) |
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Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(1) |
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Name and Position with Company |
Shares that may be Offered(1) |
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Number |
Percent |
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Brian C. Beazer Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and Director |
68,405 | 76,827 | 10,000 | * | ||||
Ian J. McCarthy President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
404,339 | 503,396 | 2,051 | * | ||||
Mike Furlow Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
111,366 | 168,330 | 1,364 | * | ||||
James O'Leary Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
13,658 | 31,379 | 259 | * | ||||
John Skelton Senior Vice President, Forward Planning |
15,364 | 19,115 | 1,525 | * | ||||
Lowell Ball Senior Vice President and General Counsel |
4,980 | 9,522 | 115 | * | ||||
Michael T. Rand Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller |
14,503 | 19,710 | 565 | * | ||||
Jonathan P. Smoke Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer |
5,079 | 8,652 | 214 | * | ||||
Laurent Alpert Director |
1,500 | 3,000 | 1,000 | |||||
Katie Bayne Director |
500 | 1,000 | 0 | * | ||||
Maureen O'Connell Director |
500 | 3,146 | 0 | * | ||||
Larry Solari Director |
9,705 | 12,705 | 1,500 | * | ||||
Stephen P. Zelnak, Jr. Director |
500 | 1,000 | 0 | * |
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column does not include unvested options and phantom stock units (none of which will vest in the next sixty 60 days). Shares underlying such unvested options and phantom stock units are included as shares that may be offered under the Plans by the selling stockholders because they are "affiliates" of Beazer Homes for purposes of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as follows: Mr. Beazer18,422 shares, Mr. McCarthy101,108 shares, Mr. Furlow58,328 shares, Mr. O'Leary17,980 shares, Mr. Skelton5,276 shares, Mr. Ball4,657 shares, Mr. Rand5,772 shares; Mr. Smoke5,867 shares, Mr. Alpert2,500 shares, Ms. Bayne500 shares, Ms. O'Connell2,646 shares, Mr. Solari4,500 shares and Mr. Zelnak500 shares.
We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time in the future to update or change the list of selling stockholders and shares which may be offered for sale under this prospectus.
We have been advised by the selling stockholders that they intend to sell all or a portion of the Shares offered hereby from time to time in ordinary brokers transactions on the New York Stock Exchange at the prices prevailing at the time of such sale. The selling stockholders may also make private sales directly or through a broker or brokers. The selling stockholders will be responsible for payment of any and all commissions to brokers, which will be negotiated on an individual basis. Beazer Homes will pay all expenses incident to the sale of the common stock to the public other than brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred by individual selling stockholders which will be paid by the selling stockholders. In connection with any sale, the selling stockholders and any brokers participating in such sales may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Act.
There is no assurance that any of the selling stockholders will sell any or all of the shares of common stock offered by them.
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, Atlanta, Georgia counsel to Beazer Homes, has rendered an opinion to Beazer Homes that the common stock offered hereby is or will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus and Registration Statement by reference from Beazer Homes's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2003 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BEAZER HOMES
Beazer Homes is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and files reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Reports, proxy statements, and other information filed by Beazer Homes with the SEC may be inspected and copied at the SEC's public reference facilities at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room and for other public reference room locations. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC's web site at http:\\www.sec.gov. In addition, our common stock is listed on the New York Stock
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Exchange and reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us may also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
This prospectus contains information concerning Beazer Homes and the sale of the common stock by the selling stockholders, but does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-8/S-3 which we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act. Statements made in this prospectus as to the contents of any referenced contract, agreement or document are not necessarily complete, and such statement shall be deemed qualified in its entirety by reference thereto. The Registration Statement, including various exhibits, may be obtained upon payment of the fee prescribed by the SEC, or may be examined without charge at the SEC's office in Washington, D.C.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents that we have previously filed with the SEC or documents that we will file with the SEC in the future. This information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supercede this information. The following documents previously filed with the SEC are incorporated herein by reference:
In addition to the foregoing, all documents and any amendments thereto subsequently filed by Beazer Homes pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference and to be a part of this prospectus from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in any document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated by reference, modifies or replaces such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
12
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) The Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
(b) The Registrant's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004 filed pursuant to the Exchange Act;
(c) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Registrant's annual report referred to in (a) above; and
(d) The description of the Registrant's common stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), which is contained in its registration statement on Form 10 filed under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.
All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which de-registers all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Item 4. Description of Securities
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides for the indemnification by a corporation incorporated in the State of Delaware of officers and directors under certain circumstances against expenses incurred in successfully defending against a claim and authorizes Delaware corporations to indemnify their officers and directors under certain circumstances against expenses and liabilities incurred in legal proceedings involving such persons because of their being or having been an officer or director. The By-laws of the Registrant provide for indemnification of its officers and directors to the full extent authorized by such section.
Section 145(g) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware 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 capacity as directors or officers of the corporation. The Registrant maintains a directors and officers insurance policy in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 which insures the directors and officers of the Registrant against losses arising from certain claims for any wrongful act (as defined in the policy) by the directors or officers in their respective capacities as such, or to the extent that the Registrant has indemnified such directors or officers, insures the Registrant against such losses. The policy does not cover losses in connection with claims relating to the purchase, sale, offer or solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell
13
any securities or any violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and excludes certain other losses.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed
The issuance of certain of the shares being offered pursuant to the Form S-3 prospectus included herein have previously been issued pursuant to the Plans registered hereby and were deemed to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D promulgated thereunder, as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. The recipients of securities in each such transaction represented their intention to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof and appropriate legends were affixed to the share certificates and instruments issued in such transactions. All recipients had adequate access, through their relationship with the Registrant, to information about the Registrant.
Item 8. Exhibits
The exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are as follows:
Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit |
|
---|---|---|
4.1 | Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2000). | |
4.2 |
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. |
|
5 |
Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP as to the legality of the Common Stock registered hereunder. |
|
23.1 |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, relating to the use of their report contained in Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. |
|
23.2 |
Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP to the filing and use of their opinion relating to the legality of the securities. Such consent is contained in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement. |
|
24 |
Power of Attorney authorizing James O'Leary and Ian J. McCarthy to sign amendments to this Registration Statement on behalf of officers and directors of the Registrant (contained on signature page of Registration Statement). |
Item 9. Undertakings
(a) 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;
14
(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.
Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 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.
(b) 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 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.
(c) 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 provisions pursuant to which the directors, officers or controlling persons may be indemnified by the registrant 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 Act 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 submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8/S-3 and 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 this 17th day of June, 2004.
BEAZER HOMES USA, INC. | ||||
By: |
/s/ JAMES O'LEARY James O'Leary Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James O'Leary and Ian J. McCarthy, jointly and severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with power of substitution for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with the exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature |
Title |
Date |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
/s/ BRIAN C. BEAZER Brian C. Beazer |
Director and Non-Executive Chairman of the Board |
June 17, 2004 |
||
/s/ IAN J. MCCARTHY Ian J. McCarthy |
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
June 17, 2004 |
||
/s/ JAMES O'LEARY James O'Leary |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
June 17, 2004 |
||
/s/ LAURENT ALPERT Laurent Alpert |
Director |
June 17, 2004 |
||
/s/ KATIE J. BAYNE Katie J. Bayne |
Director |
June 17, 2004 |
||
[Signatures continued on next page] |
S-1
/s/ MAUREEN E. O'CONNELL Maureen E. O'Connell |
Director |
June 17, 2004 |
||
/s/ LARRY T. SOLARI Larry T. Solari |
Director |
June 17, 2004 |
||
/s/ STEPHEN P. ZELNAK, JR. Stephen P. Zelnak, Jr. |
Director |
June 17, 2004 |
||
/s/ MICHAEL T. RAND Michael T. Rand |
Senior Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) |
June 17, 2004 |
S-2
Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit |
|
---|---|---|
4.1 | Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Registrant's report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2000). | |
4.2 |
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan. |
|
5 |
Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP as to the legality of the Common Stock registered hereunder. |
|
23.1 |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, relating to the use of their report contained in Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003. |
|
23.2 |
Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP to the filing and use of their opinion relating to the legality of the securities. Such consent is contained in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration Statement. |
|
24 |
Power of Attorney authorizing James O'Leary and Ian J. McCarthy to sign amendments to this Registration Statement on behalf of officers and directors of the Registrant (contained on signature page of Registration Statement). |
Exhibit 4.2
Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan
Section 1.Establishment and Purposes
Beazer Homes USA, Inc. hereby establishes the Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").
The purposes of the Plan are to promote the interests of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (the "Company") and its Shareholders by aiding the Company in attracting and retaining management personnel capable of assuring the future success of the Company, to offer such personnel incentives to put forth maximum efforts for the success of the Company's business and to afford such personnel an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company.
Section 2.Definitions
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
2.1 "Affiliate" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in each case as determined by the Committee.
2.2 "Award" shall mean an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
2.3 "Award Agreement" shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted under the Plan.
2.4 "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.5 "Change of Control" shall mean: (i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (A) the then outstanding Shares the ("Outstanding Shares") or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors (the "Outstanding Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph (i), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control; (1) any acquisition directly from the Company, (2) any acquisition by the Company, (3) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (4) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii) of this Section 2.5; or
(ii) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of Directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or an behalf of a Person other than the Board; or
(iii) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Shares and the
Outstanding Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then Outstanding Shares and the combined voting power of the then Outstanding Voting Securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or
(iv) Approval by the Shareholders of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
2.6 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.7 "Committee" shall mean the Stock Option and Incentive Committee or any other Committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer the Plan which shall consist of at least two members appointed from time to time by the Board. Each Committee member must qualify as an "outside director" as defined in the Treasury Regulation §1.162-27(e)(3) (or any successor rule) and, to the extent necessary to qualify Awards hereunder for exemption from the liability provisions of Rule 16b-3, a "non-employee director" as defined in Reg. §240.16b-3(b)(3) (or any successor rule) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
2.8 "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company.
2.9 "Company" shall mean Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation.
2.10 "Director" shall mean a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.11 "Disability" shall mean disability as defined in Participant's Award Agreement with the Company.
2.12 "Dividend Equivalent" shall mean any right granted under Section 6.4 of the Plan.
2.13 "Eligible Person" shall mean any employee, officer, consultant or independent contractor providing services to the Company or any Affiliate or a Director, in each case, who the Committee determines to be eligible.
2.14 "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair market value of any property (including but not limited to Shares or other security) determined by a valuation method as established by the Committee from time to time. However, that for purposes of the Plan, the Fair Market Value of Shares on any day on which Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") or any other nationally recognized stock exchange or automated quotation system shall be the closing price of such Shares as reported by the NYSE or such other exchange or quotation system.
2.15 "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean an Option granted under Section 6.1 of the Plan that meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
2.16 "Non-Qualified Stock Option" shall mean an Option granted under Section 6.1 of the Plan that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
2.17 "Option" shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option and shall include Restoration Options.
2.18 "Other Stock-Based Award" shall mean any right granted under Section 6.6 of Plan.
2.19 "Participant" shall mean an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award under the Plan.
2.20 "Performance Award" shall mean any right granted under Section 6.5 of the Plan.
2.21 "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or trust.
2.22 "Plan" shall mean the Beazer Homes USA, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.
2.23 "Restoration Option" shall mean any Option granted under Section 6.1(d) of the Plan.
2.24 "Restricted Stock" shall mean any Share granted to a Participant under Section 6.3 of the Plan.
2.25 "Restricted Stock Unit" shall mean a bookkeeping entry representing the right to receive a Share (or a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share) at some future date as granted under Section 6.3 of the Plan. A holder of Restricted Stock Units shall not be entitled to voting rights on any Shares to which the Restricted Stock Units relate.
2.26 "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended from time to time and the related regulations.
2.27 "Shares" shall mean shares of Common Stock or such other securities or property, as may be the subject of Awards pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 9.1 of the Plan.
2.28 "Shareholder" shall mean a shareholder of the Company.
2.29 "Stock Appreciation Right" shall mean any right granted under Section 6.2 of the Plan.
2.30 "Tandem Option" shall mean a Non-Qualified Stock Option issued in tandem with a Stock Appreciation Right.
2.31 "Termination of Employment" shall mean a termination of employment from the Company and all Affiliates.
Section 3.Administration
3.1 Power and Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan and to applicable law, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant under the Plan, (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by (or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with) each Award, (iv) determine the terms, conditions and restrictions of any Award or Award Agreement, (v) amend the terms and conditions of any Award or Award Agreement and accelerate the exercisability of Options or the lapse of restrictions relating to Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or other Awards, (vi) accept the surrender of outstanding Awards and substitute new Awards, (vii) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or cancelled, forfeited or suspended, (viii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award under the Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or the Committee, (ix) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan, (x) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan, and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or
desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award and any employee of the Company or any Affiliate.
3.2 Delegation. The Committee may delegate its powers and duties under the Plan to one or more officers of the Company or any Affiliate or a committee of such officers, subject to such terms, conditions and limitations as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion.
Section 4.Shares Available for Awards; Annual Limit on Grants
4.1 Shares Available. Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 9.1, the number of shares available for the granting of Awards under the Plan shall be 1,400,000 of which not more than 440,000 Shares (increased from 300,000 by the Board of Directors on May 7, 2003) shall be granted as stock-based Awards, as described in Section 6, other than Options. Shares to be issued under the Plan may be either Shares which have been reacquired and are held in treasury or Shares which are authorized but unissued. If any Shares covered by an Award (or to which an Award relates) are not purchased or are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any Shares, then subject to Rule 16b-3, the number of Shares counted against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, shall again be available for granting of Awards under the Plan. Shares not issued because the holder of any Tandem Option exercises the accompanying Stock Appreciation Right shall not be subject to future Award by the Committee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of Shares available for granting Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall not exceed 1,400,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9.1 of the Plan and Section 422 or 424 of the Code or any successor provisions.
4.2 Maximum Annual Awards to an Eligible Person. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be issued under the Plan to an Eligible Person in a calendar year is 150,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9.1 of the Plan. In addition, the maximum number of Shares under a Performance Award that may be issued in any calendar year is 75,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9.1 of the Plan.
4.3 Accounting for Awards. For purposes of this Section 4, if an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase Shares, the number of Shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of the grant of such Award against the aggregate number of Shares available under the Plan.
Section 5.Participation
Participation in the Plan shall be limited to those Eligible Persons selected by the Committee. Awards may be granted to such Eligible Persons and for such number of Shares as the Committee shall determine, subject to the limitations in Section 4. An Award of any type made in any one year to an Eligible Person shall neither guarantee nor preclude a further Award of that or any other type to such Eligible Person in that year or subsequent years other than as provided in Section 4.
In determining which Eligible Persons shall receive an Award and the terms of any Award, the Committee may take into account such factors as the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem relevant (such factors may include the nature of the services rendered by the Eligible Person and the Eligible Person's present and potential contributions to the success of the Company). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option (a) may only be granted to full or part-time employees as defined by Section 3401(c) of the Code (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company and (b) shall not be granted to an employee of an Affiliate which is not a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code or any successor provision).
Section 6.Awards
6.1 Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants. Options granted shall be subject to the terms and conditions forth in this Section 6.1, the other provisions of the Plan, and any additional terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine (including those specified in the Award Agreement) which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.
(a) Exercise Price. The price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee. Such purchase price per share shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a 10-percent Shareholder as defined in Code Section 422(c)(5)). Subject to Section 9.1, in no event may the Committee reduce the exercise price of an Option after the original grant date.
(b) Option Term. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the term of each Option shall be specified by the Committee. In no event shall an Incentive Stock Option be exercisable more than ten years (5 years in the case of a 10-percent Shareholder within the meaning of Code Section 422(c)(5)) from the date it is granted. Prior to the exercise of the Option and delivery of the stock subject to the Option, a Participant shall not have any rights to receive any dividends or be entitled to any voting rights on any stock represented by outstanding Options.
(c) Time and Method of Exercise of Options. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (provided that all Options granted on or after February 20, 2002 shall have a minimum vesting schedule of three (3) years (subject to Section 6.1(e)) and the method(s) by which and the form(s) in which payment of the exercise price may be made or deemed to be made (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, other securities, other Awards, other property or any combination thereof having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price).
(d) Restoration Options. The Committee may grant Restoration Options, separately or together with another Option to an Eligible Person. An Award of Restoration Options shall be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Committee and any applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 or any other applicable law. Any such Award is contingent on Participant as the Holder of an option ("Original Option") paying the exercise price of the Original Option. The Restoration Option would be an Option to purchase at 100% Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise of the Original Option, a number of Shares not exceeding the sum of (i) the number of Shares so provided as consideration upon the exercise of the Original Option and (ii) the number of Shares, if any, tendered or withheld as payment of the amount to be withheld under applicable tax laws in connection with the exercise of the Original Option pursuant to the relevant Plan provisions or Original Option Award Agreement. The Restoration Option may not be exercised until the shares acquired upon exercise of the Original Option are held for a period of at least one year and the term of the Restoration Option shall not extend beyond the term of the Original Option. Restoration Options may be granted with respect to Options previously granted under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company, and may be granted in connection with any Option granted under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company at the time of such grant.
(e) Early Termination of Option. The rules regarding the exercise and/or termination of Options upon a Participant's Disability, death, Termination of Employment or ceasing to be a Director will be provided in Participant's Award Agreement with the Company.
(f) Change of Control. The exercise of Options in the event of a Change of Control will be treated as provided in Participant's Award Agreement with the Company.
(g) Option Repricing. No action shall be taken, without the approval of the Shareholders, to authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option to reduce the exercise price of such option. Furthermore, no Option shall be cancelled and replaced with an Option having a lower exercise
price without the approval of the Shareholders. This Section 6.1(g) shall not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 9.1.
(h) Other Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options. The terms and conditions of any Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan shall comply with Code Section 422. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the grant date) of Shares subject to Incentive Stock Options exercisable by any Participant in any calendar year under this Plan or any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate or any related corporation (as defined in the applicable regulations under the Code) may not exceed $100,000 or such higher amount as may be permitted from time to time under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that such aggregate Fair Market Value exceeds $100,000 (or, applicable higher amount), such Options shall be treated as Options which are not Incentive Stock Options.
6.2 Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to Section 4, the Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall confer upon the holder a right to receive, upon exercise of the right related to one share, an amount in cash equal of the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (ii) the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right.
Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the grant price, term, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right shall be as determined by the Committee. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it may deem appropriate.
6.3 Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Participants under the terms set forth in this Section 6.3, the other Plan provisions and with such additional conditions and restrictions as the Committee may impose which are not inconsistent with provisions of the Plan.
(a) Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee imposes which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such time or times, in such installments or otherwise, as the Committee may deem appropriate. The Award Agreement for an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall specify the applicable restrictions on such Shares, if any, the duration of such restrictions, and the time or times at which such restrictions shall lapse with respect to all or a specified number of shares that are part of the Award. In addition, the Committee may specify certain performance criteria, the attainment of which will accelerate the lapse of the applicable restrictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may reduce or shorten the duration of any restriction applicable to any shares awarded to any Participant under the Plan.
(b) Certificates. Any Award of Restricted Stock may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee may deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates subject to forfeiture if the restrictions do not lapse. In the event a stock certificate is issued: (1) the certificate shall be registered in the name of Participant and shall bear a legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock and (2) shall be held by the Company. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, during such period of restriction Participant shall have all of the rights of a Shareholder, including but not limited to the rights to receive dividends (or dividend equivalents) and to vote. If shares are issued only upon lapse of restrictions, the Committee may provide that Participant will be entitled to receive any amounts per share pursuant to any dividend or distribution paid by the Company on its Common Stock to Shareholder of record after the Award date and prior to the issuance of the Shares. In the case of Restricted Stock Units, no shares shall be issued at the time such Awards are granted.
(c) Forfeiture. Rules regarding the forfeiture of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units subject to restrictions upon a Change of Control, or the Participant's Disability, death, Termination
of Employment or ceasing to be a Director will be determined in accordance with Participant's Award Agreement with the Company.
(d) Lapse of Restrictions. Unrestricted Shares, evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall deem appropriate, shall be delivered to the holder of Restricted Stock promptly after the restrictions on the Restricted Stock have expired, lapsed or been waived. After the expiration, lapse or waiver of restrictions and the restricted period relating to Restricted Stock Units, Shares related to such Restricted Stock Units shall be issued and delivered to the holders of the Restricted Stock Units in accordance with such terms as may be specified by the Committee.
6.4 Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant to Participants Awards of Dividend Equivalents under which the holders thereof shall be entitled to receive payments (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion) equivalent to the amount of cash dividends paid by the Company to holders of Shares with respect to the number of Shares determined by the Committee. Such amounts shall be payable on the date or dates as determined by the Committee, and the Committee may provide that such amounts (if any) shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or otherwise reinvested. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, such Awards may have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
6.5 Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to Participants. Once established, the Committee shall not have discretion to modify the criteria for receiving a Performance Award except with respect to any discretion specifically granted to the Committee under this Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, a Performance Award granted under the Plan may be an Award of Common Stock, Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units (or any other right, the value of which is determined by reference to Shares) and such Award may be payable in cash, Shares, other securities or other property. The value of such Performance Awards shall be determined by the Committee and the Performance Awards shall be payable to, or exercisable by, Participant, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of the performance goals during the applicable measurement period specified by the Committee.
(a) Amount of Performance Awards. At the end of the measurement period, the Committee shall determine the percentage, if any, of the Performance Awards granted to Participant for that measurement period that are earned by Participant as his Performance Award. That percentage shall be based on the degree to which the performance goals for that measurement period are satisfied. The formula for determining the correlation between the percentages of the Performance Awards earned and the level of performance for a measurement period shall be established in writing by the Compensation Committee at the time the performance goals are determined. Prior to the payment of any Performance Awards, the Compensation Committee must certify the degree of attainment of the applicable performance goals.
(b) Performance Goals. Performance goals used to compute Performance Awards shall be based on the Company's business planning process and shall be adopted by the Committee in writing either (1) prior to the beginning of the measurement period to which they apply or (2) not later than 90 days after the commencement of the measurement period provided that at such time the outcome of the performance goals is substantially uncertain. The performance goals shall be comprised of one or more of the following performance measures: (1) total return to Shareholders, (2) cash flow, (3) return on assets, capital, equity or sales, (d) stock price, and (e) earnings per share. Any such performance goals and the applicable performance measures will be determined by the Committee at the time of grant and reflected in a written Award Agreement.
(c) Compliance with Section 162(m). All payments under Performance Awards will be designed to satisfy the exception under Section 162(m) of the Code, and related regulations for performance-based compensation, and all Awards hereunder shall be subject to the limitations of Section 162(m).
6.6 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, to the extent permitted under Rule 16b-3 and other applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as are deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, Shares or other securities delivered to Participant pursuant to a purchase right granted under this Section 6.6 shall be purchased for such consideration, which may be paid by such method or methods and in such form or forms, (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, other securities, other Awards or other property or any combination thereof), as the Committee shall determine, the value of which consideration, as established by the Committee, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares or other securities as of the date such purchase right is granted.
6.7 General.
(a) Consideration for Awards. Except in the case of Awards issued in connection with compensation that has been deferred or an Award issued pursuant to Section 6.6, Awards shall be granted for no cash consideration or such minimal cash consideration as may be required by applicable law.
(b) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for, any other Award or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards, or in addition to or in tandem with awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate, may be granted either at the same time or at a different time from the grant of such other Award or awards.
(c) Forms of Payment Under Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payment or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine (including, without limitation, cash, Shares, promissory notes, other securities, other Awards, or other property, or any combination thereof), and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installments or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents with respect to installment or deferred payments.
(d) Correction of Defects, Omissions, and Inconsistencies. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.
(e) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which Awards granted pursuant to Sections 6.2 through 6.6 may be exercised in whole or in part (provided that all such Awards granted after February 20, 2002 shall have a minimum vesting schedule of three (3) years, except that rules regarding the exercise and or termination of Awards upon a Participant's Disability, death, Termination of Employment or ceasing to be a Director will be provided in Participant's Award Agreement with the Company).
Section 7.Transferability
7.1 General. Except as provided in Section 7.2, no Award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any attempted pledge, alienation, attachment, assignment or encumbrance of an Award that is not specifically authorized in accordance with Section 7.2 shall be void.
Each Award or right under an Award may be exercised during Participant's lifetime only by Participant, his permitted transferee under Section 7.2 or if permissible under applicable state law
Participant's guardian or legal representative. However, the Committee may permit Participant to designate, in the manner specified by the Committee, a beneficiary or beneficiaries to exercise the right of Participant and receive any property distributable with respect to an Award upon the death of Participant.
7.2 Permitted Transfers. The Committee may, in its discretion, authorize all or a portion of an Award of Non-Qualified Stock Options to be granted to be on terms which permit transfer by Participant to a "Family Member" (as defined below), provided the transfer is through a gift or a domestic relations order. For purposes of this Section 7.2, "Family Member" includes any child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, a trust for the exclusive benefit of these persons and any other entity owned solely by these persons. The Award Agreement pursuant to which such Options are granted must be approved by the Committee and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section 7.2. The terms of any such transferred Award shall continue to be applied with respect to Participant, following which the Award shall be exercisable by the Transferee only to the extent and for the periods during which that would have applied to Participant.
Section 8.Listing and Registration
All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and any applicable federal or state securities laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. If the Shares or other securities are traded on a securities exchange, the Company shall not be required to deliver any Shares or other securities covered by an Award unless and until such Shares or other securities have been admitted for trading on such securities exchange.
Section 9.Adjustments; Business Combinations
9.1 Adjustment Upon Corporate Transaction. In the event of (a) dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), (b) recapitalization, (c) stock split, (d) reverse stock split, (e) reorganization, (f) merger, (g) consolidation, (h) split-up, (i) spin-off, (j) combination, (k) repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, (l) issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company or (m) other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares, the Committee may determine that an adjustment would be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. In this event, the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number, type and issuer of Shares (or other securities or other property) which thereafter may be made the subject of Awards, (ii) the number type and issuer of Shares (or other securities or other property) subject to outstanding Awards and (iii) the purchase or exercise price with respect to any Award; provided, however, that the number of Shares covered by any Award or to which such Award relates shall always be a whole number.
9.2 Liability of Survivor. In the event of any corporate reorganization or transaction including any event described in Section 9.1, the surviving entity or successor corporation shall be bound by the terms and conditions of the provisions of this Plan and any Awards issued under this Plan.
Section 10.Termination and Modification of the Plan
10.1 General. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law and unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement or in the Plan, the Plan or an Award Agreement may be terminated or modified as specified in this Section 10.
10.2 Amendments to the Plan. The Board without further approval of the Shareholders may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing the Board may
condition any amendment and provide that no modification shall become effective without prior approval of the Shareholders if Shareholder approval would be required for:
(i) continued compliance with Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(ii) compliance with the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. that are applicable to the Company;
(iii) the granting of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan, or
(iv) continued compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code.
The Board may not amend Section 6.1(g) hereof without the approval of the Shareholders.
10.3 Amendments to Awards. Subject to Section 6.1(g) hereof, the Committee may amend or modify the grant of any outstanding Award in any manner to the extent that the Committee would have had the authority to make such Award as so modified or amended including, but not limited to, a change of the date or dates as of which (a) an Option becomes exercisable or (b) Restrictions on Shares are to be removed. No modification may be made that would materially adversely affect any Award previously made under the Plan without the approval of Participant or holder or beneficiary.
10.4 Other Amendment. The Committee shall be authorized to make minor or administrative modifications to the Plan and Awards as well as modifications to the Plan and Awards that may be dictated by requirements of federal or state laws applicable to the Company or that may be authorized or made desirable by such laws. The Committee may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem desirable to continue the operation of the Plan.
Section 11.Income Tax Withholding: Tax Bonuses
11.1 Withholding. In order to comply with all applicable federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Committee may take such action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal, state and local payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute responsibility of Participant, are withheld or collected from such Participant. In order to assist Participant in paying all or a portion of the federal, state and local taxes to be withheld or collected upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) an Award, the Committee, in its discretion and subject to such additional terms and conditions as it may adopt, may permit Participant to satisfy such tax obligation by (a) electing to have the Company withhold a portion of the Shares otherwise to be delivered upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such taxes; (b) delivering to the Committee Shares other than Shares issuable upon exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) such Award with a Fair Market Value (on the date the tax is withheld) equal to the amount of such taxes (c) delivering to the Company cash, check (bank check, certified check or personal check), money order or wire transfer equal to such taxes, (d) delivering to the Company the full amount of taxes due in a combination of cash, and with the Company's approval, Participant's full recourse liability promissory note satisfying the requirements set forth in Participant's Award Agreement or (e) taking a loan under a loan program sponsored by the Company which permits a loan for such purposes and to Participant in accordance with the rules established from time to time by the Committee or the Board of the Company. Any election to have shares withheld must be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.
11.2 Tax Bonuses. The Committee, in its discretion, shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award under this Plan or at any time thereafter, to approve cash bonuses to designated Participants to be paid upon their exercise or receipt of (or the lapse of restrictions relating to) Awards in order to provide funds to pay all or a portion of federal and state and local taxes due as a result of such exercise or receipt (or the lapse of such restrictions). The Committee shall have full authority in its discretion to determine the amount of any such tax bonus.
Section 12.General Provisions
12.1 No Rights to Awards. No Eligible Person, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Persons, Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards under the Plan. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to any Participant or with respect to different Participants.
12.2 Award Agreements. Each Eligible Person to whom a grant is made under the Plan shall enter into a written agreement with the Company that shall contain such provisions, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be established by the Committee. No Participant will have rights under an Award granted to such Participant unless and until an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed on behalf of the Company.
12.3 No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other or additional compensation arrangements, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
12.4 No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate, nor will it affect in any way the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate such employment at any time, with or without cause. In addition, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss Participant from employment free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.
12.5 Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan or any Award, and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan or any Award, shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of Georgia.
12.6 Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provisions shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the purpose or intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction or Award, and the remainder of the Plan or any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
12.7 No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.
12.8 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash shall be paid in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.
12.9 Limitation on Benefits. With respect to persons subject to Rule 16b-3, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under such Act. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.
12.10 Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.
Section 13.Effective Date
The Plan is effective upon the date of adoption by the Board subject to approval of Shareholders at the February 3, 2000 meeting of Shareholders. Unless previously terminated, the Plan shall terminate ten years from the effective date. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, an Award granted under this Plan may have terms or rights which may extend beyond the date the Plan terminates and the rights of the Committee under the Plan and the Board to amend the Plan may likewise extend beyond the date of the Plan's termination.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing is the Plan adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company as of the second day of November, 1999 as amended through April 16, 2002.
Exhibit 5.1
June 17, 2004
Beazer
Homes USA, Inc.
5775 Peachtree Dunwoody Road
Suite B-200
Atlanta, Georgia 30342
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion, as counsel for Beazer Homes USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-8/S-3 (the "Registration Statement") registering an aggregate of 3,875,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per share, for issuance and/or resale pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Incentive Plan and Amended and Restated 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Plans").
As such counsel and for purposes of our opinion set forth below, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth herein, including, without limitation:
(i) the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), and related prospectuses;
(ii) the certificate of incorporation of the Company, certified as of June 7, 2004 by the Secretary of State of Delaware, and the bylaws of the Company as presently in effect as certified by the Secretary of the Company (collectively, the "Charter Documents");
(iii) a certificate of Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as to the incorporation and good standing of the Company under the laws of the state of Delaware as of June 7, 2004 (the Good Standing Certificate");
(iv) a certificate of the Company's Secretary certifying that the Plans and all amendments to the Plans were approved by the Company's board of directors and the Company's stockholders, as required by law or regulation; and
(v) the Plans, and the forms of stock option agreements under the Plans.
In addition to the foregoing, we have made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth herein.
In such examination and in rendering the opinion expressed below, we have assumed: (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us; (ii) the authenticity and completeness of all documents, corporate records, certificates and other instruments submitted to us; (iii) that photocopy, electronic, certified, conformed, facsimile and other copies submitted to us of original documents, corporate records, certificates and other instruments conform to the original documents, corporate records, certificates and other instruments, and that all such original documents, corporate records, certificates and other instruments were authentic and complete; (iv) the legal capacity of all individuals executing documents; and (v) that the statements contained in the certificates and comparable documents of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and other persons on which we have relied for the purposes of this opinion are true and correct and that there has not been any change in the good standing status of the Company from that reported in the Good
Standing Certificate. As to all questions of fact material to this opinion we have relied (without independent investigation) upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company.
Our knowledge of the Company and its legal and other affairs is limited by the scope of our engagement, which scope includes the delivery of this letter. We have been engaged by the Company only in connection with specified matters, and do not represent the Company with respect to all legal matters or issues. The Company employs other independent counsel and handles certain legal matters and issues without the assistance of independent counsel.
Based on the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the 3,875,000 Shares covered by said Registration Statement, when purchased and issued as described in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the terms of the Plans (including the receipt of the full purchase price therefor), will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We express no opinion with regard and to the applicability or effect of the law of any jurisdiction other than, as in effect on the date of this letter, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. This opinion letter deals only with the specified legal issues expressly addressed herein, and you should not infer any opinion that is not explicitly addressed herein from any matter stated in this letter.
This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the registration of the shares under the Plans. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or delivered to or relied upon by any other person without our express prior written consent. This opinion is rendered to you as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you or any other person hereafter with regard to any change after the date hereof in the circumstances or the law that may bear on the matters set forth herein even though the change may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion or other matters in this opinion letter.
We hereby consent to being named as counsel to the Company in the Registration Statement, to the references therein to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" and to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
2
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. on Form S-3/S-8 of our report dated November 5, 2003 (November 13, 2003 as to Note 17) (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46), appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Beazer Homes USA, Inc. for the year ended September 30, 2003 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
June 17, 2004