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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 16, 2023
Registration No. 333-274379
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 1
to
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
1531
93-1969003
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
110 Village Trail, Suite 215
Woodstock, Georgia 30188
Telephone: (770) 213-8067
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Brett Steele
General Counsel
110 Village Trail, Suite 215
Woodstock, Georgia 30188
Telephone: (770) 213-8067
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Marc D. Jaffe
Senet Bischoff
Benjamin J. Cohen
Latham & Watkins LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10022
Telephone: (212) 906-1200
Fax: (212) 751-4864
Shane Tintle
Michael Kaplan
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Telephone: (212) 450-4000
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT IS DECLARED EFFECTIVE.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box. ☐
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
 
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☒
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, October 16, 2023.
P R E L I M I N A R Y  P R O S P E C T U S
     Shares


Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
Class A Common Stock
This is an initial public offering of shares of Class A common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. We are offering    shares of Class A common stock.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Class A common stock. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock will be between $  and $  . We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the NYSE (as defined below) under the symbol “SDHC.”
We will have two classes of common stock authorized after this offering: Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holder to one vote per share and, until the Sunset Date (as defined below), each share of our Class B common stock entitles its holder to ten votes per share, in each case, on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. From and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, each share of Class B common stock will entitle its holders to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. Immediately following the consummation of this offering, all of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock will be held by our Continuing Equity Owners (as defined below), which will represent in the aggregate approximately     % of the voting power of our outstanding common stock after this offering (or approximately    % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares).
We will be a holding company, and upon consummation of this offering and the application of proceeds therefrom, our principal asset will consist of LLC Interests (as defined below) we acquire directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner, collectively representing an aggregate    % economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. The remaining    % economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will be owned by the Continuing Equity Owners through their ownership of LLC Interests.
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. We will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and, through Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, conduct our business.
Following this offering, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange. See “Our organizational structure” and “Management—Controlled company exception.”
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and will be subject to reduced disclosure and public reporting requirements. This prospectus complies with the requirements that apply to an issuer that is an emerging growth company.
See “Risk factors” beginning on page 27 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our Class A common stock.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
Per Share
Total
Initial public offering price
$    
$    
Underwriting discount(1)
$
$
Proceeds, before expenses, to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
$
$
(1)
We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses in connection with this offering. See “Underwriting (conflicts of interest).”
The underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional    shares of Class A common stock from us at the initial price to public less the underwriting discount within 30 days of the date of this prospectus.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares of Class A common stock against payment in New York, New York on    , 2023.
Book-Running Managers
J.P. Morgan
BofA Securities
RBC Capital
Markets
Wells Fargo Securities
Wolfe | Nomura Alliance
Co-Managers
Wedbush Securities
Fifth Third Securities
Regions Securities LLC
Whelan Advisory Capital Markets
Prospectus dated     , 2023

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We and the underwriters (and our and their respective affiliates) have not authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any related free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We and the underwriters (and our and their respective affiliates) take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the underwriters (and our and their respective affiliates) are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our Class A common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects may have changed since that date.
Through and including    , 2023 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.
For investors outside the U.S.: We have not, and the underwriters have not, done anything that would permit this offering or the possession or distribution of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may provide to you in connection with this offering in any jurisdiction where action for purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the U.S. who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of Class A common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the U.S. See “Underwriting.”
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Basis of presentation
Organizational structure
In connection with the closing of this offering, we will undertake certain organizational transactions to reorganize our corporate structure. Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, all information in this prospectus reflects the consummation of the organizational transactions described in the section titled “Our organizational structure” and this offering, and the application of the proceeds therefrom, which we refer to collectively as the “Transactions.”
See “Our organizational structure” for a diagram depicting our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering.
Certain definitions
As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to:
adjusted return on equity” or “adj. ROE” refers, for us, to pre-tax income attributable to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC tax effected for our anticipated 25% federal and state blended tax rate, assuming 100% public ownership to adjust for the impact of taxes on earnings attributable to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC was a subchapter C corporation in the periods presented, divided by average total equity (excluding the Devon Street Homes Acquisition). For the public company homebuilders, “adjusted return on equity” or “adj. ROE” refers to net income divided by average total equity.
“adjusted return on inventory” refers to, unless stated otherwise, pre-tax income attributable to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC tax effected for our anticipated 25% federal and state blended tax rate, assuming 100% public ownership to adjust for the impact of taxes on earnings attributable to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC was a subchapter C corporation in the periods presented, divided by the average of current and prior period closing real estate inventory (excluding the Devon Street Homes Acquisition).
“Average sales price” or “ASP” refers to the average sales price of either our homes closed, our new home orders, or our backlog homes (at period end).
“average total equity” refers to average of current and prior period closing total equity.
“Basis Adjustments” refers to an allocable share (and increases thereto) of existing tax basis, in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s assets and tax basis adjustments with respect to such assets resulting from (a) Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s purchase of LLC Interests from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and each Continuing Equity Owner in connection with the Transactions, as described under “Use of proceeds”, (b) any future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners, (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and (d) payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
“construction cycle time” refers, unless stated otherwise, to the number of business days between the start of the construction of foundations in a home and quality acceptance.
CAGR” refers to compound annual growth rate.
“Continuing Equity Owners” refers collectively to the owners of LLC Interests in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC prior to the consummation of the Transactions, who will also be holders of LLC Interests and our Class B common stock immediately following consummation of the Transactions, including the Founder Fund and GSB Holdings, who may, following the consummation of this offering, exchange at each of their respective options, in whole or in part from time to time, their LLC Interests, as applicable, for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), cash or newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock as described in “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions.” In connection with an exchange of LLC Interests, a corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock shall be immediately and automatically transferred to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for no consideration and canceled.
controlled lots” refers to lots that are either owned or held under an option to be acquired for the relevant time frame set forth in the option contracts.
“Exchange” or “NYSE” refers to the New York Stock Exchange.
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“Founder Fund” refers to The Bradbury Family Trust II A U/A/D December 29, 2015, for which our founder and Executive Chairman, Tom Bradbury, is co-trustee.
“GSB Holdings” refers to GSB Holdings LLC, for which our Chief Executive Officer, President, and Vice Chairman, Greg Bennett, is the sole member.
“inventory turnover” refers, unless stated otherwise, to cost of sales divided by the average of current and prior period real estate inventory.
“LLC Interests” refers to the membership units of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, including those that we purchase with the net proceeds from this offering.
pro forma for the Transactions” refers, unless stated otherwise, to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. giving pro forma effect to the Transactions, including the offering and sale of    shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an initial public offering price of $    per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and the proposed use of proceeds.
“public company homebuilders” refers to Beazer Homes USA, Inc., Century Communities, Inc., Dream Finders Homes, Inc., D.R. Horton, Inc., Green Brick Partners, Inc., KB Home, Landsea Homes Corp., Lennar Corporation, LGI Homes, Inc., M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., Meritage Homes Corporation, M/I Homes, Inc., NVR, Inc., PulteGroup, Inc., Taylor Morrison Home Corporation, Toll Brothers, Inc., and TRI Pointe Group, Inc.
“Section 704(c) Allocations” refers to disproportionate allocations (if any) of income and gain from inventory property held by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as of the date of this offering under Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), resulting from our acquisition of LLC Interests from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC including in connection with the Transactions.
Sunset Date” refers to the date upon which the aggregate number of shares of Class B common stock then outstanding is less than 10% of the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock then outstanding.
“Smith Douglas LLC Agreement” refers, as applicable, to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s amended and restated limited liability company agreement, as currently in effect, or to the amended and restated limited liability company agreement effective prior to the consummation of this offering, and as such agreement may thereafter be amended and/or restated.
Tax Receivable Agreement” refers to the Tax Receivable Agreement to be entered into by and among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering, pursuant to which, among other things, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be required to pay to each Continuing Equity Owner 85% of certain tax benefits, if any, that it realizes (or in certain cases is deemed to realize) as a result of the tax benefits provided by Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocations, and certain other tax benefits (such as interest deductions) covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement as described in “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.”
Transactions” refers to the organizational transactions described in the section titled “Our organizational structure” and this offering, and the application of the net proceeds therefrom.
“we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “Smith Douglas,” and similar references refer: (i) following the consummation of the Transactions, including this offering, to Smith Douglas Homes Corp., and, unless otherwise stated, all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and (ii) prior to the completion of the Transactions, including this offering, to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC.
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be a holding company and the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and upon consummation of the Transactions, its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests.
Presentation of financial information
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is the accounting predecessor of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for financial reporting purposes. Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be the audited financial reporting entity following this offering. Accordingly, this prospectus contains the following historical financial statements:
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Smith Douglas Homes Corp. Other than the inception balance sheet, dated as of June 20, 2023 and the interim financial statements as of June 30, 2023, the historical financial information of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. has not been included in this prospectus as it is a newly incorporated entity, has had no business transactions or activities to date, besides our initial capitalization.
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Because Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will have no interest in any operations other than those of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, the historical financial information included in this prospectus is that of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC.
Certain monetary amounts, percentages, and other figures included in this prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments. Percentage amounts included in this prospectus have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, percentage amounts in this prospectus may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Certain other amounts that appear in this prospectus may not sum due to rounding.
Key terms and performance indicators used in this prospectus; non-GAAP financial measures
Throughout this prospectus, we use a number of key terms and provide a number of key performance indicators and non-GAAP financial measures used by management. Please see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Key metrics and non-GAAP financial measures” for definitions and further information about why and how we calculate key performance indicators and non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation of the following:
adjusted home closing gross profit, defined as home closing revenue less cost of home closings, excluding capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings, impairment charges and adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting included in cost of sales, if applicable;
adjusted home closing gross margin, defined as adjusted home closing gross profit as a percentage of home closing revenue;
adjusted net income, defined as net income adjusted for the income tax expense effect of the pass-through entity taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC was a subchapter C corporation in periods presented. This assumption uses an effective tax rate of 25% for pass-through taxable income, which is our anticipated federal and state blended tax rate as a public company;
EBITDA, defined as net income before (i) interest income, (ii) capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings, (iii) interest expense, (iv) income tax expense, and (v) depreciation; and
EBITDA margin, defined as EBITDA as a percentage of home closing revenue.
We use non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted home closing gross profit, adjusted home closing gross margin, adjusted net income, EBITDA, and EBITDA margin, to supplement financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. (“GAAP”). We believe that excluding certain items from our GAAP results allows management to better understand our consolidated financial performance from period to period and better project our future consolidated financial performance, as applicable, as forecasts are developed at a level of detail different from that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures. Moreover, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide our stakeholders with useful information to help them evaluate our operating results and make more meaningful period to period comparisons. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this prospectus. For example, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. See “Prospectus summary—Summary historical and pro forma condensed consolidated financial and other data” and “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations.”
Trademarks
This prospectus includes our trademarks and trade names which are protected under applicable intellectual property laws and are our property. This prospectus also contains trademarks, trade names, and service marks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade
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names, and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ®, ™ or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, trade names, and service marks. We do not intend our use or display of other parties’ trademarks, trade names, or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.
Market and industry data
Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in this prospectus concerning our industry, competitive position, and the markets in which we operate is based on information from independent industry and research organizations, other third-party sources, and management estimates. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information released by independent industry analysts and other third-party sources, as well as data from our internal research, and are based on assumptions made by us upon reviewing such data, and our experience in, and knowledge of, such industry and markets, which we believe to be reasonable. In addition, projections, assumptions, and estimates of the future performance of the industry in which we operate and our future performance are necessarily subject to uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk factors” and “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.” These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.
Throughout this prospectus, we refer to our key performance indicators and non-GAAP financial measures of our public company homebuilder peers. There are limitations to the use of these comparisons presented in this prospectus. For example, our key performance indictors and non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Our public company homebuilder peers do not all have the same fiscal year end, and we generally refer to publicly available information for the fiscal year end or to the trailing twelve month period, where appropriate.
The sources of certain statistical data, estimates, and forecasts contained in this prospectus are in the market study prepared for us by John Burns Research and Consulting, LLC (“JBREC”), an independent research provider and consulting firm, based on the most recent data available as of August 2023. We have paid JBREC a fee of $56,600 for its services, plus an amount charged at an hourly rate for additional information we may require from JBREC from time to time in connection with its services. Such information is included in this prospectus in reliance on JBREC’s authority as an expert on such matters. Any forecasts prepared by JBREC are based on data (including third-party data), models and the experience of various professionals and on various assumptions (including completeness and accuracy of third-party data), all of which are subject to change without notice. See “Market opportunity” and “Experts” in this prospectus for additional information.
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Prospectus summary
This summary highlights selected information included elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our Class A common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk factors,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” and our consolidated financial statements, and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward looking statements. See “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.”
Our company
We are one of the nation’s fastest growing private homebuilders by number of closings and are engaged in the design, construction, and sale of single-family homes in some of the highest growth and most desirable markets in the Southeastern United States. We employ an efficient land-light, production focused, and conservatively leveraged business model, which we believe results in a compelling combination of strong home closing gross margins, construction cycle times, and returns. Our communities are primarily targeted to entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers. We offer our homebuyers an attractive value proposition by providing a personalized home buying experience at affordable price points. With the goal of becoming one of the most dominant homebuilders in the Southeastern and Southern United States, we intend to grow operations within our existing footprint and to expand into new markets where we can most effectively implement our business strategy and maximize our profit and returns.
Pursuant to our land-light business model, we typically purchase finished lots through lot-option contracts from third-party land developers or land bankers. Our lot acquisition strategy reduces our up-front capital requirements and generally provides for “just-in-time” lot delivery, which closely aligns with our pace of home orders and home starts. We believe our lot acquisition strategy reduces our operating and financial risk relative to other homebuilders that own a higher percentage of their land supply on balance sheet. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, 95% and 96% of our unstarted controlled lots were controlled through finished lot option contracts. Our strategy and focus on capital efficiency has delivered strong risk-adjusted returns, as evidenced by our adjusted return on equity and adjusted return on inventory of 71% and 62%, respectively, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and of 81% and 75%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
We are a disciplined, process driven, and schedule-oriented company. We utilize a single database ERP system called SMART Builder (that we nonexclusively license from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund) that is fully integrated with our homebuilding operations. Through SMART Builder, we manage all aspects of our construction process and work-flow scheduling in real-time, enhancing our operating efficiency and helping us generate higher returns for our stockholders. Additionally, we approach our homebuilding operations through a partnership-oriented and relationship-based process called Rteam. The key tenet of Rteam is to enhance the collaboration, visibility, and mutual accountability between us and our key business partners, including the developers, suppliers, and trade partners within our production model. The Rteam process is the foundation of our operational success and the key driver of our current strong construction cycle times of approximately 60 business days and high inventory turnover rate of 3.8x for the year ended December 31, 2022. The combination of our production efficiency and real-time construction management capabilities allows us to generate strong home closing gross margins which were 29% for both the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022.
We pride ourselves on offering our homebuyers a personalized, affordable luxury buying experience at attractive prices. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, our ASP of homes closed was approximately $330,000, providing an attractive price point for our target homebuyers with starting base prices below Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”) loan limits. We construct most of our homes on a pre-sold basis, where our homebuyers choose their homes based on a select number of value-engineered floor plans and are offered flexibility on the selection of home options. The SMART Builder system and Rteam process allows this optionality for homebuyers based on just-in-time modifications. As a result of our differentiated value proposition and efficient construction cycle times, we believe we typically achieve a high level of homebuyer satisfaction and experience low cancellation rates, which were 9% and 11% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively.
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Our geographic footprint is concentrated in markets that demonstrate strong population and employment growth trends, favorable migration patterns, and desirable lifestyle and weather conditions. Our operations are currently organized into five geographical segments; our reportable segments include Atlanta (which includes certain Atlanta suburbs like Dalton, GA), Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, and Alabama (which consists of both Birmingham and Huntsville). Each of our markets is experiencing strong momentum in housing demand drivers relative to historic averages, and we believe there is significant opportunity to expand our presence in each of our respective markets.
We intend to utilize proceeds from this offering to continue the expansion of our communities and the overall growth of our platform. We have demonstrated significant growth since our inception in 2008, joining the Builder Magazine Top 100 list as the 83rd largest builder based on number of closings in 2014 and have grown to be ranked as the 38th largest builder for closings in 2022. Additionally, based off of the Builder Magazine Top 100 list, we believe we are the second largest private builder founded after 2007 and sixth largest builder overall founded after 2007, each based on 2022 home closings. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we closed 2,200 homes as compared to 526 homes in the year ended December 31, 2015, representing a 23% CAGR over the last seven years. In the same period, our revenue grew at a 32% CAGR from $109.3 million to $755.4 million.
Our history
Our founder and Executive Chairman, Tom Bradbury, has almost 50 years of experience in the homebuilding industry. Before founding Smith Douglas Homes, Mr. Bradbury founded Colony Homes in 1975, and built it into one of the largest and most recognized homebuilders in the Southeastern United States in the 1990s and early 2000s. Our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman, Greg Bennett, worked alongside Mr. Bradbury at Colony Homes as Region President, where he helped drive the growth of the company. While running Colony Homes, Mr. Bradbury and Mr. Bennett developed and refined the disciplined operating philosophy and integrated ERP system (SMART Builder) that we license for use today. Like Smith Douglas Homes, Colony Homes catered to the entry-level homebuyer segment, and it had peak closings of over 2,200 homes in 2001 before its eventual sale to KB Home in 2003.
In 2008, in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, Mr. Bradbury saw a unique opportunity to re-enter the homebuilding industry, creating Smith Douglas Homes and breaking ground on its first home in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2014, we surpassed 500 cumulative closings in Atlanta and began to establish our regional presence with an organic expansion into the Raleigh market in 2014, followed by Birmingham in 2015, and Charlotte and Nashville in 2016. In 2017, across all our existing markets, we delivered over 1,000 homes and generated approximately $240.3 million of home closing revenue.
In 2020, we continued to scale within our markets, completing over 900 annual home closings in Atlanta while also closing on over 200 homes in each of our other markets. In addition, in that year we continued our organic expansion by entering the Huntsville market. In 2023, we were ranked the second largest private builder by 2022 closings by the Atlanta Real Estate Forum, and in 2022 Atlanta became our first market to account for over 1,000 home closings in a calendar year. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we closed 2,200 homes across all our markets while surpassing 10,000 cumulative home closings.
As part of the next phase of our growth, we intend to expand operations within the Southern United States. On July 31, 2023, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Devon Street Homes (the “Devon Street Homes Acquisition”), a high-quality regional homebuilder based in Houston, Texas that closed 324 homes in 2022. We believe the acquisition of Devon Street Homes will create a launching point for our company within the Texas market and will allow us to pursue expansion opportunities across the Southern United States. See “Recent developments—Devon Street Homes Acquisition.”
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(1)
Based on Builder Magazine’s Top 100 list; achievements correspond to the year the ranking was based on.
(2)
Purchase price of $79.1 million, primarily from cash on hand, availability under the Existing Credit Facility (as defined below), and a three-year promissory note in the principal amount of $5.0 million payable to the seller, exclusive of contingent consideration to the seller of up to $5.0 million. We do not intend to use the proceeds from this offering for the payment of any outstanding amounts under the APA (as defined below) that may be paid pursuant to the contingent consideration. See “Recent developments—Devon Street Homes Acquisition.”
Market opportunity
The U.S. housing market is proving to be resilient, driven by favorable supply and demand characteristics. The strong demand for housing during the pandemic, aided by above-average household formation, began to slow as mortgage rates rose in response to high levels of inflation. The demand for housing in the Southeast and Texas accelerated during the pandemic, with strong in-migration to these regions partially attributable to work-from-home opportunities. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of single-family home permits issued fell to 852,800 for the year ended July 2023, which is 8.4% below the 1980-2019 average. The employment sector remains solid, recovering all jobs lost during the early months of the pandemic, and continuing to show year-over-year growth. A lack of available housing supply and affordability challenges brought on by rising prices and mortgage rates led to seasonally adjusted new home sales declining to 714,000 transactions in the year ended July 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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For the existing home market, the national affordability is significantly worse than the historical normal level, owing to the level of increase in home prices since the beginning of the pandemic and the more-recent increase in mortgage rates. The median existing single-family home price was $406,700 in July 2023, according to the National Association of REALTORS. Nationally, for-sale housing is overpriced by approximately 36%, with housing costs comprising nearly 44% of incomes as of July 2023, well above a more normal ratio of 31%. Supply of listed existing homes for the year ended July 2023 totaled just over three months. While this near-record-low level has likely been affected by greater efficiencies in the resale process, it is still a low number compared to the 1983-2019 average of 6.7 months. A lack of supply in the existing home market—just 3.3 months of supply of homes for sale as of July 2023—has provided a boost to the new home market and has kept prices from significant correction in the existing home market. In July 2023, the Burns Home Value Index had risen 1.2% year-over-year, after rising an estimated 37.7% from February 2020 to May 2022.
Our markets and metropolitan areas include Atlanta (which includes certain suburbs of Atlanta such as Dalton, GA), Birmingham, Charlotte, Houston, Huntsville, Nashville, and Raleigh-Durham.
Atlanta, Georgia
We entered the Atlanta market in 2008 when we broke ground on our first home. The Atlanta market is the 8th-largest metro area in the United States by population. The average population growth rate over the last five years has been 1.1%, which is nearly three times the national average of 0.4% annually for the same period. As of June 2023, the number of households increased 1.4% from June 2022 to reach about 2.35 million total households in the Atlanta metropolitan statistical area (the “MSA”). As of 2021, there were about 1.52 million owner-occupied single-family homes in Atlanta, accounting for 62.0% of the total housing stock. From 2012 through 2021, new home sales volume experienced strong annual growth by an average of 14.4%. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $461,900, about flat YOY. The median resale price for a detached home was $383,100 as of June 2023, up 0.6% from June 2022.
Birmingham, Alabama
We first entered the Birmingham market, which is the 50th-largest metro area in the United States by population, in 2015. The average population growth rate over the last five years has been 0.2%, which is below the national average of 0.4% annually for the same period. As of June 2023, the number of households increased by 0.6% from June 2022 to reach about 476,700 total households in the Birmingham MSA. As of 2021, there were about 307,000 owner-occupied single-family homes in Birmingham, accounting for 62.3% of the total housing stock. From 2012 to 2021, new home sales volume experienced strong annual growth by an average of 24.2%. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $294,300, down 25.5% from June 2022. The median resale price for a detached home was $238,000 as of June 2023, down 6.2% from June 2022.
Charlotte, North Carolina
We expanded our operations into the Charlotte market in 2016. The Charlotte market is the 23rd-largest metro area in the United States by population. The average population growth rate over the last five years has been 1.7%, which is above the national average of 0.4% annually for the same period. As of June 2023, the number of households increased 2.2% from June 2022 to reach about 1.10 million total households in the Charlotte MSA. As of 2021, there were about 698,980 owner-occupied single-family homes in Charlotte, accounting for 61.3% of the total housing stock. New home sales peaked in 2021, reaching 14,888 sales. Although sales numbers have softened since 2021 due to the rise in rates, the Charlotte MSA had 13,720 new home sales, up 0.2% year-over-year as of June 2023. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $409,600, 6.2% lower than June 2022. The median resale price for a detached home was $392,500 as of June 2023, 3.0% higher than June 2022.
Houston, Texas
As part of the next phase of our growth, we intend to expand operations within the Southern United States. We entered the Houston market pursuant to the consummation of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition on July 31, 2023. See “Recent developments—Devon Street Homes Acquisition.” The Houston market is the 5th-largest metro area in the United States by population. The average population growth rate over the last five years has been 1.3%, which is greater than three times the national average of 0.4% annually for the same period. As of June 2023, the number of households increased 2.1% from June 2022 to reach about 2.70 million total households in the Houston
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MSA. As of 2021, there were about 1.60 million owner-occupied single-family homes in Houston, accounting for 56.6% of the total housing stock. From 2019 through 2021, new home sales volume experienced strong annual growth by an average of 11.8% before declining 4.4% in 2022 as interest rates rose. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $313,000, 1.8% lower than June 2022. The median resale price for a single-family home was $342,200 as of June 2023, down 2.5% from June 2022.
Huntsville, Alabama
We first entered the Huntsville market, which is the 124th-largest metro area in the United States by population, in 2021. Huntsville’s growth rate has averaged 2.0% per year from 2017 through 2022, peaking at 2.3% in 2020. As of June 2023, the number of households increased 1.8% from June 2022 to reach about 210,200 total households in the Huntsville MSA. As of 2021, there were about 146,180 owner-occupied single-family homes in Huntsville, accounting for 67.2% of the total housing stock. Annual new home sales had risen from 1,361 in 2013 to 3,720 in 2021, before dropping 2.8% in 2022 as interest rates rose. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $346,000, down 1.3% from June 2022. The median resale price for a detached home was $280,800 as of June 2023, essentially flat from June 2022.
Nashville, Tennessee
We expanded our operations into the Nashville market in 2016 and, according to Builder Magazine, we are currently the tenth largest builder in Nashville. The Nashville market is the 36th-largest metro area in the United States by population. The average population growth rate over the last five years has been 1.5%, which is above the national average of 0.4% annually for the same period. As of June 2023, the number of households increased 2.6% from June 2022 to reach about 853,900 total households in Nashville. As of 2021, there were about 531,300 owner-occupied single-family homes in Nashville, accounting for 61.8% of the total housing stock. New home sales increased by an annual average of 13.3% and the median new home price appreciated by an annual average of 5.7% from 2011 through 2021, but sales volume did decline by 6.9% in 2022 as mortgage interest rates spiked. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $508,200, up 2.2% from June 2022. The current median resale price for a detached home is $456,000, down 0.5% from a year ago.
Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina
We first entered the Raleigh-Durham market in 2014. The Raleigh-Durham market is the 32nd-largest metro area in the United States by population. The average population growth rate over the last five years has been 1.9%, which is nearly five times the national average of 0.4% annually for the same period. As of April 2023, the number of households increased 2.3% from June 2022 to reach about 845,100 total households in the Raleigh-Durham MSA. As of 2021, there were about 510,000 owner-occupied single-family homes in Raleigh-Durham, accounting for 60.6% of the total housing stock. From 2012 through 2022, new home sales volume experienced strong annual growth of an average of 8.0%. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $463,700, down 1.8% from June 2022. The median resale price for a detached home was $466,200 as of June 2023, up 3.7% from June 2022.
JBREC projects that the long-term overall housing demand remains strong, with an estimated 17.1 million housing units required in the 10 years through 2030 to meet the demand generated by net new household formations, second homes, replacement of existing units, and to bring a better balance to housing demand and supply dynamics. These projections assume normal housing affordability conditions; prolonged housing affordability challenges would reduce housing demand.
The largest five-year age cohort in the United States turns 31-35 in 2023, and the median age of a first-time homebuyer is 36 years old, according to the National Association of REALTORS 2022 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. As housing affordability has posed challenges for many potential homebuyers, pent-up demand for home buying does exist in the market today. Given U.S. birth trends, JBREC projects this home-buying-age cohort should continue to grow over the next one to two decades, though overall growth levels will also depend on immigration trends.
Our competitive strengths
We strive to generate consistent growth and strong risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders through our attractive operational and financial profile supported by our combination of operating efficiencies, a land-light business model, and a conservative balance sheet. Our track record of successful financial performance and growth is driven by our relentless focus on optimizing our homebuilding operations and the efficient use of our capital. We believe the following strengths create a significant competitive advantage as we execute upon our business strategy and pursue future growth.
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Efficient, schedule driven manufacturing platform that drives strong construction cycle times and robust home closing gross margins
We maintain a highly efficient homebuilding production model which results in robust home closing gross margins and profitability. We achieved home closing gross margins of 29% for both the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022, which were among the highest in the public homebuilding sector, and also currently average a construction cycle time of approximately 60 business days. We achieve economies of scale across our production model by offering a consistent set of core floor plan options across all our markets. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, for example, over 90% of our closings were derived from fewer than 30 floor plans. We also seek to further improve our production efficiencies through the continuity of the trade partner construction teams we utilize across multiple job sites. This continuity increases trade partner familiarity with our floor plans and building materials, which in turn increases productivity and allows us to target a minimum of one home start a day per Rteam. We believe our Rteam philosophy is the foundation of our operational success and places significant focus on accountability and collaboration, emphasizing a mindset of shared success whereby each partner's contribution is critical to the success of everyone else and the overall success of a project. To further facilitate our efficient homebuilding operations, we utilize an ERP system, SMART Builder, which is a real-time, schedule driven, single database that manages our entire homebuilding construction ecosystem, including sales, purchasing, scheduling, production, accounting, and servicing. The combination of all of the above factors allows us to operate efficiently and ultimately supports our ability to drive our low cycle times, high inventory turnover and strong margins and returns.



Land-light business model that allows for both risk mitigation and enhanced returns
Core to our success is the capital efficient, land-light operating strategy we have employed since our inception. We believe this approach mitigates risk and, consistent with our efficiency focused culture, enhances our returns. We primarily acquire finished lots from reputable third-party land developers and land bankers through lot-option contracts, thereby avoiding the financial requirements and risks associated with land ownership and land development. Our primary obligation and potential economic risk for failure to perform under our lot-option contracts is typically limited to the amount of our deposit. Additionally, we aim to limit our balance sheet risk by typically keeping less than two months of finished lots on our balance sheet at any given time. By utilizing a “just-in-time” approach to lot acquisitions, we reduce our up-front capital commitments and in turn drive higher inventory turnover and returns. As of June 30, 2023, we controlled 8,770 lots through option contracts,
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representing 95% of our total unstarted controlled lots, compared to an average of 48% for public company homebuilders. Our inventory turnover was 3.3x for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and 3.8x for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to an average inventory turnover of 1.2x and 1.3x, respectively, for the same periods, for public company homebuilders. Our adjusted return on equity and adjusted return on inventory was 71% and 62%, respectively, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023, and 81% and 75%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the averages of 23% and 19%, respectively, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023, and 28% and 24%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022, for public company homebuilders.
Established presence in attractive, high growth markets
We are focused on favorable, high growth housing markets primarily in the Southeastern and Southern United States. Since establishing our initial presence in Atlanta, we have steadily expanded our footprint into Raleigh, Birmingham, Charlotte, Nashville, and Huntsville over the last nine years. Our markets exhibit attractive demographic trends, including high employment growth, strong supply and demand fundamentals, positive net migration, home price appreciation, favorable land pricing, and low costs of living, which we believe will support the long-term growth of new home orders. According to JBREC, the majority of our markets rank among the top ten in the Southeast for positive net migration over the last year. We believe the combination of these compelling trends and our strong presence within these markets will help facilitate the execution of our growth strategy.


Scalable platform well positioned to expand in existing and new markets
Since our inception in 2008, we have expanded our homebuilding operations through consistent organic growth. We utilize our management team’s deep industry knowledge, disciplined underwriting and project management capabilities, and our scalable, process-driven, schedule-oriented platform to grow in submarkets within our existing footprint as well as enter new markets. In Atlanta, we have rapidly and profitably grown our presence, celebrating our 5,000th cumulative closing in 2020. We have successfully scaled our business while maintaining strong margins by targeting markets where we can replicate our land-light strategy and Rteam production model, and also leverage our strong relationships with local developers, suppliers, and municipalities to grow communities. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we closed 2,200 homes, achieving a 23% CAGR on closed homes from 2015 to 2022. Among homebuilders that began operations after 2007, based off of the Builder Magazine Top 100 list, we believe we are the sixth largest homebuilder in the country and the second largest private builder, each based on number of 2022 home closings, which further highlights our platform’s ability to scale. Going forward, we intend to apply our management team’s strong execution capabilities to capitalize on growth opportunities within our existing markets and new markets.
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Differentiated ability to offer a personalized homebuying experience to price-conscious homebuyers
Through our efficient and differentiated operating approach, we have the ability to offer our target homebuyers a personalized affordable luxury buying experience. As part of our home offerings, we provide homebuyers a wide range of value engineered exterior and interior options. Additionally, because we offer a consistent, optimized set of floor plans and home options across our markets, we can reduce costs, shorten construction cycle times, and ultimately deliver a high-quality personalized home at an attractive price point, which averaged approximately $330,000 on homes closed during the six months ended June 30, 2023. Combined, our compelling value, high level of personalization, and superior home construction times have resulted in one of the lowest cancellation rates amongst all the public company homebuilders, which were 9% and 11% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively, meaningfully below public company homebuilders’ average of 16% and 21%, respectively, for the same periods. We believe our ability to offer a personalized buying experience at an affordable price point will continue to create meaningful differentiation in the market for us.
Veteran management team with track record of success and significant public company experience
We benefit from a seasoned management team with a long history of generating consistent positive financial results and strong returns for stockholders. Our management team averages over 25 years of industry experience, with many of our executives and upper management having previously held senior roles at other public homebuilder companies, including KB Home, WCI Communities, Beazer Homes, Meritage Homes, Pulte, and NVR. Our founder and Executive Chairman, Tom Bradbury, is a long-time industry veteran who previously founded Colony Homes. Under his leadership, Colony Homes grew into one of the largest homebuilders in the Southeastern United States focused on entry-level homebuyers and was ultimately sold to KB Home in 2003. Our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman, Greg Bennett, has spent most of his career working alongside Mr. Bradbury, starting in 1986 and through his last position as Region President of Colony Homes prior to its sale to KB Home. In 2004, Greg founded his own homebuilding company, Greg Bennett Homes, which he operated until he joined Smith Douglas Homes in 2015. Our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Russell Devendorf, has previously served as Chief Financial Officer at WCI Communities, where he helped spearhead the restructuring and turnaround of the company from 2008 to its successful IPO in 2013 and its eventual sale to Lennar in 2017. Our management’s experience adds a level of expertise, governance, and accountability that we believe is distinct for companies of our size. After the consummation of this offering, in the aggregate, management will continue to own    % of outstanding common stock, creating long-term alignment of interests between management and stockholders.
Conservative balance sheet and liquidity, with substantial capacity to drive growth
We maintain a conservatively leveraged and flexible balance sheet which reflects our efficiency-minded operating philosophy. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, our debt-to-book capitalization was 5% and 8%, and our net-debt-to-net book capitalization was (1)% and (10)%. We maintain significant liquidity, with $11.4 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand and $113.3 million of undrawn capacity under the Existing Credit
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Facility (exclusive of outstanding letters of credit) as of June 30, 2023. Following this transaction, we believe our enhanced liquidity position will allow us to react nimbly to market conditions and to pursue attractive organic growth or acquisition opportunities.
Our strategy
We expect to execute on the strategies below to establish our legacy as one of the country’s leading homebuilders and to continue driving consistent growth, operating efficiency, and strong returns while delivering high-quality, personalized homes to homebuyers at affordable price points. Through the execution of our business strategy, we will strive to expand our platform and become a top homebuilder in the United States.
Capitalize on our land-light capital strategy to efficiently build new communities and drive superior risk-adjusted returns
We intend to continue our land-light lot acquisition strategy to support future growth while maintaining strong equity returns. We believe this approach, combined with our primarily pre-selling / build-to-order strategy, allows us to efficiently build new communities while also limiting our operational and financial risk during various economic cycles. Without the financial and operational risks of undeveloped land ownership, we create an even flow of lot purchases, better aligning the pace of home orders and home starts. Furthermore, to drive greater inventory turnover, we utilize financial incentive structures within our market divisions to target no more than approximately two months of finished lots and four months of started lots at any given time. We have utilized the land-light business model since our inception in 2008 and have forged strong relationships with land developers and land bankers that span multiple markets, which we believe give us an advantage when sourcing and executing lot option contracts. Supported by these enduring relationships, we believe our land-light strategy differentiates us from peers and allows us to consistently achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns.
Increase presence and market share within our existing markets
Our focused strategy of targeting entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers in our preferred markets has been at the core of our historical expansion and these homebuyer groups will continue to be our primary target demographic. We leverage our strong relationships with local developers, suppliers, municipalities, and land bankers to give us deeper access in our existing markets to increase land positions and community count. We have experienced rapid organic growth since our inception in 2008, expanding our geographic presence from our headquarters in Atlanta, a market where we are currently one of the largest homebuilders, to five additional key markets with robust growth outlooks: Raleigh, Charlotte, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Nashville. We believe there remains significant opportunity to increase market share and meaningfully grow within our existing markets, driving economies of scale and overall platform growth.
Opportunistically expand to new markets
We see attractive growth opportunities, particularly in the Southeastern and Southern United States, and intend to opportunistically expand into new geographies through organic growth and platform acquisitions. We evaluate potential market expansion opportunities using a set of robust strategic market criteria, including availability of land and unmet demand in suburban-plus areas, as well as the ability to pursue a similar lot option strategy, house plans, and construction process while leveraging our Rteam philosophy. As part of our new market expansion strategy, we target establishing critical scale of at least 200 annual starts within the first two years of entering a new market in order to maximize our Rteam efficiency. Furthermore, we will selectively evaluate external growth opportunities where we can accretively gain scale in a market and enhance our position for future growth. For example, we believe our acquisition of Devon Street Homes will help us enter the highly attractive Houston market, providing us immediate scale and positioning us to grow organically in neighboring Texas markets over time. Looking ahead, we will continue to pursue attractive market expansion opportunities that align with our strategy.
Continue to target our key entry-level and empty-nest homebuyer demographics
Our strategy is to target the entry-level and empty-nest demographics in the Southeastern and Southern regions of the U.S. We believe the fundamental drivers at both the national level and, more specifically, in our local markets have created an increased demand for entry-level priced homes, which we believe makes us well positioned to fulfill this demand as a result of our ASP of homes closed, which was approximately $330,000 for the six months
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ended June 30, 2023 and one of the lowest among public company homebuilders. According to a 2023 National Association of Home Builders (“NAHB”) housing affordability analysis, 73% of households cannot afford a median-priced single-family home (which was equal to $418,000 in 2022). By targeting lower price point offerings, we are able to drive demand despite broader affordability concerns. We operate in attractive market segments, where there is consistent demand for homes as homebuyers look for alternatives to renting, especially with rising rental rates. We believe homebuyers appreciate our value proposition created by the combination of our home affordability and the level of personalization we provide. Furthermore, in the current environment, the recent rise in interest rates has created a significant affordability problem, making our price points even more attractive. In addition, we have significant experience working across multiple mortgage types including, but not limited to, FHA, USDA, and conventional mortgages, which allows us to offer financing support tailored to the needs of our homebuyers.
Focus on delivering a personalized build-to-order experience at attractive price points
We believe a key differentiator of our business is how we redefine affordable luxury for the homebuilding sector. Our home offerings address the strong market demand for an affordable luxury experience that provides homebuyer personalization, through an a-la-carte approach to various home design options, without sacrificing affordability. Our unique affordable luxury business model is designed to balance an optimized and value-driven homebuyer experience with operational efficiency. We have invested significant resources in perfecting approximately 30 value-engineered floor plans that our homebuyers have used in over 90% of total homes closed across all our markets for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The streamlined floor plans and strong scheduling adherence allow us to offer high-quality homes at affordable prices with short turnaround times. Going forward, we will continue to provide a select variety of home layout options and amenities for our homebuyers in a streamlined and cost-effective manner. Lastly, we also consider our homebuyers’ living experience after buying a home in one of our communities, so we have structured our lot and land acquisition strategy to maximize streetscapes and create an efficient community layout. We believe this compelling value proposition provides meaningful differentiation in the market, increasing the demand for our homes relative to our competitors, who do not offer the same level of personalization and value at comparable price points. With our approach to offering affordable luxury in the homebuilding space, we intend to continue to expand our brand to reach more homebuyers with our unique value proposition.
Continue to utilize strong cash flow generation to grow platform and drive high return on equity
We operate a highly efficient business model that has consistently generated strong margins and significant cash flow. Our margin and cash flow profile has historically enabled us to simultaneously expand our business, maintain a conservative, durable balance sheet, and return capital to stockholders, which has in turn resulted in strong equity returns. We intend to continue utilizing a nimble and balanced capital allocation strategy that prioritizes the growth of our platform, increased profitability, and the strength of our balance sheet while targeting a consistent, high return on equity for our stockholders. This allows us to maintain long-term balance sheet durability to withstand multiple cycles and to execute operational and acquisition strategies when access to capital is scarce.
We believe this offering will diversify our access to capital and enhance our already strong liquidity position, further supporting our robust future growth plans and providing us with the flexibility to opportunistically deploy capital. We plan to continue to be prudent with our use of leverage, which we believe is key to the long-term growth and financial stability of our business.
Recent developments
Devon Street Homes Acquisition
On July 31, 2023, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Devon Street Homes, L.P. (“Devon Street Homes”) pursuant to an asset purchase agreement (the “APA”). Devon Street Homes is a builder of single-family homes in Houston, Texas, and targets entry-level and first-time homebuyers. The purchase price equaled the net assets of Devon Street Homes on a cash-free, debt-free basis, plus an agreed upon premium which is comprised primarily of real estate inventory, subject to purchase price adjustments. We funded the purchase price of approximately $79.1 million with $2.1 million of cash on hand, $72.0 million of draws on our Existing Credit Facility (as defined below), and $5.0 million from the issuance of a three-year promissory note payable to the seller, exclusive of
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contingent consideration to the seller of up to $5.0 million. The contingent consideration will be paid to the seller upon the achievement of certain gross margin targets. We do not intend to use the proceeds from this offering for the payment of any outstanding amounts under the APA that may be paid pursuant to the earnout payments.
Concurrent Credit Facility Amendment
Concurrently with, and conditioned upon, the pricing of this offering, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries intend to enter into an amended and restated revolving credit facility which will replace the $175.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the lenders party thereto (the “Lenders”), dated as of October 28, 2021, as amended to date, (the “Existing Credit Facility,” as amended and restated, the “Amended Credit Facility”). Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is not party to the Existing Credit Facility. Smith Douglas Homes Corp. is not a party to the Existing Credit Facility and will not be a party to the Amended Credit Facility. The Amended Credit Facility is conditioned upon the pricing of this offering and certain other customary conditions to effectiveness, however, this offering is not contingent upon the effectiveness of the Amended Credit Facility. The Amended Credit Facility will, among other things, increase the aggregate principal amount of the revolving credit commitments to $250.0 million and extend the maturity date to the date that is three years after the closing of the Amended Credit Facility. There is no guarantee that we will enter into the Amended Credit Facility on the terms described herein or at all.
We intend to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to repay $    outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility (the “Debt Repayment” and together with the Amended Credit Facility, the “Refinancing”). As of June 30, 2023, outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility totaled $10.0 million with $0.4 million in outstanding letters of credit. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, we borrowed an additional $72.0 million under the Existing Credit Facility to partially fund the purchase price of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. Following the Debt Repayment, we will be free to draw on the Amended Credit Facility’s $250.0 million unsecured revolver. See “Use of proceeds” and “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources—Existing Credit Facility.”
Summary risk factors
Participating in this offering involves substantial risk. Our ability to execute our strategy is also subject to certain risks. The risks described under the heading “Risk factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus may cause us not to realize the full benefits of our strengths or may cause us to be unable to successfully execute all or part of our strategy. Some of the most significant challenges and risks we face include the following:
our inability to successfully identify, secure, and control an adequate inventory of lots at reasonable prices;
the tightening of mortgage lending standards and mortgage financing requirements;
the housing market may not continue to grow at the same rate, or may decline;
the availability, skill, and performance of trade partners;
a shortage or increase in the costs of building materials could delay or increase the cost of home construction;
efforts to impose joint employer liability on us for labor, safety, or worker’s compensation law violations committed by our trade partners;
volatility in the credit and capital markets may impact our cost of capital and our ability to access necessary financing and the difficulty in obtaining sufficient capital could prevent us from acquiring lots for our development or increase costs and delays in the completion of our homebuilding expenditures;
no market currently exists for our Class A common stock, and an active, liquid trading market for our Class A common stock may not develop, which may cause our Class A common stock to trade at a discount from the initial offering price and make it difficult for you to sell the Class A common stock you purchase;
we cannot predict the effect our dual class structure may have on the market price of our Class A common stock;
the Tax Receivable Agreement requires us to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners in respect of certain tax benefits to which we may become entitled, and we expect that such payments will be substantial;
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our organizational structure, including the Tax Receivable Agreement, confers certain benefits upon the Continuing Equity Owners that will not benefit holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent that it will benefit the Continuing Equity Owners; and
the significant influence the Continuing Equity Owners will have over us after the Transactions, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders.
Before you invest in our Class A common stock, you should carefully consider all the information in this prospectus, including matters set forth under the heading “Risk factors.”
Summary of the Transactions
Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation, was formed on June 20, 2023 and is the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. Prior to this offering, all of our business operations have been conducted through Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Prior to the Transactions, we expect there will initially be one holder of common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. We will consummate the following organizational transactions in connection with this offering:
we will amend and restate the existing limited liability company agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering, to, among other things, (i) recapitalize all existing ownership interests in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC into     LLC Interests (before giving effect to the use of proceeds described below), (ii) appoint Smith Douglas Homes Corp. as the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC upon its acquisition of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, and (iii) provide certain redemption rights to the Continuing Equity Owners;
we will amend and restate Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s certificate of incorporation to, among other things, provide (i) for Class A common stock, with each share of our Class A common stock entitling its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, (ii) for Class B common stock, with each share of our Class B common stock entitling its holder to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally prior to the Sunset Date and from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date each share of our Class B common stock will entitle its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, (iii) that shares of our Class B common stock may only be held by the Continuing Equity Owners and their respective permitted transferees as described in “Description of capital stock—Common Stock—Class B common stock;” and (iv) for preferred stock, which can be issued by our board in one or more series without stockholder approval;
we will issue     shares of our Class B common stock (after giving effect to the use of net proceeds as described below) to the Continuing Equity Owners, which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owners, at the time of such issuance of Class B common stock, for nominal consideration;
we will issue     shares of our Class A common stock to the purchasers in this offering (or     shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $   million (or approximately $   million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $   per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), less the underwriting discount;
use of the net proceeds from this offering (i) to purchase     newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $   million directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or       newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $     million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount; and (ii) to purchase     LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $    million in aggregate (or     LLC Interests for $    million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount;
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (i) to repay approximately $    million of borrowings outstanding under our Existing Credit
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Facility, (ii) redeem all outstanding Class C Units and Class D Units of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at par in aggregate for $2.6 million, (iii) repay $1.3 million in notes payable to certain related parties and (iv) if any remain, for general corporate purposes as described under “Use of proceeds” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions;” and
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will enter into (i) the Registration Rights Agreement with our Continuing Equity Owners and (ii) the Tax Receivable Agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners. For a description of the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, see “Certain relationships and related person transactions.”
Immediately following the consummation of the Transactions (including this offering and proposed use of proceeds):
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be a holding company and its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests it acquires directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner;
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and will control the business and affairs of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC;
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will own, directly or indirectly,    LLC Interests of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, representing approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or     LLC Interests, representing approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);
the Continuing Equity Owners will own (i)    LLC Interests of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, representing approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or     LLC Interests, representing approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (ii)    shares of Class B common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., representing approximately    % of the combined voting power of all of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s common stock (or     shares of Class B common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., representing approximately    % of the combined voting power if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);
the purchasers in this offering will own (i)    shares of Class A common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (or     shares of Class A common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing approximately    % of the combined voting power of all of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s common stock and 100% of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (or approximately % of the combined voting power and 100% of the economic interest if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), and (ii) through Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s ownership of LLC Interests, indirectly will hold approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); and
our Class A common stock and Class B common stock will have what is commonly referred to as a “high/low vote structure,” which means that shares of our Class B common stock will initially have ten votes per share and our Class A common stock will have one vote per share. Upon the occurrence of the Sunset Date, each share of Class B common stock will then be entitled to one vote per share. This high/low vote structure will enable the Continuing Equity Owners to control the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our directors, as well as the overall management and direction of our company. Furthermore, the Continuing Equity Owners will continue to exert a significant degree of influence, or actual control, over matters requiring stockholder approval. We believe that maintaining this control by the Continuing Equity Owners will help enable them to successfully guide the implementation of our Company’s growth strategies and strategic vision. Meanwhile, holders of our Class A common stock will have economic and voting rights similar to those of holders of common stock of non-Up-C structured public companies that have a high/low vote structure. See “Description of capital stock.”
As the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, we will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and, through Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, conduct our business. Following the Transactions, including this offering, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will control the management of Smith
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Douglas Holdings LLC as its sole managing member. As a result, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will consolidate Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and record a significant non-controlling interest in a consolidated entity in Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s consolidated financial statements for the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners.
Unless otherwise indicated, this prospectus assumes the shares of Class A common stock are offered at $    per share (the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). For more information regarding the impact of the initial offering price on the share information included throughout this prospectus, see “The offering.”
Our corporate structure following this offering, as described below, is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership-C corporation (“Up-C”) structure, which is often used by partnerships and limited liability companies when they undertake an initial public offering of their business. The Up-C structure will allow the Continuing Equity Owners to retain their equity ownership in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC following the offering and to continue to realize tax benefits associated with owning interests in an entity that is treated as a partnership, or “flow-through” entity, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Investors in this offering will, by contrast, hold their equity ownership in Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of shares of Class A common stock. One of the tax benefits to the Continuing Equity Owners associated with this structure is that future taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC that is allocated to the Continuing Equity Owners will be taxed on a flow-through basis and, therefore, will not be subject to corporate taxes at the entity level. Additionally, because the Continuing Equity Owners may have their LLC Interests redeemed by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or at our option, directly exchanged by Smith Douglas Homes Corp.) for newly issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (subject to customary adjustments, including for stock splits, stock dividends, and reclassifications) or, at our option, for cash, the Up-C structure also provides the Continuing Equity Owners with potential liquidity that holders of non-publicly traded limited liability companies are not typically afforded. In connection with any such redemption or exchange of LLC Interests, a corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock held by the relevant Continuing Equity Owner will automatically be transferred to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for no consideration and be canceled. The Continuing Equity Owners and Smith Douglas Homes Corp. also each expect to benefit from the Up-C structure as a result of certain cash tax savings arising from redemptions or exchanges of the Continuing Equity Owner’s LLC Interests for Class A common stock or cash, and certain other tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement discussed in “Certain relationships and related person transactions–Tax Receivable Agreement.” See “Risk factors—Risks related to our organizational structure.” In general, the Continuing Equity Owners expect to receive payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement in amounts equal to 85% of certain tax benefits, as described below, and Smith Douglas Homes Corp. expects to benefit in the form of cash tax savings in amounts equal to 15% of certain tax benefits, as described below. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will reduce cash otherwise arising from such tax savings. We expect such payments will be substantial.
As described below under “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement,” prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Smith Douglas Homes Corp. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) as a result of (i) Basis Adjustments, (ii) Section 704(c) Allocations; and (iii) certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
For more information regarding the Transactions and our structure, see “Our organizational structure.”
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Ownership structure
The diagram below depicts our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and proposed use of proceeds, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock.

(1)
Includes Founder Fund and GSB Holdings.
Smith Douglas Homes Corp., the issuer of the Class A common stock in this offering, was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 20, 2023. Our corporate headquarters are located at 110 Village Trail, Suite 215, Woodstock, Georgia 30188. Our telephone number is (770) 213-8067. Our principal website address is www.smithdouglas.com. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.
After giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and proposed use of proceeds, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be a holding company whose principal asset will consist of    % of the outstanding LLC Interests of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or    % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock).
Implications of being an emerging growth company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). An emerging growth company may take advantage of certain reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As a result:
we are required to have only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related selected financial data and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosure;
we are not required to engage an auditor to report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”);
we are not required to comply with the requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements;
we are not required to submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay,” “say-on-frequency,” and “say-on-golden parachutes;” and
we are not required to comply with certain disclosure requirements related to executive compensation, such as the requirement to present a comparison of our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation to our median employee compensation.
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We may take advantage of these reduced reporting and other requirements until such time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion; (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year; or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced burdens. We have elected to adopt the reduced requirements with respect to our financial statements and the related selected financial data and “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” disclosure, including in this prospectus.
In addition, the JOBS Act permits an emerging growth company like us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have chosen to “opt out” of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period is irrevocable.
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The offering
Issuer
Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
Shares of Class A common stock offered by us
    shares (or     shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares).
Option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock from us
The underwriters have an option to purchase an additional     shares of Class A common stock from us. The underwriters can exercise this option at any time within 30 days from the date of this prospectus.
Shares of Class A common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering
    shares, representing approximately   % of the combined voting power of all of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s common stock (or     shares, representing approximately   % of the combined voting power of all of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), 100% of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Homes Corp., and   % of the indirect economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or   % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).
Shares of Class B common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering
    shares, representing approximately   % of the combined voting power of all of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s common stock (or     shares, representing approximately   % of the combined voting power of all of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s common stock if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and no economic interest in Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
LLC Interests to be held by us immediately after this offering
    LLC Interests, representing approximately   % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or     LLC Interests, representing approximately   % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).
LLC Interests to be held directly by the Continuing Equity Owners immediately after this offering
    LLC Interests, representing approximately   % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or     LLC Interests, representing approximately   % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).
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Ratio of shares of Class A common stock to LLC Interests
The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will require that we and Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at all times maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class A common stock issued by us and the number of LLC Interests owned by us.
Ratio of shares of Class B common stock to LLC Interests
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will require that we and Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at all times maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class B common stock owned by the Continuing Equity Owners and their respective permitted transferees and the number of LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners and their respective permitted transferees. Immediately after the Transactions, the Continuing Equity Owners will together own 100% of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock.
Permitted holders of shares of Class B common stock
Only the Continuing Equity Owners and the permitted transferees of Class B common stock as described in this prospectus will be permitted to hold shares of our Class B common stock. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions.”
Voting rights
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to stockholders for their vote or approval, except as otherwise required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Each share of our Class A common stock entitles its holders to one vote per share and, until the Sunet Date, each share of our Class B common stock entitles its holders to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. From and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, each share of our Class B common stock will entitle its holders to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. See “Description of capital stock.”
Redemption rights of holders of LLC Interests
The Continuing Equity Owners may, subject to certain exceptions, from time to time at each of their options require Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to redeem all or a portion of their LLC Interests in exchange for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (subject to customary adjustments, including for stock splits, stock dividends, and reclassifications) or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of our Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Smith Douglas
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LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. Simultaneously with the payment of cash or shares of Class A common stock, as applicable, in connection with a redemption or exchange of LLC Interests pursuant to the terms of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, a number of shares of our Class B common stock registered in the name of the redeeming or exchanging Continuing Equity Owner and permitted transferees will automatically be transferred to us for no consideration on a one-for-one basis with the number of LLC Interests so redeemed or exchanged and such shares of Class B common stock will be canceled. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions.”
Use of proceeds
We estimate, based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $    per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $    million (or $    million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), after deducting the underwriting discount. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (i) to purchase     newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $    million directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or     newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $    million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount; and (ii) to purchase     LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $    million in aggregate (or     LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners for $    million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount. Upon each purchase of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners, the corresponding shares of Class B common stock will automatically be transferred to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for no consideration and canceled. We will only retain the net proceeds that are used to purchase newly issued LLC Interests from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, which, in turn, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC intends to use as follows: (i) to repay approximately $    million of borrowings outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility as part of the Refinancing, (ii) redeem all the outstanding Class C Units and Class D Units of Smith Douglas Holdings
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LLC at par aggregating $2.6 million, (iii) repay $1.3 million in notes payable to certain related parties (see "Certain relationships and related person transactions") and (iv) the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products, services, or technologies; however, we do not have agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions or investments at this time. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will bear or reimburse Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for all of the expenses of this offering. We will have broad discretion in the way that we use the net proceeds of this offering. See “Use of proceeds” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions.”
Dividend policy
We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business, and therefore, we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock. Except in certain limited circumstances, holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to participate in any dividends declared by our board of directors. Because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock depends on our receipt of cash distributions from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Our ability to pay dividends may be restricted by the terms of any future credit agreement or any future debt or preferred equity securities of us. Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to the requirements of applicable law, and in compliance with contractual restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing our future indebtedness. Any such determination will also depend upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, industry trends, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See “Dividend policy.”
Conflicts of interest
Because Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, an affiliate of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, is administrative agent for the Existing Credit Facility, which will be repaid in full with the proceeds from this offering, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” under Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) Rule 5121. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of Rule 5121. Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” is not required in connection with this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121(c), no sales of the shares in this offering will be made to any discretionary account over which Wells Fargo Securities, LLC exercises discretion without the prior specific written approval of the account holder. See “Underwriting (conflicts of interest).”
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Controlled company exception
After the consummation of the Transactions, the Founder Fund will have more than 50% of the combined voting power of our common stock. As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Exchange rules and intend to elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors. From time to time, we may rely on additional exemptions provided to controlled companies under the Exchange rules. For example, as a controlled company, from time to time we may not have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, an entirely independent nominating and corporate governance committee, an entirely independent compensation committee, or perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all these corporate governance requirements.
Tax Receivable Agreement
We will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Smith Douglas Homes Corp. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) as a result of (i) Basis Adjustments, (ii) Section 704(c) Allocations, and (iii) certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement” for a discussion of the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Registration Rights Agreement
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we will, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, agree to register the resale of the shares of our Class A common stock that are issuable to the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with the Transactions. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Registration Rights Agreement” for a discussion of the Registration Rights Agreement.
Risk factors
See “Risk factors” beginning on page 27 and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in shares of our Class A common stock.
Trading symbol
We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “SDHC.”
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Unless we indicate otherwise or the context otherwise requires, all information in this prospectus:
gives effect to the amendment and restatement of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement that converts all existing ownership interests in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC into     LLC Interests, as well as the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation;
gives effect to the other Transactions, including the Refinancing, the consummation of this offering and proposed use of proceeds;
excludes     shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2023 Incentive Award Plan (the “2023 Plan”), as described under the caption “Executive compensation—Equity compensation plans—2023 Incentive Award Plan”, including approximately      shares of Class A common stock issuable pursuant to the settlement of restricted stock units that we intend to grant to certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees, including certain of our named executive officers, in connection with this offering as described in “Executive compensation—Narrative to summary compensation table—Equity compensation—IPO equity awards”;
assumes an initial public offering price of $    per share of Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus; and
assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase     additional shares of Class A common stock from us.
Our 2023 Plan provides for annual automatic increases in the number of shares reserved thereunder.
Unless otherwise indicated, this prospectus assumes the shares of Class A common stock are offered at $    per share (the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus).
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Summary historical and pro forma condensed consolidated
financial and other data
The following tables present the summary historical financial and other data for Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is the predecessor of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for financial reporting purposes. The summary statements of income and statements of cash flows data for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the summary balance sheet data as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary statements of income and statements of cash flows data for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, and the summary balance sheet data as of June 30, 2023 are derived from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in our opinion, include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly in all material respects our financial position and results of operations. The results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. Historical results of operations for the periods presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future period. The information set forth below should be read together with “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information,” “Use of proceeds,” “Capitalization,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations,” “Our organizational structure” and the audited financial statements and the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. presented below has been derived from our unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2023 and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022 give effect to the Devon Street Homes Acquisition, the Transactions, the Refinancing, and the other events set forth in “Our organizational structure,” including the consummation of this offering, the use of the net proceeds therefrom and related transactions, as described in “Use of proceeds” and “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information,” as if they all had occurred on January 1, 2022 with respect to the statements of income and statements of cash flows data, and June 30, 2023 with respect to the balance sheet data. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information includes various estimates which are subject to material change and may not be indicative of what our operations or financial position would have been had the Devon Street Homes Acquisition and this offering and related transactions taken place on the dates indicated, or that may be expected to occur in the future. See “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information” for a complete description of the adjustments and assumptions underlying the summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information. The presentation of the summary unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is prepared in conformity with Article 11 of Regulation S-X.
The summary historical financial and other data of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. has not been presented because Smith Douglas Homes Corp. is a newly-incorporated entity and has had no business transactions or activities to date, besides our initial capitalization.
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Smith Douglas Homes Corp. Pro Forma(1)
Historical Smith Douglas Holdings LLC
 
Six months
ended June 30,
Year ended
December 31,
Six months
ended June 30,
Year ended
December 31,
 
2023
2022
2023
2022
2022
2021
 
(In thousands)
(Unaudited, in thousands)
(In thousands)
Summary statement of income data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home closing revenue
$    
$
$349,666
$325,487
$755,353
$518,863
Cost of home closings
 
 
248,435
230,046
532,599
395,917
Home closing gross profit
 
 
101,231
95,441
222,754
122,946
Selling, general, and administrative costs
 
 
41,868
35,136
83,269
64,231
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
 
 
(436)
(460)
(1,120)
(595)
Interest expense
 
 
400
353
734
1,733
Other (income) loss, net
 
 
(168)
(246)
(573)
188
Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan
 
 
(5,141)
Income before income taxes
 
 
$59,567
$60,658
$140,444
$62,530
Provision for income taxes
 
 
Net income
 
 
59,567
60,658
140,444
62,530
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
$
$
$
$
$
$
Pro forma per share data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro forma net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted
$
$
 
 
 
 
Pro forma weighted-average shares used to compute pro forma net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Smith Douglas Homes
Corp. Pro Forma(1)
Historical Smith
Douglas Holdings LLC
 
As of June 30,
As of June 30,
As of December 31,
 
2023
2023
2022
2021
 
(In thousands)
(Unaudited,
in thousands)
(In thousands)
Summary balance sheet data:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$            
$11,392
$29,601
$25,340
Total assets
 
225,563
223,372
201,188
Revolving line of credit
 
10,000
15,000
72,000
Total liabilities
 
49,657
58,861
105,672
Members’ equity
$
$175,906
$164,511
$95,516
Equity attributable to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
 
 
 
 
Noncontrolling interests
 
 
 
 
Total stockholders’/members’ equity
 
175,906
164,511
95,516
Total liabilities and stockholders’/members’ equity
 
$225,563
$223,372
$201,188
 
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. Pro Forma(1)
Historical Smith Douglas Holdings LLC
 
Six months
ended June 30,
Year ended
December 31,
Six months
ended June 30,
Year ended
December 31,
 
2023
2022
2023
2022
2022
2021
 
(In thousands)
(Unaudited, in thousands)
(In thousands)
Summary statements of cash flows data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
$35,902
$28,995
$132,095
$30,870
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
 
 
(180)
572
361
847
Net cash used in financing activities
 
 
(53,931)
(29,982)
(128,195)
(38,541)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
 
(18,209)
(415)
4,261
(6,824)
Other financial data(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home closing gross profit(3)
 
 
$101,231
$95,441
$222,754
$122,946
Adj. home closing gross profit(5)
 
 
$102,186
$96,560
$225,511
$124,981
Home closing gross margin(4)
 
 
29.0%
29.3%
29.5%
23.7%
Adj. home closing gross margin(4)
 
 
29.2%
29.7%
29.9%
24.1%
Adj. net income(5)
 
 
$44,675
$45,494
$105,333
$46,898
EBITDA(5)
 
 
$61,344
$62,570
$144,707
$67,284
Net income margin
 
 
17.0%
18.6%
18.6%
12.1%
EBITDA margin(4)(5)
 
 
17.5%
19.2%
19.2%
13.0%
Other operating data(2):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home closings
 
 
1,060
978
2,200
1,848
ASP of homes closed
 
 
$330
$333
$343
$281
Net new home orders
 
 
1,276
1,048
1,928
1,920
Contract value of net new home orders
 
 
$421,248
$374,892
$667,530
$597,761
ASP of net new home orders
 
 
$330
$358
$346
$311
Cancellation rate(6)
 
 
8.8%
7.3%
10.9%
6.7%
Backlog homes (period end)(7)
 
 
985
1,113
771
1,043
Contract value of backlog homes (period end)
 
 
$330,258
$397,125
$258,718
$345,521
ASP of backlog homes (period end)
 
 
$335
$357
$336
$331
Active communities (period end)(8)
 
 
44
50
53
52
Controlled lots (period end):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homes under construction
 
 
706
898
623
711
Owned lots
 
 
405
292
342
319
Optioned lots
 
 
7,659
10,106
7,848
9,840
Total controlled lots
 
 
8,770
11,296
8,813
10,870
(1)
Pro forma for the Transactions, the Refinancing and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. See “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.”
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(2)
For definitions and further information about how we calculate financial and operating data, including a reconciliation of adjusted home closing gross profit, adjusted net income, EBITDA, adjusted home closing gross margin, and EBITDA margin, please see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Reorganization transactions—Non-GAAP financial measures.”
(3)
Home closing gross profit is home closing revenue less cost of home closings.
(4)
Calculated as a percentage of home closing revenue.
(5)
Adjusted home closing gross profit, adjusted home closing gross margin, adjusted net income, EBITDA, and EBITDA margin are included in this prospectus because they are non-GAAP financial measures used by management and our board of directors to assess our financial performance. For definitions of adjusted homes closing gross profit, adjusted home closing gross margin, adjusted net income, EBITDA, and EBITDA margin and reconciliations to our most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Reorganization transactions—Non-GAAP financial measures.” Our non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as substitutes for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted homes closing gross profit, adjusted home closing gross margin, adjusted net income, EBITDA, and EBITDA margin may be different than a similarly titled measure used by other companies.
(6)
The cancellation rate is the total number of cancellations during the period divided by the total gross new home orders during the period.
(7)
Backlog homes (period end) is the number of homes in backlog from the previous period plus the number of net new home orders generated during the current period minus the number of homes closed during the current period.
(8)
A community becomes active once the model is completed or the community has its first sale. A community becomes inactive when it has fewer than two units remaining to sell.
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Risk factors
An investment in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the specific risk factors set forth below, together with the other information included elsewhere in this prospectus. If any of the risks discussed in this prospectus occur, our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially impaired, in which case the trading price of our Class A common stock could decline significantly, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Some statements in this prospectus, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.”
Risks related to our business, industry, and the economy
Our industry is cyclical and is significantly affected by changes in general and local economic conditions.
Our business can be substantially affected by adverse changes in general economic or business conditions, and other events and conditions that are outside of our control, including:
increases in short- and long-term interest rates;
high inflation;
supply-chain disruptions and the cost or availability of building materials;
the availability of trade partners, vendors, or other third parties;
housing affordability;
the availability and cost of financing for homebuyers;
federal and state income and real estate tax laws, including limitations on, or the elimination of, the deduction of mortgage interest or property tax payments;
employment levels, job and personal income growth and household debt-to-income levels;
consumer confidence generally and the confidence of potential homebuyers in particular;
the ability of homeowners to sell their existing homes at acceptable prices;
the U.S. and global financial systems and credit markets, including stock market and credit market volatility;
inclement weather and natural and man-made disasters, including risks associated with global climate change, such as increased frequency or intensity of adverse weather events;
environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, and the environmental conditions of our properties;
civil unrest, acts of terrorism, other acts of violence, threats to national security, global economic and political instability, and conflicts such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, escalating global trade tensions, the adoption of trade restrictions, or a public health issue such as COVID-19 or another major epidemic or pandemic;
mortgage financing programs and regulation of lending practices;
housing demand from population growth, household formations and demographic changes (including immigration levels and trends or other costs of home ownership in urban and suburban migration);
demand from foreign homebuyers for our homes;
the supply of available new or existing homes and other housing alternatives;
energy prices; and
the supply of developable land in our markets and in the United States generally.
Adverse changes in these conditions may affect our business nationally or may be more prevalent or concentrated in particular regions or localities in which we operate or may decide to operate in the future, which effects may be magnified where we have significant operations. Additionally, governmental action and legislation related to economic stimulus, taxation, tariffs, spending levels and borrowing limits, interest rates, immigration, as well as
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political debate, conflicts, and compromises related to such actions, may negatively impact the financial markets and consumer confidence and spending, which could adversely impact the U.S. economy and the housing market. Any deterioration or significant uncertainty in economic or political conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business.
These adverse changes in economic and other conditions can cause mortgage rates to rise, demand and prices for our homes to diminish, or cause us to take longer to build our homes and make it more costly for us to do so. We may not be able to recover these increased costs by raising prices because of weak market conditions and because the price of each home we sell is usually set several months before the home is delivered, as many homebuyers sign their home purchase contracts before construction begins. The potential difficulties described above could impact our homebuyers’ ability to obtain suitable financing and cause some homebuyers to cancel their home purchase contracts altogether.
The housing market may not continue to grow at the same rate, or may decline, and any reduced growth or decline in our markets or for the homebuilding industry generally may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.
We cannot predict whether and to what extent the housing markets in the geographic areas in which we operate or may decide to operate in the future will continue to grow, particularly if interest rates for mortgage loans, land costs, and construction costs rise. Other factors that might impact growth in the homebuilding industry include uncertainty in domestic and international financial, credit, and consumer lending markets amid slow economic growth or recessionary conditions in various regions or industries around the world, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, tight lending standards and practices for mortgage loans that limit consumers’ ability to qualify for mortgage financing to purchase a home, including increased minimum credit score requirements, credit risk/mortgage loan insurance premiums and/or other fees and required down payment amounts, higher home prices, more conservative appraisals, changing consumer preferences, higher loan-to-value ratios and extensive homebuyer income and asset documentation requirements, changes to mortgage regulations, population decline or slower rates of population growth in our markets, or Federal Reserve policy changes. Given these factors, we can provide no assurance that the present housing market will continue to be strong, whether overall or in our markets. Because we depend on a limited number of markets for substantially all of our home orders, if these markets, and in particular, Atlanta, Georgia, our largest market, experience downturns in the housing market, our business, prospects, and results of operations would be adversely impacted even if conditions in the broader economy or housing market did not suffer such a decline.
If there is limited economic growth, declines in employment and consumer income, changes in consumer behavior, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and/or tightening of mortgage lending standards, practices and regulation in the geographic areas in which we operate or may decide to operate in the future, or if interest rates for mortgage loans or home prices rise, there could likely be a corresponding adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations, including, but not limited to, the number of homes we sell, our ASP of homes closed, and the amount of revenues or profits we generate, and such effect may be material.
The tightening of mortgage lending standards and mortgage financing requirements, untimely or incomplete mortgage loan originations, and rising mortgage interest rates could adversely affect the availability of mortgage loans for potential purchasers of our homes and thereby materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Almost all our homebuyers finance their home purchases through lenders that provide mortgage financing. Mortgage interest rates have generally trended downward for the last several decades and reached historic lows in 2021, which made the homes we sell more affordable during that period. Mortgage interest rates increased substantially during 2022 in response to the Federal Reserve’s actions and future signaling to combat inflationary pressures, which negatively impacted consumer affordability. Early 2023 has seen the mortgage interest rates stabilize slightly, but they remain high relative to the rates in the past decade. We cannot predict future mortgage interest rates, and if mortgage interest rates continue to increase, the ability of prospective homebuyers to finance home purchases may be adversely affected, and our operating results may be significantly impacted. Our homebuilding activities are dependent upon the availability of mortgage financing to homebuyers, which is expected to be impacted by continued regulatory changes and fluctuations in the risk appetites of lenders. The financial documentation, down payment amounts, and income to debt ratio requirements are subject to change and could become more restrictive.
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The federal government has a significant role in supporting mortgage lending through its conservatorship of Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), both of which purchase or insure mortgage loans and mortgage loan-backed securities, and its insurance of mortgage loans through or in connection with the FHA, the Veterans Administration (“VA”), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”). FHA and VA backing of mortgage loans has been particularly important to the mortgage finance industry and to our business. Increased lending volume and losses insured by the FHA have resulted in a reduction of the FHA insurance fund. If either the FHA or VA raised their down payment requirements or lowered maximum loan amounts, our business could be materially affected. In addition, changes in governmental regulation with respect to mortgage lenders could adversely affect demand for housing.
The availability and affordability of mortgage loans, including mortgage interest rates for such loans, could also be adversely affected by a scaling back or termination of the federal government’s mortgage loan-related programs or policies. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, USDA, and VA backed mortgage loans have been an important factor in marketing and selling many of our homes. Given that a majority of our homebuyers’ mortgages conform with terms established by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHA, USDA, and VA, any limitations or restrictions in the availability of, or higher consumer costs for, such government-backed financing could adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. The elimination or curtailment of state bonds to assist homebuyers could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
In addition, certain current regulations impose, and future regulations may strengthen or impose, new standards and requirements relating to the origination, securitization, and servicing of residential consumer mortgage loans, which could further restrict the availability and affordability of mortgage loans and the demand for such loans by financial intermediaries and, as a result, adversely affect our home orders, financial condition, and results of operations. Further, if, due to credit or consumer lending market conditions, reduced liquidity, increased risk retention or minimum capital level obligations and/or regulatory restrictions related to certain regulations, laws or other factors or business decisions, these lenders refuse or are unable to provide mortgage loans to our homebuyers, or increase the costs to borrowers to obtain such loans, the number of homes we close and our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
Price-conscious entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers are the primary sources of demand for our new homes. Entry-level homebuyers are generally more affected by the availability of mortgage financing than other potential homebuyers and many of our potential empty-nest homebuyers must sell their existing homes to buy a home from us. A limited availability of suitable mortgage financing could prevent homebuyers from buying our homes and could prevent buyers of our homebuyers’ homes from obtaining mortgages they need to complete such purchases, either of which could result in potential homebuyers’ inability to buy a home from us, which could have a material adverse effect on our sales, profitability, cash flows, and ability to service our debt obligations.
Regional factors affecting the homebuilding industry in our current and future markets could materially and adversely affect us.
Our business strategy is focused on the acquisition of suitable land and the design, construction, and sale of primarily single-family homes in residential subdivisions, including planned communities, in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee, and potentially Texas. In addition, we have land banking contracts for the right to purchase land or lots at a future point in time in all our current markets. A prolonged economic downturn or future adverse conditions in one or more of these areas, or a particular industry that is fundamental to one or more of these areas, particularly within Atlanta, Georgia, our largest market, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Furthermore, if homebuyer demand for new homes in these markets decreases, home prices could decline, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Interest rate changes, and the failure to hedge against them, may adversely affect us.
We have in the past and may in the future borrow money to finance acquisitions related to land, lots, home inventories, or other companies. The borrowings may bear interest at variable rates. Interest rate changes could affect our interest payments, and our future earnings, results of operations, and cash flows may be adversely affected, assuming other factors are held constant.
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We currently do not hedge against interest rate fluctuations. We may in the future obtain one or more forms of interest rate protection in the form of swap agreements, interest rate cap contracts or similar agreements to hedge against the possible negative effects of interest rate fluctuations. However, we cannot assure you that any hedging will adequately relieve the adverse effects of interest rate increases or that counterparties under these agreements will honor their obligations thereunder. In addition, we may be subject to risks of default by hedging counterparties. Adverse economic conditions could also cause the terms on which we borrow to be unfavorable. We could be required to liquidate one or more of our assets at times which may not permit us to receive an attractive return on our assets in order to meet our debt service obligations.
The homebuilding industry is highly competitive and, if our competitors are more successful or offer better value to our homebuyers, our business could decline.
We operate in a very competitive environment that is characterized by competition from a number of other homebuilders in each market in which we operate. Additionally, there are relatively low barriers to entry into our business. We compete with large national and regional homebuilding companies, some of which have greater financial and operational resources than us, and with smaller local homebuilders, some of which may have lower administrative costs than us. We may be at a competitive disadvantage relative to certain of our large national and regional homebuilding competitors whose operations are more geographically diversified than ours, as these competitors may be better able to withstand any future regional downturns in the housing market. Furthermore, our market share in certain of our markets may be lower as compared to some of our competitors. Many of our competitors also have longer operating histories and longstanding relationships with trade partners and suppliers in the markets in which we operate or to which we may expand. This may give our competitors an advantage in marketing their products, securing lots, materials, and labor at lower prices, and allowing their homes to be delivered to homebuyers more quickly and at more favorable prices. We compete for homebuyers, desirable lots and lot options, financing, raw materials, skilled management, and other labor resources, among other things. Our competitors may independently develop land and construct homes that are substantially similar to our products.
Increased competition could hurt our business, as it could prevent us from acquiring desirable lots and lot options on which to build homes or make such acquisitions more expensive, hinder our market share expansion, and cause us to increase our selling incentives and reduce our prices. An oversupply of homes available for sale or discounting of home prices by competitors could periodically adversely affect demand for our homes in certain markets and could adversely affect pricing for homes in the markets in which we operate or may operate in the future.
If we are unable to compete effectively in our markets, our business could decline disproportionately to our competitors, and our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. We can provide no assurance that we will be able to continue to compete successfully in any of our markets. Our inability to continue to compete successfully in any of our markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Fluctuations in real estate values may require us to write-down the book value of our real estate assets.
The homebuilding and land development industries are subject to significant variability and fluctuations in real estate values. As a result, we may be required to write-down the book value of our real estate assets in accordance with GAAP, and some of those write-downs could be material. Any material write-downs of assets could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Natural and man-made disasters, severe weather, and adverse geologic conditions may increase costs, cause project delays, and reduce consumer demand for housing, all of which could materially and adversely affect us.
Our homebuilding operations are in many areas that are subject to natural and man-made disasters, severe weather, or adverse geologic conditions. These include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, floods, brushfires, wildfires, prolonged periods of precipitation, landslides, soil subsidence, earthquakes, and other natural and man-made disasters. The occurrence of any of these events could damage our land parcels and projects, cause delays in completion of our communities, reduce consumer demand for housing, cause delays in our supply chain, and cause shortages and price increases in labor or raw materials, any of which could affect our sales and profitability. In addition to directly damaging our land or projects, many of these natural events could damage roads and highways providing access to our assets or affect the desirability of our land or communities,
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thereby adversely affecting our ability to market or sell homes in those areas and possibly increasing the costs of homebuilding. Furthermore, the occurrence of natural and man-made disasters, severe weather, and other adverse geologic conditions has increased in recent years due to climate change and may continue to increase in the future.
Climate change may have the effect of making the risks described above occur more frequently and more severely, which could amplify the adverse impact in our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
There are some risks of loss for which we may be unable to purchase insurance coverage. For example, losses associated with hurricanes, landslides, prolonged periods of precipitation, earthquakes, and other weather-related and geologic events may not be insurable, and other losses, such as those arising from terrorism, may not be economically insurable. A sizeable uninsured loss could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Because of the seasonal nature of our business, our quarterly operating results fluctuate.
We have historically experienced, and expect to continue to experience, variability in our results of operations from quarter to quarter due to the seasonal nature of the homebuilding industry. We generally close more homes in our second, third, and fourth quarters. As a result, our revenues may fluctuate on a quarterly basis, and we may have higher capital requirements in our second, third, and fourth quarters in order to maintain our inventory levels. Accordingly, there is a risk that we will invest significant amounts of capital in the acquisition and development of land and construction of homes that we do not sell at anticipated pricing levels or within anticipated time frames. If, due to market conditions, construction delays or other causes, we do not complete home orders at anticipated pricing levels or within anticipated time frames, our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations would be adversely affected. We expect this seasonal pattern to continue over the long term, and we cannot make any assurances as to the degree to which our historical seasonal patterns will occur in the future.
Changes to population growth rates in certain of the markets in which we operate or plan to operate could affect the demand for homes in these regions.
Slower rates of population growth or population declines in our markets in Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Huntsville, Nashville, Raleigh, Houston, or other key markets in the United States we may decide to enter in the future, especially as compared to the high population growth rates in prior years, could affect the demand for housing, cause home prices in these markets to fall and adversely affect our plans for growth, business, financial condition, and operating results. Furthermore, while we have recently observed an increase in our business from people moving to more geographically diverse submarkets during the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot assure you that this trend will continue or not reverse.
Volatility in the credit and capital markets may impact our cost of capital and our ability to access necessary financing and the difficulty in obtaining sufficient capital could prevent us from acquiring lots for our construction or increase costs and delays in the completion of our homebuilding expenditures.
On October 28, 2021, we entered our $175.0 million unsecured revolving Existing Credit Facility that includes a $25.0 million accordion feature. As amended on December 19, 2022, our outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility will mature on December 19, 2025. As of June 30, 2023, our outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility totaled $10.0 million and our availability as determined in accordance with the borrowing base totaled $113.3 million. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, we borrowed an additional $72.0 million under the Existing Credit Facility to partially fund the purchase price of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. For more information on the Existing Credit Facility see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources—Existing Credit Facility.” Concurrently with, and conditioned upon, the pricing of this offering, we intend to enter into the Amended Credit Facility, and, as part of the Refinancing, we intend to use a portion of our net proceeds from this offering for the Debt Repayment, see “Use of proceeds.” The Amended Credit Facility is conditioned upon the pricing of this offering and certain other customary conditions to effectiveness, however, this offering is not contingent upon the effectiveness of the Amended Credit Facility. If we require working capital greater than that provided by our operations, our Existing Credit Facility and our Amended Credit Facility, we may be required to seek to increase the amount available under
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our Existing Credit Facility and our Amended Credit Facility or to seek alternative financing, which might not be available on terms that are favorable or acceptable or at all. If we are required to seek financing to fund our working capital requirements, volatility in credit or capital markets may restrict our flexibility to successfully obtain additional financing on terms acceptable to us, or at all. If we are at any time unsuccessful in obtaining sufficient capital to fund our planned homebuilding expenditures, we may experience a substantial delay in the completion of homes then under construction, or we may be unable to control or purchase finished building lots. Any delay could result in cost increases and could have a material adverse effect on our sales, profitability, stock performance, cash flows, and ability to service our debt obligations.
Inflation could adversely affect our business and financial results.
Currently, the United States is experiencing inflationary conditions. Inflation could adversely affect our business and financial results by increasing the costs of land, raw materials, and labor needed to operate our business. If our markets have an oversupply of homes relative to demand, we may be unable to offset any such increases in costs with corresponding higher sales prices for our homes. Inflation may also accompany higher interest rates, which could adversely impact a potential homebuyer’s ability to obtain financing on favorable terms, thereby further decreasing demand. If we are unable to raise the prices of our homes to offset the increasing costs of our operations, our margins could decrease. Furthermore, if we need to lower the price of our homes to meet demand, our profitability may decrease. Inflation may also raise our costs of capital and decrease our purchasing power, making it more difficult to maintain sufficient funds to operate our business. Our operations may be negatively impacted by inflation due to increasing construction costs, labor, and materials, as well as land acquisition financing costs. The Federal Reserve materially raised interest rates in the current year and signaled additional interest rate increases which increased our financing costs and has reduced demand for our homes.
Our geographic concentration could materially and adversely affect us if the homebuilding industry in our current markets should decline.
Our business strategy is focused on the design, construction, and sale of single-family homes in five states across the Southeastern and Southern United States. While our operations are geographically diverse and we may expand into additional markets, a prolonged economic downturn in one or more of the areas in which we operate, particularly within Atlanta, Georgia, our largest market, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations, and a disproportionately greater impact on us than other homebuilders with larger scale and more diversified operations and geographic footprint.
Difficulties with appraisal valuations in relation to the proposed sales price of our homes could force us to reduce the price of our homes for sale.
Each of our home orders may require an appraisal of the home value before closing. These appraisals are professional judgments of the market value of the property and are based on a variety of market factors. If our internal valuations of the market and pricing do not line up with the appraisal valuations, and appraisals are not at or near the agreed upon sales price, we may be forced to reduce the sales price of the home to complete the sale. These appraisal issues could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
If the market value of our inventory or controlled lot position declines, our profits could decrease, and we may incur losses.
Inventory risk can be substantial for homebuilders. The market value of building lots and housing inventories can fluctuate significantly because of changing market conditions. In addition, inventory carrying costs can be significant and can result in losses in a poorly performing community or market. We must continuously seek and make acquisitions of lots for expansion into new markets, as well as for replacement and expansion within our current markets, which we generally accomplish by entering finished lot option contracts or land bank option contracts. In the event of adverse changes in economic, market, or community conditions, we may cease further building activities in certain communities, restructure existing land banking option contracts, or elect not to exercise our land banking options. Such actions would result in our forfeiture of some or all of any deposits, fees, or investments paid or made in respect of such arrangements, including any cost overruns. The forfeiture of land contract deposits or inventory impairments may result in a loss that could have a material adverse effect on our profitability, stock performance, ability to service our debt obligations, and future cash flows.
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A major health and safety incident relating to our business could be costly in terms of potential liabilities and reputational damage.
Building sites are inherently dangerous and operating in the homebuilding and land development industry poses certain inherent health and safety risks. Due to health and safety regulatory requirements and the number of projects we work on, health and safety performance is critical to the success of all areas of our business.
Any failure in health and safety performance may result in penalties or a suspension or cessation of our operations for non-compliance with relevant regulatory requirements or litigation, and a failure that results in a major or significant health and safety incident is likely to be costly in terms of potential liabilities incurred as a result. Such a failure could generate significant negative publicity and have a corresponding impact on our reputation and our relationships with relevant regulatory agencies, governmental authorities, and local communities, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Risks related to the operation of our business
Our business model, which is dependent upon our ability to purchase and develop land at competitive prices and the ability of our homebuyers to be able to finance their home purchases through mortgage financing at accessible rates, can be substantially impacted by adverse changes in general economic conditions outside our control.
Our business can be substantially impacted by adverse changes in general economic conditions outside our control, including increases in short- and long-term interest rates, high inflation, and availability and cost of financing for homebuyers. These adverse changes in economic conditions can cause mortgage rates to rise, demand and prices for our homes to diminish, current and future land banking contracts to be negatively impacted, or lead to longer and more costly build times for our homes. We may not be able to recover these increased costs by raising prices, because of weak market conditions and because the price of each home we sell is usually set several months before the home is delivered, as many homebuyers sign their home purchase contracts before construction begins. The potential difficulties described above could increase our costs or impact our homebuyers’ ability to obtain suitable financing and cause some homebuyers to cancel or refuse to honor their home purchase contracts altogether, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our inability to successfully identify, secure, and control an adequate inventory of lots at reasonable prices could adversely impact our operations.
The results of our homebuilding operations depend in part upon our continuing ability to successfully identify, control, and acquire an adequate number of homebuilding lots in desirable locations. There is no guarantee an adequate supply of homebuilding lots will continue to be available to us on terms like those available in the past, or that we will not be required to devote a greater amount of capital to controlling homebuilding lots than we have in the past. In addition, because we employ a land-light business model, we may have access to fewer and less attractive homebuilding lots than if we owned lots outright, like some of our competitors who do not operate under a land-light model.
An insufficient supply of homebuilding lots in one or more of our markets, an inability of our developers to deliver finished lots in a timely fashion, a loss or limitation of access to capital by our land bankers, delays in recording deeds or in conveying controlled lots as a result of government shut downs, stay-at-home orders, or other reasons, or our inability to purchase or finance homebuilding lots on reasonable terms could have a material adverse effect on our sales, profitability, stock performance, ability to service our debt obligations, and future cash flows. Any land shortages or any decrease in the supply of suitable land at reasonable prices could limit our ability to develop new communities or result in increased lot deposit requirements or land costs. We may not be able to pass any increased land costs to our homebuyers, which could adversely impact our revenues, earnings, and margins.
We consider a lot controlled when we hold an option to acquire the applicable lot for the relevant timeframe set forth in the option contract. After we sign a finished lot option contract, but prior to the deposit becoming non-refundable (except for certain circumstances such as seller default or force majeure events), we have an initial inspection and due diligence period (“Inspection Period”). The Inspection Period is typically 60-120 days, during which time we inspect the property to make sure it meets certain development requirements (e.g., zoning, environmental approvals, and other customary requirements). If we discover that the property does not
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sufficiently meet the development requirements after the Inspection Period has passed, we could lose some or all of any deposits, fees, or investments paid or made in respect of such arrangements, including any cost overruns, which could adversely impact our profitability, stock performance, ability to service our debt obligations, and future cash flows.
If the property meets our development requirements and successfully exits the Inspection Period, the deposit becomes non-refundable (except for certain circumstances such as seller default and force majeure events), and we proceed under the finished lot option contract with the lots available to us for purchase on a staggered takedown schedule, which is designed to mirror our expected home orders. Our options to purchase lots typically expire at the end of each purchase date as set forth in the staggered takedown schedule of the applicable option contract. As the fair market value of controlled lots fluctuates from the contracted purchase prices in our land banking option contracts, we attempt to renegotiate the terms of the option contracts to ensure lot prices and yields are aligned with current market conditions. If, ultimately, we do not exercise our option to purchase, the seller then would have the option to terminate the agreement, which would then result in the loss of the option to purchase all remaining unpurchased lots and forfeiture of the remaining deposit for the unpurchased lots. We do not typically receive a return of our deposit upon expiration or termination of the contract unless it is due to seller default or a force majeure event. The forfeiture of land contract deposits or inventory impairments may result in a loss that could have a material adverse effect on our profitability, stock performance, ability to service our debt obligations, and future cash flows.
Our business and results of operations are dependent on the availability, skill, and performance of trade partners.
We engage trade partners to perform the construction of our homes. Accordingly, the timing and quality of our construction depend on the availability and skill of our trade partners. While we anticipate being able to obtain reliable trade partners and believe that our relationships with trade partners are good, we do not have long-term, exclusive contractual commitments with any trade partners, and we can provide no assurance that skilled trade partners will continue to be available at reasonable rates and in our markets. In addition, as we expand into new markets, we must develop new relationships with trade partners in such markets, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so in a cost-effective and timely manner, or at all. Further, our ability to engage qualified trade partners could be affected by various national, regional, local, economic, and political factors, including changes in immigration laws and trends in labor migration. Additionally, our markets may exhibit a reduced level of skilled labor relative to increased homebuilding demand. Skilled labor shortages in the regions where we operate have made in the past, and may make in the future, the engagement of trade partners more difficult. The inability to contract with skilled trade partners at reasonable rates on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Despite our quality control efforts, we may discover from time to time that our trade partners have engaged in improper construction practices or have installed defective materials in our homes. When we discover these issues, we utilize our trade partners to repair the homes in accordance with our new home warranty program and as required by law. The adverse costs of satisfying our warranty program and other legal obligations in these instances may be significant, and we may be unable to recover the costs of warranty-related repairs from trade partners and insurers, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. We may also suffer reputational damage from the actions of trade partners, which are beyond our control.
A shortage or increase in the costs of building materials could delay or increase the cost of home construction, which could have an adverse material impact on our business.
The residential construction industry experiences building material shortages from time to time, including shortages in supplies of insulation, drywall, cement, steel, and lumber. These building material shortages can be more severe during periods of strong demand for housing, during periods following natural disasters that have a significant impact on existing residential and commercial structures, or as a result of broader economic disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, there has recently been a lingering national shortage of electrical transformers due to both natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. While this shortage has recently shown signs of easing, it is uncertain whether or how quickly this shortage will be alleviated and inventories return to normal levels. Further, prices of building materials could be affected by the factors discussed above and various other national, regional, local, economic, and political factors, including changes in tariffs. Our success in recently entered markets or those we may choose to enter in the future depends substantially on our ability to source local
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materials on terms that are favorable to us. In the event of shortages in building materials in such markets, local and suppliers may choose to allocate their resources to homebuilders with an established presence in the market and with whom they have longer-standing relationships. Building material shortages and price increases for building materials could cause delays in and increase our costs of home construction and our construction cycle time, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Utility shortages or price increases could have an adverse impact on operations.
Certain of the markets in which we operate or plan to operate in the future may experience utility shortages as well as significant increases in utility costs. For example, certain areas of North Carolina have experienced temporary disruptions to sewer system capacity and development in response to municipal infrastructure delays. Additionally, municipalities may restrict or place moratoriums on the availability of utilities, such as electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer taps. We may incur additional costs and may not be able to complete construction on a timely basis if such utility shortages, restrictions, moratoriums, and rate increases continue. In addition, these utility issues may adversely affect the local economies in which we operate, which may reduce demand for housing in those markets. Our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely impacted if further utility shortages, restrictions, moratoriums, or rate increases occur in our markets.
Increases in our home cancellation rate could have a negative impact on our home closing revenue and home closing gross margins.
We recognize homebuilding revenue at the time of the closing of a sale, at which time title to and possession of the property are transferred to the homebuyer. When we execute sales contracts with homebuyers, or when we require advance payment from homebuyers for custom changes, upgrades or options related to their homes, the cash deposits received are recorded as contract liabilities until the homes are closed or the contracts are canceled. We either retain or refund to the homebuyer deposits on canceled sales contracts, depending upon the applicable provisions of the contract or other circumstances. Cancellations negatively impact the number of closed homes, net new orders, homebuilding revenues, and results of operations, as well as contract liabilities. Cancellations can result from declines or slow appreciation in the market value of homes, increases in the supply of homes available to be purchased, increased competition, higher mortgage interest rates, and adverse changes in economic conditions. During 2022, demand weakened in response to additional increases in mortgage rates. The market’s reaction to the deteriorating economic conditions negatively affected net new orders and has had a negative impact on our cancellation rate. Any continued increase in the level of our cancellations would have a negative impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are subject to warranty and liability claims arising in the ordinary course of business that can be significant.
As a homebuilder, we are subject to construction defect, product liability, and home and other warranty claims, including moisture intrusion and related claims, arising in the ordinary course of business. These claims are common to the homebuilding industry and can be costly. There is no assurance that any developments we undertake will be free from defects once completed, and any defects attributable to us may lead to significant contractual or other liabilities. Although we provide trade partners with detailed specifications and perform quality control procedures, trade partners may, in some cases, use improper construction processes or defective materials. Defective products used in the construction of our homes can result in the need to perform extensive repairs.
Under our warranty program, each of our homes comes with a limited warranty against certain building defects for up to one year after closing and a limited warranty against structural claims for up to ten years after closing. When we discover the above issues, we utilize our trade partners to repair the homes in accordance with our trade partner agreements, our warranty program and as required by law. We maintain and require our trade partners to maintain general liability insurance (including construction defect and bodily injury coverage) naming us as an additional insured and workers’ compensation insurance and generally seek to require our trade partners to provide a warranty to us and to defend and indemnify us for liabilities arising from their work. Therefore, any claims relating to workmanship and materials are generally the trade partners’ responsibility.
While these indemnities and insurance policies, subject to deductibles and other coverage limits, protect us against a portion of our risk of loss from claims related to our land development and homebuilding activities, we cannot
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provide assurance that these indemnities and insurance policies will be adequate to address all of our home and other warranty, product liability, and construction defect claims in the future, or that any potential inadequacies will not have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. The cost of performing such repairs (not covered by trade partner warranty or indemnities) or litigation arising out of such issues may be significant if we are unable to recover certain costs from trade partners, suppliers and/or insurers. Warranty and construction defect matters can also result in negative publicity, including on social media platforms, which could damage our reputation and negatively affect our ability to sell homes.
Further, the coverage offered by, and the availability of, general liability insurance for completed operations and construction defects are currently limited and costly. While we record an estimate of warranty expense based on historical warranty costs, we cannot provide assurance that coverage will not become costlier and/or be further restricted, increasing our risks and financial exposure to claims.
If we are unable to develop our communities successfully or within expected timeframes, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Although our preference is to acquire finished lots, we also have acquired in the past and expect to acquire in the future, property that requires further development before we can begin building homes. When a community requires additional development, we devote substantial time and capital to obtain development approvals, acquire land, and construct significant portions of project infrastructure and amenities before the community generates any revenue. In addition, our land bank option contracts often include interest provisions under which delays in land development and/or longer land takedown periods cause us to incur additional cost. It can take several years from the time we acquire control of an undeveloped property to the time we get our first home order on the site. Delays in the development of communities, including delays associated with trade partners performing the development activities or entitlements, expose us to the risk of changes in market conditions for homes. A decline in our ability to successfully develop and market one of our new undeveloped communities and to generate positive cash flow from these operations in a timely manner could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations and on our ability to service our debt and to meet our working capital requirements. In addition, higher than expected absorption rates in existing communities may result in lower-than-expected inventory levels until the development for replacement communities is completed.
We may be unable to obtain suitable bonding for the development of our communities.
We are often required to provide bonds, letters of credit, or guarantees to governmental authorities and others to ensure completion of our communities. As a result of market conditions, some municipalities and governmental authorities have been reluctant to accept surety bonds and instead require credit enhancements, such as cash deposits or letters of credit, in order to maintain existing bonds or issue new bonds. If we are unable to obtain required bonds in the future for our communities, or if we are required to provide credit enhancements with respect to our current or future bonds or in place of bonds, our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We may suffer significant financial harm and loss of reputation if we do not comply, cannot comply, or are alleged to have not complied with applicable laws, rules and regulations concerning our classification and compensation practices for independent contractors.
Each of our divisions retain various independent contractors, either directly or indirectly through third-party entities formed by these independent contractors for their business purposes, including, without limitation, some of our sales agents. With respect to these independent contractors, we are subject to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) regulations, and applicable state law guidelines regarding independent contractor classification. These regulations and guidelines are subject to judicial and agency interpretation, and it might be determined that the independent contractor classification is inapplicable to any sales agents, vendors, or any other individual or entity characterized as an independent contractor. Further, if legal standards for the classification of independent contractors change or appear to be changing, we may need to modify our compensation and benefits structure for such independent contractors, including by paying additional compensation or benefits or reimbursing expenses.
There can be no assurance that legislative, judicial, administrative, or regulatory (including tax) authorities will not introduce proposals or assert interpretations of existing rules and regulations that would change the independent contractor classification of any individual or vendor currently characterized as independent contractors doing
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business with us. Although management believes there are no proposals currently pending that would significantly change the independent contractor classification, potential changes, if any, with respect to such classification could have a significant impact on our operating model. Further, the costs associated with any such potential changes could have a significant effect on our results of operations and financial condition if we were unable to pass through to our homebuyers an increase in price corresponding to such increased costs. Additionally, we could incur substantial costs, penalties, and damages, including back pay, unpaid benefits, taxes, expense reimbursement and attorneys’ fees, in defending future challenges to our employment classification or compensation practices.
Poor relations with the residents of our communities could negatively impact sales, which could cause our revenues or results of operations to decline.
Residents of communities we develop rely on us to resolve issues or disputes that may arise in connection with the operation or development of their communities. Efforts made by us to resolve these issues or disputes could be deemed unsatisfactory by the affected residents, and subsequent actions by these residents could adversely affect our sales or our reputation. In addition, we could be required to make material expenditures related to the settlement of such issues or disputes or to modify our community development plans, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our business depends on our ability to build and maintain a strong reputation and to receive favorable homebuyer reviews. If we receive negative reviews, complaints, negative publicity or otherwise fail to live up to expectations, it could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and growth prospects.
Homebuyer complaints or negative publicity about our materials, homes, delivery times, sales and customer support, or marketing strategies, even if not accurate, especially on our website, blogs, and social media websites could diminish homebuyers’ views of our homes and result in harm to our brand. We may be subject to delays and construction or product quality issues due to circumstances beyond our control which may impact our perceived performance and homebuyer satisfaction with our services and our homes. This may result in negative reviews and publicity, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, and growth prospects.
We may engage in joint venture or other unconsolidated entity investments which could be adversely affected by our lack of sole decision-making authority, our reliance on the financial condition of our joint venture partners, and disputes between us and our joint venture partners.
We have in the past or may in the future co-invest with third parties through partnerships, joint ventures, or other unconsolidated entities, to acquire non-controlling interests in, and/or sharing responsibility for, managing the affairs of, a land acquisition, development, title insurance, and/or mortgage lending activities. In this event, we would not be able to exercise sole decision-making authority regarding the acquisition, development, title insurance, and/or mortgage lending activities, and our investment may be illiquid due to our lack of control.
We have in the past or may in the future have investments in and commitments to certain unconsolidated entities with related and unrelated strategic partners generally involved in real estate development, homebuilding, title insurance, and/or mortgage lending activities.
Investments in partnerships, joint ventures, or other unconsolidated entities may, under certain circumstances, involve incremental risks from involving a third party, including the possibility that our joint venture partners might become bankrupt, fail to fund their share of required capital contributions, make poor business decisions, or block or delay necessary decisions. Our joint venture partners may have economic or other business interests or goals that are inconsistent with our business interests or goals and may be in a position to take actions contrary to our policies or objectives. Such investments may also have the potential risk of impasses on decisions, such as a sale, because neither we nor our joint venture partners would have full control over the land acquisition or development. If the other partners in our partnerships or joint ventures do not cooperate or fulfill their contractual obligations due to their financial condition, strategic business interests, or otherwise, we may be required to spend additional resources or suffer losses, each of which could be significant. Moreover, our ability to recoup such expenditures and losses by exercising remedies against such partners may be limited due to the contractual terms of the agreements, potential legal defenses they may have, their respective financial condition, and other circumstances. Furthermore, because we lack a controlling interest in our unconsolidated entities we cannot exercise sole decision-making authority, which could create the potential risk of impasses on decisions and prevent the unconsolidated entity from taking, or not taking, actions that we believe may be in our best interests.
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In addition, as our relationships with our partners are contractual in nature and may be terminated or dissolved under the terms of the applicable agreements, including buy-sell provisions, we may not continue to own or operate the interests or assets underlying such relationship or may need to purchase additional interests or assets in the venture to continue ownership. Disputes between us and our joint venture partners may result in litigation or arbitration that would increase our expenses and prevent our officers and/or directors from focusing their time and effort on our business. In addition, we may be liable for the actions of our joint venture partners in certain circumstances.
We could be adversely affected by efforts to impose joint employer liability on us for labor, safety, or worker’s compensation law violations committed by our trade partners.
Our homes are constructed by employees of trade partners and other third parties. We do not have the ability to control what these parties pay their employees or the rules they impose on their employees. However, various governmental agencies have taken actions to hold parties like us responsible for violations of wage and hour laws and other labor laws, safety laws, or worker’s compensation laws by trade partners. Governmental rulings that hold us responsible for labor practices by our trade partners could create substantial exposures for us under our trade partner relationships, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
The fabrication and installation of building products may pose certain health and safety risks to the employees of our trade partners. The operations of our trade partners and trade partners are subject to regulation under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (as enforced by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), and equivalent state laws. Changes to OSHA requirements, or stricter interpretation or enforcement of existing laws or regulations, could result in increased costs to our trade partners, which could be passed on to us. If we fail to comply with applicable OSHA regulations, are determined to be responsible for compliance with certain OSHA regulations, or are found jointly liable for any violations of OSHA regulations, even if no work-related serious injury or death occurs, we may be subject to civil or criminal enforcement and be required to pay substantial penalties, incur significant capital expenditures, or suspend or limit operations. Any accidents, citations, violations, injuries, or failure to comply with industry best practices or applicable regulations may subject us to adverse publicity, damage our reputation and competitive position, and adversely affect our business.
Because real estate investments are relatively illiquid, our ability to promptly sell one or more properties for reasonable prices in response to changing economic, financial, and investment conditions may be limited, and we may be forced to hold non-income producing properties for extended periods of time.
Real estate investments are relatively difficult to sell quickly. As a result, our ability to promptly sell one or more properties in response to changing economic, financial, and investment conditions is limited, and we may be forced to hold non-income producing assets for an extended period. We cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any property for the price or on the terms that we set or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective purchaser would be acceptable to us. We also cannot predict the length of time needed to find a willing purchaser and to close the sale of a property.
There are various potential conflicts of interest in our relationship with founder and Executive Chairman Tom Bradbury, which could result in decisions that are not in the best interest of our stockholders.
Conflicts of interest may exist or could arise in the future with the Founder Fund, a trust for which Mr. Bradbury is the co-trustee. The trust is our majority stockholder. We have leased, and we expect to continue to lease, office space from JBB Cherokee Holdings LLC, an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund. We also had related person receivables with an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and 2021, related to various general and administrative expenses, including aviation expense and in part related to insurance that was paid on behalf of the related person who reimbursed us at cost. Historically, Mr. Bradbury has also supported our growth by hosting numerous events at personal properties that are intended to foster business development and vendor relations. For fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020, we paid an annual use fee to certain entities affiliated with the Founder Fund for use of facilities and related services. Additionally, we have two uncollateralized notes payable to an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund for the purchase of airplanes totaling $1.3 million as of June 30, 2023 and $1.3 million, $1.5 million, and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively, which we have included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. We also charter aircraft services from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund. We have historically
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licensed SMART Builder, our ERP system, on a non-exclusive basis from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund, which we expect to continue licensing following the completion of this offering on a nonexclusive, perpetual, and royalty-free basis. Furthermore, some of the third party vendors we work with source sod directly from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund.
Conflicts of interest may exist or could arise in the future with Founder Fund-affiliated entities. These transactions may not be on terms that are as attractive as those we might be able to achieve if we sought other partners. Conflicts with Founder Fund-affiliated entities may include, without limitation: conflicts arising from the enforcement of agreements between us and Founder Fund-affiliated entities and conflicts in future transactions that we may pursue with Founder Fund-affiliated entities.
For additional discussion of our executive officers’ and directors’ business affiliations and the potential conflicts of interest of which our stockholders should be aware, see “Certain relationships and related person transactions.”
The estimates, forecasts, and projections relating to our markets prepared by JBREC are based upon numerous assumptions and have not been independently verified by us.
This prospectus contains estimates, forecasts, and projections relating to our markets that were prepared for us for use in connection with this offering by JBREC, an independent research provider and consulting firm focused on the housing industry. See “Market opportunity” in this prospectus for additional information. The estimates, forecasts, and projections relate to, among other things, employment, demographics, household income, home sales prices, and affordability. These estimates, forecasts, and projections are based on data (including third-party data), significant assumptions, proprietary methodologies, and the experience and judgment of JBREC, and we have not independently verified this information.
The estimates, forecasts, and projections are forward-looking statements and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from the projections. JBREC has made these estimates, forecasts, and projections based on studying the historical and current performance of the residential housing market and applying JBREC’s qualitative knowledge about the residential housing market. The future is difficult to predict, particularly given that the economy and housing markets can be cyclical and are subject to changing consumer and market psychology and governmental policies related to mortgage regulations and interest rates. There will usually be differences between projected and actual outcomes because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, and such differences may be material.
For the foregoing reasons, JBREC cannot provide any assurance that the estimates, forecasts, and projections contained in this prospectus are accurate, actual outcomes may vary significantly from those contained or implied by the estimates, forecasts, and projections and you should not place undue reliance on these estimates, forecasts, and projections. We have not independently verified these estimates, forecasts, and projections. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not intend to, update the statements in this prospectus to conform to actual outcomes or changes in our or JBREC’s expectations.
Our future success depends upon our ability to successfully adapt our business strategy to evolving home buying patterns and trends.
Future home buying patterns and trends could reduce the demand for our homes and, as a result, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. Part of our business strategy is to offer homes that appeal to a broad range of price-conscious entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers based on each local market in which we operate. However, given the significant increases in average home sales prices across our markets and the anticipated increased demand for more affordable homes due to generational shifts, changing demographics, and other factors, we have increased our focus on offering more affordable housing options in our markets. We believe that, due to anticipated generational shifts, changing demographics, and other factors, the demand for more affordable homes will increase.
We cannot make any assurances that our growth or expansion strategies will be successful, and we may incur a variety of costs to engage in such strategies, including through targeted acquisitions, and the anticipated benefits may never be realized.
We have expanded our business through selected investments in new geographic markets and by capturing market-share within our existing markets. Investments in land, developed lots, and home inventories can expose us to risks of economic loss and inventory impairments if housing conditions weaken or we are unsuccessful in
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implementing our growth strategies. Our long-term success and growth strategies depend in part upon continued availability of suitable land at acceptable prices. The availability of land, lots, and home inventories for purchase at favorable prices depends on several factors outside of our control. We may compete for available land with entities that possess significantly greater financial, marketing, and other resources. In addition, some state and local governments in markets where we operate have approved, and others may approve, slow-growth or no-growth initiatives and other ballot measures that could negatively impact the availability of land and building opportunities within those areas. Approval of these initiatives could adversely affect our ability to build and sell homes in the affected markets and/or could require the satisfaction of additional administrative and regulatory requirements, which could result in slowing the progress or increasing the costs of our homebuilding operations in these markets. Finally, our ability to begin new projects could be negatively impacted if we elect not to purchase land under our land banking option contracts.
We intend to grow our operations in existing markets and to strategically expand into new markets or pursue opportunistic purchases of other homebuilders on attractive terms, as such opportunities arise. We may be unable to achieve the anticipated benefits of any such growth or expansion, including through targeted acquisitions or through efficiencies that we may be unable to achieve, the anticipated benefits may take longer to realize than expected, or we may incur greater costs than expected in attempting to achieve the anticipated benefits. In such cases, we will likely need to employ additional personnel or trade partners that are knowledgeable about such markets. There can be no assurance that we will be able to recruit, develop, or retain the necessary personnel or trade partners to successfully implement a disciplined management process and culture with local management, that our expansion operations will be successful, or that we will be able to successfully integrate any acquired homebuilder. This could disrupt our ongoing operations, including our Rteam production model, and divert management resources that would otherwise focus on developing our existing business.
We can give no assurance that we will be able to successfully identify, acquire, or implement these new strategies in the future. Accordingly, any such expansion, including through acquisitions, could expose us to significant risks beyond those associated with operating our existing business and may adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
We may experience difficulties in integrating the operations of Devon Street Homes or any potential future acquisitions into our business or we may experience challenges in realizing expected benefits of each such acquisition.
On July 31, 2023, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Devon Street Homes. See “Recent developments—Devon Street Homes Acquisition.” The success of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition will depend in part on our ability to realize the anticipated business opportunities from combining the operations of Devon Street Homes with our business in an efficient and effective manner. The integration process could take longer than anticipated and could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of each company’s ongoing businesses, tax costs or inefficiencies or inconsistencies in standards, controls, IT systems, procedures and policies, any of which could adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with customers, employees or other third parties, or our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition, and could harm our financial performance. If we are unable to successfully or timely integrate the operations of Devon Street Homes with our business, we may incur unanticipated liabilities and be unable to realize the revenue growth, synergies and other anticipated benefits resulting from the Devon Street Homes Acquisition, and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
From time-to-time, we may evaluate other possible future acquisitions, some of which may be material. Any potential future acquisitions may pose significant risks to our existing operations if they cannot be successfully integrated. These acquisitions would place additional demands on our managerial, operational, financial, and other resources and create operational complexity requiring additional personnel and other resources.
Furthermore, the integration of Devon Street Homes or any future acquisition may divert management’s time and resources from our core business and disrupt our operations. We may incur significant costs in the integration of Devon Street Homes or any future acquisition and may not achieve cost synergies and other benefits sufficient to offset the costs of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition or any future acquired business. Moreover, even if we were successful in integrating newly acquired businesses or assets, expected synergies or cost savings may not materialize, resulting in lower-than-expected benefits to us from such transactions. We may spend time and money on projects that do not increase our revenue. Additionally, when making acquisitions, it may not be possible for us to conduct a detailed investigation of the nature of the business or assets being acquired due to, for instance, time
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constraints in making the decision, and other factors. We may become responsible for additional liabilities or obligations not foreseen at the time of an acquisition. To the extent we pay the purchase price of an acquisition in cash, such an acquisition would reduce our cash reserves, and, to the extent the purchase price of an acquisition is paid with our stock, such an acquisition could be dilutive to our stockholders. To the extent we pay the purchase price of an acquisition with proceeds from incurring debt, such an acquisition would increase our level of indebtedness and interest expense and could negatively affect our liquidity and restrict our operations. To the extent that the purchase price of an acquisition is paid in the form of an earn-out on future financial results, the success of such an acquisition will not be fully realized by us for a period of time as it is shared with the sellers. In addition, changes to the fair value of estimated earn-out payments could significantly impact our results of operations.
All of the above risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
We rely on SMART Builder, an enterprise resource planning system that we nonexclusively license from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund for managing our construction process and work-flow scheduling. If SMART Builder fails to adequately perform these functions or experiences an interruption in its operation, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
The efficient operation of our business depends on SMART Builder, an enterprise resource planning system that we nonexclusively license from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund. We rely on SMART Builder to effectively manage sales, purchasing, scheduling, production, accounting, servicing, and other functions. SMART Builder is vulnerable to damage or interruption from computer viruses or hackers, natural or man-made disasters, vandalism, terrorist attacks, power loss, or other computer systems, internet, telecommunications, or data network failures. Any such interruptions to SMART Builder could disrupt our business and could result in decreased revenues and increased overhead costs, causing our business and results of operations to suffer. For further discussion on the risks related to our software and information systems, see “Risks related to other legal, regulatory, and tax matters” below.
Risks related to other legal, regulatory, and tax matters
Any limitation on, or reduction or elimination of, tax benefits associated with homeownership would have an adverse effect upon the demand for homes, which could be material to our business.
While tax laws generally permit significant expenses associated with homeownership, primarily mortgage interest expense and real estate taxes, to be deducted for the purpose of calculating an individual’s federal and, in many cases, state taxable income, the ability to deduct mortgage interest expense and real estate taxes for federal income tax purposes is limited. The federal government or a state government may change its income tax laws by eliminating, limiting, or substantially reducing these income tax benefits without offsetting provisions, which may increase the after-tax cost of owning a new home for many of our potential homebuyers. For example, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which became effective January 1, 2018, contained substantial changes to the Code, including (i) limitations on the ability of our homebuyers to deduct property taxes, (ii) limitations on the ability of our homebuyers to deduct mortgage interest, and (iii) limitations on the ability of our homebuyers to deduct state and local income taxes. Any further future changes may have an adverse effect on the homebuilding industry in general. For example, the further loss or reduction of homeowner tax deductions could decrease the demand for new homes. Any such future changes could also have a material adverse impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
New and existing laws and regulations or other governmental actions may increase our expenses, limit the number of homes that we can build, or delay completion of our communities.
We are subject to numerous local, state, federal, and other statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations concerning zoning, development, building design, construction, accessibility, anti-discrimination, and other matters, which, among other things, impose restrictive zoning and density requirements, the result of which is to limit the number of homes that can be built within the boundaries of a particular area. We may encounter issues with entitlement, not identify all entitlement requirements during the pre-development review of a project site, or encounter zoning changes that impact our operations. Projects for which we have not received land use and development entitlements or approvals may be subjected to periodic delays, changes in use, less intensive development, or
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elimination of development in certain specific areas due to government regulations. We may also be subject to periodic delays or may be precluded entirely from developing in certain communities due to building moratoriums or zoning changes. Such moratoriums generally relate to insufficient water supplies, sewage facilities, delays in utility hook-ups, or inadequate road capacity within specific market areas or subdivisions. Local governments also have broad discretion regarding the imposition of development fees for projects in their jurisdiction. Projects for which we have received land use and development entitlements or approvals may still require a variety of other governmental approvals and permits during the development process and can also be impacted adversely by unforeseen health, safety, and welfare issues, which can further delay these projects or prevent their development. As a result of any of these statutes, ordinances, rules, or regulations, the timing of our home orders could be delayed, the number of our home orders could decline, and/or our costs could increase, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Changes in U.S. trade policies and retaliatory responses from other countries may significantly increase the costs or scarcity of supplies of building materials and products used in our homes.
The state of relationships between other countries and the United States with respect to trade policies, taxes, government relations, and tariffs may impact our business. The federal government has imposed new or increased tariffs or duties on an array of imported materials and goods that are used in connection with the construction and delivery of our homes, including steel, aluminum, lumber, solar panels, and appliances, raising our costs for these items (or products made with them). Foreign governments, including China, Canada, and the European Union, have responded by imposing or increasing tariffs, duties, or trade restrictions on U.S. goods, and may consider other measures. These trading conflicts and related escalating governmental actions that result in additional tariffs, duties, or trade restrictions could cause disruptions or shortages in our supply chains, increase our construction costs or home-building costs generally, or negatively impact the U.S., regional, or local economies and individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect our business and our operating results.
We and our trade partners are subject to environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations, which may increase our costs, result in liabilities, limit the areas in which we can build homes, and delay completion of our communities.
We and our trade partners are subject to a variety of local, state, federal, and other environmental, health, and safety laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations, including those governing storm water and surface water management, discharge and releases of pollutants and hazardous materials into the environment, including air, groundwater, subsurface and soil, remediation activities, handling of hazardous materials, protection of wetlands, endangered plant and animal species and sensitive habitats, climate change, and human health and safety. The environmental requirements that apply to any given site vary according to multiple factors, including the site’s location, its present and former uses, its environmental conditions, the presence or absence of wetlands, endangered plant or animal species, sensitive habitats, or the existence of environmental conditions at nearby or adjoining properties. There is no guarantee that we will be able to identify all these considerations during any pre-acquisition or pre-development review of project sites or that such factors will not develop during our development and homebuilding activities. Environmental requirements and conditions, particularly those that have not been previously identified and incorporated into development plans, may result in project delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation and other costs and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity in certain areas, including environmentally sensitive regions or contaminated areas. In addition, in those cases where endangered or threatened plant or animal species, wetlands, or other protected environmental resources are involved and agency rulemaking and litigation are ongoing, the outcome of such rulemaking and litigation can be unpredictable and, at any time, can result in unplanned or unforeseeable restrictions on, or the prohibition of development in, identified environmentally sensitive areas. In some instances, regulators from different governmental agencies do not concur on development, remedial standards, or property use restrictions for a project, and the resulting delays or additional costs can be material for a given project.
Certain environmental laws and regulations also impose strict joint and several liability on former and current owners and operators of real property and in connection with third-party sites where parties have sent waste. As a result, we may be held liable for environmental conditions we did not create on properties we currently or formerly owned or operated, including properties we have developed or properties to which we sent waste. In addition, due to our wide range of historic and current ownership, operation, development, homebuilding, and
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construction activities, we could be liable for future claims for damages because of the past or present use of hazardous materials, including in building materials or fixtures whether or not currently known or suspected to be hazardous or contain hazardous materials. We could be subject to liability claims related to certain naturally occurring conditions, such as methane or radon, or conditions that may develop during or after construction, such as mold. A mitigation plan may be implemented if a cleanup does not remove all contaminants of concern or adequately address a condition. Some homebuyers may not want to purchase a home that is, or that may have been, subjected to remediation or a mitigation plan. In addition, we do not maintain separate insurance policies for claims related to hazardous materials, and insurance coverage for such claims under our general commercial liability insurance may be limited or nonexistent.
Pursuant to such environmental, health, and safety laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations, we may be required to obtain permits and other approvals from applicable authorities to commence and conduct our development and homebuilding activities. These permits and other approvals may contain restrictions that are costly or difficult to comply with, or may be opposed or challenged by local governments, environmental advocacy groups, neighboring property owners, or other interested parties, which may result in delays, additional costs, and non-approval of our activities.
From time to time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) or OSHA, and similar federal, state, or local agencies review land developers’ and homebuilders’ compliance with environmental, health, and safety laws, statutes, ordinance, rules, and regulations, including those relating to the storage, handling or discharge of hazardous substances or the control of storm water discharges during construction. Failure to comply with such laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations may result in civil and criminal fines and penalties, injunctions, suspension of our activities, remedial obligations, third-party claims, enforcement actions or other sanctions, or additional requirements for future compliance as a result of past failures. Similarly, spills or other releases of hazardous substances into the environment could expose us to additional costs or liabilities, including for site investigation, remediation of contamination, or third-party claims for personal injury property damage or natural resource damages. Any such actions taken with respect to us may increase our costs and result in project delays. We expect that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on land developers and homebuilders in the future. We cannot assure you that environmental, health, and safety laws will not change or become more stringent in the future in a manner that would not have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
We have provided environmental indemnities to certain land bankers and various third-party land developers in connection with our option contracts with them. These indemnities obligate us to reimburse the indemnified parties for damages related to environmental matters, and, generally, there is no expiration or damage limitations on these indemnities.
Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and the potential risks associated with climate change have led to increased regulation and other actions that can have an adverse impact on our activities, operations, and profitability and on the availability and price of certain raw materials.
There is a growing concern about the emission of greenhouse gases and other human activities that have caused, and will continue to cause, significant changes in weather patterns and temperatures and increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Government mandates, standards, legislation, and regulations enacted in response to these current and projected climate change impacts and concerns could result in restrictions on land development in certain areas or increased energy, transportation, and raw material costs. On February 19, 2021, the United States rejoined the Paris Agreement, which requires countries to set greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and review and “represent a progression” in their intended nationally determined contributions every five years. New legislation has been enacted, or may be enacted in the future, or considered for enactment at the federal, state, and local levels relating to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy production and use, including in response to the United States’ reentry into the Paris Agreement and the Biden Administration’s focus on climate change. This legislation could relate to, for example, matters such as greenhouse gas emissions control and building and other codes that impose energy efficiency standards or require use of energy-saving construction materials. New building or other code requirements that impose stricter energy efficiency standards or requirements for building materials could significantly increase our cost to construct homes. As climate change concerns continue to grow, legislation, regulations, mandates, standards, and other requirements of this nature are expected to continue to be enacted and impose additional costs on us. Additionally, certain areas in the United States either have enacted or are considering a ban on the use of natural gas appliances and/or natural gas
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hookups in new construction. Such bans, if enacted in areas in which we operate or may decide to operate in the future, could affect our cost to construct homes. Similarly, climate change-related initiatives or requirements impacting the energy industry affect a wide variety of companies throughout the United States, and because our operations are heavily dependent on significant amounts of raw materials with energy-intensive manufacturing and supply processes, such as lumber, steel and concrete, these initiatives or requirements could increase the costs of such materials and have an adverse impact on our operations and profitability. Furthermore, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, physical risks from climate change could include, but are not limited to, increased runoff and earlier spring peak discharge in many glacier and snow-fed rivers, warming of lakes and rivers, increases in sea level, and changes and variability in precipitation and in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. These physical impacts may have the potential to significantly affect our business and operations and there is no guarantee that any losses incurred would be covered by applicable insurance policies.
Failure to keep up with evolving trends, regulations, and expectations relating to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues could adversely impact our reputation, access to and cost of capital, and financial results.
Certain institutional investors, investment funds, creditors, influential financial markets participants, and other stakeholders have become increasingly focused on companies’ ESG issues in evaluating their investments and business relationships. Certain organizations also provide assessments of companies’ ESG practices. Although there are no universally accepted standards for such assessments, they are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. Unfavorable press about, or assessments of, our ESG practices, including the environmental impact of our operations, regardless of whether we comply with applicable legal requirements, may lead to negative investor sentiment toward us.
A failure to comply with ESG expectations and standards, which are evolving, or if we are perceived to not have responded appropriately to the growing concern for ESG issues, regardless of whether there is a legal requirement to do so, could cause reputational harm to our business and could have a material adverse effect on our financial results and access to and cost of capital. In addition, the adoption of new ESG-related regulations applicable to our business, or pressure from key stakeholders to comply with voluntary ESG-related initiatives or frameworks, could require us to make substantial investments which could impact the results of our operations and cash flows.
The success of our business depends on our ability to obtain, maintain, protect, and enforce our intellectual property rights.
Our success depends, in part, on our ability protect our intellectual property, proprietary information, and technology. We rely, or may in the future rely, on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition and trade secret laws, and other intellectual property rights, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual restrictions, to establish and protect our proprietary rights, all of which provide only limited protection.
We also rely on non-registered proprietary information, technology, and intellectual property rights, including with respect to our home designs, such as unregistered copyrights, confidential information, trade secrets, know-how and technical information. The steps we take to protect our intellectual property may be inadequate and we will not be able to protect our intellectual property if we are unable to enforce our rights or if we do not detect unauthorized use of our intellectual property. We attempt to protect our intellectual property, technology, and confidential information in part through confidentiality, nondisclosure and invention assignment agreements with our employees, consultants, contractors, and other third parties who develop intellectual property on or behalf or with whom we share information. However, we cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party who has developed intellectual property on our behalf or each party that has or may have had access to our confidential information, know-how, and trade secrets. These agreements may not be self-executing or may be insufficient or breached, or may not effectively prevent unauthorized access to or unauthorized use, disclosure misappropriation or reverse engineering of, our intellectual property, technology, or confidential information. Additionally, these agreements may not provide an adequate remedy for breaches or unauthorized uses or disclosures of our intellectual property, technology, or confidential information. Individuals not subject to invention assignment agreements may make adverse ownership claims in respect of our current and future intellectual property, and to the extent that our employees, independent contractors, or other third parties with whom we do business use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions.
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Even if we successfully maintain the confidentiality of our trade secrets, intellectual property and other proprietary information, competitors may independently develop products or technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to our own. Enforcing a claim that a party disclosed proprietary information in an unauthorized manner or infringed, misappropriated, or otherwise violated any intellectual property rights is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, some courts are less willing or unwilling to protect certain intellectual property rights, and agreement terms that address non-competition are difficult to enforce in many jurisdictions and might not be enforceable in certain cases. If we are unable to maintain the proprietary nature of our technologies or intellectual property, our competitive position, business, financial condition, and results of operations could be harmed.
If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected, we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest.
Our failure to obtain or maintain adequate protection of our trademark or trade name rights for any reason could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our current and future trademark applications in the United States may not be allowed or may subsequently be opposed. Once filed and registered, our trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented, or declared generic, or determined to be infringing on other marks. As a means to enforce our trademark rights and prevent infringement, we may be required to file trademark claims against third parties or initiate trademark opposition proceedings. This can be expensive and time-consuming, particularly for a company of our size. We may not be able to protect our rights to these trademarks and trade names, which we need to build name recognition among potential partners or homebuyers in our markets of interest. At times, competitors may adopt trade names or trademarks similar to ours, thereby impeding our ability to build brand identity and possibly leading to market confusion. In addition, there could be potential trade name or trademark infringement claims brought by owners of other registered trademarks or trademarks that incorporate variations of our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names. Over the long term, if we are unable to establish name recognition based on our trademarks and trade names, we may not be able to compete effectively and our business may be adversely affected. Our efforts to enforce or protect our proprietary rights related to trademarks, trade secrets, domain names, copyrights, or other intellectual property may be ineffective and could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
If third parties claim that we infringe upon their intellectual property rights, our operating profits could be adversely affected.
We face the risk of claims that we have infringed, misappropriated, or otherwise violated third parties’ intellectual property rights. Any claims of trademark or other intellectual property infringement, misappropriation, or violation, even those without merit, could (i) be expensive and time consuming to defend; (ii) require us to rebrand or cease using or offering certain of our products, packaging or services, or otherwise modify our operations; (iii) divert management’s attention and resources; or (iv) require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements in order to obtain the right to use a third party’s intellectual property. Any royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. A successful claim against us of third-party intellectual property infringement, misappropriation, or violation could result in our being required to pay significant damages, enter into costly license or royalty agreements, or cease the infringing activity, any of which could have a negative impact on our operating profits and harm our future prospects.
We rely on licenses to use the intellectual property rights of third parties which are incorporated into our products, services, and offerings.
We rely, and expect to continue to rely on, certain services and intellectual property that we license from third parties for use in our operations, particularly SMART Builder, which we license from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund. We cannot be certain that our suppliers and licensors are not infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others or that our suppliers and licensors have sufficient rights to the third-party technology used in our business in all jurisdictions in which we may operate. Disputes with licensors over uses or terms could result in the payment of additional royalties or penalties by us, cancellation or non-renewal of the underlying license or litigation. In the event that we cannot renew and/or expand existing licenses, we may be required to discontinue or limit our use of the operations, products, or offerings that include or incorporate the licensed intellectual property. Any such discontinuation or limitation could have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operation.
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Perceived or actual information system failures, cybersecurity incidents or attacks, or other security incidents suffered by us or our critical third-party vendors could adversely affect us.
We rely on accounting, financial, operational, management, and other information systems to conduct our operations. Our information systems, and the information systems of any third-party vendors or suppliers we may use, are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunication failures, computer viruses, cybersecurity incidents or attacks (including malware, phishing attacks, ransomware attacks, social engineering and attempts to gain unauthorized access to data or other electronic security breaches or similar events, or cybersecurity attacks carried out in a manner that does not require gaining unauthorized access, such as causing denial-of-service attacks on systems or websites and rendering them unavailable or ineffective), other security breaches, natural or man-made disasters, usage errors, negligence or intentional misuse by our employees or third parties, and other related risks. The risk of such damage or interruption has grown with the increased frequency and sophistication of cybersecurity attacks on companies in recent years. We have and may continue to have cybersecurity incidents, attacks, or disruptions and although we have implemented, and our third-party vendors and suppliers may implement, various controls, systems and processes intended to secure these information systems, there can be no assurance that our efforts to maintain the security and integrity of our information systems will be effective or that future attempted cybersecurity incidents, attacks, or disruptions would not be successful or damaging.
Any perceived or actual cybersecurity incident or attack or other disruption or failure in these information systems, or other systems or infrastructure upon which they rely, could result in unauthorized access to and misappropriation of confidential, sensitive, proprietary, or personal information in our possession or control, or extended interruptions of our operations. Furthermore, any perceived or actual failure or breach of any information systems, or related theft, misuse, or loss of data, could result in a violation of applicable data privacy, cybersecurity, and other laws. In short, a perceived or actual cybersecurity incident, attack, or other disruption could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business, cause significant legal and financial exposure, damage to our reputation, or a loss of confidence in our security measures. Any such incident could harm our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Given the variety and potential severity of cybersecurity threats, we may not have adequate insurance coverage to compensate against all losses, and we cannot ensure that applicable insurance will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or that our insurer will not deny coverage as to any particular claim.
Our business is subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations regarding data privacy and cybersecurity.
As part of our normal business activities, we collect, use, store, and otherwise process certain personal information, including personal information specific to homebuyers, employees, vendors, and suppliers. We may transfer some of this personal information to third parties who assist us with certain aspects of our business for limited purposes under appropriate contractual arrangements.
The regulatory environment surrounding data privacy and cybersecurity is constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change. Laws and regulations governing data privacy, cybersecurity, and the unauthorized disclosure of personal information pose increasingly complex compliance challenges, including the potential for inconsistent interpretation, and the implementation and maintenance of compliance measures may potentially elevate our costs.
Additionally, laws, regulations, and standards covering marketing, advertising, and other activities conducted by telephone, email, mobile devices, and the internet may be or become applicable to our business, such as the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003.
While we have taken commercially reasonable steps to comply with applicable data privacy and cybersecurity laws, these laws are in some cases relatively new and the interpretation and application of these laws are uncertain. Thus, there can be no assurance that our efforts will be deemed effective by regulatory bodies. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with applicable data privacy and cybersecurity laws could result in proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others, subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments, and negative publicity, require us to change our business practices, increase the costs and complexity of compliance, and adversely affect our business. As noted above, we are also subject to the possibility of information system failures, cybersecurity incidents or attacks, or other security breaches, which themselves may
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result in a violation of these laws. Additionally, if we acquire a company that has violated or is not in compliance with applicable data protection laws, we may incur significant liabilities and penalties as a result.
Risks related to our organizational structure
Our principal asset after the completion of this offering will be our interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and, as a result, we will depend on distributions from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to pay our taxes and expenses, including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions.
Upon the consummation of this offering and the Transactions, we will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than our ownership of LLC Interests. As such, we will have no independent means of generating revenue or cash flow, and our ability to pay our taxes and operating expenses or declare and pay dividends in the future, if any, will be dependent upon the financial results and cash flows of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and distributions we receive from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. There can be no assurance that Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will generate sufficient cash flow to distribute funds to us or that applicable state law and contractual restrictions, including negative covenants in any applicable debt instruments, will permit such distributions. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is currently subject to debt instruments or other agreements that restrict its ability to make distributions to us, which may in turn affect Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s ability to pay distributions to us and thereby adversely affect our cash flows.
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will continue to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, generally will not be subject to any entity-level U.S. federal income tax. Instead, any taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will be allocated to holders of LLC Interests, including us. Accordingly, we will incur income taxes on our allocable share of any net taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Under the terms of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will be obligated, subject to various limitations and restrictions, including with respect to our debt agreements, to make tax distributions to holders of LLC Interests, including us. In addition to tax expenses, we will also incur expenses related to our operations, including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which we expect will be significant. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.” We intend, as its managing member, to cause Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to make cash distributions to the holders of LLC Interests in an amount sufficient to (i) fund all or part of their tax obligations in respect of taxable income allocated to them and (ii) cover our operating expenses, including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions, such as restrictions on distributions that would either violate any contract or agreement to which Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is then a party, including debt agreements, or any applicable law, or that would have the effect of rendering Smith Douglas Holdings LLC insolvent. If we do not have sufficient funds to pay tax or other liabilities, or to fund our operations (including, if applicable, because of an acceleration of our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement), we may have to borrow funds, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition, and subject us to various restrictions imposed by any lenders of such funds. To the extent we are unable to make timely payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments generally will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement resulting in the acceleration of payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions—Distributions.” In addition, if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC does not have sufficient funds to make distributions, our ability to declare and pay cash dividends will also be restricted or impaired, although we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. See “—Risks related to this offering and ownership of our Class A common stock” and “Dividend policy.”
Under the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, we intend to cause Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, from time to time, to make distributions in cash to the holders of LLC Interests (including us) in amounts sufficient to cover the taxes imposed on their allocable share of taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. As a result of (i) potential differences in the amount of net taxable income allocable to us and to the other holders of LLC Interests, (ii) the lower tax rate applicable to corporations as opposed to individuals, and (iii) certain tax benefits covered by, and payments under, the Tax Receivable Agreement, these tax distributions may be in amounts that exceed our tax
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liabilities. Our board of directors will determine the appropriate uses for any excess cash so accumulated, which may include, among other uses, the payment of obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement and the payment of other expenses. We will have no obligation to distribute such cash (or other available cash) to our stockholders. No adjustments to the exchange ratio for LLC Interests and corresponding shares of Class A common stock will be made as a result of any cash dividend or distribution by us or any retention of cash by us. As a result, the holders of LLC Interests (other than us) may benefit from any value attributable to such cash balances if they acquire shares of Class A common stock in exchange for their LLC Interests, notwithstanding that such holders may have participated previously as holders of LLC Interests in distributions that resulted in such excess cash balances to us. See “Description of capital stock.” To the extent we do not distribute such excess cash as dividends on our Class A common stock we may take other actions with respect to such excess cash, for example, holding such excess cash, or lending or contributing it (or a portion thereof) to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, which may result in shares of our Class A common stock increasing in value relative to the value of LLC Interests. Following a contribution of such excess cash to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC we may make an adjustment to the outstanding number of LLC Interests held by holders of LLC Interests (other than us).
The Tax Receivable Agreement with the Continuing Equity Owners requires us to make cash payments to them in respect of certain tax benefits to which we may become entitled, and we expect that such payments will be substantial.
In connection with the consummation of this offering, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and each of the Continuing Equity Owners. Under the Tax Receivable Agreement, we will be required to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners equal to 85% of the tax benefits, if any, that we actually realize, or in certain circumstances are deemed to realize, as a result of (i) Basis Adjustments; (ii) Section 704(c) Allocations; and (iii) certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We will be required to make such payments to the Continuing Equity Owners even if all of the Continuing Equity Owners were to exchange or redeem their remaining LLC Interests.
The payment obligation is an obligation of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. and not of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. We expect that the amount of the cash payments we will be required to make under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be substantial. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will not be available for reinvestment in our business and will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us. To the extent that we are unable to make timely payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, the unpaid amounts will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid by us; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement resulting in the acceleration of payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions—Distributions.” Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement are not conditioned upon continued ownership of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC by the exchanging Continuing Equity Owners. Furthermore, if we experience a change of control (as defined under the Tax Receivable Agreement), which includes certain mergers, asset sales, and other forms of business combinations, we would be obligated to make an immediate payment, and such payment may be significantly in advance of, and may materially exceed, the actual realization, if any, of the future tax benefits to which the payment relates. This payment obligation could (i) make us a less attractive target for an acquisition, particularly in the case of an acquirer that cannot use some or all of the tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement and (ii) result in holders of our Class A common stock receiving substantially less consideration in connection with a change of control transaction than they would receive in the absence of such obligation. Accordingly, the Continuing Equity Holders’ interests may conflict with those of the holders of our Class A common stock.
Assuming no material changes in the relevant tax laws and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement, we expect that the tax savings associated with the purchase of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, together with future redemptions or exchanges of all remaining LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners pursuant to the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement as described above, would aggregate to approximately $   million over    years from the date of this offering based on the assumed initial public offering price of $   per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming all redemptions or exchanges would occur immediately after the IPO, which is assumed to occur on June 30, 2023 for purposes of the pro forma information presented herein and elsewhere in this prospectus. Under such scenario, assuming future payments are made on
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the date each relevant tax return is due, without extensions, we would be required to pay approximately 85% of such amount, or approximately $   million, over the    -year period from the date of this offering. The actual Basis Adjustments and Section 704(c) Allocations and the actual utilization of any resulting tax benefits, as well as the amount and timing of any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement, will vary depending upon a number of factors including: the timing of redemptions by the Continuing Equity Owners; the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the exchange; the extent to which such exchanges are taxable; the amount of gain recognized by such Continuing Equity Owners; the amount and timing of the taxable income allocated to us or otherwise generated by us in the future; the portion of our payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement constituting imputed interest; and the federal and state tax rates then applicable.
Our organizational structure, including the Tax Receivable Agreement, confers certain benefits upon the Continuing Equity Owners that will not benefit holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent that it will benefit the Continuing Equity Owners.
Our organizational structure, including the Tax Receivable Agreement, confers certain benefits upon the Continuing Equity Owners that will not benefit the holders of our Class A common stock to the same extent that it will benefit the Continuing Equity Owners. We will enter into the Tax Receivable Agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with the completion of this offering and the Transactions, which will provide for the payment by us to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that we actually realize, or in some circumstances are deemed to realize, as a result of (i) Basis Adjustments; (ii) Section 704(c) Allocations; and (iii) certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.” Although we will retain 15% of the amount of such tax benefits, this and other aspects of our organizational structure may adversely impact the future trading market for our Class A common stock.
In certain cases, payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement to the Continuing Equity Owners may be accelerated or significantly exceed any actual benefits we realize in respect of the tax attributes subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement.
The Tax Receivable Agreement will generally apply to each of our taxable years, beginning with the first taxable year ending after the consummation of the Transactions. There is no maximum term for the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, the Tax Receivable Agreement will provide that if (i) we materially breach any of our material obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, (ii) certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control occur after the consummation of this offering, or (iii) we elect an early termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement, then our obligations, or our successor’s obligations, under the Tax Receivable Agreement to make payments will be determined based on certain assumptions, including an assumption that we will have sufficient taxable income to fully utilize all potential future tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement.
As a result of the foregoing, we would be required to make an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement, based on certain assumptions, which payment may be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of such future tax benefits. Such cash payment to the Continuing Equity Owners could be greater than the specified percentage of any actual benefits we ultimately realize in respect of the tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. In these situations, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations or other changes of control. For example, should we elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement immediately following this offering, assuming no material changes in the relevant tax laws or tax rates and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all tax potential benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement, we estimate that the aggregate of termination payments would be approximately $    million based on the assumed initial public offering price of $    per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming SOFR (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) were to be    . There can be no assurance that we will be able to fund or finance our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We may need to incur debt to finance payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement to the extent our cash resources are insufficient to meet our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement as a result of timing discrepancies or otherwise.
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We will not be reimbursed for any payments made to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement in the event that any tax benefits are disallowed.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be based on the tax reporting positions that we determine, and the IRS, or another tax authority, may challenge all or part of the Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocations, or other tax benefits we claim, as well as other related tax positions we take, and a court could sustain such challenge. If the outcome of any such challenge would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the rights and obligations of Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement, then we will not be permitted to settle such challenge without the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of Continuing Equity Owners. The interests of Continuing Equity Owners in any such challenge may differ from or conflict with our interests and your interests, and Continuing Equity Owners may exercise their consent rights relating to any such challenge in a manner adverse to our interests and your interests. We will not be reimbursed for any cash payments previously made to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement in the event that any tax benefits initially claimed by us and for which payment has been made to a Continuing Equity Owner are subsequently challenged by a taxing authority and are ultimately disallowed. Instead, any excess cash payments made by us to a Continuing Equity Owner will be netted against future cash payments, if any, that we might otherwise be required to make to such Continuing Equity Owner, under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement. However, we might not determine that we have effectively made an excess cash payment to a Continuing Equity Owner for a number of years following the initial time of such payment. Moreover, the excess cash payments we made previously under the Tax Receivable Agreement could be greater than the amount of future cash payments against which we would otherwise be permitted to net such excess. The applicable U.S. federal income tax rules for determining applicable tax benefits we may claim are complex and factual in nature, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with our tax reporting positions. As a result, payments could be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement significantly in excess of any actual cash tax savings that we realize in respect of the tax attributes with respect to a Continuing Equity Owner that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Changes in effective tax rates or adverse outcomes resulting from examination of our income or other tax returns could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We are subject to taxation by U.S. federal, state, and local tax authorities. Our future effective tax rates could be subject to volatility or adversely affected by a number of factors, including:
allocation of expenses to and among different jurisdictions;
changes to our assessment about our ability to realize, or in the valuation of, our deferred tax assets that are based on estimates of our future results, the prudence and feasibility of possible tax planning strategies, and the economic and political environments in which we do business;
expected timing and amount of the release of any tax valuation allowances;
tax effects of stock-based compensation;
costs related to intercompany restructurings;
changes in tax laws, regulations, or interpretations thereof;
the outcome of current and future tax audits, examinations, or administrative appeals;
lower than anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have lower statutory tax rates and higher than anticipated future earnings in jurisdictions where we have higher statutory tax rates; and
limitations or adverse findings regarding our ability to do business in some jurisdictions.
Any changes in U.S. taxation may increase our effective tax rate and harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In particular, new income or other tax laws or regulations could be enacted at any time, which could adversely affect our business operations and financial performance. Further, existing tax laws and regulations could be interpreted, modified, or applied adversely to us.
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If we were deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), including as a result of our ownership of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, applicable restrictions could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Under Sections 3(a)(1)(A) and (C) of the 1940 Act, a company generally will be deemed to be an “investment company” for purposes of the 1940 Act if (i) it is, or holds itself out as being, engaged primarily, or proposes to engage primarily, in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities, or (ii) it engages, or proposes to engage, in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding, or trading in securities and it owns or proposes to acquire investment securities having a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We do not believe that we are an “investment company,” as such term is defined in either of those sections of the 1940 Act.
We and Smith Douglas Holdings LLC intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed an investment company. As the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, we will control and operate Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. On that basis, we believe that our interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is not an “investment security” as that term is used in the 1940 Act. However, if we were to cease participation in the management of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, or if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC itself becomes an investment company, our interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC could be deemed an “investment security” for purposes of the 1940 Act.
We and Smith Douglas Holdings LLC intend to conduct our operations so that we will not be deemed an investment company. If it were established that we were an unregistered investment company, there would be a risk that we would be subject to monetary penalties and injunctive relief in an action brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), that we would be unable to enforce contracts with third parties and that third parties could seek to obtain rescission of transactions undertaken during the period it was established that we were an unregistered investment company. If we were required to register as an investment company, restrictions imposed by the 1940 Act, including limitations on our capital structure and our ability to transact with affiliates, could make it impractical for us to continue our business as contemplated and could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We depend on key management personnel and other experienced employees.
Our success depends to a significant degree upon the contributions of certain key management personnel, including, but not limited to, our founder and Executive Chairman Tom Bradbury, our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman Greg Bennett, and our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Russell Devendorf. Although we have entered into employment agreements with Mr. Bennett and Mr. Devendorf, there is no guarantee that Mr. Bennett and Mr. Devendorf will remain employed by us. Our ability to retain our key management personnel, or to attract suitable replacements should any existing members of our management team leave, is dependent on the competitive nature of the employment market. The loss of services from key management personnel or a limitation in their availability could materially and adversely impact our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. Further, such a loss could be negatively perceived in the capital markets. We have not obtained key person life insurance that would provide us with proceeds in the event of the death or disability of any of our key management personnel.
Experienced employees in the homebuilding, land acquisition, development, and construction industries are fundamental to our ability to generate, obtain, and manage opportunities. In particular, local knowledge and relationships are critical to our ability to source attractive land acquisition opportunities. Experienced employees working in the homebuilding, development, and construction industries are highly sought after. Failure to attract and retain such personnel or to ensure that their experience and knowledge is not lost when they leave the business through retirement, redundancy or otherwise may adversely affect the standards of our service and may have an adverse impact on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our current financing arrangements contain, and our future financing arrangements likely will contain, restrictive covenants.
Our current financing arrangements (including the Existing Credit Facility and Amended Credit Facility) contain, and the financing arrangements we enter in the future likely will contain, covenants (financial and otherwise) affecting our ability to incur additional debt, make certain investments, reduce liquidity below certain levels, make distributions to our stockholders, and otherwise affect our operating policies. The restrictions contained in our
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financing arrangements could also limit our ability to plan for or react to market conditions, meet capital needs, make acquisitions, or otherwise restrict our activities or business plans. For example, the Amended Credit Facility’s financial covenants include (i) a minimum tangible net worth requirement, (ii) a maximum leverage ratio, (iii) a maximum ratio of EBITDA to interest incurred, and (iv) a minimum liquidity requirement.
If we fail to meet or satisfy any of these covenants in our debt agreements, we would be in default under these agreements, and our lenders could elect to declare outstanding amounts due and payable, terminate their commitments, require the posting of additional collateral, or enforce their respective interests against existing collateral. A default also could significantly limit our financing alternatives, which could cause us to curtail our investment activities and/or dispose of assets when we otherwise would not choose to do so. If we default on several of our debt agreements or any single significant debt agreement, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
We expect to use leverage in executing our business strategy, which may adversely affect the return on our assets.
We may incur a substantial amount of debt in the future. Our existing indebtedness is recourse to us, and we anticipate that future indebtedness will likewise be recourse. As of June 30, 2023, we had $10.0 million of debt outstanding, bearing interest at the rate of 8.0%. Our board of directors will consider several factors when evaluating our level of indebtedness and when making decisions regarding the incurrence of new indebtedness, including the purchase price of assets to be acquired with debt financing, the estimated market value of our assets, and the ability of particular assets, and us as a whole, to generate cash flow to cover the expected debt service. Our governing corporate documents do not contain a limitation on the amount of debt we may incur, and our board of directors may change our target debt levels at any time without the approval of our stockholders.
Incurring a substantial amount of debt could have important consequences for our business, including:
making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt or to our trade or other creditors;
increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic or industry conditions;
limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions, particularly when the availability of financing in the capital markets is limited;
requiring a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations and the proceeds from this offering for the payment of interest on our debt and reducing our ability to use our cash flows and the proceeds from this offering to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and general corporate requirements;
limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate; and
placing us at a competitive disadvantage to less leveraged competitors.
We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us through capital markets financings or under our credit facilities or otherwise in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, on or before its maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all. In addition, we may incur additional indebtedness to finance our operations or to repay existing indebtedness. If we cannot service our indebtedness, we may have to take actions such as selling assets, seeking additional debt or equity, financing, or reducing or delaying capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions, investments, and alliances. We cannot assure you that any such actions, if necessary, could be effected on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or on terms that would be advantageous to our stockholders or on terms that would not require us to breach the terms and conditions of our existing or future debt agreements.
Our PPP Loan eligibility and forgiveness, while approved, remains subject to audit for compliance with applicable Small Business Administration (“SBA”) requirements.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we sought and obtained support through various business assistance programs. We applied for and, on May 1, 2020, received a Paycheck Protection Program Loan in the amount of $5.1 million (the “PPP Loan”), under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), as
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administered by the SBA. The application for receipt of the PPP Loan required us to certify, in good faith, that the attendant economic uncertainty made the loan necessary to support our ongoing operations. On August 16, 2021, we received notice the full principal amount and all accrued interest thereon of the PPP Loan was formally forgiven by the SBA. Under the terms of the PPP Loan, we must retain all related records for a period of six years from the date the loan was forgiven. During this period, our PPP Loan eligibility and loan forgiveness application are subject to review and audit by the SBA. We are aware of the requirements of the PPP Loan and believe we are within the eligibility threshold and have used the loan proceeds in accordance with the PPP Loan forgiveness requirements. We have retained all necessary documentation supporting our eligibility. If, despite our actions and good faith belief that we satisfied all eligibility requirements for the PPP Loan, we are made subject to an audit and are found to have been ineligible to receive the PPP Loan or forgiveness thereof, or are found in violation of any of the laws or regulations that apply to us in connection with the PPP Loan, we may be subject to penalties, including significant civil, criminal, and administrative penalties, and could be required to repay the PPP Loan. An audit by the SBA could consume significant financial and management resources. Any of these events could harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Risks related to this offering and ownership of our Class A common stock
The Continuing Equity Owners will continue to have significant influence over us after this offering, including control over decisions that require the approval of stockholders.
Upon consummation of this offering, the Continuing Equity Owners will control, in the aggregate, approximately   % of the voting power represented by all our outstanding shares of capital stock. As a result, the Continuing Equity Owners will continue to exercise significant influence over all matters on which holders of Class B common stock are entitled to vote, including the election and removal of directors (subject to the rights of the holders of preferred stock, if any), amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws, and any approval of significant corporate transactions (including a sale of all or substantially all of our assets), and will continue to have significant control over our business, affairs, and policies, including the appointment of our management, through their influence over the board composition. The directors, whom the Continuing Equity Owners will have the ability to elect through their voting power, will have the authority to incur additional debt, issue or repurchase stock, declare dividends, and make other decisions that could be detrimental to stockholders.
We expect that certain members of our board will continue to be affiliated with the Continuing Equity Owners. The Continuing Equity Owners can take actions that have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us or discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares, which could prevent stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares. These actions may be taken even if other stockholders oppose them. The concentration of voting power with the Continuing Equity Owners may have an adverse effect on the price of our Class A common stock. The Continuing Equity Owners may have interests that are different from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree and that may be adverse to your interests.
Our stock price may change significantly following the offering, and you may not be able to resell shares of our Class A common stock at or above the price you paid or at all, and you could lose all or part of your investment as a result.
The initial public offering price for the shares was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters. You may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price due to a number of factors included herein, including the following:
results of operations that vary from the expectations of securities analysts and investors;
results of operations that vary from those of our competitors;
changes in expectations as to our future financial performance, including financial estimates and investment recommendations by securities analysts and investors;
technology changes, changes in consumer behavior in our industry;
security breaches related to our systems or those of our affiliates or strategic partners;
changes in economic conditions for companies in our industry;
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changes in market valuations of, or earnings and other announcements by, companies in our industry;
declines in the market prices of stocks generally, particularly those of residential construction;
strategic actions by us or our competitors;
announcements by us, our competitors or our strategic partners of significant contracts, new products, acquisitions, joint marketing relationships, joint ventures or other unconsolidated entities, other strategic relationships, or capital commitments;
changes in general economic or market conditions or trends in our industry or the economy as a whole and, in particular, in the residential construction environment;
changes in business or regulatory conditions;
future sales of our Class A common stock or other securities;
investor perceptions of the investment opportunity associated with our Class A common stock relative to other investment alternatives;
the public’s response to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including our filings with the SEC;
announcements relating to litigation or governmental investigations;
guidance, if any, that we provide to the public, any changes in this guidance, or our failure to meet this guidance;
the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our stock;
changes in accounting principles; and
other events or factors, including those resulting from system failures and disruptions, natural or man-made disasters, extreme weather events, war, acts of terrorism, an outbreak of highly infectious or contagious diseases, such as COVID-19, or responses to these events.
Furthermore, the stock market may experience extreme volatility that, in some cases, may be unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, price volatility may be greater if the public float and trading volume of our Class A common stock is low.
In the past, following periods of market volatility, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation. If we were involved in securities litigation, it could have a substantial cost and divert resources and the attention of management from our business regardless of the outcome of such litigation.
We cannot predict the effect our dual class structure may have on the market price of our Class A common stock.
We cannot predict whether our dual class structure will result in a lower or more volatile market price of our Class A common stock, adverse publicity, or other adverse consequences. For example, certain index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multiple-class share structures in certain of their indices. In July 2017, FTSE Russell announced that it plans to require new constituents of its indices to have greater than 5% of the company’s voting rights in the hands of public stockholders, and S&P Dow Jones announced that it will no longer admit companies with multiple-class share structures to certain of its indices. Affected indices include the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, and S&P SmallCap 600, which together make up the S&P Composite 1500. Also in 2017, MSCI, a leading stock index provider, opened public consultations on their treatment of no-vote and multi-class structures and temporarily barred new multi-class listings from certain of its indices and in October 2018, MSCI announced its decision to include equity securities “with unequal voting structures” in its indices and to launch a new index that specifically includes voting rights in its eligibility criteria. Under such announced policies, the dual class structure of our stock would make us ineligible for inclusion in certain indices and, as a result, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and other investment vehicles that attempt to track those indices would not invest in our Class A common stock. These policies are relatively new, and it is unclear what effect, if any, they will have on the valuations of publicly traded companies excluded from such indices, but it is possible they may depress valuations, compared to similar companies that are included. Given the sustained flow of investment funds into passive strategies that seek to track certain indices, exclusion from certain
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stock indices would likely preclude investment by many of these funds and could make our Class A common stock less attractive to other investors. As a result, the market price of our Class A common stock could be adversely affected.
Non-U.S. Holders may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale or disposition of shares of our Class A common stock.
Because of our anticipated holdings in U.S. real property interests following the completion of the Transactions, we believe we will be and will remain a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined in “Material U.S. federal income tax considerations to Non-U.S. Holders of Class A common stock”) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized on a sale or disposition of shares of our Class A common stock unless our Class A common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market and such Non-U.S. Holder did not actually or constructively hold more than 5% of our Class A common stock at any time during the shorter of (i) the five-year period preceding the date of the sale or disposition and (ii) the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period in such stock. In addition, if the above exception does not apply, a purchaser of the stock from such Non-U.S. holder generally will be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 15% of the purchase price. A Non-U.S. Holder will also be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return for any taxable year in which it realizes a gain from the disposition of our Class A common stock that is subject to U.S. federal income tax. We anticipate that our Class A common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market following this offering. However, no assurance can be given in this regard, and no assurance can be given that our Class A common stock will remain regularly traded in the future. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors concerning the consequences of disposing of shares of our Class A common stock.
Upon the listing of our Class A common stock, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the Exchange and, as a result, will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such corporate governance requirements.
After the consummation of this offering, Founder Fund, a trust controlled by our founder and Executive Chairman Tom Bradbury, will have more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors, and, as a result, we will be considered a “controlled company” for the purposes of the corporate governance rules of the Exchange. The corporate governance requirements and specifically the independence standards are intended to ensure that directors who are considered independent are free of any conflicting interest that could influence their actions as directors. Following this offering, we intend to utilize certain exemptions from corporate governance requirements that are afforded to a “controlled company” under the Exchange rules. For example, we will not have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors. From time to time, we may rely on additional exemptions provided to controlled companies under the Exchange rules.
Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all the corporate governance requirements of the Exchange. Our status as a controlled company could make our Class A common stock less attractive to some investors or otherwise harm our stock price.
Certain provisions of Delaware law and antitakeover provisions in our organizational documents could delay or prevent a change of control.
Certain provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may have an antitakeover effect and may delay, defer, or prevent a merger, acquisition, tender offer, takeover attempt, or other change of control transaction that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by our stockholders. These provisions provide for, among other things:
the ability of our board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock without stockholder approval;
at any time prior to the Sunset Date, our stockholders may take action by consent without a meeting, and from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, our stockholders may not take action by consent without a meeting, but may only take action at a meeting of stockholders;
vacancies on our board of directors will be able to be filled only by our board of directors and not by stockholders;
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advance notice procedures apply for stockholders to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders;
at any time prior to the Sunset Date, the Secretary (or other officer or our board of directors) at the request of any Continuing Equity Owner owning at least 5% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon may call a special meeting of stockholders, and from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, our stockholders will be unable to call a special meeting of stockholders;
no cumulative voting in the election of directors;
prior to the Sunset Date, directors may be removed at any time with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, and from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, directors may be removed with or without cause and only upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon; and
that certain provisions of amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended only by the affirmative vote of holder of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our then-outstanding capital stock entitled to vote thereon.
These antitakeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if the third party’s offer may be considered beneficial by many of our stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares.
In addition, we have opted out of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), but our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with any “interested” stockholder (generally defined as any stockholder with 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such stockholder) for a period of three years following the time on which the stockholder became an “interested” stockholder is prohibited, subject to certain exceptions (except with respect to the Continuing Equity Owners and any of their respective affiliates and any of their respective direct or indirect transferees of our common stock). See “Description of capital stock.”
We will become subject to financial reporting and other requirements as a public company for which our accounting and other management systems and resources may not be adequately prepared.
As a public company with listed equity securities, we will need to comply with new laws, regulations, and requirements, including the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), certain corporate governance provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and related regulations and requirements of the SEC, with which we were not required to comply as a private company. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly, and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we establish and maintain effective internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires our management and independent auditors to report annually on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, we are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”), so for as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404. Once we are no longer an emerging growth company or, if prior to such date, we opt to no longer take advantage of the applicable exemptions, we will be required to include an opinion from our independent auditors on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. These reporting and other obligations will place significant demands on our management, administrative, operational, and accounting resources and will cause us to incur significant expenses. We may need to upgrade our systems or create new systems, implement additional financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures, create or outsource an internal audit function, and hire additional accounting and finance staff. If we are unable to accomplish these objectives in a timely and effective fashion, our ability to comply with the financial reporting requirements and other rules that apply to reporting companies could be impaired. Any failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations. We also expect that being a public company and these rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be
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required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee and compensation committee, and qualified executive officers. As a result of disclosure of information in this prospectus and in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition will become more visible, which we believe may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, our business and operating results could be adversely affected, and even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them, could divert the resources of our management and adversely affect our business and operating results.
The JOBS Act will allow us to postpone the date by which we must comply with certain laws and regulations intended to protect investors and to reduce the amount of information we provide in our reports filed with the SEC. We cannot be certain if this reduced disclosure will make our Class A common stock less attractive to investors.
The JOBS Act is intended to reduce the regulatory burden on “emerging growth companies.” As defined in the JOBS Act, a public company whose initial public offering of common equity securities occurs after December 8, 2011, and whose annual net sales are less than $1.235 billion will, in general, qualify as an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of:
the last day of its fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of its initial public offering of common equity securities;
the last day of its fiscal year in which it has annual gross revenue of $1.235 billion or more;
the date on which it has, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt; and
the date on which it is deemed to be a “large accelerated filer,” which will occur at such time as we (i) have an aggregate worldwide market value of common equity securities held by non-affiliates of $700 million or more as of the last business day of its most recently completed second fiscal quarter, (ii) have been required to file annual and quarterly reports under the Exchange, for a period of at least 12 months, and (iii) have filed at least one annual report pursuant to the Exchange Act.
Under this definition, we will be an “emerging growth company” upon completion of this offering and could remain an “emerging growth company” until as late as the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering. For so long as we are an “emerging growth company,” we will, among other things:
not be required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act;
not be required to hold a nonbinding advisory stockholder vote on executive compensation pursuant to Section 14A(a) of the Exchange Act;
not be required to seek stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved pursuant to Section 14A(b) of the Exchange Act;
be exempt from the requirement of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements; and
be subject to reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This permits an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have chosen to “opt out” of this transition period and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period is irrevocable.
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We cannot predict if investors will find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result of our decision to take advantage of some or all of the reduced disclosure requirements above. If some investors find our Class A common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our Class A common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.
The historical and pro forma financial information in this prospectus may make it difficult to accurately predict our costs of operations in the future.
The historical financial information in this prospectus does not reflect the added costs we expect to incur as a public company or the resulting changes that will occur in our capital structure and operations. In preparing our pro forma financial information we have given effect to, among other items, the Transactions and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. The estimates we used in our pro forma financial information may not be similar to our actual experience as a public company. For more information on our historical financial information and pro forma financial information, see “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information,” “Selected historical and pro forma condensed consolidated financial and other data,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations,” “Our organizational structure,” and our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Because we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
While Smith Douglas Holdings LLC has historically had high returns on equity, we do not anticipate paying any regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock immediately following this offering. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, general and economic conditions, our results of operations and financial condition, our available cash and current and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, contractual, legal, tax, and regulatory restrictions, and such other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is, and may be, limited by covenants of any future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur. Therefore, any return on investment in our Class A common stock is solely dependent upon the appreciation of the price of our Class A common stock on the open market, which may not occur. See “Dividend policy” for more detail.
No market currently exists for our Class A common stock, and an active, liquid trading market for our Class A common stock may not develop, which may cause our Class A common stock to trade at a discount from the initial offering price and make it difficult for you to sell the Class A common stock you purchase.
Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our Class A common stock. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in us will lead to the development of a trading market or how active and liquid that market may become. If an active and liquid trading market does not develop or continue, you may have difficulty selling any of our Class A common stock that you purchase, at a price above the price you purchase it or at all. The initial public offering price for the shares was determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following this offering. The failure of an active and liquid trading market to develop and continue would likely have a material adverse effect on the value of our Class A common stock. The market price of our Class A common stock may decline below the initial offering price, and you may not be able to sell your shares of our Class A common stock at or above the price you paid in this offering, or at all. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital to continue to fund operations by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other companies or technologies by using our shares as consideration.
Our amended and restated bylaws provides that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters and the federal district courts of the United States are the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.
Our amended and restated bylaws provides that, unless we otherwise consent in writing, (i) (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers, other employees or stockholders to us or our stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of
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incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws (as either may be amended or restated) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware); and (ii) the federal district courts of the United States shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing choice of forum provision shall not apply to claims seeking to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the United States federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction.
The choice of forum provision is limited to the extent permitted by law, and it will not apply to claims brought to enforce any liability or duty arising under the Exchange Act, or for any other federal securities laws which provide for exclusive federal jurisdiction. Additionally, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all such Securities Act actions. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our amended and restated bylaws will provide that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring such a claim arising under the Securities Act against us, our directors, officers, or other employees in a venue other than in the federal district courts of the United States. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the choice of forum provisions of our amended and restated bylaws.
The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, and other employees, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our amended and restated bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our amended and restated bylaws.
If securities analysts do not publish research or reports about our business or if they downgrade our stock or our sector, or if there is any fluctuation in our credit rating, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our Class A common stock will rely in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us or our business. We do not control these analysts. Securities and industry analysts do not currently, and may never, publish research on our company. If no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price of our shares would likely be negatively impacted. Furthermore, if one or more of the analysts who do cover us downgrade our stock or our industry, or the stock of any of our competitors, or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our stock could decline. If one or more of these analysts stops covering us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the market, which, in turn, could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
Additionally, any fluctuation in the credit rating of us or our subsidiaries may impact our ability to access debt markets in the future or increase our cost of future debt, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition, which in return, may adversely affect the trading price of shares of our Class A common stock.
If our estimates or judgments relating to our critical accounting policies prove to be incorrect, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other
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assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, as provided in the section titled “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Critical accounting policies and estimates.” The results of these estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets, liabilities, and equity, and the amount of revenue and expenses. Significant estimates and judgments involve: revenue recognition, including revenue-related reserves; legal contingencies; valuation of our Class A common stock and equity awards; income taxes; and sales and indirect tax reserves. Our results of operations may be adversely affected if our assumptions change or if actual circumstances differ from those in our assumptions, which could cause our results of operations to fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors, resulting in a decline in the market price of our Class A common stock.
Future sales, or the perception of future sales, by us or our existing stockholders in the public market following this offering could cause the market price for our Class A common stock to decline.
After this offering, the sale of shares of our Class A common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our Class A common stock. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and at a price that we deem appropriate.
Upon consummation of the Transactions, we will have outstanding a total of     shares of Class A common stock. Of the outstanding shares, the     shares sold in this offering (or    shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, other than any shares held by our affiliates. Any shares of Class A common stock held by our affiliates will be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, subject to the volume, manner of sale, holding period and other limitations of Rule 144.
Our directors and executive officers, and substantially all of our stockholders, will enter into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, subject to certain exceptions, restrict the sale of the shares of our Class A common stock and certain other securities held by them for a period of    days after the date of this prospectus.     may, in their sole discretion and at any time without notice, release all or any portion of the shares or securities subject to any such lock-up agreements. See “Underwriting (conflicts of interest).”
In addition, we have reserved shares of Class A common stock for issuance under the 2023 Plan. Any Class A common stock that we issue under the 2023 Plan or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future would dilute the percentage ownership held by the investors who purchase Class A common stock in this offering.
As restrictions on resale end or if these stockholders exercise their registration rights, the market price of our shares of Class A common stock could drop significantly if the holders of these shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors could also make it more difficult for us to raise additional funds through future offerings of our shares of Class A common stock or other securities.
In the future, we may also issue securities in connection with investments, acquisitions, or capital raising activities. In particular, the number of shares of our Class A common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition, or to raise additional equity capital, could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of our Class A common stock. Any such issuance of additional securities in the future may result in additional dilution to you or may adversely impact the price of our Class A common stock.
If you purchase shares of Class A common stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate and substantial dilution of your investment.
The initial public offering price of our Class A common stock is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock. Therefore, if you purchase shares of our Class A common stock in this offering, you will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds our net tangible book value per share after this offering. You will experience immediate dilution of $   per share, representing the difference between our net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering and the initial public offering price. In addition, investors who purchase Class A common stock from us in this offering will have contributed   % of the aggregate price paid by all purchasers of our outstanding equity but will own only approximately   % of our outstanding equity after this offering. See “Dilution” for more detail, including the calculation of the net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock.
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We have broad discretion to use the proceeds from this offering, and our investment of those proceeds may not yield a favorable return.
Our management has broad discretion to spend the proceeds from this offering in ways with which you may not agree. See “Use of proceeds” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions.” The failure of our management to apply these funds effectively could result in unfavorable returns. This could harm our business and could cause the price of our Class A common stock to decline.
General risk factors
We are subject to litigation, arbitration, or other claims which could materially and adversely affect us.
We are subject to litigation, and we may in the future be subject to enforcement actions, such as claims relating to our operations, securities offerings, and otherwise in the ordinary course of business. Some of these claims may result in significant defense costs and potentially significant judgments against us, some of which are not, or cannot be, insured against. Although we have established warranty, claim, and litigation reserves that we believe are adequate, we cannot be certain of the ultimate outcomes of any claims that may arise in the future, and legal proceedings may result in the award of substantial damages against us beyond our reserves. Resolution of these types of matters against us may result in our having to pay significant fines, judgments, or settlements, which, if uninsured or in excess of insured levels, could adversely impact our earnings and cash flows, thereby materially and adversely affecting us. Furthermore, plaintiffs may, in certain of these legal proceedings, seek 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 liability for us. Certain litigation or the resolution thereof may affect the availability or cost of some of our insurance coverage, which could materially and adversely impact us, expose us to increased risks that would be uninsured, and materially and adversely impact our ability to attract directors and officers.
We may suffer uninsured losses or material losses in excess of insurance limits.
We could suffer physical damage to property and liabilities resulting in losses that may not be fully recoverable by insurance. Insurance against certain types of risks, such as terrorism, earthquakes, floods, or personal injury claims, may be unavailable, available in amounts that are less than the full market value or replacement cost of investment or underlying assets or subject to a large deductible or self-insurance retention amount. In addition, there can be no assurance that certain types of risks that are currently insurable will continue to be insurable on an economically feasible basis. Should an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of insured limits occur or be subject to deductibles or self-insurance retention, we could sustain financial loss or lose capital invested in the affected property, as well as anticipated future income from that property. Furthermore, we could be liable to repair damage or meet liabilities caused by risks that are uninsured or subject to deductibles. We may also be liable for any debt or other financial obligations related to affected property.
Acts of war or terrorism may seriously harm our business.
Acts of war, any outbreak or escalation of hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, or acts of terrorism may cause disruption to the U.S. economy, or the local economies of the markets in which we operate, cause shortages of building materials, increase costs associated with obtaining building materials, result in building code changes that could increase costs of construction, result in uninsured losses, affect job growth and consumer confidence, or cause economic changes that we cannot anticipate, all of which could reduce demand for our homes and adversely impact our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Negative publicity could adversely affect our reputation as well as our business, financial results, and stock price.
Unfavorable media related to our industry, company, brands, marketing, personnel, operations, business performance, or prospects may affect our stock price and the performance of our business, regardless of its accuracy or inaccuracy. The speed at which negative publicity can be disseminated has increased dramatically with the capabilities of electronic communication, including social media outlets, websites, blogs, newsletters, and other digital platforms. Our success in maintaining, extending, and expanding our brand image depends on our ability to adapt to this rapidly changing media environment. Adverse publicity or negative commentary from any media outlets could damage our reputation and reduce the demand for our homes, which would adversely affect our business.
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Changes in accounting rules, assumptions, and/or judgments could materially and adversely affect us.
Accounting rules and interpretations for certain aspects of our financial reporting are highly complex and involve significant assumptions and judgment. These complexities could lead to a delay in the preparation and dissemination of our financial statements. Furthermore, changes in accounting rules and interpretations or in our accounting assumptions and/or judgments, such as those related to asset impairments, could significantly impact our financial statements. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in restating prior period financial statements. Any of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Access to financing sources may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, especially in light of current market conditions, which could adversely affect our ability to maximize our returns.
Our access to additional third-party sources of financing will depend, in part, on:
general market conditions, including inflation and rising interest rates;
the market’s perception of our growth potential;
with respect to acquisition and/or development financing, the market’s perception of the value of the land parcels to be acquired and/or developed;
our current debt levels;
our current and expected future earnings;
our cash flow; and
the market price per share of our Class A common stock.
The global credit and equity markets and the overall economy can be extremely volatile, which could have a number of adverse effects on our operations and capital requirements. For the past decade, the domestic financial markets have experienced a high degree of volatility, uncertainty and, during certain periods, tightening of liquidity in both the high yield debt and equity capital markets, resulting in certain periods when new capital has been both more difficult and more expensive to access. If we are unable to access the credit markets, we could be required to defer or eliminate important business strategies and growth opportunities in the future. In addition, if there is prolonged volatility and weakness in the capital and credit markets, potential lenders may be unwilling or unable to provide us with financing that is attractive to us or may increase collateral requirements or may charge us prohibitively high fees in order to obtain financing. Consequently, our ability to access the credit market in order to attract financing on reasonable terms may be adversely affected. Investment returns on our assets and our ability to make acquisitions could be adversely affected by our inability to secure additional financing on reasonable terms, if at all.
Depending on market conditions at the relevant time, we may have to rely more heavily on additional equity financings or on less efficient forms of debt financing that require a larger portion of our cash flow from operations, thereby reducing funds available for our operations, future business opportunities and other purposes. We may not have access to such equity or debt capital on favorable terms at the desired times, or at all.
The failure of any bank in which we deposit our funds could reduce the amount of cash we have available to pay distributions and make additional investments.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation only insures amounts up to $250,000 per depositor. We maintain the majority of our cash and cash equivalents in accounts with major U.S. financial institutions, and our deposits at certain of these institutions may exceed insured limits from time to time. Market conditions can impact the viability of these institutions, as we have seen recently with the abrupt failure of more than one regional bank. Although we did not experience any loss related to these failures, if any of the banking institutions in which we deposit funds ultimately fails, there can be no assurance that we will be able to access uninsured funds in a timely manner or at all. The loss of our deposits could reduce the amount of cash we have available to distribute or invest and could result in a decline in the value of our stockholders’ investment.
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We may change our operational policies, investment guidelines and our business and growth strategies without stockholder consent, which may subject us to different and more significant risks in the future.
Our board of directors will determine our operational policies, investment guidelines, and business and growth strategies. Our board of directors may make changes to, or approve transactions that deviate from, those policies, guidelines, and strategies without a vote of, or notice to, our stockholders. This could result in us conducting operational matters, making investments, or pursuing different business or growth strategies than those contemplated in this prospectus. Under any of these circumstances, we may expose ourselves to different and more significant risks in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition, and results of operations.
Future offerings of debt securities, which would rank senior to our Class A common stock upon our bankruptcy or liquidation, and future offerings of equity securities that may be senior to our Class A common stock for the purposes of dividend and liquidation distributions, may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock.
In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making offerings of debt securities or additional offerings of equity securities. Upon bankruptcy or liquidation, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive a distribution of our available assets prior to the holders of our Class A common stock. Additional equity offerings may dilute the holdings of our existing stockholders or reduce the market price of our Class A common stock, or both. Our preferred stock will have a preference on liquidating distributions and dividend payments, which could limit our ability to make a dividend distribution to the holders of our Class A common stock. Our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control. As a result, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings, and purchasers of our Class A common stock in this offering bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our Class A common stock and diluting their ownership interest in our company.
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Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus may be forward-looking statements. Statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including, among others, statements regarding the Transactions, including the consummation of this offering, expected growth, future capital expenditures, and debt service obligations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms, such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “targets,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:
our ability to successfully identify, secure, and control an adequate inventory of lots at reasonable prices;
our market opportunity and the potential growth of that market;
our ability to expand into new regions;
our strategy, expected outcomes, and growth prospects;
trends in our operations, industry, and markets;
our future profitability, indebtedness, liquidity, access to capital, and financial condition;
the effects of seasonal trends on our results of operations;
the increased expenses associated with being a public company;
our ability to remain in compliance with extensive laws and regulations that apply to our business and operations;
the effect our dual class structure may have on the market price of our Class A common stock;
the completion of the concurrent Refinancing and
the future trading prices of our Class A common stock.
We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all of the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those described in the section titled “Risk factors.” Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment.
New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
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You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, performance, or achievements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.
You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, performance, and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect.
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Our organizational structure
Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation, was formed on June 20, 2023 and is the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus. Prior to this offering and the Transactions (as defined below), all of our business operations have been conducted through Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners are the only owners of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. We will consummate the Transactions, excluding this offering, prior to the consummation of this offering.
Existing organization
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, is generally not subject to any U.S. federal entity-level income taxes. Taxable income or loss of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is included in the U.S. federal income tax returns of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s members. Immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, the Continuing Equity Owners were the only members of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC.
Transactions
Prior to the Transactions, we expect there will initially be one holder of common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. We will consummate the following organizational transactions in connection with this offering:
we will amend and restate the existing limited liability company agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering, to, among other things, (i) recapitalize all existing ownership interests in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC into    LLC Interests (before giving effect to the use of proceeds described below), (ii) appoint Smith Douglas Homes Corp. as the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC upon its acquisition of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, and (iii) provide certain redemption rights to the Continuing Equity Owners;
we will amend and restate Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s certificate of incorporation to, among other things, provide (i) for Class A common stock, with each share of our Class A common stock entitling its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally; (ii) for Class B common stock, with each share of our Class B common stock entitling its holder to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally prior to the Sunset Date and from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date each share of our Class B common stock will entitle its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally; (iii) that shares of our Class B common stock may only be held by the Continuing Equity Owners and their respective permitted transferees as described in “Description of capital stock—Common stock—Class B common stock;” and (iv) for preferred stock, which can be issued by our board in one or more series without stockholder approval;
we will issue    shares of our Class B common stock (after giving effect to the use of net proceeds as described below) to the Continuing Equity Owners at the time of such issuance of Class B common stock, which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owners, for nominal consideration;
we will issue    shares of our Class A common stock to the purchasers in this offering (or    shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $    million (or approximately $    million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $    per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), less the underwriting discount;
we will use the net proceeds from this offering (i) to purchase    newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $    million directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discount; and (ii) to purchase LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $    million in aggregate (or    LLC Interests for $    million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount;
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (i) for the Refinancing, (ii) to redeem all outstanding Class C Units and Class D Units of Smith
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Douglas Holdings LLC at par in aggregate for $2.6 million, (ii) to repay $1.3 million in notes payable to certain related parties, and (iv) if any remain, for general corporate purposes as described under “Use of proceeds” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions” and
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will enter into (i) the Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners and (ii) the Tax Receivable Agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners. For a description of the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement, see “Certain relationships and related person transactions.”
Organizational structure following the Transactions
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be a holding company and its principal asset will consist of LLC Interests it acquires directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner;
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and will control the business and affairs of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC;
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will own, directly or indirectly,    LLC Interests of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, representing approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or    LLC Interests, representing approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock);
the Continuing Equity Owners will own (i)    LLC Interests of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, representing approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or   LLC Interests, representing approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) and (ii)    shares of Class B common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., representing approximately % of the combined voting power of all of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s common stock (or    shares of Class B common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., representing approximately    % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); and
the purchasers in this offering will own (i)    shares of Class A common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (or    shares of Class A common stock of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing approximately    % of the combined voting power of all of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s common stock and approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (or approximately    % of the combined voting power and approximately    % of the economic interest if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), and (ii) through Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s ownership of LLC Interests, indirectly will hold approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or approximately    % of the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock).
Our corporate structure following this offering, as described below, is commonly referred to as an umbrella partnership-C corporation (“Up-C”) structure, which is often used by partnerships and limited liability companies when they undertake an initial public offering of their business. The Up-C structure will allow the Continuing Equity Owners to retain their equity ownership in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and to continue to realize tax benefits associated with owning interests in an entity that is treated as a partnership, or “flow-through” entity, for U.S. federal income tax purposes following the offering. Investors in this offering will, by contrast, hold their equity ownership in Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation that is a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in the form of shares of Class A common stock. One of the tax benefits to the Continuing Equity Owners associated with this structure is that future taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC that is allocated to the Continuing Equity Owners will be taxed on a flow-through basis and therefore will not be subject to corporate taxes at the entity level. Additionally, because the Continuing Equity Owners may have their LLC Interests redeemed by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or at our option, directly exchanged by Smith Douglas Homes Corp.) for newly issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (subject to customary adjustments, including for stock splits, stock dividends, and reclassifications) or, at our option, for cash, the Up-C structure also provides the Continuing Equity Owners with potential liquidity that holders of non-publicly traded limited liability companies are not typically afforded. In connection with any such redemption or exchange of LLC Interests, a corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock held by the relevant Continuing Equity
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Owner will automatically be transferred to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for no consideration and be canceled. The Continuing Equity Owners and Smith Douglas Homes Corp. also each expect to benefit from the Up-C structure as a result of certain cash tax savings arising from redemptions or exchanges of the Continuing Equity Owner’s LLC Interests for Class A common stock or cash, and certain other tax benefits covered by the Tax Receivable Agreement discussed in “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement.” See “Risk factors—Risks related to our organizational structure.” In general, the Continuing Equity Owners expect to receive payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement of 85% of the amount of certain tax benefits, as described below, and Smith Douglas Homes Corp. expects to benefit in the form of cash tax savings in amounts equal to 15% of certain tax benefits, as described below. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will reduce cash otherwise arising from such tax savings. We expect such payments will be substantial.
As described below under “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement,” prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into a tax receivable agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Smith Douglas Homes Corp. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) as a result of (i) Basis Adjustments; (ii) Section 704(c) Allocations; and (iii) certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
The diagram below depicts our organizational structure after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock.


(1)
Includes Founder Fund and GSB Holdings.
As the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, we will operate and control all of the business and affairs of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and, through Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, conduct our business. Following the Transactions, including this offering, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will control the management of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as its sole managing member. As a result, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will consolidate Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and record a significant non-controlling interest in a consolidated entity in Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s consolidated financial statements for the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners.
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Incorporation of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
Smith Douglas Homes Corp., the issuer of the Class A common stock offered by this prospectus, was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on June 20, 2023. Smith Douglas Homes Corp. has not engaged in any material business or other activities except in connection with its formation and the Transactions. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering will, among other things, authorize two classes of common stock, Class A common stock and Class B common stock, and a class of preferred stock, each having the terms described in “Description of capital stock.”
Reclassification and amendment and restatement of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement
Prior to the consummation of this offering, the existing limited liability company agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will be amended and restated to, among other things, recapitalize its capital structure by creating a single new class of units, or the common units or the LLC interests, and provide for a right of redemption of common units in exchange for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules), who are disinterested), shares of our Class A common stock or cash provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. In connection with any such redemption or exchange of LLC Interests, a corresponding number of shares of Class B common stock held by the relevant Continuing Equity Owner will automatically be transferred to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. and be canceled. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement.”
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Use of proceeds
We estimate, based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $    per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $    million (or $    million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), after deducting the underwriting discount.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to: (i) purchase     newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $    million directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or    newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $    million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount; and (ii) purchase    LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $    million in aggregate (or     LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners for $   million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount). Upon each purchase of LLC Interests, the corresponding shares of Class B common stock will automatically be transferred to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for no consideration and be canceled.
We will only retain the net proceeds that are used to purchase newly issued LLC Interests from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, which, in turn, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC intends to use as follows: (i) to repay approximately $    million of borrowings outstanding under our Existing Credit Facility, which we refer to as the Refinancing (see “Underwriting (conflicts of interest)”), (ii) redeem all outstanding Class C Units and Class D Units of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at par aggregating $2.6 million, (iii) repay $1.3 million in notes payable to related parties and (iv) the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes as described herein and under “Certain relationships and related person transactions.” As of June 30, 2023, outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility aggregated $10.0 million with $0.4 million in outstanding letters of credit. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, we borrowed an additional $72.0 million under the Existing Credit Facility to partially fund the purchase price of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. Borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility bear interest at the Prime Rate plus the applicable margin, as defined therein, based on our leverage ratio and payable monthly (an effective rate of 8.0% as of June 30, 2023). The maturity, among other provisions, under the Existing Credit Facility will be amended and restated by the Amended Credit Facility. For more information on the Existing Credit Facility and the Amended Credit Facility, see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources—Existing Credit Facility.” We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products, services, or technologies; however, we do not have agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions or investments at this time.
This expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. We cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the closing of this offering or the amounts that we will actually spend on the uses set forth above. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering.
Based on our planned use of the net proceeds of this offering and our existing cash and cash equivalents, we estimate that such funds will be sufficient to enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next    months from the date of this prospectus. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. We may satisfy our future cash needs through the sale of equity securities, debt financings, working capital lines of credit, corporate collaborations, or license agreements, grant funding, interest income earned on invested cash balances or a combination of one or more of these sources. We could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect, in which case we would need to obtain additional funding, which may not be available to use on acceptable terms, or at all. Our failure to raise capital as and when needed would have a negative impact on our financial condition and our ability to pursue our business strategy.
Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term and intermediate-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments, and U.S. government securities.
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Assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $   per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $    million and, in turn, the net proceeds received by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC from the sale of LLC Interests to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. by $    million, assuming the number of shares offered, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the underwriting discount.
Each 1,000,000 share increase (decrease) in the number of shares offered by us in this offering would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us by approximately $    million and, in turn, increase (decrease) the net proceeds by $    million used to purchase newly issued LLC Interests from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and by $    million used to purchase LLC interests from the Continuing Equity Owners, assuming that the price per share for the offering remains at $    (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and after deducting the underwriting discount.
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will bear or reimburse Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for all of the expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, including this offering, which we estimate to be approximately $    million.
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Capitalization
The following table sets forth the cash and capitalization as of June 30, 2023, as follows:
of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC on a historical basis;
of Smith Douglas Homes LLC pro forma for the Devon Street Homes Acquisition; and
of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. and its subsidiaries, pro forma for the Transactions and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition, including the sale of the shares of Class A common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $    per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting the underwriting discount, and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of proceeds,” including the Refinancing.
For more information, please see “Our organizational structure,” “Use of proceeds,” and “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information” included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read this information in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations” section and other financial information contained in this prospectus.
As of June 30, 2023
(in thousands, except per share and share amounts)
Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
Historical
Smith Douglas
Homes LLC
Pro Forma
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
Pro Forma As
Adjusted(1)
Cash and cash equivalents
$11,392
$    
$    
Debt(2)
10,000
$
$
Total members’ equity
175,906
 
 
Stockholders’ equity
 
 
Class A common stock, par value $   per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual;   shares authorized,   shares issued and outstanding, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. pro forma
 
 
Class B common stock, par value $   per share; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual;   shares authorized,   shares issued and outstanding, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. pro forma
 
 
Additional paid-in-capital
 
 
Retained earnings
 
 
Equity attributable to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
 
 
Non-controlling interest attributable to Smith Douglas LLC
 
 
Total stockholders’ and members’ equity
175,906
 
 
Total capitalization
$185,906
$
$
(1)
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $   per share, which is the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma amount of each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity, and total capitalization by approximately $    million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.
(2)
As of June 30, 2023, we had $10.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Existing Credit Facility. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, we borrowed an additional $72.0 million under the Existing Credit Facility to partially fund the purchase price of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. The Existing Credit Facility is a $175.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility, which includes a $25.0 million accordion feature, subject to additional commitments, and provides that up to $10.0 million may be used for letters of credit. Concurrently with, and conditioned upon, the pricing of this offering, we intend to enter into the Amended Existing Credit Facility and, as part of the Refinancing, pay down $    outstanding under our unsecured revolver. For a further description of our Existing Credit Facility, see “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources—Existing Credit Facility” and “Use of proceeds.”
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Dividend policy
We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business, and therefore we do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. Except in certain limited circumstances, holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to participate in any dividends declared by our board of directors. Furthermore, because we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock depends on our receipt of cash distributions from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Our Existing Credit Facility and our Amended Credit Facility contain certain covenants that restrict, subject to certain exceptions, our ability to pay dividends. See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation—Liquidity and capital resources—Existing Credit Facility.” Our ability to pay dividends may be restricted by the terms of any future credit agreement or any future debt or preferred equity securities of us. See “Description of capital stock” and “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operation—Liquidity and capital resources.” Any future determination as to the declaration and payment of dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors and subject to the requirements of applicable law, compliance with contractual restrictions and covenants in the agreements governing our future indebtedness. Any such determination will also depend upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
Accordingly, you may need to sell your shares of our Class A common stock to realize a return on your investment, and you may not be able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for them. See “Risk factors—Risks related to this offering and ownership of our Class A common stock—Because we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.”
Immediately following this offering, we will be a holding company, and our principal asset will be the LLC Interests we purchase from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner. If we decide to pay a dividend in the future, we would need to cause Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to cover such dividend. If Smith Douglas Holdings LLC makes such distributions to us, the other holders of LLC Interests will be entitled to receive pro rata distributions. See “Risk factors—Risks related to our organizational structure—Our principal asset after the completion of this offering will be our interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and, as a result, we will depend on distributions from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to pay our taxes and expenses, including payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s ability to make such distributions may be subject to various limitations and restrictions.”
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Dilution
The Continuing Equity Owners will own LLC Interests after the Transactions. Because the Continuing Equity Owners do not own any Class A common stock or have any right to receive distributions or dividends from Smith Douglas Homes Corp., we have presented dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share both before and after this offering assuming that all of the holders of LLC Interests (other than Smith Douglas Homes Corp.) had their LLC Interests redeemed or exchanged for newly-issued shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (rather than for cash) and the transfer to us and cancellation for no consideration of all of their shares of Class B common stock (which are not entitled to receive distributions or dividends, whether cash or stock from Smith Douglas Homes Corp.) in order to more meaningfully present the dilutive impact on the investors in this offering. We refer to the assumed redemption or exchange of all LLC Interests for shares of Class A common stock as described in the previous sentence as the “Assumed Redemption.”
Dilution is the amount by which the offering price paid by the purchasers of the Class A common stock in this offering exceeds the pro forma net tangible book value per share of Class A common stock after the offering. Smith Douglas Holdings Corp.’s pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2023 prior to this offering and after giving effect to the recapitalization transaction and the Assumed Redemption was $   million. Pro forma net tangible book value per share prior to this offering is determined by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Class A common stock deemed to be outstanding after giving effect to the Assumed Redemption.
If you invest in our Class A common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our Class A common stock after this offering.
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering is determined by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Class A common stock deemed to be outstanding, after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and the application of the proceeds from this offering as described in “Use of proceeds”, and the Assumed Redemption. Our pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2023, after giving effect to this offering would have been approximately $   million, or $   per share of Class A common stock. This amount represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $   per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of $    per share to new investors purchasing shares of Class A common stock in this offering. We determine dilution by subtracting the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering from the amount of cash that a new investor paid for a share of Class A common stock. The following table illustrates this dilution:
Assumed initial public offering price per share
    
$    
Pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2023 before this offering
$
 
Increase per share attributable to new investors in this offering
$    
 
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering
 
Dilution per share to new Class A common stock investors in this offering
 
$   
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $    per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering by $    and dilution per share to new Class A common stock investors in this offering by $    assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the underwriting discount.
If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, the pro forma net tangible book value after the offering per share, the pro forma net tangible book value per share to existing stockholders and the dilution in pro forma net tangible book value to new investors would be unchanged, in each case assuming an initial public offering price of $    per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
The following table summarizes, as of June 30, 2023, after giving effect to the Transactions (including this offering and proposed use of proceeds) and the Assumed Redemption, the number of shares of Class A common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid, or to be paid, to us and the average price per share paid, or to be
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paid, by Continuing Equity Owners and by the new investors. The calculation below is based on an assumed initial public offering price of $    per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting the underwriting discount.
(in thousands)
Shares Purchased
Total Consideration
Average Price
Per Share
Number
Percent
Amount
Percent
Continuing Equity Owners
 
 
$
 
$
New public investors
   
   
   
   
$   
Total
 
100%
$
 
$
Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $   per share would increase (decrease) the total consideration paid by new investors and the total consideration paid by all stockholders by $    million, assuming the number of shares offered by us remains the same and after deducting the underwriting discount.
Except as otherwise indicated, the discussion and the tables above assume no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock. The number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering as shown in the tables above is based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2023, after giving effect to the Transactions and the Assumed Redemption, and excludes    shares of Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2023 Plan, including approximately      shares of Class A common stock issuable pursuant to the settlement of restricted stock units which we intend to grant to certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees in connection with this offering as described under the caption “Executive compensation—Narrative to summary compensation table—Equity compensation—IPO equity awards”.
To the extent any of these restricted stock units settle, there will be further dilution to new investors. To the extent all of such outstanding restricted stock units had vested in full and settled as of June 30, 2023, the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering would be $    and total dilution per share to new investors would be $   .
If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock:
the percentage of shares of Class A common stock held by the Continuing Equity Owners will decrease to approximately   % of the total number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering; and
the number of shares of Class A common stock held by new investors in this offering will increase to   , or approximately   % of the total number of shares of our Class A common stock outstanding after this offering.
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Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information
The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X, as amended, to reflect the impact of this offering, after giving effect to the Transactions described in “Our organizational structure” and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition.
Following the completion of the Transactions, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will be a holding company whose principal asset will consist of  % of the outstanding LLC Interests (or % of LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) that it acquires directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC or from each of the Continuing Equity Owners. Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will act as the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, will operate and control the business and affairs of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and, through Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, will conduct its business.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2023 presents our unaudited pro forma balance sheet after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition, as if they had occurred on June 30, 2023. The following unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022 give effect to the Transactions, including this offering and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition, as if they had occurred on January 1, 2022.
We have derived the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2023 and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of income for the six months then ended from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries and from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Devon Street Homes, L.P. as of June 30, 2023 and for the six months then ended. We have derived the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2022 from the audited financial statements of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries and from the audited financial statements of Devon Street Homes, L.P. for the year ended December 31, 2022, each included elsewhere in this prospectus, to reflect the accounting for the transactions described below in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information reflects adjustments that are described in the accompanying notes and are based on available information and certain assumptions we believe are reasonable but are subject to change. Smith Douglas Homes Corp. was formed on June 20, 2023 and on June 20, 2023 was capitalized at one cent, and will have no results of operations until the completion of this offering; therefore, its financial position as of June 30, 2023 and its historical results of operations for the period then ended are not shown in separate columns in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet or statements of income.
As a public company, we will be implementing additional procedures and processes for the purpose of addressing the standards and requirements applicable to public companies. We expect to incur additional annual expenses related to these steps and, among other things, additional directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees, costs for reporting requirements of the SEC, transfer agent fees, costs for hiring additional accounting, legal, and administrative personnel, increased auditing and legal expenses, and other related costs. Due to the scope and complexity of these activities, the amount of these costs would be based on subjective estimates and assumptions that could not be factually supported. We have not included any pro forma adjustments related to these costs.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information is provided for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the Transactions and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition, had been completed as of the dates set forth above, nor is it indicative of our future results.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information should be read together with “Our organizational structure,” “Capitalization,” “Use of proceeds,” “Summary historical and pro forma condensed consolidated financial and other data,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations,” and our historical financial statements and related notes of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries, Smith Douglas Homes Corp., and Devon Street Homes, L.P., each included elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Summary of the Transactions
Devon Street Homes Acquisition
The acquisition of Devon Street Homes on July 31, 2023, for a purchase price of approximately $79.1 million funded by $2.1 million of cash on hand, $72.0 million of draws on our Existing Credit Facility, and $5.0 million from the issuance of a three-year promissory note payable to the seller, exclusive of contingent consideration to the seller of up to $5.0 million. We do not intend to use the proceeds from this offering for the payment of any outstanding amounts under the APA that may be paid pursuant to the contingent consideration.
Reorganization Transactions
The pro forma adjustments related to the reorganization transactions are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information and primarily include:
the amendment and restatement of the existing limited liability company agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering, to, among other things, (i) appoint Smith Douglas Homes Corp. as the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC upon its acquisition of LLC Interests in connection with this offering and (ii) provide certain redemption rights to the Continuing Equity Owners;
the amendment and restatement of Smith Douglas Homes Corp’s certificate of incorporation to, among other things, provide (i) for Class A common stock, with each share of our Class A common stock entitling its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally and (ii) for Class B common stock, with each share of our Class B common stock entitling its holder to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally prior to the Sunset Date and from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date each share of our Class B common stock will entitle its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally, and that shares of our Class B common stock may only be held by the Continuing Equity Owners and their respective permitted transferees as described in “Description of capital stock—Common stock—Class B common stock;”
the issuance of     shares of our Class B common stock to the Continuing Equity Owners, which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owners, for nominal consideration; and
the entrance into the TRA with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for the payment by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of tax benefits, if any, that Smith Douglas Homes Corp. actually realizes (or in some circumstances is deemed to realize) related to certain Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocations, and payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement” for a description of the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Our agreements will include a provision for the Continuing Equity Owners, subject to certain exceptions from time to time at each of their option, to require Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to redeem all or a portion of their LLC Interests (and corresponding Class B common stock) in exchange for, at our election, newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of our Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement.
Offering and Other Transactions
The pro forma adjustments related to the offering transactions are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information and primarily include:
issuance of     shares of our Class A common stock to the purchasers in this offering (or     shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) in exchange for net proceeds of approximately $     million (or approximately $     million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $     per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), less the underwriting discount;
use of the net proceeds from this offering (i) to purchase    newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $    million directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or     newly issued LLC Interests for approximately
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$    million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount; and (ii) to purchase    LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $    million in aggregate (or    LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners for $    million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount;
the use by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC of the proceeds from the sale of its LLC Interests to us to repay existing indebtedness under our Existing Credit Facility, to redeem all outstanding Class C Units and Class D Units of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at par aggregating $2.6 million, repay $1.3 million in notes payable to certain related parties and the remainder, if any, for general corporate purposes, as described under “Use of Proceeds” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions;”
the purchase of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners will reduce their ownership interest from    LLC Interests to      ;
recognition of the obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement triggered by the purchase of LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners discussed above, and related set-up of deferred tax assets on the TRA and on the basis difference associated with the purchase of LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners; and
the grant of restricted stock unit awards pursuant to the 2023 Plan to certain of our directors and employees upon completion of this offering with an aggregate grant date fair value of approximately $9.2 million, which awards will cover     shares of our Class A common stock based on the initial public offering price of     per share, of which     shares of our Class A common stock (subject to awards with an aggregate grant date fair value of $3.2 million) are expected to vest in full upon the one-year anniversary of the closing date of this offering, and     shares of our Class A common stock (subject to an award with a grant date fair value of $6.0 million) are expected to vest in six equal installments on each of the first six anniversaries of the closing date of this offering, in each case subject to the applicable grantee's continued employment or service (as applicable) through the applicable vesting date, and further subject to accelerated vesting upon certain qualifying terminations of employment or service (as applicable) that occur following a change in control (as further described under the caption “Executive compensation—Narrative to summary compensation table—Equity compensation—IPO equity awards”).
Except as otherwise indicated, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information presented assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock in the offering.
Expected Accounting Treatment of the Transactions
Following the completion of the Transactions, Smith Douglas Homes will become the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Although we will have a minority economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, we will have the sole voting interest in, and control of, the business and affairs of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. As a result, we will consolidate Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and record a significant non-controlling interest in equity in our consolidated financial statements for the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC held directly or indirectly by the Continuing Equity Owners.
Under U.S. GAAP, since the members of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC prior to the exchange will continue to hold a controlling interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC after the exchange (i.e., there was no change in control of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC) and since Smith Douglas Homes Corp. is considered a “shell company” which does not meet the definition of a business, the financial statements of the consolidated entity represent a continuation of the financial position and results of operations of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Accordingly, the historical cost basis of assets, liabilities, capital, and accumulated earnings of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC are carried over to the consolidated financial statements of the merged company as a common control transaction. Also, after consummation of this offering, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will become subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes with respect to our allocable share of any taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, which will be taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates.
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Accordingly, this prospectus contains the following historical financial statements:
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. Other than the inception balance sheet dated as of June 20, 2023 and the interim financial statements dated as of June 30, 2023, the historical financial information of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. has not been included in this prospectus as it is a newly incorporated entity and has had no business transactions or activities to date, besides our initial capitalization.
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Because Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will have no interest in any operations other than those of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, the historical financial information included in this prospectus is that of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC.
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
As of June 30, 2023
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
historical
Devon Street
Homes, L.P.
historical
Transaction
accounting
adjustments
(Acquisition
of Devon
Street Homes)
Notes
Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC Pro
forma for Devon
Street Homes
Reorganization
and offering
adjustments
Notes
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$11,392
$16,172
$      
(a)
$      
$      
(d)
$      
 
 
(b)
 
 
(e)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(g)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(i)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(j)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(k)
 
Real estate inventory
164,084
60,391
 
(b)
 
 
 
 
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
35,742
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate not owned
1,737
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities
136
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property and equipment, net
1,264
310
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets
11,208
103
 
 
 
 
(f)
 
Deferred tax asset
 
 
 
 
(l)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(l)
 
Goodwill
 
(b)
 
 
 
Total assets
$225,563
$76,976
$
 
$
$
 
$
Liabilities and members’ equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$10,688
$2,541
$
 
$
$
 
$
Customer deposits
9,461
174
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving line of credit
10,000
 
(a)
 
 
(i)
 
Construction loans
271
 
(b)
 
 
 
 
Lot loans
20,540
 
(b)
 
 
 
 
Promissory note payable
 
(b)
 
 
 
 
Contingent consideration
 
(b)
 
 
 
 
Liabilities related to real estate not owned
1,737
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
17,771
188
 
(c)
 
 
(j)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(f)
 
TRA liability
 
 
 
 
(l)
 
Total liabilities
49,657
23,714
 
 
 
 
(d)
 
Members’ equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A Units
173,306
 
(c)
 
 
(g)
 
Class C Units
2,000
 
 
 
 
(k)
 
Class D Units
600
 
 
 
 
(k)
 
Partners’ equity
53,262
 
(b)
 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Class A common stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
(e)
 
Class B common stock
 
 
 
 
 
 
(d)
 
Additional paid-in-capital
 
 
 
 
 
 
(d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(e)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(f)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(l)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(h)
 
Total stockholders’ equity attributable to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-controlling interest attributable to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC
 
 
 
 
 
 
(h)
 
Total members’/partners’/
stockholders’ equity
175,906
53,262
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and equity
$225,563
$76,976
$
 
$
$
 
$
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
historical
Devon Street
Homes, L.P.
historical
Transaction
accounting
adjustments
(Acquisition
of Devon
Street Homes)
Notes
Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC Pro
forma for Devon
Street Homes
Reorganization
and offering
adjustments
Notes
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma
Home closing revenue
$ 349,666
$ 41,060
$      
 
$      
$      
 
$      
Cost of home closings
248,435
32,151
 
(aa)
 
 
 
 
Home closing gross profit
101,231
8,909
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general, and administrative costs
41,868
$3,419
 
(cc)
 
 
(ff)
 
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
(436)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
400
580
 
(dd)
 
 
(gg)
 
Other income, net
(168)
(125)
 
(ee)
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
59,567
$5,035
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provisions for income taxes
 
$49
 
 
 
 
(hh)
 
Net income
$59,567
$4,986
$      
 
$
$
 
$      
Net income attributable to non-controlling
interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
(ii)
 
Net income attributable to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
$
$
$
 
$
$
 
$
Pro forma per share data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro forma net income per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
(jj)
$
Pro forma weighted average shares used to compute pro forma net income per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
(jj)
$
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
historical
Devon Street
Homes, L.P.
historical
Transaction
accounting
adjustments
(Acquisition
of Devon
Street Homes)
Notes
Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC Pro
forma for Devon
Street Homes
Reorganization
and offering
adjustments
Notes
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma
Home closing revenue
$755,353
$107,888
$      
 
$      
$      
 
$      
Cost of home closings
532,599
80,390
 
(aa)
 
 
 
 
Home closing gross profit
222,754
27,498
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general, and administrative costs
83,269
$7,640
 
(bb)
 
 
(ff)
 
 
 
 
 
(cc)
 
 
 
 
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
(1,120)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense
734
460
 
(dd)
 
 
(gg)
 
Other income, net
(573)
(117)
 
(ee)
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes
140,444
$19,515
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provisions for income taxes
 
$193
 
 
 
 
(hh)
 
Net income
$140,444
$19,322
$
 
$
$      
 
$
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
(ii)
 
Net income attributable to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
$
$
$
 
$
$
 
$      
Pro forma per share data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro forma net income per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
(jj)
$
Pro forma weighted average shares used to compute pro forma net income per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
(jj)
$
See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.
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Note 1: Devon Street Homes estimated consideration and preliminary purchase price allocation
The following table summarizes the components of the estimated consideration (in thousands):
Cash consideration(1)
$74,100
Promissory note payable
5,000
Contingent consideration(2)
 
Total estimated consideration to be paid
$
(1)
The cash consideration is funded by $2.1 million of cash on hand and $72.0 million of draws on our Existing Credit Facility.
(2)
The contingent consideration represents management’s preliminary estimate of the fair value of the future payment to be made to the former owner of Devon Street Homes under the terms of the Gross Margin Earnout feature included in the executed Asset Purchase Agreement for the Devon Street Homes acquisition. Per the terms of the Gross Margin Earnout feature, the seller is entitled to receive a one time payment in the first quarter of 2025 based on the newly established Houston division’s gross margin (as defined) for the year ending December 31, 2024. The payout will be determined in accordance with the Gross Margin Calculation Payout Grid and ranges from a minimum of zero to a maximum of $5.0 million.
The Company has performed a preliminary valuation analysis of the fair market value of the assets to be acquired and liabilities assumed from Devon Street Homes. Using the total consideration for the acquisition, the Company has estimated the allocations to such assets and liabilities. The following table summarizes the allocation of the preliminary purchase price as of the transaction’s closing date, July 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Real estate inventory
$     
Other assets
 
Property and equipment, net
 
Goodwill
 
Accounts payable
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
Customer deposits
 
Fair value of consideration transferred
$
The preliminary purchase price allocation is based on the information that was available as of the date of this filing. Such valuations will be subject to further refinement and may result in material changes. These changes will primarily relate to the allocation of consideration transferred and the fair value assigned to all tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed and identified.
Note 2: Adjustments to unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet and unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of income
The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2023 are as follows:
(a)
Reflects $72.0 million of draws on our Existing Credit Facility to substantially fund the Devon Street Homes Acquisition.
(b)
Reflects the acquisition of Devon Street Homes for a purchase price of approximately $   million funded by $2.1 million of cash on hand, $72.0 million of draws on our Existing Credit Facility, $5.0 million from the issuance of a three-year promissory note payable to the seller and approximately $   million of estimated contingent consideration to the seller. Also reflects adjustments to the book basis of cash, construction loans, lot loans and partners’ equity not acquired by us. The resulting goodwill from the Devon Street Homes Acquisition after allocating purchase price on a preliminary basis to the assets and liabilities acquired is $   million.
(c)
Represents the accrual of additional transaction costs incurred subsequent to June 30, 2023 related to the Devon Street Homes Acquisition.
(d)
Reflects the net effect on cash and cash equivalents and stockholders’ equity of the issuance of shares of Class B common stock to the Continuing Equity Owners, which is equal to the number of LLC Interests held by such Continuing Equity Owners at the time of such issuance of Class B common stock, for nominal consideration.
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(e)
Reflects the net effect on cash and cash equivalents and stockholders’ equity of the receipt of offering proceeds to us of $   million, based on the sale of    shares of Class A common stock (or    shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at the initial public offering price of $   per share (which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover pages of this prospectus), after deducting the estimated underwriting discount. See “Use of proceeds.”
(f)
Reflects the expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions, including this offering, that Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will bear or reimburse to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
(g)
Reflects the purchase of    LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $   million in aggregate (or    LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners for $    million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount.
(h)
Upon completion of the Transactions, we will become the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Although we will have a minority economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, we will have the sole voting interest in, and control of the management of, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. As a result, we will consolidate the financial results of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and will report a non-controlling interest related to the interests in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC held by the Continuing Equity Holders in our consolidated balance sheet. Immediately following the Transactions, the economic interests held by the noncontrolling interest will be approximately   %. If the underwriters were to exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock in full, the economic interests held by the noncontrolling interest would be approximately   %.
(i)
Reflects repayment of all outstanding borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility on June 30, 2023, as if the Devon Street Homes Acquisition and the Offering had occurred on that date. See “Use of proceeds.”
(j)
Reflects a decrease in cash and cash equivalents and accrued expenses and other liabilities for the repayment of approximately $1.3 million in notes payable to related parties as if it occurred on June 30, 2023. See “Use of proceeds.”
(k)
Reflects a decrease in cash and cash equivalents and members' equity for repurchases of 2,000 Class C Units and 600 Class D Units as if they occurred on June 30, 2023. See “Use of proceeds.”
(l)
Reflects adjustments for deferred tax assets and obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement triggered by the purchase of LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners, as described in greater detail under “Our organizational structure” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Tax Receivable Agreement,” in connection with the completion of this offering. The pro forma adjustments reflect the following:
Estimated deferred tax benefit of approximately $   million recognized for the tax benefit of the difference in basis between reporting under generally accepted accounting principles and income tax reporting purposes associated with the purchase of LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners. In connection with this purchase, we intend to make an IRC 754 election, which will allow us to succeed to the aggregate historical tax basis of the LLC Interests. The total tax benefit from such historical tax basis, including any increases thereto as a result of the Transactions, will primarily be amortized over 15 years pursuant to Section 197 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), subject to further allocation adjustments to be made at the time of preparation of our tax returns.
Estimated deferred tax benefit of $   million associated with the obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Corresponding liability under the Tax Receivable Agreement triggered by the purchase of LLC Interests from each of the Continuing Equity Owners of $   million representing   % of the amount of tax benefits that Smith Douglas Homes Corp. expects to realize related to certain tax basis adjustments and payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Credit to Additional paid-in capital associated with the deferred tax assets ($   million and $   million) reduced by a charge for the obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement for a total adjustment of $   million, for a total net credit of $   million.
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Due to the uncertainty as to the amount and timing of future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests by the Continuing Equity Owners and as to the price per share of our Class A common stock at the time of any such exchanges, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information does not assume any future exchanges of LLC Interests. See Note 3, Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Receivable Agreement for further discussion.
The pro forma adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 are as follows:
(aa)
Reflects an increase in cost of home closings due to the $   million fair value adjustment of real estate inventory completed and under construction as of January 1, 2022. This adjustment is being relieved into cost of home closings on a ratable basis over an estimated 48 months, with half of the adjustment relieved in the first 12 months and the remaining half relieved in the following 36 months.
(bb)
Represents the accrual of additional transaction costs incurred subsequent to June 30, 2023 related to the Devon Street Homes Acquisition.
(cc)
Reflects estimated additional compensation payable to a key employee for each lot acquired after the acquisition of Devon Street Homes. Compensation is equal to $3,125 per lot approved by our Investment Committee and $3,125 per lot taken down, up to a maximum aggregate payout of $7.5 million. In the first 12 months after the acquisition, we estimate that 600 lots will be approved and 60 lots will be taken down. In the following 6 months, we estimate that an additional 300 lots will be approved and another 30 lots will be taken down.
(dd)
Reflects a net increase in interest expense as if the new borrowings to finance the acquisition of Devon Street Homes and the pay off of Devon Street Homes' existing debt occurred on January 1, 2022.
(ee)
Reflects an increase in other expense associated with accreting the fair value of contingent consideration to the estimated probability-weighted average payout, as if the acquisition of Devon Street Homes occurred on January 1, 2022. The estimated probability-weighted average payout is $    million discounted at a rate of   %.
(ff)
Reflects share-based compensation expense from the grant of restricted stock unit awards pursuant to the 2023 Plan to certain of our directors and employees upon completion of this offering. This adjustment reflects compensation expense associated with the grant had it occurred on January 1, 2022, of which     shares of our Class A common stock (subject to awards with an aggregate grant date fair value of $3.2 million) are expected to vest in full upon the one-year anniversary of the closing date of this offering, and     shares of our Class A common stock (subject to an award with a grant date fair value of $6.0 million) are expected to vest in six equal installments on each of the first six anniversaries of the closing date of this offering, in each case subject to the applicable grantee's continued employment or service (as applicable) through the applicable vesting date, and further subject to accelerated vesting upon certain qualifying terminations of employment or service (as applicable) that occur following a change in control (as further described under the caption “Executive compensation—Narrative to summary compensation table—Equity compensation—IPO equity awards”).
(gg)
Reflects a decrease in interest expense due to the repayment of all outstanding borrowings on our Existing Credit Facility on January 1, 2022, as if the Devon Street Homes Acquisition and the Offering had occurred on that date. See “Use of proceeds.” After this adjustment, remaining interest expense is interest on the promissory note and amortization of deferred Existing Credit Facility costs.
(hh)
Provides for an assumed income tax expense on our earnings which is calculated at 25% of income before income tax expense. Following the Transactions, we will be subject to U.S. federal income taxes in addition to applicable state and local taxes with respect to our allocable share of net taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Accordingly, we have provided income taxes assuming a blended federal, state, and local rate of 25% on our allocable share of taxable income, and assuming no adjustments for non-taxable or non-deductible amounts of income and expenses. The actual rate could vary from the rate used in the pro forma financial statements.
(ii)
Reflects the portion of our net income allocable to the non-controlling interest. After the Transactions, we will become the managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC with a   % economic interest but will control
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the management of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. The Continuing Equity Owners will own the remaining   % economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, which will be accounted for as a non-controlling interest in our future consolidated financial statements. If the underwriters were to exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock in full, the economic interests held by the noncontrolling interest would be approximately   %.
(jj)
Pro forma basic and dilutive net income per share is computed by dividing the net income attributable to holders of Class A common stock by the weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding during the period. Class A common stock outstanding is also adjusted for any vested Class A common stock under the 2023 Plan. Shares of Class B common stock do not participate in earnings of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. As a result, the shares of Class B common stock are not considered participating securities and are not included in the weighted-average shares outstanding for purposes of computing pro forma net income per share. There are no outstanding dilutive securities due to the following:
Continuing Equity Owners may cause a pro rata redemption of LLC Interests for shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, which would concurrently require Class B common stock to be transferred to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for no consideration and be cancelled. Upon such redemption, net income per share attributable to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. would remain unchanged due to a corresponding increase in net income attributable to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (and a decrease in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests) and the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding.
Outstanding restricted stock unit awards are not dilutive when applying the treasury stock method.
Note 3: Deferred income taxes and Tax Receivable Agreement
As described in “Our organizational structure,” we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to purchase newly issued LLC Interests directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner. As a result of our post-offering organizational structure, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. expects to obtain (i) an allocable share (and increases thereto) of existing tax basis in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s assets and tax basis adjustments with respect to such assets resulting from (a) Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s purchase of LLC Interests from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and each Continuing Equity Owner in connection with the Transactions, as described under “Use of proceeds,” (b) any future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners as described under “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions—Common unit redemption right,” (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and (d) payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement; and (ii) certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We intend to treat any redemption or exchange of LLC Interests for our Class A stock or our cash as our direct purchase of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners for U.S. federal income and other applicable tax purposes, regardless of whether such LLC Interests are surrendered by the Continuing Equity Owners to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC for redemption or sold to us upon the exercise of our election to acquire such LLC Interests directly. Moreover, as a result of the application of the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code and the U.S. Treasury regulations issued thereunder, which require that items of income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to property owned by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC on the date that we purchase LLC Interests directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC with a portion of the proceeds from this offering must be allocated among the members of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to take into account the difference between the fair market value and the adjusted tax basis of such assets on such date, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will be required to make certain special allocations to the Continuing Equity Owners of its items of income and gain attributable to inventory property that exceed their economic pro rata share of such items of income and gain and, as a result, we will be allocated less than our economic pro rata share of such items of income or gain. Such Basis Adjustments and Section 704(c) Allocations may have the effect of reducing the amounts we would otherwise pay in the future to various tax authorities and may also decrease gains (or increase losses) on future dispositions of certain assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those assets.
We will recognize a deferred tax asset for financial reporting purposes when it is “more-likely-than-not” that we will realize the tax benefit.
In addition, as part of the Transactions, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners that will provide for payment by us to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85%
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of certain tax benefits, if any, that Smith Douglas Homes Corp. actually realizes, or in some circumstances is deemed to realize, as a result of Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocations and certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. These Tax Receivable Agreement payments are not conditioned upon one or more of the Continuing Equity Owners maintaining a continued ownership interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. If a Continuing Equity Owner transfers LLC Interests but does not assign to the transferee of such units its rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement, such Continuing Equity Owner generally will continue to be entitled to receive payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement arising in respect of a subsequent exchange of such LLC Interests. In general, the Continuing Equity Owners’ rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement may not be assigned, sold, pledged, or otherwise alienated to any person without such person becoming a party to the Tax Receivable Agreement and agreeing to succeed to the applicable Continuing Equity Owner’s interest therein. Amounts payable under the Tax Receivable Agreement are contingent upon, among other things, generation of sufficient future taxable income during the term of the Tax Receivable Agreement.
If all of the Continuing Equity Owners were to exchange or redeem their remaining LLC Interests immediately after the IPO, which is assumed to be June 30, 2023 for purposes of the pro forma information presented herein (excluding the impact of the underwriters exercising in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock and the use of net proceeds to purchase additional LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners), we would recognize an additional deferred tax asset of approximately $   million and a related liability for payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement of approximately $   million assuming, among other factors (i) all exchanges occurred on the same day; (ii) a price of $   per share of Class A common stock (the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus); (iii) a constant corporate tax rate of 25%; (iv) sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the tax benefits; (v) Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is able to fully depreciate or amortize its assets; and (vi) no material changes in applicable tax law. For each 5% increase (decrease) in the amount of LLC Interests exchanged by the Continuing Equity Owners, our deferred tax asset would increase (decrease) by approximately $   million and the related liability for payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement would increase (decrease) by approximately $   million assuming that the price per share of the Class A common stock at the time of the exchange and corporate tax rate remain the same. These amounts are estimates and have been prepared for informational purposes only. The actual amount of deferred tax assets and related liabilities that we will recognize will differ based on, among other things, the timing of the redemptions or exchanges, the price of our shares of Class A common stock at the time of the redemptions or exchanges, availability of sufficient taxable income and the tax rates then in effect, and may be significantly different from the amounts described in the preceding sentence.
We may elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement early by making an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that would be required to be paid by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The calculation of such cash payment would be based on certain assumptions, including, among others (i) that any Continuing Equity Owners’ LLC Interests that have not been exchanged are deemed exchanged, in general, for the fair market value of our Class A common stock that would be received by such Continuing Equity Owner if such LLC Interests had been exchanged at the time of termination; (ii) we will have sufficient taxable income in each future taxable year to fully realize all potential tax savings; (iii) the federal tax rates for future years will be those specified in the law as in effect at the time of termination and the combined state and local tax rates will be an assumed tax rate; and (iv) certain non-amortizable assets are deemed disposed of within specified time periods. In addition, the present value of such tax benefit payments is discounted at a rate equal to   % per annum, compounded annually. Assuming that the fair market value of our Class A common stock were to be equal to $   per share (the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), and that the relevant interest rate were to be   %, we estimate that the aggregate amount of these termination payments would be approximately $   million if we were to exercise our termination right immediately following this offering.
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Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations
The following discussion and analysis provides information that we believe is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our results of operations and financial condition. You should read this analysis in conjunction with our audited and unaudited financial statements and the related notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus together with “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.” In addition to historical financial information, this discussion and analysis contains statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events or our future financial performance. These statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially. In evaluating such statements, you should carefully consider the various factors identified in this prospectus which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements, including those set forth in “Risk factors” in this prospectus. See “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements.”
Company overview
We are one of the nation’s fastest growing private homebuilders by number of closings and are engaged in the design, construction, and sale of single-family homes in some of the highest growth and most desirable markets in the Southeastern United States. We employ an efficient land-light, production focused, and conservatively leveraged business model, which we believe results in a compelling combination of strong home closing gross margins, construction cycle times, and returns. Our communities are primarily targeted to entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers. We offer our homebuyers an attractive value proposition by providing a personalized home buying experience at affordable price points. With the goal of becoming one of the most dominant homebuilders in the Southeastern and Southern United States, we intend to grow operations within our existing footprint and to expand into new markets where we can most effectively implement our business strategy and maximize our profit and returns.
The homebuilding industry witnessed exceptional growth throughout the second half of 2020 and the entirety of 2021. This expansion persisted into the first quarter of 2022. However, the market gradually weakened for the remainder of 2022 as interest rates rapidly increased, cooling demand significantly during the latter half of the year. Homebuyer hesitancy arose due to affordability constraints, uncertainty surrounding future interest rates and inflation levels, and a deteriorating general economy. Consequently, there was a notable decline in housing demand across the country. Despite these economic conditions exerting downward pressure on the housing market, we still achieved a slight increase in our net new home orders to 1,928 for the year ended December 31, 2022, from 1,920 net new home orders in 2021.
The first half of 2023 saw an increase in new home demand compared to the latter half of 2022 primarily driven by historically low levels of housing inventory. However, the continued rise in interest rates has hampered affordability. Despite the rise in rates, our net new orders increased by approximately 22.0% in the first six months of 2023 compared to the same period a year ago. We expect the housing undersupply in the resale market and favorable demographic trends to provide a strong, long-term runway for future new home buying demand. We believe our dedication to entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers with a focus on price points that fall below FHA guidelines, our efficient construction process, and our affordable luxury sales experience caters to the desires of today’s aspiring homeowners and is resilient across economic cycles. We believe our focus on affordable luxury will continue to serve us well as we remain optimistic about long-term demand due to favorable homebuyer demographics. Additionally, we construct most of our homes on a pre-sold basis, where our homebuyers design their homes based on a number of value-engineered floor plans and are offered flexibility on the selection of home options. As a result of our attractive value proposition and superior construction cycle times, we achieve a high level of homebuyer satisfaction and low cancellation rates, which were 9% and 11% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively.
At the core of our land-light operating strategy lies the principle and discipline of primarily acquiring finished lots from a diverse pool of third-party land developers or land bankers through the effective utilization of lot-option contracts. Our lot acquisition strategy reduces our upfront capital requirements and generally provides for “just-in-time” lot delivery, better aligning our pace of home orders and home starts. While using land bankers and
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third-party developers comes at an additional cost, we believe our lot acquisition strategy reduces our operating and financial risk relative to other homebuilders that own a higher percentage of their land supply. As of June 30, 2023, we had 405 owned unstarted lots in real estate inventory on our balance sheet which represented only 4.6% of our total controlled lot supply.
We carefully select the geographic markets that demonstrate strong population and employment growth trends, favorable migration patterns, general housing affordability, and desirable lifestyle and weather conditions. Our operations are currently organized into five geographical segments; our reportable segments include Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, and Alabama (which consists of both Birmingham and Huntsville). Each of our markets is experiencing strong momentum in housing demand drivers relative to historic averages, and we believe there is significant opportunity to expand our presence in each of our markets given our existing footholds. We intend to capitalize on our demonstrated operational experience to grow our market share within our existing markets and to opportunistically expand into new markets where we identify strong economic and demographic trends that provide opportunities to build homes that meet our profit and return objectives.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we generated revenue of $755.4 million compared to $109.3 million in 2015, representing a 31.8% CAGR over the last seven years. Over the same period, our home closings have grown substantially from 526 to 2,200. Additionally, we have been able to improve home closing gross margins from 24.0% for FY 2015 to 29.5% in FY 2022. The combination of our top-line growth and improved margins have led to significant increases to our net income from $16.4 million in 2015 to $140.4 million in 2022, representing a CAGR of 36.0%.
Segments
Our operations are currently organized into five geographical segments. Our reportable segments include Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, and Alabama (which consists of both Birmingham and Huntsville).
Key factors affecting our performance
We believe our future performance will depend on many factors, including those described below and in the sections titled “Risk factors” and “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements” included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Availability of finished lots
The availability of finished lots in the markets where we operate is significantly influenced by a number of factors generally beyond our control including, among other things, the cooperation and pricing of land sellers, governmental constraints and regulations on the development of land, and the ability to contract for the timely development of lots to meet demand. Additionally, competition for available finished lots and prevailing market conditions play a crucial role in our ability to build and deliver homes to our homebuyers. When the supply of finished lots is constrained due to these factors or others, it may lead to a decrease in the number of homes we can build and sell. If we encounter challenges in acquiring finished lots at competitive prices or encounter difficulties in securing them altogether, it could have adverse effects on our revenues, margins, and overall operational outcomes. We typically aim to control up to a five-year supply of lots, subject to market conditions. As of June 30, 2023, we controlled 8,770 lots which, based on our home closings for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 of 2,282, equals a 3.8-year supply.
Construction costs
Our cost of home closings includes the construction costs of the home, the lot cost for the home, interest costs capitalized during the construction period until substantial completion, warranty costs for the home, indirect construction costs, and closing costs applicable to the home. In general, the cost of building materials fluctuates with overall trends in the underlying prices of raw materials. The cost of certain of our building materials, such as lumber and oil-based products, fluctuates with market-based pricing curves. We often obtain volume discounts and/or rebates with certain suppliers of our building materials, which in turn reduces our cost of sales. However, increases in the cost of building materials may negatively impact our cost of sales and, in turn, our home closing gross margin and net income to the extent market conditions prevent the recovery of increased costs through higher home order prices.
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Changes in liquidity and land bank financing
To effectively manage the acquisition and control of finished lots, we typically enter into lot-option agreements with third-party land bankers or land developers. This financing strategy aligns with our land-light approach, minimizing the need for substantial upfront capital and facilitating a steady flow of lots that correspond to our home orders and construction pace.
By adopting this lot acquisition strategy, we mitigate the inherent risks associated with direct land ownership and land development. Furthermore, it reduces our balance sheet exposure in comparison to other homebuilders who retain a larger proportion of their land supply.
While this approach allows us to maintain flexibility and help mitigate potential risks associated with financing and developing land, the recent challenges faced by regional banks may impact the ability of our third-party land bankers and land developers to secure financing and thereby impact our ability to maximize our land-light business model. As of June 30, 2023, approximately 24.0% of our controlled lots were under option with our land bank partners while approximately 76.0% of lots were under option with traditional land sellers and developer partners.
Availability of mortgages; applicable interest rates
In 2022, approximately 95.0% of our homebuyers utilized mortgages to purchase their homes. The availability of affordable mortgage options for a wide range of consumers has a substantial impact on our business. However, the accessibility of mortgages is influenced by factors beyond our control, such as prevailing interest rates and down payment requirements. For instance, the significant increase in interest rates implemented by The Federal Reserve in 2022 and 2023 has elevated our financing costs and those of our homebuyers. Moreover, many of our homebuyers who obtain mortgages opt for loans that adhere to the terms set by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. These entities purchase or insure mortgage loans and securities backed by them, which directly impacts the interest rates available to homebuyers with conforming loans. Additionally, the federal government’s involvement in insuring mortgage loans through entities like the FHA, VA, and USDA holds particular importance in the mortgage finance industry and our business. While our homes typically fall below FHA limits, adjustments made by these entities, such as raising down payment requirements or lowering maximum loan amounts, could have a material impact on our operations. Disruptions in this mortgage supply chain can significantly affect our business if our homebuyers encounter difficulties in securing acceptable mortgage terms or face challenges in obtaining mortgages altogether.
Seasonality
In all of our markets, we have historically experienced similar variability in our results of operations and capital requirements from quarter to quarter due to the seasonal nature of the homebuilding industry. We generally close more homes and record higher sales in our second, third, and fourth quarters. As a result, our revenue may fluctuate on a quarterly basis, and we may have higher capital requirements in our second, third, and fourth quarters in order to maintain our inventory levels. Our revenue and capital requirements are generally similar across our second, third, and fourth quarters.
As a result of seasonal activity, our quarterly results of operations and financial position at the end of a particular quarter, especially the first quarter, are not necessarily representative of the results we expect for the year. We expect this seasonal pattern to continue in the long term.
Macroeconomic factors
Commencing in the first half of 2022, we began to see certain macroeconomic trends that affected our markets and industry such as higher inflation, rising interest rates and associated decreases in consumer discretionary income, the effects of supply chain challenges, declining government stimulus following the COVID-19 pandemic, and uncertainty regarding an economic recession. Despite the broader macroeconomic challenges, we have observed an increase in demand from entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers, and we expect the housing market in the Southeastern United States to remain healthy given supply dynamics. Any worsening of macroeconomic conditions in future periods could have a negative effect on our financial results.
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Reorganization Transactions
The historical results of operations discussed in this section are those of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC prior to the completion of the Transactions, including this offering, and do not reflect certain items that we expect will affect our results of operations and financial position after giving effect to the Transactions, including this offering and the use of proceeds from this offering.
Following the completion of the Transactions, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will become the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Although we will have a minority economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, we will have the sole voting interest in, and control of the business and affairs of, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. As a result, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will consolidate Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and record a significant non-controlling interest in a consolidated entity in Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s consolidated financial statements for the economic interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC held by the Continuing Equity Owners. Immediately after the Transactions, investors in this offering will collectively own   % of our outstanding Class A common stock, consisting of    shares (or    shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will own      LLC Interests (or      LLC Interests if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock), representing   % of the LLC Interests (or   % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock); and the Continuing Equity Owners will collectively own     LLC Interests, representing   % of the LLC Interests (or     LLC interests, representing   % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Accordingly, net income attributable to non-controlling interests will represent   % of the net income of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (or   % if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock). Smith Douglas Homes Corp. is a holding company that conducts no operations and, as of the consummation of this offering, its principal asset will be LLC Interests we purchase from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. As a result, the historical consolidated financial data may not give you an accurate indication of what our actual results would have been if the transactions described in “Our organizational structure” had been completed at the beginning of the periods presented or of what our future results of operations are likely to be. See “Our organizational structure.”
After consummation of the Transactions, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will become subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes with respect to our allocable share of taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and will be taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates. In addition to tax expenses, we also will incur expenses related to our status as a public company, plus payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, which we expect to be significant. We intend to cause Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to make distributions to us in an amount sufficient to allow us to pay these expenses and fund any payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions—Distributions” and “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information” for further discussion on the Tax Receivable Agreement, our tax treatment, and the comparability differences between our current and future financial statements.
Non-GAAP financial measures
In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, we have provided information in this prospectus relating to “adjusted home closing gross profit,” “adjusted home closing gross margin,” “adjusted net income,” “EBITDA” and “EBITDA margin.” We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance.
We report our financial results in accordance with GAAP. However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users of our financial information with additional useful information in evaluating our performance and to more readily compare these financial measures between past and future periods. There are limitations to the use of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this prospectus. For example, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.
Adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin
Adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin are non-GAAP financial measures used by management as supplemental measures in evaluating operating performance. We define adjusted home closing
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gross profit as home closing revenue less cost of home closings, excluding capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings, impairment charges and adjustments resulting from the application of purchase accounting included in cost of sales, if applicable. We define adjusted home closing gross margin as adjusted home closing gross profit as a percentage of home closing revenue. Management believes this information is meaningful because it isolates the impact that capitalized interest has on home closing gross margin. However, because adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin information excludes capitalized interest, which has real economic effects and could impact our results of operations, the utility of adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin information as a measure of our operating performance may be limited. In addition, other companies may not calculate adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing margin information in the same manner we do. Accordingly, adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin information should be considered only as a supplement to home closing gross profit and home closing gross margin information as a measure of our performance.
The following tables present a reconciliation of adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin to the GAAP financial measure of home closing gross profit and home closing gross margin for each of the periods indicated:
Six months ended June 30,
(Unaudited, in thousands, except percentages)
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma(1)
Historical Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
2023
2023
2022
Home closing revenue
$     
$349,666
$325,487
Cost of home closings
248,435
230,046
Home closing gross profit(2)
$
$101,231
$95,441
Capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings
955
1,119
Adj. home closing gross profit
$
$102,186
$96,560
Home closing gross margin(3)
%
29.0%
29.3%
Adj. home closing gross margin(3)
%
29.2%
29.7%
(1)
Pro forma for the Transactions and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. See “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.”
(2)
Home closing gross profit is home closing revenue less cost of home closings.
(3)
Calculated as a percentage of home closing revenue.
Our adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022, decreased, primarily as a result of increased discounts and seller paid closing costs primarily due to a rise in mortgage rates.
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma(1)
Historical Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
2022
2022
2021
Home closing revenue
$     
$755,353
$518,863
Cost of home closings
532,599
395,917
Home closing gross profit(2)
$
$222,754
$122,946
Capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings
2,757
2,035
Adj. home closing gross profit
$
$225,511
$124,981
Home closing gross margin(3)
%
29.5%
23.7%
Adj. home closing gross margin(3)
%
29.9%
24.1%
(1)
Pro forma for the Transactions and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. See “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.”
(2)
Home closing gross profit is home closing revenue less cost of home closings.
(3)
Calculated as a percentage of home closing revenue.
Our adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin increased from 2021 to 2022 primarily as a result of an increase in home closing revenue, an improvement in home closing gross margin as a percentage of home closing revenue, and decreased cost of home closings.
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Adjusted net income
Adjusted net income is not a measure of net income or net income margin as determined by GAAP. Adjusted net income is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders, and rating agencies. We define adjusted net income as net income adjusted for the tax impact using our anticipated 25% federal and state blended tax rate (assuming 100% public ownership to adjust for the impact of taxes on earnings attributable to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC was a subchapter C corporation in the periods presented).
Management believes adjusted net income is useful because it allows management to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and comparability to industry peers who record income tax expense on their income before tax as opposed to the income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC not being taxed at the entity level and, therefore, not reflecting a charge against earnings for income tax expense. Adjusted net income should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or any other measure as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our computation of adjusted net income may not be comparable to adjusted net income of other companies. We present adjusted net income because we believe it provides useful information regarding our comparability to peers.
The following tables present a reconciliation of adjusted net income to the GAAP financial measure of net income for each of the periods indicated (unaudited):
Six months ended June 30,
(Unaudited, in thousands, except percentages)
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma(1)
Historical Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
2023
2023
2022
Net income
$
$59,567
$60,658
Tax-effected adjustments(1)
    
14,892
15,164
Adjusted net income
$
$44,675
$45,494
(1)
For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, our tax expenses assumes an anticipated 25% federal and state blended tax rate (assuming 100% public ownership to adjust for the impact of taxes on earnings attributable to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC was a subchapter C corporation in the periods presented)
Our adjusted net income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 decreased slightly, as compared to the same period in 2022, primarily as a result of lower home closing gross margin due to increased homebuyer incentives and discounts and increased sales, marketing and commissions offset by an overall increase in home closing revenue and related gross profit.
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma(1)
Historical Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
2022
2022
2021
Net income
$    
$140,444
$62,530
Tax-effected adjustments(1)
 
35,111
15,632
Adjusted net income
$
$105,333
$46,898
(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, our tax expenses assumes an anticipated 25% federal and state blended tax rate (assuming 100% public ownership to adjust for the impact of taxes on earnings attributable to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC was a subchapter C corporation in the periods presented)
Our adjusted net income increased from 2021 to 2022 primarily driven by a 19.0% increase in home closings, a 22.0% increase in the average sales price of homes closed and a 580 bps increase in home closing gross margin.
EBITDA and EBITDA margin
EBITDA and EBITDA margin are not measures of net income or net income margin as determined by GAAP. EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders, and rating agencies. We define EBITDA as net income before (i) interest income, (ii) capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings, (iii) interest expense, (iv) income tax expense, and (v) depreciation. We define EBITDA margin as EBITDA as a percentage of home closing revenue.
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Management believes EBITDA and EBITDA margin are useful because they allow management to more effectively evaluate our operating performance and compare our results of operations from period to period without regard to our financing methods or capital structure, or other items that impact comparability of financial results from period to period. EBITDA and EBITDA margin should not be considered as alternatives to, or more meaningful than, net income, net income margin, or any other measure as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our computation of EBITDA and EBITDA margin may not be comparable to EBITDA and EBITDA margin of other companies. We present EBITDA and EBITDA margin because we believe they provide useful information regarding the factors and trends affecting our business.
The following tables present a reconciliation of EBITDA and EBITDA margin to the GAAP financial measure of net income and net income margin for each of the periods indicated (unaudited):
Six months ended June 30,
(Unaudited, in thousands, except percentages)
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma(1)
Historical Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
2023
2023
2022
Net income
$     
$59,567
$60,658
Capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings
 
955
1,119
Interest expense
 
400
353
Interest income
 
(81)
Provision for income taxes
 
Depreciation
  
503
440
EBITDA
$
$61,344
$62,570
Net income margin(2)
 
17.0%
18.6%
EBITDA margin(2)
 
17.5%
19.2%
(1)
Pro forma for the Transactions and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. See “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.”
(2)
Calculated as a percentage of home closing revenue.
Our EBITDA and EBITDA margin increased from 2021 to 2022 primarily as a result of an increase in net income.
Our EBITDA and EBITDA margin for the six months ended June 30, 2023 decreased, as compared to the same period in 2022, primarily as a result of an increase in discounts and seller paid closings costs, higher sales and marketing cost including an increase in co-broker sales commissions as a percentage of revenue and higher general and administrative costs.
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands, except percentages)
Smith Douglas
Homes Corp.
pro forma(1)
Historical Smith Douglas
Holdings LLC
2022
2022
2021
Net income
$     
$140,444
$62,530
Capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings
 
2,757
2,035
Interest expense
 
734
1,733
Interest income
 
(92)
(1)
Provision for income taxes
 
Depreciation
  
864
987
EBITDA
$
$144,707
$67,284
Net income margin(2)
 
18.6%
12.1%
EBITDA margin(2)
 
19.2%
13.0%
(1)
Pro forma for the Transactions and the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. See “Unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information.”
(2)
Calculated as a percentage of home closing revenue.
Our EBITDA and EBITDA margin increased from 2021 to 2022 primarily as a result of an increase in net income.
Components of results of operations
Home closing revenue
We recognize revenue when a home closes with a homebuyer and title and possession of the property are transferred to that homebuyer. Our performance obligation, to deliver the home, is generally satisfied in less than one year from the original contract date.
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When we execute sales contracts with our homebuyers, or when we require advance payment from homebuyers for custom changes such as upgrades or options related to their homes, the cash deposits received are recorded as contract liabilities until the homes are closed or the contracts are canceled. We either retain or refund to the homebuyer deposits on canceled sales contracts, depending on applicable provisions of the contract or other circumstances.
Home closing proceeds are generally received from the title company within a few business days after closing. The pace of net new home orders, the ASP, discounts and incentives, and the level of upgrades and options selected by our homebuyer all impact our recognized revenues in a given period.
Cost of home closings
Cost of home closings includes the costs of lot acquisition, development, direct home construction, capitalized interest, closing costs, direct and certain indirect overhead costs and estimated warranty for the homes. Estimates of costs incurred or to be incurred but not paid are accrued and expensed at the time of closing.
We record real estate inventory at cost unless we determine the community to be impaired, at which point we write down the inventory to fair value as required by Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 360-10, Property, Plant, and Equipment. We review our real estate inventory for indicators of potential impairment on a quarterly basis at the community level considering market and economic conditions, current sales absorption rates and recent profitability of new home orders. When an indicator of impairment is identified, we prepare and analyze cash flows at the community level on an undiscounted basis. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the community’s carrying value, we generally estimate the fair value using the estimated future discounted cash flows of the respective community. We write down communities with a fair value less than their carrying value to such fair value, and report resulting losses within cost of home closings.
Home closing gross profit
Home closing gross profit is home closing revenue less cost of home closings for the reported period. Home closing gross margin is home closing gross profit expressed as a percentage of home closing revenue.
Selling, general, and administrative costs
Selling, general and administrative costs consist of corporate and division overhead costs such as payroll and benefits, business insurance, information technology, office costs, outside professional services, travel costs, commissions paid to in-house sales personnel and third-party real estate brokers, and direct sales and marketing overhead costs related to our communities. Sales and marketing overhead costs include advertising and marketing costs, model furnishings, costs to maintain our model homes and sales offices, and readying a completed model home for sale. We recognize these costs in the period they are incurred. We expect that our historical selling, general, and administrative costs will increase as we scale our business and incur incremental costs for personnel and professional services fees related to preparation for becoming, and operating as, a public company. This includes, but is not limited to, regulatory and compliance costs applicable to listed public companies, and higher expenditures for compensation costs, insurance, technology, and professional services.
Provision for income taxes
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is a limited liability company, and is classified and taxed as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes; accordingly, all taxable income, losses, deductions, and credits are allocated to the members who are responsible for the payment of taxes thereon. Therefore, no provision has been made for federal, state, or local income taxes. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC incurs certain state franchise and gross receipts taxes that it includes in selling, general, and administrative costs in our statements of income. As discussed under “—Reorganization transactions,” after consummation of this offering, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will become subject to U.S. federal, state, and local income taxes with respect to its allocable share of taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and will be taxed at the prevailing corporate tax rates.
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Other factors impacting results of operations
Net new home orders
Net new home orders are a key performance indicator for future home closing revenue and cost of home closings. Net new home orders for a period are gross new home orders less any cancellations of home order contracts during the same period. We recognize a home order when we approve a contract signed by a homebuyer and collect any deposit required thereunder. The contract value of net new home orders represents the sum of the contractual purchase prices of the homes included in net new home orders for the period presented.
Cancellation rate
We record a cancellation when a homebuyer under contract desires to cancel their purchase prior to delivery of the home. Increasing cancellations are a negative indicator of future performance and can be an indicator of decreased home closing revenue, cost of home closings and net income. When a cancellation occurs, we generally retain the homebuyer deposit and resell the home to a new homebuyer. Cancellations can occur due to homebuyer credit issues or changes to the homebuyer’s desires. The cancellation rate is the total number of cancellations during the specified period divided by the total gross new home orders during the applicable period.
Backlog homes (period end)
Backlog homes (period end) is the number of homes in backlog from the previous period plus the number of net new home orders generated during the current period minus the number of homes closed during the current period. Backlog at period end includes homes currently under construction and homes that are sold where construction has not yet commenced.
Results of operations data
The results of operations data in the following tables for the periods presented have been derived from the audited financial statements and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this registration statement.
Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
The following table sets forth our statements of income and other operating data for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, along with the period-over-period change in dollars and other amounts and percent (amounts in thousands):
Six months ended June 30,
2023
2022
Period change
 
Amount
Amount
Amount
Percent
Consolidated Statements of Income Data:
 
 
 
 
Home closing revenue
$349,666
$325,487
$24,179
7.4%
Cost of home closings
248,435
230,046
18,389
8.0%
Home closing gross profit
101,231
95,441
5,790
6.1%
Selling, general, and administrative costs
41,868
35,136
6,732
19.2%
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
(436)
(460)
24
(5.2)%
Interest expense
400
353
47
13.3%
Other (income) loss, net
(168)
(246)
78
(31.7)%
Income before income taxes
$59,567
$60,658
$(1,091)
(1.8)%
Net income
$59,567
$60,658
$(1,091)
(1.8)%
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Six months ended June 30,
2023
2022
Period change
 
Amount
Amount
Amount
Percent
Other operating data (unaudited):
 
 
 
 
Home closings
1,060
978
82
8.4%
ASP of homes closed
$330
$333
$(3)
(0.9)%
Net new home orders
1,276
1,048
228
21.8%
Contract value of net new home orders
$421,248
$374,892
$46,356
12.4%
ASP of net new home orders
$330
$358
$(28)
(7.8)%
Cancellation rate(1)
8.8%
7.3%
1.5%
20.5%
Backlog homes (period end)(2)
985
1,113
(128)
(11.5)%
Contract value of backlog homes (period end)
$330,258
$397,125
$(66,867)
(16.8)%
ASP of backlog homes (period end)
$335
$357
$(22)
(6.2)%
Active communities (period end)(3)
44
50
(6)
(12)%
Controlled lots:
 
 
 
 
Homes under construction
706
898
(192)
(21.4)%
Owned lots
405
292
113
38.7%
Optioned lots
7,659
10,106
(2,447)
(24.2)%
Total controlled lots
8,770
11,296
(2,526)
(22.4)%
nm*
Not meaningful
1.
The cancellation rate is the total number of cancellations during the period divided by the total gross new home orders during the period.
2.
Backlog homes (period end) is the number of homes in backlog from the previous period plus the number of net new home orders generated during the current period minus the number of homes closed during the current period.
3.
A community becomes active once the model is completed or the community has its first sale. A community becomes inactive when it has fewer than two homes remaining to sell.
Home closing revenue
Home closing revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was $349.7 million, an increase of $24.2 million, or 7.4%, from $325.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to an 8.4% increase in home closings partially offset by a 0.9% decrease in average sales price of homes closed.
The following table sets forth our home closing revenue, number of home closings, and ASP of homes closed for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 in each of our reportable segments (dollar amounts in thousands):
Six months ended June 30,
2023
2022
 
Home closing
revenue
Home
closings
ASP of
homes
closed
Home closing
revenue
Home
closings
ASP of
homes
closed
Alabama
$42,867
147
$292
$38,898
147
$265
Atlanta
170,278
537
317
142,688
449
318
Charlotte
26,871
73
368
43,962
114
386
Nashville
51,908
144
360
47,835
125
383
Raleigh
57,742
159
363
52,104
143
364
Total
$349,666
1,060
$330
$325,487
978
$333
Cost of home closings
Cost of home closings for the six months ended June 30, 2023, was $248.4 million, an increase of $18.4 million, or 8.0%, from $230.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase was primarily driven by an 8.4% increase in home closings.
Home closing gross profit
Home closing gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $101.2 million, an increase of $5.8 million, or 6.1%, from $95.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. Home closing gross margin, expressed as a
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percentage and calculated as home closing gross profit divided by home closing revenue, was 29.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to 29.3% for the same period in 2022. The decrease in home closing gross margin was primarily due to an increase in sales discounts and seller paid closings costs slightly offset by lower average lot costs.
Backlog homes
The following table sets forth our backlog homes and contract value and ASP of backlog homes by reportable segment as of June 30, 2023 and 2022, along with their period-to-period change in percent (dollar amounts in thousands):
As of June 30,
2023
2022
Period change
 
Backlog
homes
Contract
value of
backlog
homes
ASP of
backlog
homes
Backlog
homes
Contract
value of
backlog
homes
ASP of
backlog
homes
Backlog
homes
Contract
value of
backlog
homes
ASP of
backlog
homes
Alabama
246
$73,028
$297
191
$58,441
$306
55
$14,587
$(9)
Atlanta
374
125,606
336
435
143,901
331
(61)
(18,295)
5
Charlotte
70
25,035
358
112
47,371
423
(42)
(22,336)
(65)
Nashville
129
47,346
367
186
74,171
399
(57)
(26,825)
(32)
Raleigh
166
59,243
357
189
73,241
388
(23)
(13,998)
(31)
Total
985
$330,258
$335
1,113
$397,125
$357
(128)
$(66,867)
$(22)
The decrease in the number of backlog homes as of June 30, 2023, as compared to June 30, 2022, is primarily attributable to a 26.1% decrease in backlog homes at the beginning of the period compared to the beginning of the prior year period and an increase in home closings by 8.4% offset by a 21.8% increase in net new orders. Contract value of backlog homes decreased 7.1% from June 30, 2023, as compared to June 30, 2022, primarily due to a 7.1% decrease in backlog homes at the end of the period and a 6.2% decrease in the average selling price of backlog homes.
Selling, general, and administrative costs
Selling, general, and administrative costs for the six months ended June 30, 2023, were $41.9 million, an increase of $6.8 million, or 19.4%, from $35.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022. The increase was primarily due to an increase in advertising costs and sales commission directly related to an increase in homes closed as well as an increase in audit and consulting professional fees.
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities consists of our portion of income from our interest in our title company in which we hold a 49% interest and which operates in all our markets to provide title insurance to our homebuyers. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, equity in income from unconsolidated entities declined slightly from the six months ended June 30, 2022, due to slightly lower title insurance revenue generated by the joint venture.
Interest expense
Interest expense is comprised of interest incurred, but not capitalized on our Existing Credit Facility and other borrowings and amortization of debt issuance costs and increased slightly for the six months ended June 30, 2023, from the same period in 2022 primarily due to slightly higher amortization of debt issuance costs related to the renewal of our Existing Credit Facility in December 2022.
Other income (loss), net
Other income (loss), net primarily consists of interest income, credit card rebates, insurance settlements, and other miscellaneous fee income and expenses. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, other income decreased by $0.1 million from the six months ended June 30, 2022, primarily due to an increase in interest income from higher average rates on our cash balances offset by a decrease in profit from a small parcel of land that occurred in early 2022.
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Net income
The following table sets forth net income by reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Six months ended June 30,
2023
2022
Period change
Alabama
$3,676
$3,376
$300
Atlanta
42,928
34,226
8,702
Charlotte
4,313
8,895
(4,582)
Nashville
7,732
10,705
(2,973)
Raleigh
12,846
12,844
2
Segment total
71,495
70,046
1,449
Corporate(1)
(11,928)
(9,388)
(2,540)
Total
$59,567
$60,658
$(1,091)
(1)
Corporate primarily includes corporate overhead costs, such as payroll and benefits, business insurance, information technology, office costs, outside professional services and travel costs, and certain other amounts that are not allocated to the reportable segments.
Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2023 decreased by $1.1 million, or 1.8%. The decrease was primarily driven by a $6.7 million increase in selling, general and administrative costs due to higher commissions and advertising costs per closing offset by a $5.8 million increase in home closing gross profit driven by an 8.4% increase in home closings offset by a 0.9% decrease in the average selling price of homes closed.
Alabama: The $0.3 million increase in net income compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to an increase in home closing revenue and gross profit due to a 10.1% increase in the average selling price of home closings offset by an increase in selling, general, and administrative costs.
Atlanta: The $8.7 million increase in net income compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to an increase in home closings and home closing revenue which allowed us to better leverage selling, general, and administrative costs in the segment.
Charlotte: The $4.6 million decrease in net income compared to the prior year was primarily due to a 36.0% decrease in homes closed and related revenue and home closing gross profit due to a gap in the timing of new communities coming online.
Nashville: The $3.0 million decrease in net income compared to the same period in the prior year was primarily due to a decrease in home closing gross profit margin driven by additional discounting and mix of homes closed as well as an increase in sales and marketing costs and sales commissions as a percent of home closing revenue.
Raleigh: Net income remained constant compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to higher home closing gross profit offset by an increase in sales and marketing costs and sales commissions as a percent of home closing revenue.
Comparison of years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
The following table sets forth our statements of income and other operating data for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, along with the year-to-year change in dollars and other amounts and percent (amounts in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Year over year change
 
Amount
Amount
Amount
Percent
Consolidated Statements of Income Data:
 
 
 
 
Home closing revenue
$755,353
$518,863
$236,490
45.6%
Cost of home closings
532,599
395,917
136,682
34.5%
Home closing gross profit
222,754
122,946
99,808
81.2%
Selling, general, and administrative costs
83,269
64,231
19,038
29.6%
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
(1,120)
(595)
(525)
88.2%
Interest expense
734
1,733
(999)
(57.6)%
Other (income) loss, net
(573)
188
761
404.8%
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Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Year over year change
 
Amount
Amount
Amount
Percent
Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan
(5,141)
5,141
*nm
Income before income taxes
140,444
62,530
77,914
124.6%
Net income
$140,444
$62,530
$77,914
124.6%
Other operating data (unaudited):
 
 
 
 
Home closings
2,200
1,848
352
19.0%
ASP of homes closed
$343
$281
$62
22.1%
Net new home orders
1,928
1,920
8
0.4%
Contract value of net new home orders
$667,530
$597,761
$69,769
11.7%
ASP of net new home orders
$346
$311
$35
11.3%
Cancellation rate(1)
10.9%
6.7%
4.2%
62.7%
Backlog homes (period end)(2)
771
1,043
(272)
(26.1)%
Contract value of backlog homes (period end)
$258,718
$345,521
$(86,803)
(25.1)%
ASP of backlog homes (period end)
$336
$331
$5
1.5%
Active communities (period end)(3)
53
52
1
1.9%
Controlled lots:
 
 
 
 
Homes under construction
623
711
(88)
(12.4)%
Owned lots
342
319
23
7.2%
Optioned lots
7,848
9,840
(1,992)
(20.2)%
Total controlled lots
8,813
10,870
(2,057)
(18.9)%
nm*
Not meaningful
1.
The cancellation rate is the total number of cancellations during the period divided by the total gross new home orders during the period.
2.
Backlog homes (period end) is the number of homes in backlog from the previous period plus the number of net new home orders generated during the current period minus the number of homes closed during the current period.
3.
A community becomes active once the model is completed or the community has its first sale. A community becomes inactive when it has fewer than two homes remaining to sell.
Home closing revenue
Home closing revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022, was $755.4 million, an increase of $236.5 million, or 45.6%, from $518.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase in revenue was primarily attributable to a 19.0% improvement in homes closed and a 22.1% improvement in ASP of homes closed across all reportable segments. This increase reflected our ability to raise prices and take advantage of the overall increase in home sales demand in our markets throughout 2021 and the first half of 2022.
The following table sets forth our home closing revenue, number of home closings, and ASP of homes closed for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, in each of our reportable segments (dollar amounts in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
 
Home closing
revenue
Home
closings
ASP of
homes
closed
Home closing
revenue
Home
closings
ASP of
homes
closed
Alabama
$96,660
338
$286
$56,034
240
$233
Atlanta
332,102
1,016
327
235,387
843
279
Charlotte
89,310
223
400
83,497
263
317
Nashville
120,243
307
392
68,287
231
296
Raleigh
117,038
316
370
75,658
271
279
Total
$755,353
2,200
$343
$518,863
1,848
$281
Cost of home closings
Cost of home closings for the year ended December 31, 2022, was $532.6 million, an increase of $136.7 million, or 34.5%, from $395.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase is primarily driven by a 19.0% increase in homes closed and generally higher average construction costs on our homes compared to prior year.
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Home closing gross profit
Home closing gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $222.8 million, an increase of $99.8 million, or 81.2%, from $122.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Home closing gross margin, expressed as a percentage and calculated as home closing gross profit divided by home closing revenue, was 29.5% in 2022 compared to 23.7% in 2021. The increase in home closing gross margin was primarily due to our ability to raise prices in excess of our direct construction costs and better leverage of homebuilding overhead in all of our reportable segments.
Backlog homes
The following table sets forth our backlog homes and contract value and ASP of backlog homes by reportable segment as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, along with their year-to-year change in percent (dollar amounts in thousands):
As of December 31,
2022
2021
Year over year change
 
Backlog
homes
Contract
value of
backlog
homes
ASP of
backlog
homes
Backlog
homes
Contract
value of
backlog
homes
ASP of
backlog
homes
Backlog
homes
Contract
value of
backlog
homes
ASP of
backlog
homes
Alabama
90
$27,398
$304
211
$57,486
$272
(121)
$(30,088)
$ 32
Atlanta
385
119,854
311
404
127,231
315
(19)
(7,377)
(4)
Charlotte
66
24,887
377
124
47,700
385
(58)
(22,813)
(8)
Nashville
81
31,259
386
138
52,158
378
(57)
(20,899)
8
Raleigh
149
55,320
371
166
60,946
367
(17)
(5,626)
4
Total
771
$ 258,718
$336
1,043
$ 345,521
$331
(272)
$(86,803)
$5
The decrease in the number of backlog homes and backlog value as of December 31, 2022, as compared to December 31, 2021, is primarily attributable to the downward demand from rising mortgage rates in the back half of 2022 and the increase in home closings in 2022 as previously described.
Selling, general, and administrative costs
Selling, general, and administrative costs for the year ended December 31, 2022, were $83.3 million, an increase of $19.0 million, or 29.6%, from $64.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The increase was primarily due to an increase in our overall homes closed and related home closing revenue, as well as increased payroll and performance-based bonus compensation expenses on higher employee headcount. The higher spend year-over-year was primarily attributable to the slower home sales demand in the back half of 2022 which required us to spend more on advertising and marketing to drive traffic to our communities. We continually strive to optimize overhead leverage through cost control efforts at both corporate and divisional levels.
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities consists of our portion of income from our interest in our title company in which we hold a 49% interest and which operates in all our markets to provide title insurance to our homebuyers. For the year ended December 31, 2022, equity in income from unconsolidated entities increased by $0.5 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, due to an increase in our portion of the income from our investment in the title company.
Interest expense
Interest expense is comprised of interest incurred, but not capitalized on our Existing Credit Facility and other borrowings and amortization of debt issuance costs. Primarily due to our lower average borrowings in fiscal year 2022, our interest expense decreased $1.0 million to $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 from $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
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Other income (loss), net
Other income (loss), net primarily consists of interest income, credit card rebates, insurance settlements, and other miscellaneous fee income and expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2022, other income increased by $0.8 million from the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily due to an increase in interest income associated with our increased average cash balance and income from the sale of a small parcel of land.
Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan
Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan consists of forgiveness of the loan we obtained under the U.S. Small Business Administration’s low-interest rate loans to qualified small businesses under its Paycheck Protection Program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We obtained the $5.1 million loan on May 4, 2020, and we received full forgiveness of the loan on August 16, 2021. As a result, we recognized a gain on the forgiveness of the debt in the amount of indebtedness in 2021.
Net income
The following table sets forth net income by reportable segment for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Year over year change
Alabama
$10,694
$3,920
$6,774
Atlanta
81,403
43,969
37,434
Charlotte
19,209
10,084
9,125
Nashville
24,914
9,376
15,538
Raleigh
28,819
8,855
19,964
Segment total
165,039
76,204
88,835
Corporate(1)
(24,595)
(13,674)
(10,921)
Total
$140,444
$62,530
$77,914
(1)
Corporate primarily includes corporate overhead costs, such as payroll and benefits, business insurance, information technology, office costs, outside professional services and travel costs, and certain other amounts that are not allocated to the reportable segments.
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased by $77.9 million, or 124.6%. The increase was primarily driven by a 19.0% increase in home closings and a 22.1% increase in the ASP of homes closed which resulted in a 45.6% increase in home closing revenue. This increase in revenue was the primary reason for our 580 basis point improvement in home closing gross margin and allowed us to better leverage our selling, general, and administrative costs.
Alabama: The $6.8 million increase in net income compared to the prior year was primarily due to the increase in home closings and home closing revenue primarily from our Huntsville communities which allowed us to better leverage selling, general and administrative costs in the segment that are largely consistent with such increases previously described for us as a whole.
Atlanta: The $37.4 million increase in net income compared to the prior year was primarily due to the increase in home closings and home closing revenue which allowed us to better leverage selling, general and administrative costs in the segment that are largely consistent with such increases previously described for us as a whole.
Charlotte: The $9.1 million increase in net income compared to the prior year was primarily due to the increase in home closings and home closing revenue which allowed us to better leverage our selling, general and administrative costs in the segment that are largely consistent with such increases previously described for us as a whole.
Nashville: The $15.5 million increase in net income compared to the prior year was primarily due to the increase in home closings and home closing revenue which allowed us to better leverage our selling, general and administrative costs in the segment that are largely consistent with such increases previously described for us as a whole.
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Raleigh: The $20.0 million increase in net income compared to the prior year was primarily due to the increase in home closings and home closing revenue which allowed us to better leverage our selling, general and administrative costs in the segment that are largely consistent with such increases previously described for us as a whole.
Quarterly condensed consolidated statements of income
The following tables set forth our unaudited quarterly condensed consolidated statements of income for each of the periods presented. The information for each quarter has been prepared on a basis consistent with our accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus and reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s results of operations for the quarters presented. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other period in the future. The following quarterly financial information should be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements and related notes included in this prospectus:
Three months ended
(unaudited and in thousands)
Sep. 30,
2021
Dec. 31,
2021
Mar. 31,
2022
Jun. 30,
2022
Sep. 30,
2022
Dec. 31,
2022
Mar. 31,
2023
Jun. 30,
2023
Consolidated Statements of Income Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home closing revenue
$137,891
$121,637
$155,216
$170,271
$206,457
$223,409
$168,144
$181,522
Cost of home closings
106,531
94,237
110,737
119,309
147,295
155,258
119,611
128,824
Home closing gross profit
31,360
$27,400
44,479
50,962
59,162
68,151
48,533
52,698
Selling, general, and administrative costs
16,404
15,881
16,514
18,622
20,944
27,189
19,860
22,008
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
(120)
(118)
(209)
(251)
(329)
(331)
(210)
(226)
Interest expense
260
976
176
177
175
206
179
221
Other (income) loss, net
132
131
(239)
(7)
(106)
(221)
(122)
(46)
Forgiveness of paycheck protection program loan
(5,141)
Income before income taxes
19,825
10,530
28,237
32,421
38,478
41,308
28,826
30,741
Net income
$19,825
$10,530
$28,237
$32,421
$38,478
$41,308
$28,826
$30,741
The following table presents a reconciliation of adjusted home closing gross profit and adjusted home closing gross margin to the GAAP financial measure of home closing gross profit and home closing gross margin, respectively, for each of the periods indicated:
Three months ended
(unaudited and in thousands)
Sep. 30,
2021
Dec. 31,
2021
Mar. 31,
2022
Jun. 30,
2022
Sep. 30,
2022
Dec. 31,
2022
Mar. 31,
2023
Jun. 30,
2023
Home closing revenue
$137,891
$121,637
$155,216
$170,271
$206,457
$223,409
$168,144
$181,522
Cost of home closings
106,531
94,237
110,737
119,309
147,295
155,258
119,611
128,824
Home closing gross profit(1)
31,360
27,400
44,479
50,962
59,162
68,151
48,533
52,698
Capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings
560
500
578
541
723
915
603
352
Adj. home closing gross profit
$31,920
$27,900
$45,057
$51,503
$59,885
$69,066
$49,136
$53,050
Home closing gross margin(1)
22.7%
22.5%
28.7%
29.9%
28.7%
30.5%
28.9%
29.0%
Adj. home closing gross margin(2)
23.1%
22.9%
29.0%
30.2%
29.0%
30.9%
29.2%
29.2%
(1)
Home closing gross profit is home closing revenue less cost of home closings.
(2)
Calculated as a percentage of home closing revenue.
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The following table presents a reconciliation of EBITDA and EBITDA margin to the GAAP financial measure of net income and net income margin for each of the periods indicated (unaudited):
Three months ended
(unaudited and in thousands)
Sep. 30,
2021
Dec. 31,
2021
Mar. 31,
2022
Jun. 30,
2022
Sep. 30,
2022
Dec. 31,
2022
Mar. 31,
2023
Jun. 30,
2023
Net income
$19,825
$10,530
$28,237
$32,421
$38,478
$41,308
$28,826
$30,741
Capitalized interest charged to cost of home closings
560
500
578
541
723
915
603
352
Interest expense
260
976
176
177
175
206
179
221
Interest income
(92)
(62)
(19)
Provision for income taxes
Depreciation
348
240
220
220
210
214
250
253
EBITDA
$20,993
$12,246
$29,211
$33,359
$39,586
$42,551
$29,796
$31,548
Net income margin(1)
14.4%
8.7%
18.2%
19.0%
18.6%
18.5%
17.1%
16.9%
EBITDA margin(1)
15.2%
10.1%
18.8%
19.6%
19.2%
19.0%
17.7%
17.4%
(1)
Calculated as a percentage of home closing revenue.
The following table sets forth components of results of operations as a percentage of revenue for each of the quarters indicated.
Three months ended
(unaudited)
Sep. 30,
2021
Dec. 31,
2021
Mar. 31,
2022
Jun. 30,
2022
Sep. 30,
2022
Dec. 31,
2022
Mar. 31,
2023
Jun. 30,
2023
Consolidated Statements of Income Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home closing revenue
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
Cost of home closings
77.3%
77.5%
71.3%
70.1%
71.3%
69.5%
71.1%
71.0%
Home closing gross profit
22.7%
22.5%
28.7%
29.9%
28.7%
30.5%
28.9%
29.0%
Selling, general, and administrative costs
11.9%
13.0%
10.6%
10.9%
10.2%
12.2%
11.9%
12.1%
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
(0.1)%
(0.1)%
(0.1)%
(0.1)%
(0.1)%
(0.2)%
(0.1)%
(0.1)%
Interest expense
0.2%
0.8%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
Other (income) loss, net
0.1%
0.1%
(0.1)%
%
(0.1)%
(0.1)%
(0.1)%
%
Forgiveness of paycheck protection program loan
(3.8)%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
Income before income taxes
14.4%
8.7%
18.2%
19.0%
18.6%
18.5%
17.1%
16.9%
Net income
14.4%
8.7%
18.2%
19.0%
18.6%
18.5%
17.1%
16.9%
Liquidity and capital resources
Overview
As of June 30, 2023, we had $11.4 million of cash and cash equivalents. We believe existing cash and cash equivalents, availability under our Existing Credit Facility and positive cash flows from operations will be sufficient to support working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. We have historically generated cash and fund our operations primarily from cash flows from operating activities as well as availability under our credit facilities and other borrowings. We exercise strict controls and have a prudent strategy for our cash management, including those related to cash outlays for lot acquisitions and deposits on lot-option contracts. We require multiple party account control and authorization for payments. We competitively bid each phase of the development and construction process and closely manage production schedules and payments. Land acquisitions are reviewed and analyzed by our senior management team and ultimately approved by our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, our land-light business model reduces our upfront capital requirements and generally provides for “just-in-time” lot delivery, which better aligns our pace of home orders and home starts. Our principal uses of cash include deposits on lot-option contracts, acquisition of finished lots, home construction, operating expenses, and the payment of interest and routine liabilities.
In the coming twelve months, our primary funding needs will revolve around the construction of homes, acquisition of finished lots under new and existing contracts, and operating expenses. Additionally, we may seek to
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use our capital to enter new markets through acquisition or greenfield startup if we believe such markets fit our business model. To address these short-term liquidity requirements, we anticipate relying on our existing cash and cash equivalents, as well as the net cash flows generated by our operations and availability under our Existing Credit Facility.
However, the opportunity to purchase substantially finished lots in desired locations is becoming increasingly more competitive. As a result, we remain open to seeking additional capital if necessary to enhance our liquidity position, further enable the acquisition of additional finished lot inventory in anticipation of improving market conditions and the competitive landscape, and fortify our long-term capital structure.
Looking beyond the next twelve months, our primary funding needs will continue to center around home construction, finished lot acquisitions necessary to maintain a minimum four-year lot supply, growing active community count, growth into new and existing markets, and interest payments on our Existing Credit Facility. We expect our existing cash reserves, along with generated cash flows and availability under our Existing Credit Facility, will be sufficient to fund our ongoing operational activities and provide the necessary capital for future lot purchases and related growth strategies.
To the extent our current liquidity is insufficient to fund future activities, we may need to raise additional funds, such as refinancing or securing new secured or unsecured debt, common and preferred equity, disposing of certain assets to fund our operations, and/or other public or private sources of capital. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, the ownership of our existing stockholders will be diluted. The incurrence of additional debt financing would result in debt service obligations, and any future instruments governing such debt could provide for operating and financing covenants that could restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that we could obtain refinancing or additional financing on favorable terms or at all. See “Risk factors—General risk factors—Access to financing sources may not be available on favorable terms, or at all, especially in light of current market conditions, which could adversely affect our ability to maximize our returns.”
Existing Credit Facility
On October 28, 2021, certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a $175.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the Lenders, as amended on December 19, 2022 and as further amended prior to the date hereof. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and Smith Douglas Homes Corp. are not parties to the Existing Credit Facility. The Existing Credit Facility includes a $25.0 million accordion feature, subject to additional commitments, and provides that up to $10.0 million may be used for letters of credit. Borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility bear interest at prime plus the applicable margin ranging from minus 10 basis points to 25 basis points based on our leverage ratio as determined in accordance with a pricing grid defined in the Existing Credit Facility.
The Existing Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants, among others, including (i) a minimum tangible net worth requirement, (ii) a maximum leverage ratio, (iii) a maximum ratio of EBITDA to interest incurred, and (iv) a minimum liquidity requirement. As of June 30, 2023, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Existing Credit Facility.
In December 2022, the Existing Credit Facility was amended to extend the maturity date to December 19, 2025 and reduce the applicable margin to minus 25 basis points to 20 basis points based on our leverage ratio. As of June 30, 2023, the interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility was 8.0%. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility was 7.25% and 3.30%, respectively. In April 2023, we received a waiver from the Lenders to extend the requirement to submit annual audited financial statements to June 30, 2023. Subsequently, in June 2023, we received another waiver extending the requirement to July 31, 2023.
As of June 30, 2023, outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility totaled $10.0 million with $0.4 million in outstanding letters of credit. Subsequent to June 30, 2023, we borrowed an additional $72.0 million under the Existing Credit Facility to partially fund the purchase price of the Devon Street Homes Acquisition. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, outstanding borrowings under the Existing Credit Facility totaled $15.0 million and $72.0 million, respectively, with no outstanding letters of credit. Availability as determined in accordance with the Borrowing Base, as defined in the Existing Credit Facility, totaled approximately $113.3 million and approximately $102.6 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
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Concurrently with, and conditioned upon, the pricing of this offering, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries intend to enter into the Amended Credit Facility, and, as part of the Refinancing, we intend to use a portion of our net proceeds from this offering for the Debt Repayment, see “Use of proceeds.” The Amended Credit Facility is conditioned upon the pricing of this offering and certain other customary conditions to effectiveness, however, this offering is not contingent upon the effectiveness of the Amended Credit Facility. Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will not be a party to the Amended Credit Facility.
The Amended Credit Facility will, among other things, increase the aggregate principal amount of the revolving credit commitments to $250.0 million and extend the maturity date to the date that is three years after the closing of the Amended Credit Facility. There is no guarantee that we will enter into the Amended Credit Facility on the terms described herein or at all.
For additional information regarding our Existing Credit Facility, see the notes to the audited financial statements (Note 4, Notes Payable) contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Additional liquidity requirements after completion of offering
After the completion of this offering, we will be a holding company and will have no material assets other than our ownership of LLC Interests. We will have no independent means of generating revenue. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement that will be in effect at the time of this offering provides for the payment of certain distributions to the Continuing Equity Owners and to us in amounts sufficient to cover the income taxes imposed on such members with respect to the allocation of taxable income from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as well as to cover our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement and other administrative expenses.
Regarding the ability of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to make distributions to us, the terms of their financing arrangements (including the Existing Credit Facility and the Amended Credit Facility) contain covenants that may restrict Smith Douglas Holdings LLC or its subsidiaries from paying such distributions, subject to certain exceptions. Further, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is generally prohibited under Delaware law from making a distribution to a member to the extent that, at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, liabilities of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (with certain exceptions), as applicable, exceed the fair value of its assets.
In addition, under the Tax Receivable Agreement, we will be required to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners equal to 85% of the tax benefits, if any, that we actually realize (or in certain circumstances are deemed to realize), as a result of (i) Basis Adjustments; (ii) Section 704(c) Allocations; and (iii) certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We expect the amount of the cash payments that we will be required to make under the Tax Receivable Agreement will be significant. The actual amount and timing of any payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary depending upon a number of factors, including the timing of redemptions or exchanges by the Continuing Equity Owners, the amount of gain recognized by the Continuing Equity Owners, the amount and timing of the taxable income we generate in the future, and the federal tax rates then applicable. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us.
Additionally, in the event we declare any cash dividends, we intend to cause Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to make distributions to us in amounts sufficient to fund such cash dividends declared by us to our stockholders. Deterioration in the financial condition, earnings, or cash flow of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC for any reason could limit or impair their ability to pay such distributions.
If we do not have sufficient funds to pay taxes or other liabilities or to fund our operations, we may have to borrow funds, which could materially adversely affect our liquidity and financial condition and subject us to various restrictions imposed by any such lenders. To the extent we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, such payments generally will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement and therefore accelerate payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. In addition, if Smith Douglas Holdings LLC does not have sufficient funds to make distributions, our ability to declare and pay cash dividends will also be restricted or impaired.
See “Risk factors—Risks related to our organizational structure,” and “Certain relationships and related person transactions.”
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Cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities – comparison for the six month ended June 30, 2023 and 2022
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
Six months ended June 30,
2023
2022
Net cash provided by operating activities
$35,902
$28,995
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(180)
572
Net cash used in financing activities
(53,931)
(29,982)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(18,209)
(415)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
29,601
25,340
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$11,392
$24,925
Operating activities
We generated $35.9 million and $29.0 million in net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Operating cash flows in the first six months of 2023 benefited from cash generated by net income of $59.6 million primarily offset by a $21.3 million increase in real estate inventory. Operating cash flows in the first six months of 2022 benefited from cash generated by net income of $60.7 million and $12.0 million increase in accounts payable primarily offset by a $35.6 million increase in real estate inventory and $8.6 million increase in deposits on real estate under option or contract.
Investing activities
We used approximately $0.2 million and generated approximately $0.6 million in net cash from investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The net cash (used in) provided by investing activities is derived primarily from distributions of capital from our unconsolidated entities largely offset by purchases of property and equipment.
Financing activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $53.9 million and $30.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The $23.9 million increase in cash used in financing activities was primarily attributable to an increase of $8.0 million in net payments on the Existing Credit Facility and a $11.6 million increase in distributions to members.
Cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities – comparison for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
The following table summarizes our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Net cash provided by operating activities
$132,095
$30,870
Net cash provided by investing activities
361
847
Net cash used in financing activities
(128,195)
(38,541)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
4,261
(6,824)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
25,340
32,164
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
$29,601
$25,340
Operating activities
We generated $132.1 million and $30.9 million in net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The $101.2 million increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $77.9 million increase in net income and decreases in our real estate inventory and land deposit spend.
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Investing activities
We generated approximately $0.4 million and $0.8 million in net cash provided by investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The net cash provided by investing activities is derived primarily from distributions of capital from our unconsolidated entities largely offset by purchases of property and equipment.
Financing activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $128.2 million and $38.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The $89.7 million increase in cash used by financing activities was primarily attributable to an increase of $65.1 million in net payments on our Existing Credit Facility and a $30.5 million increase in distributions to members.
Material cash commitments
We expect our future cash requirements will relate to working capital, capital expenditures, benefits expenses, interest expense and debt service obligations. In addition, we may use cash and cash equivalents to enter into strategic transactions, such as potential joint ventures or other unconsolidated entities, or acquisitions. Our material cash commitments as of June 30, 2023 are our $1.6 million office lease obligation and the interest on our Existing Credit Facility on the amounts outstanding from time to time. See “—Liquidity and capital resources— Existing Credit Facility.”
Off-balance sheet arrangements
While using land bankers and third-party developers as part of our land-light operating strategy comes at an additional cost, we believe our lot acquisition strategy reduces our operating and financial risk relative to other homebuilders that own and develop a higher percentage of their land supply. As of June 30, 2023, we had 405 owned unstarted lots in real estate inventory on our balance sheet which represented only 4.6% of our total controlled lot supply.
Under the umbrella of our land-light strategy, we generally seek to avoid engaging in land development. Where possible, we prefer to work with third-party developers that will sell us finished lots under lot-option contracts. In situations where we cannot find a developer partner, we will work with third-party land bankers. Under these land bank arrangements, we typically assign the land or lots we have under contract to the land banker. The land banker will acquire the land or lots directly, and if land development is necessary, we will simultaneously enter into a development agreement to complete the lots for the land banker. Additionally, we will enter a lot-option contract to acquire the finished lots on a takedown to match our projected sales absorption and starts pace. Typically, we are required to put up a deposit ranging between 5-20% on our lot-option contracts.
Our asset-light and capital efficient lot acquisition strategy is intended to avoid the financial commitments and risks associated with direct land ownership and land development by allowing us to control a significant number of lots for a relatively low capital cost. These option contracts generally allow us, at our option, to forfeit our right to purchase the lots controlled by these option contracts for any reason, and our sole legal obligation and economic loss as a result of such forfeitures is limited to the amount of the deposits paid pursuant to such option contracts and, in the case of land bank option contracts, any related fees paid to the land bank partner. We do not have any financial guarantees and we typically do not guarantee lot purchases on a specific performance basis under these agreements. In certain circumstances, we may have a completion obligation under development agreements with land bankers where we may be at-risk for certain cost overruns.
As of June 30, 2023, we had $34.9 million of non-refundable cash deposits under land and lot-option contracts, including option contracts with unconsolidated entities, pertaining to 5,275 lots with a remaining aggregate purchase price of approximately $348.4 million.
Surety bonds and letters of credit
From time to time, we may enter into surety bond and letter of credit arrangements with local municipalities, government agencies and developers. These arrangements relate to certain performance or maintenance-related obligations. As of June 30, 2023, we had $0.4 million in outstanding letters of credit. Surety bonds do not have
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stated expiration dates, rather, we are released from the bonds as the contractual performance is completed. These bonds, which totaled $22.3 million and $21.4 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, are typically outstanding over a period of approximately one to five years depending on the pace of development. If banks were to decline to issue letters of credit or surety companies were to decline to issue surety bonds, our ability to operate could be restricted and could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk
Market risk is the risk of economic losses due to adverse changes in financial market prices and rates. Our operations are interest rate sensitive. As overall housing demand is adversely affected by increases in interest rates, a significant increase in interest rates may negatively affect the ability of homebuyers to secure adequate financing. Higher interest rates could adversely affect our revenues, home closing gross margins and net income. We do not enter into, nor do we intend to enter into in the future, derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes to hedge against interest rate fluctuations.
Interest rate fluctuation risk
Our operations are interest rate sensitive. As overall housing demand is adversely affected by increases in interest rates, a significant increase in interest rates may negatively affect the ability of homebuyers to secure adequate financing. Higher interest rates could adversely affect our revenues, home closing gross margins and net income. We do not enter into, nor do we intend to enter into in the future, derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes to hedge against interest rate fluctuations.
Inflation and commodity risk
We and the homebuilding industry in general may be adversely affected during periods of high inflation, primarily because of higher land, financing, labor, and material construction costs. In addition, higher mortgage interest rates can significantly affect the affordability of permanent mortgage financing to prospective homebuyers. We attempt to pass through to our homebuyers any increases in our costs through increased sales prices. However, during periods of soft housing market conditions, we may not be able to offset our cost increases with higher selling prices.
Critical accounting policies and estimates
In preparing our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, we must make decisions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses, and related disclosures. Such decisions include the selection of the appropriate accounting principles to be applied and the assumptions on which to base accounting estimates. In reaching such decisions, we apply judgments based on our understanding and analysis of the relevant circumstances, historical experience, and business valuations. Actual amounts could differ from those estimated at the time the Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared.
Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1, Description of the business and summary of significant accounting policies, to our accompanying financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this registration statement. Some of those significant accounting policies require us to make difficult, subjective, or complex judgments or estimates. An accounting estimate is considered to be critical if it meets both of the following criteria: (i) the estimate requires assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate is made, and (ii) different estimates reasonably could have been used, or changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period may have a material impact on the presentation of our financial condition, changes in financial condition, or results of operations. Our critical accounting estimates include the following:
Revenue recognition
We recognize revenue when a home closes with a homebuyer and title and possession of the property are transferred to that homebuyer. Our performance obligation, to deliver the home, is generally satisfied in less than one year from the original contract date.
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When we execute sales contracts with our homebuyers, or when we require advance payment from homebuyers for custom changes, upgrades or options related to their homes, the cash deposits received are recorded as contract liabilities until the homes are closed or the contracts are canceled. We either retain or refund to the homebuyer deposits on canceled sales contracts, depending upon the applicable provisions of the contract or other circumstances. As of June 30, 2023, homebuyer deposits totaled $9.5 million. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, homebuyer deposits totaled $9.4 million and $9.9 million, respectively. Substantially all homebuyer deposits are recognized in revenue within one year of being received from homebuyers.
Real estate inventory
Real estate inventory consists primarily of the capitalized costs of finished homes, homes under construction, and residential lots. We include the costs of lot acquisitions, development, direct home construction, capitalized interest, closing costs, and direct and certain indirect overhead costs incurred during home construction in inventories.
Real estate inventory is stated at cost unless the community is determined to be impaired, at which point the inventory is written down to fair value as required by Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 360-10, Property, Plant, and Equipment. We review our real estate inventory for indicators of potential impairment on a quarterly basis at the community level considering market and economic conditions, current sales absorption rates, and recent profitability of new home orders. When an indicator of impairment is identified, we prepare and analyze cash flows at the community level on an undiscounted basis. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the community’s carrying value, we generally estimate the fair value using the estimated future discounted cash flows of respective inventories. A community with a fair value less than its carrying value is written down to such fair value and resulting losses are reported within home closing gross profit. No impairments were recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, and the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Recent accounting pronouncements
There are no recent accounting pronouncements that are applicable to us that have not been adopted in our financial statements presented elsewhere is this prospectus.
JOBS Act
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the provisions of the JOBS Act, enacted on April 5, 2012. Section 102 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. We are choosing to “opt out” of this provision and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards upon or prior to required public company adoption dates. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period under the JOBS Act is irrevocable.
We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, if as an emerging growth company we choose to rely on such exemptions, we may not be required to, among other things, (i) provide an auditor’s attestation report on our systems of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404, (ii) provide all of the compensation disclosure that may be required of non-emerging growth public companies under the Dodd-Frank Act, (iii) comply with the requirement of the PCAOB regarding the communication of critical audit matters in the auditor’s report on the financial statements, and (iv) disclose certain executive compensation-related items, such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the Chief Executive Officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. These exemptions will apply until we no longer meet the requirements of being an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (i) the last day of the fiscal year (a) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, (b) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.235 billion or (c) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700.0 million as of the last business day of our prior second fiscal quarter, and (ii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period.
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Market opportunity
Unless otherwise indicated, information in this section is derived from a market study dated August 2023 that was prepared in connection with this offering by JBREC, for which we have agreed to pay JBREC a fee of $56,600, based on the most recent data available as of June 2023. Founded in 2001, JBREC is an independent research provider and consulting firm focused on the housing industry. This section contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to qualification and uncertainty, and you should review the information under the headings “Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements” as well as “Risk factors”. The estimates, forecasts and projections in this section prepared by JBREC are based on numerous assumptions and includes data and information from multiple sources, which have not been independently verified by us. Please refer to the “Definitions, methodologies, and data sources” section for more details.
National housing market overview
Housing is the largest real estate asset class in the United States, with 131.1 million occupied housing units, according to JBREC estimates, and a total value of $41.2 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Flow of Funds report for the first quarter of 2023. Based on U.S. Census Bureau information as of March 31, 2023, JBREC estimates that the U.S. housing market included 90.5 million occupied single-family homes (detached and attached), 84.0% of which were owner-occupied and 16.0% of which were renter-occupied.


The single-family housing market is the most liquid U.S. real estate asset class, with an average of 6.04 million new and existing combined home sales per year from 2000-2022. JBREC expects annual resale home sales volume to decrease and new home sales volume to increase in 2023. Overall, JBREC forecasts total home sales volume of 4.80 million in 2023, slightly higher than the total home sales volume of 4.57 million achieved in 2011.
JBREC outlook
The U.S. housing market—including the new home sector in particular—remains resilient, as does the U.S. economy. After a slowing in housing demand due to increasing interest rates, which pose a challenge for housing
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affordability, housing demand has improved, helped by relative strength in the overall economy. Many economic gauges are stable and improving, namely employment and inflation, which gives prospective homebuyers more confidence. Risks remain in the economy, and the risk of recession remains elevated given the magnitude of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.
The success of all housing projects depends partially on factors beyond the control of the builder, such as the economy, interest rates, and government policies. On a national basis, we forecast that single-family home permits issued will decrease approximately 7% in 2023 and rise 2% in 2024 as housing demand stabilizes despite mortgage rates that are more than twice their 2020 and 2021 levels. Land buying is beginning to pick up once again as builders become more confident about housing demand. We estimate a decline of 1.9% in new home price appreciation in 2023 as builders continue to offer incentives, though to a lesser degree than in 2022. Existing home supply remains at very low levels, which means home builders are providing a greater share of total housing supply than in recent history.
Our primary assumptions and conclusions are:
mortgage rates above 5.0% will continue through at least 2025;
housing affordability will improve as incomes rise, home prices fall, and mortgage rates decline from today’s elevated levels; and
the low unemployment rate will gradually recede, with flat job growth expected in 2025.
Housing demand
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, annual job growth had remained positive since 2010, and household formation was accelerating. Job losses from the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession ceased in 2010. Since then, more than 22 million total new jobs were added through 2019 equating to 2.2 million jobs per year on average (1.6% compound annual job growth). The COVID-19 pandemic crisis had a significant impact on employment in the U.S., with 8.7 million jobs lost in 2020—many of them temporarily. These losses were recovered in 2021 and 2022, and seasonally adjusted payroll employment as of July 2023 sat at 4.0 million, or 2.6%, above the pre-pandemic February 2020 peak. JBREC projects a gains of 3.6 million jobs in 2023 and 0.3 million jobs in 2024, with flat growth in 2025.

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Over the long-term, JBREC forecasts that an estimated 1.27 million net new households should be formed per year on average between 2020 and 2030, due largely to shifting demographics in the U.S. This pace is similar to that experienced in other post-recessionary periods. A substantial portion of this net growth in households is expected to be owner households, which should strengthen demand for new for-sale housing. Demographic trends also will contribute to this future household growth. According to JBREC projections, demographic shifts will increase the 35-44-year-old cohort (a driver of household formation) by approximately 3.7 million people from 2020-2030, with this estimate influenced by immigration trends. Additionally, entry-level household formation continues to benefit from the combination of the large number of people who were born during the 1990s and are coming of adult age, and the continued unfurling of pent-up household formation from slightly older young adults born in the 1980s. While most of these newly formed households tend to rent first, most say they aspire to homeownership, which should continue to fuel the demand for entry-level owned homes The largest five-year age group in the country turns 31 to 35 years old in 2023, which is aligned with the typical ages of first-time homebuyers.
Household income
Income growth helps support home sales and fuel rising home prices. Incomes rebounded sharply in 2021 and 2022 after declining 1.0% in 2020. Annual average income growth totaled 4.1% in 2021 and 4.5% in 2022. Median household income increased 5.3% year-over-year to $74,400 as of July 2023. We forecast that the median household income should rise by an average of 3.5% annually from 2023 through 2025. The average year-over-year income change is 2.9% over the past 30 years.
Despite the increase in nominal income, inflation-adjusted income decreased 0.5% year-over-year to $57,700 as of July 2023, based on 2013 chained dollars. High inflation is causing real incomes to decline for middle-class households.

New home supply
After elevated permit activity in 2021 and 2022, the new home construction industry has seen permit levels slow as the cost of capital has risen, and demand has slowed due to weakened affordability. The number of single-family home permits issued rose to as high as 1,136,200 for the 12 months ended August 31, 2021, which is approximately 23% above the 1980-2019 average of approximately 924,000. More recently, single-family home permits issued fell to 924,000 on a seasonally adjusted annual basis through July 2023. JBREC is forecasting decreased new home permits and slower new residential construction activity in 2023, with a 7% decrease in single-family and 20% decrease in multifamily permit activity relative to 2022.
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Employment to housing permit ratio
A balanced ratio of demand and supply in a stable market relates to approximately one new housing permit issued for every 1.1 to 1.5 jobs created. After declining significantly during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis when employment growth was negative, the job growth to permits ratio had increased and remained above 1.3:1 every month from 2011 through February 2020, due to a rise in employment growth coupled with historically low homebuilding permit levels. Significant job losses in 2020 turned this ratio negative, but positive year-over-year job growth returned in early 2021, the ratio of job growth to permit activity has exceeded 2.2:1 every month through July 31, 2023. The recent relative excess of job growth to homebuilding permits has put upward pressure on new and existing home prices. JBREC forecasts, on average, job growth in 2023 will continue to outpace housing permit activity but forecasted slower job growth in 2025 will translate to a ratio below 1:1 through 2025.

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New and existing housing market sales
New home sales activity ramped up significantly from historical lows in 2011 to just under 700,000 transactions in 2019. Housing demand proved strong during the pandemic, with new home sales reaching 893,000 transactions on a non-seasonally adjusted basis in the 12 months ended May 2021, which was the highest level since July 2007. A lack of available supply and affordability challenges brought on by rising prices and mortgage rates led to new home sales declining to a seasonally adjusted total of 714,000 transactions through July 2023. JBREC estimates 800,000 transactions to represent a stable level based on historical new home sales activity. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and JBREC forecasts, new home sales will increase to approximately 700,000 sales by year end 2023, remain flat at 700,000 sales in 2024, and increase to 730,000 sales in 2025.


Home buying activity surged in 2021, with existing home sales transactions reaching nearly 6.2 million transactions through the 12 months ended August 31, 2021. A lack of available inventory and increasing mortgage rates led to a slowing in existing home selling and buying activity, with seasonally adjusted existing home sales totaling nearly 4.1 million transactions through July 31, 2023, according to the National Association of Realtors. JBREC expects the annual resale sales remain flat at 4.1 million in 2023 before rebounding to 4.3 million in 2024 and 4.7 million in 2025.


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From 2014 through 2019 a major contributing factor to the relatively low level of existing home sales was the lack of existing homes listed for sale, which had declined from a seasonally adjusted 10.3 months of supply in December 2008 to 3.1 months of supply by February 2020. Strong housing demand during the pandemic pushed supply to a record-low level of 1.6 months by January 2022. Existing home sale supply has risen to 3.3 months as of July 2023, which remains low by historical standards and has kept home prices from falling further in a rising-mortgage-rate environment.

Affordability
As of July 2023, national affordability in the existing home market remains weaker than the historical normal level. The ratio of annual housing costs for owning the median priced resale home compared to 125% of the median household income (a reasonable estimate of homeowners’ incomes) reached a 30+ year high in late 2022, due to rising mortgage interest rates coupled with elevated levels of home price appreciation. Helped by rising incomes and declines in home prices, affordability conditions started to improve nationally into early 2023, though remain weak by historical standards. Nationally, the housing-cost-to-income ratio of nearly 44% as of July 2023 was approximately 41% higher than a normal ratio of 31%. JBREC expects affordability will continue to approach the Index’s historical normal level over the next several years as incomes continue to rise, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rates approach 5.6% by 2025, and home prices slow in 2023 and decline in 2024.
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Metropolitan statistical area market overviews
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA MSA: “Atlanta”
Atlanta Economic Overview
The Atlanta MSA increased to approximately 6.22 million people in 2022, making it the eighth-largest metro area in the United States by population. Atlanta has experienced an increase in annual population growth over the past five years, with an average annual increase of 1.1%, higher than the national average of 0.4%. Atlanta’s population is expected to experience an average population growth of 0.9% from 2023 to 2025, reaching 6.39 million people in 2025.
Annual Employment Growth and Unemployment Rate — Employment growth was positive in Atlanta from 2011 through 2019 adding about 587,800 jobs during that time. Atlanta lost 144,800 jobs in 2020 due to the COVID-related shutdown of many industries. In 2021, employment growth resumed, recovering most of the jobs lost from the prior year and robust growth continued in 2022, and the unemployment rate is 3.4% as of June 2023, a dramatic improvement from 2020’s 6.9% unemployment rate. JBREC forecasts Atlanta to add 95,400 jobs in 2023 followed by slowing growth of 20,100 in 2024 and 2,000 in 2025 resulting in a net increase of 117,500 jobs from 2023 through 2025.


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Metro Economy — The Atlanta MSA has established itself as a thriving business center and a popular destination for both domestic and international companies. The economy of the Atlanta MSA has shown resilience and continues to grow. Atlantas economy is also characterized by a diverse mix of industries. Key sectors include professional and business services, finance and insurance, healthcare, education, technology, logistics, and manufacturing. The presence of leading companies, including many Fortune 500 corporations (18 of which are headquartered in Atlanta), contributes to the economic vitality of the region. The Metro Atlanta Chamber actively promotes economic development and works to attract and retain businesses in the region. The cost of living is relatively affordable compared to other major U.S. cities, making it an attractive place to live and work. Atlanta also benefits from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; it is Georgia’s biggest employer and ranked the worlds busiest airport since 1998.
Median Household Income — After decreasing from 2008 through 2011, the median household income in Atlanta increased at a strong rate, rising by an annual average of 3.6% from 2012 through 2022. Median income was $83,200 as of June 2023. JBREC forecasts continued growth in Atlanta’s median income, rising to $89,600 in 2025.

Atlanta Housing Market Overview
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey (“ACS”), the total market size of housing units in Atlanta was approximately 2.45 million homes. About 1.52 million were owner occupied homes, accounting for approximately 62.0% of the total housing stock.
Supply and Demand Dynamics — Over the last 15 years, Atlanta has increased by an average of about 27,600 households each year. As of June 2023, the total number of households increased 1.4%, or 32,800 households from June 2022 to reach about 2.35 million households in the Atlanta MSA. Continued household growth is forecasted for 2023 through 2025, resulting in a net total of 94,100 new households formed. From 2008 through 2022, on average there were 26,690 total residential permits issued each year. Total permits started showing a strong upward growth trend in 2012, after recording low permit volume from 2008 through 2011. Total permits issued in 2022 were about 48,100, with over half (approximately 55%) of those being single-family permits. JBREC forecasts fewer permits in 2024 and 2025 due to our macroeconomic view, JBREC estimates 122,100 total permits will be issued from 2023 through 2025, or about 40,700 annually.


New Home Sales Volume and Price Trends — New home sales volume fell significantly from its peak in 2005 of 55,712 sales to 6,505 sales in 2011. However, following the Great Recession, from 2012 through 2021, new home sales volume experienced strong annual growth by an average of 14.4%. In 2022, Atlanta had 22,285 new home sales. JBREC forecasts a decline in new home sales in 2023, decreasing by 6.7% to 20,800 sales. JBREC then anticipates new home sales to remain flat at 20,800 in 2024, before increasing by 9.5% to 23,000 sales in 2025. Similar to new homes sales volume, the median price of new homes in Atlanta experienced strong appreciation from 2010 through 2022 with an annual average increase in median price of 5.9%. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $461,900, about flat YOY. Due to an expected economic slowdown, JBREC forecasts that new home prices in Atlanta will remain flat in 2023 and then grow 1.5% in 2024 and 2.3% in 2025.
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Existing Home Price Appreciation and Sales Volume — According to JBREC’s proprietary home value index, home values in Atlanta declined during the previous recession, falling by approximately 17.0% from 2007 through 2010. From 2012 through 2022, home values experienced an annual average increase of 10.4%, surpassing home value levels of 2007. Home values in the Atlanta metro area are forecasted to increase 1.3% in 2023 followed by a decline of 3.0% in 2024 and a 2.0% in 2025 . The median resale price for a detached home was $383,900 as of June 2023, up 0.6% from June 2022. Since 2013, existing home sales volume has been increasing, reaching 149,963 transactions in 2021 and 122,793 transactions in 2022. JBREC forecasts somewhat lower volume of 104,800 resales in 2023 followed by 108,000 and 116,200 in 2024 and 2025, respectively.


Burns Affordability Index — The Atlanta MSA currently scores a 34.0% on the Burns Affordability Index. The index compares an area’s entry-level home affordability (based on house payments and incomes) to its historical affordability. High numbers equate to poor affordability; 22.1% is the historical median in this MSA and 22.7% is the new normal. We expect lower mortgage interest rates combined with rising household incomes to increase affordability somewhat in this market in coming years.

Birmingham, AL MSA: “Birmingham”
Birmingham economic overview
According to John Burns Research and Consulting, the Birmingham MSA’s population increased to approximately 1.18 million people in 2022, making it the 50th-largest metro area in the United States by population. Birmingham has experienced a decline in annual population growth rates over the past five years, with an average annual increase of 0.2%, lower than the national average of 0.4%. Birmingham’s population is expected to experience an average population growth of 0.3% from 2023 through 2025, reaching 1.19 million people in 2025.
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Annual employment growth and unemployment rate — Employment growth was positive in Birmingham from 2011 through 2019, with 52,900 jobs added in total. In 2020, 23,400 jobs were lost during the pandemic. However, jobs lost at the onset of the pandemic have since been recovered and additional jobs have been added. The metro area averaged 14,750 jobs added annually in 2021 and 2022. The unemployment rate declined from 9.7% in 2010 to 2.5% in 2023 but spiked in 2020 to 5.9% due to the pandemic. JBREC forecasts employment in Birmingham to add 6,200 jobs in 2023 before a slowdown of 3,900 and 400 jobs added in 2024 and 2025, respectively. JBREC expects a net increase of 10,500 jobs from 2023 through 2025.


Metro Economy — Birmingham is renowned for its healthcare industry, with several world-class medical centers, research facilities, and specialized hospitals. Three of the top ten employers in the MSA are in the healthcare industry, including St. Vincent’s Health System, Children’s Health System, and Brookwood Baptist Health. They provide over 15,000 jobs to the metro. In addition to healthcare, Birmingham has a strong manufacturing presence, specifically in the automotive industry with Honda and Mercedes-Benz, as well as a long-standing history in the energy and natural resources sector. The region has significant reserves of coal, natural gas, and other natural resources, contributing to energy production and related industries. The largest employer in the metro is the University of Alabama at Birmingham with roughly 24,000 employees. The institution drives innovation, research, and workforce development, attracting students, scholars, and funding to the area. In terms of tourism and hospitality, Birmingham attracted 3.9 million visitors in 2022, a 7% increase from the year prior. The metro is known for its historical landmarks, cultural attractions, and sports venues. The metro is also home to the headquarters of Regions Financial Corporation, the second largest employer in the area with over 6,000 workers. Birmingham’s continued investment in infrastructure, business-friendly environment, and skilled workforce contribute to its economic prosperity and make it an attractive destination.
Median household income — After decreasing from 2008 through 2011, the median household income in Birmingham increased at a high rate, rising by an annual average of 2.8% through 2022. Median income has risen to $63,700 as of June 2023. JBREC forecasts continued growth in Birmingham’s median household income, rising to $68,400 in 2025.

Birmingham housing market overview
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, the total market size of housing units in Birmingham was approximately 493,000 homes. Roughly 307,000 were owner-occupied homes, accounting for 62.3% of the total housing stock.
Supply and demand dynamics — Birmingham’s household growth gained momentum in the years following the Great Recession, surpassing 3,000 new households formed annually in 2016 and 2017, a 0.7% annual growth rate. In 2021, growth peaked at 0.9% with the formation of 4,000 new households. Household growth subsided to 0.6% in 2022 (2,900 newly formed households). From 2023 through 2025, JBREC forecasts annual average household growth of about 3,300. Total permits accelerated rapidly in 2011 (up approximately 30%) and 2012 (up approximately 42%) accompanying a large uptick in household growth and a recovering economy. Permits stayed elevated through 2016, receded in 2017 due to virtually no multifamily permits, and climbed again through 2022, averaging 3,300 per year from 2011 through 2022. JBREC forecasts an annual average of 4,000 permits from 2023 through 2025, a total of 12,000 over the three years.
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New home sales volume and price trends — From 2012 through 2021, both new home sales volume and the median price of new homes within Birmingham experienced strong growth. While changes were somewhat erratic from one year to the next, new home sales increased by an annual average of 24.2% in those years; over the same period, the median new home price appreciated by an annual average of 7.6%. Birmingham had 2,037 new home sales in the 12 months ending June 2023. At that point, the median new home price was $294,300, down 25.5% year over year. New home prices in Birmingham are anticipated to appreciate 1.1% in 2023, 1.7% in 2024, and 2.0% in 2025. JBREC does not forecast new-home sales for Birmingham.


Existing home price appreciation and sales volume — According to JBREC’s proprietary home value index, home values experienced an annual average increase of 6.4% from 2012 through 2022. As of July 2023, Birmingham home values increased 1.2% from July 2022. Home values in the Birmingham metro area are forecasted to increase by 3.0% in 2023 and drop by 0.1% in 2024. However, values are forecasted to increase in 2025 by 2.8%, according to the Burns Home Value Index. The median resale price for a detached home was $238,000 as of June 2023, down 6.2% from June 2022. Over the past 15 years, resale price appreciation has averaged 2.8% annually. Since 2013, existing home sales volume has been steadily increasing, reaching a volume of 27,203 transactions in 2021 and 24,930 transactions in 2022. JBREC forecasts resale volume to average 2.7% annual decreases in 2023 through 2025.


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Burns Affordability Index — The Birmingham MSA currently scores 24.3% on the Burns Affordability Index. We expect home prices to slightly decrease in the coming years and therefore affordability to increase. The index compares an area’s entry-level home affordability (based on house payments and incomes) to its historical affordability. High numbers equate to poor affordability. The current ratio is 24.3% vs. historical norm of 18.0% and the “new normal” of 17.0%. Birmingham is forecasted to remain above its historical norm in 2025.

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA: “Charlotte”
Charlotte economic overview
The Charlotte MSA grew to a population of approximately 2.7 million people in 2022, up 1.8%, positioning it as the 23rd-largest metro area in the United States by population. As a result of business-friendly policies, lower taxes, and overall lower living and business costs, many Americans relocated to Charlotte during the pandemic-fueled great American move. Charlotte has experienced an increase in annual population growth over the past five years by an average of 1.7%, or over four times higher than the national average of 0.4%. The population of Charlotte MSA is forecasted to grow by an annual average of 46,600 people from 2023 through 2025, reaching over 2.8 million people by 2024.
Annual Employment Growth and Unemployment Rate — Employment growth in Charlotte MSA was positive from 2011 through 2019, adding about 267,200 jobs during that time. In 2020, the Charlotte MSA suffered a loss of 37,500 jobs due to COVID impacts. The region recovered those losses in 2021 and added another 56,300 jobs in 2022, up 4.5% year-over-year. The unemployment rate was at an all-time low of 3.4% in 2022 and currently sits at 3.4% as of June 2023. JBREC forecasts the Charlotte MSA to add 43,400 jobs in 2023 and 9,300 jobs in 2024, JBREC projects roughly flat employment in 2025.


Metro economy — Charlotte has nine companies on the 2023 Fortune 500 list, one more than last year and more than similar cities like Raleigh and Austin. The top five companies on the list (in ranking order) include Bank of America, Lowe’s, Nucor, Honeywell, and Duke Energy. The Charlotte market’s finance and banking sector has served as a significant economic pillar since the early 1800s. Between 2016 and 2021 the sector grew approximately 32%, creating 91,000 jobs. Of all states with a corporate income tax, North Carolina has the lowest at 2.5%, helping to make Charlotte an appealing location for many companies. According to the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, other important characteristics of Charlotte are the area’s talent base, connectivity with the seventh business airport in the world, and the relatively low cost of living.
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Median household income — The median household income in Charlotte MSA has grown steadily since 2011 at an average rate of 3.4% annually. Median income currently sits at $75,000, up 5.5% year-over-year. JBREC estimates the median income in Charlotte will increase by 5.8% in 2023 and increase again in subsequent years, rising to $81,100 in 2025.

Charlotte housing market overview
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey (ACS), the total market size of housing units in the Charlotte MSA was approximately 1.14 million homes and approximately 61% of the housing stock is owner-occupied homes. About 41% of the total housing stock are homes built in 2000 or later and approximately 18% were built in 2010 or later. Across the MSA, about 61% are owner-occupied single-family homes, about 31% are renter-occupied and the remaining 8% of homes are vacant. Of owners, approximately 69% have a mortgage.
Supply and demand dynamics —Household growth picked up in 2013 following the previous recession and the MSA added 197,600 households from 2013 through 2022, or an average rate of 22,000 annually. As of June 2023, the total number of households increased by 2.2% or 23,500 year-over-year. Continued household growth at slightly slowing rates is forecasted for 2024 through 2025, resulting in about 41,900 new households. Total number of permits issued dropped to 6,102 permits in 2010 during the previous recession. The number of new permits issued from 2018 through 2022 has been strong, peaking during that time at just over 30,000 permits in 2021. The number of permits issued in 2022 decreased slightly to 27,157, of which approximately 70% were for single-family homes. JBREC forecasts permit levels to grow from 2023 through 2024 before a slight dip in 2025.


New home sales volume and price trends — New home sales reached a record low of 5,684 in 2011 after the Global Financial Crisis. The MSA experienced strong growth from 2012 through 2017 and sales doubled to 10,103 in 2017. New home sales peaked in 2021 reaching 14,888 sales. Although sales numbers have softened due to the rise in rates, the Charlotte MSA had 13,720 new home sales, flat year-over-year as of June 2023. The volume of new home sales is anticipated to remain flat through 2024 and rise slightly in 2025, averaging 14,000 sales annually. The median new home price had a dramatic increase in 2022 reaching $442,300, up 21.1% year-over-year. In June 2023, the new home median price was $409,600. Like sales, new home prices have softened but remain elevated. New home prices in Charlotte are forecast to be flat in 2023 before turning positive in 2024.
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Existing home price appreciation and sales volume — Existing home values in Charlotte experienced an annual average increase of 7.8% from 2012 through 2020 and then reached the market’s highest single-year gain in 2021 at 23.8%. Values are roughly flat year-over-year. The current median existing home price is $392,500, 3.0% higher than in June 2023. Existing home sales in the Charlotte MSA have trended down faster than new home sales, beginning in 2022. There were 42,018 resales over the last 12 months, down 31.4% year-over-year. We project resales to decline through 2023 (down 24.1%) before increasing in 2024 (up 3.4%) and 2025 (up 6.6%).


Burns Affordability Index — The metro has experienced the effects of population growth alongside rising home prices. Though home prices cooled modestly following the pandemic boom, affordability remains a challenge. We forecast new home prices to increase through 2025 and existing home values to drop in 2024 before rising in 2025. The Charlotte MSA currently scores a 38.6% on the Burns Affordability Index. For comparison, 22.5% is the historical median in this MSA. The index compares an area’s entry-level home affordability (based on house payments and incomes) to its historical affordability. High numbers equate to poor affordability.

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Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX MSA: “Houston”
Houston economic overview
According to John Burns Research and Consulting, the Houston MSA expanded to a total population of about 7.3 million people in 2022, making it the fifth largest metro area in the United States by population just behind the Dallas MSA with 7.9 million. Houston has experienced an increase in annual population growth over the past five years by an average of 1.3%, or about three times higher than the national average of 0.4 %. JBREC forecasts Houston to grow by 1.3% annually from 2023 through 2025, adding 296,700 people over those three years.
Annual employment growth and unemployment rate — Employment growth was mostly positive in Houston from 2011 through 2019, adding about 525,000 jobs during that time. (The exception was a flat 2016 due to an oil-price bust.) Houston lost 159,000 jobs in 2020 due to the COVID-related shutdown of many industries. In 2021, employment growth resumed, and the unemployment rate was 4.5% as of June 2023, a dramatic improvement from 2020’s 8.7% unemployment rate. JBREC forecasts Houston to add 97,000 jobs in 2023. However, a predicted slowdown or recession in the economy is anticipated to turn job growth negative in 2024, with no growth in 2025. From 2023 through 2025, Houston is expected to generate 89,600 jobs.


Metro economy — Houston is known for its diverse and robust economy, driven by several key sectors. Houston has long been recognized as the “Energy Capital of the World.” The city is home to numerous multinational energy corporations, including oil and gas companies, refineries, and pipeline operators. The energy sector significantly contributes to Houston’s economy through exploration, production, refining, and distribution activities, though the economy has diversified in recent years. Houston boasts a thriving healthcare industry. The Texas Medical Center, located in the city, is one of the largest medical complexes globally and hosts numerous hospitals, research institutions, and universities. With cutting-edge medical facilities and a focus on medical research, Houston’s healthcare sector plays a vital role in the city’s economy. Houston has a strong manufacturing base, particularly in the petrochemical industry. The city’s strategic location near major shipping ports and access to raw materials has facilitated the growth of manufacturing and petrochemical companies. Houston serves as a hub for chemical production, plastics, and other related industries as well as a significant presence in aerospace.
Median household income — The median household income growth in Houston has been positive every year since 2011, rising by an annual average of 2.7% from 2011 through 2022. Median income rose to $77,400 as of July 2023, up approximately 6% year-over-year. JBREC forecasts the median income in Houston will rise to $83,900 by 2025, an 8.4% increase from the current median.

Houston housing market overview
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey (ACS), the total market size of housing units in Houston was approximately 2.8 million homes. The MSA is the fourth-ranked market for total housing stock per JBREC. Above half (approximately 56.6%) are owner-occupied homes.
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Supply and demand dynamics — Annual household growth in Houston has averaged approximately 45,000 households per year from 2008 through 2022. During this time, 2021 was the peak year for household growth as Houstan added 70,600 households. Annual household growth of 2.3% in 2022 resulted in the formation of 60,600 new households. The annual household growth rate is expected to be 2.2% in 2023, and household growth will remain steady in 2024 and 2025 with 2.1% and 2.0% growth, respectively. Total permits experienced strong upward growth from 2012 through 2014 before dipping from 2015 through 2017. Permit growth resumed in 2018. The 76,000 permits issued in 2022 exceeded the 2006 peak of nearly 72,000, in part due to high multifamily permits accounting for 37% of the total. JBREC forecasts a decline in the number of permits issued annually through 2025 compared to current levels based on forecasted national trends. An estimated 203,400 total permits will be issued from 2023 through 2025, or about 68,000 annually.


New home sales volume and price trends — New home sales troughed in 2011 after consecutive declines each year from 2006’s peak of 52,538 sales. From 2019 through 2021, new home sales volume experienced strong annual growth by an average of 11.8% before declining 4.4% in 2022 as interest rates rose. Houston had 36,488 new home sales in the 12 months ending June 2023, down 14.4% year-over-year. New home sales are anticipated to decrease 3.7% in 2023 and remain relatively flat in 2024 before eventually reaching 41,500 new home sales in 2025. The median price of new homes in Houston remained steady from 2017 through 2020, averaging $266,850 before prices reached $287,300 in 2021 and peaked in 2022 at $322,300. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $313,000, down 1.8% year-over-year. New home prices are anticipated to decrease nominally through 2023 before returning to growth of 1.5% in 2024, and then increase 3.3% in 2025.


Existing home price appreciation and sales volume — According to JBREC’s proprietary home value index, home values in Houston experienced an annual average increase of 5.3% from 2008 through 2020 before experiencing the highest appreciation in 2021 at 17.6% year-over-year. A year later, the median existing home price hit an all-time annual-average high in 2022 at $335,000, 11.7% higher than 2021. As of June 2023, the median existing home price is $342,200, 2.5% lower than in June 2022. Similar to new home sales, resales in the Houston MSA have been trending down since 2022, albeit more sharply. There were 87,837 resales over the last 12 months, down 21.6% year-over-year. We project resales to decrease 12.5% in 2023 before modestly increasing by 1.0% in 2024 and 4.1% in 2025.
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Burns Affordability Index —The Houston MSA currently scores a 39.4% on the Burns Affordability Index. Over the next few years, we expect home prices to increase less than median income, helping affordability. The index compares an area’s entry-level home affordability (based on house payments and incomes) to its historical affordability. High numbers equate to poor affordability; 23.7% is the historical median in this MSA.

Huntsville, AL MSA: “Huntsville”
Huntsville economic overview
According to John Burns Research and Consulting, the Huntsville MSA’s 2022 population was 514,000. Huntsville gained more people than any other MSA in Alabama between 2010 and 2020. Huntsville’s growth rate has averaged 2.0% per year from 2017 through 2022, peaking at 2.3% in 2020 and sitting at 2.0% since. The national average over the same period (five years, using 2015 as the base year), was 0.4%. JBREC forecasts growth of 2.0% in 2023, declining to 1.7% by 2025, resulting in an average annual increase over those three years of 1.8% or about 9,600 total people.
Annual employment growth and unemployment rate — Employment growth in Huntsville was positive from 2011 through 2019. It went negative in 2020 due to COVID but rebounded strongly with 4.7% growth in 2021 and a 4.2% gain in 2022. The unemployment rate declined to 2.2% in June 2023, near the lowest rate in decades. JBREC forecasts employment in Huntsville to continue growing in 2023, ending the year with a 3.3% increase. JBREC forecasts a decline of 0.9% in 2024, 2,500 jobs, and a nominal increase in 2025.


Metro economy — Huntsville has a well-known history of developing U.S. space technology in the 1950s. Rockets developed in Huntsville put the first U.S. satellite into orbit and sent men to the moon. Almost 75 years later, Huntsville still has a strong hold in space technology. Dubbed “Rocket City” due to the U.S. Space and Rocket
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center, Huntsville has a thriving and diverse economy rooted in aerospace, one of the world’s leading space and technology business parks, and a vibrant mixture of Fortune 500 companies. The Cummings Research Park is the second largest research park in the U.S. A broad manufacturing base includes factories such as the GE Aviation jet engine plant, Toyota Motor Manufacturing facility, and the Polaris factory. A few years ago, the FBI announced it is moving 3,500 to 5,000 jobs to Huntsville by 2026. The high quality of life continues to attract people to Huntsville, and it ranks as one of the best places for retired military personnel to launch second careers because of the large number of medium-sized defense and high-tech companies.
Median household income — The median household income in Huntsville has increased each year beginning in 2012, rising by an annual average of 3.7%. Median household income had risen to $81,100 as of July 2023. JBREC estimates the median income in Huntsville will be $87,200 in 2025, which would be a 3.3% average annual increase from 2022.

Huntsville housing market overview
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, the total market size of housing units in Huntsville was approximately 217,500 homes. About 146,200 were owner occupied, accounting for 67.2% of the total housing stock.
Supply and demand dynamics — As of June 2023, Huntsville consists of approximately 210,200 households. Huntsville has averaged around 3,650 new households added annually beginning in 2015, an average annual growth rate of 1.9%. The household growth rate for the 12 months ended June 2023 was 2.0%. JBREC forecasts that approximately 3,300-3,800 new households will be added to the Huntsville metro each year from 2023 through 2025 for an average growth rate of 1.6% over those three years. Total building permits were flat from 2016 through 2018 at just under 3,000 per year. Permit counts then grew 21-22% each of the next two years and spiked 42% in 2021, peaking at nearly 6,200. Permit volume averaged about 4,850 each year from 2020 through 2022. JBREC forecasts 4,900 permits in 2023, a slip to 4,050 in 2024, and a slight rebound to 4,350 in 2025. Approximately 13,300 total permits are anticipated to be issued from 2023 through 2025.



New home sales volume and price trends — Huntsville’s nine-year streak of increasing new-home sales volume ended in 2022, dropping by 3.0%. Before that, the MSA’s annual sales volume had risen from 1,361 in 2013 to 3,817 in 2021. Trailing 12-month sales volume in June 2023 (3,462) was down 11.1% year-over-year. JBREC forecasts a 2.4% increase in sales in 2023, a 2.6% decrease in 2024, and then a 2.7% increase in 2025. Median new home prices climbed more slowly than volume in the post-recession recovery, averaging only 2.4% annual gains from the 2012 trough through 2020, but they accelerated with double-digit jumps in 2021 and 2022, averaging 14.6% per year. All told, the median price went from $225,600 in 2012 to $356,800 in 2022. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $346,000, down 1.3% from April 2022. New home prices in Huntsville are anticipated to increase nominally (0.8%) over the whole of 2023, rising to 1.1% growth in 2024, and 2.7% in 2025.
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Existing home price trends and sales volume — According to JBREC’s proprietary home value index, home values in Huntsville experienced an average annual increase of 8.1% from year-end 2013 through 2022. According to the Burns Home Value Index. Huntsville home values in June 2023 were 0.8% below their June 2022 level. JBREC forecasts 4.0% growth in 2023, followed by a 2.0% drop in 2024, and a 3.0% gain in existing home values in 2025. The median resale price for a detached home was $280,800 as of June 2023, down nominally from June 2022. Sales of existing homes increased every year beginning in 2015 through 2021. Then 2022’s volume fell 12.7% in 2023. JBREC projects resale volume to decline 12.6% in 2023 before rebounding 4.4% in 2024, reaching the same approximate level as sold in 2018; 2025 should see volume grow 8.9%.


Burns Affordability Index — According to JBREC’s proprietary affordability index, BAI, Huntsville’s housing prices relative to incomes are near their historical high. The current ratio is 23.2% vs. historical norm of 18.0% and the “new normal” of 16.0%. Huntsville is forecasted to remain well above its historical norm through 2025 .


Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN MSA: “Nashville”
Nashville economic overview
According to John Burns Research and Consulting, the population of the Nashville MSA reached nearly 2.1 million people in 2022, making it the 35th-largest metro area in the United States by population. Nashville has grown by
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an average of 32,300 people each year since 2005. The average growth rate over the last five years has been 1.5%, which is well above national average of 0.4% annually for the same period. JBREC forecasts continued annual population growth by an annual average of 1.3% from 2023 through 2025, increasing the population of Nashville by about 81,000 people.
Annual employment growth and unemployment rate — Employment growth in Nashville was strong from 2011 through 2022 with the exception of 2020 (during the onset of COVID). During that time, a total of 359,700 new jobs were added within the Nashville MSA, an average of 29,975 jobs annually. In the trailing 12 months through June 2023, the Nashville MSA gained 47,300 jobs, lower than the 69,900 jobs gained in 2022. The unemployment rate reached record annual-average low of 2.6% in 2019 and is currently at 3.0% in June 2023. JBREC forecasts employment in Nashville to increase by 38,500 jobs in 2023, 8,900 in 2024, and 900 in 2025. JBREC forecasts an average gain of 16,100 jobs annually from 2023 through 2025, resulting in a forecasted net increase of 48,300 jobs from 2023 through 2025.


Metro economy — The Nashville economy is the largest in Tennessee and is quite diverse. Dubbed “Music City,” Nashville is known as a hub within the music industry, employing 41,000 people according to the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. This also drives tourism and hospitality, which employs 74,000 direct employees. Despite being known for its entertainment and tourism industries, the healthcare industry is the largest economic driver of the Nashville economy, driving 168,000 direct jobs and another 195,000 indirect jobs. Nashville is home to five Fortune 500 companies, including HCA Healthcare, Dollar General, Tractor Supply Co. Community Health Systems, and Delek US Holdings. Nashville has 13 accredited 4-year & postgrad institutions with over 120,000 students in attendance, providing a diverse talent pool for companies. Nashville’s corporate tax rate is a flat 6.5%, assessed on net income, with franchise tax of 0.25% generally applicable to businesses. Tennessee’s 0% personal income tax is very appealing to employees as well as companies looking to attract talent.
Median household income — The median household income in Nashville rose from $51,600 in 2008 to a current level of $75,200. Nashville’s median household income annual growth rate has fluctuated over the past 15 years from -1.8% during the Great Recession to 6.1% with an average of 2.5%. JBREC estimates the median income in Nashville will increase by 4.9% in 2023. JBREC forecasts continued growth in median income from 2023 through 2025, rising to $81,300.


Nashville housing market overview
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, the total market size of housing units in Nashville was approximately 859,000 homes. About 531,000 were owner-occupied, accounting for 61.8% of the total housing stock.
Supply and demand dynamics — Annual household growth in Nashville was suppressed in the aftermath of the Great Recession and ranged between 0.4% and 0.9% from 2010 through 2012. The annual household growth rate steadily increased from 2013 through 2016 when it reached 2.4%, which is more indicative of Nashville’s typical growth rate. As of June 2023, the number of households increased 2.6% from June 2022 to reach about 853,900 total households in Nashville. From 2023 through 2025, an estimated 56,900 new households will be added to the MSA. Total permits issued within Nashville have increased considerably from levels achieved following the Great
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Recession when annual permit levels fell to just over 5,000. After 2009, the number of total permits issued each year increased by an annual average of about 15.0% to reach a peak of 32,322 in 2021. The number of total permits issued declined to 28,426 permits issued in 2022, which, since 2008, is higher than all other years except for 2021. JBREC forecasts total permits to remain below peak levels through 2025 with an average of 25,700 permits issued each year from 2023 through 2025. Note that most of the decline in total permits is due to a decrease in multifamily permits.


New home sales volume and price trends — New home sales in Nashville fell significantly from 6,747 sales in 2008 to 3,645 sales in 2011. From 2011 through 2021, both new home sales volume and the median price of new homes within Nashville experienced strong growth. New home sales increased by an annual average of 13.3%, and the median new home price appreciated by an annual average of 5.7% from 2011 through 2021. In 2022, Nashville experienced a 6.9% decline in new home sales but a 20.1% increase in new home prices. Nashville had 10,536 new home sales in the 12 months ended June 2023. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $508,200, up 2.2% from the median price as of June 2022. New home prices in Nashville are anticipated to stay flat through 2023 and then increase 1.3% in 2024 and 3.0% in 2025. The volume of new home sales within Nashville is anticipated to stay at similar levels as recent years with 11,300 in 2023, 11,300 in 2024 and 12,300 in 2025.


Existing home price appreciation and sales volume — According to JBREC’s proprietary home value index, home values in Nashville experienced slight declines from 2008 through 2011. From 2011 through 2022, home values increased annually by an average of 9.8%. As of July 2023, Nashville home values are currently down 1.2% from July 2022 ago and are forecasted to increase to 2.2% throughout 2023, decrease 1.4% in 2024 before rising in 2025 by 3.3%, according to the Burns Home Value Index. The current median resale price for a detached home is $456,000, down 0.5% from a year ago, following steady increases since 2011. Existing home sales volume averaged about 40,000 transactions from 2016 through 2020, then spiked to 45,944 in 2021 before falling 15.3% in 2022 to 38,935 transactions in 2022. JBREC forecasts 2023 resales to be down 11.6% by the end of 2023 then increase 5.5% in 2024, and 8.5% in 2025.
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Burns Affordability Index According to JBREC’s proprietary affordability index, BAI, Nashville is near its all-time high for unaffordability, at 43.9% compared to the market’s historical median of 22.1%. The index is based on the relationship between the median household income and the annual housing costs (mortgage plus one-seventh of the down payment) for the median-priced home. The historical median is 22.1%, but given changes in the market in recent years, the new historical norm is 29.2%.

Raleigh-Durham, NC-SC MSA: “Raleigh-Durham” (JBREC custom market)
Raleigh-Durham economic overview
According to John Burns Research and Consulting, the Raleigh-Durham MSA grew to approximately 2.1 million people in 2022, making it the 32nd largest metro area in the United States by population. Raleigh-Durham has grown by an average of roughly 40,000 people each year since 2005. The average growth rate over the last five years has been 1.9%, which is nearly five times the national average of 0.4% annually for the same period. The Raleigh-Durham population is forecasted to grow by 118,300 people from 2022 to 2025.
Annual employment growth and unemployment rate — Employment growth in Raleigh-Durham was positive from 2010 through 2022, except for 2020 (COVID). During that time, a total of 267,800 new jobs were added within Raleigh-Durham. In the trailing 12 months, Raleigh-Durham has added 31,600. The unemployment rate declined from 8.4% in 2010 to 3.1% in 2022, the lowest unemployment rate in the past 22 years. JBREC forecasts employment in Raleigh-Durham to increase by 35,700 jobs in 2023, 7,900 in 2024, and 800 in 2025 .


Metro economy — The Raleigh-Durham metro area is home to a highly educated population, with over 40% holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, well above both the North Carolina and national levels. This educated population facilitates strong employment in the “Research Triangle,” one of the country’s largest business parks with an estimated 300 companies and 60,000 people in fields such as electronics, telecommunications, biotechnology, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and environmental sciences.
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Median Household Income — The median household income in Raleigh-Durham rose from $51,400 in 2005 to $88,200 currently. Median household income declined slightly in 2010 but has otherwise experienced a strong growth rate, increasing by an average of 3.0% from 2004 through 2023 and 4.4% over the past five years. JBREC estimates the median income in Raleigh-Durham will increase by 5.6% in 2023. JBREC forecasts continued growth in the median income, rising to $95,300 in 2025.

Raleigh-Durham housing market overview
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey, the total market size of housing units in Raleigh-Durham was approximately 842,000 homes. About 510,000 were owner-occupied homes, accounting for 60.6% of the total housing stock.
Supply and demand dynamics — Annual household growth experienced a steady decline from 2006 through 2010 but accelerated thereafter to reach a new historic high in 2021 with an annual growth of 21,600 new households. As of June 2023, the number of households increased 2.1% from June 2022 to reach about 845,100 total households in the Raleigh-Durham MSA. The household growth rate is expected to decline from the current rate of 2.3% as of June 2023 to 2.0% in 2025, resulting in a total increase of 54,700 homes from 2022 through 2025. Total permits experienced a severe decline, influenced by the Great Recession, falling to about 7,100 permits issued annually. The number of permits issued annually through 2025 is expected to remain similar to 2022 levels and well above the average annual number of permits issued over the past 10 years. JBREC forecasts approximately 81,400 permits to be issued from 2023 through 2025.


New home sales volume and price trends — New home sales fell significantly from 10,219 in 2008 to 5,534 sales in 2011. From 2012 through 2022, new home sales volume experienced strong annual growth by an average of 8.0%. New homes within Raleigh-Durham experienced strong appreciation from 2012 to 2022 with an annual average increase in median price of 6.9%. This includes a very strong median price increase of 22.5% in 2022. Raleigh-Durham had 14,091 new home sales in the 12 months ended June 2023. As of June 2023, the median new home price was $463,700, down 1.8% from the median price as of June 2022. New home prices in Raleigh-Durham are anticipated to decrease 0.7% in 2023 and then increase by 2.0% in 2024 and 3.8% in 2025. The volume of new home sales within Raleigh-Durham is anticipated to increase by 6.6% in 2023, decrease by 0.7% in 2024 and increase by 3.5% in 2025.
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Existing home price appreciation and sales volume — According to JBREC’s proprietary home value index, home values in Raleigh-Durham experienced a decline of 8.0% from 2008 through 2011, exhibiting significant resilience during the housing crash and previous recession than other markets. Since then, home values have increased annually by an average of 7.7% through 2022. Raleigh-Durham home values are currently down 0.7% in the trailing 12 months and are forecasted to increase 0.2% in 2023, decrease 0.9% in 2024 and increase 2.5% in 2025, according to the Burns Home Value Index. The median resale price for a detached home was $466,200 as of June 2023, following recurring price appreciation since 2010. Existing home sales volume have been strong in recent years, with some years volumes exceeding the prior 2006 peak of 33,462 existing home sales. In 2021, existing home sales volume reached 39,180 transactions. Resale transactions dropped in 2022 to 31,031. JBREC forecasts a 14.0% drop in resale volume in 2023, but then rebound with 5.6% and 9.9% increases in 2024 and 2025, respectively.


Burns Affordability Index According to JBREC’s proprietary affordability index, BAI, Raleigh-Durham is currently near an all-time high for unaffordability of 34.6%. compared to the market’s historical average of 23.5%. The index is based on the relationship between the median household income and the annual housing costs (mortgage plus one-seventh of the down payment) for the median-priced home. The historical median is 23.4%, but given changes in the market in recent years, the new historical norm is 23.9%.

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1)
Raleigh-Durham is a custom market area by John Burns that includes the Franklin, Johnston, Wake, Chatham, Durham, Orange, and Person counties.
About this market opportunity
This “Market Opportunity” section was prepared in the second quarter of 2023 in connection with this offering by John Burns Research and Consulting, LLC. Founded in 2001, JBREC is an independent research provider and consulting firm focused on the housing industry. This “Market opportunity” section contains forward-looking statements which are subject to uncertainty.
The estimates, forecasts and projections prepared by JBREC are based upon numerous assumptions and may not prove to be accurate. This “Market opportunity” section contains estimates, forecasts and projections that were prepared by JBREC, a real estate research and consulting firm. The estimates, forecasts and projections relate to, among other things, home value indices, payroll employment growth, median household income, housing permits and household formation. No assurance can be given that these estimates are, or that the forecasts and projections will prove to be, accurate. These estimates, forecasts and projections are based on data (including third-party data), significant assumptions, proprietary methodologies and the experience and judgment of JBREC. No assurance can be given regarding the accuracy or appropriateness of the assumptions and judgments made, or the methodologies used, by JBREC. The application of alternative assumptions, judgments or methodologies could result in materially less favorable estimates, forecasts, and projections than those contained in this “Market Opportunity” section. Other real estate experts have different views regarding these forecasts and projections that may be more positive or negative, including in terms of the timing, magnitude, and direction of future changes.
The forecasts and projections are forward-looking statements and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from the projections. See “Risk factors — The estimates, forecasts and projections relating to our markets prepared by JBREC are based upon numerous assumptions and have not been independently verified by us.” JBREC has made these forecasts and projections based on studying the historical and current performance of the residential housing market and applying JBREC’s qualitative knowledge about the residential housing market. The future is difficult to predict, particularly given that the economy and housing markets can be cyclical, subject to changing consumer and market psychology, geo-political events and governmental policies related to mortgage regulations and interest rates. There will usually be differences between projected and actual outcomes because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected and the differences may be material. Accordingly, the forecasts and projections included in this “Market opportunity” section might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time. For the foregoing reasons, JBREC cannot provide any assurance that the estimates, forecasts, and projection, including third-party data, contained in this “Market opportunity” section are accurate, actual outcomes may vary significantly from those contained or implied by the forecasts and projections, and you should not place undue reliance on these estimates, forecasts, and projections.
Definitions, methodologies, and data sources
Employment growth and unemployment rate
Historical employment data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ wage and salary employment totals for the respective metro area. JBREC creates forecasts using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ data.
Household and population growth
Population and household data, provided by the U.S. Census Bureau and Moody’s Analytics, can be revised historically, sometimes heavily.
Total households are based on a calculation using estimates provided by the US Census Bureau. A household includes all the persons who occupy a housing unit. The occupants may be a single family, one person living alone, two or more families living together, or any other group of related or unrelated persons who share living arrangements. Household growth is a year-over-year change of household growth and is presented as an annual number and percentage of growth.
Population is based on a calculation using estimates provided by the US Census Bureau. Population growth is a year-over-year change of total population growth and is presented as an annual number and percentage of growth.
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Median household income
Median household income is a 12-month rolling average of monthly data reported by Moody’s Analytics, which is smoothed by JBREC to eliminate irrelevant monthly swings in Moody’s data.
Annual permit activity
Permit counts are from the U.S. Census Bureau. Single-family permits denote permits issued for single-unit residential buildings, while multifamily permits denote permits issued for residential buildings with 2+ units. Both can be for-sale or for-rent housing and are privately constructed. Current permits are measured for the 12 months ending in the current period using the calculation described below. Condominium conversions are not included in these figures.
Current year and prior year-to-date calculations. There are approximately 19,900 permit offices called “places” throughout the country where builders go to get their permits. These places can be incorporated cities, Census Designated Places (the “CDPs”) or unincorporated areas of a county. Some of these places do not report to the Census Bureau throughout the year and report only at year end. We have factored this understatement into our permit calculations. We use the formula below to calculate permits for the last 12 months:

The Census Bureau releases two datasets for permits every month. One set contains monthly figures and the other are cumulative year-to-date figures for each of the “places” within the United States. The monthly figures are never restated, but the cumulative year-to-date figures include any revisions made in the previous months. We use the cumulative year-to-date figure for each place since it is more accurate than the sum of the monthly figures. Both datasets are typically released four weeks after the end of each month.
The Census Bureau also releases annual figures incorporating all revisions. This dataset is typically released in May of the following year. These are the figures we use for permit history when available.
New home sale closings
New home sale closings are calculated based on JBREC analysis of public records. Sales include actual closings including attached and detached units unless otherwise noted. New home sales are a lagging indicator in comparison to permits.
Median new home price
New median home prices include attached and detached units calculated by JBREC analysis of public records. Historical numbers are annual averages and represent closing prices that include upgrades; these are heavily impacted by the mix of new homes sold that year.
JBREC new home price appreciation forecast
Our new home price appreciation forecast is a “net of incentives” price forecast based on the Burns Home Value Index™ along with other factors and an evaluation of supply and demand of new homes. Historical new home prices are closing prices that include upgrades, etc.
As a side note, our forecasted price appreciation for new home projects depends heavily on local submarket conditions.
Existing homes sales volume
Resale/Existing home sales volumes are calculated by JBREC analysis of public records. Sales are actual closings and include attached and detached units unless otherwise noted.
Median resale home price
Median resale home prices are calculated by JBREC analysis of public records. Resale prices are for detached single-family residences unless otherwise noted.
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Burns Home Value Index (“BHVI”)
Developed by JBREC, the BHVI provides our view of home value trends for the entire market. The index is our best estimate of accurate modeling for historical and current home value trends for single-family homes in 150 markets. It allows us to forecast price appreciation without having to worry about shifts in the mix of homes selling as well as other issues. December-to-December home value appreciation is a point-to-point calculation. The BHVI is also very timely and leads many other price indices by several months.
Burns Affordability Index (“BAI”)
The Burns Affordability Index (BAI) is a proprietary metric that measures home price affordability.
We calculate the median housing cost to income ratio by dividing the market's median monthly housing costs by 125.0% of the median income.
Housing cost assumes the purchase of a home at the market's median-priced existing home with a 10.0% down payment and a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage. Payment includes PITI (“principal, interest, taxes, and insurance”) plus mortgage insurance.
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Business
Our company
We are one of the nation’s fastest growing private homebuilders by number of closings and are engaged in the design, construction, and sale of single-family homes in some of the highest growth and most desirable markets in the Southeastern United States. We employ an efficient land-light, production focused, and conservatively leveraged business model, which we believe results in a compelling combination of strong home closing gross margins, construction cycle times, and returns. Our communities are primarily targeted to entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers. We offer our homebuyers an attractive value proposition by providing a personalized home buying experience at affordable price points. With the goal of becoming one of the most dominant homebuilders in the Southeastern and Southern United States, we intend to grow operations within our existing footprint and to expand into new markets where we can most effectively implement our business strategy and maximize our profit and returns.
Pursuant to our land-light business model, we typically purchase finished lots through lot-option contracts from third-party land developers or land bankers. Our lot acquisition strategy reduces our up-front capital requirements and generally provides for “just-in-time” lot delivery, which closely aligns with our pace of home orders and home starts. We believe our lot acquisition strategy reduces our operating and financial risk relative to other homebuilders that own a higher percentage of their land supply on balance sheet. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, 95% and 96% of our unstarted controlled lots were controlled through finished lot option contracts. Our strategy and focus on capital efficiency has delivered strong risk-adjusted returns, as evidenced by our adjusted return on equity and adjusted return on inventory of 71% and 62%, respectively for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and of 81% and 75%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.
We are a disciplined, process driven, and schedule-oriented company. We utilize a single database ERP system called SMART Builder (that we nonexclusively license from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund) that is fully integrated with our homebuilding operations. Through SMART Builder, we manage all aspects of our construction process and work-flow scheduling in real-time, enhancing our operating efficiency and helping us generate higher returns for our stockholders. Additionally, we approach our homebuilding operations through a partnership-oriented and relationship-based process called Rteam. The key tenet of Rteam is to enhance the collaboration, visibility, and mutual accountability between us and our key business partners, including the developers, suppliers, and trade partners within our production model. The Rteam process is the foundation of our operational success and the key driver of our current strong construction cycle times of approximately 60 business days and high inventory turnover rate of 3.8x for the year ended December 31, 2022. The combination of our production efficiency and real-time construction management capabilities allows us to generate strong home closing gross margins, which were 29% for both the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022.
We pride ourselves on offering our homebuyers a personalized, affordable luxury buying experience at attractive prices. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, our ASP of homes closed was approximately $330,000, providing an attractive price point for our target homebuyers with starting base prices below FHA loan limits. We construct most of our homes on a pre-sold basis, where our homebuyers choose their homes based on a select number of value-engineered floor plans and are offered flexibility on the selection of home options. The SMART Builder system and Rteam process allows this optionality for homebuyers based on just in time modifications. As a result of our differentiated value proposition and efficient construction cycle times, we believe we typically achieve a high level of homebuyer satisfaction and experience low cancellation rates, which were 9% and 11% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively.
Our geographic footprint is concentrated in markets that demonstrate strong population and employment growth trends, favorable migration patterns, and desirable lifestyle and weather conditions. Our operations are currently organized into five geographical segments; our reportable segments include Atlanta (which includes certain Atlanta suburbs like Dalton, GA), Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, and Alabama (which consists of both Birmingham and Huntsville). Each of our markets is experiencing strong momentum in housing demand drivers relative to historic averages, and we believe there is significant opportunity to expand our presence in each of our respective markets.
We intend to utilize proceeds from this offering to continue the expansion of our communities and the overall growth of our platform. We have demonstrated significant growth since our inception in 2008, joining the Builder
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Magazine Top 100 list as the 83rd largest builder based on number of closings in 2014 and have grown to be ranked as the 38th largest builder for closings in 2022. Additionally, based off of the Builder Magazine Top 100 list, we believe we are the second largest private builder founded after 2007 and sixth largest builder overall founded after 2007, each based on 2022 home closings. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we closed 2,200 homes as compared to 526 homes in the year ended December 31, 2015, representing a 23% CAGR over the last seven years. In the same period, our revenue grew at a 32% CAGR from $109.3 million to $755.4 million.
Our history
Our founder and Executive Chairman, Tom Bradbury, has almost 50 years of experience in the homebuilding industry. Before founding Smith Douglas Homes, Mr. Bradbury founded Colony Homes in 1975, and built it into one of the largest and most recognized homebuilders in the Southeastern United States in the 1990s and early 2000s. Our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman, Greg Bennett, worked alongside Mr. Bradbury at Colony Homes as Region President, where he helped drive the growth of the company. While running Colony Homes, Mr. Bradbury and Mr. Bennett developed and refined the disciplined operating philosophy and integrated ERP system (SMART Builder) that we license for use today. Like Smith Douglas Homes, Colony Homes catered to the entry-level homebuyer segment, and it had peak closings of over 2,200 homes in 2001 before its eventual sale to KB Home in 2003.
In 2008, in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, Mr. Bradbury saw a unique opportunity to re-enter the homebuilding industry, creating Smith Douglas Homes and breaking ground on its first home in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2014, we surpassed 500 cumulative closings in Atlanta and began to establish our regional presence with an organic expansion into the Raleigh market in 2014, followed by Birmingham in 2015, and Charlotte and Nashville in 2016. In 2017, across all our existing markets, we delivered over 1,000 homes and generated approximately $240.3 million of home closing revenue.
In 2020, we continued to scale within our markets, completing over 900 annual home closings in Atlanta while also closing on over 200 homes in each of our other markets. In addition, in that year we continued our organic expansion by entering the Huntsville market. In 2023, we were ranked the second largest private builder by 2022 closings by the Atlanta Real Estate Forum, and in 2022 Atlanta became our first market to account for over 1,000 home closings in a calendar year. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we closed 2,200 homes across all our markets while surpassing 10,000 cumulative home closings.
As part of the next phase of our growth, we intend to expand operations within the Southern United States. On July 31, 2023, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Devon Street Homes, a high-quality regional homebuilder based in Houston, Texas that closed 324 homes in 2022. We believe the acquisition of Devon Street Homes will create a launching point for our company within the Texas market and will allow us to pursue expansion opportunities across the Southern United States. See “Recent developments—Devon Street Homes Acquisition.”

(1)
Based on Builder Magazine’s Top 100 list; achievements correspond to the year the ranking was based on.
(2)
Purchase price of $79.1 million, primarily from cash on hand, availability under the Existing Credit Facility, and a three-year promissory note in the principal amount of $5.0 million payable to the seller, exclusive of contingent consideration to the seller of up to $5.0 million. We do not intend to use the proceeds from this offering for the payment of any outstanding amounts under the APA that may be paid pursuant to the contingent consideration. See “Prospectus summary—Recent developments—Devon Street Homes Acquisition.”
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Our competitive strengths
We strive to generate consistent growth and strong risk-adjusted returns for our stockholders through our attractive operational and financial profile supported by our combination of operating efficiencies, a land-light business model, and a conservative balance sheet. Our track record of successful financial performance and growth is driven by our relentless focus on optimizing our homebuilding operations and the efficient use of our capital. We believe the following strengths create a significant competitive advantage as we execute upon our business strategy and pursue future growth.
Efficient, schedule driven manufacturing platform that drives strong construction cycle times and robust home closing gross margins
We maintain a highly efficient homebuilding production model which results in robust home closing gross margins and profitability. We achieve economies of scale across our production model by offering a consistent set of core floor plan options across all our markets, which in turn creates a streamlined process for our construction partners. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, for example, over 90% of our closings were derived from fewer than 30 floor plans. Based on prior management experience, we believe this number of floor plans is much smaller than other comparably sized public company homebuilders. We seek to further improve our production efficiencies through the continuity of the trade partner construction teams we utilize across multiple job sites. This approach increases trade partner familiarity with our floor plans and building materials, which in turn increases their productivity and allows us to target a minimum of one home start a day per Rteam. As a result of our differentiated operating model, we have achieved an average construction cycle time of approximately 60 business days, which is among the lowest average construction cycle times in the public homebuilding sector, and a high adjusted return on inventory, which was 62% and 75% for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively.
We believe our Rteam philosophy is the foundation of our operational success. As part of our operating philosophy, we maintain a high level of transparency, communication, and partnership between our employees and our business partners, including our developers, our suppliers, and our trade partners. We place significant focus on accountability and collaboration, emphasizing a mindset of shared success whereby each partner’s contribution is critical to the success of everyone else and the overall success of a project. Lastly, we focus on maintaining long-term partnerships with our suppliers, collaborating with them across multiple communities and markets whenever possible. This approach provides our suppliers with more scale and allows us to procure building materials more efficiently at favorable prices.

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To facilitate our efficient homebuilding operations, we utilize an ERP system, SMART Builder, which is a real-time, schedule driven, single database that manages our entire homebuilding construction ecosystem, including sales, purchasing, scheduling, production, accounting, and servicing. To increase planning and organization efficiency, our trade partners can also access SMART Builder to have visibility into the status of various workstreams. By utilizing SMART Builder, we are able to drive a consistent and repeatable process, eliminate unnecessary site visits, and create a steadier workflow by avoiding variance orders and peak staffing from our trade partners, all contributing to lower overall costs. SMART Builder also integrates daily expense information on a unit level basis, allowing us to accurately monitor project costs in real-time and ensure our projects stay within budget. Our ability to streamline production and reduce operating costs has resulted in high home closing gross margins, which were 29% for both the six months ended June 30, 2023 and year ended December 31, 2022, among the highest in the public homebuilding sector.
Land-light business model that allows for both risk mitigation and enhanced returns
Core to our success is the capital efficient, land-light operating strategy we have employed since our inception. We believe this approach mitigates risk and, consistent with our efficiency focused culture, enhances our returns. We primarily acquire finished lots from reputable third-party land developers and land bankers through lot-option contracts, thereby avoiding the financial requirements and risks associated with land ownership and land development. Our primary obligation and potential economic risk for failure to perform under our lot-option contracts is typically limited to the amount of our deposit. Additionally, we aim to limit our balance sheet risk by typically keeping less than two months of finished lots on our balance sheet at any given time. By utilizing a “just-in-time” approach to lot acquisitions, we reduce our up-front capital commitments and in turn drive higher inventory turnover and returns. As of June 30, 2023, we controlled 8,770 lots through option contracts, representing 95% of our total unstarted controlled lots, compared to an average of 48% for public company homebuilders. Our inventory turnover was 3.3x for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023 and 3.8x for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to an average inventory turnover of 1.2x and 1.3x, respectively for the same periods, for public company homebuilders. Our adjusted return on equity and adjusted return on inventory was 71% and 62%, respectively, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023, and 81% and 75%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to the averages of 23% and 19%, respectively, for the twelve months ended June 30, 2023, and 28% and 24%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022, for public company homebuilders.
Established presence in attractive, high growth markets
We are focused on favorable, high growth housing markets primarily in the Southeastern and Southern United States. Since establishing our initial presence in Atlanta, we have steadily expanded our footprint into Raleigh, Birmingham, Charlotte, Nashville, and Huntsville over the last nine years.
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Our markets exhibit attractive demographic trends, including high employment growth, strong supply and demand fundamentals, positive net migration, home price appreciation, favorable land pricing, and low costs of living, which we believe will support the long-term growth of new home orders. According to JBREC, the majority of our markets rank among the top ten in the Southeast for positive net migration over the last year. We believe the combination of these compelling trends and our strong presence within these markets will help facilitate the execution of our growth strategy.
Scalable platform well positioned to expand in existing and new markets
Since our inception in 2008, we have expanded our homebuilding operations through consistent organic growth. We utilize our management team’s deep industry knowledge, disciplined underwriting and project management capabilities, and our scalable, process-driven, schedule-oriented platform to grow in submarkets within our existing footprint as well as enter new markets. In Atlanta, we have rapidly and profitably grown our presence, celebrating our 5,000th cumulative closing in 2020. We have successfully scaled our business while maintaining strong margins by targeting markets where we can replicate our land-light strategy and Rteam production model, and also leverage our strong relationships with local developers, suppliers, and municipalities to grow communities. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we closed 2,200 homes, achieving a 23% CAGR on closed homes from 2015 to 2022. Among homebuilders that began operations after 2007, based off of the Builder Magazine Top 100 list, we believe we are the sixth largest homebuilder in the country and the second largest private builder, each based on number of 2022 home closings, which further highlights our platform’s ability to scale. Going forward, we intend to apply our management team’s strong execution capabilities to capitalize on growth opportunities within our existing markets and new markets.

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Differentiated ability to offer a personalized homebuying experience to price-conscious homebuyers
Through our efficient and differentiated operating approach, we have the ability to offer our target homebuyers a personalized affordable luxury buying experience. As part of our home offerings, we provide homebuyers a wide range of value engineered exterior and interior options. Additionally, because we offer a consistent, optimized set of floor plans and home options across our markets, we can reduce costs, shorten construction cycle times, and ultimately deliver a high-quality personalized home at an attractive price point, which averaged approximately $330,000 on homes closed during the six months ended June 30, 2023. Combined, our compelling value, high level of personalization, and superior home construction times have resulted in one of the lowest cancellation rates amongst all the public company homebuilders, which were 9% and 11% for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and for the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively, meaningfully below public company homebuilders’ average of 16% and 21%, respectively, for the same periods. We believe our ability to offer a personalized buying experience at an affordable price point will continue to create meaningful differentiation in the market for us.
Veteran management team with track record of success and significant public company experience
We benefit from a seasoned management team with a long history of generating consistent positive financial results and strong returns for stockholders. Our management team averages over 25 years of industry experience, with many of our executives and upper management having previously held senior roles at other public homebuilder companies, including KB Home, WCI Communities, Beazer Homes, Meritage Homes, Pulte, and NVR. Our founder and Executive Chairman, Tom Bradbury, is a long-time industry veteran who previously founded Colony Homes. Under his leadership, Colony Homes grew into one of the largest homebuilders in the Southeastern United States focused on entry-level homebuyers and was ultimately sold to KB Home in 2003. Our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman, Greg Bennett, has spent most of his career working alongside Mr. Bradbury, starting in 1986 and through his last position as Region President of Colony Homes prior to its sale to KB Home. In 2004, Greg founded his own homebuilding company, Greg Bennett Homes, which he operated until he joined Smith Douglas Homes in 2015. Our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Russell Devendorf, has previously served as Chief Financial Officer at WCI Communities, where he helped spearhead the restructuring and turnaround of the company from 2008 to its successful IPO in 2013 and its eventual sale to Lennar in 2017. Our management’s experience adds a level of expertise, governance, and accountability that we believe is distinct for companies of our size. After the consummation of this offering, in the aggregate, management will continue to own   % of outstanding common stock, creating long-term alignment of interests between management and stockholders.
Conservative balance sheet and liquidity, with substantial capacity to drive growth
We maintain a conservatively leveraged and flexible balance sheet which reflects our efficiency-minded operating philosophy. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, our debt-to-book capitalization was 5% and 8%, and our net-debt-to-net book capitalization was (1)% and (10)%. We maintain significant liquidity, with $11.4 million of cash and cash equivalents on hand and $113.3 million of undrawn capacity under the Existing Credit Facility (exclusive of outstanding letters of credit) as of June 30, 2023. Following this transaction, we believe our enhanced liquidity position will allow us to react nimbly to market conditions and to pursue attractive organic growth or acquisition opportunities.
Our strategy
We expect to execute on the strategies below to establish our legacy as one of the country’s leading homebuilders and to continue driving consistent growth, operating efficiency, and strong returns while delivering high-quality, personalized homes to homebuyers at affordable price points. Through the execution of our business strategy, we will strive to expand our platform and become a top homebuilder in the United States.
Capitalize on our land-light capital strategy to efficiently build new communities and drive superior risk-adjusted returns
We intend to continue our land-light lot acquisition strategy to support future growth while maintaining strong equity returns. We believe this approach, combined with our primarily pre-selling / build-to-order strategy, allows us to efficiently build new communities while also limiting our operational and financial risk during various
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economic cycles. Without the financial and operational risks of undeveloped land ownership, we create an even flow of lot purchases, better aligning the pace of home orders and home starts. Furthermore, to drive greater inventory turnover, we utilize financial incentive structures within our market divisions to target no more than approximately two months of finished lots and four months of started lots at any given time. We have utilized the land-light business model since our inception in 2008 and have forged strong relationships with land developers and land bankers that span multiple markets, which we believe give us an advantage when sourcing and executing lot option contracts. Supported by these enduring relationships, we believe our land-light strategy differentiates us from peers and allows us to consistently achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns.
Increase presence and market share within our existing markets
Our focused strategy of targeting entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers in our preferred markets has been at the core of our historical expansion and these homebuyer groups will continue to be our primary target demographic. We leverage our strong relationships with local developers, suppliers, municipalities, and land bankers to give us deeper access in our existing markets to increase land positions and community count. We have experienced rapid organic growth since our inception in 2008, expanding our geographic presence from our headquarters in Atlanta, a market where we are currently one of the largest homebuilders, to five additional key markets with robust growth outlooks: Raleigh, Charlotte, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Nashville. We believe there remains significant opportunity to increase market share and meaningfully grow within our existing markets, driving economies of scale and overall platform growth.
Opportunistically expand to new markets
We see attractive growth opportunities, particularly in the Southeastern and Southern United States, and intend to opportunistically expand into new geographies through organic growth and platform acquisitions. We evaluate potential market expansion opportunities using a set of robust strategic market criteria, including availability of land and unmet demand in suburban-plus areas, as well as the ability to pursue a similar lot option strategy, house plans, and construction process while leveraging our Rteam philosophy. As part of our new market expansion strategy, we target establishing critical scale of at least 200 annual starts within the first two years of entering a new market in order to maximize our Rteam efficiency. Furthermore, we will selectively evaluate external growth opportunities where we can accretively gain scale in a market and enhance our position for future growth. For example, we believe our acquisition of Devon Street Homes will help us enter the highly attractive Houston market, providing us immediate scale and positioning us to grow organically in neighboring Texas markets over time. Looking ahead, we will continue to pursue attractive market expansion opportunities that align with our strategy.
Continue to target our key entry-level and empty-nest homebuyer demographics
Our strategy is to target the entry-level and empty-nest demographics in the Southeastern and Southern regions of the U.S. We believe the fundamental drivers at both the national level and, more specifically, in our local markets have created an increased demand for entry-level priced homes, which we believe makes us well positioned to fulfill this demand as a result of our ASP of homes closed, which was approximately $330,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and one of the lowest among public company homebuilders. According to a 2023 NAHB housing affordability analysis, 73% of households cannot afford a median-priced single-family home (which was equal to $418,000 in 2022). By targeting lower price point offerings, we are able to drive demand despite broader affordability concerns. We operate in attractive market segments, where there is consistent demand for homes as homebuyers look for alternatives to renting, especially with rising rental rates. We believe homebuyers appreciate our value proposition created by the combination of our home affordability and the level of personalization we provide. Furthermore, in the current environment, the recent rise in interest rates has created a significant affordability problem, making our price points even more attractive. In addition, we have significant experience working across multiple mortgage types including, but not limited to, FHA, USDA, and conventional mortgages, which allows us to offer financing support tailored to the needs of our homebuyers.
Focus on delivering a personalized build-to-order experience at attractive price points
We believe a key differentiator of our business is how we redefine affordable luxury for the homebuilding sector. Our home offerings address the strong market demand for an affordable luxury experience that provides homebuyer personalization, through an a-la-carte approach to various home design options, without sacrificing affordability. Our unique affordable luxury business model is designed to balance an optimized and value-driven
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homebuyer experience with operational efficiency. We have invested significant resources in perfecting approximately 30 value-engineered floor plans that our homebuyers have used in over 90% of total homes closed across all our markets for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The streamlined floor plans and strong scheduling adherence allow us to offer high-quality homes at affordable prices with short turnaround times. Going forward, we will continue to provide a select variety of home layout options and amenities for our homebuyers in a streamlined and cost-effective manner. Lastly, we also consider our homebuyers’ living experience after buying a home in one of our communities, so we have structured our lot and land acquisition strategy to maximize streetscapes and create an efficient community layout. We believe this compelling value proposition provides meaningful differentiation in the market, increasing the demand for our homes relative to our competitors, who do not offer the same level of personalization and value at comparable price points. With our approach to offering affordable luxury in the homebuilding space, we intend to continue to expand our brand to reach more homebuyers with our unique value proposition.
Continue to utilize strong cash flow generation to grow platform and drive high return on equity
We operate a highly efficient business model that has consistently generated strong margins and significant cash flow. Our margin and cash flow profile has historically enabled us to simultaneously expand our business, maintain a conservative, durable balance sheet, and return capital to stockholders, which has in turn resulted in strong equity returns. We intend to continue utilizing a nimble and balanced capital allocation strategy that prioritizes the growth of our platform, increased profitability, and the strength of our balance sheet while targeting a consistent, high return on equity for our stockholders. This allows us to maintain long-term balance sheet durability to withstand multiple cycles and to execute operational and acquisition strategies when access to capital is scarce.
We believe this offering will diversify our access to capital and enhance our already strong liquidity position, further supporting our robust future growth plans and providing us with the flexibility to opportunistically deploy capital. We plan to continue to be prudent with our use of leverage, which we believe is key to the long-term growth and financial stability of our business.
Our products and customers
Our homes and homebuyers
We design, sell, and build a range of single-family homes in each of our markets, with a core focus on the entry-level and empty-nest homebuyer segments. Our business is driven by our commitment to building high quality homes at affordable prices in attractive locations while delivering an exceptional level of customer service through providing the flexibility to choose from a wide selection of floor plans, finishes, and upgrades to best fit their tastes and needs. We strive to be the most cost-effective provider of homes in each of our submarkets with price points below FHA limits. Although we are more cost-effective than most of our competitors, we believe we offer our homebuyers an affordable luxury homebuying experience that is unique compared to our peers and the resale homes with which we compete.
We offer a variety of floor plans ranging from 1,100 square feet to over 3,000 square feet. Our plan library includes popular open-concept homes with single-level living, modern villas, and townhomes, and functional two and three-story homes, with extra space for conveniences like laundry, flex offices, and lofts upstairs. Although we have a wide array of plans in our library, for the six months ended June 30, 2023, over 90% of our home closings were from less than 30 house plans. Most of our homes are available at a variety of elevations, allowing us to create different and appealing streetscapes across our communities with a streamlined lineup of floor plans.
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Although we build and sell move-in ready homes, approximately 63% of our home closings in the six months ended June 30, 2023 were built-to-order. Our streamlined and efficient building process, gives our homebuyers the ability to personalize and change home features, including kitchen cabinets, flooring, and other design options, late into the construction phase of their home. We believe our build-to-order focus with quick construction cycle times at attractive value gives us a competitive advantage versus our peer group.
Our active communities
As of June 30, 2023, we had 44 active communities, which was slightly below the 50 active communities count we had as of June 30, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, we had 53 active communities, which was slightly above the 52 active communities count we had at the end of 2021. Average monthly sales per community for the six months ended June 30, 2023 were 4.4, an increase from 3.4 average monthly sales per community during the same period in 2022. Average monthly sales per community for the year ended December 31, 2022 were 3.1, a slight decrease from 3.2 average monthly sales per community during the year ended December 31, 2021.
Land acquisition strategy
Locating and acquiring quality land positions is critical to our overall success and profitability. We generally aim to maintain a four-year finished lot supply in all our markets, although we may adjust our targets based on macroeconomic and market-specific trends. We utilize a comprehensive underwriting process that includes reviewing the key economic drivers in a particular market, including population, demographic, and employment trends, in order to determine appropriate positioning in the market and the probability of success. We typically get a “first look” at many quality land opportunities in our existing and target markets due to our reputation and local relationships with land sellers and brokers.
Our land selection process starts with our local division leadership. Each division has a team of qualified and experienced land managers and support personnel to identify potential new community opportunities within their markets. Our divisions work with senior management throughout the underwriting process and are given the authority to put deals under contract with refundable deposits. Prior to the expiration of our negotiated inspection period, the division leadership presents each land acquisition opportunity to the Corporate Investment Committee (the “CIC”). The CIC consists of our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Corporate Vice President of Operations, and other members of senior management. All land opportunities are presented to it by our divisions and reviewed by the CIC. Typically, multiple members of our senior management team have physically toured every new deal location before the deal is presented and reviewed by the CIC. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, with input from the other CIC members, approve all new deals.
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We operate a land-light and capital efficient lot acquisition strategy and generally seek to avoid engaging in land development, which requires significant capital expenditures and can take several years to realize returns on investment. Our strategy is intended to avoid the financial commitments and risks associated with direct land ownership and land development by allowing us to control a significant number of lots for a relatively low capital cost. We consider a lot controlled when we hold an option to acquire the applicable lot for the relevant timeframe set forth in the option contract. We primarily employ two variations of our land-light land financing strategy—finished lot option contracts and land bank option contracts—pursuant to which we secure the right to purchase finished lots at market prices from various land sellers and land bank partners, including through our unconsolidated entities, by paying deposits based on the aggregate purchase price of the finished lots (typically ranging between 5.0-20.0%) and, in the case of land bank option contracts, interest on the price of the outstanding lots to the land bank partner.
After we sign a finished lot option contract, but prior to the deposit becoming non-refundable (except for certain circumstances such as seller default or force majeure events), we have an initial inspection and due diligence period (“Inspection Period”). The Inspection Period is typically 60-120 days, during which time we inspect the property to make sure it meets certain development requirements (e.g., zoning, environmental approvals, and other customary requirements).
If the property meets our development requirements and successfully exits the Inspection Period, the deposit becomes non-refundable (except for certain circumstances such as seller default and force majeure events), and we proceed under the finished lot option contract with the lots available to us for purchase on a staggered takedown schedule, which is designed to mirror our expected home orders. Our options to purchase lots typically expire at the end of each purchase date as set forth in the staggered takedown schedule of the applicable option contract. For example, if we are a party to an option contract to purchase sixty lots aggregate (fifteen lots to be purchased on each of four staggered, sequential purchase dates), the option for each tranche of fifteen lots would typically expire on the purchase date for the applicable tranche. If we do not exercise our option to purchase, the seller then would have the option to terminate the agreement, which would then result in the loss of the option to purchase all remaining unpurchased lots and forfeiture of the remaining deposit for the unpurchased lots. We do not typically receive a return of our deposit upon expiration or termination of the contract unless it is due to seller default or a force majeure event. Generally, all rights and obligations regarding maintenance, development, taxes, insurance, and any other expenses associated with the properties remain with the seller until we close on the purchase of the lots. As of June 30, 2023, our lot deposits relating to finished lot option contracts, including option contracts with unconsolidated entities, totaled $35.7 million, which controlled 7,659 lots. As of December 31, 2022, our lot deposits relating to finished lot option contracts, including option contracts with unconsolidated entities, totaled $33.3 million, which controlled 7,848 lots.
When a land seller desires to sell finished lots in bulk or does not wish to develop finished lots, we often enter into land bank option contracts with land bank partners whereby we assign the underlying finished lot option or raw land purchase contract to a land bank partner, who then funds the land development costs and sells the finished lots to us, at our option, over a period of time with staggered takedown schedules. These option contracts allow us, at our option, to forfeit our right to purchase the option lots for any reason. Our sole legal obligation and economic loss as a result of such forfeitures is limited to the amount of the deposits paid pursuant to such option contracts and any related fees paid to the land bank partner. As of June 30, 2023, our land bank deposits amounted to $22.5 million, which controlled 2,116 lots. As of December 31, 2022, our land bank deposits amounted to $18.1 million, which controlled 2,097 lots.
We also have non-controlling equity interests in various investments in unconsolidated entities to acquire rights under options to purchase land to be used in home building operations at future dates. We do not consolidate the investments as we do not have a majority ownership interest. We also do not have a right to receive a majority of the investment’s expected residual returns or an obligation to absorb a majority of the investment’s expected losses, and we determined we do not exert control over these entities. As of June 30, 2023, the total purchase price applicable to land under options was $455.6 million, inclusive of estimated contractual price escalators, which controlled 7,673 lots. As of December 31, 2022, the total purchase price applicable to land under options was $423.3 million, inclusive of estimated contractual price escalators, which controlled 7,848 lots.
As part of our land acquisition strategy and in order to maintain a healthy pipeline of lots, we also enter into agreements with lot sellers, which allow us to evaluate the land and potential transaction without entering into a
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binding agreement to control the lots or requiring us to pay a non-refundable deposit. As of June 30, 2023, we have signed agreements covering 2,399 additional lots included in our total controlled lots which we are still in the due diligence and investigation period and for which our earnest money deposits are still refundable.
Total controlled lots and real estate inventory status
The following tables present our total controlled lots, which includes both our owned and optioned lots, by market as of the periods set forth below:
 
Historical Smith Douglas Holdings LLC
As of June 30,
2023
2022
Market
Owned(2)
Optioned
Total
Controlled
Owned(2)
Optioned
Total
Controlled
Alabama(1)
315
1,483
1,798
239
2,620
2,859
Atlanta
338
3,384
3,722
477
4,120
4,597
Charlotte
81
1,127
1,208
89
1,203
1,292
Nashville
207
662
869
215
1,051
1,266
Raleigh
170
1,003
1,173
170
1,112
1,282
Total
1,111
7,659
8,770
1,190
10,106
11,296
 
Historical Smith Douglas Holdings LLC
As of December 31,
2022
2021
Market
Owned(2)
Optioned
Total
Controlled
Owned(2)
Optioned
Total
Controlled
Alabama(1)
152
2,005
2,157
224
2,264
2,488
Atlanta
430
3,201
3,631
388
4,171
4,559
Charlotte
55
931
986
92
1,311
1,403
Nashville
168
705
873
192
1,088
1,280
Raleigh
160
1,006
1,166
134
1,006
1,140
Total
965
7,848
8,813
1,030
9,840
10,870
(1)
Includes lots controlled in Birmingham and Huntsville.
(2)
Includes homes under construction
The following tables present our owned real estate inventory status as of the periods set forth below:
 
Historical Smith
Douglas Holdings LLC
As of June 30,
2023
2022
Backlog homes finished or under construction
55%
64%
Unsold homes under construction
4%
4%
Unsold completed homes
1%
0%
Model homes
4%
4%
Owned unstarted finished lots
36%
27%
Total
100%
100%
 
Historical Smith
Douglas Holdings LLC
As of December 31,
2022
2021
Backlog homes finished or under construction
47%
64%
Unsold homes under construction
9%
1%
Unsold completed homes
4%
0%
Model homes
5%
4%
Owned unstarted finished lots
35%
31%
Total
100%
100%
Homebuilding, marketing, and sales process
Construction
We are focused on providing value, quality, and satisfaction to our homebuyers and are committed to providing them affordable homes of enduring value. Our homebuyer-centric homebuilding process begins with a variety of floor plans. Our architectural design team improves these plans over time based on homebuyer buying trends in
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our markets while offering a wide range of materials and upgrades to meet the varying needs of entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers. We believe every home is important, regardless of price, and that every homebuyer deserves the chance to personalize in order to build a home that suits their needs. Accordingly, we offer an array of personalization options to our homebuyers in the majority of our product offerings, including cabinetry, countertops, fixtures, home automation and other technologies, energy efficiency, appliances, and flooring, as well as certain structural modifications. We empower our homebuyers with the flexibility to visualize, experience, and select these personalization options for their future homes, both at our community sales centers in collaboration with our sales and design consultants, and also virtually using our Interactive Home Designer tools. This process affords our homebuyers the opportunity to work with our sales and design consultants or to use interactive tools to make their new house feel like home.
We provide direct oversight in the construction of our homes. Our employees provide the purchasing, construction management, and quality assurance support on the homes we build while independent, third-party trade partners provide the material and labor services. Our construction managers oversee construction, manage trade partner adherence to the SMART Builder generated construction schedule, review the work for budget adherence, and monitor compliance with zoning and building codes. At all stages of construction, are focused on meeting our production schedules and quality standards. We typically do not maintain significant inventories of construction materials, except for work in progress materials for our homes under construction.
Our trade partner agreements require our trade partners to complete specified work in accordance with price and time schedules and in compliance with applicable building codes and laws. All our trade partners are required to carry appropriate types and levels of insurance, as well as any required licenses. The price schedules provided by our trade partners may be subject to change based on the fluctuations in labor and material costs or for other reasons. Our homes are typically completed within 60 business days from the start of construction but completion may vary based on several factors including the availability of labor, materials, and supplies, and weather conditions.
We hire experienced trade partners to supply labor and procure some or all the building materials required for homebuilding. As is typical in the homebuilding industry, we generally do not have long-term contractual commitments with our trade partners or suppliers. However, we maintain long-standing, mutually beneficial relationships with many of them, and we leverage our size and extensive relationships to maximize efficiencies, achieve cost savings, and ensure consistent practices. We compete with other homebuilders for qualified construction managers, trade partners, and raw materials.
SMART Builder and Rteam
We incorporate technology into our construction process through SMART Builder, a customized enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system that is a schedule driven, real time, single data base, customized construction and homebuyer relationship management software and the backbone of our process. Through SMART Builder, we manage our construction process and work-flow scheduling in real-time with our trade partners. This gives those involved in the construction process access to information such as home starts and closings, potential delays, and other issues, as they happen, which maximizes efficiency in the construction process and reduces time and materials waste.
SMART Builder utilizes a paperless purchase order system throughout the construction process to conduct business with our trade partners and provides them cloud-based access to check their job schedules and purchase orders on a real-time basis. Typically, our trade partners are paid every week to ensure regularity and commitment to our shared objectives and all of our trade partners and suppliers are paid via direct deposit, further automating and streamlining the process.
SMART Builder is the pillar of our Rteam operational model, which views each portion of the home building, selling, and servicing process as integral to every other portion. Our Rteam model enhances collaboration, visibility, and mutual accountability between us and the stakeholders with whom we do business, including our developers, municipalities, trade partners, and homebuyers. To the extent possible, we structure each Rteam of trade partners within close geographic proximity, creating a more cohesive and efficient working relationship. Within each Rteam, every trade partner is responsible for ensuring the job is complete before handing it off to the
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next trade partner and not starting a job until the specifications, as designated by the team, are correct. This relationship-based approach to doing business has the goal of creating better quality homes, a more consistent and predictable homebuilding cycle, and increased profitability. We define Rteam with these key themes and train our trade partners on this philosophy:
Real Time
Readiness & responsibility
Respect
Repeatable & responsible growth
Reliable workmanship
Recession resistant
Recognition
Each Rteam is structured to produce one home start per day. After accounting for holidays, weather, and other unexpected events, the goal of each Rteam is to start and deliver 208 homes per year, or a minimum of four per week, on an even-flow basis. Our aim is for each of our divisions to operate multiple Rteams as we drive scale through our markets.
Marketing
We generally target and market our homes and communities to entry-level and empty-nest homebuyers, which we believe are the most underserved homebuyers groups in each of our markets. Our sales, marketing, and architectural design teams work with our forward planning and land teams in each division to secure lots that permit the building of floor plans we believe will appeal to our target homebuyers.
Our sales and marketing program employs a multi-faceted approach to source and attract potential homebuyers. While we occasionally utilize traditional printed media, digital marketing is the primary component of our marketing strategy, and we have refined our digital sales efforts in recent years through the work of our dedicated digital sales coordinators as well as our automated homebuyer assistance tools. We believe our online marketing efforts have become a key strength of our business, allowing us to reach a broad range of potential homebuyers at relatively low cost compared to traditional advertising platforms. In particular, we are focused on capturing potential homebuyers when we are contemplating opening a new community. This is enabled by our multi-faceted digital marketing efforts, which include strategic e-marketing to our current database of potential homebuyers, real estate search site campaigns, internet advertising enhanced by search engine marketing and search engine optimization, and campaigns and promotions across an array of social media platforms. We target both in-state and out-of-state potential homebuyers. Our proficiency with digital marketing and our commitment to meeting the needs of our homebuyers leads to increased use of our virtual home tours and our automated homebuyer assistance tools, which have become increasingly popular and effective marketing and sales strategies. Offsite and onsite signage are also used in our communities to advertise our availability and accessibility every day of the week. We also develop communications and promotions targeted specifically to the third-party real estate broker network in each of our markets as they are an integral part of our marketing process and impact sales activities in many of our communities. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022, 74% of our gross new orders had a third-party broker.
Our sales efforts are supported by our sales centers which are typically housed within our professionally decorated model homes demonstrating the features of the homes in each of our communities. In general, our model homes are distinguished by well-landscaped entryways, digital sales kiosk with touchscreen displays, and design option selection areas for the homebuyer to create their personalized home. The sales centers are staffed with in-house commissioned sales personnel who have in-depth knowledge of our products, communities, and the markets in which they work. Sales representatives assist potential homebuyers by providing them with basic floor plans, price information, development and construction timetables, tours of model homes, and the selection of home personalization options. Sales representatives are trained by us and generally have had prior experience selling new homes in the local market. We have implemented standard model home design features that offer consistency to homebuyers across all our communities.
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Backlog, orders, and closings
Home construction generally does not start without a binding sales agreement; however, we employ a limited speculative homebuilding program where we construct a home without an associated contract. We continually monitor our unsold homes under construction based on market demand and will typically limit our communities to no more than five unsold homes under construction. As of June 30, 2023, we had 55 unsold homes under construction, only 6 of which were completed.
A new sale is reported when the homebuyer has received preliminary mortgage approval through one of our preferred lender relationships and the sales contract has been signed by the homebuyer, approved by us, and secured by a typically non-refundable deposit. Furthermore, homebuyers are generally required to pay additional deposit when they select options or upgrade features for their home. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, homebuyer deposits averaged approximately 3% and 4% of the average sales price of our backlog homes.
The following tables present information concerning our new home orders, starts, and closings in each of our markets for the periods set forth below:
 
Historical Smith Douglas Holdings LLC
Six months ended June 30,
2023
2022
Period Over Period Change
Market
Orders
Starts
Closings
Orders
Starts
Closings
Orders
Starts
Closings
Alabama
304
246
147
127
147
147
177
99
0
Atlanta
526
548
537
480
506
449
46
42
88
Charlotte
77
78
73
102
110
114
(25)
(32)
(41)
Nashville
193
155
144
173
177
125
20
(22)
19
Raleigh
176
160
159
166
166
143
10
(6)
16
Totals
1,276
1,187
1,060
1,048
1,106
978
228
81
82
 
Historical Smith Douglas Holdings LLC
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Year Over Year Change
Market
Orders
Starts
Closings
Orders
Starts
Closings
Orders
Starts
Closings
Alabama
217
267
338
352
332
240
(135)
(65)
98
Atlanta
997
1,051
1,016
779
748
843
218
303
173
Charlotte
165
185
223
227
258
263
(62)
(73)
(40)
Nashville
250
297
307
261
245
231
(11)
52
76
Raleigh
299
312
316
301
296
271
(2)
16
45
Totals
1,928
2,112
2,200
1,920
1,879
1,848
8
233
352
Our backlog consists of homes under signed purchase contracts with homebuyers who have met the preliminary criteria to obtain mortgage financing and made their deposit but have not yet closed. Backlog (period end) represents the number of homes in backlog from the previous period plus the number of new home orders generated during the current period minus the number of homes closed during the current period. Our backlog at any given time will be affected by cancellations and the number of our active communities. Homes in backlog are generally closed within one to six months, although we may experience cancellations of purchase contracts at any time prior to such home closings. It is important to note that new home orders, backlog, and cancellation metrics are operational, rather than accounting, data and should be used only as a general gauge to evaluate performance. Backlog may be impacted by homebuyer cancellations for various reasons beyond our control.
We recognize our homebuilding revenue at the time of the closing of a sale, at which time the title to and possession of the property are transferred to the homebuyer. If a homebuyer cancels its contract, we typically keep the deposit and record it as income at the time of cancellation. We believe the combination of our sales process, affordable and personalized product offering, and our industry leading construction cycle times have led to lower cancellation rates on average compared to our industry peers. For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, our cancellation rate was approximately 8.8% and 7.3%, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, our cancellation rate was approximately 11% and 7%, respectively.
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The following tables present information concerning our net new home orders, cancellation rate, and ending backlog for the periods (and at the end of the period) set forth below (dollar amounts in thousands):
 
Historical Smith
Douglas Holdings LLC
As of June 30,
2023
2022
Net new home orders
1,276
1,048
Contract value of net new home orders
$421,248
$374,892
ASP of net new home orders
$330
$358
Cancellation rate
8.8%
7.3%
 
Historical Smith
Douglas Holdings LLC
As of December 31,
2022
2021
Net new home orders
1,928
1,920
Contract value of net new home orders
$667,530
$597,761
ASP of net new home orders
$346
$311
Cancellation rate
10.9%
6.7%
 
Historical Smith
Douglas Holdings LLC
As of June 30,
2023
2022
Backlog homes (period end)
985
1,113
Contract value of backlog homes (period end)
$330,258
$397,125
ASP of backlog homes (period end)
$335
$357
 
Historical Smith
Douglas Holdings LLC
As of December 31,
2022
2021
Backlog homes (period end)
771
1,043
Contract value of backlog homes (period end)
$258,718
$345,521
ASP of backlog homes (period end)
$336
$331
Sourcing and supply chain
We use various materials and components in our construction process and are dependent upon building material suppliers for continuous product availability. It typically takes us less than 60 business days to construct a single-family home. Our materials are subject to price fluctuations until construction on a home begins, at which point prices for that home are locked in via purchase orders. Such price fluctuations may be caused by several factors, including seasonal variation in availability of materials, labor and supply chain disruptions, international trade disputes and resulting tariffs, and increased demand for materials in the markets where we operate. See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Factors affecting our results of operations” and “Risk factors—A shortage or increase in the costs of building materials could delay or increase the cost of home construction, which could have an adverse material impact on our business.” in this prospectus for additional information.
The principal raw materials used in the construction of our homes are lumber and concrete. In addition, we use various other materials, including drywall, plumbing, and electrical components. Typically, all raw materials and most components used in our business are readily available in the United States. Our objective in procurement is to maximize efficiencies at local, regional, and national levels and to consistently utilize established contractual arrangements. We employ a comprehensive procurement program that leverages our size and regional presence to achieve attractive cost savings and, whenever possible, to utilize standard products available from multiple suppliers. We currently determine national specifications for many of our installed products and with our distributors. This helps us streamline our offerings, maintain service levels and delivery commitments, and protect our pricing. It also gives us the benefit of complimentary model home products and a pre-negotiated rebate
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amount. We currently have distribution agreements in place for lumber, appliances, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, insulation, stucco, and other supplies.
Our title insurance business
Our unconsolidated entity, Ridgeland Title LLC, is a licensed title insurance agency that provides closing, escrow, and title insurance services. We own a 49% interest in Ridgeland Title LLC, and our partner, McMichael & Gray, PC, owns the remaining 51% interest.
Ridgeland Title LLC operates several closing offices located around metro Atlanta. Ridgeland Title LLC’s staff includes experienced attorneys, state licensed title agents, escrow officers, and support personnel. Closing, escrow, and title insurance is primarily regulated at a state level, requiring that operations be conducted by skilled attorneys and/or licensed title insurance agents. Expansion of title operations into other markets is ongoing and consideration of new markets is driven by unit volume, ASP for homes sold in the market, and regulatory compliance environment.
Ridgeland Title LLC collects fees and risk premiums for closing services, based incrementally on unit price, which are shared by the agent and the underwriter on a pro rata basis for each transaction completed. Ridgeland Title LLC generated a total of $1.1 million and $2.5 million in gross revenue through all channels of products and services, during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the year ended December 31, 2022, respectively, our share of Ridgeland Title LLC’s income recognized was $0.4 million and $1.1 million and our distributions received were $0.5 million and $1.0 million.
Our interest in Ridgeland Title LLC is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and is not consolidated in our consolidated financial statements, as we do not control, and are not deemed the primary beneficiary of, Ridgeland Title LLC. See “Note 10” to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for a description of our investments in unconsolidated entities and the related accounting treatment.
Our people
We are extremely proud of our employees and their commitment to collaborating as a team to uphold our values. Our purpose is to enhance people’s quality of life, whether that be our associates, homebuyers, or trade partners. As of June 30, 2023, we employed 319 full-time employees and 10 part-time employees in the United States. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or are party to a collective bargaining agreement, and we have had no labor-related work stoppages. We believe we have good relationships with our employees.
In order to be successful, we encourage each of our employees to embrace our “Our House” philosophy, which holds integrity, people, excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement as the key values that drive our business. To uphold our values, we are intensely focused on maintaining our culture, recruiting, retaining, and incentivizing our employees, and employee development and engagement.
Our culture
We take pride in our collaborative, win-win culture. From our sales team to our construction managers, trade partners, and support staff, our team works together to deliver each home. This collaboration allows us to provide a superior experience for our homebuyers, because they are part of our team as well. Our culture has been recognized by several industry publications, including Great Place to Work Certifications in 2022 and 2023 and recognition on the Fortune Best Workplaces in Construction list in 2022. As we continue to grow, we are proactive in ensuring that our foundational purpose, embodied in our “Our House” culture of collaboration, discipline and efficiency is preserved, giving us the ability to continue to recruit, develop, and retain associates and trade partners.
Customer relations, quality control, and warranty program
We pay close attention to the product design process and carefully consider quality and choice of materials to minimize building deficiencies and reduce warranty expenses. We require all our vendors and trade partners to adhere to our work quality standards. Adherence to these standards is monitored in the ordinary course of business by our construction managers, and we do regular inspections and evaluations of our trade partners to
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ensure these standards are being met. In addition, local governing authorities in all our markets require the homes we build pass a variety of inspections at various stages of construction, including a final inspection in which a certificate of occupancy is issued. We also, in certain situations, use professionally licensed engineers to do various inspections on our homes.
We maintain professional staff whose roles include providing a positive experience for each homebuyer throughout the sale, building, closing, and post-closing warranty periods. Our quality and service initiatives include multiple homebuyer walkthroughs throughout construction and prior to closing, and homebuyer surveys post-closing. We maintain an open line of communication between each homebuyer and our sales and construction teams throughout the homebuying process.
Each of our homes comes with a limited warranty against certain building defects for one year after closing and a limited warranty against structural claims for ten years after closing. We believe our warranty program meets or exceeds those customarily offered in the homebuilding industry. The trade partners who perform most of the actual construction of the home also provide us with customary warranties on workmanship. Through our online portal, which is integrated with SMART Builder, our homebuyers can easily submit warranty requests post-closing. It is our goal to resolve any homebuyer warrantable claims within 14 days of receipt.
Competition
The homebuilding industry is characterized by moderately low barriers to entry. Among other things, homebuilders compete for homebuyers, desirable lots, financing, raw materials, and skilled labor. Increased competition may prevent us from acquiring attractive lots or make such acquisitions more expensive, hinder our market expansion, or lead to pricing pressures on our homes that may adversely impact our margins and revenues. Our competitors may independently develop land and construct housing units that are superior or substantially similar to our products and, because they are or may be significantly larger or have greater resources or lower cost of capital than we do, may be able to compete more effectively in one or more of the markets in which we operate or may operate in the future. We also compete with other homebuilders that have longstanding relationships with trade partners and suppliers in the markets in which we operate or may operate in the future, and we compete for sales with individual resales of existing homes and with available rental housing.
The housing industry is cyclical and is affected by consumer confidence levels, prevailing economic conditions, and interest rates. Other factors that affect the industry and the demand for new homes include: the availability and cost of land, labor, and materials; changes in consumer preferences; demographic trends; and the availability and interest rates of mortgage finance programs. See “Risk factors” for additional information regarding these risks.
We are dependent upon building material suppliers for a continuous flow of materials. Whenever possible, we attempt to utilize standard products available from multiple sources. In the past, such materials have been generally available to us in adequate supply.
See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Factors affecting our results of operations” in this prospectus for additional information.
Seasonality
The homebuilding industry generally exhibits seasonality. We have historically experienced, and in the future expect to continue to experience, variability in our results on a quarterly basis. See “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Factors affecting our results of operations—Seasonality” in this prospectus for additional information.
Intellectual property and other proprietary rights
To establish and protect our proprietary rights, we rely on a combination of trademark, copyright, and trade secret, laws, know-how and continuing innovation, and contractual restrictions such as confidentiality agreements and licenses. We strive to protect the proprietary information we believe is important to our business.
We have registered or applied to register certain of our trademarks in the United States. We pursue the registration of domain names for websites that we use and consider material to our business.
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While much of the intellectual property we use is owned by us, we also use various third-party licensed software in connection with our business. Although we believe these licenses are sufficient for the operation of our business, these licenses typically limit our use of the third parties’ intellectual property to specific uses and for specific time periods.
Facilities
We are headquartered in Woodstock, Georgia where we lease approximately 13,750 square feet of office space under a lease agreement that expires on August 31, 2028. We use this location for our Atlanta Division and corporate employee offices. We also lease local offices in the markets in which we conduct homebuilding operations.
We believe these facilities are sufficient to meet our current and anticipated future needs and that suitable additional space will be available as needed to accommodate expansion of our operations.
Legal proceedings
From time to time, we are subject to mediation, arbitration, litigation, or claims arising in the ordinary course of business. The results of any current or future claims or proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, and regardless of the outcome, litigation can have an adverse impact on us because of defense and litigation costs, diversion of management resources, reputational harm, and other factors.
Government regulation and environmental, health, and safety matters
We are subject to numerous local, state, federal, and other statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations concerning zoning, development, building design, construction, and similar matters, which impose restrictive zoning and density requirements to limit the number of homes that can be built within the boundaries of a particular area. Projects that are not entitled may be subject to periodic delays, changes in use, less intensive development, or elimination of development in certain specific areas due to government regulations. We may also be subject to periodic delays or may be precluded entirely from developing in certain communities due to building moratoriums or “slow-growth” or “no-growth” initiatives that could be implemented in the future. Local and state governments also have broad discretion regarding the imposition of development fees for projects in their jurisdiction. Projects for which we have received land use and development entitlements or approvals may still require a variety of other governmental approvals and permits during the development process and can also be impacted adversely by unforeseen health, safety, and welfare issues, which can further delay these projects or prevent their development.
We are also subject to a variety of local, state, federal, and other statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations concerning the environment, health, and safety, including those governing storm water and surface water management, discharge and releases of pollutants and hazardous materials into the environment, including air, groundwater, subsurface and soil, remediation activities, handling of hazardous materials, protection of wetlands, endangered plant and animal species, sensitive habitats, climate change, and human health and safety. In addition, pursuant to such statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations, we are generally required to obtain permits and other approvals from applicable authorities to commence and conduct our development and homebuilding activities. The environmental requirements that apply to any given homebuilding site vary according to the site’s location, its present and former uses, and its environmental conditions, including the presence or absence of contamination, wetlands, endangered plant or animal species or sensitive habitats at the site or any nearby or adjoining properties. Environmental requirements and conditions may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance and other costs, and can prohibit or severely restrict homebuilding activity in environmentally sensitive regions or areas. From time to time, EPA or OSHA and similar federal, state, or local agencies may review land developers’ and homebuilders’ compliance with environmental, health, and safety requirements and may levy fines and penalties, among other sanctions, for failure to comply with such requirements, or impose additional requirements for future compliance because of past failures. Any such actions taken with respect to us may increase our costs and result in project delays. Further, we expect that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on homebuilders in the future. In particular, new legislation has been enacted, or may be enacted in the future, relating to such matters as climate change, energy efficiency standards, requirements for building materials and bans on the use of natural gas appliances and/or natural gas hookups. Environmental requirements, including those relating to climate change, can also have an adverse impact on the availability and price of certain raw materials, such as lumber, and may increase our energy costs.
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Under various environmental requirements, current or former owners of real estate, as well as certain other categories of parties, may be required to investigate and clean up spills or releases of hazardous substances or petroleum products and may be held strictly and/or jointly and severally liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for related damages, including for property damage, bodily injury, the cost of investigation and cleanup in connection with the contamination, and damages to natural resources. We could also be held liable if the past or present use of building materials or fixtures that contain hazardous materials results in site contamination or other damages, such as property damage or bodily injury. A mitigation plan may be implemented during the construction of a home if a cleanup does not remove all contaminants of concern or address a naturally occurring condition, such as methane or radon. Some homebuyers may not want to purchase a home that is, or that may have been, subject to a mitigation plan. In addition, in those cases where wetlands, endangered plant or animal species or sensitive habitats are present, environmental requirements can result in the delay or elimination of development in identified environmentally sensitive areas.
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Management
The following table provides information regarding our executive officers, and members of our board of directors, and our director nominees as of the date of this prospectus:
Name
Age
Position(s)
Thomas L. Bradbury
79
Executive Chairman and Director
Gregory S. Bennett
58
President, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, and Director
Russell Devendorf
50
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Brett A. Steele
53
Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
Julie Bradbury
48
Director
Jeffrey T. Jackson
57
Director
Neil B. Wedewer
70
Director
Neill B. Faucett
78
Director Nominee
George Ervin Perdue III
76
Director Nominee
Janice E. Walker
51
Director Nominee
Executive officers and directors
Thomas L. Bradbury is the founder of Smith Douglas and has served as a member of our board of directors since its formation and as the Chairman of Smith Douglas Holdings, LLC’s board of managers since 2016. He previously served as our Chief Executive Officer from inception until 2019. Mr. Bradbury is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sodmasters Turf Farm. Mr. Bradbury served as a consultant with KB Home until 2005. Prior to this, Mr. Bradbury founded Colony Homes of Atlanta in 1975 and served as its Chief Executive Officer until 2003 when it was sold to KB Home. During his time at Colony Homes, Mr. Bradbury also chaired their board of directors. Mr. Bradbury holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. We believe Mr. Bradbury is qualified to serve on Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s board of directors due to his business expertise, extensive industry experience, and daily insight into our business as our founder and Executive Chairman.
Gregory S. Bennett has served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Smith Douglas since 2019 and as a member of our board of directors since its formation. Prior to that, Mr. Bennett served as our Chief Operating Officer since 2015. Before joining Smith Douglas, Mr. Bennett operated his own homebuilding company, Greg Bennett Homes, which he founded in 2004. Before founding Greg Bennett Homes, Mr. Bennett served as Executive Vice President for the Atlanta market of KB Home between 2003 and 2004 after the acquisition of Colony Homes, where he previously served as Region President between 1999 and 2003. Mr. Bennett holds a Construction Management degree from Georgia Northwestern Technical College. We believe Mr. Bennett is qualified to serve on Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s board of directors due to his business expertise, extensive industry experience, and daily insight into our business as our President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman.
Russell Devendorf has served as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Smith Douglas since 2017. Prior to joining Smith Douglas, Mr. Devendorf was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for WCI Communities, a publicly traded homebuilder, from 2008 through 2017. Prior to 2008, he served in several senior level finance positions with Meritage Homes Corporation and TOUSA, Inc., both national, publicly traded homebuilding companies. He began his career as an auditor at Ernst & Young LLP in its real estate practice and holds a Master and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University. Mr. Devendorf is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Treasury Professional.
Brett A. Steele has served as our Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary since July 2018. Prior to his time at Smith Douglas, Mr. Steele was the Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta, Inc. from January 2015 to July 2018 and the Associate General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Beazer Homes USA, Inc. from 2007 to 2015. At the outset of his career, Mr. Steele was an associate at King & Spalding in their Construction and Procurement Group from August 1999 to July 2004. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Huntingdon College and a Juris Doctor degree from Mercer University.
Julie Bradbury has served as a member on our board of directors since its formation and as a member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s board of managers since 2016. She previously served as a member of the board of directors of Colony Homes from 2001 to 2003 and is also currently serving as a member of the board of directors of several
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non-profit organizations. Ms. Bradbury currently serves as a director of the Bradbury Family Office, where she oversees estate planning strategies, investment objectives, philanthropic planning, corporate accounting, and tax/strategic planning. Ms. Bradbury began her career in public accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young where she specialized in international corporate tax transactions. Following these roles, she served in finance and controller positions for two early-stage high growth companies, helping to scale them into market leaders. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from Washington and Lee University. We believe Ms. Bradbury is qualified to serve on Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s board of directors due to her knowledge of accounting and finance and extensive business experience.
Jeffrey T. Jackson has served as a member on our board of directors since its formation and as a member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s board of managers since 2016. He also serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of PGT Innovations (NYSE: PGTI), a building materials manufacturer and supplier. Mr. Jackson has been in his current role at PGT Innovations since 2018 and has held various roles at the company since 2005, including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operation Officer. Prior to PGT Innovations, Mr. Jackson held various executive management roles with companies such as The Hershey Company, Coca-Cola, and KPMG. Since 2016 Mr. Jackson has also served as a member on the board of directors of PGT Innovations. He is also the Chair on the board of directors of the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, a role he has held since his appointment by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2020. Mr. Jackson has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of West Georgia and is a Certified Public Accountant in Georgia. We believe Mr. Jackson is qualified to serve on Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s board of directors due to his extensive business expertise, knowledge of strategy, finance, and management, and experience in the industry.
Neil B. Wedewer has served as a member on our board of directors since its formation and as a member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s board of managers since December 2022. Mr. Wedewer previously served as Atlanta Area President of Charter Bank (now South State Bank) from August 2008 to October 2016. Prior to that, he was the Chief Credit Officer at First Covenant Bank from September 2007 to July 2008 and the Executive Vice President of Suntrust Banks (now Truist) from July 1983 to July 2007. Mr. Wedewer has a Bachelor of Arts from The Citadel. We believe Mr. Wedewer is qualified to serve on Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s board of directors due to his operational background and his knowledge of strategy, finance, and management.
Neill B. Faucett is currently a director nominee and will become a member of our board of directors at or prior to the pricing of this offering. Mr. Faucett has served as a consultant to Lubert Adler Partners, a private real estate equity firm headquartered in Philadelphia, since January 2020. Prior to this, Mr. Faucett opened the Atlanta office of Lubert Adler Partners in 2006 and served as a Managing Principal and member of the investment committee of Lubert Adler Partners from 2006 to 2019. Before joining Lubert Adler Partners, Mr. Faucett formed Faucett Consulting, Inc. in 1994. Faucett Consulting, Inc. advises real estate clients in equity and financing transactions as well as strategic planning and business structures. Mr. Faucett began his career at Arthur Andersen LLP before leaving the firm in 1970 to become a founding partner of an Atlanta accounting firm, Faucett, Taylor & Associates, where he concentrated on real estate. He was a practicing Certified Public Accountant for twenty-four years. Mr. Faucett has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Auburn University. We believe Mr. Faucett is qualified to serve on Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s board of directors due to his extensive experience in the real estate investment sector and his knowledge of accounting and finance.
George Ervin Perdue III is currently a director nominee and will become a member of our board of directors at or prior to the pricing of this offering. Dr. Perdue currently serves as the 14th chancellor of the University System of Georgia as of April 2022. He oversees 26 public colleges and universities with a $10.3 billion annual budget, 48,000 faculty and staff and more than 334,000 students. Prior to this, Dr. Perdue was the 31st Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from April 2017 to January 2021. He also served two terms as the governor of Georgia, from 2003 to 2011, and was a member of the Georgia State Senate from 1991 to 2001, where he chaired the Senate Higher Education Committee and eventually became Senate President Pro Tempore. Dr. Perdue earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia. He is also a veteran, serving three years in the U.S. Air Force. During this period of public service, he also founded several successful agricultural businesses. We believe Dr. Perdue is qualified to serve on Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s board of directors due to his extensive business and leadership experience.
Janice E. Walker is currently a director nominee and will become a member of our board of directors at or prior to the pricing of this offering. Since June 2019, Ms. Walker has served as Chief Operating Officer of Hines Global Income Trust, Inc., a publicly-held REIT investing globally in commercial real estate with $4 billion of assets under
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management. She is also a Senior Managing Director within Hines Interests LP’s Investment Management business, a position she has held since May 2018. Hines Interests LP is a privately-held global real estate firm with approximately $95 billion in assets under management. Prior to this, Ms. Walker has held various investment management roles at Hines Interests LP since February 2005. Ms. Walker started her career as an audit manager and Certified Public Accountant at Arthur Andersen LLP. Ms. Walker received both a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Science in Accounting from Texas Tech University. We believe Ms. Walker is qualified to serve on Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s board of directors due to her business and leadership experience and her insight into operating, advising, and investing in the real estate sector.
Family relationships
Mr. Bradbury, our founder and Executive Chairman of our board of directors, is the father-in-law of Ms. Bradbury, one of our directors. Other than discussed above, there are no family relationships between or among any of our directors, executive officers, or persons nominated or chosen to become a director or executive officer.
Composition of our board of directors
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors, which will consist of      members upon consummation of the Transactions. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of preferred stock, the number of directors on our board of directors shall be fixed exclusively by resolution adopted by our board of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that each director’s term will continue until the annual meeting of stockholders next held after his or her election and the election and qualification of his or her successor, or his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation, or removal.
When considering whether directors have the experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills, taken as a whole, to enable our board of directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of our business and structure, the board of directors focuses primarily on each person’s background and experience as reflected in the information discussed in each of the directors’ individual biographies set forth above. We believe that our directors provide an appropriate mix of experience and skills relevant to the size and nature of our business.
Director independence
Prior to the consummation of the Transactions, our board of directors undertook a review of the independence of our directors and considered whether any director has a relationship with us that could compromise that director’s ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out that director’s responsibilities. Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that Mr. Jackson, Mr. Wedewer, Mr. Faucett, Mr. Perdue, and Ms. Walker are each an “independent director,” as defined under the Exchange rules. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each director has with us and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining his or her independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each director, and the transactions involving them described in the section titled “Certain relationships and related person transactions.”
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Controlled company exception
After the consummation of the Transactions, the Founder Fund will have more than 50% of the combined voting power of our common stock. As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of the Exchange rules and intend to elect not to comply with certain corporate governance standards, including that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors. From time to time, we may rely on additional exemptions provided to controlled companies under the Exchange rules. For example, as a controlled company, from time to time we may not have a majority of independent directors on our board of directors, an entirely independent nominating and corporate governance committee, an entirely independent compensation committee, or perform annual performance evaluations of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all these corporate governance requirements. In the event we cease to be a “controlled company” and our shares continue to be listed on the Exchange, we will be required to comply with these provisions within the applicable transition periods. See “Risk factors—Risks related to this offering and ownership of our Class A common stock—Upon the listing of our Class A common stock, we will be a ‘controlled company’ within the meaning of the rules of the Exchange and, as a result, will qualify for, and intend to rely on, exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. You may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such corporate governance requirements.”
Committees of our board of directors
Our board of directors directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Delaware law, and conducts its business through meetings of the board of directors and its standing committees. We will have a standing audit committee, nominating and corporate governance committee, and compensation committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the board of directors when necessary to address specific issues.
Audit committee
Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
appointing, approving the fees of, retaining, and overseeing our independent registered public accounting firm;
discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm their independence from management;
discussing with our independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;
approving all audit and permissible non-audit services to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm;
overseeing the financial reporting process and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm the interim and annual financial statements that we file with the SEC;
reviewing our policies on risk assessment and risk management;
reviewing related person transactions;
preparing the annual audit committee report required by the SEC rules; and
establishing procedures for the confidential anonymous submission of complaints regarding questionable accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters.
Upon the consummation of the Transactions, our audit committee will consist of Mr. Faucett, Mr. Jackson and Ms. Walker, with Mr. Faucett serving as chair. Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the Exchange rules require that our audit committee have at least one independent member upon the listing of our Class A common stock, have a majority of independent members within 90 days of the date of this prospectus and be composed entirely of independent members within one year of the date of this prospectus. Our board of directors has affirmatively determined that Mr. Faucett, Mr. Jackson and Ms. Walker each meet the definition of “independent director” for purposes of serving on the audit committee under the Exchange rules and the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the Exchange rules. Each member of our audit committee meets the financial
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literacy requirements of the Exchange rules. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Mr. Faucett will qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the audit committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at www.smithdouglas.com substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.
Nominating and corporate governance committee
Our nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for, among other things:
identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors, consistent with criteria approved by our board of directors as set forth in our corporate governance guidelines;
recommending to the board of directors the persons to be nominated for election as directors;
annually reviewing the committee structure of the board of directors and recommending to the board of the directors the directors to serve as members of each committee; and
developing and recommending to our board of directors a set of corporate governance guidelines.
Upon the consummation of the Transactions, our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of Mr. Wedewer, Ms. Bradbury and Ms. Walker with Mr. Wedewer serving as chair. Mr. Wedewer and Ms. Walker each qualify as “independent directors” under the Exchange rules. As a controlled company, we will rely upon the exemption from the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which we intend to file at least once every three fiscal years in an appendix to our proxy statement in connection with our annual meeting of stockholders.
Compensation committee
Our compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things:
reviewing and approving, or recommending that the board of directors approve, the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers;
making recommendations to the board of directors regarding non-employee director compensation;
reviewing and approving or making recommendations to our board of directors regarding our incentive compensation and equity-based plans;
appointing and overseeing any compensation consultants;
when and to the extent required, reviewing and discussing annually with management our “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”; and
when and to the extent required, preparing the annual compensation committee report required by the SEC rules.
Upon the consummation of the Transactions, our compensation committee will consist of Mr. Jackson, Mr. Wedewer and Mr. Faucett with Mr. Jackson serving as chair. Mr. Jackson, Mr. Wedewer and Mr. Faucett each qualify as “independent directors” under the Exchange rules. Our board of directors will adopt a written charter for the compensation committee, which we intend to file at least once every three fiscal years in an appendix to our proxy statement in connection with our annual meeting of stockholders.
Risk oversight
Our board of directors is responsible for overseeing our risk management process. Our board of directors focuses on our general risk management policies and strategy, the most significant risks facing us, and oversee the implementation of risk mitigation strategies by management. Our board of directors is also apprised of particular risk management matters in connection with its general oversight and approval of corporate matters and significant transactions.
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Our board of directors does not have a standing risk management committee, but intends to administer its oversight function through the audit committee of the board. In addition, the standing committees of the board of directors will address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. Our audit committee will be responsible for overseeing enterprise risk management, including the management of financial risks and cybersecurity risks; reviewing and discussing the Company’s guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management; and discussing with management the steps management has taken to monitor and control these exposures. Our compensation committee will oversee risks related to the Company’s executive compensation, equity incentive plans and other compensatory arrangements. Our nominating and corporate governance committee will oversee risks associated with our corporate governance framework. We believe that our Board leadership structure, described below, supports the risk oversight function of the board of directors. The board of directors intends to implement its risk oversight function both as a whole and through delegation to board of directors committees, which will meet regularly and report back to the board of directors.
Compensation committee interlocks and insider participation
None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee (or other committee performing equivalent functions) of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee.
Board leadership structure
Mr. Bradbury is the executive chair of our board of directors. As Mr. Bradbury is not an “independent director,” our board of directors has appointed Mr. Jackson to serve as our lead independent director, effective prior to the completion of the Transactions. The lead independent director’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: presiding over all meetings of the board of directors at which the Executive Chair of the board of directors is not present, including any executive sessions of the independent directors; calling meetings or separate sessions of the independent directors; approving Board meeting schedules and agendas; approving information sent to the board of directors; acting as the liaison between the independent directors and the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chair of the board; and when appropriate, meeting or otherwise communicating with our major stockholders or other constituencies. Our corporate governance guidelines, which we will adopt prior to the completion of the Transactions, will provide the flexibility for our board of directors to modify our leadership structure in the future as it deems appropriate.
Code of business conduct and ethics
Prior to the completion of the Transactions, we will adopt a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers, and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code will be posted on our website, www.smithdouglas.com. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the Exchange rules concerning any amendments to, or waivers from, any provision of the code. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.
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Executive compensation
The following is a discussion and analysis of the material components of the executive compensation program for our executive officers who are named in the “2022 Summary Compensation Table” below, who we refer to as our named executive officers.
Our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and their current positions (which are substantially similar to their 2022 positions) are as follows:
Gregory S. Bennett, President, Chief Executive Officer, & Vice Chairman;
Thomas L. Bradbury, Executive Chairman;
Russell Devendorf, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer; and
Brett A. Steele, Vice President, General Counsel, & Secretary.
Except as otherwise noted below, Mr. Bradbury did not receive any compensation or benefits from us during 2022.
This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations, and determinations regarding future compensation programs. Actual compensation programs that we adopt may differ materially from currently planned programs as summarized in this discussion.
2022 Summary compensation table
The following table sets forth information concerning the total compensation of our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022:
Name and Principal Position
Year
Salary
($)
Stock Awards
($)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)(1)
All Other
Compensation
($)(2)
Total
($)
Gregory S. Bennett
President, Chief Executive Officer, & Vice Chairman
2022
250,000
1,131,617
1,381,617
Thomas L. Bradbury
Executive Chairman
2022
56,807
56,807
Russell Devendorf
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
2022
650,000
860,510
13,100
1,523,610
Brett A. Steele
Vice President, General Counsel, & Secretary
2022
251,125
240,833
13,100
505,058
(1)
Amounts reflect annual and long-term cash incentive bonuses paid to Messrs. Devendorf and Steele with respect to 2022. We provide additional information regarding such bonuses in “—Narrative to Summary Compensation Table—2022 Cash Incentive Compensation” below.
(2)
Amounts reported for each of the named executive officers include (i) safe harbor matching contributions made by us under our 401(k) plan ($10,437 for Mr. Bennett, $12,200 for Mr. Devendorf, and $12,200 for Mr. Steele); (ii) Company-paid reimbursement of cell phone expenses ($900 for each of Messrs. Bennett, Devendorf and Steele); (iii) the aggregate incremental cost to us of personal use of our aircraft ($70,280 for Mr. Bennett and $56,807 for Mr. Bradbury); and (iv) non-pro rata distributions to Mr. Bennett in respect of his Class A units pursuant to our operating agreement ($1,050,000 for Mr. Bennett).
Narrative to summary compensation table
2022 Salaries
Each of our named executive officers (other than Mr. Bradbury) receives an annual base salary to compensate the executive for services rendered to us. The annual base salary payable to each named executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role, and responsibilities.
For fiscal year 2022, Messrs. Bennett and Devendorf had annual base salaries of $250,000 and $650,000, respectively. As of the beginning of fiscal year 2022, Mr. Steele had an annual base salary of $231,750, which was increased to $240,000 effective March 1, 2022 and further increased to $270,000 effective August 1, 2022.
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The “Salary” column of the 2022 Summary Compensation Table above shows the actual base salaries paid to each named executive officer in 2022.
2022 Cash incentive compensation
Annual Incentives
Mr. Devendorf. In 2022, Mr. Devendorf was eligible to earn an annual cash incentive bonus that was calculated on a sliding scale based on our achievement of certain Company EBITDA targets, up to a maximum payment amount ($430,255) earned upon achieving or exceeding an applicable EBITDA maximum goal. Mr. Devendorf earned an annual incentive bonus equal to $430,255 because our actual EBITDA exceeded the maximum goal.
Mr. Steele. In 2022, Mr. Steele was eligible to earn an annual cash incentive bonus under the Smith Douglas Homes 2022 Annual Incentive Program (“AIP”). Mr. Steele’s AIP target bonus was $55,000 as of the beginning of fiscal year 2022 and was increased to $80,000 effective August 1, 2022 (resulting in a prorated 2022 AIP target bonus of $65,417). Under the AIP, Mr. Steele was eligible to earn up to 200% of his AIP target bonus based on achievement of certain Company net income targets (weighted 90%) and individual performance goals (weighted 10%). In the event of his death or disability, Mr. Steele would have received a portion of the earned AIP bonus, pro-rated based on the number of full calendar months during which he was employed during the applicable fiscal year. Mr. Steele earned an annual incentive bonus equal to at 200% of target bonus, or $130,833, based on our and Mr. Steele’s achievement of applicable performance goals.
Such annual incentive amounts for Messrs. Devendorf and Steele are reflected above in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the 2022 Summary Compensation Table. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Bennett is not eligible to participate in any annual incentive program so long as he directly or indirectly holds any ownership interest in the Company. In addition, Mr. Bradbury was not eligible to receive an annual incentive with respect to 2022.
Long-Term Incentives
Mr. Devendorf. In 2022, Mr. Devendorf was eligible to earn a long-term cash incentive bonus that was calculated on the same sliding scale as Mr. Devendorf’s 2022 annual cash incentive bonus opportunity. In 2022, Mr. Devendorf earned a long-term incentive bonus equal to $430,255.
The long-term incentive bonus earned by Mr. Devendorf with respect to 2022 will vest and be paid in three substantially equal annual installments on December 31 of 2023, 2024 and 2025, subject to Mr. Devendorf’s continued employment through the applicable payment date. Additionally, Mr. Devendorf’s long-term incentive bonus is subject to full vesting acceleration in the event of a change in control or sale of the Company, or Mr. Devendorf’s termination of employment by us without cause or his resignation for good reason.
Mr. Steele. In 2022, Mr. Steele was eligible to earn a long-term incentive bonus under the Smith Douglas Homes 2022 Long-Term Incentive Program (the “LTIP”) targeted at $55,000. Mr. Steele was eligible to earn up to 200% of his LTIP target bonus based on achievement of certain Company net income targets (weighted 90%) and individual performance goals (weighted 10%). Amounts earned under the LTIP were determined by us at the end of the performance period, which commenced on January 1, 2022 and ended on December 31, 2022, and will vest and be paid in three substantially equal installments on December 31 of 2023, 2024 and 2025, subject to Mr. Steele’s continued employment through the applicable payment date. Mr. Steele earned a long-term incentive bonus at 200% of target, or $110,000, based on ours and Mr. Steele’s achievement of applicable performance goals.
Such long-term incentive amounts for Messrs. Devendorf and Steele are reflected above in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the 2022 Summary Compensation Table. Messrs. Bradbury and Bennett were not eligible to receive a long-term incentive with respect to 2022.
Equity compensation
Historically, we have not maintained an equity incentive plan for our service providers, and we did not grant any equity or equity-based awards to our named executive officers during 2022.
However, pursuant to our operating agreement and his employment agreement (as further discussed below), Mr. Bennett holds 11,111 fully vested Class A units. Further, pursuant to our operating agreement, (i) Mr. Bennett is
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entitled to an annual non-pro rata distribution in the amount of $750,000 if funds remain available for distribution, and (ii) Mr. Bennett is eligible to receive such additional non-pro rata amounts (not to exceed the net income allocated to him for such year) as may be determined by our board of directors. In 2022, Mr. Bennett received an annual non-pro rata distribution in the amount of $750,000 and an additional non-pro rata distribution in the amount of $300,000, which amounts are reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table.
Equity compensation plan
In connection with this offering, we intend to adopt the 2023 Incentive Award Plan (the “2023 Plan”) in order to facilitate the grant of cash and equity incentives to directors, employees (including our named executive officers) and our consultants and certain of our affiliates and to enable us to obtain and retain services of these individuals, which is essential to our long-term success. For additional information about the 2023 Plan, please see the section titled “Equity compensation plan” below.
IPO equity awards
Our board of directors intends to approve the grant of restricted stock unit awards pursuant to the 2023 Plan to certain of our directors and employees, including Messrs. Devendorf and Steele, which grants will become effective in connection with the completion of this offering.
The aggregate dollar-denominated value of the awards to be granted to our employees and directors will be approximately $9,220,000. Of this amount, the dollar-denominated value of Messrs. Devendorf’s and Steele’s awards is expected to be $6,000,000 and $150,000, respectively. The aggregate number of shares of our Class A common stock that will be subject to the awards will be determined based on the initial public offering price per share of our common stock in this offering.
The employee awards are expected to vest in full upon the one-year anniversary of the closing date of this offering, subject to the employee’s continued employment; however, Mr. Devendorf’s award is expected to vest in six substantially equal installments on each of the first six anniversaries of the closing date of this offering, subject to his continued employment through the applicable vesting date. Additionally, subject to the grantee’s timely execution and non-revocation of a release of claims in our favor, the employee awards will accelerate and vest in full upon a termination of the grantee’s employment by us without “cause” (as defined in the 2023 Plan) or, if the grantee is party to an employment agreement or other individual compensation agreement with us that contains a definition of “good reason”, by the grantee for “good reason” (as defined in the applicable agreement), in either case, that occurs following (or, for Mr. Devendorf, within two years following) a “change in control” (as defined in the 2023 Plan).
The awards that our non-employee directors will receive are further described under the section titled “Director compensation—Director IPO equity awards” below.
Messrs. Bennett and Bradbury will not be granted equity awards in connection with this offering.
Other elements of compensation
Retirement plans
We currently maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan for our employees, including our named executive officers, who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan on the same terms as other full-time employees. The Internal Revenue Code allows eligible employees to defer a portion of their compensation, within prescribed limits, on a pre-tax basis through contributions to the 401(k) plan. Currently, we make safe harbor matching contributions in the 401(k) plan up to a specified percentage of the employee contributions, and these matching contributions are fully vested as of the date on which the contribution is made. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings through our 401(k) plan and making fully vested matching contributions adds to the overall desirability of our executive compensation package and further incentivizes our employees, including our named executive officers, in accordance with our compensation policies.
Health and welfare benefits and perquisites
All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans, including medical, dental and vision benefits (including telemedicine and a high-deductible health plan with a health savings account); health and dependent care flexible spending accounts; short-term and long-term disability insurance; critical illness and accident insurance; and life and AD&D insurance.
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We believe that the perquisites described in the Summary Compensation Table above are necessary and appropriate to fairly compensate and incentivize our named executive officers.
No tax gross-ups
We did not make gross-up payments to cover our named executive officers’ personal income taxes that may pertain to any of the compensation paid or provided by us during 2022.
Outstanding equity awards at 2022 fiscal year end
As of December 31, 2022, none of our named executive officers held any outstanding equity awards.
Executive compensation arrangements
Existing compensation arrangements
The following is a summary of the compensatory agreements we have previously entered into with our named executive officers, which will not remain in effect following the closing of this offering.
Bennett employment agreement
We are party to an employment agreement with Mr. Bennett, our Chief Executive Officer, which was originally entered into on October 1, 2017 and amended on March 14, 2018, July 1, 2019, and October 1, 2020. Pursuant to the employment agreement (as amended), Mr. Bennett is entitled to receive a base salary and paid vacation and is eligible to participate in our standard benefit plans. The employment agreement also includes an indefinite non-disclosure of confidential information provision, a non-competition provision that applies during employment and for two years thereafter, and an employee and customer non-solicitation provision that applies during employment and for four years thereafter.
The employment agreement (as amended) provides for several grants to Mr. Bennett of Class A Units in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (totaling 11,111 Class A Units in the aggregate), including in each case a tax gross-up for estimated federal and state income taxes incurred as a result of such grant and the additional income attributed to Mr. Bennett from such tax gross-up. Any tax gross-ups that became payable to Mr. Bennett were paid prior to 2022.
If Mr. Bennett is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason (each, as defined in the employment agreement), subject to his execution and non-revocation of a release of claims and continued compliance with restrictive covenants, Mr. Bennett is eligible to receive a cash payment equal to $33,333.33 per pay period (prorated for any partial pay period) for six months following his termination of employment, up to a maximum payment amount of $1,000,000.
Devendorf offer letter
We entered into an offer letter with Mr. Devendorf on July 16, 2018, pursuant to which Mr. Devendorf commenced employment as our Executive Vice President of Strategy & Investments on July 16, 2018. Pursuant to the offer letter, Mr. Devendorf is eligible to receive a base salary, an annual incentive plan bonus, a long-term incentive bonus, and a monthly cell phone allowance. In addition, Mr. Devendorf is eligible to participate in our standard employee benefit programs. Additionally, Mr. Devendorf is eligible for paid vacation, the ability to invest personal funds in project level or joint venture or other unconsolidated entity deals, and travel and housing expense reimbursement for working in our offices. The offer letter provides for at-will employment.
Pursuant to the compensation arrangement attached to the offer letter, Mr. Devendorf is eligible to receive annual and long-term cash incentive bonuses, as described above under “—2022 Cash incentive compensation”. Additionally, upon the sale of the business or a change in control, Mr. Devendorf is entitled to receive full accelerated vesting of his outstanding long-term incentive bonuses. Additionally, in the event of Mr. Devendorf’s termination by us without cause, Mr. Devendorf is entitled to receive (i) full accelerated vesting of his outstanding long-term incentive bonuses and (ii) cash severance in an amount equal to the sum of his then-current annual base salary plus his annual incentive bonus for the calendar year in which the termination occurs (calculated based on actual achievement or, if such achievement is not determinable, by reference to the previous year’s achievement).
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Steele offer letter
We entered into an offer letter with Mr. Steele on June 22, 2018, pursuant to which Mr. Steele commenced employment as our General Counsel on July 16, 2018. Pursuant to the offer letter, Mr. Steele is eligible to receive a base salary, an annual incentive plan bonus, and a monthly cell phone allowance. In addition, Mr. Steele is eligible to participate in our standard employee benefit programs. The offer letter provides for at-will employment.
Post-IPO compensation arrangements
We expect to enter into an employment agreement with each of our named executive officers in connection with this offering, which will become effective as of the completion of this offering.
The agreements will have a three-year initial term, with automatic one-year term renewals (unless either party gives timely written notice of non-renewal), and provide for at-will employment.
Pursuant to the agreements, each of our named executive officers will be entitled to receive an annual base salary as set forth in the table below. In addition, each will be eligible to receive an annual cash bonus with a target amount as set forth in the table below, which annual cash bonuses may be earned based on the achievement of certain Company and/or individual performance goals, subject to the executive’s continued employment through the bonus payment date. Additionally, each of our named executive officers will be eligible to receive an annual long-term incentive award with a target grant date value as set forth in the table below.
The following table sets forth each named executive officer’s title, annual base salary, target annual bonus amount, and target long-term incentive award amount:
Named Executive Officer
Title
Annual
Base Salary
($)
Target
Annual Bonus
($)
Target
Long-Term
Incentive
Award
($)
Gregory S. Bennett
President, Chief Executive Officer, & Vice Chairman
$1,000,000
$3,000,000
$2,000,000
Thomas L. Bradbury
Executive Chairman
$1,000,000
$250,000
$250,000
Russell Devendorf
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
$650,000
$500,000
$500,000
Brett A. Steele
Vice President, General Counsel, & Secretary
$350,000
$150,000
$150,000
Each named executive officer will be eligible to participate in the health, welfare, retirement, vacation and other employee benefit plans, practices, policies and programs generally available to other senior executives. Additionally, for Messrs. Devendorf and Steele, any then-unvested long-term cash incentive bonuses granted prior to the completion of this offering will accelerate and vest in full upon a “change in control” (as defined in the applicable executive’s employment agreement) of the Company, subject to the applicable executive’s continued employment through the date of such change in control.
Pursuant to the agreements, if the employment of the named executive officer is terminated by us without “cause” or by the executive for “good reason” (each, as defined in the applicable executive’s employment agreement), the named executive officer will receive the following severance payments and benefits: (i) an amount equal to 12 months of the executive’s then-current base salary, paid in substantially equal installments over the 12-month period following the termination date; (ii) up to 12 months of Company-paid continued healthcare coverage; (iii) a pro-rated target annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs (or, if such termination occurs within 24 months following a change in control, an amount equal to 100% of the executive’s target annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs), paid in a lump sum within 60 days following the termination date; and (iv) for Messrs. Devendorf and Steele, full accelerated vesting of any then-unvested long-term cash incentive bonuses granted prior to the completion of this offering.
If the named executive officer’s employment terminates due to his death or disability, the executive (or his estate) will be eligible to receive a pro-rated annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs, based on actual achievement of the applicable performance goals.
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The severance payments and benefits described above are subject to the executive’s timely execution and nonrevocation of a release of claims in our favor and continued compliance with customary confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation requirements (as described below), and are in addition to any accrued amounts.
Each of our named executive officers will be subject to customary confidential information and proprietary information restrictions that apply indefinitely, as well as a non-competition covenant, an employee non-solicitation covenant and a client non-solicitation covenant, each of which applies during the executive’s employment with us and, for Messrs. Bennett, Bradbury and Devendorf, for two years following the executive’s termination of employment.
Equity compensation plan
The following summarizes the material terms of the 2023 Plan, which is the long-term incentive compensation plan in which our named executive officers will be eligible to participate following the consummation of this offering.
2023 Incentive Award Plan
In connection with this offering, we intend to adopt the 2023 Plan, under which we may grant cash and equity incentive awards to eligible service providers in order to attract, motivate and retain the talent for which we compete, subject to stockholder approval. The material terms of the 2023 Plan are summarized below.
Eligibility and Administration. Our employees, consultants and directors and employees and consultants of our subsidiaries will be eligible to receive awards under the 2023 Plan. Following the completion of this offering, the 2023 Plan will be administered by our board of directors with respect to awards to non-employee directors and by our compensation committee with respect to other participants, each of which may delegate its duties and responsibilities to one or more committees of its directors and/or officers (referred to collectively as the plan administrator), subject to the limitations imposed under the 2023 Plan, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and/or stock exchange rules and other applicable laws. The plan administrator will have the authority to take all actions and make all determinations under the 2023 Plan, to interpret the 2023 Plan and award agreements and to adopt, amend and repeal rules for the administration of the 2023 Plan as it deems advisable. The plan administrator will also have the authority to determine which eligible service providers receive awards, grant awards, and set the terms and conditions of all awards under the 2023 Plan, including any vesting and vesting acceleration provisions, subject to the conditions and limitations in the 2023 Plan.
Limitation on Awards and Shares Available. The initial aggregate number of shares of our common stock that will be available for issuance under the 2023 Plan will be equal to 4% of the number of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding as of immediately following the completion of this offering. In addition, the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the 2023 Plan will be subject to an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on and including January 1, 2024 and ending on and including January 1, 2033, equal to the lesser of (A) 1% of the aggregate number of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (B) such smaller number of shares as is determined by our board of directors. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options (“ISOs”) granted under the 2023 Plan, will be 10,000,000. Any shares issued pursuant to the 2023 Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued common stock, treasury common stock or common stock purchased on the open market.
If an award under the 2023 Plan expires, lapses or is terminated, exchanged for, or settled in cash, any shares subject to such award (or portion thereof) may, to the extent of such expiration, lapse, termination, or cash settlement, be used again for new grants under the 2023 Plan. Prior to the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2023 Plan, shares tendered or withheld to satisfy the exercise price or tax withholding obligation for any award will not reduce the shares available for grant under the 2023 Plan. Further, the payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any awards under the 2023 Plan will not reduce the shares available for grant under the 2023 Plan. However, the following shares may not be used again for grant under the 2023 Plan: (i) shares subject to stock appreciation rights (“SARs”) that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the SAR on exercise, and (ii) shares purchased on the open market with the cash proceeds from the exercise of options.
Awards granted under the 2023 Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, awards authorized or outstanding under a qualifying equity plan maintained by an entity with which we enter into a merger or similar
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corporate transaction will not reduce the shares available for grant under the 2023 Plan but will count against the maximum number of shares that may be issued upon the exercise of ISOs.
The 2023 Plan provides that the sum of any cash compensation and the aggregate grant date fair value (determined as of the date of the grant under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of all awards granted to a non-employee director as compensation for services as a non-employee director during any fiscal year, or director limit, may not exceed an amount equal to $500,000 (increased to $1,000,000 in the calendar year of a non-employee director’s initial service as a non-employee director or any calendar year during which a non- employee director serves as lead independent director), which limits shall not apply to the compensation for any non-employee director who serves in any capacity in addition to that of a non-employee director for which he or she receives additional compensation or any compensation paid prior to the calendar year following the calendar year in which the 2023 Plan becomes effective.
Awards. The 2023 Plan provides for the grant of stock options, including ISOs and nonqualified stock options (“NSOs”), SARs, restricted stock, dividend equivalents, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and other stock or cash based awards. Certain awards under the 2023 Plan may constitute or provide for payment of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code, which may impose additional requirements on the terms and conditions of such awards. All awards under the 2023 Plan will be evidenced by award agreements, which will detail the terms and conditions of awards, including any applicable vesting and payment terms and post-termination exercise limitations. Awards other than cash awards generally will be settled in shares of our common stock, but the applicable award agreement may provide for cash settlement of any award. A brief description of each award type follows.
Stock Options and SARs. Stock options provide for the purchase of shares of our common stock in the future at an exercise price set on the grant date. ISOs, in contrast to NSOs, may provide tax deferral beyond exercise and favorable capital gains tax treatment to their holders if certain holding period and other requirements of the Code are satisfied. SARs entitle their holder, upon exercise, to receive from us an amount equal to the appreciation of the shares subject to the award between the grant date and the exercise date. Unless otherwise determined by our board, the exercise price of a stock option or SAR may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying share on the grant date (or 110% in the case of ISOs granted to certain significant stockholders), except with respect to certain substitute awards granted in connection with a corporate transaction. The term of a stock option or SAR may not be longer than ten years (or five years in the case of ISOs granted to certain significant stockholders). Conditions applicable to stock options and/or SARs may be based on continuing service, the attainment of performance goals and/or such other conditions as the plan administrator may determine.
Restricted Stock and RSUs. Restricted stock is an award of nontransferable shares of our common stock that are subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions. RSUs are contractual promises to deliver shares of our common stock in the future, which may also remain forfeitable unless and until specified conditions are met and may be accompanied by the right to receive the equivalent value of dividends paid on shares of our common stock prior to the delivery of the underlying shares (i.e., dividend equivalent rights). The plan administrator may provide that the delivery of the shares underlying RSUs will be deferred on a mandatory basis or at the election of the participant. The terms and conditions applicable to RSUs will be determined by the plan administrator, subject to the conditions and limitations contained in the 2023 Plan. Conditions applicable to restricted stock and RSUs may be based on continuing service, the attainment of performance goals and/or such other conditions as the plan administrator may determine.
Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. Other stock or cash based awards are awards of cash, fully vested shares of our common stock and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or otherwise based on, shares of our common stock. Other stock or cash based awards may be granted to participants and may also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of compensation to which a participant is otherwise entitled.
Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents represent the right to receive the equivalent value of dividends paid on shares of our common stock and may be granted alone or in tandem with awards other than stock options or SARs. Dividend equivalents are credited as of the dividend record dates during the period between the date an award is granted and the date such award vests, is exercised, is distributed, or expires, as determined by the plan administrator. Dividend equivalents payable with respect to an award prior to the vesting of such award instead will be paid out to the participant only to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the award vests.
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Certain transactions. The plan administrator has broad discretion to act under the 2023 Plan, as well as make adjustments to the terms and conditions of existing and future awards, to prevent the dilution or enlargement of intended benefits and facilitate necessary or desirable changes in the event of certain transactions and events affecting our common stock, such as stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations and other corporate transactions. In addition, in the event of certain non-reciprocal transactions with our stockholders known as “equity restructurings,” the plan administrator will make equitable adjustments to the 2023 Plan and outstanding awards. In the event of a change in control (as defined in the 2023 Plan), to the extent that the surviving entity declines to continue, convert, assume, or replace outstanding awards, then all such awards will become fully vested and exercisable in connection with the transaction. Upon or in anticipation of a change in control, the plan administrator may cause any outstanding awards to terminate at a specified time in the future and give the participant the right to exercise such awards during a period of time determined by the plan administrator in its sole discretion. Individual award agreements may provide for additional accelerated vesting and payment provisions.
Repricing. Our board of directors may, without approval of the stockholders, reduce the exercise price of any stock option or SAR, or cancel any stock option or SAR in exchange for cash, other awards or stock options or SARs with an exercise price per share that is less than the exercise price per share of the original stock options or SARs.
Plan Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors may amend or terminate the 2023 Plan at any time; however, no amendment, other than an amendment that increases the number of shares available under the 2023 Plan, may materially and adversely affect an award outstanding under the 2023 Plan without the consent of the affected participant, and stockholder approval will be obtained for any amendment to the extent necessary to comply with applicable laws. The 2023 Plan will remain in effect until terminated by the plan administrator in accordance with the 2023 Plan. No awards may be granted under the 2023 Plan after its termination.
Foreign Participants, Claw-back Provisions, Transferability and Participant Payments. The plan administrator may modify award terms, establish subplans and/or adjust other terms and conditions of awards, subject to the share limits described above, in order to facilitate grants of awards subject to the laws and/or stock exchange rules of countries outside of the United States. All awards will be subject to any Company clawback policy as set forth in such clawback policy or the applicable award agreement. Awards under the 2023 Plan are generally non-transferrable, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, subject to the plan administrator’s consent, pursuant to a domestic relations order, and are generally exercisable only by the participant. With regard to tax withholding, exercise price and purchase price obligations arising in connection with awards under the 2023 Plan, the plan administrator may, in its discretion, accept cash or check, shares of our common stock that meet specified conditions, a “market sell order” or such other consideration as it deems suitable.
Director compensation
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, our non-employee directors were Ms. Bradbury, Mr. Jackson, Mr. McPherson, Mr. Wedewer, and Mr. Whitman. Mr. Wedewer commenced service with us as a non-employee director in December 2022. Mr. Bennett, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Bradbury, our Executive Chairman, are also members of our board of directors but did not receive any compensation for service as a director during 2022. See the section titled “Executive compensation” for more information.
In 2022, each non-employee director was entitled to receive an annual cash retainer fee equal to $75,000, and Mr. Jackson was entitled to receive an additional cash retainer fee equal to $20,000 for his service on the audit committee of our board of directors, in each case, prorated for any partial year of service.
2022 Director compensation table
The following table sets forth information for 2022 regarding the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the non-employee directors who served on our board of directors during fiscal year 2022:
Name
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
All Other
Compensation
($)
Total
($)
Julie Bradbury
75,000
75,000
Jeffrey T. Jackson
95,000
95,000
David McPherson
75,000
1,397,741(2)
1,472,741
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Name
Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)
All Other
Compensation
($)
Total
($)
Neil B. Wedewer
18,750(1)
18,750
Howe Whitman
56,250
18,750(3)
75,000
(1)
Mr. Wedewer commenced service as a non-employee director in December 2022, and his cash retainer fees reflect his partial year of service.
(2)
Amount represents consulting fees earned and cell phone expense reimbursements paid to Mr. McPherson during 2022. Mr. McPherson is party to a consulting agreement with us pursuant to which he shall provide consulting services to us during the period beginning August 1, 2016 and ending July 31, 2025 in exchange for (i) an annual fee equal to $550,000 plus (ii) eligibility to earn an annual bonus. Mr. McPherson earned a bonus equal to $846,841 with respect to 2022, which was paid in February 2023. We also reimbursed Mr. McPherson for cell phone expenses in the amount of $900 during 2022.
(3)
Mr. Whitman’s cash retainer fee with respect to the fourth quarter of 2022 ($18,750) was paid in the form of a charitable contribution in his name to the Wilberforce School.
Director IPO equity awards
Our board of directors intends to approve the grant of restricted stock unit awards pursuant to the 2023 Plan to each of our non-employee directors, which awards will become effective upon the closing of this offering. Each award to be granted to Jeffrey Jackson and Julie Bradbury is expected to have a dollar-denominated value of $150,000, and each award to be granted to each of our other non-employee directors is expected to have a dollar-denominated value of $75,000 (in each case, with the number of shares determined based on the initial public offering price per share of our Class A common stock in this offering). Each award will vest in full on the earlier to occur of the one-year anniversary of the closing of this offering and the date of our annual stockholders’ meeting in 2024, subject to the applicable director’s continued service through such vesting date. In addition, each award will vest in full upon a change in control of the Company (as defined in the 2023 Plan) if the eligible director will not become a member of the board of directors of the Company or the ultimate parent of the Company as of immediately following such change in control.
Post-IPO non-employee director compensation program
We intend to approve and implement a compensation program for our non-employee directors, or the Director Compensation Program, which will become effective in connection with the completion of this offering. The Director Compensation Program will provide for annual cash retainer fees and long-term equity awards for each of our non-employee directors. The material terms of the Directors Compensation Program are summarized below.
The Director Compensation Program consists of the following components:
Cash compensation
Annual Retainer: $70,000
Lead Independent Director Retainer: $25,000
Annual Committee Chair Retainer: $15,000
Annual Non-Chair Committee Member Retainer: $5,000
Annual cash retainers will be paid in quarterly installments in arrears and will be pro-rated for any partial calendar quarter of service.
Equity compensation
An eligible director who is serving on our board of directors as of the date of the annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders each calendar year (beginning with calendar year 2024) will be granted, on such annual meeting date, a restricted stock unit award with a value of approximately $100,000. Each annual grant will vest in full on the earlier to occur of (i) the one-year anniversary of the applicable grant date and (ii) the date of the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders following the grant date, subject to continued service through each applicable vesting date. In addition, each annual grant will vest in full upon a change in control of the Company (as defined in the 2023 Plan) if the eligible director will not become a member of the board of directors of the Company or the ultimate parent of the Company as of immediately following such change in control.
Compensation under our Director Compensation Program will be subject to the annual limits on non-employee director compensation set forth in the 2023 Plan, as described in the section titled “Executive compensation.”
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Certain relationships and related person transactions
The following are summaries of certain provisions of our agreements with related persons and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all the provisions of such agreements. Because these descriptions are only summaries of the applicable agreements, they do not necessarily contain all the information that you may find useful. We therefore urge you to review the agreements in their entirety. Copies of the forms of the agreements have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and are available electronically on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov.
The Transactions
In connection with the Transactions, we will engage in certain transactions with certain of our directors, executive officers and other persons and entities which are or will become holders of 5% or more of our voting securities upon the consummation of the Transactions. These transactions are described in “Our organizational structure.”
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering (including any net proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters’ option) (1) to purchase newly issued LLC Interests for approximately $   million directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (or approximately $    million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount; and (2) to purchase LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners on a pro rata basis for $   million in aggregate (or LLC Interests for $   million in aggregate if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock) at a price per unit equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock in this offering less the underwriting discount. For additional information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock by such Continuing Equity Owners before and after this offering, see “Principal stockholders.”
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of LLC Interests to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (i) for the Refinancing, (ii) to redeem all outstanding Class C Units and Class D Units of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at par in aggregate for $2.6 million, which are held by the Founder Fund, (ii) to repay in full the outstanding amount of $1.3 million for one of the notes payable to an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund, issued in relation to the purchase of an airplane, as described below under “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Relationship with the Founder Fund,” and (iv) if any remain, for general corporate purposes as described under “Use of proceeds.”
The following table summarizes, after giving effect to the Transactions (including this offering), (i) the number of LLC Interests purchased by us from each of the Continuing Equity Holders and (ii) the total consideration paid, or to be paid, by us for each Continuing Equity Holder’s respective LLC Interests. The table below is based on an assumed initial public offering price of $   per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, less the underwriting discount payable by us, assuming no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock.
Participants(1)
LLC Interests
purchased
by us
Total
purchase
price
Founder Fund(2)
 
$   
GSB Holdings(3)
 
$
(1)
Additional details regarding these stockholders and their equity holdings are provided in this prospectus under the caption “Principal stockholders.”
(2)
Thomas Bradbury, our Executive Chairman of the board of directors, is co-trustee of Founder Fund.
(3)
Gregory Bennett, our Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman of our board of directors, is sole member of GSB Holdings.
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Relationship with the Founder Fund
Upon completion of this offering, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance rules of NYSE and Founder Fund will hold approximately   % of the voting power in us (or approximately   % if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). See “Our organizational structure” and “Management—Controlled company exception.” Thomas Bradbury, our Executive Chairman of the board of directors, is co-trustee of Founder Fund and Julie Bradbury, a member of our board of directors, is a beneficiary of Founder Fund.
We lease office space from JBB Cherokee Holdings LLC, an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, we paid $173,000 under our lease agreement. During fiscal years 2022, 2021, and 2020, we made payments under our lease agreement and for costs associated with the office space aggregating $370,079, $354,149, and $313,421, respectively. We expect to continue leasing the offices following the completion of this offering.
We had related person receivables with an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund totaling approximately $132,000 as of June 30, 2023 and $143,000 and $142,000 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, related to various general and administrative expenses, including aviation expenses and in part related to insurance that was paid on behalf of the related person who reimbursed us at cost. Historically, our chairman has supported our growth by hosting numerous events at personal properties that are intended to foster business development and vendor relations. For the six months ended June 30, 2023, no amounts were paid to entities affiliated with the Founder Fund for use of facilities and related services, and for each of fiscal years 2022, 2021 and 2020, we paid an annual use fee of $350,000.
We have two uncollateralized notes payable to an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund for the purchase of airplanes totaling $1.3 million as of June 30, 2023 and $1.3 million, $1.5 million, and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, which we have included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. The notes bear interest at a rate of 2.12% and 2.56%, respectively. We also charter aircraft services from an entity affiliated with the Founder Fund. Payments made to these entities under a dry lease agreement and for costs associated with these aircraft services have been charged to us and settled in cash pursuant to this agreement. For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, payments totaled approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.
Tax Receivable Agreement
As described in “Our organizational structure,” we intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to purchase newly issued LLC Interests directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and from each Continuing Equity Owner. As a result of our post-offering organizational structure, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. expects to obtain (i) an allocable share (and increases thereto) of existing tax basis in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s assets and tax basis adjustments with respect to such assets resulting from (a) Smith Douglas Homes Corp.’s purchase of LLC Interests from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and each Continuing Equity Owner in connection with the Transactions, as described under “Use of proceeds,” (b) any future redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners as described under “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions—Common unit redemption right,” (c) certain distributions (or deemed distributions) by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and (d) payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement; and (ii) certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We intend to treat any redemption or exchange of LLC Interests for our Class A stock or our cash as our direct purchase of LLC Interests from the Continuing Equity Owners for U.S. federal income and other applicable tax purposes, regardless of whether such LLC Interests are surrendered by the Continuing Equity Owners to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC for redemption or sold to us upon the exercise of our election to acquire such LLC Interests directly. Moreover, as a result of the application of the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code and the U.S. Treasury regulations issued thereunder, which require that items of income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to property owned by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC on the date that we purchase LLC Interests directly from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC with a portion of the proceeds from this offering must be allocated among the members of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to take into account the difference between the fair market value and the adjusted tax basis of such assets on such date, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will be required to make certain special allocations to the Continuing Equity Owners of its items of income and gain attributable to inventory property that exceed their economic pro rata share of such items of income and gain and,
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as a result, we will be allocated less than our economic pro rata share of such items of income or gain. Such Basis Adjustments and Section 704(c) Allocations may have the effect of reducing the amounts we would otherwise pay in the future to various tax authorities and may also decrease gains (or increase losses) on future dispositions of certain assets to the extent tax basis is allocated to those assets.
In connection with the transactions described above, we will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement with Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners, which we refer to as the Tax Receivable Agreement, that will provide for the payment by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. to the Continuing Equity Owners of 85% of the amount of certain tax benefits, if any, that Smith Douglas Homes Corp. actually realizes, or in some circumstances is deemed to realize, as a result of Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocations and certain tax benefits (such as interest deductions) arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code, effective for the taxable year that includes the Transactions and each taxable year thereafter. These Tax Receivable Agreement payments are not conditioned upon one or more of the Continuing Equity Owners maintaining a continued ownership interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. If a Continuing Equity Owner transfers LLC Interests but does not assign to the transferee of such units its rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement, such Continuing Equity Owner generally will continue to be entitled to receive payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement arising in respect of a subsequent exchange of such LLC Interests. In general, the Continuing Equity Owners’ rights under the Tax Receivable Agreement may not be assigned, sold, pledged, or otherwise alienated to any person without such person becoming a party to the Tax Receivable Agreement and agreeing to succeed to the applicable Continuing Equity Owner’s interest therein.
The actual Basis Adjustments and Section 704(c) Allocations, as well as any amounts paid to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement, will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
the timing of any future redemptions or exchanges—for instance, the increase in any tax deductions will vary depending on the fair value, which may fluctuate over time, of the depreciable or amortizable assets of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at the time of each redemption, exchange, or distribution (or deemed distribution) as well as the amount of remaining existing tax basis at the time of such redemption, exchange, or distribution (or deemed distribution);
the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of the purchases from the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering and any applicable redemptions or exchanges—Basis Adjustments, as well as any related increase in any tax deductions, are directly related to the price of shares of our Class A common stock at the time of such purchases or future redemptions or exchanges;
the extent to which redemptions or exchanges are taxable—if a redemption or exchange is not taxable for any reason, increased tax deductions will not be available;
the extent to which such Basis Adjustments are immediately deductible—we may be permitted to immediately expense a portion of the Basis Adjustments (e.g., Basis Adjustments related to certain property and equipment that may be subject to accelerated depreciation methods) attributable to a redemption or exchange, which could significantly accelerate the timing of our realization of the associated tax benefits. Under the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, the determination of whether to immediately expense such Basis Adjustments will be made in our sole discretion; and
the amount and timing of our income—the Tax Receivable Agreement generally will require us to pay 85% of the tax benefits as and when those benefits are treated as realized under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement. If we do not have sufficient taxable income to realize any of the applicable tax benefits, we generally will not be required (absent a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement, change of control, or other circumstances requiring an early termination payment) to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for that taxable year because no tax benefits will have been actually realized. However, any tax benefits that do not result in realized tax benefits in a given taxable year may generate tax attributes that may be utilized to generate tax benefits in previous or future taxable years. The utilization of any such tax attributes will result in payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
For purposes of the Tax Receivable Agreement, cash savings in income tax will be computed by comparing our actual income tax liability to the amount of such taxes that we would have been required to pay had there been no Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocations or additional tax benefits to us as a result of any payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement; provided that, for purposes of determining cash savings with respect to state
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and local income taxes we will use an assumed tax rate. The Tax Receivable Agreement will generally apply to each of our taxable years, beginning with the first taxable year ending after the consummation of the Transactions. There is no maximum term for the Tax Receivable Agreement; however, the Tax Receivable Agreement may be terminated by us pursuant to an early termination procedure that requires us to pay the Continuing Equity Owners an agreed-upon amount equal to the estimated present value of the remaining payments to be made under the agreement (calculated with certain assumptions, including regarding tax rates and utilization of Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocations and additional tax benefits arising from payments made under the Tax Receivable Agreement).
The payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement are obligations of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. and not of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Although the actual timing and amount of any payments that we may make under the Tax Receivable Agreement will vary, we expect the payments we may be required to make to the Continuing Equity Owners could be substantial. Assuming no material changes in the relevant tax laws and that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement, we expect the tax savings associated with the purchase of LLC Interests in connection with this offering, together with future redemptions or exchanges of all remaining LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners pursuant to the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement as described above, would aggregate to approximately $   million over    years from the date of this offering based on the assumed initial public offering price of $   per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming all redemptions or exchanges would occur immediately after the IPO. Under such scenario, assuming future payments are made on the date each relevant tax return is due, without extensions, we would be required to pay approximately 85% of such amount, or approximately $   million over the 20-year period from the date of this offering. The actual amounts we will be required to pay under the Tax Receivable Agreement will depend on, among other things, the timing of subsequent redemptions or exchanges of LLC Interests by the Continuing Equity Owners, the price of our shares of Class A common stock at the time of each such redemption or exchange, and the amounts and timing of our future taxable income, and may be significantly different from the amounts described in the preceding sentence. Any payments made by us to the Continuing Equity Owners under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally reduce the amount of overall cash flow that might have otherwise been available to us or to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and, to the extent that we are unable to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement for any reason, the unpaid amounts generally will be deferred and will accrue interest until paid by us; provided, however, that nonpayment for a specified period may constitute a material breach of a material obligation under the Tax Receivable Agreement and, therefore, may accelerate payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We anticipate funding ordinary course payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement from cash flow from operations of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, available cash, or available borrowings under any future debt agreements. Decisions made by us in the course of running our business, such as with respect to mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combinations, or other changes in control, may influence the timing and amount of payments we pay to a redeeming Continuing Equity Owner under the Tax Receivable Agreement. For example, the disposition of assets following an exchange or acquisition transaction may accelerate payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement and increase the present value of such payments.
The Tax Receivable Agreement provides that if certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combination, or other changes of control were to occur, if we materially breach any of our material obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, or if, at any time, we elect an early termination of the Tax Receivable Agreement, then the Tax Receivable Agreement will terminate and our obligations, or our successor’s obligations, under the Tax Receivable Agreement would accelerate and become due and payable, based on certain assumptions (including that we earn sufficient taxable income to realize all potential tax benefits that are subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement). In those circumstances, Continuing Equity Owners would be deemed to exchange any remaining outstanding LLC Interests for Class A common stock and generally would be entitled to an immediate cash payment under the Tax Receivable Agreement as a result of such deemed exchanges.
We may elect to completely terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement early only with the written approval of each of a majority of our “independent directors” (within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the Exchange rules).
As a result of the foregoing, we could be required to make an immediate cash payment equal to the present value of the anticipated future tax benefits that are the subject of the Tax Receivable Agreement, which payment may be made significantly in advance of the actual realization, if any, of such future tax benefits. We also could be required
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to make cash payments to the Continuing Equity Owners that are greater than the specified percentage of the actual benefits we ultimately realize in respect of the tax benefits subject to the Tax Receivable Agreement. In these situations, our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement could have a substantial negative impact on our liquidity and could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or preventing certain mergers, asset sales, other forms of business combination, or other changes of control. For example, should we elect to terminate the Tax Receivable Agreement immediately following this offering, assuming no material changes in the relevant tax laws or tax rates, we estimate that the aggregate termination payments payable to the Continuing Equity Owners would be approximately $   million based on the assumed initial public offering price of $   per share of our Class A common stock, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and assuming SOFR (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) were to be   %. There can be no assurance that we will be able to finance our obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally be based on the tax reporting positions that we determine. We will not be reimbursed for any cash payments previously made to the Continuing Equity Owners pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement if any tax benefits initially claimed by us are subsequently challenged by a taxing authority and ultimately disallowed. Instead, any excess cash payments made by us to a Continuing Equity Owner will be netted against future cash payments, if any, we might otherwise be required to make under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement to such Continuing Equity Owner. However, a challenge to any tax benefits initially claimed by us may not arise for a number of years following the initial time of such payment or, even if challenged early, such excess cash payment may be greater than the amount of future cash payments, if any, we might otherwise be required to make under the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement and, as a result, there might not be future cash payments from which to net against. The applicable U.S. federal income tax rules are complex and factual in nature, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not disagree with our tax reporting positions. As a result, it is possible we could make cash payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement that are substantially greater than our actual cash tax savings.
We will have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all our tax matters, including the filing and amendment of all tax returns and claims for refund and defense of all tax contests, subject to certain participation and approval rights held by the Continuing Equity Owners. If the outcome of any challenge to all or part of the Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocations or other tax benefits we claim would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the rights and obligations of the Continuing Equity Owners in any material respect under the Tax Receivable Agreement, then we will not be permitted to settle such challenge without the consent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of the Continuing Equity Owners, as applicable. The interests of the Continuing Equity Owners in any such challenge may differ from or conflict with our interests and your interests, and the Continuing Equity Owners may exercise their consent rights relating to any such challenge in a manner adverse to our interests and your interests.
The Tax Receivable Agreement requires us to provide the Continuing Equity Owners with a schedule showing the calculation of payments due under the Tax Receivable Agreement. We are required to provide such schedule within 90 days after filing our U.S. federal income tax return for each taxable year with respect to which a payment obligation arises. This calculation will be based upon the advice of our tax advisors. Payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement will generally be made to the Continuing Equity Owners within five business days after this schedule becomes final pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement, although interest on such payments will begin to accrue at a rate of SOFR (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) plus    basis points from the due date (without extensions) of such tax return. Any late payments that may be made under the Tax Receivable Agreement will continue to accrue interest at a rate equal to SOFR (as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) plus    basis points, until such payments are made, generally including any late payments we may subsequently make because we did not have enough available cash to satisfy our payment obligations at the time they originally arose.
Smith Douglas LLC Agreement
Agreement in effect before consummation of the Transactions
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and the Continuing Equity Owners are currently parties to the Operating Agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, dated as of     , 2023, as amended from time to time, which governs the business operations of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and defines the relative rights and privileges associated with the existing
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units of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. We refer to this agreement, as amended, as the Existing LLC Agreement. Under the Existing LLC Agreement, the board of managers of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC has the sole and exclusive right and authority to manage and control the business and affairs of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, and the day-to-day business operations of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC are overseen and implemented by officers of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. Each Original Equity Owner’s rights under the Existing LLC Agreement continue until the effective time of the new Smith Douglas Holdings LLC operating agreement to be adopted in connection with the Transactions, as described below, at which time the Continuing Equity Owners will continue as members that hold LLC Interests with the respective rights thereunder.
Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions
In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, we and the Continuing Equity Owners will enter into the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement.
Appointment as managing member. Under the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, we will become a member and the sole manager of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. As the sole manager, we will be able to control all of the day-to-day business affairs and decision-making of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC without the approval of any other member. As such, we, through our officers and directors, will be responsible for all operational and administrative decisions of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and daily management of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s business. Pursuant to the terms of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, we cannot be removed or replaced as the sole manager of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC except by our resignation, which may be given at any time by written notice to the members.
Compensation, fees, and expenses. We will not be entitled to compensation for our services as the manager of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. We will be entitled to reimbursement by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC for reasonable fees and expenses incurred on behalf of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, including all expenses associated with the Transactions, any subsequent offering of our Class A common stock, being a public company, and maintaining our corporate existence.
Distributions. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will require “tax distributions” (as that term is used in the agreement) to be made by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to its members, except to the extent such distributions would render Smith Douglas Holdings LLC insolvent or are otherwise prohibited by law or any of our future debt agreements. Tax distributions will be made on a quarterly basis to each member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, including us, pro rata in accordance with economic interests and based on such member’s allocable share of the taxable income of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and an assumed tax rate that will be determined by us, as described below. For this purpose, each member’s allocable share of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s taxable income shall be net of its allocable share of taxable losses of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and our share of tax distributions shall be in amounts that permit us to satisfy our tax liabilities and our ordinary course payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The assumed tax rate for purposes of determining tax distributions from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to its members will be the highest combined U.S. federal, state, and local tax rate that may potentially apply to any one of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s members that is a resident of Atlanta, Georgia, regardless of the actual, final tax liability or resident status of any such member. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will also allow for cash distributions to be made by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (subject to our sole discretion as the sole manager of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC) to its members on a pro rata basis out of “distributable cash,” as that term is defined in the agreement. We expect Smith Douglas Holdings LLC may make distributions out of distributable cash periodically and as necessary to enable us to cover our operating expenses and other obligations, including our tax liability and obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, except to the extent such distributions would render Smith Douglas Holdings LLC insolvent or are otherwise prohibited by law or any of our future debt agreements.
Transfer restrictions. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement generally does not permit transfers of LLC Interests by members, except for transfers to permitted transferees, transfers pursuant to the participation right described below and transfers approved in writing by us, as manager, and other limited exceptions. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement may impose additional restrictions on transfers (including redemptions described below with respect to each common unit) that are necessary or advisable so that Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is not treated as a “publicly traded partnership” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the event of a permitted transfer under the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, such member will be required to simultaneously transfer shares of Class B common stock to such transferee equal to the number of LLC Interests that were transferred to such transferee in such permitted transfer.
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The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement provides that, in the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to our Class A common stock, each of which we refer to as a “Pubco Offer,” is approved by our board of directors or otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of our board of directors, each holder of LLC Interests (other than Smith Douglas Homes Corp. and its subsidiaries) shall be permitted to participate in such Pubco Offer by delivering a written notice, which shall be effective immediately prior to, and contingent upon, the consummation of such Pubco Offer. If a Pubco Offer is proposed by Smith Douglas Homes Corp., then Smith Douglas Homes Corp. is required to use its reasonable best efforts to take all such actions and do all such things as are necessary or desirable to enable and permit the holders of such LLC Interests to participate in such Pubco Offer to the same extent as or on an economically equivalent basis with the holders of shares of Class A common stock, provided that in no event shall any holder of LLC Interests be entitled to receive aggregate consideration for each common unit that is greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A common stock pursuant to the Pubco Offer.
Except for certain exceptions, any transferee of LLC Interests must assume, by operation of law or executing a joinder to the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, all of the obligations of a transferring member with respect to the transferred units, and such transferee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations under the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement even if the transferee is not admitted as a member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. A member shall remain as a member with all rights and obligations until the transferee is accepted as substitute member in accordance with the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement.
Recapitalization. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will recapitalize the units currently held by the existing members of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC into a new single class of LLC Interests. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will also reflect a split of LLC Interests such that one common unit can be acquired with the net proceeds received in the initial offering from the sale of one share of our Class A common stock, after the deduction of the underwriting discount. Each common unit generally will entitle the holder to a pro rata share of the net profits and net losses and distributions of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC.
Maintenance of one-to-one ratio between shares of Class A common stock and LLC Interests owned by us, one-to-one ratio between shares of Class B common stock and LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement requires Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to take all actions with respect to its LLC Interests, including issuances, reclassifications, distributions, divisions or recapitalizations, such that (1) we at all times maintain a ratio of one common unit owned by us, directly or indirectly, for each share of Class A common stock issued and outstanding, and (2) Smith Douglas Holdings LLC at all times maintains (a) a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding and the number of LLC Interests owned by us, and (b) a one-to-one ratio between the number of shares of Class B common stock issued and owned by the Continuing Equity Owners and their permitted transferees and the number of LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners and their permitted transferees. This ratio requirement disregards (1) shares of our Class A common stock under unvested options issued by us, (2) treasury stock and (3) preferred stock or other debt or equity securities (including warrants, options or rights) issued by us that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Class A common stock, except to the extent we have contributed the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, to the equity capital of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. In addition, the Class A common stock ratio requirement disregards all LLC Interests at any time held by any other person, including the Continuing Equity Owners and the holders of options over LLC Interests. If we issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase shares of Class A common stock in a transaction not contemplated by the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, we as manager of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries or repurchases, the number of outstanding LLC Interests we own equals, on a one-for-one basis, the number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock. If we issue, transfer or deliver from treasury stock or repurchase or redeem any of our preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated by the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement, we as manager have the authority to take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries repurchases or redemptions, we hold (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or cease to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) equity interests in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC which (in our good faith determination) are in the aggregate substantially economically equivalent to our preferred stock so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC is prohibited from undertaking any subdivision (by any split of units, distribution of units, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse split of units, reclassification, recapitalization or similar event) of the LLC Interests that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or
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combination of (1) our Class A common stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests owned by us and the number of outstanding shares of our Class A common stock and (2) our Class B common stock to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests owned by the Continuing Equity Owners and the number of outstanding shares of our Class B common stock.
Issuance of LLC Interests upon exercise of options or issuance of other equity compensation. Upon the exercise of options issued by us (as opposed to options issued by Smith Douglas Holdings LLC), or the issuance of other types of equity compensation by us (such as the issuance of restricted or non-restricted stock, payment of bonuses in stock or settlement of stock appreciation rights in stock), we will have the right to acquire from Smith Douglas Holdings LLC a number of LLC Interests equal to the number of our shares of Class A common stock being issued in connection with the exercise of such options or issuance of other types of equity compensation.
Dissolution. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will provide that the consent of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. as the managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and members holding a majority of the voting units will be required to voluntarily dissolve Smith Douglas Holdings LLC. In addition to a voluntary dissolution, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will be dissolved upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution or other circumstances in accordance with Delaware law. Upon a dissolution event, the proceeds of a liquidation will be applied in the following order: (1) first, to pay, or otherwise make adequate provision for the payment thereof, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC owed to creditors other than the members, including all expenses incurred in connection with the liquidation and winding up of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC; (2) second, to pay, or otherwise make adequate provision for the payment thereof, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC owed to the members (other than any payments or distributions owed to such members in their capacity as members pursuant to Smith Douglas LLC Agreement); and (3) third, to the members pro-rata in accordance with their respective percentage ownership interests in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (as determined based on the number of LLC Interests held by a member relative to the aggregate number of all outstanding LLC Interests).
Confidentiality. We, as manager, and each member agree to maintain the confidentiality of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC’s confidential information. This obligation excludes information independently obtained or developed by the members, information that is in the public domain or otherwise disclosed to a member, in either such case not in violation of a confidentiality obligation of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement or approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the General Counsel of either Smith Douglas Homes Corp. or Smith Douglas Holdings LLC or any other officer designated by Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
Indemnification. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will provide for indemnification of the manager, members and officers of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC or affiliates.
Common unit redemption right. In connection with this offering, certain Continuing Equity Owners may cause a pro rata redemption of LLC Interests held by all Continuing Equity Owners. The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will provide a redemption right to the Continuing Equity Owners which will entitle them to have their LLC Interests redeemed for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Act) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock, on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the Securities and Exchange Act) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. of such Class A common stock, or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may exercise such redemption right, subject to certain exceptions, for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. In connection with the exercise of the redemption or exchange of LLC Interests (1) the Continuing Equity Owners will be required to surrender a number of shares of our Class B common stock registered in the name of such redeeming or exchanging Continuing Equity Owner, and therefore, will automatically be transferred to us and will be canceled for no consideration on a one-for-one basis with the number of LLC Interests so redeemed or exchanged and (2) all redeeming members will surrender LLC Interests to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC for cancellation.
Each Continuing Equity Owner’s redemption rights will be subject to certain customary limitations, including the expiration of any contractual lock-up period relating to the shares of our Class A common stock that may be applicable to such Continuing Equity Owner and the absence of any liens or encumbrances on such LLC Interests
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redeemed. Additionally, in the case we elect a cash settlement, such Continuing Equity Owner may rescind its redemption request within a specified period of time. Moreover, in the case of a settlement in Class A common stock, such redemption may be conditioned on the closing of an underwritten distribution of the shares of Class A common stock, which may be issued in connection with such proposed redemption. In the case of a settlement in Class A common stock, such Continuing Equity Owner may also revoke or delay its redemption request if the following conditions exist: (1) any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A common stock to be registered for such Continuing Equity Owner at or immediately following the consummation of the redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective; (2) we failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such redemption or resale of the Class A common stock; (3) we exercised our right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Continuing Equity Owner to have its Class A common stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the redemption or to have our Class A common stock resold; (4) such Continuing Equity Owner is in possession of any material non-public information concerning us, the receipt of which results in such Continuing Equity Owner being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A common stock at or immediately following the redemption or resale of its Class A common stock without disclosure of such information (and we do not permit disclosure); (5) any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A common stock was to be registered by such Continuing Equity Owner at or immediately following the redemption shall have been issued by the SEC; (6) there shall have occurred a material disruption in the securities markets generally or in the market or markets in which the Class A common stock is then traded; (7) there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of any governmental entity that restrains or prohibits the redemption; (8) we shall have failed to comply in all material respects with our obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected the ability of such Continuing Equity Owner to consummate the resale of the Class A common stock to be received upon such redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement; (9) the redemption date would occur during a black-out period; or (10) such Continuing Equity Owner so elects by written to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC no later than three business days prior to the scheduled redemption date.
The Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will require that in the case of a redemption by a Continuing Equity Owner we contribute cash, shares of our Class A common stock, to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC in exchange for an amount of newly-issued LLC Interests that will be issued to us equal to the number of LLC Interests redeemed from the Continuing Equity Owner. Smith Douglas Holdings LLC will then distribute the cash or shares of our Class A common stock, as applicable, to such Continuing Equity Owner to complete the redemption. In the event of an election by a Continuing Equity Owner, we may, at our option, effect a direct exchange by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. of cash, our Class A common stock, for such LLC Interests in lieu of such a redemption. Whether by redemption or exchange, we are obligated to ensure that at all times the number of LLC Interests that we own equals the number of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock (subject to certain exceptions for treasury shares and shares underlying certain convertible or exchangeable securities).
Amendments. In addition to certain other requirements, our consent, as manager, and the consent of members holding a majority of the LLC Interests then outstanding and entitled to vote (excluding LLC Interests held directly or indirectly by us) will generally be required to amend or modify the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement.
Registration Rights Agreement in effect upon the consummation of the Transactions
We intend to enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering, which we refer to as the Registration Rights Agreement. The Registration Rights Agreement will provide certain of the Continuing Equity Owners with certain “demand” registration rights whereby, at any time after 180 days following our initial public offering and the expiration of any related lock-up period, such Continuing Equity Owners can require us to register under the Securities Act the offer and sale of shares of Class A common stock issuable to them, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), upon redemption or exchange of their LLC Interests. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide for customary “piggyback” registration rights for all parties to the agreement.
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Certain land banking arrangements
We enter into lot option agreements to procure lots for the construction of homes in the future. Pursuant to these option agreements, we generally provide a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase lots at different times in the future at predetermined prices. Such contracts enable us to defer acquiring portions of properties owned by third parties or unconsolidated entities until we have determined whether and when to exercise the option, which may serve to reduce our financial risks associated with long-term land holdings.
We have in the past entered into lot option agreements with a former member of our board of managers. As of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, we had deposits in aggregate of $3.0 million, $1.0 million, and $0.6 million, respectively, with an aggregate remaining purchase price under these lot option agreements of $29.5 million, $9.5 million, and $6.5 million, respectively. Additionally, during 2022, 2021 and 2020, we purchased 317, 96 and 57 lots totaling $17.9 million, $6.4 million, and $4.3 million, respectively, related to these lot option agreements. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, we purchased 159 lots totaling $8.3 million related to these lot option agreements. As of June 30, 2023, we had deposits in aggregate of $2.9 million with an aggregate remaining purchase price under these lot option agreements of $28.2 million.
While we typically enter into lot option agreements whereby we provide a deposit to the seller, we have in the past, in lieu of providing a deposit, invested a minority interest in certain of the land banking entities with which we contract. During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, we purchased 127, 275 and 84 lots totaling approximately $11.5 million, $25.1 million, and $4.6 million, respectively, under lot option agreements with unconsolidated land bank entities where we have a non-controlling ownership interest. As of December 31, 2022, we had deposits totaling $0.3 million with a total remaining purchase price under these lot option agreements of $3.1 million for 48 lots. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, we purchased 35 lots totaling $3.0 million under these lot option agreements. As of June 30, 2023 we had deposits totaling $0.03 million with a total remaining purchase price under these lot option agreements of $0.4 million for 5 lots. See Note 11 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information on variable interest entities.
Other relationships
Our Atlanta Affiliate’s VP of Operations is the son of Greg Bennett, our Chief Executive Officer, and is currently employed by us. He is not one of our executive officers. During fiscal years 2022, 2021 and 2020, our Atlanta Affiliate’s VP of Operations had total cash compensation of $210,798, $140,112, and $120,107, respectively, consisting of base salary, cash bonuses and an auto allowance.
One of our construction managers is the son-in-law of Greg Bennett, our Chief Executive Officer, and is currently employed by us. He does not share a household with Mr. Bennett and is not one of our executive officers. During fiscal year 2022, our construction manager had total cash compensation of $130,961, consisting of base salary, cash bonuses and an auto allowance.
The compensation levels described above were based on reference to external market practice of similar positions when compared to the compensation paid to employees in similar positions that were not related to our executive officers. The Atlanta Affiliate’s VP of Operations and construction manager are also eligible to participate in employee benefit plans on the same general terms and conditions as applicable to other employees in similar positions who were not related to our executive officers.
SDH Atlanta LLC (formerly SDC Gwinnett LLC), a wholly owned subsidiary of ours, entered into separate promissory notes with entities affiliated with Russ Devendorf, our Chief Financial Officer, and Neill B. Faucett, one of our director nominees, each as lenders in August 2018 for a principal aggregate amount of $500,000 and $620,000, respectively, each of which were repaid in full in August 2021. The notes accrued interest at a rate of 17.0% per annum. Total interest and prepayment fees totaled $269,486 and $360,806, respectively, over the term of the notes.
Historically, since August 2016, one of the members of our board of managers was party to a consulting agreement with us pursuant to which he provided services to us in exchange for (i) an annual fee equal to $550,000 plus (ii) eligibility to earn an annual bonus, subject to the terms and conditions therein. During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the member of our board of managers earned fees under the consulting agreement of $0.3 million. During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, the member of our board of managers earned fees
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under the consulting agreement of $1,396,841, $895,118, and $849,719, respectively. As of June 30, 2023, and as of December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, we had a balance due to the member of our board of managers under the consulting agreement of $0, $846,841, $345,118, and $299,719, respectively.
Director and officer indemnification and insurance
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. We have also purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. See “Description of capital stock—Limitations on liability and indemnification of officers and directors.”
Our policy regarding related person transactions
Our Board recognizes the fact that transactions with related persons present a heightened risk of conflicts of interests (or the perception thereof). Prior to the consummation of this offering, our Board intends to adopt a written policy on transactions with related persons that is in conformity with the requirements for issuers having publicly held common stock that is listed on the NYSE, setting forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy is intended to cover, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K, any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements, or relationships, in which we (including any of our subsidiaries) are, were or will be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 in any fiscal year and a related person has, had, or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Under the policy, our legal staff will be primarily responsible for developing and implementing processes and procedures to obtain information regarding related persons with respect to potential related person transactions and then determining, based on the facts and circumstances, whether such potential related person transactions do, in fact, constitute related person transactions requiring compliance with the policy. If our legal staff determines that a transaction or relationship is a related person transaction requiring compliance with the policy, the General Counsel will be required to present to the audit committee all relevant facts and circumstances relating to the related person transaction. The audit committee will be required review the relevant facts and circumstances of each related person transaction, including if the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length dealings with an unrelated third party, whether the transaction is inconsistent with the interest of our and its stockholders, and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction, take into account the conflicts of interest and corporate opportunity provisions of our code of business conduct and ethics (which will be adopted prior to the completion of this offering), and either approve or disapprove the related person transaction. If advance audit committee approval of a related person transaction requiring the audit committee’s approval is not feasible, then the transaction may be preliminarily entered into by management upon prior approval of the transaction by the Chair of the audit committee subject to ratification of the transaction by the audit committee at the audit committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting; provided, that if ratification is not forthcoming, management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction. If a transaction was not initially recognized as a related person transaction, upon such recognition the transaction will be presented to the audit committee for ratification at the audit committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting; provided, that if ratification is not forthcoming, management will make all reasonable efforts to cancel or annul the transaction. Management will be required to update the audit committee as to any material changes to any approved or ratified related person transaction and to provide a status report at least annually of all then current related person transactions. No director may participate in approval of a related person transaction for which he or she is a related person.
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Principal stockholders
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock (1) immediately following the consummation of the Transactions (excluding this offering), as described in “Our organizational structure” and (2) as adjusted to give effect to this offering, for:
each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock;
each of our directors;
each of our named executive officers; and
all of our executive officers and directors as a group.
The numbers of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, beneficially owned, percentages of beneficial ownership, and percentages of combined voting power before and after this offering that are set forth below are based on (i) the number of shares and LLC Interests to be issued and outstanding prior to and after this offering, after giving effect to the Transactions and (ii) an assumed initial public offering price of $    per share (the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). See “Our organizational structure.”
The amounts and percentages of Class A common stock, and Class B common stock, beneficially owned are reported on the basis of the regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days, provided that any person who acquires any such right with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer, or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, immediately upon such acquisition shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities which may be acquired through the exercise of such right. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all listed stockholders is 110 Village Trail, Suite 215, Woodstock, Georgia 30188.
Each of the stockholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the stockholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.
 
Class A Common Stock
Beneficially Owned(1)
Class B Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
Combined Voting
Power(2)
 
Before
this
offering
 
After this
offering
(no
exercise
of over-
allotment
option)
 
After this
offering
(with full
exercise
or over-
allotment
option)
 
Before
this
offering
 
After this
offering
(no
exercise
of over-
allotment
option)
 
After this
offering
(with full
exercise
or over-
allotment
option)
 
After this
offering
(No
exercise
of over-
allotment
option)
After this
offering
(with full
exercise of
over-
allotment
option)
Name of beneficial owner
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
%
%
5% Stockholders
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Founder Fund(3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSB Holdings(4)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Named Executive Officers, Directors, and Director Nominees
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thomas L. Bradbury(3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gregory S. Bennett(4)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Russell Devendorf
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brett A. Steele
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Julie Bradbury
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Neill B. Faucett
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Jeffrey T. Jackson
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Class A Common Stock
Beneficially Owned(1)
Class B Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
Combined Voting
Power(2)
 
Before
this
offering
 
After this
offering
(no
exercise
of over-
allotment
option)
 
After this
offering
(with full
exercise
or over-
allotment
option)
 
Before
this
offering
 
After this
offering
(no
exercise
of over-
allotment
option)
 
After this
offering
(with full
exercise
or over-
allotment
option)
 
After this
offering
(No
exercise
of over-
allotment
option)
After this
offering
(with full
exercise of
over-
allotment
option)
Name of beneficial owner
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
%
%
George E. “Sonny” Perdue III
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Janice E. Walker
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Neil B. Wedewer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All directors, director designees, director nominees, and executive officers as a group (10 persons)(5)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.
(1)
Each Continuing Equity Owner will be entitled to redeem their LLC Interests from time to time at each holder’s option, for shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. LLC Interests may also be redeemed in the event that the majority of the holders of LLC Interests, in connection with an IPO, deliver redemption notices, provided that such redemption is pro rata from all members, each at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), for shares of Class A common stock, on a one-for-one basis or, to the extent there is cash available from a secondary offering, a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock, for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. of such Class A common stock, or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may, subject to certain exceptions, exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement.” In this table, beneficial ownership of LLC Interests has been reflected as beneficial ownership of shares of our Class A common stock for which such LLC Interests may be exchanged. When an LLC Interest is exchanged by a Continuing Equity Holder, a corresponding share of Class B common stock automatically be transferred to Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for no consideration and canceled.
(2)
Represents the percentage of voting power of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting as a single class. Each share of Class A common stock entitles the registered holder thereof to one vote per share, and each share of Class B common stock entitles the registered holder thereof to ten votes per share prior to the Sunset Date, in each case, on all matters presented to stockholders for a vote generally, including the election of directors. From and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date each share of our Class B common stock will entitle its holder to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally. The Class A common stock and Class B common stock will vote as a single class on all matters except as required by law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our Class B common stock does not have any of the economic rights (including rights to dividends and distributions upon dissolution or liquidation) associated with our Class A common stock. See “Description of capital stock.”
(3)
Consists of      LLC Interests (and associated shares of Class B common stock) held by Bradbury Family Trust II A (“Founder Fund”) that will be issued in connection with the Transactions. As a co-trustee of Founder Fund, Mr. Bradbury may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power with respect to such securities. The address for Founder Fund is 110 Village Trail, Suite 115, Woodstock, GA 30188.
(4)
Consists of      LLC Interests (and associated shares of Class B common stock) held by GSB Holdings LLC (“GSB Holdings”), that will be issued in connection with the Transactions. Mr. Bennett is the sole member of GSB Holdings, and may be deemed to have sole voting and investment power with regard to the securities held GSB Holdings. The address for GSB Holdings is 210 Road 1 South, Cartersville, GA, 30120.
(5)
Consists of      LLC Interests (and associated shares of Class B common stock), all of which will be issued in connection with the Transactions.
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Description of capital stock
General
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will file an amended and restated certificate of incorporation and we will adopt our amended and restated bylaws. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will authorize capital stock consisting of three classes as follows:
    shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share;
    shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share; and
    shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
We are selling     shares of Class A common stock in this offering (    shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of our Class A common stock). All shares of our Class A common stock outstanding upon consummation of this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable. We are issuing     shares of Class B common stock to the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with the Transactions (including this offering and the proposed use of proceeds) for nominal consideration.
The following summary describes the material provisions of our capital stock and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, each of which will become effective prior to the completion of this offering, and of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and is qualified by reference to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the amended and restated bylaws and the DGCL. We urge you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock.
Common stock
Class A common stock
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and on which the holders of the Class A common stock are entitled to vote.
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.
Upon our dissolution or liquidation, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of shares of our Class A common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution.
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption, or conversion rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A common stock.
Holders of shares of our Class A common stock will vote together with holders of our Class B common stock, as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except for certain amendments to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as otherwise required by applicable law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Any amendment to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that gives holders of the Class B common stock (i) any rights to receive dividends (subject to certain exceptions) or any other kind of distribution, (ii) any right to convert into or be exchanged for shares of Class A common stock, or (iii) any other economic rights (except for payments in cash in lieu of receipt of fractional stock) shall, in addition to the vote of the holders of shares of any class or series of our capital stock required by law, also require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock voting separately as a class.
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Class B common stock
Each share of our Class B common stock entitles its holders to ten votes per share on all matters presented to our stockholders and on which the holders of the Class B common stock are entitled to vote; provided, that each share of Class B common stock will only be entitled to one vote per share on all matters presented to our stockholders generally upon the Sunset Date.
Shares of Class B common stock will be issued in the future only to the extent necessary to maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of LLC Interests held by the Continuing Equity Owners and the number of shares of Class B common stock issued to the Continuing Equity Owners. Shares of Class B common stock are transferable only together with an equal number of LLC Interests. Only permitted transferees of LLC Interests held by the Continuing Equity Owners will be permitted transferees of Class B common stock. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement.” Shares of Class B common stock automatically transferred to Smith Douglas Home Corp upon the redemption or exchange of their LLC Interests pursuant to the terms of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement will be canceled and may not be reissued.
Holders of shares of our Class B common stock will vote together with holders of our Class A common stock, as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except for certain amendments to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described below or as otherwise required by applicable law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
Except in certain limited circumstances, holders of our Class B common stock do not have any right to receive dividends or to receive a distribution upon dissolution or liquidation. Additionally, holders of shares of our Class B common stock do not have preemptive, subscription or redemption rights. There will be no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class B common stock. Upon the redemption or exchange of an LLC Interest (together with a share of Class B common stock) for Class A common stock, the shares of Class B common stock will be automatically transferred to Smith Douglas Home Corp. for no consideration and will be canceled and no longer outstanding. Such shares of Class B common stock may not be reissued. Any amendment of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that gives holders of our Class B common stock (1) any rights to receive dividends or any other kind of distribution, (2) any right to convert into or be exchanged for shares of Class A common stock, or (3) any other economic rights (except for payments in cash in lieu of receipt of fractional stock) will require, in addition to any stockholder approval required by applicable law, the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock voting separately as a class.
Upon the consummation of the Transactions (including this offering and the proposed use of proceeds), the Continuing Equity Owners will own, in the aggregate,     shares of our Class B common stock.
Preferred stock
Upon the consummation of the Transactions and the effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions, the total of our authorized shares of preferred stock will be 10,000,000 shares. Upon the consummation of the Transactions, we will have no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Under the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions, our board of directors is authorized to direct us to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the number and designation of such series and the powers, rights, preferences, privileges, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, and the qualifications, limitations, or restrictions, of each series of preferred stock.
The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific preferred stock issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, future financings, and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, a majority of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may adversely affect the holders of our Class A common stock
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by restricting dividends on the Class A common stock, diluting the voting power of the Class A common stock, or subordinating the dissolution or liquidation rights of the Class A common stock. As a result of these or other factors, the issuance of preferred stock could have an adverse impact on the market price of our Class A common stock.
Registration rights
We intend to enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Continuing Equity Owners in connection with this offering pursuant to which such parties will have specified rights to require us to register all or a portion of their shares under the Securities Act. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”
Forum selection
Our amended and restated bylaws will provide that, unless we otherwise consent in writing, (A) (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers, other employees or stockholders to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws (as either may be amended or restated) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, in the event that the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware); and (B) the federal district courts of the U.S. shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act; provided, however, that the foregoing choice of forum provision shall not apply to claims seeking to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Our amended and restated bylaws will also provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing. By agreeing to this provision, however, stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Dividends
Declaration and payment of any dividend will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors. The time and amount of dividends will be dependent upon our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, contractual restrictions, covenants in the agreements governing our future indebtedness, industry trends, the provisions of Delaware law affecting the payment of dividends and distributions to stockholders and any other factors our board of directors may consider relevant. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business, and therefore, do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. See “Dividend policy” and “Risk factors—Risks related to this offering and ownership of our Class A common stock—Because we have no current plans to pay regular cash dividends on our Class A common stock following this offering, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your Class A common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.”
Anti-takeover provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as they will be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions, will contain provisions that may delay, defer, or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. We expect that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of our stockholders. However, they also give our board of directors the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.
Authorized but unissued shares
The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and our preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the Exchange rules. These additional shares
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may be used for a variety of corporate finance transactions, acquisitions, and employee benefit plans and, as described under “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement—Agreement in effect upon consummation of the Transactions—Common unit redemption right,” funding of redemptions of LLC Interests. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Board of directors’ vacancies; removal of directors; size of the board
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors, vacant directorships, including newly created seats, shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class; provided however, from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, directors may only be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock representing at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors, the number of directors constituting our board of directors will be permitted to be set only by a resolution adopted by our board of directors. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of our board of directors and then gaining control of our board of directors by filling the resulting vacancies with its own nominees. This will make it more difficult to change the composition of our board of directors and will promote continuity of management.
Stockholder action; special meetings of stockholders
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, prior to the occurrence of the Sunset Date, our stockholders may take action by consent without a meeting, and at any time from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, our stockholders may not take action by consent without a meeting, but may only take action at a meeting of stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will further provide that prior to the Sunset Date, the Secretary (or other officer or our board of directors) at the request of any Continuing Equity Owner owning at least 5% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon may call a special meeting of stockholders, and at any time from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of our board of directors, our Executive Chairman, or our Chief Executive Officer, as applicable, thus prohibiting a stockholder from calling a special meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.
Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations
In addition, our amended and restated bylaws will establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with advance notice and requirements and provide us with certain information in the timeframe set forth in the bylaws. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors or by a qualified stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. These provisions could have the effect of delaying stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities until the next stockholder meeting.
No cumulative voting
The DGCL provides that stockholders are not entitled to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
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Amendment of certificate of incorporation or bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares entitled to vote on the matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock, voting as a single class, will be required to amend certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including provisions relating to amending our amended and restated bylaws, the size of our board, removal of directors, director and officer liability, vacancies on our board, special meetings, stockholder notices, actions by written consent and exclusive forum. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the board of directors may adopt, amend, alter, or repeal our bylaws. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the stockholders may not adopt, amend, alter or repeal our bylaws unless such action is approved, in addition to any other vote required by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (a) prior to the Sunset Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, or (b) from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
Section 203 of the DGCL
We will opt out of Section 203 of the DGCL, and the restrictions and limitations set forth therein. However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will contain provisions that are similar to Section 203 of the DGCL. Specifically, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, subject to certain exceptions, we will not be able to engage in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for three years following the time that the person became an interested stockholder, unless the interested stockholder attained such status with the approval of our board of directors, or, upon becoming an interested stockholder, owned at least 85% of the voting power of the outstanding stock or unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving us and the “interested stockholder” and the sale of more than 10% of our assets. In general, an “interested stockholder” is any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
However, in our case, our Continuing Equity Owners and any of their respective affiliates and any of their respective direct or indirect transferees of our common stock will not be deemed to be “interested stockholders” for the purposes of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation regardless of the percentage of our outstanding voting stock owned by them, and accordingly will not be subject to such restrictions.
Limitations on liability and indemnification of officers and directors
Our amended and restated bylaws provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Prior to the consummation of the Transactions, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that may, in some cases, be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained under Delaware law. In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of our directors and certain officers for monetary damages resulting from breaches of certain fiduciary duties as a director or officer, as applicable.
These provisions may be held not to be enforceable for violations of the federal securities laws of the U.S.
Corporate opportunity doctrine
Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors, or stockholders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounce any interest or expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are from time to time presented to any of our directors or stockholders who are not employed by us or our subsidiaries (each such person, an “exempt person”). Our amended and restated
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certificate of incorporation will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no exempt person will have any duty to refrain from (1) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which we or our subsidiaries now engage or propose to engage or (2) otherwise competing with us or our subsidiaries. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, if any exempt person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself or himself or its or his affiliates or for us or our affiliates, such exempt person will have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to us or any of our subsidiaries and they may take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to another person or entity, unless such opportunity was expressly offered to them solely in their capacity as a director, executive officer or employee of us or our subsidiaries. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity of the corporation or our subsidiaries unless (1) we or our subsidiaries would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, (2) we or our subsidiaries at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity, (3) we or our subsidiaries have an interest or expectancy in such transaction or opportunity and (4) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of our business in which we or our subsidiaries are engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to an employee director or employee in his or her capacity as a director or employee of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
Dissenters’ rights of appraisal and payment
Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation or conversion or transfer, domestication or continuance of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. Pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation or conversion or transfer, domestication or continuance will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Stockholders’ derivative actions
Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such stockholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.
Transfer agent and registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock will be Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.
Trading symbol and market
We have applied to list our Class A common stock on the NYSE, under the symbol “SDHC.”
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Shares eligible for future sale
Immediately prior to this offering, there was no public market for our Class A common stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of Class A common stock in the public market (including shares of Class A common stock issuable upon redemption or exchange of LLC Interests of our Continuing Equity Owners), or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock. Although we intend to apply to have our Class A common stock listed on the Exchange, we cannot assure you that there will be an active public market for our Class A common stock.
Upon the closing of this offering, we will have an aggregate of     shares of Class A common stock outstanding, assuming the issuance of     shares of Class A common stock offered by us in this offering. Of these shares, all shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, whose sales would be subject to the Rule 144 resale restrictions described below, other than the holding period requirement.
None of the shares of Class A common stock will be “restricted securities,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Restricted securities are eligible for public sale only if they are registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, including Rules 144 or 701 under the Securities Act, which are summarized below.
In addition, each LLC interest held by our Continuing Equity Owners will be redeemable, at the election of each Continuing Equity Owner, for, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), newly-issued shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis or a cash payment equal to a volume weighted average market price of one share of Class A common stock for each LLC Interest so redeemed, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Smith Douglas LLC Agreement; provided that, at our election (determined solely by our independent directors (within the meaning of the Exchange rules) who are disinterested), we may effect a direct exchange by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. of such Class A common stock or such cash, as applicable, for such LLC Interests. The Continuing Equity Owners may, subject to certain exceptions, exercise such redemption right for as long as their LLC Interests remain outstanding. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Smith Douglas LLC Agreement.” Upon consummation of the Transactions, our Continuing Equity Owners will hold     LLC Interests, all of which will be exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock. The shares of Class A common stock we issue upon such exchanges would be “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 unless we register such issuances. However, we will enter into a Registration Rights Agreement with certain of the Continuing Equity Owners that will require us, subject to customary conditions, to register under the Securities Act these shares of Class A common stock. See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”
Lock-up agreements
We, our officers, and directors, and the Continuing Equity Owners will agree that, without the prior written consent of              , we and they will not, subject to certain exceptions, during the period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus:
offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of any shares of our Class A common stock, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of our Class A common stock, or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, shares of our Class A common stock; or
engage in any hedging or other transaction or arrangement (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) which is designed to, or which reasonably could be expected to lead to, or result in, a sale, loan, pledge or other disposition of shares of our Class A common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our Class A common stock, whether any transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of our Class A common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
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Upon the expiration of the applicable lock-up periods, substantially all of the shares subject to such lock-up restrictions will become eligible for sale, subject to the limitations discussed above. See “Shares eligible for future sale” for a discussion of certain transfer restrictions.
Rule 144
In general, under Rule 144 under the Securities Act as currently in effect, a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months (including any period of consecutive ownership of preceding non-affiliated holders) would be entitled to sell those shares, subject only to the availability of current public information about us. A non-affiliated person who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least one year would be entitled to sell those shares without regard to the provisions of Rule 144.
A person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is deemed to be an affiliate of ours and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months would be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of 1% of the then-outstanding shares of our Class A common stock or the average weekly trading volume of our Class A common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of notice of the sale. Such sales are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements, and the availability of current public information about us.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants, or advisors who purchases shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement before the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is entitled to sell such shares 90 days after such effective date in reliance on Rule 144. Our affiliates can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the holding period requirement, and non-affiliates of the issuer can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the current public information and holding period requirements.
Equity plans
We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register the offer and sale of all shares of Class A common stock issuable under our 2023 Plan. As of the date of this prospectus, restricted stock units covering a total of approximately      shares of our Class A common stock are intended to be granted to certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees in connection with this offering.
We expect to file the registration statement covering shares offered pursuant to our 2023 Plan shortly after the date of this prospectus, permitting the resale of such shares by nonaffiliates in the public market without restriction under the Securities Act and the sale by affiliates in the public market subject to compliance with the resale provisions of Rule 144.
Registration rights
See “Certain relationships and related person transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”
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Material U.S. federal income tax considerations to
Non-U.S. holders of Class A common stock
The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock issued pursuant to this offering but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local, or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the IRS, in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our Class A common stock.
This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our Class A common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income and the alternative minimum tax. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:
U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;
persons holding our Class A common stock as part of a straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;
banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;
brokers, dealers, or certain electing traders in securities that are subject to a mark-to-market method of tax accounting for their securities;
“controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);
tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;
persons deemed to sell our Class A common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
persons required for U.S. federal income tax purposes to conform the timing of income accruals with respect to our Class A common stock to their financial statements under Section 451(b) of the Code;
persons who hold or receive our Class A common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;
tax-qualified retirement plans; and
“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds.
If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our Class A common stock, the tax treatment of an owner of such an entity will depend on the status of the owner, the activities of such entity and certain determinations made at the owner level. Accordingly, entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes holding our Class A common stock and the owners of such entities should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.
THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT TAX ADVICE. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
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Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder
For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our Class A common stock that is an individual, corporation, estate or trust that is not a “U.S. person.” A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Distributions
As described in the section entitled “Dividend policy,” we do not anticipate declaring or paying any dividends on our Class A common stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our Class A common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute returns of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its Class A common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “—Sale or other taxable disposition.”
Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.
If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner generally applicable to United States persons (as defined by the Code) unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
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Sale or other taxable disposition
A Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock unless:
the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);
the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or
our Class A common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the rates and in the manner generally applicable to United States persons (as defined by the Code) unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.
A Non-U.S. Holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.
With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe that we currently are, and expect to remain for the foreseeable future, a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, as long as our Class A common stock continues to be regularly traded on an established securities market, only a non-U.S. holder that actually or constructively owns, or owned at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition and the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Class A common stock, more than 5% of our Class A common stock will be subject to tax with respect to gain realized on the disposition of our Class A common stock as a result of our status as a USRPHC. We anticipate that our Class A common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market following this offering. However, no assurance can be given in this regard, and no assurance can be given that our Class A common stock will remain regularly traded in the future. If our Class A common stock were not considered to be regularly traded on an established securities market during the calendar year in which the relevant disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder occurred, such holder (regardless of the percentage of our Class A common stock owned) would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the taxable disposition of our Class A common stock (as described in the preceding paragraph), and a 15% withholding tax would apply to the gross proceeds from such disposition.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Information reporting and backup withholding
Payments of dividends on our Class A common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable payor does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person and the Non-U.S. Holder either certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption.
However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any distributions on our Class A common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our Class A common stock within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable payor receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our Class A common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker that does not have certain enumerated relationships with the United States generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.
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Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Additional withholding tax on payments made to foreign accounts
Withholding may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding may be imposed on dividends on, or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our Class A common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.
Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our Class A common stock. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of stock, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.
If withholding under FATCA is imposed, a beneficial owner that is not a foreign financial institution generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld by filing a U.S. federal income tax return (which may entail significant administrative burden). Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our Class A common stock.
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Underwriting (conflicts of interest)
We are offering the shares of Class A common stock described in this prospectus through a number of underwriters. J.P. Morgan Securities, BofA Securities, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering and as representatives of the underwriters. We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of Class A common stock listed next to its name in the following table:
Name
Number of
Shares
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
 
BofA Securities, Inc.
 
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
 
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
 
Nomura Securities International, Inc.
 
WR Securities, LLC
 
Wedbush Securities Inc.
 
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
 
Regions Securities LLC
 
Whelan Advisory Capital Markets
 
Total
 
“Wolfe | Nomura Alliance” is the marketing name used by Wolfe Research Securities and Nomura Securities International, Inc. in connection with certain equity capital markets activities conducted jointly by the firms. Both Nomura Securities International, Inc. and WR Securities, LLC are serving as underwriters in the offering described herein. In addition, WR Securities, LLC and certain of its affiliates may provide sales support services, investor feedback, investor education, and/or other independent equity research services in connection with this offering.
The underwriters are committed to purchase all of the shares of Class A common stock offered by us if they purchase any shares. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may also be increased, or the offering may be terminated. The offering of the shares of Class A common stock by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.
The underwriters propose to offer the shares of Class A common stock directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $   per share. Any such dealers may resell shares to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount of up to $   per share from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the shares of Class A common stock to the public, if all of the shares of Class A common stock are not sold at the initial public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. Sales of any shares made outside of the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriters.
The underwriters have an option to buy up to    additional shares of Class A common stock from us to cover sales of shares by the underwriters which exceed the number of shares specified in the table above. The underwriters have 30 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this option to purchase additional shares. If any shares are purchased with this option to purchase additional shares, the underwriters will purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above. If any additional shares of Class A common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the shares are being offered.
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The underwriting fee is equal to the initial public offering price per share of Class A common stock less the amount paid by the underwriters to us per share of Class A common stock. The underwriting fee is $   per share. The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.
 
Without option
to purchase
additional
shares exercise
With full option
to purchase
additional
shares exercise
Per Share
 
 
Total
 
 
We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing, and listing fees, printing fees, and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $   . We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for expenses of up to $    relating to the clearance of this offering with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and blue sky fees. The underwriters have agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses in connection with this offering.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters and selling group members that may make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.
We have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, we will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our Class A common stock, or any options, rights or warrants to purchase any shares of Class A common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, any shares of Class A common stock, including limited liability company interests in the LLC convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive any shares of our Class A common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, loan, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any shares of Class A common stock or any such other securities (regardless of whether any of these transactions are to be settled by the delivery of shares of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), in each case without the prior written consent of      for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus.
The restrictions on our actions, as described above, do not apply to certain transactions, including   .
Our executive officers, directors, and holders of substantially all of the LLC Interests immediately prior to this offering (such persons, the lock-up parties) have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each lock-up party, with limited exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, may not (and may not cause any of their direct or indirect affiliates to), without the prior written consent of       , or pursuant to certain limited exceptions, (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our Class A common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our Class A common stock (including, without limitation, Class A common stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such directors, executive officers, managers and members in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant (collectively with the Class A common stock, the lock-up securities) or (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the lock-up securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of lock-up securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any lock-up securities or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. Such persons or entities have further acknowledged that these undertakings preclude them from
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engaging, during the restricted period, in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap, or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined), designed, or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition or transfer (by any person or entity, whether or not a signatory to such agreement) of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any lock-up securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of lock-up securities, in cash or otherwise.
The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph and contained in the lock-up agreements between the underwriters and the lock-up parties do not apply, subject in certain cases to various conditions, to certain transactions, including    .
       , in their sole discretion, may release the securities subject to any of the lock-up agreements with the underwriters described above, in whole or in part at any time.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
We intend to apply to have our Class A common stock approved for listing/quotation on the NYSE under the symbol “SDHC.”
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, which involves making bids for, purchasing, and selling shares of Class A common stock in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Class A common stock while this offering is in progress. These stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of Class A common stock, which involves the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of Class A common stock than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing shares of common stock on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered” shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock referred to above, or may be “naked” shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock, in whole or in part, or by purchasing shares of Class A common stock in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares of Class A common stock available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriters may purchase shares of Class A common stock through the option to purchase additional shares of Class A common stock. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Class A common stock in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. To the extent that the underwriters create a naked short position, they will purchase shares of Class A common stock in the open market to cover the position.
The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M of the Securities Act, they may also engage in other activities that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the Class A common stock, including the imposition of penalty bids. This means that if the representatives of the underwriters purchase shares of Class A common stock in the open market in stabilizing transactions or to cover short sales, the representatives can require the underwriters that sold those shares as part of this offering to repay the underwriting discount received by them.
These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the Class A common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Class A common stock, and, as a result, the price of the Class A common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriters commence these activities, they may discontinue them at any time. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our Class A common stock. The initial public offering price will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters. In determining the initial public offering price, we and the representatives of the underwriters expect to consider a number of factors including:
the information set forth in this prospectus and otherwise available to the representatives;
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our prospects and the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete;
an assessment of our management;
our prospects for future earnings;
the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering;
the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded common stock of generally comparable companies; and
other factors deemed relevant by the underwriters and us.
Neither we nor the underwriters can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for our Class A common stock, or that the shares of Class A common stock will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
Conflicts of interest; Other relationships
Because Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, an affiliate of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, is administrative agent for the Existing Credit Facility, which will be repaid in part with the proceeds from this offering, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” under FINRA Rule 5121. Accordingly, this offering is being made in compliance with the requirements of Rule 5121. Pursuant to that rule, the appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” is not required in connection with this offering. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5121(c), no sales of the shares in this offering will be made to any discretionary account over which Wells Fargo Securities, LLC exercises discretion without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past, and may provide from time to time in the future, and our affiliates, certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, an affiliate of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, which is acting as a joint book-running manager in this offering, is a lender and the administrative agent under our Existing Credit Facility, for which such affiliate has received and may continue to receive customary fees. In addition, affiliates of certain other underwriters are, or may become, lenders under our Existing Credit Facility, for which such affiliates have received and/or may receive, as applicable, customary fees in the future. As a result, such affiliates, including Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as a lender and the administrative agent, will receive a portion of the net proceeds of this offering in connection with the Refinancing. For more information on the Existing Credit Facility and our intended use of proceeds, see the sections entitled “Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations—Liquidity and capital resources—Existing Credit Facility” and “Use of proceeds,” respectively. From time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may also effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future. Certain of the underwriters may offer and sell the shares of Class A common stock through one or more of their respective affiliates or other registered broker-dealers or selling agents.
Selling restrictions outside the United States
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a Member State), no securities have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Member State prior to the publication of a
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prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of securities may be made to the public in that Member State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:
to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation;
to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives; or
in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation;
provided that no such offer of shares shall require us or any representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation and each person who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with each of the underwriters and us that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a nondiscretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any shares to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters have been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of shares to the public” in relation to any shares in any Member State means the communication in any form and by means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase shares, the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended).
United Kingdom
In relation to the United Kingdom, no shares of Class A common stock have been offered or will be offered pursuant to this offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares that either (1) has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority or (2) is to be treated as if it had been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with the transitional provision in Regulation 74 of the Prospectus (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, except that offers of shares may be made to the public in the United Kingdom at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation:
to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;
to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation); or
in any other circumstances falling within section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”);
provided that no such offer of shares shall require us or any representative to publish a prospectus pursuant to section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any shares in any relevant state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares, and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of shares through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the shares as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the shares, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the shares on behalf of us or the underwriters.
In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation) (1) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within
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Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”), or (2) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as relevant persons) or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the shares in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the FSMA.
Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this document or use it as basis for taking any action. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity that this document relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant persons.
Israel
This document does not constitute a prospectus under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 (the “Securities Law”) and has not been filed with or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. In Israel, this registration statement is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer of the shares of Class A common stock is directed only at, (1) a limited number of persons in accordance with the Israeli Securities Law and (2) investors listed in the first addendum (the “Addendum”) to the Israeli Securities Law, consisting primarily of joint investment in trust funds, provident funds, insurance companies, banks, portfolio managers, investment advisors, members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, underwriters, venture capital funds, entities with equity in excess of NIS 50 million and “qualified individuals,” each as defined in the Addendum (as it may be amended from time to time), collectively referred to as qualified investors (in each case, purchasing for their own account or, where permitted under the Addendum, for the accounts of their clients who are investors listed in the Addendum). Qualified investors are required to submit written confirmation that they fall within the scope of the Addendum, are aware of the meaning of same and agree to it.
Australia
This document:
does not constitute a disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”);
has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”) as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act; and
may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors, available under section 708 of the Corporations Act, or Exempt Investors.
The shares of Class A common stock may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the shares of Class A common stock may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any shares of Class A common stock may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the shares of Class A common stock, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.
As any offer of shares of Class A common stock under this document will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the shares of Class A common stock you undertake to us that you will not, for a period of 12 months from the date of issue of the shares of Class A common stock, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those shares of Class A common stock to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.
Canada
The shares of Class A common stock may be sold in Canada only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National
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Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions, and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares of Class A common stock must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Dubai International Financial Centre
This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (the “DFSA”). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus. The shares of our Class A common stock to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid or subject to restrictions on its resale. Prospective purchasers of the shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the shares. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus, then you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
United Arab Emirates
The shares of Class A common stock have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted, or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates (and the Dubai International Financial Centre) governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, this prospectus does not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and is not intended to be a public offer. This prospectus has not been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
Hong Kong
The shares of Class A common stock may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (1) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong), or Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong), or Securities and Futures Ordinance, (2) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (3) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares of Class A common stock may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares of Class A common stock which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.
Japan
No registration pursuant to Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended)(the “FIEL”), has been made or will be made with respect to the solicitation of the application for the acquisition of the shares of Class A common stock. Accordingly, the shares of Class A common
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stock have not been, directly or indirectly, offered or sold and will not be, directly or indirectly, offered or sold in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for re-offering or re-sale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEL and the other applicable laws and regulations of Japan.
For Qualified Institutional Investors (“QII”)
Please note that the solicitation for newly issued or secondary securities (each as described in Paragraph 2, Article 4 of the FIEL) in relation to the shares of Class A common stock constitutes either a “QII only private placement” or a “QII only secondary distribution” (each as described in Paragraph 1, Article 23-13 of the FIEL). Disclosure regarding any such solicitation, as is otherwise prescribed in Paragraph 1, Article 4 of the FIEL, has not been made in relation to the shares of Class A common stock. The shares of Class A common stock may only be transferred to QIIs.
For Non-QII Investors
Please note that the solicitation for newly issued or secondary securities (each as described in Paragraph 2, Article 4 of the FIEL) in relation to the shares of Class A common stock constitutes either a “small number private placement” or a “small number private secondary distribution” (each as is described in Paragraph 4, Article 23-13 of the FIEL). Disclosure regarding any such solicitation, as is otherwise prescribed in Paragraph 1, Article 4 of the FIEL, has not been made in relation to the shares of Class A common stock. The shares of Class A common stock may only be transferred en bloc without subdivision to a single investor.
Singapore
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares of Class A common stock may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares of Class A common stock be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (1) to an institutional investor (as defined under Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (2) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (3) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the shares of Class A common stock are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore, or Regulation 32.
Where the shares of Class A common stock are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that trust has acquired the shares under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid
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for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.
Solely for the purposes of our obligations pursuant to Section 309B of the SFA, we have determined, and hereby notify all relevant persons (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 (“CMP Regulations”)) that the shares of Class A common stock are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).
Switzerland
This prospectus is not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the shares of Class A common stock. The shares of Class A common stock may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”), or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. This document does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of, and has been prepared without regard to, the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares of Class A common stock constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares of Class A common stock or this offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to this offering, us or the shares of Class A common stock have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares of Class A common stock will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”), and the offer of shares of Class A common stock has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (the “CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares of Class A common stock.
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Legal matters
The validity of the shares of Class A common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, New York, New York. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has acted as counsel for the underwriters in connection with certain legal matters related to this offering.
Experts
The financial statement of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. as of June 20, 2023 and the consolidated financial statements of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the years then ended included in this prospectus and in the registration statement have been so included in reliance on the reports of Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein and in the registration statement, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The financial statements of Devon Street Homes, L.P. as of December 31, 2022 and for the year then ended included in this prospectus and in the registration statement have been so included in reliance on the report of Doeren Mayhew & Co., P.C., an independent accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein and in the registration statement, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
Unless otherwise indicated, all statistical and economic market data included in this prospectus, and in particular in the sections entitled “Prospectus summary—Market opportunity” and “Market opportunity,” is derived from market information prepared for us by JBREC, a nationally recognized independent research provider and consulting firm, and is included in this prospectus in reliance on JBREC’s authority as an expert in such matters. We have paid JBREC a fee of $56,600 for its services, plus an amount charged at an hourly rate for additional information we may require from JBREC from time to time in connection with its services.
Changes in independent registered public accounting firm
On April 3, 2023 we dismissed Frazier & Deeter, LLC as our independent auditor. We engaged Ernst & Young LLP on May 18, 2023 as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, and to re-audit our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, which had previously been audited by Frazier & Deeter, LLC. The audited financial statements included in this prospectus for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP. We were not an SEC filer at the time of Frazier & Deeter, LLC’s replacement by Ernst & Young LLP. The decision to change our independent registered public accounting firm from Frazier & Deeter, LLC to Ernst & Young LLP was approved by the board of directors.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the subsequent interim period through April 3, 2023, there were no disagreements with Frazier & Deeter, LLC on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Frazier & Deeter, LLC, would have caused them to make reference thereto in their report on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021. The report of Frazier & Deeter, LLC on our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, and was not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the subsequent interim period through April 3, 2023, there were no reportable events, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.
We have provided Frazier & Deeter, LLC with a copy of the foregoing disclosure and requested that Frazier & Deeter, LLC provide a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether it agrees with the above facts and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree. A copy of Frazier & Deeter, LLC’s letter, dated July 3, 2023, provided in response to that request, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the subsequent interim period through April 3, 2023, neither we, nor anyone acting on our behalf, consulted with Ernst & Young LLP on matters that involved the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our consolidated financial statements or any of the matters described in Item 304(a)(2)(i) or (ii) of Regulation S-K.
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Where you can find more information
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. For further information about us and the Class A common stock offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.
Upon the closing of this offering, we will be required to file periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act. The SEC also maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about registrants, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.smithdouglas.com, through which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
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Index to financial statements
Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
 
Financial Statements
 
 
Interim Condensed Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
 
 
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
 
 
Devon Street Homes, L.P.
 
Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
 
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Report of independent registered public accounting firm
To the Sole Shareholder of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the Company) as of June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation), and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation) in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
Atlanta, Georgia
July 28, 2023
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
Balance Sheet
 
June 20,
2023
(Date of Formation)
Assets:
 
Contributions receivable
Total assets
$—
Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)
 
Stockholder’s equity
 
Common stock $0.0001 per share, 100 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding
Total stockholders’ equity
$—
See accompanying notes to balance sheet.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements
June 20, 2023
Note 1 – Description of business and basis of presentation
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the Company) was incorporated in the state of Delaware on June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation). The Company’s fiscal year end is December 31. The Company was formed for the purpose of completing an initial public offering of its common stock and related transactions in order to carry on the business of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as a publicly-traded entity. The Company’s sole material asset is expected to be an equity interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC.
The accompanying balance sheet has been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Separate statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows have not been presented because the Company has not engaged in any business or other activities except in connection with its formation. The balance sheet has been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.
Note 2 – Contributions receivable
Contributions receivable consist of investor contributions not received from investors and totaled $0.01 as of June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation).
Note 3 – Stockholder’s equity
Under the certificate of incorporation in effect as of June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation), the Company is authorized to issue 100 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of the Date of Formation, an investor subscribed to purchase 100 shares of the Company’s common stock for $0.01. Such shares were issued when the contribution was received on July 20, 2023.
Note 4 – Commitments and contingencies
The Company may be subject to legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. There are currently no proceedings to which the Company is a party, nor does the Company have knowledge of any proceedings that are threatened against the Company.
Note 5 – Subsequent events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through July 28, 2023, the date on which its audited balance sheet was issued.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
Condensed Balance Sheets
 
June 30,
2023
June 20,
2023
(Date of Formation)
 
(unaudited)
Assets:
 
 
Contributions receivable
Total assets
$—
$—
Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)
 
 
Stockholder’s equity
 
 
Common stock $0.0001 per share, 100 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation)
Total stockholders’ equity
$—
$—
See accompanying notes to condensed balance sheets.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30 and June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation) (unaudited)
Note 1 – Description of business and basis of presentation
Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the Company) was incorporated in the state of Delaware on June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation). The Company’s fiscal year end is December 31. The Company was formed for the purpose of completing an initial public offering of its common stock and related transactions in order to carry on the business of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC as a publicly-traded entity. The Company’s sole material asset is expected to be an equity interest in Smith Douglas Holdings LLC.
The accompanying interim condensed balance sheets have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Separate statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows have not been presented because the Company has not engaged in any business or other activities except in connection with its formation. In the opinion of management, the interim condensed balance sheets include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, for the fair and necessary presentation of the Company’s financial position. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto as of June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation), which are included elsewhere in this Registration Statement on Form S-1. The condensed balance sheets have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates, among other things, the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.
Note 2 – Contributions receivable
Contributions receivable consist of investor contributions not received from investors and totaled $0.01 as of June 30, 2023 and June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation).
Note 3 – Stockholder’s equity
Under the certificate of incorporation in effect as of June 20, 2023 (Date of Formation), the Company is authorized to issue 100 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. As of the Date of Formation, an investor subscribed to purchase 100 shares of the Company’s common stock for $0.01. Such shares were issued when the contribution was received on July 20, 2023. As of June 30, 2023, no other share transactions have occurred.
Note 4 – Commitments and contingencies
The Company may be subject to legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. There are currently no proceedings to which the Company is a party, nor does the Company have knowledge of any proceedings that are threatened against the Company.
Note 5 – Subsequent events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through September 6, 2023, which is the date these condensed financial statements were available to be issued. All subsequent events, if any, requiring recognition as of June 30, 2023, have been incorporated into these condensed financial statements.
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Report of independent registered public accounting firm
To the Members and the Board of Managers of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of income, changes in members’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2023.
Atlanta, Georgia
July 28, 2023
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
(in thousands)
2022
2021
Assets:
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$29,601
$25,340
Real estate inventory
142,065
138,931
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
33,027
24,803
Real estate not owned
2,446
1,466
Investments in unconsolidated entities
448
2,310
Property and equipment, net
1,306
1,187
Other assets
14,479
7,151
Total assets
$223,372
$201,188
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
Accounts payable
$10,935
$8,822
Customer deposits
9,439
9,874
Revolving line of credit
15,000
72,000
Liabilities related to real estate not owned
2,446
1,466
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
21,041
13,510
Total liabilities
58,861
105,672
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
 
 
Members’ equity
164,511
95,516
Total liabilities and members’ equity
$223,372
$201,188
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Income
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2022
2021
Home closing revenue
$755,353
$518,863
Cost of home closings
532,599
395,917
 
 
 
Home closing gross profit
222,754
122,946
 
 
 
Selling, general, and administrative costs
83,269
64,231
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
(1,120)
(595)
Interest expense
734
1,733
Other (income) loss, net
(573)
188
Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan
(5,141)
Net income
$140,444
$62,530
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity
Years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
(In thousands, except number of units)
Class A Units
Class C Units
Class D Units
Total Members’
Equity
Units
Amount
Units
Amount
Units
Amount
Balance December 31, 2020
111,111
$71,372
2,000
$2,000
600
$600
$73,972
Distributions
(40,798)
(80)
(108)
(40,986)
Net income
62,342
80
108
62,530
Balance December 31, 2021
111,111
92,916
2,000
2,000
600
600
95,516
Distributions
(71,261)
(80)
(108)
(71,449)
Net income
140,256
80
108
140,444
Balance December 31, 2022
111,111
$161,911
2,000
$2,000
600
$600
$164,511
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2022
2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
Net income
$140,444
$62,530
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
Depreciation
864
987
Gain on sale of property and equipment
(23)
(3)
Accrued incentive compensation expense
2,189
1,450
Abandonment of lot option contracts
366
Forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan
(5,141)
Amortization of debt issuance costs
616
938
Equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities
(1,120)
(595)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated entities
1,046
625
Noncash lease expense
439
467
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
Real estate inventory
(3,499)
(16,600)
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
(8,590)
(15,181)
Other assets
(6,287)
(1,017)
Accounts payable
2,113
(654)
Customer deposits
(435)
3,664
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
3,972
(600)
Net cash provided by operating activities
132,095
30,870
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(1,000)
(730)
Net payments to related party
(38)
Cash paid for investments in unconsolidated entities
(9)
(844)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities
1,330
2,403
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment
40
56
Net cash provided by investing activities
361
847
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
Borrowings under revolving credit facility and construction loans
40,000
393,079
Repayments under revolving credit facility and construction loans
(97,000)
(384,956)
Payments on notes payable
(33)
(5,066)
Payments on notes payable - related party
(177)
(82)
Proceeds from sales of real estate not owned
9,146
2,783
Payments related to repurchases of real estate not owned
(8,166)
(1,317)
Distributions to members
(71,449)
(40,986)
Payment of debt issuance costs
(516)
(1,996)
Net cash used in financing activities
(128,195)
(38,541)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
4,261
(6,824)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
25,340
32,164
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
$29,601
$25,340
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Continued
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)
2022
2021
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
 
 
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
$134
$988
Real estate inventory distributed to the Company by unconsolidated entities
$615
$345
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities
$1,580
$241
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 2022 and 2021
Note 1 – Description of business and summary of significant accounting policies:
Nature of business
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries (the Company) is a builder of single-family homes in communities in certain markets in the southeastern United States. The Company’s homes and communities are primarily targeted to first-time and empty-nest homebuyers. The Company currently operates in metropolitan Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Huntsville, Nashville, and Raleigh. The Company operates a land-light business model whereby the Company typically purchases finished lots via lot-option contracts from various third-party land developers or land bankers. Additionally, the Company offers title insurance services through an unconsolidated title company.
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and include the accounts of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and those of the consolidated subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated entities in which the Company has less than a controlling financial interest are accounted for using the equity method.
Use of estimates in the preparation of consolidated financial statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the majority of cash and cash equivalents were in demand deposit accounts with major financial institutions. At various times throughout the year, the Company may have cash deposited with these financial institutions that exceeds federally insured limits, and the Company could be negatively impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail or are subject to other adverse conditions. To date, the Company has experienced no loss or diminished access to cash in its demand deposit accounts.
Real estate inventory
Real estate inventory consists primarily of the capitalized costs of finished homes, homes under construction, and residential lots. The Company includes the costs of lot acquisitions, development, direct home construction, capitalized interest, closing costs and direct and certain indirect overhead costs incurred during home construction in real estate inventory.
Real estate inventory is stated at cost unless the community is determined to be impaired, at which point the inventory is written down to fair value as required by Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 360-10, Property, Plant, and Equipment. The Company reviews its real estate inventory for indicators of potential impairment on a quarterly basis at the community level considering market and economic conditions, current sales absorption rates and recent profitability of new home orders. When an indicator of impairment is identified, the Company prepares and analyzes cash flows at the community level on an undiscounted basis. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the community’s carrying value, the Company generally estimates the fair value using the estimated future discounted cash flows of the respective community. A community
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with a fair value less than its carrying value is written down to such fair value and resulting losses are reported within cost of home closings in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. No impairments were recognized during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
Deposits paid related to land and lot option purchase contracts are recorded and classified as deposits on real estate under option or contract until the related lots are purchased. Deposits are reclassified as a component of real estate inventory at the time the deposit is used to offset the acquisition price of the lots based on the terms of the underlying agreements. To the extent they are non-refundable, deposits are expensed to cost of home closings if the option agreement is terminated or lot acquisition is no longer considered probable. Since the Company’s land and lot option contracts typically do not require specific performance, the Company does not consider such contracts to be contractual obligations to purchase the lots and total exposure to loss under such contracts is limited to non-refundable deposits and any capitalized pre-acquisition costs. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company wrote off $0.4 million of deposits associated with terminated option contracts. Such charge is included in cost of home closings in the accompanying 2022 consolidated statement of income. There were no deposit write-offs during the year ended December 31, 2021. See Note 11 for information on land and lot option contracts.
Real estate not owned
In limited circumstances, the Company may sell finished lots it owns to a land banker and simultaneously enter into an option agreement to repurchase those finished lots. In accordance with ASC 606-10-55-70, these transactions are considered a financing arrangement rather than a sale because of the Company’s options to repurchase these parcels at a higher price. During 2022 and 2021, the Company sold 148 finished lots at cost for approximately $9.1 million and 68 finished lots at cost for approximately $2.8 million, respectively, to a then member of the Company’s Board of Managers. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, approximately $2.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively, was recorded to real estate not owned, with a corresponding amount of approximately $2.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively, recorded to liabilities related to real estate not owned for the remaining balance of net cash received from the transactions for lots not yet repurchased (see Note 15 for information on transactions with related parties). The liabilities related to real estate not owned are excluded from the Company’s debt covenant calculations.
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in unconsolidated entities, in which the Company has an ownership percentage interest or otherwise exercises significant influence, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and are carried at cost, adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions. For cash flow classification, to the extent distributions do not exceed cumulative earnings, the Company designates such distributions as return on capital. Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings are treated as return of capital. The Company regularly reviews its investments in unconsolidated entities to determine whether there is a decline in fair value below book value. If there is a decline that is other-than-temporary, the investment is written down to fair value. There were no other-than-temporary impairments of investments in unconsolidated entities recognized during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Property and equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is generally recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from two to five years. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Additions and betterments are capitalized. The cost of property and equipment sold or otherwise disposed of, and the accumulated depreciation thereon, is eliminated from the property and equipment and accumulated depreciation accounts, and gains and losses are reflected in other income in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
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Other assets
Other assets consist of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
 
2022
2021
Development reimbursement receivables from land bankers (Note 11)
$8,993
$3,608
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization
1,315
1,416
Prepaid insurance and other expenses
995
558
Operating lease right-of-use assets
2,048
907
Other assets
1,128
662
Total other assets
$14,479
$7,151
Debt issuance costs represent the fees associated with the Company’s revolving credit facility. These costs are recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets within other assets and amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the credit facility. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, debt issuance costs net of accumulated amortization totaled $1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively. Amortization of debt issuance costs was approximately $0.6 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and is included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
Warranty reserves
Homebuyers are provided with a limited warranty against certain building defects for up to one year after the home closing and a limited warranty against structural claims for up to 10 years after the home closing. The Company estimates the costs to be incurred under these warranties and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time revenue is recognized. Such costs primarily include repairs of minor construction and cosmetic defects associated with homeowner claims. The Company estimates warranty reserves based on historical data and trends for its communities and periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liability and adjusts the amounts as necessary. Warranty reserves are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and additions and adjustments to the reserves are included in cost of home closings within the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Actual warranty costs could differ from the current estimates.
Leases
ASC Topic 842, Leases, provides practical expedients and accounting policy elections for ongoing lease accounting. The Company has elected the recognition exemption for short-term leases for all leases that qualify. Under this exemption, the Company will not recognize right-of-use (ROU) assets or lease liabilities for those leases that qualify as a short-term lease (a lease term of 12 months of less), which includes not recognizing ROU assets or lease liabilities for existing short-term leases of those assets in transition. The Company has also elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all existing asset classes.
Revenue recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when a home closes with a homebuyer and title and possession of the property are transferred to that homebuyer. The Company’s performance obligation, to deliver the home, is generally satisfied in less than one year from the original contract date.
When the Company executes sales contracts with its homebuyers, or when it requires advance payment from homebuyers for custom changes, upgrades or options related to their homes, the cash deposits received are recorded as contract liabilities until the homes are closed or the contracts are canceled. The Company either retains or refunds to the customer deposits on canceled sales contracts, depending upon the applicable provisions of the contract or other circumstances. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, customer deposits totaled $9.4 million and $9.9 million, respectively. Substantially all customer deposits are recognized in revenue within one year of being received from homebuyers.
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Cost of home closings
Cost of home closings includes the costs of lot acquisition, development, direct home construction, capitalized interest, closing costs, direct and certain indirect overhead costs and estimated warranty for the homes. Estimates of costs incurred or to be incurred but not paid are accrued and expensed at the time of closing.
Income taxes
The Company operates as a limited liability company and is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company incurs no significant liability for federal or state income taxes, since the taxable income or loss is passed through to its Members. The Company incurs liabilities for certain state taxes payable directly by the Company, which are not significant and for which the expense is included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits of the position. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no known items which would result in a significant accrual for uncertain tax positions.
Advertising costs
The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred. Advertising expense, which is included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, was approximately $3.3 million and $2.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Fair value of financial instruments
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and disclosing fair value measurements. ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in measuring fair value. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability on the measurement date.
Level 1 – Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;
Level 2 – Valuation is determined from quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, or by model-based techniques in which all significant inputs are observable in the market;
Level 3 – Valuation is derived from model-based techniques in which at least one significant input is unobservable and based on the Company’s own estimates about the assumptions that market participants would use to value the asset or liability.
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of particular inputs to those fair value measurements requires judgment and considers factors specific to each asset or liability.
The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable, and notes payable.
The Company has no financial instruments that are required to be reported at fair value in the Company’s financial statements on a recurring or non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the years then ended. The Company measures the fair value of its financial instruments for disclosure purposes. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their liquid nature and short-term maturities and are classified as Level 1 fair value instruments.
The carrying value of the Company’s debt approximates fair value due to variable rate terms that approximate market rates and short-term nature and are classified as Level 2 fair value instruments.
Recent accounting pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13), which changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments from an incurred loss approach to
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a new expected credit loss methodology. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective method effective January 1, 2021. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
There are no recent accounting pronouncements that are applicable to the Company and have not been adopted in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Note 2 – Real estate inventory and capitalized interest:
A summary of real estate inventory is as follows as of December 31, (in thousands):
 
2022
2021
Lots held for construction
$27,467
$20,629
Homes under construction, completed homes, and model homes
114,598
118,302
Total real estate inventory
$142,065
$138,931
The Company capitalizes into real estate inventory interest costs incurred on homes under construction during the construction period until substantial completion. The Company does not capitalize interest on homes where construction has been suspended.
A summary of capitalized interest is as follows (in thousands):
 
2022
2021
Capitalized interest, beginning of year
$1,017
$958
Interest incurred
3,591
3,827
Interest expensed
(734)
(1,733)
Interest charged to cost of home closings
(2,757)
(2,035)
Capitalized interest, end of year
$1,117
$1,017
Note 3 – Property and equipment:
Property and equipment consists of the following as of December 31, (in thousands):
 
2022
2021
Automobiles
$311
$368
Airplanes
1,141
1,141
Furniture and fixtures
2,954
2,473
Computer equipment
40
97
 
4,446
4,079
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(3,140)
(2,892)
Net property and equipment
$1,306
$1,187
Depreciation expense was $0.9 million and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Note 4 – Revolving line of credit and notes payable:
In October 2021, the Company entered into a $175.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the Credit Facility) maturing in October 2024. The Credit Facility includes a $25.0 million accordion feature, subject to additional commitments, and provides that up to $10.0 million may be used for letters of credit. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at the Prime Rate, as defined, plus an applicable margin ranging from minus 10 basis points to 25 basis points based on the Company’s leverage ratio as determined in accordance with a pricing grid.
The Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants, including, among others, (a) a minimum tangible net worth requirement, (b) a maximum leverage ratio, (c) a maximum ratio of EBITDA to interest incurred, and (d) a minimum liquidity requirement. As of December 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Facility.
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In December 2022, the Credit Facility was amended to extend the maturity date to December 19, 2025 and reduce the applicable margin to minus 25 basis points to 20 basis points based on the Company’s leverage ratio. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility was 7.25% and 3.30%, respectively.
In April 2023, the Company received a waiver from the Lenders to extend the requirement to submit annual audited financial statements to June 30, 2023. Subsequently, in June 2023, the Company received another waiver extending the requirement to July 31, 2023.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility totaled $15.0 million and $72.0 million, respectively, with no outstanding letters of credit. Availability as determined in accordance with the Borrowing Base, as defined, totaled approximately $102.6 million as of December 31, 2022.
The Company also has loans payable to banks collateralized by vehicles purchased from the proceeds of the loans with outstanding balances of $15,000 and $48,000 as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, which are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Future maturities of notes payable to third parties, including borrowings under the Credit Facility, are as follows as of December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
Year ending December 31,
 
2023
$
2024
2025
15,000
 
$15,000
Note 5 – Accrued expenses and other liabilities:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
2022
2021
Payroll and related liabilities
$8,486
$5,395
Accrued incentive compensation
4,528
2,794
Warranty reserves
2,071
1,516
Lease liabilities
2,077
920
Due to related parties and notes payable - related party
1,316
1,493
Other liabilities
2,563
1,392
Total accrued expenses and other liabilities
$21,041
$13,510
Note 6 – Warranty reserve:
A summary of the activity in the Company’s warranty liability account is as follows (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Balance, beginning of year
$1,516
$1,177
Additions to reserve from new home closings
1,509
1,028
Warranty claims
(774)
(581)
Adjustments to pre-existing reserves
(180)
(108)
Balance, end of year
$2,071
$1,516
Note 7 – Accrued incentive compensation:
The Company has incentive compensation agreements in place with certain employees, whereby a portion of the employee’s annual bonus is paid over a 3-year period. The long-term incentive compensation vests annually over the three-year period and is forfeited if the employee terminates employment with the
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Company for any reason or, in some cases, leaves without good reason or is terminated for cause. In addition, in some cases, such long-term incentive compensation vests immediately upon a change in control or sale of the Company. The Company recognized $2.2 million and $1.4 million of deferred compensation expense related to the incentive compensation agreements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative costs within the accompanying consolidated statements of income. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had accumulated a total liability of $4.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively, related to the incentive compensation agreements, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
Note 8 – Paycheck Protection Program loan:
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) made available low-interest rate loans to qualified small businesses under its Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). On May 4, 2020, the Company obtained a $5.1 million PPP loan from the SBA. The PPP Loan was set to mature in May 2022 and accrued interest at a rate of 1.00% per annum. The PPP loan, including related accrued interest, was eligible to be forgiven by the SBA if certain requirements were met, including the use of funds for costs incurred for payroll, rent, utilities, and other allowable expenses in 2020.
On August 16, 2021, the Company received full forgiveness of the PPP Loan totaling $5.1 million. As a result, the Company recognized a gain on the forgiveness of debt in the amount of the indebtedness during the year ended December 31, 2021 in the accompanying 2021 consolidated statement of income.
Note 9 – Leases:
The Company leases certain office space and equipment for use in its operations. The Company assesses each of these contracts to determine whether the arrangement contains a lease as defined by ASC Topic 842. In order to meet the definition of a lease under ASC Topic 842, the contractual arrangement must convey to the Company the right to control the use of an identifiable asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Some leases contain renewal options and in accordance with ASC Topic 842, the lease term includes those renewals only to the extent that they are reasonably certain to be exercised.
In accordance with ASC Topic 842, the lease liability is equal to the present value of the remaining lease payments while the ROU asset is based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment, such as for lease incentives. The Company’s leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit interest rate and, therefore, the Company must estimate its incremental borrowing rate. In determining an appropriate incremental borrowing rate, the Company considers the lease period, market interest rates, current interest rates on the Company’s notes payable and the effects of collateralization.
The Company’s lease population at December 31, 2022 and 2021 is comprised of operating leases where the Company is the lessee, and these leases are primarily for office space for corporate and division offices, as well as certain equipment leases.
Lease cost included in the consolidated statements of income as a component of selling, general and administrative costs is presented in the table below (in thousands).
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Operating lease costs
$528
$501
Variable lease costs - operating
$166
$179
ROU assets are included within other assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and lease liabilities are included within accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
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The following table presents additional information about the Company’s leases (dollars in thousands):
As of December 31,
2022
2021
ROU assets
$2,048
$907
Lease liabilities
$2,077
$920
Weighted average remaining lease term (in months)
61
32
Weighted average discount rate
6.01%
3.79%
As of December 31, 2022, the future minimum payments required under operating leases are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31,
 
2023
$555
2024
437
2025
403
2026
410
2027
368
Thereafter
250
Total lease payments
2,423
Less imputed interest
(346)
Total lease liability
$2,077
Note 10 – Investments in unconsolidated entities:
The Company has non-controlling equity interests in various entities. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for these investments. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company contributed approximately $9,000 and $0.8 million, respectively, to the entities. The Company’s proportionate share of the entities’ income during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $1.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The entities also distributed $3.0 million and $3.4 million, of which $2.4 million and $3.1 million was cash and $0.6 million and $0.3 million was non-cash, respectively, to the Company during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, resulting in a total equity investment of $0.4 million and $2.3 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The Company does not consolidate the investments because the Company does not have a controlling interest in them.
Note 11 - Variable interest entities:
The Company enters into lot option agreements to procure finished lots for the construction of homes in the future. Pursuant to these option agreements, the Company generally provides a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase lots at different times in the future at predetermined prices. Such contracts enable the Company to defer acquiring portions of properties owned by third parties or unconsolidated entities until the Company has determined whether and when to exercise the option, which may serve to reduce the Company’s financial risks associated with long-term land holdings.
Based on the provisions of the relevant accounting guidance, the Company has concluded that when it enters into an option or purchase agreement to acquire lots from an entity, a variable interest entity (VIE) may be created. The Company evaluates all option and purchase agreements and amendments for land to determine if the related entity is a VIE. ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, requires that for each VIE, the Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary.
In order to determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary, the Company must first assess whether it has the ability to control the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance. Such activities include, but are not limited to, the ability to determine the budget and scope of land development work, if any; the ability to control financing decisions for the VIE; the ability to acquire additional land into the VIE or dispose of land in the VIE not under contract with the Company; and the ability to change or amend the existing option contract with the VIE. If the Company does not control such activities, the Company is not
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considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE. If the Company has the ability to control such activities, the Company will continue its analysis by determining if the Company is also expected to absorb a potentially significant amount of the VIE’s losses or, if no party absorbs the majority of such losses, if the Company will benefit from a potentially significant amount of the VIE’s expected gains. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company was not identified as the primary beneficiary of any VIEs associated with option and purchase agreements. Therefore, no such VIEs required consolidation under ASC Topic 810.
In all cases, creditors of the entities with which the Company has option agreements have no recourse against the Company and the maximum exposure to loss in option agreements is limited to the Company’s option deposits and any capitalized pre-acquisition costs. In certain instances where the Company has entered into option agreements to purchase finished lots from a land banker, the Company may also enter into an agreement to complete the development of the lots on behalf of the land banker at a fixed cost. The Company may be at risk for items over budget related to the development of the property under option. Any unpaid amounts under these development agreements are recorded as development reimbursement receivables from land bankers and are included in other assets (see Note 1 for information on other assets).
The following provides a summary of the Company’s interests in land option agreements (in thousands):
December 31, 2022
Deposits or investments
Remaining purchase price
Option contracts
$33,027
$420,136
Option contracts with unconsolidated entities
319
3,145
Total option contracts
$33,346
$423,281
December 31, 2021
Deposits or investments
Remaining purchase price
Option contracts
$24,889
$426,580
Option contracts with unconsolidated entities
2,255
13,936
Total option contracts
$27,144
$440,516
Deposits on option contracts are included in deposits on real estate under option or contract, and investments in option contracts with unconsolidated entities are included in investments in unconsolidated entities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
For lot option contracts where the lot seller entity is not required to be consolidated under the variable interest model, the Company considers whether such contracts should be accounted for as financing arrangements. Lot option contracts that may be considered financing arrangements include those entered into with third-party land banks or developers in conjunction with such third parties acquiring a specific land parcel(s) on the Company’s behalf, at the Company’s direction, and those with other landowners where the Company or its designee makes improvements to the optioned land parcel(s) during the applicable option period. For these lot option contracts, the Company records the remaining purchase price of the associated land parcel(s) in inventories in its consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding financing obligation if the Company determines that it is effectively compelled to exercise the option to purchase the land parcel(s). In making this determination with respect to a land option contracts, the Company considers the non-refundable deposit(s), any capitalized pre-acquisition costs and additional costs associated with abandoning the contract.
As a result of such evaluations of lot option contracts, no lot option contracts were determined to be financing arrangements for which the remaining purchase price should be recorded as a financing obligation in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
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Note 12 – Members’ equity:
The Company has authorized 111,111 Class A Units, 2,000 Class C Units, and 600 Class D Units. The Board of Managers has control over all activities of the Company. A Class A Unitholder has the right to determine the number and designate the Managers composing the Board of Managers of the Company.
The Class C Unitholders and the Class D Unitholders are entitled to preferred distributions, which are generally declared and paid on a quarterly basis. Such distributions for the Class C Units compound on a quarterly basis at the rate of four percent (4%) per annum during the period from the Class C Issuance Date on the aggregate Capital Contributions made with respect to such Units. Such distributions for the Class D Units are compounding on a quarterly basis at the rate of eighteen percent (18%) per annum during the period from the Class D Issuance Date on the aggregate Capital Contributions made with respect to such Units.
Other than distributions for tax purposes, the amount of distributions to Class A Unitholders are limited until all preferred distributions due to the Class C Unitholders and Class D Unitholders have been paid in full.
In the event of a dissolution and liquidation of the Company, payments will be made in accordance with the Company’s Seventh Amended and Restated Operating Agreement as follows:
(a)
First, to the holders of outstanding Class D Units (ratably based upon the number of Class D Units held by each) until such holders have received an amount equal to any unpaid Class D preferred distribution plus $1,000 for each outstanding Class D Unit;
(b)
Second, if assets remain to be distributed, to the holders of outstanding Class C Units (ratably based upon the number of Class C Units held by each) until such holders have received an amount equal to any unpaid Class C preferred distribution plus $2,000,000;
(c)
Then any assets remaining are distributed among Class A Unitholders.
Note 13 – Employee benefit plan:
The Company has a defined contribution 401(k) plan, which is offered to all employees who have attained the age of 21 and meet the minimum service requirements as defined in the plan document. Employer contributions under the plan are at management’s discretion. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, employer contributions to the plan totaled $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative costs within the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Participants are immediately vested in all contributions and earnings thereon.
Note 14 – Commitments and contingencies:
The Company is subject to certain contingent liabilities resulting from litigation, claims, and other commitments which arise in the ordinary course of business. Management and legal counsel believe that the probable resolution of such contingencies will not materially affect the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company.
In the normal course of business, the Company posts letters of credit and performance and other surety bonds related to certain development obligations with local municipalities, government agencies and developers. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, performance and surety bonds totaled $21.4 million and $12.2 million, respectively. There were no letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.
Note 15 – Transactions with related parties:
The Company rents office space under a lease with JBB Cherokee Holdings LLC, an entity affiliated by common ownership. Related party lease cost included in the accompanying consolidated statements of income as a component of selling, general and administrative costs is presented in the table below (in thousands).
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Operating lease costs (related party)
$314
$268
Variable lease costs - operating (related party)
$73
$99
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As of December 31, 2022, the future minimum payments required under operating leases with related parties are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31,
 
2023
$327
2024
337
2025
347
2026
357
2027
368
Thereafter
250
Total lease payments
1,986
Less imputed interest
(323)
Total lease liability (related party)
$1,663
Payments under the office lease agreement, along with costs associated with the office space, totaled $0.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, which are included in selling, general, and administrative costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company incurred and paid $0.4 million in the aggregate each year to certain entities affiliated by common ownership for use of facilities related to business development and vendor relations, which is included in selling, general, and administrative costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
While the Company typically enters into lot option agreements whereby a deposit is provided to the seller, the Company has in the past, in lieu of providing a deposit, invested a minority interest in certain of the land banking entities with which it contracts. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company purchased 127 and 275 lots totaling approximately $11.5 million and $25.1 million, respectively, under lot option agreements with unconsolidated land bank entities in which the Company has a non-controlling ownership interest. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had deposits totaling $0.3 million and $2.3 million, respectively, which are included in investments in unconsolidated entities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, with a total remaining purchase price under these lot option agreements of $3.1 million for 48 lots and $13.9 million for 167 lots, respectively. The Company has identified these entities as VIEs; however, the Company has not been identified as the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and the entities are not consolidated in the accompanying consolidated financial statements (see Note 11 for information related to VIEs).
The Company has entered into lot option transactions with a then member of the Company’s Board of Managers. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company purchased 317 lots totaling $17.9 million and 96 lots totaling $6.4 million, respectively, related to these lot option agreements. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had deposits totaling $3.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively, which are included in deposits on real estate under option or contract in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, with a total remaining purchase price under these lot option agreements of $29.5 million and $9.5 million, respectively. These amounts include the lot option agreements associated with real estate not owned described in Note 1.
The Company charters aircraft services from companies that are controlled by a related entity of the Company’s managing member. Expenses incurred and paid to these companies under a dry lease agreement for the use of the aircraft for business travel totaled approximately $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, which are included in selling, general, and administrative costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.
Historically, since August 2016, one of the members of the Company’s Board of Managers was party to a consulting agreement with the Company pursuant to which he provided services to the Company in exchange for (i) an annual fee equal to approximately $0.6 million plus (ii) eligibility to earn an annual bonus, subject to the terms and conditions therein. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the member of the Company’s Board of Managers earned fees under the consulting agreement of approximately $1.4 million and $0.9 million, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying
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consolidated statements of income. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had a balance due to the member of the Company's board of managers under the consulting agreement of approximately $0.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The Company has two uncollateralized notes payable bearing interest at 2.12% and 2.56%, respectively, and other payables to certain related parties for the purchase of airplanes totaling $1.3 million and $1.5 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, which are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The Company has related party receivables totaling approximately $0.1 million as of both December 31, 2022 and 2021 for various expenses paid by the Company on behalf of the related party, which are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company has a balance due to related parties of $14,000 and $13,000, respectively, for various expenses paid by the related parties on behalf of the Company, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
The Company entered into a promissory note with an entity affiliated with the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, as lender in August 2018 for a principal aggregate amount of $0.5 million, which was repaid in full in August 2021. The note accrued interest at a rate of 17.0% per annum.
Note 16 – Segment information:
The Company operates one principal homebuilding business that is organized, managed and reported by geographic division. Management of the five geographic divisions report to the Company’s chief operating decision maker (CODM), which consists of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The CODM reviews the results of operations, including, among other things, total revenue and net income to assess profitability and allocate resources. Accordingly, the Company has presented its operations for the following five reportable segments: Alabama, Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville and Raleigh. Each reportable segment follows the accounting policies described in Note 1.
The following tables summarize financial information by segment (in thousands):
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Home closing revenue:
 
 
Alabama
$96,660
$56,034
Atlanta
332,102
235,387
Charlotte
89,310
83,497
Nashville
120,243
68,287
Raleigh
117,038
75,658
Total
$755,353
$518,863
Year ended December 31,
2022
2021
Net income (loss):
 
 
Alabama
$10,694
$3,920
Atlanta
81,403
43,969
Charlotte
19,209
10,084
Nashville
24,914
9,376
Raleigh
28,819
8,855
Segment total
165,039
76,204
Corporate(1)
(24,595)
(13,674)
Total
$140,444
$62,530
(1)
Corporate primarily includes corporate overhead costs, such as payroll and benefits, business insurance, information technology, office costs, outside professional services and travel costs, and certain other amounts that are not allocated to the reportable segments. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Corporate balance includes $5.1 million of income from forgiveness of a PPP loan.
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As of December 31,
2022
2021
Assets:
 
 
Alabama
$32,840
$33,621
Atlanta
83,343
62,333
Charlotte
17,659
20,350
Nashville
25,921
28,580
Raleigh
28,900
27,019
Segment total
188,663
171,903
Corporate(1)
34,709
29,285
Total
$223,372
$201,188
(1)
Corporate primarily includes cash and cash equivalents, property and equipment, and other assets that are not allocated to the segments.
Note 17 – Subsequent event:
On May 23, 2023, the Company entered into a letter of intent to purchase substantially all of the assets of Devon Street Homes LP (Devon Street). Devon Street is an emerging builder of single-family homes in Houston, Texas, and targets entry-level and first-time homebuyers. Pursuant to the letter of intent, the purchase price will equal the net assets of Devon Street on a cash-free, debt-free basis, plus an agreed upon premium which is comprised primarily of real estate inventory, subject to purchase price adjustments. The Company intends to fund the acquisition, with an estimated purchase price of $80 million, primarily from cash on hand, availability under the Credit Facility and a three-year promissory note in the principal amount of $5 million payable to the seller. In addition to the purchase price, the agreement also contemplates two earnout payments that will be paid to the seller upon the achievement of certain gross margin targets and contracting for future lots. The Company is targeting for the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2023.
The Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through July 28, 2023, the date which our audited financial statements were issued. The Company has determined there are no additional subsequent events that require recognition or disclosure.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited, in thousands)
June 30,
2023
December 31, 2022
Assets:
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$11,392
$29,601
Real estate inventory
164,084
142,065
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
35,742
33,027
Real estate not owned
1,737
2,446
Investments in unconsolidated entities
136
448
Property and equipment, net
1,264
1,306
Other assets
11,208
14,479
Total assets
$225,563
$223,372
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
Accounts payable
$10,688
$10,935
Customer deposits
9,461
9,439
Revolving line of credit
10,000
15,000
Liabilities related to real estate not owned
1,737
2,446
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
17,771
21,041
Total liabilities
49,657
58,861
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
 
 
Members’ equity
175,906
164,511
Total liabilities and members’ equity
$225,563
$223,372
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
Six Months Ended June 30,
(Unaudited, in thousands)
2023
2022
Home closing revenue
$349,666
$325,487
Cost of home closings
248,435
230,046
 
 
 
Home closing gross profit
101,231
95,441
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative costs
41,868
35,136
Equity in income from unconsolidated entities
(436)
(460)
Interest expense
400
353
Other income, net
(168)
(246)
Net income
$59,567
$60,658
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity
Six Months Ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 (Unaudited, in thousands, except number of units)
Class A Units
Class C Units
Class D Units
Total Members’
Equity
Units
Amount
Units
Amount
Units
Amount
Balance December 31, 2021
111,111
$92,916
2,000
$2,000
600
$600
$95,516
Distributions
(36,490)
(40)
(54)
(36,584)
Net income
60,564
40
54
60,658
Balance June 30, 2022
111,111
$116,990
2,000
$2,000
600
$600
$119,590
Balance December 31, 2022
111,111
$161,911
2,000
$2,000
600
$600
$164,511
Distributions
(48,078)
(40)
(54)
(48,172)
Net income
59,473
40
54
59,567
Balance June 30, 2023
111,111
$173,306
2,000
$2,000
600
$600
$175,906
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Six Months Ended June 30,
(Unaudited, in thousands)
2023
2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
Net income
$59,567
$60,658
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
Depreciation
503
440
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment
5
(4)
Accrued incentive compensation expense
755
632
Abandonment of lot option contracts
10
20
Amortization of debt issuance costs
339
292
Equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities
(436)
(460)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated entities
462
436
Noncash lease expense
228
217
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
Real estate inventory
(21,310)
(35,621)
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
(2,725)
(8,662)
Other assets
2,704
(587)
Accounts payable
(247)
11,959
Customer deposits
22
2,308
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
(3,975)
(2,633)
Net cash provided by operating activities
35,902
28,995
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
Purchases of property and equipment
(486)
(434)
Net payments to related party
(28)
Cash paid for investments in unconsolidated entities
(9)
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities
286
1,033
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment
20
10
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(180)
572
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
Borrowings under revolving credit facility and construction loans
43,000
27,000
Repayments under revolving credit facility and construction loans
(48,000)
(24,000)
Payments on notes payable
(3)
(29)
Payments on notes payable - related party
(47)
(42)
Proceeds from sales of real estate not owned
1,044
8,586
Payments related to repurchases of real estate not owned
(1,753)
(4,913)
Distributions to members
(48,172)
(36,584)
Net cash used in financing activities
(53,931)
(29,982)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(18,209)
(415)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
29,601
25,340
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$11,392
$24,925
 
 
 
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
 
 
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
$143
$3
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities
$
$1,580
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
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SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
AS OF JUNE 30, 2023 AND DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023 AND 2022
Note 1 — Description of business and summary of significant accounting policies:
Nature of business
Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries (the Company) is a builder of single-family homes in communities in certain markets in the southeastern United States. The Company’s homes and communities are primarily targeted to first-time and empty-nest homebuyers. The Company currently operates in metropolitan Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Huntsville, Nashville, Raleigh and Houston (beginning on July 31, 2023 as a result of the acquisition described in Note 16). The Company operates a land-light business model whereby the Company typically purchases finished lots via lot-option contracts from various third-party land developers or land bankers. Additionally, the Company offers title insurance services through an unconsolidated title company.
Basis of presentation
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim financial information. As such, these financial statements do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the interim condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented.
These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, which are included elsewhere in this Registration Statement on Form S-1. Historically, the homebuilding industry has experienced seasonal fluctuations; therefore, interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the full fiscal year.
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and those of the consolidated subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in unconsolidated entities in which the Company has less than a controlling financial interest are accounted for using the equity method.
Use of estimates in the preparation of consolidated financial statements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and cash equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the majority of cash and cash equivalents were in demand deposit accounts with major financial institutions. At various times throughout the year, the Company may have cash deposited with these financial institutions that exceeds federally insured limits, and the Company could be negatively impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail or are subject to other adverse conditions. To date, the Company has experienced no loss or diminished access to cash in its demand deposit accounts.
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Real estate inventory
Real estate inventory consists primarily of the capitalized costs of finished homes, homes under construction, and residential lots. The Company includes the costs of lot acquisitions, development, direct home construction, capitalized interest, closing costs and direct and certain indirect overhead costs incurred during home construction in real estate inventory.
Real estate inventory is stated at cost unless the community is determined to be impaired, at which point the inventory is written down to fair value as required by Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 360-10, Property, Plant, and Equipment. The Company reviews its real estate inventory for indicators of potential impairment on a quarterly basis at the community level considering market and economic conditions, current sales absorption rates and recent profitability of new home sales. When an indicator of impairment is identified, the Company prepares and analyzes cash flows at the community level on an undiscounted basis. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the community’s carrying value, the Company generally estimates the fair value using the estimated future discounted cash flows of the respective community. A community with a fair value less than its carrying value is written down to such fair value and resulting losses are reported within cost of home closings in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. No impairments were recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.
Deposits on real estate under option or contract
Deposits paid related to land and lot option purchase contracts are recorded and classified as deposits on real estate under option or contract until the related lots are purchased. Deposits are reclassified as a component of real estate inventory at the time the deposit is used to offset the acquisition price of the lots based on the terms of the underlying agreements. To the extent they are non-refundable, deposits are expensed to cost of home closings if the option agreement is terminated or lot acquisition is no longer considered probable. Since the Company’s land and lot option contracts typically do not require specific performance, the Company does not consider such contracts to be contractual obligations to purchase the lots and total exposure to loss under such contracts is limited to non-refundable deposits and any capitalized pre-acquisition costs. For the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company wrote off $10,000 and $20,000, respectively, of deposits associated with terminated option contracts. Such charge is included in cost of home closings in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. See Note 10 for information on land and lot option contracts.
Real estate not owned
In limited circumstances, the Company may sell finished lots it owns to a land banker and simultaneously enter into an option agreement to repurchase those finished lots. In accordance with ASC 606-10-55-70, these transactions are considered a financing arrangement rather than a sale because of the Company’s options to repurchase these parcels at a higher price. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company sold 15 finished lots at cost for approximately $1.0 million and 140 finished lots at cost for approximately $8.6 million, respectively, to a then member of the Company’s Board of Managers. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, approximately $1.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively, was recorded to real estate not owned, with a corresponding amount of approximately $1.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively, recorded to liabilities related to real estate not owned for the remaining balance of net cash received from the transactions for lots not yet repurchased (see Note 14 for information on transactions with related parties). The liabilities related to real estate not owned are excluded from the Company’s debt covenant calculations.
Investments in unconsolidated entities
Investments in unconsolidated entities, in which the Company has an ownership percentage interest or otherwise exercises significant influence, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and are carried at cost, adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions. For cash flow classification, to the extent distributions do not exceed cumulative earnings, the Company designates such distributions as return on capital. Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings are treated as return of capital.
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The Company regularly reviews its investments in unconsolidated entities to determine whether there is a decline in fair value below book value. If there is a decline that is other-than-temporary, the investment is written down to fair value. There were no other-than-temporary impairments of investments in unconsolidated entities recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022.
Property and equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is generally recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from two to five years. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Additions and betterments are capitalized. The cost of property and equipment sold or otherwise disposed of, and the accumulated depreciation thereon, is eliminated from the property and equipment and accumulated depreciation accounts, and gains and losses are reflected in other income in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
Other assets
Other assets consist of the following as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Development reimbursement receivables from land bankers (Note 10)
$6,159
$8,993
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization
976
1,315
Prepaid insurance and other expenses
825
995
Operating lease right-of-use assets
1,820
2,048
Other assets
1,428
1,128
Total other assets
$11,208
$14,479
Debt issuance costs represent the fees associated with the Company’s revolving credit facility. These costs are recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets within other assets and amortized using the straight-line method over the term of the credit facility. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, debt issuance costs net of accumulated amortization totaled approximately $1.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Amortization of debt issuance costs was approximately $0.3 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 and is included in interest expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
Warranty reserves
Homebuyers are provided with a limited warranty against certain building defects for up to one year after the home closing and a limited warranty against structural claims for up to 10 years after the home closing. The Company estimates the costs to be incurred under these warranties and records a liability in the amount of such costs at the time revenue is recognized. Such costs primarily include repairs of minor construction and cosmetic defects associated with homeowner claims. The Company estimates warranty reserves based on historical data and trends for its communities and periodically assesses the adequacy of its recorded warranty liability and adjusts the amounts as necessary. Warranty reserves are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, and additions and adjustments to the reserves are included in cost of home closings within the accompanying consolidated statements of income. Actual warranty costs could differ from the current estimates.
Leases
ASC Topic 842, Leases, provides practical expedients and accounting policy elections for ongoing lease accounting. The Company has elected the recognition exemption for short-term leases for all leases that qualify. Under this exemption, the Company will not recognize right-of-use (ROU) assets or lease liabilities for those leases that qualify as a short-term lease (a lease term of 12 months of less), which includes not recognizing ROU assets or lease liabilities for existing short-term leases of those assets in transition. The Company has also elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all existing asset classes.
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Revenue recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when a home closes with a homebuyer and title and possession of the property are transferred to that homebuyer. The Company’s performance obligation, to deliver the home, is generally satisfied in less than one year from the original contract date.
When the Company executes sales contracts with its homebuyers, or when it requires advance payment from homebuyers for custom changes, upgrades or options related to their homes, the cash deposits received are recorded as contract liabilities until the homes are closed or the contracts are canceled. The Company either retains or refunds to the customer deposits on canceled sales contracts, depending upon the applicable provisions of the contract or other circumstances. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, customer deposits totaled $9.5 million and $9.4 million, respectively. Substantially all customer deposits are recognized in revenue within one year of being received from homebuyers.
Cost of home closings
Cost of home closings includes the costs of lot acquisition, development, direct home construction, capitalized interest, closing costs, direct and certain indirect overhead costs and estimated warranty for the homes. Estimates of costs incurred or to be incurred but not paid are accrued and expensed at the time of closing.
Income taxes
The Company operates as a limited liability company and is treated as a partnership for income tax purposes. Accordingly, the Company incurs no significant liability for federal or state income taxes, since the taxable income or loss is passed through to its Members. The Company incurs liabilities for certain state taxes payable directly by the Company, which are not significant and for which the expense is included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authority, based on the technical merits of the position. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were no known items which would result in a significant accrual for uncertain tax positions.
Advertising costs
The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred. Advertising expense, which is included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income, was approximately $2.3 million and $1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Fair value of financial instruments
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and disclosing fair value measurements. ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy, which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs in measuring fair value. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability on the measurement date.
Level 1 - Valuation is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities;
Level 2 - Valuation is determined from quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, or by model-based techniques in which all significant inputs are observable in the market;
Level 3 - Valuation is derived from model-based techniques in which at least one significant input is unobservable and based on the Company’s own estimates about the assumptions that market participants would use to value the asset or liability.
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of particular inputs to those fair value measurements requires judgment and considers factors specific to each asset or liability.
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The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable, and notes payable.
The Company has no financial instruments that are required to be reported at fair value in the Company’s financial statements on a recurring or non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 and for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022. The Company measures the fair value of its financial instruments for disclosure purposes. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their liquid nature and short-term maturities and are classified as Level 1 fair value instruments.
The carrying value of the Company’s debt approximates fair value due to variable rate terms that approximate market rates and short-term nature and are classified as Level 2 fair value instruments.
Recent accounting pronouncements
There are no recent accounting pronouncements that are applicable to the Company and have not been adopted in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
Note 2 — Real estate inventory and capitalized interest:
A summary of real estate inventory is as follows as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Lots held for construction
$28,812
$27,467
Homes under construction, completed homes and model homes
135,272
114,598
Total real estate inventory
$164,084
$142,065
The Company capitalizes into real estate inventory interest costs incurred on homes under construction during the construction period until substantial completion. The Company does not capitalize interest on homes where construction has been suspended.
A summary of capitalized interest is as follows (in thousands):
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2023
2022
Capitalized interest, beginning of period
$1,117
$1,017
Interest incurred
572
1,247
Interest expensed
(400)
(353)
Interest charged to cost of home closings
(955)
(1,119)
Capitalized interest, end of period
$334
$792
Note 3 — Property and equipment:
Property and equipment consists of the following as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Automobiles
$311
$311
Airplanes
1,141
1,141
Furniture and fixtures
3,056
2,954
Computer equipment
80
40
 
4,588
4,446
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(3,324)
(3,140)
Net property and equipment
$1,264
$1,306
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Depreciation expense was $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Note 4 — Revolving line of credit and notes payable:
The Company has a $175.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the Credit Facility) maturing in December 2025. The Credit Facility includes a $25.0 million accordion feature, subject to additional commitments, and provides that up to $10.0 million may be used for letters of credit. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at the Prime Rate, as defined, plus an applicable margin ranging from minus 25 basis points to 20 basis points based on the Company’s leverage ratio as determined in accordance with a pricing grid.
As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility was 8.00% and 7.25%, respectively.
The Credit Facility contains certain financial covenants, including, among others, (a) a minimum tangible net worth requirement, (b) a maximum leverage ratio, (c) a maximum ratio of EBITDA to interest incurred, and (d) a minimum liquidity requirement. As of
June 30, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all covenants under the Credit Facility.
As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility totaled $10.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2023, outstanding letters of credit totaled $0.4 million. There were no outstanding letters of credit as of December 31, 2022. Availability as determined in accordance with the Borrowing Base, as defined, totaled approximately $113.3 million as of June 30, 2023.
The Company also has loans payable to banks collateralized by vehicles purchased from the proceeds of the loans with an outstanding balance of $12,000 and $15,000 as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, which are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Future maturities of notes payable to third parties, including borrowings under the Credit Facility, are as follows as of June 30, 2023 (in thousands):
Year ending December 31,
 
2023 (1)
$
2024
2025
10,000
 
$10,000
(1)
Remaining payments are for the six months ending December 31, 2023.
Note 5 — Accrued expenses and other liabilities:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
June 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Payroll and related liabilities
$3,358
$8,486
Accrued incentive compensation
4,619
4,528
Warranty reserves
2,383
2,071
Lease liabilities
1,861
2,077
Due to related parties and notes payable – related party
1,269
1,316
Accruals related to real estate development and other liabilities
4,281
2,563
Total accrued expenses and other liabilities
$17,771
$21,041
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Note 6 — Warranty reserve:
A summary of the activity in the Company’s warranty liability account is as follows (in thousands):
Six Months Ended June 30,
2023
2022
Balance, beginning of period
$2,071
$1,516
Additions to reserve from new home closings
698
651
Warranty claims
(331)
(337)
Adjustments to pre-existing reserves
(55)
(127)
Balance, end of period
$2,383
$1,703
Note 7 — Accrued incentive compensation:
The Company has incentive compensation agreements in place with certain employees, whereby a portion of the employee’s annual bonus is paid over a 3-year period. The long-term incentive compensation vests annually over the three-year period and is forfeited if the employee leaves without good reason or is terminated for cause. All long-term incentive compensation vests immediately upon a change in control. The Company recognized $0.8 million and $0.6 million of deferred compensation expense related to the incentive compensation agreements for the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative costs within the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had accumulated a total liability of approximately $4.6 million and $4.5 million, respectively, related to the incentive compensation agreements, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Note 8 — Leases:
The Company leases certain office space and equipment for use in its operations. The Company assesses each of these contracts to determine whether the arrangement contains a lease as defined by ASC Topic 842. In order to meet the definition of a lease under ASC Topic 842, the contractual arrangement must convey to the Company the right to control the use of an identifiable asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Some leases contain renewal options and in accordance with ASC Topic 842, the lease term includes those renewals only to the extent that they are reasonably certain to be exercised.
In accordance with ASC Topic 842, the lease liability is equal to the present value of the remaining lease payments while the ROU asset is based on the lease liability, subject to adjustment, such as for lease incentives. The Company’s leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit interest rate and, therefore, the Company must estimate its incremental borrowing rate. In determining an appropriate incremental borrowing rate, the Company considers the lease period, market interest rates, current interest rates on the Company’s notes payable and the effects of collateralization.
The Company’s lease population as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 is comprised of operating leases where the Company is the lessee, and these leases are primarily for office space for corporate and division offices, as well as certain equipment leases.
Lease cost included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income as a component of selling, general and administrative costs is presented in the table below (in thousands).
Six Months Ended June 30,
2023
2022
Operating lease costs
$286
$242
Variable lease costs - operating
$88
$91
ROU assets are included within other assets and lease liabilities are included within accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
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The following table presents additional information about the Company’s leases as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (dollars in thousands):
 
June 30,
2023
December 31,
2022
ROU assets
$1,820
$2,048
Lease liabilities
$1,861
$2,077
Weighted average remaining lease term (in months)
56
61
Weighted average discount rate
6.07%
6.01%
As of June 30, 2023, the future minimum payments required under operating leases are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31,
 
2023 (1)
$281
2024
437
2025
403
2026
410
2027
368
Thereafter
250
Total lease payments
2,149
Less imputed interest
(288)
Total lease liability
$1,861
(1)
Remaining payments are for the six months ending December 31, 2023.
Note 9 — Investments in unconsolidated entities:
The Company has non-controlling equity interests in various entities. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for these investments. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company contributed approximately $9,000 to the entities. There were no such contributions during the six months ended June 30, 2023. The Company’s proportionate share of the entities’ income during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 was approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The entities also distributed $0.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively, to the Company during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively, resulting in a total equity investment of approximately $0.1 million and $0.4 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
The Company does not consolidate the investments because the Company does not have a controlling interest in them.
Note 10 — Variable interest entities:
The Company enters into lot option agreements to procure finished lots for the construction of homes in the future. Pursuant to these option agreements, the Company generally provides a deposit to the seller as consideration for the right to purchase lots at different times in the future at predetermined prices. Such contracts enable the Company to defer acquiring portions of properties owned by third parties or unconsolidated entities until the Company has determined whether and when to exercise the option, which may serve to reduce the Company’s financial risks associated with long-term land holdings.
Based on the provisions of the relevant accounting guidance, the Company has concluded that when it enters into an option or purchase agreement to acquire lots from an entity, a variable interest entity (VIE) may be created. The Company evaluates all option and purchase agreements and amendments for land to determine if the related entity is a VIE. ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, requires that for each VIE, the Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary.
In order to determine if the Company is the primary beneficiary, the Company must first assess whether it has the ability to control the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance. Such activities include, but are not limited to, the ability to determine the budget and scope of land development
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work, if any; the ability to control financing decisions for the VIE; the ability to acquire additional land into the VIE or dispose of land in the VIE not under contract with the Company; and the ability to change or amend the existing option contract with the VIE.
If the Company does not control such activities, the Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE. If the Company has the ability to control such activities, the Company will continue its analysis by determining if the Company is also expected to absorb a potentially significant amount of the VIE’s losses or, if no party absorbs the majority of such losses, if the Company will benefit from a potentially significant amount of the VIE’s expected gains. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company was not identified as the primary beneficiary of any VIEs associated with option and purchase agreements. Therefore, no such VIEs required consolidation under ASC Topic 810.
In all cases, creditors of the entities with which the Company has option agreements have no recourse against the Company and the maximum exposure to loss in option agreements is limited to the Company’s option deposits and any capitalized pre-acquisition costs. In certain instances where the Company has entered into option agreements to purchase finished lots from a land banker, the Company may also enter into an agreement to complete the development of the lots on behalf of the land banker at a fixed cost. The Company may be at risk for items over budget related to the development of the property under option. Any unpaid amounts under these development agreements are recorded as development reimbursement receivables from land bankers and are included in other assets (see Note 1 for information on other assets).
The following provides a summary of the Company’s interests in land option agreements as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands):
June 30, 2023
Deposits or investments
Remaining purchase price
Option contracts
$35,742
$455,144
Option contracts with unconsolidated entities
33
425
Total option contracts
$35,775
$455,569
December 31, 2022
Deposits or investments
Remaining purchase price
Option contracts
$33,027
$420,136
Option contracts with unconsolidated entities
319
3,145
Total option contracts
$33,346
$423,281
Deposits on option contracts are included in deposits on real estate under option or contract, and investments in option contracts with unconsolidated entities are included in investments in unconsolidated entities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
For lot option contracts where the lot seller entity is not required to be consolidated under the variable interest model, the Company considers whether such contracts should be accounted for as financing arrangements. Lot option contracts that may be considered financing arrangements include those entered into with third-party land banks or developers in conjunction with such third parties acquiring a specific land parcel(s) on the Company’s behalf, at the Company’s direction, and those with other landowners where the Company or its designee makes improvements to the optioned land parcel(s) during the applicable option period. For these lot option contracts, the Company records the remaining purchase price of the associated land parcel(s) in inventories in its consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding financing obligation if the Company determines that it is effectively compelled to exercise the option to purchase the land parcel(s). In making this determination with respect to a land option contracts, the Company considers the non-refundable deposit(s), any capitalized pre-acquisition costs and additional costs associated with abandoning the contract.
As a result of such evaluations of lot option contracts, no lot option contracts were determined to be financing arrangements for which the remaining purchase price should be recorded as a financing obligation in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
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Note 11 — Members’ equity:
The Company has authorized 111,111 Class A Units, 2,000 Class C Units, and 600 Class D Units. The Board of Managers has control over all activities of the Company. A Class A Unitholder has the right to determine the number and designate the Managers composing the Board of Managers of the Company.
The Class C Unitholders and the Class D Unitholders are entitled to preferred distributions, which are generally declared and paid on a quarterly basis. Such distributions for the Class C Units compound on a quarterly basis at the rate of four percent (4%) per annum during the period from the Class C Issuance Date on the aggregate Capital Contributions made with respect to such Units. Such distributions for the Class D Units are compounding on a quarterly basis at the rate of eighteen percent (18%) per annum during the period from the Class D Issuance Date on the aggregate Capital Contributions made with respect to such Units.
Other than distributions for tax purposes, the amount of distributions to Class A Unitholders are limited until all preferred distributions due to the Class C Unitholders and Class D Unitholders have been paid in full.
In the event of a dissolution and liquidation of the Company, payments will be made in accordance with the Company’s Seventh Amended and Restated Operating Agreement as follows:
(a)
First, to the holders of outstanding Class D Units (ratably based upon the number of Class D Units held by each) until such holders have received an amount equal to any unpaid Class D preferred distribution plus $1,000 for each outstanding Class D Unit;
(b)
Second, if assets remain to be distributed, to the holders of outstanding Class C Units (ratably based upon the number of Class C Units held by each) until such holders have received an amount equal to any unpaid Class C preferred distribution plus $2,000,000;
(c)
Then any assets remaining are distributed among Class A Unitholders.
Note 12 — Employee benefit plan:
The Company has a defined contribution 401(k) plan, which is offered to all employees who have attained the age of 21 and meet the minimum service requirements as defined in the plan document. Employer contributions under the plan are at management’s discretion. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, employer contributions to the plan totaled $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative costs within the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. Participants are immediately vested in all contributions and earnings thereon.
Note 13 — Commitments and contingencies:
The Company is subject to certain contingent liabilities resulting from litigation, claims, and other commitments which arise in the ordinary course of business. Management and legal counsel believe that the probable resolution of such contingencies will not materially affect the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company.
In the normal course of business, the Company posts letters of credit and performance and other surety bonds related to certain development obligations with local municipalities, government agencies and developers. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, performance and surety bonds totaled $22.3 million and $21.4 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2023, outstanding letters of credit totaled $0.4 million. There were no letters of credit outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
Note 14 — Transactions with related parties:
The Company rents office space under a lease with JBB Cherokee Holdings LLC, an entity affiliated by common ownership. Related party lease cost included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income as a component of selling, general and administrative costs is presented in the table below (in thousands).
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Six Months Ended June 30,
2023
2022
Operating lease costs (related party)
$173
$140
Variable lease costs - operating (related party)
$40
$36
As of June 30, 2023, the future minimum payments required under operating leases with related parties are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31,
 
2023 (1)
$165
2024
337
2025
347
2026
357
2027
368
Thereafter
250
Total lease payments
1,824
Less imputed interest
(272)
Total lease liability (related party)
$1,552
(1)
Remaining payments are for the six months ending December 31, 2023.
Payments under the office lease agreement, along with costs associated with the office space, totaled approximately $0.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, which are included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
During the six months ended June 30, 2023, the Company incurred fees of $0.4 million in the aggregate from certain entities affiliated by common ownership for use of facilities related to business development and vendor relations, which is included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. The Company did not incur fees for use of these facilities during the six months ended June 30, 2022.
While the Company typically enters into lot option agreements whereby a deposit is provided to the seller, the Company has in the past, in lieu of providing a deposit, invested a minority interest in certain of the land banking entities with which it contracts. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company purchased 35 and 89 lots totaling approximately $3.0 million and $8.0 million, respectively, under lot option agreements with unconsolidated land bank entities in which the Company has a non-controlling ownership interest. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had deposits totaling $33,000 and $0.3 million, respectively, which are included in investments in unconsolidated entities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, with a total remaining purchase price under these lot option agreements of $0.4 million for 5 lots and $3.1 million for 48 lots, respectively. The Company has identified these entities as VIEs; however, the Company has not been identified as the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and the entities are not consolidated in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements (see Note 10 for information related to VIEs).
The Company has entered into lot option transactions with a then member of the Company’s Board of Managers. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company purchased 159 lots totaling $8.3 million and 173 lots totaling $10.3 million, respectively, related to these lot option agreements. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had deposits totaling $2.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively, which are included in deposits on real estate under option or contract in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets, with a total remaining purchase price under these lot option agreements of $28.2 million and $29.5 million, respectively. These amounts include the lot option agreements associated with real estate not owned described in Note 1.
The Company charters aircraft services from companies that are controlled by a related entity of the Company’s managing member. Expenses incurred and paid to these companies under a dry lease agreement for the use of the aircraft for business travel totaled approximately $0.1 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, which are included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.
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Historically, since August 2016, one of the members of the Company’s Board of Managers was party to a consulting agreement with the Company pursuant to which he provided services to the Company in exchange for (i) an annual fee equal to approximately $0.6 million plus (ii) eligibility to earn an annual bonus, subject to the terms and conditions therein. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the member of the Company’s Board of Managers earned fees under the consulting agreement of approximately $0.3 million, which are included in selling, general and administrative costs in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income. As of December 31, 2022, the Company has a balance due to the member of the Company’s Board of Managers under the consulting agreement of approximately $0.8 million, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. There was no balance due as of June 30, 2023.
The Company has two uncollateralized notes payable bearing interest at 2.12% and 2.56%, respectively, and other payables to certain related parties for the purchase of airplanes totaling $1.3 million as of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, which are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
The Company has related party receivables totaling approximately $0.1 million as of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 for various expenses paid by the Company on behalf of the related party, which are included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company has a balance due to related parties of $13,000 and $14,000, respectively, for various expenses paid by the related parties on behalf of the Company, which are included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Note 15 — Segment information:
The Company operates one principal homebuilding business that is organized, managed and reported by geographic division. Management of the five geographic divisions report to the Company’s chief operating decision maker (CODM), which consists of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The CODM reviews the results of operations, including, among other things, total revenue and net income to assess profitability and allocate resources. Accordingly, the Company has presented its operations for the following five reportable segments: Alabama, Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville and Raleigh. Each reportable segment follows the accounting policies described in Note 1.
The following tables summarize financial information by segment (in thousands):
Six Months Ended June 30,
2023
2022
Home closing revenue:
 
 
Alabama
$42,867
$38,898
Atlanta
170,278
142,688
Charlotte
26,871
43,962
Nashville
51,908
47,835
Raleigh
57,742
52,104
Total
$349,666
$325,487
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Six Months Ended June 30,
2023
2022
Net income (loss):
 
 
Alabama
$3,676
$3,376
Atlanta
42,928
34,226
Charlotte
4,313
8,895
Nashville
7,732
10,705
Raleigh
12,846
12,844
Segment total
71,495
70,046
Corporate (1)
(11,928)
(9,388)
Total
$59,567
$60,658
(1)
Corporate primarily includes corporate overhead costs, such as payroll and benefits, business insurance, information technology, office costs, outside professional services and travel costs, and certain other amounts that are not allocated to the reportable segments.
 
June 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Assets:
 
 
Alabama
$42,089
$32,840
Atlanta
81,421
83,343
Charlotte
24,607
17,659
Nashville
30,436
25,921
Raleigh
31,299
28,900
Segment total
209,852
188,663
Corporate (1)
15,711
34,709
Total
$225,563
$223,372
(1)
Corporate primarily includes cash and cash equivalents, property and equipment, and other assets that are not allocated to the segments.
Note 16 — Subsequent event:
On July 31, 2023, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Devon Street Homes, L.P. (Devon Street). Devon Street is a builder of single-family homes in Houston, Texas, which targets entry-level and first-time homebuyers. The acquisition of Devon Street allows the Company to expand its operations into the Houston, Texas market area. The Company funded the closing payment due to the seller of $79.1 million with cash on hand, proceeds drawn from its existing Credit Facility, and a three-year promissory note in the principal amount of $5.0 million payable to the seller. Under the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, the closing payment is subject to further adjustment (positive or negative) after a 90-day period based on the finalization of the book value of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities.
Additionally, the purchase agreement includes two earnout features that require payments be made to the seller in the event that future gross margin targets are met for the acquired business and lot acquisition activity occurs.
The Company’s acquisition accounting for the Devon Street business combination is incomplete as of the date the interim financial statements were available to be issued as the entity was only recently acquired. Accordingly, certain disclosures related to the business combination, including the identification of and estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, measurement of the consideration transferred and various pro forma disclosures, are not included herein.
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through September 6, 2023, which is the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. All subsequent events, if any, requiring recognition as of June 30, 2023, have been incorporated into these condensed consolidated financial statements.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
To the Partners
of Devon Street Homes, L.P.
Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Devon Street Homes, L.P., (the Company) which comprise the balance sheet as of December 31, 2022, and the related statement of income, partners’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAS). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report. We are required to be independent of the Company and to meet our other ethical responsibilities, in accordance with the relevant ethical requirements relating to our audit. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Responsibilities of Management for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and for the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, management is required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.
Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not absolute assurance and therefore is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with GAAS will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. Misstatements are considered material if there is a substantial likelihood that, individually or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgment made by a reasonable user based on the financial statements.
In performing an audit in accordance with GAAS, we:
Exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.
Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed.
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Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of the financial statements.
Conclude whether, in our judgment, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.
We are required to communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit, significant audit findings, and certain internal control-related matters that we identified during the audit.
/s/ Doeren Mayhew
Houston, Texas
July 14, 2023
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2022
Assets
 
Cash
$17,030,181
Real estate inventories (note 3)
56,054,672
Other assets
171,968
Furniture and equipment, net
239,398
Total assets
$73,496,219
 
 
Liabilities and Partners' Equity
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$2,220,852
Customer deposits
203,845
Construction loans (note 4)
261,474
Lot loans (note 4)
16,975,158
Total liabilities
19,661,329
Partners' equity
53,834,890
Total liabilities and partners' equity
$73,496,219
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
Revenues
$107,887,747
Cost of sales
77,369,809
Indirect construction costs
3,020,376
Total cost of sales
80,390,185
Gross profit
27,497,562
Operating expenses:
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
7,525,825
Depreciation expense
113,924
Interest expense
460,266
Total operating expenses
8,100,015
Income from operations
19,397,547
Other income
117,390
Income before provision for Texas franchise tax
19,514,937
Texas franchise tax
192,778
Net income
$19,322,159
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS' EQUITY
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
 
General
Partner
Limited
Partners
Total
Balance - January 1, 2022
$402,770
$39,938,786
$40,341,556
Partner distributions
(58,288)
(5,770,537)
(5,828,825)
Net income
193,222
19,128,937
19,322,159
Balance - December 31, 2022
$537,704
$53,297,186
$53,834,890
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
Net income
$19,322,159
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
Depreciation
113,924
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
(Increase) decrease in:
 
Real estate inventories
(2,540,608)
Other assets
244,015
Increase (decrease) in:
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
(1,802,359)
Customer deposits
(368,129)
Net cash provided by operating activities
14,969,002
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
Purchases of furniture and equipment
(37,105)
Net cash used in investing activities
(37,105)
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
Net proceeds from (payments on) construction loans
(4,662,400)
Net proceeds from lot loans
4,864,228
Partner distributions
(5,828,825)
Net cash used in financing activities
(5,626,997)
Net increase (decrease) in cash
9,304,900
Cash - beginning
7,725,281
Cash - ending
$17,030,181
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022
Note 1 - Organization and Operations
Devon Street Homes, L.P., (the Company) operates in the homebuilding industry, constructing and selling single-family homes. As of December 31, 2022, the Company was building in 20 Houston, Texas metropolitan area communities.
The Company is 1% owned by Devon Street Homes GP, LLC, a general partner and 99% by the limited partner. The Company is managed by the general partner. The partners share in the profits and losses of the partnership in proportion to the amount of partnership interest owned by each. No limited partner shall be liable for the debts, obligations or liability of the Company. The partnership shall exist until dissolved in accordance with the partnership agreement.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from home sales when a closing occurs. A closing is considered to occur when payment has been received or is receivable; title, possession and other attributes of ownership have been transferred to the buyer; and the Company is not obligated to perform significant activities after the sale. A typical sales contract has a duration of less than a year.
Performance Obligation
The Company contracts with customers to design and construct new single homes. Each residential unit is a single performance obligation that is satisfied at the point of closing of the sale. Contracts with customers to design and construct new single homes are generally fixed-price, and contracts with customers for residential construction are subject to change orders. There is normally no variable consideration. Payment in full takes place at the point of closing.
Cost of Sales
The Company’s cost of sales consists of labor, material, and lot costs using the specific identification method. Cost of sales also includes interest, property taxes, and indirect costs incurred outside of the development and construction periods.
Cash
Cash is comprised of amounts in demand deposit accounts with financial institutions insured by the FDIC. The Company has not experienced any losses from this credit risk. Management believes the risk of loss is minimal. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had funds on deposit with such financial institutions that exceeded the insured limits by $16,992,500.
Real Estate Inventories
Real estate inventories are stated at the lower of cost (specific identification) or estimated net realizable value. Interest, property taxes and indirect costs are capitalized during the development and construction periods.
Purchase Option Deposits
The Company enters into option agreements to acquire lots, for which the Company generally pays non-refundable deposits.
These agreements generally provide for a deposit payment to the developer in return for an option to purchase an agreed upon number of lots, at specified prices, within certain timeframes. If the Company does not purchase the agreed upon number of lots, the Company will not incur an additional penalty, but the Company will forfeit its deposit. If there is default by the developer, the Company will not forfeit the deposit.
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As of December 31, 2022, the Company had 817 lots under lot option contracts secured by earnest money, including letters of credit, totaling $4,891,750 with a total base purchase price of approximately $52,590,630.
Furniture and Equipment
Furniture and equipment is stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation of $654,417 as of December 31, 2022. Depreciation expense is provided using the straight-line and double declining balance methods over the estimated useful lives of three to seven years. Depreciation expense during the year ended December 31, 2022 was $113,924.
Warranty Reserves
The Company accrues an estimated warranty reserve for unusual product defects or product liability claims as they become known and to the extent such claims are not covered by insurance. The following is the roll forward of the warranty reserve included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2022:
Balance, beginning of year
$217,474
Accruals during the year
269,010
Payments during the year
(63,975)
Reversal of accruals
(198,120)
Balance, end of year
$224,389
Customer Deposits
The Company’s customer deposits include the amount of the earnest money deposits and “extras” deposits. The Company requires earnest money deposits from its homebuyers. These amounts are recorded as deposits until such time as the sale has closed and the funds are applied toward the purchase price.
The beginning and ending customer deposits were as follows:
 
Ending
Beginning
Customer deposits
$203,845
$571,974
Interest
Interest incurred by the Company includes interest paid on model homes, completed homes, homes under construction, unimproved lots, and land under development. Details of the interest incurred are presented as follows:
Completed homes and inventory lots
$460,266
Capitalized interest - sold homes
283,439
Capitalized interest - inventory homes and lots
97,664
Model homes
27,324
Total interest
$868,693
Other Income
Other income consisted of the following:
Interest income
$2,360
Miscellaneous
115,030
Total other income
$117,390
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Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates and assumptions are related to contingencies. Ultimate actual results could differ from these estimates.
Note 3 - Real Estate Inventories
Real estate inventories, substantially all of which are pledged as collateral for construction loans payable, consisted of the following as of December 31, 2022:
Completed:
 
 
Under contract for sale
$1,378,822
Unsold
4,026,747
Models
2,153,547
Under construction:
 
Under contract for sale
9,664,595
Unsold
14,594,062
Models
345,627
Improved lots
17,020,317
Indirect construction costs
1,979,205
Lot option deposits
4,891,750
Total real estate inventories
$56,054,672
Note 4 - Construction and Lot Loans Payable
The Company has construction and lot loans with several financial institutions to provide financing for the construction of single-family homes and to purchase lots. As construction on each home is started, the Company funds the construction costs through a residential construction loan. Each construction loan is secured by the related home under construction. A loan origination fee, based on the amount of the loan commitment amount, is paid in advance to the financial institution originating the loan. The interest rate charged on these construction loans varies based upon the Prime rate. As of December 31, 2022, one of the notes has a floor of 3%.
As of December 31, 2022, the total construction and lot loans payable under these agreements are summarized as follows:
 
Total
Line
Commitment
Total
Commitment
Used
Outstanding
Balance
Residential
Inventory
Collateral
Interest
Rate
Line
Maturity
Date
 
$25,000,000
$5,323,794
$2,887,365
$7,394,247
7.5%
4/24/2024
 
25,000,000
6,058,610
7,199,669
12,081,403
7.5%
12/21/2024
 
20,000,000
6,772,425
5,350,825
9,381,000
7.5%
9/17/2023
 
7,000,000
2,636,197
1,798,773
2,636,197
7.5%
7/25/2023
Total
$77,000,000
$20,791,026
$17,236,632
$31,492,847
 
The debt agreements contain financial covenants such as the maintenance of minimum tangible net worth, minimum liquidity and debt to tangible net worth ratio.
Note 5 - Related Party Transactions
The Company acquires lots from related party development companies. The amount paid for such lots is determined on an arms-length basis. As of December 31, 2022, the Company purchased 146 lots from related party development companies and paid $7,201,060. The related party companies had a cost basis of $4,278,450 in these lots.
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Note 6 - Income Taxes
The accompanying financial statements do not include a provision for federal income taxes. Since the Company is treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes, the partners/members are each responsible for paying all federal income taxes on their share of the Company’s taxable income.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and the state of Texas. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, and local examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2019.
The state of Texas bases its margin tax on gross margin. Since the tax base on the state franchise tax is derived from an income-based measure, the franchise tax has characteristics of an income tax and as a result, the provisions of FASB ASC 740-10, regarding accounting for income taxes, apply to this tax.
In accordance with FASB ASC 740-10, the effect on deferred liabilities of a change in a tax law should be included in tax expense attributable to continuing operations in the period including the enactment date. The tax is computed at 0.75% of the gross profit of the Company; revenue and cost of goods sold, adjusted for various exclusions.
Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and contingencies include the usual obligations of the Company for the completion of contracts and those incurred in the ordinary course of business. The Company is also involved in disputes and claims common in its business, and management believes that the disposition of such disputes and claims will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Note 8 - Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Interest and financing costs paid
$868,693
Interest and financing costs capitalized
$381,103
Texas franchise taxes paid
$150,000
Note 9 - Subsequent Events
In accordance with ASC Topic 855, the Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions up to and including July 14, 2023, and where necessary, have made the appropriate disclosures.
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INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT’S REVIEW REPORT
To the Partners
of Devon Street Homes, L.P.
We have reviewed the accompanying financial statements of Devon Street Homes, L.P., (the Company) which comprise the balance sheet as of June 30, 2023, and the related statements of income, partners’ equity, and cash flows for the six months then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements. A review includes primarily applying analytical procedures to management’s financial data and making inquiries of company management. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.
Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement whether due to fraud or error.
Accountant’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to conduct the review engagement in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services promulgated by the Accounting and Review Services Committee of the AICPA. Those standards require us to perform procedures to obtain limited assurance as a basis for reporting whether we are aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial statements for them to be in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We believe that the results of our procedures provide a reasonable basis for our conclusion.
We are required to be independent of Devon Street Homes, L.P. and to meet our other ethical responsibilities, in accordance with the relevant ethical requirements related to our review.
Accountant’s Conclusion
Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying financial statements in order for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ Doeren Mayhew
Houston, Texas
August 16, 2023
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
BALANCE SHEET
JUNE 30, 2023
Assets
 
Cash
$16,172,100
Real estate inventories (note 3)
60,390,979
Other assets
102,922
Furniture and equipment, net
310,118
Total assets
$76,976,119
 
 
Liabilities and Partners' Equity
 
 
Liabilities:
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$2,729,691
Customer deposits
173,694
Construction loans (note 4)
271,051
Lot loans (note 4)
20,539,758
Total liabilities
23,714,194
Partners' equity
53,261,925
Total liabilities and partners' equity
$76,976,119
See independent accountant's review report and accompanying notes to financial statements.
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
STATEMENT OF INCOME
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023
Revenues
$41,059,664
Cost of sales
31,012,919
Indirect construction costs
1,138,080
Total cost of sales
32,150,999
Gross profit
8,908,665
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
3,366,688
Depreciation expense
52,689
Interest expense
580,483
Total operating expenses
3,999,860
Income from operations
4,908,805
Other income
125,773
Income before provision for Texas franchise tax
5,034,578
Texas franchise tax
49,024
Net income
$4,985,554
See independent accountant's review report and accompanying notes to financial statements.
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' EQUITY
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023
 
General
Partner
Limited
Partners
Total
Balance - January 1, 2023, audited
$537,704
$53,297,186
$53,834,890
Partner distributions
(55,585)
(5,502,934)
(5,558,519)
Net income
49,856
4,935,698
4,985,554
Balance - June 30, 2023, reviewed
$531,975
$52,729,950
$53,261,925
See independent accountant's review report and accompanying notes to financial statements.
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
Net income
$4,985,554
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
Depreciation
52,689
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
(Increase) decrease in:
 
Real estate inventories
(4,336,307)
Other assets
69,046
Increase (decrease) in:
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
508,839
Customer deposits
(30,151)
Net cash provided by operating activities
1,249,670
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
Purchases of furniture and equipment
(123,409)
Net cash used in investing activities
(123,409)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
Net proceeds from construction loans
9,577
Net proceeds from lot loans
3,564,600
Partner distributions
(5,558,519)
Net cash used in financing activities
(1,984,342)
Net decrease in cash
(858,081)
Cash - beginning
17,030,181
Cash - ending
$16,172,100
See independent accountant's review report and accompanying notes to financial statements.
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DEVON STREET HOMES, L.P.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2023
Note 1 - Organization and Operations
Devon Street Homes, L.P., (the Company) operates in the homebuilding industry, constructing and selling single-family homes. As of June 30, 2023, the Company was building in 22 Houston, Texas metropolitan area communities.
The Company is 1% owned by Devon Street Homes GP, LLC, a general partner and 99% by the limited partners. The Company is managed by the general partner. The partners share in the profits and losses of the partnership in proportion to the amount of partnership interest owned by each. No limited partner shall be liable for the debts, obligations or liability of the Company. The partnership shall exist until dissolved in accordance with the partnership agreement.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from home sales when a closing occurs. A closing is considered to occur when payment has been received or is receivable; title, possession and other attributes of ownership have been transferred to the buyer; and the Company is not obligated to perform significant activities after the sale. A typical sales contract has a duration of less than a year.
Performance Obligation
The Company contracts with customers to design and construct new single homes. Each residential unit is a single performance obligation that is satisfied at the point of closing of the sale. Contracts with customers to design and construct new single homes are generally fixed-price, and contracts with customers for residential construction are subject to change orders. There is normally no variable consideration. Payment in full takes place at the point of closing.
Cost of Sales
The Company’s cost of sales consists of labor, material, and lot costs using the specific identification method. Cost of sales also includes interest, property taxes, and indirect costs incurred outside of the development and construction periods.
Cash
Cash is comprised of amounts in demand deposit accounts with financial institutions insured by the FDIC. The Company has not experienced any losses from this credit risk. Management believes the risk of loss is minimal. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had funds on deposit with such financial institutions that exceeded the insured limits by $16,863,415.
Real Estate Inventories
Real estate inventories are stated at the lower of cost (specific identification) or estimated net realizable value. Interest, property taxes and indirect costs are capitalized during the development and construction periods.
Purchase Option Deposits
The Company enters into option agreements to acquire lots, for which the Company generally pays non-refundable deposits.
Provisions included in a limited number of option agreements may call for specific performance from the Company for a limited number of lot purchases. In order to require specific performance from the Company, the developer must first have completed development of the lots and must not be in default. Generally, these specific performance requirements are fulfilled with the Company’s initial purchase of lots under the contract.
See independent accountant’s review report.
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As of June 30, 2023, the Company had 791 lots under lot option contracts secured by earnest money, including letters of credit, totaling $4,009,546 with a total base purchase price of approximately $52,735,970. Lot option agreements for 229 of the 791 lots with a total base purchase price of approximately $13,055,770 were contracted with related party development companies.
Furniture and Equipment
Furniture and equipment is stated at cost net of accumulated depreciation of $707,106 as of June 30, 2023. Depreciation expense is provided using the straight-line and double declining balance methods over the estimated useful lives of three to seven years. Depreciation expense during the six months ended June 30, 2023 was $52,689.
Warranty Reserves
The Company accrues an estimated warranty reserve for unusual product defects or product liability claims as they become known and to the extent such claims are not covered by insurance. The following is the roll forward of the warranty reserve included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the balance sheet as of June 30, 2023:
Balance, beginning of period
$224,389
Accruals during the period
126,444
Payments during the period
(46,581)
Reversal of accruals
(115,266)
Balance, end of period
$188,986
Customer Deposits
The Company’s customer deposits include the amount of the earnest money deposits and “extras” deposits. The Company requires earnest money deposits from its homebuyers. These amounts are recorded as deposits until such time as the sale has closed and the funds are applied toward the purchase price.
The beginning and ending customer deposits were as follows:
 
Ending
Beginning
Customer deposits - June 30, 2023
$173,694
$203,845
Customer deposits - December 31, 2022
$203,845
$571,974
Interest
Interest incurred by the Company includes interest paid on model homes, completed homes, homes under construction, unimproved lots, and land under development. Details of the interest incurred are presented as follows:
Completed homes and inventory lots
$580,483
Capitalized interest - sold homes
186,609
Capitalized interest - inventory homes and lots
82,633
Model homes
19,406
Total interest
$869,131
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates and assumptions are related to contingencies. Ultimate actual results could differ from these estimates.
See independent accountant’s review report.
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Note 3 - Real Estate Inventories
Real estate inventories, substantially all of which are pledged as collateral for construction loans payable, consisted of the following:
Completed:
 
Under contract for sale
$2,820,151
Unsold
3,477,151
Models
2,519,946
Under construction:
 
Under contract for sale
9,405,674
Unsold
11,946,680
Models
203,616
Improved lots
23,913,053
Indirect construction costs
2,095,162
Lot option deposits
4,009,546
Total real estate inventories
$60,390,979
Note 4 - Construction and Lot Loans Payable
The Company has construction and lot loans with several financial institutions to provide financing for the construction of single-family homes and to purchase lots. As construction on each home is started, the Company funds the construction costs through a residential construction loan. Each construction loan is secured by the related home under construction. A loan origination fee, based on the amount of the loan commitment amount, is paid in advance to the financial institution originating the loan. The interest rate charged on these construction loans varies based upon the Prime rate. As of June 30, 2023, one of the notes has a floor of 3%.
As of June 30, 2023, the total construction and lot loans payable under these agreements are summarized as follows:
 
Total
Line
Commitment
Total
Commitment
Used
Outstanding
Balance
Residential
Inventory
Collateral
Interest
Rate
Line
Maturity
Date
 
$25,000,000
$5,448,573
$5,367,369
$7,581,820
8.25%
4/24/2025
 
25,000,000
7,887,573
6,599,425
10,352,055
8.25%
12/21/2024
 
20,000,000
2,488,910
1,771,140
1,771,140
8.25%
9/17/2023
 
7,000,000
7,072,875
7,072,875
10,379,488
8.00%
7/25/2023
Total
$77,000,000
$22,897,931
$20,810,809
$30,084,503
 
The debt agreements contain financial covenants such as the maintenance of minimum tangible net worth, minimum liquidity and debt to tangible net worth ratio. The Company paid off the line of credit which matured on July 25, 2023.
Note 5 - Related Party Transactions
The Company acquires lots from related party development companies. The amount paid for such lots is determined on an arms-length basis. As of June 30, 2023, the Company purchased 61 lots from related party development companies and paid $3,509,340. The related party companies had a cost basis of $2,643,023 in these lots.
Note 6 - Income Taxes
The accompanying financial statements do not include a provision for federal income taxes. Since the Company is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the partners are each responsible for paying all federal income taxes on their share of the Company’s taxable income.
See independent accountant’s review report.
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The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and the state of Texas. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, and local examinations by tax authorities for the years before 2020.
The state of Texas bases its margin tax on gross margin. Since the tax base on the state franchise tax is derived from an income-based measure, the franchise tax has characteristics of an income tax and as a result, the provisions of FASB ASC 740-10, regarding accounting for income taxes, apply to this tax.
In accordance with FASB ASC 740-10, the effect on deferred liabilities of a change in a tax law should be included in tax expense attributable to continuing operations in the period including the enactment date. The tax is computed at 0.75% of the gross profit of the Company; revenue and cost of goods sold, adjusted for various exclusions.
Note 7 - Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and contingencies include the usual obligations of the Company for the completion of contracts and those incurred in the ordinary course of business. The Company is also involved in disputes and claims common in its business, and management believes that the disposition of such disputes and claims will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Note 8 - Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Interest and financing costs paid
$869,131
Interest and financing costs capitalized
$269,242
Texas franchise taxes paid
$195,000
Note 9 - Subsequent Events
On July 31, 2023, the Company sold substantially all its assets at a profit to Smith Douglas Holdings, LLC.
In accordance with ASC Topic 855, the Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions up to and including August 16, 2023, and where necessary, have made the appropriate disclosures.
See independent accountant’s review report.
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Shares

Smith Douglas Homes Corp.

Class A Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
Book-Running Managers
J.P. Morgan
BofA Securities
RBC Capital Markets
Wells Fargo Securities
Wolfe | Nomura Alliance
Co-Managers
Wedbush Securities
Fifth Third Securities
Regions Securities LLC
Whelan Advisory Capital Markets
     , 2023

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PART II

Information not required in the prospectus
Item 13.
Other expenses of issuance and distribution.
The following table sets forth all fees and expenses, other than the underwriting discount payable solely by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. in connection with the offer and sale of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimated except for the SEC registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) filing fee and the exchange listing fee.
SEC registration fee
$11,020*
FINRA filing fee
15,500*
Exchange listing fee
25,000*
Printing and engraving expenses
*
Legal fees and expenses
*
Accounting fees and expenses
*
Transfer agent fees and expenses
*
Miscellaneous fees and expenses
*
Total
$*
*
To be provided by amendment.
Item 14.
Indemnification of directors and officers.
Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware currently permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors and certain officers of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except where the director or officer breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, or obtained an improper personal benefit. In addition, liability will not be eliminated for (i) directors who authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or (ii) officers in connection with derivative actions. We expect to adopt an amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will become effective upon the consummation of this offering, and which will provide that none of our directors or officers shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors or officers for breaches of fiduciary duty.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he or she was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Upon consummation of the Transactions, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide indemnification for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, subject to certain limited exceptions. We will indemnify each
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person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of us) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed at our request to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an Indemnitee), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that we will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of us to procure a judgment in our favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at our request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to us, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by us against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.
Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Each indemnification agreement will provide, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The indemnification agreements will provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for the reimbursement to us if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws.
We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers, and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.
Item 15.
Recent sales of unregistered securities.
On June 20, 2023, the Registrant issued 100 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, to an officer of the Registrant, for $0.01. The issuance of such shares of common stock was not registered under the Securities Act, because the shares were offered and sold in a transaction by the issuer not involving any public offering exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
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Item 16.
Exhibits and financial statements.
(a)  Exhibits
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement.
Exhibit No.
 
Form of Underwriting Agreement.
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated July 31, 2023, by and among SDH Houston LLC, Devon Street Homes, L.P., Devon Street Homes G.P., L.L.C., and John Stephen Ray, The BRR 2022 Trust U/T/A dated April 20, 2022, The CAR 2022 Trust U/T/A dated April 20, 2022 and The TTR 2022 Trust U/T/A dated April 20, 2022.
Certificate of Incorporation of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., as in effect prior to the consummation of the Transactions.
Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., to be in effect upon the consummation of the Transactions.
Bylaws of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., as in effect prior to the consummation of the Transactions.
Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. to be in effect upon the consummation of the Transactions.
Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate of Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
5.1***
Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
10.1***†
Form of Amended Credit Facility
Form of Tax Receivable Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions.
Form of LLC Agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions.
Form of Registration Rights Agreement, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions.
Form of 2023 Incentive Award Plan.
Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the 2023 Incentive Award Plan.
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2023 Incentive Award Plan.
Form of Non-Employee Director Compensation Program.
Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.10#***
Employment Agreement by and among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, SDH Management Services LLC and Gregory S. Bennett, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions
10.11#***
Employment Agreement by and among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, SDH Management Services LLC and Thomas L. Bradbury, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions
10.12#***
Employment Agreement by and among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, SDH Management Services LLC and Russell Devendorf, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions
10.13#***
Employment Agreement by and among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, SDH Management Services LLC and Brett A. Steele, to be effective upon the consummation of the Transactions
Letter regarding change in certifying accountant.
List of Subsidiaries.
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, as to Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, as to Smith Douglas Holdings LLC.
Consent of Doeren Mayhew & Co., P.C., as to Devon Street Homes, L.P.
23.4***
Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (contained in its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
Consent of John Burns Research and Consulting, LLC.
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the initial filing of the Registration Statement).
Consent of Neill B. Faucett, to be named as Director Nominee.
Consent of George Ervin Perdue III, to be named as Director Nominee.
Consent of Janice E. Walker, to be named as Director Nominee.
Filing Fee Table.
*
Filed herewith
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**
Previously filed
***
To be filed by amendment
#
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan

Certain portions of this exhibit (indicated by “[***]”) have been omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item (601)(b)(10). The Registrant undertakes to furnish supplemental copies including the omitted portions upon request by the SEC.
^
Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Registrant undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC.
Item 17.
Undertakings.
(h)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(i)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. 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, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(j)
The undersigned hereby further undertakes that:
(1)
For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2)
For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Smith Douglas Homes Corp. 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 16th day of October, 2023.
 
Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/Gregory S. Bennett
 
Name:
Gregory S. Bennett
 
Title:
President, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities set forth opposite their names and on the date indicated above.
Signature
Title
 
 
/s/Gregory S. Bennett
President, Chief Executive Officer,
Vice Chairman, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Gregory S. Bennett
 
 
 
/s/Russell Devendorf
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
Russell Devendorf
 
 
 
*
Executive Chairman and Director
Thomas L. Bradbury
 
 
 
*
Director
Julie Bradbury
 
 
 
*
Director
Jeffrey T. Jackson
 
 
 
*
Director
Neil B. Wedewer
 
*By:
/s/ Gregory S. Bennett
 
 
Gregory S. Bennett
 
 
Attorney-in-fact
 
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Exhibit 1.1

 

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

 

[●] Shares of Class A Common Stock

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

[●], 2023

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 

BofA Securities, Inc. 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

As Representatives of the 

several Underwriters listed 

in Schedule I hereto

 

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 

383 Madison Avenue 

New York, New York 10179

 

c/o BofA Securities, Inc. 

One Bryant Park 

New York, New York 10036

 

c/o RBC Capital Markets, LLC 

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor 

New York, New York 10281

 

c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 

500 West 33rd Street, 14th Floor 

New York, New York 10001

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of [●] shares of Class A common stock, par value $[●] per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Underwritten Shares”) and, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional [●] shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company (the “Option Shares”). The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the “Shares.” The shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares, together with the shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock”), are referred to herein as the “Stock.”

 

 

 

In connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, the “Transactions” (as such term is defined in the Registration Statement and the Preliminary Prospectus (each as defined below) under the caption “Our organizational structure—Transactions”) were or will be effected, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will become the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Homes LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “LLC”), and will operate and control all of the business and affairs of the LLC and, through the LLC and its subsidiaries, conduct its business. The Company and the LLC are each referred to herein as an “SDH Party” and, collectively, as the “SDH Parties.”

 

Each SDH Party hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:

 

1.             Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement (File No. 333-274379), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex A, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated [●], 2023 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.

 

“Applicable Time” means [●] [A/P].M., New York City time, on [●], 2023.

 

2.            Purchase of the Shares.

 

(a)           The Company agrees to issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a price per share of $[●] (the “Purchase Price”) from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto.

 

2

 

In addition, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares.

 

If any Option Shares are to be purchased, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Company by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make.

 

The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.

 

(b)          The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

 

(c)           Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017 at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on [●], 2023, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date,” and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the “Additional Closing Date.”

 

Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

 

3

 

(d)          Each SDH Party acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives and the other Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the SDH Parties with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the SDH Parties or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the SDH Parties or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The SDH Parties shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making their own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Representatives nor the other Underwriters shall have any responsibility or liability to the SDH Parties with respect thereto. Any review by the Representatives and the other Underwriters of the SDH Parties, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the SDH Parties.

 

3.            Representations and Warranties of the SDH Parties. Each SDH Party, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

 

(a)          Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the SDH Parties make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the SDH Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

 

(b)          Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the SDH Parties make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and no statement of material fact included in the Pricing Disclosure Package that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

 

4

 

(c)           Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the SDH Parties make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

 

(d)          Emerging Growth Company. From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on either Section 5(d) of, or Rule 163B under, the Securities Act.

 

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(e)          Testing-the-Waters Materials. The Company (i) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with (x) entities that are qualified institutional buyers (“QIBs”) within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8), (a)(9), (a)(12) or (a)(13) under the Securities Act (“IAIs”) and otherwise in compliance with the requirements of Section 5(d) of the Securities Act or (y) with entities that the Company reasonably believed to be QIBs or IAIs and otherwise in compliance with the requirements of Rule 163B under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications by virtue of a writing substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Company has not distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Annex B hereto. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(f)           Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the SDH Parties make no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the SDH Parties in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

 

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(g)          Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company, the LLC and their respective consolidated subsidiaries, and Devon Street Homes, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company, the LLC and their respective consolidated subsidiaries, and Devon Street Homes, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries, as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except in the case of unaudited financial statements, which are subject to normal period and adjustments and do not contain footnotes as permitted by the applicable rules of the Commission, and any supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company, the LLC and their respective consolidated subsidiaries, and Devon Street Homes, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries, as applicable, and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby; all disclosures included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable; and the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and are set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(h)          No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the SDH Parties included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any material change in the capital stock or outstanding equity, as applicable (other than (a) the Organizational Transactions and (b) the issuance of shares of Common Stock (as defined below) upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the exchange, if any, of equity interests of the LLC in, and the grant of options and awards under, existing equity incentive plans, in each case, described in, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries (other than borrowings described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company or the LLC on any class of capital stock or other equity interests, as applicable (other than redemptions described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) or any material adverse change, or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, members’ equity or results of operations of the SDH Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance of the SDH Parties of their obligations under this Agreement; (ii) none of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the SDH Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the SDH Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) none of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the SDH Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(i)           Organization and Good Standing. Each SDH Party and each of their subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing and, to the extent such concept is applicable, in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and, to the extent such concept is applicable, are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, members’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the SDH Parties and their subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the SDH Parties of their respective obligations under the Transaction Documents (as defined below) (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement are the only “significant subsidiaries” of the Company.

 

(j)           Capitalization. Each SDH Party has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”; all the outstanding shares of Stock have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, upon consummation of the Organizational Transactions there will be no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, the LLC), or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock or equity interest of the Company or any such subsidiary (including, without limitation, the LLC), any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; upon consummation of the Organizational Transactions the capital stock of the Company and the equity interests of the LLC will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and in the case of equity interests in any such subsidiary that is not a corporation, the Company or other holder of such equity interests has no obligation to make payments or contributions to such subsidiary or its creditors solely by reason of its ownership of such equity interests) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

 

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(k)          Stock Options. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no stock options or other equity awards granted or otherwise currently outstanding pursuant to any stock-based compensation plan of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries.

 

(l)           Due Authorization. Each SDH Party has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver, to the extent a party thereto, (i) this Agreement, (ii) the tax receivable agreement among the Company, the LLC and each member of the LLC party thereto (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”), (iii) the amended and restated operating agreement of the LLC (the “LLC Agreement”), and (iv) the registration rights agreement among the Company and certain stockholders party thereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement” and, together with this Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement and the LLC Agreement, the “Transaction Documents”) and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken.

 

(m)         Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each SDH Party.

 

(n)          The Shares. The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder and the shares of Class B Common Stock to be issued by the Company in the Organizational Transactions have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, or, for the shares of Class B Common Stock, pursuant to the LLC Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuances of the Shares and of the shares of Class B Common Stock are not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

 

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(o)          Other Transaction Documents. Each of the Tax Receivable Agreement, the LLC Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, in each case, to be entered into on or prior to the Closing Date, has been duly authorized, and, as of the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by each SDH Party, to the extent a party thereto, and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of each such SDH Party enforceable against such SDH Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

 

(p)          Descriptions of the Transaction Documents. Each Transaction Document conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(q)          No Violation or Default. None of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute applicable to the SDH Parties or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(r)           No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by each SDH Party of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions (including, without limitation, the Organizational Transactions) contemplated by the Transaction Documents or the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of any SDH Party or any of their subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(s)          No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by each SDH Party of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions (including, without limitation, the Organizational Transactions) contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.

 

(t)           Legal Proceedings. There are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (“Actions”) pending to which any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no such Actions are threatened or, to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others that would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (i) there are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(u)          Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company, the LLC and their respective subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company, the LLC and their respective subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act. Doeren Mayhew, who have certified certain financial statements of Devon Street Homes, L.P. and its respective subsidiaries, is an independent accounting firm with respect to Devon Street Homes, L.P. and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted under rule 101 of the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct, and its interpretations and rulings.

 

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(v)          Title to Real and Personal Property. Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid, subsisting and enforceable leases or otherwise valid rights to use, all items of real and personal tangible property that are material to the respective businesses of each SDH Party and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by each SDH Party and its subsidiaries, or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w)         Intellectual Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries own or have the right to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, social media identifiers and accounts, and other source indicators, copyrights and copyrightable works, know-how, trade secrets, systems, procedures, proprietary or confidential information, and all other intellectual property in any and all jurisdictions throughout the world (including all goodwill associated with, and all registrations and issuances of and applications for registration or issuance of, any of the foregoing) (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) used or held for use in, or otherwise necessary for, the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted and, to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, as proposed to be conducted in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (ii) the Intellectual Property owned by each SDH Party and its subsidiaries is valid, subsisting and enforceable, provided the foregoing representation is made to the knowledge of the SDH Parties with respect to applications for registration of any Intellectual Property, (iii) each SDH Party’s and its subsidiaries’ conduct of their respective businesses does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any Person; (iv) each SDH Party and its subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim relating to the infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any Intellectual Property; (v) to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, the Intellectual Property owned by the SDH Parties and their respective subsidiaries is not being infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any person; and (vi) each SDH Party and its subsidiaries take, and have taken, commercially reasonable steps in accordance with customary industry practice to maintain the confidentiality of all Intellectual Property, the value of which to such SDH Party and its subsidiaries is contingent upon maintaining the confidentiality thereof.

 

(x)           No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers, suppliers or other affiliates of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

 

(y)          Investment Company Act. Each SDH Party is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof received by the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

 

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(z)           Taxes. (i) Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, and (ii) except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets.

 

(aa)         Licenses and Permits. Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, sub-licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where such revocation, modification or non-renewal would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(bb)        No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, is contemplated or threatened, and no SDH Party is aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has received any notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any collective bargaining agreement to which it is a party.

 

(cc)        Certain Environmental Matters. (i) Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and other legally enforceable requirements relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants, chemicals or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (y) have received and are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under any Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (z) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability or obligation under or relating to, or any actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants, chemicals or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, liability or violation; (ii) there are no costs, obligations or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in each of the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (x) there is no proceeding that is pending, or that is known to be contemplated, against any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceeding regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $300,000 or more will be imposed, (y) none of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries is aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants, chemicals or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the SDH Parties and their subsidiaries, and (z) none of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

 

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(dd)        Compliance with ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which any SDH Party would have any liability (each, a “Plan”), has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); (ii) none of the SDH Parties or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the SDH Parties within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA or any entity that would be regarded as a single employer with the Company under Section 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Code) maintains or has maintained within the past six years a Plan or an employee benefit plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to Title IV of ERISA; and (iii) a material increase in any SDH Party and its subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715-60) compared to the amount of such obligations in any SDH Party and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year has not occurred or is reasonably likely to occur, except in each case with respect to the events or conditions set forth in (i) through (iii) hereof, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ee)         Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

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(ff)          Accounting Controls. The SDH Parties and their respective subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that are designed to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. The SDH Parties and their respective subsidiaries maintain internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. There are no material weaknesses in any SDH Party’s internal controls (it being understood that the Company is not required as of the date hereof to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act (as defined below)). The auditors of each SDH Party and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect such SDH Party’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in such SDH Party’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

(gg)        Insurance. Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are generally maintained by similar situated companies and which the SDH Parties believe are reasonably adequate to protect such SDH Party and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and none of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

 

(hh)        Cybersecurity; Data Protection. Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are: (i) adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of each SDH Party and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, and (ii) to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards designed to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all owned IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses. To the knowledge of the SDH Parties, there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to any such IT Systems or data, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any governmental or regulatory authority or any other Person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigation relating to the same. Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws and statutes, judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, published policies, and contractual obligations, in each case, relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data (collectively, the “Data Security Obligations”). None of the SDH Parties has received any written notification of or written complaint regarding, or is aware of any other facts that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably indicate, material non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation, and there is no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body pending or, to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, threatened alleging non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation.

 

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(ii)           No Unlawful Payments. None of the SDH Parties, any of their respective subsidiaries, any director, officer or employee, of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, any agent, affiliate, representative or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. Each SDH Party and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws. None of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws.

 

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(jj)          Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of each SDH Party and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, threatened.

 

(kk)        No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the SDH Parties, any of their respective subsidiaries, directors, officers, or employees, or, to the knowledge of the SDH Parties, any agent, affiliate, representative or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are (i) currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the Crimea Region and the non-government controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065 (each, a “Sanctioned Country”). The SDH Parties will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the SDH Parties and their respective subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in and will not engage in any dealings or transactions with any Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

 

(ll)           No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to any SDH Party, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or similar ownership interest, from repaying any SDH Party any loans or advances to such subsidiary from such SDH Party or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to any SDH Party or any other subsidiary of any SDH Party.

 

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(mm)         No Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

 

(nn)           No Registration Rights. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no person has the right to require any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company.

 

(oo)           No Stabilization. None of the SDH Parties or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.

 

(pp)           Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

 

(qq)           Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

(rr)             Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of any SDH Party that has caused such SDH Party to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

(ss)            Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans.

 

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(tt)          Status under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

(uu)        No Ratings. There are (and prior to the Closing Date, will be) no debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by any SDH Party or any of their respective subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act.

 

4.            Further Agreements of the SDH Parties. Each SDH Party, jointly and severally, covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

 

(a)           Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(b)          Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, if requested, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, two signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

 

(c)           Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

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(d)          Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing (which may be by electronic mail), (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Testing-the-Waters Communication; (v) of the issuance by the Commission or any other governmental or regulatory authority of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or the initiation or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

 

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(e)           Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with applicable law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with applicable law.

 

(f)            Blue Sky Compliance. If required by the applicable law, the Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

 

(g)           Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement; provided that the Company will be deemed to comply with such requirement by furnishing such earnings statements on the Commission’s Electronic, Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) (or any successor system).

 

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(h)          Clear Market. For a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Company Lock-Up Period”), the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with, the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Class A Common Stock, or any options, rights or warrants to purchase any shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Class A Common Stock, including limited liability company interests in the LLC convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive Class A Common Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to undertake any of the foregoing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Class A Common Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Class A Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., other than (i) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance or acquisition by the Company of shares of Common Stock in connection with the exercise of an option or warrant, vesting and/or settlement of a restricted stock or restricted stock unit award, or the conversion of a security as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (iii) the grant or amendment of compensatory equity-based awards, and/or the issuance of shares of Common Stock with respect thereto, made pursuant to the equity incentive plans of the SDH Parties referenced in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (iv) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director compensation plan or program disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (v) the purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to any employee stock purchase plan described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (vi) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a stockholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Common Stock; provided that (a) such plans do not provide for the transfer of Shares during the Company Lock-Up Period and (b) no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or made voluntarily in connection with such trading plan (other than the required disclosure on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as applicable, of the entrance into any trading plan during the relevant fiscal quarter, provided that such disclosure includes a statement to the effect that no transfers may be made pursuant to such trading plan during the Restricted Period), (vii) Common Stock otherwise issued in connection with the Organizational Transactions and (viii) the filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 relating to securities granted or to be granted pursuant to any plan in effect on the date of this Agreement and described in the Prospectus or any assumed benefit plan pursuant to an acquisition or similar strategic transaction..

 

If J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 6(l) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver (indicating the effective date of such release or waiver in such notice to the Company), the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

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(i)            Use of Proceeds. Each of the SDH Parties will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of proceeds.”

 

(j)            No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries or affiliates will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.

 

(k)           Exchange Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).

 

(l)            Reports. For a period of three years from the date of this Agreement, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

 

(m)          Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

 

(n)           Filings. The Company will file with the Commission such reports as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

 

(o)           Emerging Growth Company. The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 4(h) hereof.

 

5.            Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby severally represents and agrees that:

 

(a)           It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).

 

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(b)          It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; provided that Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company; provided, further, that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.

 

(c)           It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

 

6.            Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)           Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

 

(b)           Representations and Warranties. The respective representations and warranties of each SDH Party contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of each SDH Party and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(c)           No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(h) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(d)          Officers’ Certificates. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of each SDH Party and one additional senior executive officer of such SDH Party who is satisfactory to the Representatives on behalf of the SDH Parties, and not in their personal capacities, (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(f) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of each SDH Party in this Agreement are true and correct and that each SDH Party has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a) and (c) above.

 

(e)          Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than two business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be and (ii) Doeren Mayhew shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of Devon Street Homes, L.P. contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

 

(f)           Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

 

(g)          Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement, addressed to the Underwriters, of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

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(h)          No Legal Impediment to Issuance and Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company.

 

(i)           Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of each SDH Party and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

 

(j)           Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

 

(k)          Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, between you and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the SDH Parties relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be full force and effect on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(l)           Organizational Transactions. Prior to or substantially concurrent with the issuance of the Underwritten Shares and payment therefor in accordance with this Agreement, the Organizational Transactions shall have been consummated in a manner consistent in all material respects with the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(m)         Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the SDH Parties shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

 

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7.             Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)           Indemnification of the Underwriters. The SDH Parties, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other reasonably incurred expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication prepared or authorized by the Company, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”) or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in paragraph (b) below.

 

(b)           Indemnification of the SDH Parties. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each SDH Party, the directors and officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting,” the discretionary accounts information contained in the second and third sentences of the eighth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the stabilization information contained in the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting.”

 

27

 

(c)           Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonably incurred fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such reasonably incurred fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and any such separate firm for the SDH Parties, the directors and officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent (which, but if settled with such consent, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement). Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

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(d)           Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) or (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the SDH Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the SDH Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the SDH Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the SDH Parties, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the SDH Parties or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(e)           Limitation on Liability. The SDH Parties and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (d) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonably incurred legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

 

29

 

(f)            Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 paragraphs (a) through (e) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

 

8.             Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.

 

9.             Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

10.           Defaulting Underwriter.

 

(a)           If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

 

(b)           If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

 

30

 

(c)           If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the SDH Parties, except that the SDH Parties, jointly and severally, will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

 

(d)           Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the SDH Parties or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

 

11.           Payment of Expenses.

 

(a)           Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the SDH Parties, jointly and severally, will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of their obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates, if applicable; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA provided that the fees and expenses pursuant to clauses (v) and (viii) shall not, in the aggregate, exceed $40,000; (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; and (x) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the NYSE

 

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(b)           If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the SDH Parties agree, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonably incurred out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonably incurred fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby; provided that in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 10(c) hereto, the Company shall only reimburse the non-defaulting Underwriters.

 

12.           Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

 

13.           Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the SDH Parties and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the SDH Parties or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the SDH Parties or the Underwriters or the directors, officers, controlling persons or affiliates referred to in Section 7 hereof.

 

14.           Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; and (d) the term “significant subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.

 

15.           Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

16.           Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives at:

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Fax: (212) 622-8358
Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk;

 

32

 

BofA Securities, Inc.
One Bryant Park
New York, New York 10036 

Fax: (646) 855-3073; (212) 230-8730
Attention: Syndicate Department, with a copy to ECM Legal;

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC
200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor
New York, New York 10281
Fax: (212) 428-6260
Attention: Equity Capital Markets;

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 

500 West 33rd Street 

New York, New York 10001 

Fax: (212) 214-5918
Attention: Equity Syndicate Department

 

Notices to the Company shall be given to it at:

 

Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
110 Village Trail, Suite 215
Woodstock, Georgia 30188
Email: bsteele@smithdouglas.com
Attention: Brett Steele, General Counsel

 

(b)          Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

(c)           Submission to Jurisdiction. Each SDH Party hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each SDH Party waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. Each SDH Party agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon such SDH Party and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which such SDH Party is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

 

(d)           Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

 

33

 

(e)           Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

As used in this Section 16(e):

 

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

 

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(f)           Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

34

 

(g)           Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

(h)           Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

35

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

36

 

Accepted: As of the date first written above

 

For themselves and on behalf of the
several Underwriters listed
in Schedule I hereto.

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

37

 

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

 

By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

38

 

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

 

By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

39

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

40

 

Schedule I

 

Underwriter Number of Shares
   
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC [●]
BofA Securities, Inc. [●]
RBC Capital Markets, LLC [●]
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC [●]
Nomura Securities International, Inc. [●]
WR Securities, LLC [●]
Wedbush Securities Inc. [●]
Regions Securities LLC [●]
Whelan Advisory Capital Markets [●]
  [●]
Total [●]

 

41

 

Annex A

 

a.           Pricing Disclosure Package

 

None

 

b.          Pricing Information Provided Orally by Underwriters

 

Underwritten Shares:                      [●] Class A Common Shares

 

Public Offering Price Per Share:    $[●]

 

42

 

Annex B

 

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

None

 

43

 

Annex C

 

Pricing Term Sheet

 

None

 

44

 

Exhibit A

 

AUTHORIZATION LETTER

 

(to be delivered by the issuer to J.P. Morgan and BofA in email or letter form)

 

In reliance on Section 5(d) of and/or Rule 163B under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Issuer”) hereby authorizes J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”) and BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA”) (collectively, the “Authorized Underwriters”) and their affiliates and their respective employees (“Authorized Persons”), to engage on behalf of the Issuer in oral and written communications with potential investors that are, or are reasonably believed to be, “qualified institutional buyers”, as defined in Rule 144A under the Act, or institutions that are, or are reasonably believed to be, “accredited investors”, within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7), (a)(8), (a)(9), (a)(12) or (a)(13) under the Act, to determine whether such investors might have an interest in the Issuer’s contemplated initial public offering (“Testing-the-Waters Communications”).

 

A “Written Testing-the Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act. Each of the Authorized Underwriters, individually and not jointly, agrees that it shall not distribute any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication that has not been approved by the Issuer.

 

The Issuer represents that it is an “emerging growth company” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (“Emerging Growth Company”) and agrees to promptly notify the Authorized Underwriters in writing if the Issuer hereafter ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company while this authorization is in effect. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Issuer will promptly notify the Authorized Underwriters and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

Nothing in this authorization is intended to limit or otherwise affect the ability of the Authorized Underwriters and the Authorized Persons, to engage in communications in which they could otherwise lawfully engage in the absence of this authorization, including, without limitation, any written communication containing only one or more of the statements specified under Rule 134(a) under the Act. This authorization shall remain in effect until the Issuer has provided to the Authorized Underwriters a written notice revoking this authorization. All notices as described herein shall be sent by email to the attention of Haley Trethaway at haley.o.trethaway@jpmorgan.com and Crista Khong at crista.khong@bofa.com with copies to Dana Sorbi at dana.sorbi@davispolk.com.

 

45

 

Exhibit B

 

Form of Waiver of Lock-up

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC 

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

 

Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
Public Offering of Common Stock

 

[●], 2023

 

[Name and Address of
Officer or Director
Requesting Waiver]

 

Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:

 

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the offering by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Company”) of [●] shares of Class A common stock, $[●] par value (the “Common Stock”), of the Company and the lock-up letter dated [●], 2023 (the “Lock-up Letter”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated [●], with respect to [●] shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. hereby agrees to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Letter, but only with respect to the Shares, effective [●]; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].

 

Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

 

  Yours very truly,
   
  [Signature of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC Representative]
   
  [Signature of BofA Securities, Inc. Representative]

  

cc: Company

 

46

 


Exhibit C

 

Form of Press Release

 

Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
[●], 2023

 

Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (“Company”) announced today that J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., on behalf of the underwriters in the Company’s recent public sale of [●] shares of common stock, are [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to [●] shares of the Company’s common stock held by certain officers or directors of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on [●], and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

 

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

47

 

Exhibit D

 

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

[●], 2023

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC 

BOFA SECURITIES, INC. 

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 


As Representatives of
the several Underwriters listed in
Schedule I to the Underwriting
Agreement referred to below

 


c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10179

 

c/o BofA Securities, Inc. 

One Bryant Park 

New York, New York 10036

 

c/o RBC Capital Markets, LLC 

200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor 

New York, New York 10281

 

c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 

500 West 33rd Street, 14th Floor 

New York, New York 10001

 

Re:SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP. – Public Offering

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned understands that you, as representatives of the several Underwriters (the “Representatives”), propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for the initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share,, of the Company (the “Securities” or the “Common Stock”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

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In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, and will not cause any direct or indirect affiliate to, during the period beginning on the date of this letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) and ending at the close of business 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (such period, the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, the Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) (collectively with the Common Stock, “Lock-Up Securities”), (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities provided that, to the extent the undersigned has demand and/or piggyback registration rights, the foregoing shall not prohibit the undersigned from notifying the Company privately that it is or will be exercising its demand and/or piggyback registration rights following the expiration of the Restricted Period and undertaking any preparations related thereto, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition or transfer (whether by the undersigned or any other person) of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise. The undersigned further confirms that it has furnished J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. with the details of any transaction the undersigned, or any of its affiliates, is a party to as of the date hereof, which transaction would have been restricted by this Letter Agreement if it had been entered into by the undersigned during the Restricted Period.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may:

 

(a)  transfer, distribute, cause the disposition of or surrender (as the case may be) the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities:

 

(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, or for bona fide estate planning purposes,

 

(ii) by will, testamentary document or intestacy,

 

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(iii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, or if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust (for purposes of this Letter Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, current or former marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin),

 

(iv) to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the undersigned and the immediate family of the undersigned are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests,

 

(v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iv) above,

 

(vi) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by or under common control with the undersigned or affiliates of the undersigned (including, for the avoidance of doubt, where the undersigned is a partnership, to its general partner or a successor partnership or fund, or any other funds managed by such partnership), or (B) as part of a distribution to partners, members or shareholders of the undersigned,

 

(vii) by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order, divorce settlement, divorce decree or separation agreement,

 

(viii) to the Company from an employee of the Company upon death, disability or termination of employment, in each case, of such employee,

 

(ix) as part of a sale of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the closing date for the Public Offering,

 

(x) to the Company in connection with the vesting, settlement, or exercise of restricted stock units, options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of Common Stock (including, in each case, by way of “net” or “cashless” exercise), including for the payment of exercise price and tax and remittance payments due as a result of the vesting, settlement, or exercise of such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights, provided that any such shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement, and provided further that any such restricted stock units, options, warrants or rights are held by the undersigned pursuant to an agreement or equity awards granted under a stock incentive plan or other equity award plan, each such agreement or plan which is described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or

 

(xi) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction that is approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company (for purposes hereof, “Change of Control” shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons, of shares of capital stock if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold at least a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity)); provided that in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities shall remain subject to the provisions of this Letter Agreement; and

 

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(xii) transfers, conversion, reclassification, redemption or exchange of Common Stock or such other securities to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Organizational Transactions, as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus relating to the offering.

 

provided that (A) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii), such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value and each donee, devisee, transferee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representative a lock-up letter in the form of this Letter Agreement, (B) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (ix) and (x), no filing by any party (donor, donee, devisee, transferor, transferee, distributer or distributee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period referred to above) and if any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock in connection with such transfer or distribution shall be legally required during the Restricted Period, such filing, report or announcement shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer and (C) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (a)(vii) and (viii) it shall be a condition to such transfer that no public filing, report or announcement shall be voluntarily made and if any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or other public filing, report or announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock in connection with such transfer or distribution shall be legally required during the Restricted Period, such filing, report or announcement shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer;

 

(b) exercise outstanding options, settle restricted stock units or other equity awards or exercise warrants pursuant to plans or other equity compensation arrangements described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided that any Lock-up Securities received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement;

 

(c) convert outstanding preferred stock, warrants to acquire preferred stock or convertible securities into shares of Common Stock or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock; provided that any such shares of Common Stock or warrants received upon such conversion shall be subject to the terms of this Letter Agreement;

 

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(d) establish trading plans pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Lock-Up Securities; provided that (1) such plans do not provide for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities during the Restricted Period and (2) no filing by any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or made voluntarily in connection with such trading plan (other than the required disclosure on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as applicable, of the entrance into any trading plan during the relevant fiscal quarter, provided that such disclosure includes a statement to the effect that no transfers may be made pursuant to such trading plan during the Restricted Period); and

 

(e) sell the Securities to be sold by the undersigned pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

 

If the undersigned is not a natural person, the undersigned represents and warrants that no single natural person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned.

 

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any Company-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering.

 

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters agrees that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Lock-Up Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such announcement. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration or that is to an immediate family member as defined in FINRA Rule 5130(i)(5) and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

 

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned. 

 

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The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Securities and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Representative may be required or choose to provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures to you in connection with the Public Offering, the Representative and the other Underwriters are not making a recommendation to you to enter into this Letter Agreement, participate in the Public Offering, or sell any Shares at the price determined in the Public Offering, and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that the Representative or any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.

 

The undersigned understands that, if (i) the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by [●], 2023, (ii) the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, (iii) prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement, either the Company, on the one hand, or the Representatives, on the other hand, notifies the other in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the public offering, or (iv) the registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the public offering is withdrawn, the undersigned shall be automatically released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.

 

This Letter Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Signatures transmitted by facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  [NAME OF STOCKHOLDER]
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

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Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

 

Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.            The original Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 20, 2023 (the “Original Certificate”).

 

2.            The Corporation is filing this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), which restates, integrates and further amends the Original Certificate, as heretofore amended, and which was duly adopted by all necessary action of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) and the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242, 245 and 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

3.            The text of the Original Certificate is hereby amended, integrated and restated in its entirety by this Certificate of Incorporation to read in full as follows:

 

Article I. 

 

The name of the corporation is Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Corporation”).

 

Article II. 

 

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 251 Little Falls Drive, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19808. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.

 

Article III. 

 

The nature of the business of the Corporation and the objects or purposes to be transacted, promoted or carried on by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), including, without limitation, (i) investing in securities of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor entities thereto (“Smith Douglas Holdings LLC”) and any of its subsidiaries, (ii) exercising all rights, powers, privileges and other incidents of ownership or possession with respect to the Corporation’s assets, including managing, holding, selling and disposing of such assets and (iii) engaging in any other activities incidental or ancillary thereto.

 

 

 

 

 

Article IV. 

 

Section 4.1            Authorized Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is [ ● ], consisting of the following three classes:

 

(a)           [ ● ] shares of Class A common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”);

 

(b)           [ ● ] shares of Class B common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Class B Common Stock”); and

 

(c)           [ ● ] shares of preferred stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”).

 

Section 4.2            Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors is authorized to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series, and by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware (such certificate being hereinafter referred to as a “Preferred Stock Designation”), to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation, the authority to fix or alter the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, exchange rights, voting powers, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking and purchase fund provisions), the redemption price or prices, restrictions on the issuance of shares of such series, the dissolution preferences and the rights in respect of any distribution of assets of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting any such series, and the designation thereof, or any of them and to increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series so created (except where otherwise provided in a Preferred Stock Designation), subsequent to the issue of that series. In case the authorized number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall, unless otherwise provided in the Preferred Stock Designation, resume the status as authorized, but undesignated Preferred Stock. There shall be no limitation or restriction on any variation between any of the different series of Preferred Stock as to the designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof; and the several series of Preferred Stock may vary in any and all respects as fixed and determined by the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors or by a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, providing for the issuance of the various series of Preferred Stock.

 

Section 4.3            Reclassification of Common Stock. Upon the filing and effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), and without any further action required by the Corporation or its stockholders: (i) each share of Common Stock (as defined in the prior certificate of incorporation of the Company, dated June 20, 2023) issued and outstanding or held in treasury, immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be automatically reclassified into one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Class A Common Stock without any further action by the Corporation or the holder of any share. Each stock certificate representing shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled without any further action required by stockholders and the shares of Class A Common Stock into which the shares of Common Stock previously represented by such stock certificate have been reclassified pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall be uncertificated shares. 

 

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Section 4.4           Number of Authorized Shares. The number of authorized shares of any of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) without a separate vote of any holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Preferred Stock, unless a separate vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the terms of any Preferred Stock Designation, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto).

 

Section 4.5           Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. The powers, preferences and rights of the Class A Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof are as follows:

 

(a)          Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law,

 

(i)               Each share of Class A Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to one (1) vote per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.

 

(ii)             Each share of Class B Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to one (1) vote per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class B Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise; provided however, that until the date the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock then outstanding is less than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock then outstanding (the “Sunset Date”), each share of the outstanding Class B Common Stock shall entitle the record holder thereof as of the applicable record date to ten (10) votes per share in person or by proxy on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class B Common Stock, whether voting separately as a class or otherwise.

 

(iii)             Except as otherwise required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall vote together as a single class (or, if any holders of shares of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote together with the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, as a single class with such holders of Preferred Stock) on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(b)          Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends, dividends may be declared and paid on the Class A Common Stock out of the assets or funds of the Corporation that are by law available therefor, at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine. Other than in connection with a dividend declared by the Board of Directors in connection with a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan, dividends shall not be declared or paid on the Class B Common Stock and the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall have no right to receive dividends in respect of such shares of Class B Common Stock. 

 

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(c)          Liquidation Rights. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and after making provisions for preferential and other amounts, if any, to which the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Class A Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up shall be entitled, the remaining assets and funds of the Corporation available for distribution shall be divided among and paid ratably to the holders of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares held by each such stockholder. The holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation. A consolidation, reorganization or merger of the Corporation with any other Person or Persons (as defined below), a conversion of the Corporation, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, shall not be considered to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation within the meaning of this Section 4.4(c).

 

(d)          Class B Common Stock.

 

(i)               (x) shares of Class B Common Stock may be issued only to, and registered only in the name of, the Continuing Equity Owners (as defined below) and their respective Permitted Transferees (as defined below) in accordance with Section 4.5 (including all subsequent Permitted Transferees) (the Continuing Equity Owners together with such Persons, collectively, the “Permitted Class B Owners”) or in the name of the Corporation and (y) the aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock at any time registered in the name of each such Permitted Class B Owner must be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units (as defined below) held of record at such time by such Permitted Class B Owner under the LLC Agreement (as defined below). As used in this Certificate of Incorporation, (A) “Continuing Equity Owner” means each of the holders of Common Units (other than the Corporation) of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, as from time to time set forth on Schedule 1 of the LLC Agreement, (B) “Common Unit” has the meaning set forth in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, dated as of the date hereof, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (the “LLC Agreement”), and (C) “Permitted Transfer” means a transfer or assignment of Class B Common Stock (or any legal or beneficial interest in such shares) by the holder thereof to any transferee or assignee only to the extent permitted by the LLC Agreement (and a holder of Class B Common Stock, as applicable pursuant to a Permitted Transfer, a “Permitted Transferee”) and only if such holder also simultaneously Transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units to such Permitted Transferee, if applicable, in compliance with the LLC Agreement. 

 

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(ii)              The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, undertake all necessary and appropriate action within its control to ensure that the number of shares of Class B Common Stock issued by the Corporation at any time to, or otherwise held of record by, any Permitted Class B Owner shall be equal to the aggregate number of Common Units held of record by such Permitted Class B Owner in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement.

 

(iii)             In the event that there is a merger, consolidation, conversion, transfer or Change of Control (as defined below) of the Corporation that was approved by the Board of Directors prior to such merger, consolidation, conversion, transfer or Change of Control, without limiting the rights of the holders of Class B Common Stock to have their Common Units redeemed or exchanged in accordance with Article XI of the LLC Agreement, the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall not be entitled to receive more than $0.0001 per share of Class B Common Stock, whether in the form of consideration for such shares or in the form of a distribution of the proceeds of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation with respect to such shares.

 

(e)          Adjustments for Subdivisions, Combinations or Reclassifications of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock. If the Corporation in any manner subdivides, combines or reclassifies the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, the outstanding shares of the other such class shall, concurrently therewith, be subdivided, combined, or reclassified in the same proportion and manner such that the same proportionate equity ownership between the holders of outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock on the record date for such subdivision, combination or reclassification is preserved, unless different treatment of the shares of each such class is approved by (i) the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class A Common Stock and (ii) the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B Common Stock, each of (i) and (ii) voting as separate classes. In the event of any such subdivision, combination or reclassification, the Corporation shall cause Smith Douglas Holdings LLC to make corresponding changes to the Common Units to give effect to such subdivision, combination or reclassification, as applicable.

 

Section 4.6           Transfer of Class B Common Stock.

 

(a)           A holder of Class B Common Stock may surrender and transfer shares of such Class B Common Stock to the Corporation for cancellation for no consideration at any time. Following the surrender and transfer, or other acquisition, of any shares of Class B Common Stock to or by the Corporation, the Corporation will take all actions necessary to cancel and retire such shares and such shares shall not be re-issued by the Corporation.

 

(b)           Except as set forth in Section 4.6(a), a holder of Class B Common Stock may Transfer shares of Class B Common Stock only to a Permitted Transferee of such holder, and only if such holder also simultaneously Transfers an equal number of such holder’s Common Units to such Permitted Transferee in compliance with the LLC Agreement. The Transfer restrictions described in this Section 4.6(b) are referred to as the “Restrictions”. 

 

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(c)           Any purported Transfer of shares of Class B Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions shall be null and void ab initio. If, notwithstanding the Restrictions, a Person, voluntarily or involuntarily (including by way of a foreclosure), purportedly becomes or attempts to become, the purported owner (the “Purported Owner”) of shares of Class B Common Stock, in violation of the Restrictions, then the Purported Owner shall not obtain any rights in, to or with respect to such shares of (i) Class B Common Stock, and the purported Transfer of the Class B Common Stock to the Purported Owner shall not be recognized by the Corporation, the Corporation’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) or the Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) each holder of such Class B Common Stock shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, automatically, without any further action on the part of the Corporation, the holder thereof, the Purported Owner or any other party, not be entitled to any voting rights with respect to those shares.

 

(d)           Upon a determination by the Board of Directors that a Person has attempted or may attempt to Transfer or to acquire Class B Common Stock in violation of the Restrictions, the Corporation may take such action as it deems necessary or advisable to refuse to give effect to such Transfer or acquisition on the books and records of the Corporation, including without limitation to cause the Transfer Agent or the Secretary of the Corporation, as applicable, to not record the Purported Owner as the record owner of the Class B Common Stock on the books and records of the Corporation and to institute proceedings to enjoin or rescind any such Transfer or acquisition.

 

(e)           The Board of Directors may, to the extent permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind, by bylaw or otherwise, regulations and procedures not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 4.6 for determining whether any Transfer or acquisition of shares of Class B Common Stock would violate the Restrictions, and for the orderly application, administration and implementation of the provisions of this Section 4.6. Any such procedures and regulations shall be kept on file with the Secretary of the Corporation and with the Transfer Agent and shall be made available for inspection by and, upon written request shall be mailed to, any requesting holders of shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.7            Certificates. All certificates or book entries representing shares of Class B Common Stock shall bear a legend substantially in the following form (or in such other form as the Board of Directors may determine):

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS [CERTIFICATE][BOOK ENTRY] ARE SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS (INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER) SET FORTH IN THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE CORPORATION AS IT MAY BE AMENDED AND/OR RESTATED AND THE Limited Liability Company Agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC AS IT MAY BE AMENDED AND/OR RESTATED (COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AND SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A REQUEST THEREFOR). 

 

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Section 4.8            Amendment to Preferred Stock terms.

 

Except as otherwise required by law, neither the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.

 

Article V. 

 

Section 5.1            Shares Reserved for Issuance.

 

(a)           The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock that shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the exchange of all outstanding Common Units held by the holders of the Class B Common Stock (together with Class B Common Stock) for shares of Class A Common Stock; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of the exchange of the Common Units (together with Class B Common Stock) by delivery of shares of Class A Common Stock that are held in the treasury of the Corporation.

 

(b)           The Corporation shall use its best efforts to cause to be reserved and kept available for issuance at all times a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Class B Common Stock, such number of shares of Class B Common Stock that shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the issuance of shares of Class B Common Stock to holders of newly issued Common Units for such consideration and for such corporate purposes as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Article VI. 

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the DGCL, the Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders may not adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation unless such action is approved, in addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, (a) prior to the occurrence of the Sunset Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, or (b) from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

 

Article VII. 

 

Section 7.1            Ballot. Elections of directors (each such director, in such capacity, a “Director” and collectively the “Directors”) need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide. 

 

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Section 7.2           Number of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect Directors under specified circumstances, the number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by a majority of the Whole Board of Directors. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term “Whole Board of Directors” shall mean the total number of authorized Directors (from time to time) whether or not there exist any vacancies.

 

Section 7.3           Terms of Office. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect Directors, each Director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders; provided that each Director shall continue in office until the election and qualification of his or her successor or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation. No decrease in the number of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

 

Section 7.4           Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect Directors, except as otherwise provided by law, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, retirement, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled exclusively by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any Director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office until the expiration of the term to which such Director shall have been appointed or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal.

 

Section 7.5            Removal. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock to elect Directors, the Board of Directors or any individual Director may be removed from office at any time either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock representing a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon; provided, however, that from and after the Sunset Date, the Board of Directors or any individual Director may be removed from office either with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock representing at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 7.6            Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of Directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the Bylaws. 

 

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Section 7.7            Preferred Directors. Whenever the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more such other series, to elect Directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election, term of office, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) applicable thereto. The number of Directors that may be elected by the holders of any such series of Preferred Stock shall be in addition to the number fixed pursuant to Section 7.2 hereof, and the total number of Directors constituting the Whole Board of Directors shall be automatically adjusted accordingly. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional Directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the terms of office of all such additional Directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional Directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such Director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a Director) and the total authorized number of Directors of the Corporation shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

 

Article VIII. 

 

Section 8.1            Consent of Stockholders In Lieu of Meeting. Prior to the occurrence of the Sunset Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents, setting forth the action so taken, are (1) signed by the holders of outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation representing not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of stock of the Corporation then issued and outstanding entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and (2) delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, from and after the occurrence of Sunset Date, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, and shall not be taken by consent in lieu of a meeting.

 

Section 8.2            Special Meetings of Stockholders. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time only by or at the direction of (i) the Chairperson of the Board of Directors (if any), (ii) the Chief Executive Officer, (iii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board of Directors, or (iv) prior to the occurrence of the Sunset Date, by the Secretary (or other officer or the Board of Directors) at the request of any of the Continuing Equity Owners owning at least 5% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, and shall not be called by any other person or persons.

 

Article IX. 

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change, adopt or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation; providedhowever, that from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 of Article IV or with Articles V, VI, VII, VIII, VIII, IX, X, XII and XIII; provided further, that any amendment (including by merger, consolidation conversion, transfer or otherwise) to this Certificate of Incorporation (whether prior to or following the occurrence of the Sunset Date) that gives holders of the Class B Common Stock (i) any rights to receive dividends (other than as set forth in the last sentence of Section 4.4(b) of Article IV) or any other kind of distribution, (ii) any right to convert into or be exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock or (iii) any other economic rights (except for payments in cash in lieu of receipt of fractional stock) shall, in addition to the vote of the holders of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation, also require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock voting separately as a class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation effecting changes set forth in (i) Section 242(d)(1) of the DGCL can be affected without a stockholder vote and (ii) Section 242(d)(2) of the DGCL shall only require the vote of stockholders set forth in Section 242(d)(2) of the DGCL. 

 

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Article X. 

 

The Corporation is authorized to indemnify, and to advance expenses to, each current or former Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto) as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended. To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware as it exists on the date hereof or as it may hereafter be amended, no Director or officer shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a Director or officer, as applicable. No amendment to, or modification or repeal of, this Article X, or adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, or, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation existing hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, adoption, modification or repeal.

 

Article XI. 

 

Section 11.1        Corporate Opportunity.

 

(a)        To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware and in accordance with Section 122(17) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), (i) the Corporation hereby renounces all interest and expectancy that it otherwise would be entitled to have in, and all rights to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity that from time to time may be presented to any Director or stockholder who is not employed by the Corporation or its subsidiaries (each such Person, an “Exempt Person”); (ii) no Exempt Person will have any duty to refrain from (1) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries from time to time is engaged or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing, directly or indirectly, with the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries; and (iii) if any Exempt Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity both for such Exempt Person or any of his or her respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and for the Corporation or its subsidiaries, on the other hand, such Exempt Person shall have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to the Corporation or its subsidiaries and such Exempt Person or any of his or her respective Affiliates may take any and all such transactions or opportunities for itself or offer such transactions or opportunities to any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the preceding sentence of this Section 11.1(a) shall not apply to any potential transaction or business opportunity that is expressly offered to a Director, executive officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, solely in his or her capacity as a Director, executive officer or employee of the Corporation or its subsidiaries. 

 

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(b)           To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, no potential transaction or business opportunity may be deemed to be a corporate opportunity of the Corporation or its subsidiaries unless (i) the Corporation or its subsidiaries would be permitted to undertake such transaction or opportunity in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation, (ii) the Corporation or its subsidiaries at such time have sufficient financial resources to undertake such transaction or opportunity, (iii) the Corporation or its subsidiaries have an interest or expectancy in such transaction or opportunity and (iv) such transaction or opportunity would be in the same or similar line of business in which the Corporation or its subsidiaries are then engaged or a line of business that is reasonably related to, or a reasonable extension of, such line of business.

 

Section 11.2          Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no stockholder and no Director will be liable to the Corporation or its subsidiaries or stockholders for breach of any duty solely by reason of any activities or omissions of the types referred to in this Article XI, except to the extent such actions or omissions are in breach of this Article XI.

 

Article XII. 

 

Section 12.1          Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL and the restrictions and limitations set forth therein.

 

Section 12.2          Interested Stockholder Transactions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, the Corporation shall not engage in any Business Combination (as defined below) at any point in time at which the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act (as defined below) with any Interested Stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, unless:

 

(a)           prior to such time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, the Board of Directors approved either the Business Combination or the transaction which resulted in such stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder;

 

(b)           upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, the Interested Stockholder owned at least eighty-five percent (85%) of the voting stock (as defined below) of the Corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the Interested Stockholder) those shares owned by (A) Persons who are Directors and also officers and (B) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or 

 

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(c)           at or subsequent to such time that such stockholder became an Interested Stockholder, the Business Combination is approved by the Board of Directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation which is not owned by such Interested Stockholder.

 

Section 12.3          Definitions. As used in this Certificate of Incorporation, the following terms shall have the following meaning:

 

(a)           “Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person and, for purposes of the definition of Affiliate “control,” (including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with,”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting stock, by contract, or otherwise. A Person who is the owner, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity shall be presumed to have control of such entity, in the absence of proof by a preponderance of the evidence to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a presumption of control shall not apply where such Person holds voting stock, in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing this ‎Article XII, as an agent, bank, broker, nominee, custodian or trustee for one or more owners who do not individually or as a group have control of such entity.

 

(b)           “Associate”, when used to indicate a relationship with any Person, means: (i) any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity of which such Person is a Director, officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the owner of twenty percent (20%) or more of any class of shares of voting stock of the Corporation; (ii) any trust or other estate in which such Person has at least a twenty percent (20%) beneficial interest or as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity; and (iii) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same residence as such Person. 

 

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(c)           “Business Combination” means (i) any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation (A) with the Interested Stockholder, or (B) with any other corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the Interested Stockholder and as a result of such merger or consolidation this ‎Article XII is not applicable to the surviving entity; (ii) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, Transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions), except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation, to or with the Interested Stockholder, whether as part of a dissolution or otherwise, of assets of the Corporation or of any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which assets have an aggregate market value equal to ten percent (10%) or more of either the aggregate market value of all the assets of the Corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation; (iii) any transaction which results in the issuance or Transfer by the Corporation or by any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation of any stock of the Corporation or of such subsidiary to the Interested Stockholder, except: (A) pursuant to the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which securities were outstanding prior to the time that the Interested Stockholder became such; (B) pursuant to a merger under Section 251(g) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto); (C) pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made, or the exercise, exchange or conversion of securities exercisable for, exchangeable for or convertible into stock of the Corporation or any such subsidiary which security is distributed, pro rata to all holders of a class or series of stock of the Corporation subsequent to the time the Interested Stockholder became such; (D) pursuant to an exchange offer by the Corporation to purchase stock made on the same terms to all holders of said stock; or (E) any issuance or Transfer of stock by the Corporation; provided, however, that in no case under items (C) through (E) of this subsection shall there be an increase in the Interested Stockholder’s proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the Corporation or of the voting stock of the Corporation (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments); (iv) any transaction involving the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the Corporation or of any such subsidiary which is owned by the Interested Stockholder, except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments or as a result of any purchase or redemption of any shares of stock not caused, directly or indirectly, by the Interested Stockholder; or (v) or any receipt by the Interested Stockholder of the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder of the Corporation), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges, or other financial benefits (other than those expressly permitted in subsections (i) through (iv) above) provided by or through the Corporation or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary. 

 

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(d)           “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (1) any “Person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote; (2) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or there is consummated a transaction or series of related transactions for the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (including a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC); (3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of the Corporation immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent, or are not converted into, voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or (4) the Corporation ceases to be the sole managing member of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC; provided, however, that a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of related transactions immediately following which (a) the beneficial owners of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in and voting control over, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions or (b) in the case of the foregoing clauses (1) or (3), the Continuing Equity Owners are the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation (if any) representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote (or, in the case of a transaction described in the foregoing clause (3), more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger of consolidation or, if the surviving company is a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof).

 

(e)           “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations.

 

(f)            “Founder Fund” means The Bradbury Family Trust II A U/A/D December 29, 2015, a trust.

 

(g)           Founder Fund Related Parties” means Founder Fund and its Affiliates.

 

(h)           GSB Holdings” means GSB Holdings LLC.

 

(i)            GSB Holdings Related Parties” means GSB Holdings LLC and its Affiliates. 

 

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(j)           “Interested Stockholder” means any Person (other than the Corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Corporation) that (i) is the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, or (ii) is an Affiliate of the Corporation and was the owner of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such Person is an Interested Stockholder, and the Affiliates and Associates of such Person. Notwithstanding anything in this Article XII to the contrary, the term “Interested Stockholder” shall not include: (u) the Founder Fund Related Parties or any of their current and future Affiliates (so long as such Affiliate remains an Affiliate) or Associates, including any investment funds managed, directly or indirectly, by Founder Fund or any other Person with whom any of the foregoing are acting as a group or in concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting, or disposing of shares of capital stock of the Corporation; (v) the GSB Holdings Related Parties or any of their current and future Affiliates (so long as such Affiliate remains an Affiliate) or Associates, including any investment funds managed, directly or indirectly, by GSB Holdings, or any other Person with whom any of the foregoing are acting as a group or in concert for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of shares of capital stock of the Corporation; (w) any Person who acquires ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the then-outstanding voting stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly from a Founder Fund Related Party or a GSB Holdings Related Party, and excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Person who acquires voting stock of the Corporation through a broker’s transaction executed on any securities exchange or other over-the-counter market or pursuant to an underwritten public offering; (x) a stockholder that becomes an Interested Stockholder inadvertently and (A) as soon as practicable divests itself of ownership of sufficient shares so that such stockholder ceases to be an Interested Stockholder and (B) would not, at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to a Business Combination between the Corporation and such stockholder, have been an Interested Stockholder but for the inadvertent acquisition of ownership or (y) any person whose ownership of shares in excess of the fifteen percent (15%) limitation set forth herein is the result of any action taken solely by the Corporation; provided, however, that such Person specified in this clause (y) shall be an Interested Stockholder if thereafter such Person acquires additional shares of voting stock of the Corporation, except as a result of further corporate action not caused, directly or indirectly, by such Person. For the purpose of determining whether a Person is an Interested Stockholder, the voting stock of the Corporation deemed to be outstanding shall include stock deemed to be owned by the Person through application of the definition of “owner” below but shall not include any other unissued stock of the Corporation which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.

 

(k)          “owner,” including the terms “own” and “owned,” when used with respect to any stock, means, for purposes of this Article XII, a Person that individually or with or through any of its Affiliates or Associates:

 

(i)        beneficially owns such stock, directly or indirectly;

 

(ii)        has (A) the right to acquire such stock (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of stock tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered stock is accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote such stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the owner of any stock because of such Person’s right to vote such stock if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such stock arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to ten (10) or more Persons; or

 

(iii)       has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except voting pursuant to a revocable proxy or consent as described in clause (B) of subsection (ii) above), or disposing of such stock with any other person that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own, directly or indirectly, such stock. 

 

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(l)           “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, unincorporated association or other entity.

 

(m)         “Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations.

 

(n)          “stock” means, for purposes of this Article XII, with respect to any corporation, capital stock and, with respect to any other entity, any equity interest.

 

(o)          “Transfer” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Transferring”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, redemption or other disposition of (whether directly or indirectly, whether with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of law) (a) any interest (legal or beneficial) in any shares of capital of stock of the Corporation or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any stockholder if substantially all of the assets of such stockholder consist solely of shares of capital stock of the Corporation; provided, however, that the following shall not be considered a Transfer:

 

(i)               the granting of a revocable proxy to officers or directors of the Corporation at the request of the Board of Directors in connection with (i) actions to be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, or (ii) any other action of the stockholders permitted by this Certificate of Incorporation;

 

(ii)              the pledge of shares of Class B Common Stock by a stockholder that creates a mere security interest in such shares pursuant to a bona fide loan or indebtedness transaction for so long as such stockholder continues to exercise voting control over such pledged shares; provided, however, that a foreclosure on such shares or other similar action by the pledgee shall constitute a Transfer unless such foreclosure or similar action qualifies as a Permitted Transfer at such time; or

 

(iii)             entering into a support, voting, tender or similar agreement or arrangement (with or without granting a proxy) or tendering any shares in any tender or exchange offer for all of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, in each case, in connection with a Change of Control transaction, sale of all or substantially all assets, or any merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Corporation, whether effectuated through one transaction or series of related transactions, that, in each case, has been approved by the Board of Directors.

 

(p)          “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors and, with respect to any entity that is not a corporation, any equity interest entitled to vote generally in the election of the governing body of such entity. Every reference in this ‎Article XII to a percentage or proportion of voting stock shall refer to such percentage or other proportion of the votes of such voting stock. 

 

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Article XIII. 

 

If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any Person or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other Persons and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

[Signature Page Follows] 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed on this [ ● ] day of [ ● ], 2023.

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
     
  By:       
  Name:   Greg Bennett
  Title:    Chief Executive Officer & President

 

 


Exhibit 3.4

Amended and Restated Bylaws of

Smith Douglas Homes Corp.

(a Delaware corporation)

as of [_______]


Table of Contents

     
Page
Article I - Corporate Offices
1
       
 
1.1
Registered Office
1
 
1.2
Other Offices
1
       
Article II - Meetings of Stockholders
1
       
 
2.1
Place of Meetings
1
 
2.2
Annual Meeting
1
 
2.3
Special Meeting
1
 
2.4
Notice of  Business to be Brought before a Meeting.
2
 
2.5
Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board.
5
 
2.6
Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors.
8
 
2.7
Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings
10
 
2.8
Quorum
10
 
2.9
Adjourned Meeting; Notice
10
 
2.10
Conduct of Business
11
 
2.11
Voting
11
 
2.12
Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes
12
 
2.13
Proxies
12
 
2.14
List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote
13
 
2.15
Inspectors of Election
13
 
2.16
Delivery to the Corporation.
14
       
Article III - Directors
14
       
 
3.1
Powers
14
 
3.2
Number of Directors
14
 
3.3
Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors
14
 
3.4
Resignation and Vacancies
14
 
3.5
Place of Meetings; Meetings by Remote Communication
15
 
3.6
Regular Meetings
15
 
3.7
Special Meetings; Notice
15
 
3.8
Quorum.
16
 
3.9
Board Action without a Meeting
16
 
3.10
Fees and Compensation of Directors
16
 
3.11
Reliance on Books and Records.
16
       
Article IV - Committees
16
       
 
4.1
Committees of Directors
16
 
4.2
Committee Minutes
17
 
4.3
Meetings and Actions of Committees
17
 
4.4
Subcommittees.
17
       

i

Table of Contents
(continued)

  Page
Article V - Officers
18
       
 
5.1
Officers
18
 
5.2
Appointment of Officers
18
 
5.3
Subordinate Officers
18
 
5.4
Removal and Resignation of Officers
18
 
5.5
Vacancies in Offices
19
 
5.6
Representation of Shares of Other Entities
19
 
5.7
Authority and Duties of Officers
19
 
5.8
Compensation.
19
       
Article VI - Records
19
       
Article VII - General Matters
20
       
 
7.1
Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments
20
 
7.2
Stock Certificates
20
 
7.3
Special Designation of Certificates.
20
 
7.4
Lost Certificates
20
 
7.5
Shares Without Certificates
21
 
7.6
Construction; Definitions
21
 
7.7
Dividends
21
 
7.8
Fiscal Year
21
 
7.9
Seal
21
 
7.10
Transfer of Stock
21
 
7.11
Stock Transfer Agreements
22
 
7.12
Registered Stockholders
22
 
7.13
Waiver of Notice
22
       
Article VIII - Notice
22
       
 
8.1
Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission
22
       
Article IX - Indemnification
23
       
 
9.1
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
23
 
9.2
Indemnification of Others
24
 
9.3
Prepayment of Expenses
24
 
9.4
Determination; Claim
24
 
9.5
Non-Exclusivity of Rights
24
 
9.6
Insurance
24
 
9.7
Other Indemnification
25
 
9.8
Continuation of Indemnification
25
 
9.9
Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation
25
       
Article X - Amendments
26
       
Article XI - Forum Selection
26
       
Article XII - Definitions
27

ii

Amended and Restated Bylaws of
Smith Douglas Homes Corp.



Article I - Corporate Offices

1.1          Registered Office.

The address of the registered office of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

1.2          Other Offices.

The Corporation may have additional offices at any place or places, within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Corporation’s board of directors (the “Board”) may from time to time establish or as the business of the Corporation may require.

Article II - Meetings of Stockholders

2.1          Place of Meetings.

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board.  The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.

2.2          Annual Meeting.

The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting.  At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 of these bylaws may be transacted. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled annual meeting of stockholders.

2.3          Special Meeting.

Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by such persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation.

No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting. The Board may postpone, reschedule or cancel any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders.

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2.4          Notice of Business to be Brought before a Meeting.

(a)        At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.  To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by the Board or the Chairperson of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A) (1) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4 in all applicable respects or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”).  The foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders.  For purposes of this Section 2.4, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting.  A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.  Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations for election to the Board except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.

(b)         Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting which, in the case of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the closing of the Corporation’s initial underwritten public offering of common stock, the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting shall be deemed to be June 4, 2023; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not more than the hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than (i) the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, (ii) if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made by the Corporation (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”).  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

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(c)          To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(i)         As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future; (C) the date or dates such shares were acquired; (D) the investment intent of such acquisition and (E) any pledge by such Proposing Person with respect to any of such shares (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (E) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);

(ii)         As to each Proposing Person, (A) the material terms and conditions of any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) or a “put equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) or other derivative or synthetic arrangement in respect of any class or series of shares of the Corporation (“Synthetic Equity Position”) that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person, including, without limitation, (i) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, future or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, (ii) any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position or a short position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including, without limitation, a stock loan transaction, a stock borrow transaction, or a share repurchase transaction or (iii) any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to (x) produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, (y) mitigate any loss relating to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of, or manage the risk of share price decrease in, any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or (z) increase or decrease the voting power in respect of any class or series of shares of the Corporation of such Proposing Person, including, without limitation, due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the holder thereof may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right, or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the price or value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be required to disclose any Synthetic Equity Position that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by, held for the benefit of, or involving such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (C) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (D) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, (E) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or a Synthetic Equity Position held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership, limited liability company or similar entity in which any such Proposing Person (1) is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership or (2) is the manager, managing member or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in the manager or managing member of such limited liability company or similar entity; (G) a representation that such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal and (H) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (H) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

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(iii)       As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other record or beneficial holder(s) or persons(s) who have a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation or any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A of the Exchange Act) with such stockholder in such solicitation.

(d)        The Board may request that any Proposing Person furnish such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Board.  Such Proposing Person shall provide such additional information within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Board.

4

(e)           A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).  For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.

(f)          Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4.  The presiding officer of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

(g)        This Section 2.4 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement.  In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business.  Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

(h)        For purposes of these bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

2.5          Notice of Nominations for Election to the Board.

(a)         Nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting) may be made at such meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (ii) by a stockholder present in person who (A) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 as to such notice and nomination. For purposes of this Section 2.5, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder nominating any person for election to the Board at the meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such stockholder, appear at such meeting.  A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.  The foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting or special meeting.

5

(b)       (i) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (1) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (2) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (3) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6.

(ii)         Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling a special meeting, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at a special meeting, the stockholder must (i) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (ii) provide the information with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required by this Section 2.5 and Section 2.6 and (iii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4) of the date of such special meeting was first made.

(iii)         In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(iv)        In no event may a Nominating Person (as defined below) provide Timely Notice or a notice in accordance with Section 2.5(b)(ii), as applicable, with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by stockholders at the applicable meeting.  If the Corporation shall, subsequent to such notice, increase the number of directors subject to election at the meeting, such notice as to any additional nominees shall be due on the later of (i) the conclusion of the time period for Timely Notice, (ii) the date set forth in Section 2.5(b)(ii) or (iii) the tenth day following the date of public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4) of such increase, as applicable.

(c)          To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(i)         As to each Nominating Person, the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(c)(i), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(c)(i));

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(ii)       As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(c)(ii), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(c)(ii) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(c)(ii) shall be made with respect to the nomination and election of directors at the meeting); and provided that, in lieu of including the information set forth in Section 2.4(c)(ii)(G), the Nominating Person’s notice for purposes of this Section 2.5 shall include a representation as to whether the Nominating Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and solicit the holders of shares representing at least 67% of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock entitled to vote on the election of directors in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act; and

(iii)       As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidate’s written consent to being named in a proxy statement and accompanying proxy card relating to the Corporation’s next meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected and to serving as a director for a full term if elected), (B) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K of the federal securities law if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (C) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.6(a).

For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A of the Exchange Act) with such stockholder in such solicitation.

(d)        The Board may request that any Nominating Person furnish such additional information as may be reasonably required by the Board.  Such Nominating Person shall provide such additional information within ten (10) days after it has been requested by the Board.

(e)        A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).  For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new nomination.

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(f)         In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.5, unless otherwise required by law, (i) no Nominating Person shall solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Corporation’s nominees unless such Nominating Person has complied with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in connection with the solicitation of such proxies, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner and (ii) if any Nominating Person (1) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act, including the provision to the Corporation of notices required thereunder in a timely manner, or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Corporation that such Nominating Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence, then the nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that the nominee is included as a nominee in the Corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials for any annual meeting (or any supplement thereto) and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Corporation (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). If any Nominating Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act, such Nominating Person shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than seven (7) business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

2.6          Additional Requirements for Valid Nomination of Candidates to Serve as Director and, if Elected, to be Seated as Directors.

(a)         To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 2.5 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board or by a stockholder of record, must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the Board), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (i) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Corporation upon written request of any stockholder of record therefor) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question that has not been disclosed to the Corporation (a “Voting Commitment”) or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed therein or to the Corporation, (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect), and (D) if elected as director of the Corporation, intends to serve the entire term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election.

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(b)        The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a Director to furnish such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Board in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board may request such other information in order for the Board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation or to comply with the Director qualification standards and additional selection criteria in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.  Such other information shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (or any other office specified by the Corporation in any public announcement) not later than five (5) business days after the request by the Board has been delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Nominating Person.

(c)          A candidate for nomination as a director shall further update and supplement the materials delivered pursuant to this Section 2.6, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (or any other office specified by the Corporation in any public announcement) not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).  For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other Section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or nomination or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding nominees, matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.

(d)         No candidate shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6, as applicable.  The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with Section 2.5 or this Section 2.6, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots cast for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.

(e)         Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with Section 2.5 and this Section 2.6.

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2.7          Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.  The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

2.8          Quorum.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the rules of any stock exchange upon which the Corporation’s securities are listed, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a separate vote by a class or series or classes or series is required, the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series or classes or series, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to the vote on that matter.  A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the person presiding over the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote thereon shall have power to recess the meeting or adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented.  At any recessed or adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.

2.9          Adjourned Meeting; Notice.

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or are provided in any other manner permitted by the DGCL.  At any adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.  If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

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2.10        Conduct of Business.

The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting.  The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures (which need not be in writing) and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present (including, without limitation, rules and procedures for removal of disruptive persons from the meeting); (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The presiding person at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting (including, without limitation, determinations with respect to the administration and/or interpretation of any of the rules, regulations or procedures of the meeting, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting), shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter of business was not properly brought before the meeting and if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

2.11        Voting.

Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder that has voting power upon the matter in question.

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, at all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Unless a different or minimum vote is required by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter, each other matter presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter.

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2.12        Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting.  If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board.  If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action without a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

2.13        Proxies.

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder, in any manner provided under applicable law, by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law, including Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  The revocability of a proxy that is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power and states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. A proxy may be in the form of an electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the transmission was authorized by the stockholder.

Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board.

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2.14        List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote.

The Corporation shall prepare, no later than the tenth (10th) day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of ten (10) days ending on the day before the meeting date: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporation’s principal executive office.  In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation.  Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 2.14 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

2.15        Inspectors of Election.

Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation may, and shall if required by law, appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof.  The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  If any person appointed as inspector or any alternate fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the person presiding over the meeting shall appoint a person to fill that vacancy.

Such inspectors shall:

(i)          determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting and the validity of any proxies and ballots;

(ii)         count all votes or ballots;

(iii)        count and tabulate all votes;

(iv)        determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s); and

(v)          certify its or their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and its or their count of all votes and ballots.

Such certification and report shall specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspection with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability.  Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.  The inspectors of election may appoint such persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.

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2.16        Delivery to the Corporation.

Whenever this Article II requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information to the Corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), except as otherwise requested or consented to by the Corporation, such document or information shall be in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and shall be delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, and the Corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of any document not in such written form or so delivered. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation expressly opts out of Section 116 of the DGCL with respect to the delivery of information and documents (other than a document authorizing another person to act for a stockholder by proxy at a meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 212 of the DGCL) to the Corporation required by this Article II.

Article III - Directors

3.1          Powers.

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.

3.2          Number of Directors.

Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the total number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board.  No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

3.3          Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors.

Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, and subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until the expiration of the term of the class, if any, for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.  Directors need not be stockholders.  The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors.

3.4          Resignation and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation.  The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date or upon the happening of an event to occur on a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in Section 3.3.

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Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director.

3.5          Place of Meetings; Meetings by Remote Communication.

The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee of the Board designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee of the Board, by means of telephone, video, or other remote communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

3.6          Regular Meetings.

Regular meetings of the Board may be held within or outside the State of Delaware and at such time and at such place as which has been designated by the Board and publicized among all directors, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate messages, facsimile, telegraph or telex, or by electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board.

3.7          Special Meetings; Notice.

Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairperson of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer, or a majority of the total number of directors constituting the Board.

Notice of the time and place, if any, of special meetings shall be:

(i)          delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;

(ii)         sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

(iii)        sent by facsimile or electronic mail; or

(iv)        sent by other means of electronic transmission,

directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, or other address for electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.

If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, or (iii) sent by other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting.  If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four (4) days before the date of the holding of the meeting.  The notice need not specify the place, if any, of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.

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3.8          Quorum.

At all meetings of the Board, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

3.9          Board Action without a Meeting.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After such action is taken by written consent or consent by electronic transmission without a meeting, the consent or consents, or electronic transmission or transmissions, relating thereto shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board, or the committee thereof, in the same paper or electronic form as the minutes are maintained. Such action by written consent or consent by electronic transmission shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board.

3.10        Fees and Compensation of Directors.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

3.11        Reliance on Books and Records.

A member of the Board, or a member of any committee designated by the Board shall, in the performance of such person’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

Article IV - Committees

4.1          Committees of Directors.

The Board may designate one (1) or more committees of the Board, each committee to consist, of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation.  The Board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.  Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolutions of the Board designating the committee or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.

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4.2          Committee Minutes.

Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.

4.3          Meetings and Actions of Committees.

Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

(i)           Section 3.5 (place of meetings; meetings by remote communication);

(ii)         Section 3.6 (regular meetings);

(iii)        Section 3.7 (special meetings; notice);

(iv)        Section 3.9 (board action without a meeting);

(v)         Section 3.11 (reliance on books and records); and

(vi)        Section 7.13 (waiver of notice),

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members.  However:

(i)          the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;

(ii)         special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or the chairperson of the applicable committee; and

(iii)      the Board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee to override the provisions that would otherwise apply to the committee pursuant to this Section 4.3, provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.

4.4          Subcommittees.

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws or the resolutions of the Board designating the committee, a committee may create one (1) or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one (1) or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee. Except as otherwise expressly provided in these bylaws or by resolution of the Board designating such committee, every reference to a committee or to a member of a committee in these bylaws shall apply to any subcommittee or member of a subcommittee mutatis mutandis.

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Article V - Officers

5.1          Officers.

The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a President, and a Secretary.  The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a Chairperson of the Board, a Vice-Chairperson of the Board, a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Accounting Officer, a General Counsel, a Treasurer, one (1) or more Vice Presidents, one (1) or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one (1) or more Assistant Treasurers, one (1) or more Assistant Secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person. No officer need be a stockholder or director of the Corporation.

5.2          Appointment of Officers.

The Board or a duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws.

5.3          Subordinate Officers.

The Board or a duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof may appoint, or empower the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer, the President, to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require.  Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board or a duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof may from time to time determine, or as determined by the officer upon whom such power of appointment has been conferred by the Board or a duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof.

5.4          Removal and Resignation of Officers.

Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation.  Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice.  Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.  Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

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5.5          Vacancies in Offices.

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or a duly authorized committee or subcommittee thereof or as provided in Section 5.2.

5.6          Representation of Shares of Other Entities.

The Chairperson of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President of this Corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares or voting securities of any other corporation or other entity standing in the name of this Corporation.  The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.

5.7          Authority and Duties of Officers.

All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be provided herein or designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.

5.8          Compensation.

The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their services as such shall be fixed from time to time by or at the direction of the Board. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation.

Article VI - Records

A stock ledger consisting of one or more records in which the names of all of the Corporation’s stockholders of record, the address and number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder, and all issuances and transfers of stock of the corporation are recorded in accordance with Section 224 of the DGCL shall be administered by or on behalf of the Corporation.  Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and, with respect to the stock ledger, that the records so kept (i) can be used to prepare the list of stockholders specified in Sections 219 and 220 of the DGCL, (ii) record the information specified in Sections 156, 159, 217(a) and 218 of the DGCL, and (iii) record transfers of stock as governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted in the State of Delaware.

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Article VII - General Matters

7.1          Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments.

The Board, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

7.2          Stock Certificates.

The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board by resolution may provide that some or all of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated.  Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.  Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, any two officers authorized to sign stock certificates representing the number of shares registered in certificate form.  The Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation are specifically authorized to sign stock certificates.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

7.3          Special Designation of Certificates.

If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or on the back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock (or, in the case of uncertificated shares, set forth in a notice provided pursuant to Section 151 of the DGCL); provided, however, that except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face of back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock (or, in the case of any uncertificated shares, included in the aforementioned notice) a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

7.4          Lost Certificates.

Except as provided in this Section 7.4, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

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7.5          Shares Without Certificates

The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.

7.6          Construction; Definitions.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws.  Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.

7.7          Dividends.

The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL or (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.

7.8          Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.

7.9          Seal.

The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board.  The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

7.10        Transfer of Stock.

Shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these bylaws and subject to any transfer restrictions contained in the Certificate of Incorporation.  Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons (or by delivery of duly executed instructions with respect to uncertificated shares), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps.  No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the persons from and to whom it was transferred. The Corporation shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issuance, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation.

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7.11        Stock Transfer Agreements.

The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

7.12        Registered Stockholders.

The Corporation:

(i)         shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers as such owner; and

(ii)         shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

7.13        Waiver of Notice.

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting (in person or by remote communication) shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

Article VIII - Notice

8.1          Delivery of Notice; Notice by Electronic Transmission.

Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these bylaws may be given in writing directed to the stockholder’s mailing address (or by electronic transmission directed to the stockholder’s electronic mail address, as applicable) as it appears on the records of the Corporation and shall be given (1) if mailed, when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, (2) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at such stockholder’s address or (3) if given by electronic mail, when directed to such stockholder’s electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receiving notice by electronic mail. A notice by electronic mail must include a prominent legend that the communication is an important notice regarding the Corporation.

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Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given.  Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice or electronic transmission to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, the Corporation may give a notice by electronic mail in accordance with the first paragraph of this section without obtaining the consent required by this paragraph.

Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:

(i)          if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

(ii)         if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and

(iii)        if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be given by an electronic transmission from and after the time that (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by such electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice, provided, however, the inadvertent failure to discover such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

Article IX - Indemnification

9.1          Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Corporation (a “covered person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, trustee, member, manager or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.4, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person only if the Proceeding was authorized in the specific case by the Board.

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9.2          Indemnification of Others.

The Corporation shall have the power (but not the obligation) to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, trustee, member, manager or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.

9.3          Prepayment of Expenses.

The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any covered person, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the Corporation, in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined by a final judicial decision of a court of competent jurisdiction from which there is no further right to appeal that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.

9.4          Determination; Claim.

If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article IX is not paid in full within sixty (60) days, or a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within thirty (30) days, after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may thereafter (but not before) file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law.  In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

9.5          Non-Exclusivity of Rights.

The rights conferred on any person by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.6          Insurance.

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, trustee, member, manager or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, trustee, member, manager or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust enterprise or non-profit entity against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

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9.7          Other Indemnification.

The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, trustee, member, manager or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

9.8          Continuation of Indemnification.

The rights to indemnification and to prepayment of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue as to a person notwithstanding that such person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.

9.9          Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation.

The provisions of this Article IX shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director or officer of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such person’s performance of such services, and pursuant to this Article IX the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director or officer of the Corporation.  With respect to current and former directors and officers of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article IX are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of theses bylaws.  With respect to any directors or officers of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director or officer commencing service as a director or officer of the Corporation.  Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article IX shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Secretary, or other officer of the Corporation appointed by (x) the Board pursuant to Article V of these bylaws or (y) an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.  The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “Vice President” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Article IX.

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Article X - Amendments

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the DGCL, the Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders may not adopt, amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation unless such action is approved, in addition to any other vote required by the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, (a) prior to the occurrence of the Sunset Date (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, or (b) from and after the occurrence of the Sunset Date, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.

Article XI - Forum Selection

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws (as any of the foregoing may be amended and/or restated from time to time) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery; (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine; and (b) the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause or causes of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant to such complaint. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article XI. This provision is intended to benefit and may be enforced by the Corporation, its officers and directors, the underwriters to any offering giving rise to such complaint, and any other professional or entity whose profession gives authority to a statement made by that person or entity and who has prepared or certified any part of the documents underlying the offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article XI shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.

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Article XII - Definitions

As used in these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

An “electronic mail” means an electronic transmission directed to a unique electronic mail address (which electronic mail shall be deemed to include any files attached thereto and any information hyperlinked to a website if such electronic mail includes the contact information of an officer or agent of the Corporation who is available to assist with accessing such files and information).

An “electronic mail address” means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, consisting of a unique user name or mailbox (commonly referred to as the “local part” of the address) and a reference to an internet domain (commonly referred to as the “domain part” of the address), whether or not displayed, to which electronic mail can be sent or delivered.

The term “person” means any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

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Smith Douglas Homes Corp.

Certificate of Amendment and Restatement of Bylaws



The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the duly elected, qualified, and acting Secretary of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and that the foregoing bylaws were adopted by the Board of the Corporation on [ ], 2023 to be effective as of [ ], 2023.




Brett Steele

Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary



 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC

 

TRA PARTIES

 

and

 

OTHER PERSONS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO

 

Dated as of [ ● ], 2023

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I Definitions 3
   
Section 1.1. Definitions 3
Section 1.2. Rules of Construction 12
     
ARTICLE II Determination of Realized Tax Benefit 13
   
Section 2.1. Basis Adjustments; the LLC 754 Election 13
Section 2.2. Attribute Schedules 13
Section 2.3. Tax Benefit Schedules 14
Section 2.4. Procedures; Amendments 14
     
ARTICLE III Tax Benefit Payments 15
   
Section 3.1. Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments 15
Section 3.2. No Duplicative Payments 17
Section 3.3. Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the TRA Parties 17
Section 3.4. Overpayments 18
     
ARTICLE IV Termination 18
   
Section 4.1. Early Termination of Agreement; Acceleration Events 18
Section 4.2. Early Termination Notice 20
Section 4.3. Payment upon Early Termination 20
     
ARTICLE V Subordination and Late Payments 21
   
Section 5.1. Subordination 21
Section 5.2. Late Payments by the Corporation 21
     
ARTICLE VI Tax Matters; Consistency; Cooperation 21
   
Section 6.1. Participation in the Corporation’s and the LLC’s Tax Matters 21
Section 6.2. Consistency 22
Section 6.3. Cooperation 22
     
ARTICLE VII Miscellaneous 22
   
Section 7.1. Notices 22
Section 7.2. Counterparts 23
Section 7.3. Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries 23
Section 7.4. Severability 23
Section 7.5. Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver 24
Section 7.6. Titles and Subtitles 25
Section 7.7. Resolution of Disputes; Governing Law 25

 

 

 

Section 7.8. Reconciliation Procedures 26
Section 7.9. Withholding 27
Section 7.10. Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets 27
Section 7.11. Confidentiality 28
Section 7.12. Change in Law 29
Section 7.13. Interest Rate Limitation 29
Section 7.14. Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations 29
Section 7.15. Coordination with Operating Agreement 30

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A       -       Form of Joinder Agreement

 

1

 

TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT

 

This TAX RECEIVABLE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [ ● ], 2023, is hereby entered into by and among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “LLC”) and each of the TRA Parties.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the LLC is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the consummation of the IPO (as defined below), the LLC entered into the Operating Agreement wherein the LLC recapitalized all existing ownership interests in the LLC into membership interests in the form of Common Units (the “Recapitalization”) and admitted the Corporation as the sole managing member of the LLC;

 

WHEREAS, the TRA Parties hold membership interests in the LLC designated as Common Units as of the date hereof;

 

WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Corporation issued shares of its Class A Common Stock in an initial public offering of its Class A Common Stock (the “IPO”);

 

WHEREAS, immediately following the consummation of the IPO, the Corporation acquired Common Units from TRA Parties and newly issued Common Units from the LLC using the net proceeds from the IPO (the “Unit Purchase”);

 

WHEREAS, the Operating Agreement provides each TRA Party a redemption right pursuant to which each TRA Party may cause the LLC to redeem all or a portion of its Common Units from time to time for shares of Class A Common Stock or, under certain circumstances, cash (a “Redemption”), subject to the Corporation’s right, in its sole discretion, to elect to effect a direct exchange of cash or shares of Class A Common Stock for such Common Units between the Corporation and the applicable TRA Party in lieu of such a Redemption (a “Direct Exchange”);

 

WHEREAS, as a result of the Unit Purchase, any Redemption, any Direct Exchange or any other Exchange the Corporation may be entitled to utilize (or otherwise be entitled to the benefits arising out of) certain Covered Tax Assets;

 

WHEREAS, the Parties to this Agreement desire to provide for certain payments and make certain arrangements with respect to any tax benefits to be derived by the Corporation as the result of Covered Tax Assets and the making of payments under this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective covenants and agreements set forth herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

2

 

ARTICLE I

Definitions

 

Section 1.1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in this Article I shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to (i) the singular and plural, (ii) the active and passive and (iii) for defined terms that are nouns, the verified forms of the terms defined).

 

Actual Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the liability for Covered Taxes of the Corporation (a) appearing on Tax Returns of the Corporation or the LLC (but only to the extent allocable to the Corporation) for such Taxable Year or (b) if applicable, determined in accordance with a Determination; provided, that for purposes of determining Actual Tax Liability, the Corporation shall use the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate for purposes of determining liabilities for all state and local Covered Taxes (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the U.S. federal income tax benefit realized by the Corporation with respect to such state and local Covered Taxes).

 

Advisory Firm” means an accounting firm that is nationally recognized as being expert in Covered Tax matters selected by the Corporation.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such first Person.

 

Agreed Rate” means SOFR plus 100 basis points.

 

Agreement” is defined in the preamble.

 

Amended Schedule” is defined in Section 2.4(b).

 

Amount Realized” means, with respect to any Exchange that is not eligible for nonrecognition treatment (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes), at any time, the sum of (i) the Market Value of the shares of Class A Common Stock or the amount of cash (as applicable) transferred to a TRA Party pursuant to such Exchange, (ii) the amount of payments made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Exchange (but excluding any portions thereof attributable to Imputed Interest) and (iii) the amount of liabilities allocated to the Common Units acquired pursuant to the Exchange under Section 752 of the Code.

 

Assumed State and Local Tax Rate” means the tax rate equal to the sum of the products of (i) the Corporation’s or the LLC’s income tax apportionment factor for each state and local jurisdiction in which the Corporation or the LLC files income or franchise tax returns for the relevant Taxable Year and (ii) the highest corporate income and franchise tax rate(s) for each such state and local jurisdiction in which the Corporation or the LLC files income Tax Returns for each relevant Taxable Year.

 

Attributable” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(i).

 

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Attribute Schedule” is defined in Section 2.2.

 

Audit Committee” means the audit committee of the Board.

 

Basis Adjustment” means an increase or decrease to, or the Corporation’s proportionate share of, the tax basis of the Reference Assets under Section 362(a), 732, 734(b), 743(b) or 1012 of the Code (or any similar provisions of state, local or foreign tax Law); provided, that for purposes of determining the Corporation’s proportionate share of the tax basis of the Reference Assets with respect to the Common Units transferred in an Exchange under Treasury Regulations Section 1.743-1(b) (or any similar provisions of state, local or foreign tax Law), the consideration paid by the Corporation for such Common Units shall be the Amount Realized.

 

Board” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banks located in New York City, New York generally are authorized or required by Law to close.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(i) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and excluding the TRA Parties) becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of voting securities representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation;

 

(ii) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or there is consummated a sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (including a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the LLC);

 

(iii) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent, or are not converted into, voting securities representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(iv) the Corporation ceases to be the sole Manager (as defined in the Operating Agreement) of the LLC.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred (i) by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, preferred stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in and voting control over, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions; or (ii) if the TRA Parties unanimously agree in writing to elect for a “Change in Control” to not have occurred upon the occurrence of any transaction, series of related transactions or any other occurrence that may otherwise qualify as a “Change of Control”.

 

Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Unless the context requires otherwise, any reference herein to a specific section of the Code shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

 

Common Units” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Operating Agreement.

 

Control” means the direct or indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Corporation” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Covered Tax Assets” means (i) Basis Adjustments; (ii) Section 704(c) Allocation Amounts and (iii) Imputed Interest reasonably determined to be allocable to payments pursuant to this Agreement arising from the items described in clauses (i) through (ii). For the avoidance of doubt, Covered Tax Assets shall include any carryforwards, carrybacks or similar attributes that are attributable to the tax items described in clauses (i) through (iii).

 

Covered Taxes” means any U.S. federal, state and local taxes, assessments or similar charges that are based on or measured with respect to net income or profits and any interest imposed in respect thereof under applicable Law.

 

Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(iii).

 

Default Rate” means SOFR plus 500 basis points.

 

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Default Rate Interest” is defined in Section 5.2.

 

Determination” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1313(a) of the Code or any similar provisions of state, local or foreign tax Law, as applicable, or any other event (including the execution of IRS Form 870-AD) that finally and conclusively establishes the amount of any liability for tax.

 

Direct Exchange” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Dispute” is defined in Section 7.7(a).

 

Early Termination Effective Date” means (i) with respect to an early termination pursuant to Section 4.1(a), the date an Early Termination Notice is delivered, (ii) with respect to an early termination pursuant to Section 4.1(b), the date of the applicable Change of Control and (iii) with respect to an early termination pursuant to Section 4.1(c), the date of the applicable Material Breach.

 

Early Termination Notice” is defined in Section 4.2(a).

 

Early Termination Payment” is defined in Section 4.3(b).

 

Early Termination Reference Date” is defined in Section 4.2(b).

 

Early Termination Schedule” is defined in Section 4.2(b).

 

Exchange” means any (i) Direct Exchange, (ii) Redemption, (iii) other transfer (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) of Common Units to the Corporation from a TRA Party or (iv) distribution (including a deemed distribution) by the LLC to a TRA Party, in each case, that results in a Basis Adjustment.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations.

 

Expert” is defined in Section 7.8(a).

 

Final Payment Date” means any date on which a Payment is required to be made pursuant to this Agreement. The Final Payment Date in respect of (i) a Tax Benefit Payment is determined pursuant to Section 3.1(a) and (ii) an Early Termination Payment is determined pursuant to Section 4.3(a).

 

Hypothetical Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Taxable Year, the hypothetical liability of the Corporation that would arise in respect of Covered Taxes, using the same methods, elections, conventions and similar practices used on the actual relevant Tax Returns of the Corporation but calculated without taking into account the Covered Tax Assets (e.g., (i) by calculating depreciation, amortization or other similar deductions, or otherwise calculating any items of income, gain or loss using the tax basis that the Reference Assets would have had at such time if no Basis Adjustments had been made; (ii) by taking into account Section 704(c) Allocation Amounts and (iii) by excluding any deduction attributable to Imputed Interest); provided, that for purposes of determining the Hypothetical Tax Liability, (i) the combined tax rate for U.S. state and local Covered Taxes shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate, and (ii) the Corporation shall be entitled to make reasonable simplifying assumptions in making any determinations contemplated by this definition.

 

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Imputed Interest” means any interest imputed under Section 483, 1272 or 1274 or any other provision of the Code or any similar provisions of state, local or foreign tax Law with respect to the Corporation’s payment obligations under this Agreement.

 

Independent Directors” means the members of the Board who are “independent” under the standards of the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is traded or quoted.

 

Interest Amount” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(vi).

 

IPO” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

Joinder” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

Joinder Requirement” is defined in Section 7.5(a).

 

Law” means all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations of the U.S., any foreign country and each state, commonwealth, city, county, municipality, regulatory or self-regulatory body, agency or other political subdivision thereof.

 

LLC” is defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

LLC Group” means the LLC and each of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership or disregarded entity for applicable tax purposes (but excluding any such Subsidiary to the extent it is directly or indirectly held by any entity treated as a corporation for applicable tax purposes (other than the Corporation)).

 

Market Value” means (i) with respect to an Exchange (other than a deemed Exchange described in clause (ii) below), the value of the Class A Common Stock on the applicable Redemption or Direct Exchange date determined by the Corporation on a reasonable and consistent basis and used by the Corporation in its U.S. federal income tax reporting with respect to such Exchange, and (ii) with respect to a deemed Exchange pursuant to the Valuation Assumptions, (a) if the Class A Common Stock trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, the arithmetic average of the high trading price on such date (or if such date is not a Trading Day, the immediately preceding Trading Day) and the low trading price on such date (or if such date is not a Trading Day, the immediately preceding Trading Day) or (b) if the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on a securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system, the fair market value of one share of Class A Common Stock, as determined by the Corporation in good faith, that would be obtained in an arms’ length transaction for cash between an informed and willing buyer and an informed and willing seller, neither of whom is under any compulsion to buy or sell, and without regard to the particular circumstances of the buyer or seller and without any discounts for liquidity or minority discount.

 

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Material Breach” means the (i) material breach by the Corporation of a material obligation under this Agreement or (ii) the rejection of this Agreement by operation of law in a case commenced in bankruptcy or otherwise.

 

Maximum Rate” is defined in Section 7.13.

 

Net Tax Benefit” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(ii).

 

Non-TRA Portion” is defined in Section 2.3(b).

 

Objection Notice” is defined in Section 2.4(a)(ii).

 

Operating Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC, as such agreement may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Parties” means the parties named on the signature pages to this agreement and each additional party that satisfies the Joinder Requirement, in each case with their respective successors and assigns.

 

Payment” means any Tax Benefit Payment or Early Termination Payment and in each case, unless otherwise specified, refers to the entire amount of such Payment or any portion thereof.

 

Permitted Transferee” means a holder of Common Units pursuant to any transfer of such Common Units permitted by the Operating Agreement.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

 

Pre-Exchange Transfer” means any transfer (or deemed transfer) of one or more Common Units (i) that occurs after the consummation of the IPO but prior to an Exchange of such Common Units and (ii) to which Section 743(b) of the Code applies.

 

Realized Tax Benefit” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(iv).

 

Realized Tax Detriment” is defined in Section 3.1(b)(v).

 

Recapitalization” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Reconciliation Dispute” is defined in Section 7.8(a).

 

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Reconciliation Procedures” is defined in Section 7.8(a).

 

Redemption” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Reference Asset” means any asset of any member of the LLC Group on the relevant date of determination under this Agreement (including at the time of an Exchange or the IPO, as applicable). A Reference Asset also includes any asset the tax basis of which is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the tax basis of an asset that is described in the preceding sentence, including “substituted basis property” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code.

 

Reference Inventory Asset” means any asset held as inventory of homes (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding any costs paid for an option to purchase land) of any member of the LLC Group at the time of the IPO. A Reference Inventory Asset also includes any asset the tax basis of which is determined, in whole or in part, by reference to the tax basis of an asset that is described in the preceding sentence, including “substituted basis property” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(42) of the Code.

 

Schedule” means any of the following: (i) an Attribute Schedule; (ii) a Tax Benefit Schedule; (iii) an Early Termination Schedule; and (iv) any Amended Schedule.

 

Section 704(c) Allocations” means disproportionate allocations (relative to economic percentage interests of the members of the LLC) of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.704-3 with respect to Reference Inventory Assets.

 

Section 704(c) Allocation Amount” means an amount equal to the Section 704(c) Allocations that were made by the LLC since the Effective Date of income and gain to a TRA Party with respect to Common Units that are Exchanged by such TRA Party during the relevant Taxable Year; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, Section 704(c) Allocation Amounts shall include any such Section 704(c) Allocations arising from the Corporation’s Unit Purchase and any subsequent purchase of equity interests by the Corporation directly from the LLC.

 

Senior Obligations” is defined in Section 5.1.

 

SOFR” means the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person and as of any determination date, any other Person as to which such first Person (i) owns, directly or indirectly, or otherwise controls, more than 50% of the voting power or other similar interests of such other Person or (ii) is the sole general partner interest, or managing member or similar interest, of such other Person.

 

Tax Benefit Payment” is defined in Section 3.1(b).

 

Tax Benefit Schedule” is defined in Section 2.3(a).

 

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Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement filed or required to be filed with respect to taxes (including any attached schedules), including any information return, claim for refund, amended return and declaration of estimated tax.

 

Taxable Year” means a taxable year of the Corporation as defined in Section 441(b) of the Code or any similar provisions of U.S. state or local tax Law, as applicable (and, therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, may include a period of less than 12 months for which a Tax Return is filed), ending on or after the closing date of the IPO.

 

Taxing Authority” means any national, federal, state, county, municipal or local government, or any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body, or any other authority of any kind, exercising regulatory or other authority in relation to tax matters.

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the NYSE or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

 

TRA Parties” means each of the members of the LLC as of the date hereof (other than the Corporation) party hereto and their Permitted Transferees.

 

“TRA Portion” is defined in Section 2.3(b).

 

Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and (to the extent they can be relied upon) proposed regulations under the Code, as promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) and as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

 

U.S.” means the United States of America.

 

Unit Purchase” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Valuation Assumptions” means, as of an Early Termination Effective Date, the assumptions that:

 

(i) in each Taxable Year ending on or after such Early Termination Effective Date, the Corporation will have taxable income sufficient to fully use the Covered Tax Assets (other than any such Covered Tax Assets that constitute or have resulted in net operating losses, disallowed interest expense carryforwards, or credit carryforwards or carryovers (determined as of the Early Termination Effective Date), which shall be governed by paragraph (iv) below) during such Taxable Year or future Taxable Years (including, for the avoidance of doubt, Basis Adjustments and Imputed Interest that would result from future Tax Benefit Payments that would be paid in accordance with the Valuation Assumptions) in which such deductions would become available;

 

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(ii) the U.S. federal income tax rates that will be in effect for each such Taxable Year will be those specified for each such Taxable Year by the Code and other applicable Law as in effect on the Early Termination Effective Date, except to the extent any change to such tax rates for such Taxable Year have already been enacted into Law, and the combined U.S. state and local income tax rates shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate in effect for each such Taxable Year;

 

(iii) all taxable income of the Corporation will be subject to the maximum applicable tax rates for each Covered Tax throughout the relevant period; provided, that the combined tax rate for U.S. state and local income taxes shall be the Assumed State and Local Tax Rate;

 

(iv) any carryovers or carrybacks of losses, credits, or disallowed interest expense generated by any Covered Tax Assets (including any Basis Adjustments, Section 704(c) Allocation Amount or Imputed Interest generated as a result of payments made or deemed to be made under this Agreement) and available (taking into account any known and applicable limitations) as of the date of the Early Termination Schedule will be used by the Corporation ratably in each of the five consecutive Taxable Years beginning with the Taxable Year that includes the date of the Early Termination Schedule (but, in the case of any such carryover or carryback that has less than five remaining Taxable Years, ratably through the scheduled expiration date of such carryover or carryback) (by way of example, if on the date of the Early Termination Schedule the Corporation had $100 of net operating losses, $20 of such net operating losses would be used in each of the five consecutive Taxable Years beginning in the Taxable Year of such Early Termination Schedule);

 

(v) any non-amortizable assets will be disposed of on the fifteenth anniversary of the Early Termination Effective Date; provided, that in the event of a Change of Control that includes the sale of any non-amortizable assets (or the sale of equity interests in a partnership or disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes that directly or indirectly owns non-amortizable assets), such non-amortizable assets shall be disposed of at the time of the direct or indirect sale of the relevant asset in such Change of Control (if earlier than such fifteenth anniversary) for such price;

 

(vi) if, on the Early Termination Effective Date, any TRA Party has Common Units that have not been Exchanged, then such Common Units shall be deemed to be Exchanged for the Market Value of the shares of Class A Common Stock or the amount of cash that would be received by such TRA Party had such Common Units actually been Exchanged on the Early Termination Effective Date;

 

(vii) any future payment obligations pursuant to this Agreement that are used to calculate the Early Termination Payment will be satisfied on the date that any Tax Return to which any such payment obligation relates is required to be filed excluding any extensions; and

 

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(viii) with respect to Taxable Years ending prior to the Early Termination Effective Date, any unpaid Tax Benefit Payments and any applicable Default Rate Interest will be paid.

 

Voluntary Early Termination” is defined in Section 4.2(a)(i).

 

Section 1.2. Rules of Construction. Unless otherwise specified herein:

 

(a) For purposes of interpretation of this Agreement:

 

(i) The words “herein,” “hereto,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision thereof.

 

(ii) Unless specified otherwise, references to an Article, Section or clause refer to the appropriate Article, Section or clause in this Agreement.

 

(iii) References to dollars or “$” refer to the lawful currency of the U.S.

 

(iv) The terms “include” or “including” are by way of example and not limitation and shall be deemed followed by the words “without limitation”.

 

(v) The term “or”, when used in a list of two or more items, means “and/or” and may indicate any combination of the items.

 

(vi) The term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form.

 

(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”, the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

(c) Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to organizational documents (including the Operating Agreement), agreements (including this Agreement) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are permitted hereby, and (ii) references to any Law (including the Code and the Treasury Regulations) include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

 

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ARTICLE II

Determination of Realized Tax Benefit

 

Section 2.1. Basis Adjustments and Section 704(c) Allocations; The LLC 754 Election.

 

(a) Basis Adjustments and Section 704(c) Allocations. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) each Redemption shall be treated as a direct purchase of Common Units by the Corporation from the applicable TRA Party pursuant to Section 707(a)(2)(B) of the Code (or any similar provisions of applicable state, local or foreign tax Law) (i.e., equivalent to a Direct Exchange), (ii) each (A) Exchange and (B) payment made by the Corporation under this Agreement (excluding payments with respect to amounts that constitute Imputed Interest, but, for the avoidance of doubt, including payments made with respect to Section 704(c) Allocation Amounts) to a TRA Party in connection with an Exchange will give rise to Basis Adjustments, (iii) the Unit Purchase and Exchanges will give rise to Section 704(c) Allocation Amounts and (iv) the Interest Amount and Default Rate Interest payable with respect to any Exchange shall not be treated as interest for tax purposes but instead shall be treated as additional consideration for the Common Units transferred by the TRA Party in the relevant Exchange, unless otherwise required by applicable Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the amount of any Basis Adjustment or Section 704(c) Allocation Amount resulting from an Exchange of one or more Common Units is to be determined as if any Pre-Exchange Transfer of such Common Units had not occurred.

 

(b) LLC Section 754 Election. The Corporation shall cause each of the LLC and its Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have in effect an election under Section 754 of the Code (or any similar provisions of applicable state, local or foreign tax Law) for each Taxable Year. The Corporation shall take commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Person in which the LLC owns a direct or indirect equity interest (other than a Subsidiary) that is so treated as a partnership to have in effect any such election for each Taxable Year as reasonably determined by the Corporation.

 

Section 2.2. Attribute Schedules. Within ninety (90) calendar days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for each relevant Taxable Year, the Corporation shall deliver to the TRA Parties a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, (i) the Covered Tax Assets that are available for use by the Corporation with respect to such Taxable Year with respect to each TRA Party that has effected an Exchange, (ii) the portion of the Covered Tax Assets that are available for use by the Corporation in future Taxable Years with respect to each TRA Party that has effected an Exchange and (iii) any limitations on the ability of the Corporation to utilize any Covered Tax Assets under applicable Laws (including as a result of the operation of Section 382 of the Code or Section 383 of the Code) (such schedule, an “Attribute Schedule”). An Attribute Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

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Section 2.3. Tax Benefit Schedules.

 

(a) Tax Benefit Schedule. Within ninety (90) days after the filing of the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for any Taxable Year in which there is a Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment, the Corporation shall provide to the TRA Parties a schedule showing, in reasonable detail, the calculation of the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year (a “Tax Benefit Schedule”). A Tax Benefit Schedule will become final and binding on the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(a) and may be amended by the Parties pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2.4(b).

 

(b) Applicable Principles. Subject to the provisions hereunder, the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year is intended to measure the decrease or increase in the Actual Tax Liability of the Corporation for such Taxable Year attributable to the Covered Tax Assets, as determined using a “with and without” methodology (i.e., the Actual Tax Liability being the “with” calculation and the Hypothetical Tax Liability being the “without” calculation). Carryovers or carrybacks of any tax item attributable to any of the Covered Tax Assets shall be considered to be subject to the rules of the Code and the Treasury Regulations, and the appropriate provisions of state, local and foreign tax Law, governing the use, limitation or expiration of carryovers or carrybacks of the relevant type. If a carryover or carryback of any tax item includes a portion that is attributable to any Covered Tax Assets (a “TRA Portion”) and another portion that is not attributable to any Covered Tax Assets (a “Non-TRA Portion”), such portions shall be considered to be used in accordance with the “with and without” methodology so that (i) the amount of any Non-TRA Portion is deemed utilized first, followed by the amount of any TRA Portion (with the TRA Portion being applied on a proportionate basis consistent with the provisions of Section 3.3(a)) and (ii) in the case of a carryback of a Non-TRA Portion, such carryback shall not affect the original “with and without” calculation made in the prior Taxable Year.

 

Section 2.4. Procedures; Amendments.

 

(a) Procedures. Each time the Corporation delivers a Schedule to any TRA Party under this Agreement, the Corporation shall, with respect to such Schedule, also (i) deliver to the TRA Parties supporting schedules and work papers, as reasonably requested by any TRA Party, that provide a reasonable level of detail regarding relevant data and calculations and (ii) allow the TRA Parties and their advisors to have reasonable access to the appropriate representatives, as reasonably requested by the TRA Parties, at the Corporation or the Advisory Firm in connection with a review of relevant information. A Schedule will become final and binding on the TRA Parties thirty (30) calendar days from the date on which the TRA Party first received the applicable Schedule unless a TRA Party, within such period, provides the Corporation with written notice of a material objection (made in good faith) to such Schedule and sets forth in reasonable detail such TRA Party’s material objection (an “Objection Notice”). If the Parties, for any reason, are unable to resolve the issues raised in such Objection Notice within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt by the Corporation of the Objection Notice, the Corporation and the applicable TRA Party shall employ the Reconciliation Procedures described in Section 7.8 and the finalization of the Schedule will be conducted in accordance therewith.

 

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(b) Amended Schedule. A Schedule (other than an Early Termination Schedule) for any Taxable Year may only be and shall be amended from time to time by the Corporation (i) in connection with a Determination affecting such Schedule, (ii) to correct inaccuracies in such Schedule identified as a result of the receipt of additional factual information relating to a Taxable Year after the date such Schedule was originally provided to the TRA Parties, (iii) to comply with an Expert’s determination under the Reconciliation Procedures, (iv) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to a carryover or carryback of a loss or other tax item to such Taxable Year or (v) to reflect a change in the Realized Tax Benefit or Realized Tax Detriment for such Taxable Year attributable to an amended Tax Return filed for such Taxable Year (any such Schedule in its amended form, an “Amended Schedule”). The Corporation shall provide any Amended Schedule to the applicable TRA Parties within sixty (60) calendar days of the occurrence of an event referred to in any of clauses (i) through (v) of the preceding sentence, and the delivery and finalization of any such Amended Schedule shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to the procedures described in Section 2.4(a).

 

ARTICLE III

Tax Benefit Payments

 

Section 3.1. Timing and Amount of Tax Benefit Payments.

 

(a) Timing of Payments. Subject to Sections 3.2 and 3.3, by the date that is five (5) Business Days following the date on which each Tax Benefit Schedule becomes final in accordance with Section 2.4(a) (such date, the “Final Payment Date” in respect of any Tax Benefit Payment), the Corporation shall pay in full to each relevant TRA Party the Tax Benefit Payment as determined pursuant to Section 3.1(b). Each such Tax Benefit Payment shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by such TRA Party.

 

(b) Amount of Payments. For purposes of this Agreement, a “Tax Benefit Payment” with respect to any TRA Party means an amount equal to the sum of the Net Tax Benefit that is Attributable to such TRA Party and the Interest Amount with respect thereto. No Tax Benefit Payment shall be calculated or made in respect of any estimated tax payments, including any estimated U.S. federal income tax payments.

 

(i) Attributable. A Net Tax Benefit (and related Realized Tax Benefit) is “Attributable” to a TRA Party in accordance with the following principles:

 

(A) any Basis Adjustments shall be determined separately with respect to each TRA Party and are Attributable to each TRA Party in an amount equal to the total Basis Adjustment relating to Common Units delivered to the Corporation by such TRA Party in the Exchange;

 

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(B) any deduction to the Corporation in respect of Imputed Interest is Attributable to the TRA Party that is required to include the Imputed Interest in income (without regard to whether such Person is actually subject to tax thereon); and

 

(C) any Section 704(c) Allocation Amount shall be determined separately with respect to each TRA Party and with respect to each Exchange of Common Units by such TRA Party and is Attributable to a TRA Party and an Exchange of Common Units by such TRA Party (I) to the extent the ratio of the number of Common Units exchanged by such TRA Party in such Exchange bears to the number of all Common Units held by such TRA Party (or its successor) on the Effective Date; (II) to the extent a Section 704(c) Allocation results in income or gain allocated to such TRA Party, which income or gain would otherwise have been allocated to the Corporation if the LLC were not required to make such Section 704(c) Allocation and instead such allocations were made in accordance with the TRA Party’s and the Corporation’s economic percentage interests in the LLC at the relevant time of determination; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, a TRA Party shall not be entitled to any Tax Benefit Payment with respect to Section 704(c) Allocation Amounts pursuant to this Agreement until Common Units are Exchanged (or deemed Exchanged pursuant to this Agreement) and at such time as Common Units are Exchanged (or deemed Exchanged) a TRA Party shall only be entitled to that portion of the Section 704(c) Allocation Amounts that are Attributable to such Common Units exchanged by the TRA Party in such Exchange in accordance with the foregoing.

 

(ii) Net Tax Benefit. The “Net Tax Benefit” with respect to a TRA Party for a Taxable Year equals the amount of the excess, if any, of (A) 85% of the Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit Attributable to such TRA Party as of the end of such Taxable Year over (B) the aggregate amount of all Tax Benefit Payments previously made to such TRA Party under this Section 3.1 (excluding payments attributable to Interest Amounts).

 

(iii) Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit. The “Cumulative Net Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year equals the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Benefits for all Taxable Years of the Corporation up to and including such Taxable Year, net of the cumulative amount of Realized Tax Detriments for the same period. The Realized Tax Benefit and Realized Tax Detriment for each Taxable Year shall be determined based on the most recent Tax Benefit Schedule or Amended Schedule, if any, in existence at the time of such determination.

 

(iv) Realized Tax Benefit. The “Realized Tax Benefit” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the Hypothetical Tax Liability over the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit or similar proceeding by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Benefit unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

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(v) Realized Tax Detriment. The “Realized Tax Detriment” for a Taxable Year equals the excess, if any, of the Actual Tax Liability over the Hypothetical Tax Liability for such Taxable Year. If all or a portion of the Actual Tax Liability for such Taxable Year arises as a result of an audit or similar proceeding by a Taxing Authority of any Taxable Year, such liability shall not be included in determining the Realized Tax Detriment unless and until there has been a Determination.

 

(vi) Interest Amount. The “Interest Amount” in respect of a TRA Party equals interest on the unpaid amount of the Net Tax Benefit with respect to such TRA Party for a Taxable Year, calculated at the Agreed Rate from the due date (without extensions) for filing the U.S. federal income Tax Return of the Corporation for such Taxable Year until the earlier of (A) the date on which no remaining Tax Benefit Payment to the TRA Party is due in respect of such Net Tax Benefit and (B) the applicable Final Payment Date.

 

(vii) The TRA Parties, the LLC and the Corporation acknowledge and agree that, as of the date of this Agreement and the date of any future Exchange that may be subject to this Agreement, the aggregate value of the Tax Benefit Payments cannot be reasonably ascertained for U.S. federal income or other applicable tax purposes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if a TRA Party notifies the Corporation in accordance with the following, the stated maximum selling price (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation 15A.453-1(c)(2)) with respect to any transfer of Common Units by a TRA Party pursuant to an Exchange shall not exceed the sum of (A) the amounts described in clauses (i) and (iii) of the definition of Amount Realized with respect to such Exchange plus (B) the amount, if any, set forth in the Redemption Notice (as defined in the Operating Agreement) or other written notification delivered by such TRA Party to the Corporation with respect to the relevant Exchange, and the aggregate Payments under this Agreement to such TRA Party (other than amounts accounted for as interest under the Code) in respect of the Covered Tax Assets relating to the Exchange shall not exceed the amount described in this clause (B).

 

Section 3.2. No Duplicative Payments. It is intended that the provisions hereunder will not result in the duplicative payment of any amount that may be required under this Agreement, and the provisions hereunder shall be consistently interpreted and applied in accordance with that intent.

 

Section 3.3. Pro-Ration of Payments as Between the TRA Parties.

 

(a) Insufficient Taxable Income. Notwithstanding anything in Section 3.1(b) to the contrary, if the aggregate potential Covered Tax benefit of the Corporation as calculated with respect to the Covered Tax Assets (in each case, without regard to the Taxable Year of origination) is limited in a particular Taxable Year because the Corporation does not have sufficient actual taxable income, then the available Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation shall be allocated among the TRA Parties in proportion to the respective Tax Benefit Payment that would have been payable if the Corporation had sufficient taxable income. For example, if the Corporation had $200 of aggregate potential Covered Tax benefits with respect to the Covered Tax Assets in a particular Taxable Year (with $50 of such Covered Tax benefits Attributable to TRA Party A and $150 Attributable to TRA Party B), such that TRA Party A would have been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $42.50 and TRA Party B would have been entitled to a Tax Benefit Payment of $127.50 if the Corporation had sufficient actual taxable income, and if the Corporation instead had insufficient actual taxable income in such Taxable Year, such that the Covered Tax benefit was limited to $100, then $25 of the aggregate $100 actual Covered Tax benefit for the Corporation for such Taxable Year would be allocated to TRA Party A and $75 would be allocated to TRA Party B, such that TRA Party A would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $21.25 and TRA Party B would receive a Tax Benefit Payment of $63.75.

 

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(b) Late Payments. If for any reason the Corporation is not able to fully satisfy its payment obligations to make all Tax Benefit Payments due in respect of a particular Taxable Year, then (i) Default Rate Interest will accrue pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) the Corporation shall pay the available amount of such Tax Benefit Payments (and any applicable Default Rate Interest) in respect of such Taxable Year to each TRA Party pro rata in accordance with Section 3.3(a) and (iii) no Tax Benefit Payment shall be made in respect of any Taxable Year until all Tax Benefit Payments (and any applicable Default Rate Interest) to all TRA Parties in respect of all prior Taxable Years have been made in full.

 

Section 3.4. Overpayments. Subject to the procedures described in Section 2.4(a), to the extent the Corporation makes a payment to a TRA Party in respect of a particular Taxable Year under Section 3.1(a) in an amount in excess of the amount of such payment that should have been made to such TRA Party in respect of such Taxable Year (taking into account Section 3.3) under the terms of this Agreement, then such TRA Party shall not receive further payments under Section 3.1(a) or Section 4.3(a) until such TRA Party has foregone an amount of payments equal to such excess; provided, that for the avoidance of the doubt, no TRA Party shall be required to return any payment paid by the Corporation to such TRA Party.

 

ARTICLE IV

Termination

 

Section 4.1. Early Termination of Agreement; Acceleration Events.

 

(a) Corporation’s Early Termination Right. With the written approval of a majority of the Independent Directors, the Corporation may terminate this Agreement, as and to the extent provided herein, by paying in full each and every TRA Party the Early Termination Payment (along with any applicable Default Rate Interest) due to such TRA Party.

 

(b) Acceleration upon Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control, the Early Termination Payment (calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of the Change of Control) shall become due and payable in accordance with Section 4.3 and the Agreement shall terminate, as and to the extent provided herein.

 

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(c) Acceleration upon Breach of Agreement. In the event of a Material Breach, the Early Termination Payment (calculated as if an Early Termination Notice had been delivered on the date of the Material Breach) shall become due and payable in accordance with Section 4.3 and the Agreement shall terminate, as and to the extent provided herein. Subject to the next sentence, the Corporation’s failure to make a Payment (along with any applicable Default Rate Interest) within ninety (90) calendar days of the applicable Final Payment Date shall be deemed to constitute a Material Breach. To the extent that any Tax Benefit Payment is not made by the date that is ninety (90) calendar days after the relevant Final Payment Date because the Corporation (i) is prohibited from making such payment under Section 5.1 or the terms of any agreement governing any Senior Obligations or (ii) does not have, and cannot take commercially reasonable actions to obtain, sufficient funds to make such payment, such failure will not constitute a Material Breach; provided, that (A) such payment obligation nevertheless will accrue at the Default Rate Interest for the benefit of the TRA Parties, (B) the Corporation shall promptly (and in any event, within five (5) Business Days) pay the entirety of the unpaid amount (along with any applicable Default Rate Interest) once the Corporation is not prohibited from making such payment under Section 5.1 or the terms of the agreements governing the Senior Obligations and the Corporation has sufficient funds to make such payment and (C) the failure of the Corporation to comply with the foregoing clause (B) will constitute a Material Breach; provided further, that the interest provision of Section 5.2 shall apply to such late payment (unless the Corporation does not have sufficient funds to make such payment as a result of limitations imposed by any Senior Obligations, in which case Section 5.2 shall apply, but the Default Rate shall be replaced by the Agreed Rate). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, it shall be a Material Breach if the Corporation makes any distribution of cash or other property (other than shares of Class A Common Stock) to its stockholders or uses cash or other property to repurchase any capital stock of the Corporation (including Class A Common Stock), in each case, before (x) all Tax Benefit Payments (along with any applicable Default Rate Interest) that are due and payable as of the date the Corporation enters into a binding commitment to make such distribution or repurchase have been paid or (y) sufficient funds for the payment of all Tax Benefits Payments (along with any applicable Default Rate Interest) that are due and payable on the date of the distribution or repurchase have been reserved therefor. The Corporation shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (1) obtain sufficient available funds for the purpose of making Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement and (2) avoid entering into any agreements that could be reasonably anticipated to materially delay the timing of the making of any Tax Benefit Payments under this Agreement.

 

(d) In the case of a termination pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs (a), (b) or (c), upon the Corporation’s payment in full of the Early Termination Payment (along with any applicable Default Rate Interest) to each TRA Party, the Corporation shall have no further payment obligations under this Agreement other than with respect to any Tax Benefit Payments (along with any applicable Default Rate Interest) in respect of any Taxable Year ending prior to the Early Termination Effective Date, and such payment obligations shall survive the termination of, and be calculated and paid in accordance with, this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, if an Exchange subsequently occurs with respect to Common Units for which the Corporation has paid the Early Termination Payment in full, the Corporation shall have no obligations under this Agreement with respect to such Exchange or the related Covered Tax Assets.

 

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Section 4.2. Early Termination Notice.

 

(a) If (i) the Corporation chooses to exercise its termination right under Section 4.1(a) (“Voluntary Early Termination”), (ii) a Change of Control occurs or (iii) a Material Breach occurs, the Corporation shall, in each case, deliver to the TRA Parties a reasonably detailed notice of the Corporation’s decision to exercise such right or the occurrence of such event, as applicable (an “Early Termination Notice”). In the case of an Early Termination Notice delivered with respect to a Voluntary Early Termination, the Corporation may withdraw such Early Termination Notice and rescind its Voluntary Early Termination at any time prior to the time at which any Early Termination Payment is paid and the terms of this Agreement shall apply as if such Early Termination Notice had never been delivered.

 

(b) The Corporation shall deliver a schedule showing in reasonable detail the calculation of the Early Termination Payment (an “Early Termination Schedule”) (i) simultaneously with the delivery of an Early Termination Notice or (ii) in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 4.1(b) or Section 4.1(c), as soon as reasonably practicable following the occurrence of the Change of Control or Material Breach giving rise to such termination. The date on which such Early Termination Schedule becomes final in accordance with Section 2.4(a) shall be the “Early Termination Reference Date”.

 

Section 4.3. Payment upon Early Termination.

 

(a) Timing of Payment. By the date that is five (5) Business Days after the Early Termination Reference Date (such date, the “Final Payment Date” in respect of the Early Termination Payment), the Corporation shall pay in full to each TRA Party an amount equal to the Early Termination Payment applicable to such TRA Party. Such Early Termination Payment shall be made by the Corporation by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account or accounts designated by the applicable TRA Party.

 

(b) Amount of Payment. The “Early Termination Payment” payable to a TRA Party pursuant to Section 4.3(a) shall equal the present value, discounted at the Default Rate and determined as of the Early Termination Reference Date, of all Tax Benefit Payments (other than any Tax Benefit Payments in respect of Taxable Years ending prior to the Early Termination Effective Date) that would be required to be paid by the Corporation to such TRA Party, beginning from the Early Termination Effective Date and using the Valuation Assumptions. For the avoidance of doubt, an Early Termination Payment shall be made to each TRA Party in accordance with this Agreement, regardless of whether a TRA Party has Exchanged all of its Common Units as of the Early Termination Effective Date.

 

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ARTICLE V

Subordination and Late Payments

 

Section 5.1. Subordination. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any payment required to be made by the Corporation to the TRA Parties under this Agreement shall rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to any principal, interest or other amounts due and payable in respect of any obligations owed in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any trade payables, intercompany debt or other similar obligations) (“Senior Obligations”) and shall rank pari passu in right of payment with all current or future obligations of the Corporation that are not Senior Obligations.

 

Section 5.2. Late Payments by the Corporation. Subject to the second proviso in the third sentence of Section 4.1(c), the amount of any Payment not made to any TRA Party by the applicable Final Payment Date shall be payable together with “Default Rate Interest”, calculated at the Default Rate and accruing on the amount of the unpaid Payment from the applicable Final Payment Date until the date on which the Corporation makes such Payment to such TRA Party.

 

ARTICLE VI

Tax Matters; Consistency; Cooperation

 

Section 6.1. Participation in the Corporation’s and the LLC’s Tax Matters. Except as otherwise provided herein or in Article IX of the Operating Agreement, the Corporation shall have full responsibility for, and sole discretion over, all tax matters concerning the Corporation and the LLC, including preparing, filing or amending any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to taxes; provided, however, that the Corporation shall not settle any issue pertaining to Covered Taxes that is reasonably expected to materially and adversely affect the TRA Parties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the TRA Parties, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If any TRA Party fails to respond to any notice with respect to the settlement of any such issue within thirty (30) calendar days of its receipt of the applicable notice, such TRA Party shall be deemed to have consented to the proposed settlement or other disposition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Corporation shall notify the TRA Parties of, and keep them reasonably informed with respect to, the portion of any audit by any Taxing Authority of the Corporation, the LLC or any of the LLC’s Subsidiaries, the outcome of which is reasonably expected to materially and adversely affect the TRA Parties’ rights and obligations under this Agreement, including the timing of anticipated Tax Benefit Payments and (ii) the TRA Parties shall have the right to participate in and to monitor at their own expense (but, for the avoidance of doubt, not to control) any such issue in any such tax audit. To the extent there is a conflict between this Agreement and the Operating Agreement as it relates to tax matters concerning Covered Taxes and the Corporation and the LLC, including preparation, filing or amending of any Tax Return and defending, contesting or settling any issue pertaining to taxes, this Agreement shall control.

 

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Section 6.2. Consistency. Except upon the written advice of the Advisory Firm, all calculations and determinations made hereunder, including any Basis Adjustments and Section 704(c) Allocation Amounts, the Schedules and the determination of any Realized Tax Benefits or Realized Tax Detriments, shall be made in accordance with the elections, methodologies and positions taken by the Corporation and the LLC on their respective Tax Returns. Each TRA Party shall prepare its Tax Returns in a manner consistent with the terms of this Agreement and any related calculations or determinations made hereunder, including the terms of Section 2.1 and the Schedules provided to each such TRA Party, except as otherwise required by Law. In the event that an Advisory Firm is replaced with another Advisory Firm acceptable to the Audit Committee, the TRA Parties shall cause such replacement Advisory Firm to perform its services necessitated by this Agreement using procedures and methodologies consistent with those of the previous Advisory Firm, unless otherwise required by Law or unless the Corporation and all of the TRA Parties agree to the use of other procedures and methodologies.

 

Section 6.3. Cooperation.

 

(a) Each TRA Party shall (i) furnish to the Corporation in a timely manner such information, documents and other materials as the Corporation may reasonably request for purposes of making any determination or computation necessary or appropriate under this Agreement, preparing any Tax Return of the LLC or any of its Subsidiaries or contesting or defending any related audit, examination or controversy with any Taxing Authority, (ii) make itself available to the Corporation and its representatives to provide explanations of documents and materials and such other information as the Corporation or its representatives may reasonably request in connection with any of the matters described in clause (i) above and (iii) reasonably cooperate in connection with any such matter.

 

(b) The Corporation shall reimburse the TRA Parties for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred pursuant to Section 6.3(a).

 

ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous

 

Section 7.1. Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and (i) delivered personally, (ii) sent by e-mail or (iii) sent by overnight courier, in each case, addressed as follows:

 

If to the Corporation, to:

 

Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
110 Village Trail, Suite 215

Woodstock, GA30188

Attn: Brett Steele, General Counsel

 

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With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP
1271 6th Avenue,

New York, New York 10020
Attn: Marc Jaffe, Senet Bischoff and Benjamin Cohen

(212) 906-1200

E-mail: marc.jaffe@lw.com, senet.bischoff@lw.com and
benjamin.cohen@lw.com

 

If to any TRA Party, to the address and e-mail address specified on such TRA Party’s signature page to the applicable Joinder or otherwise on file with the Corporation or the LLC.

 

Any Party may change its address or e-mail address by giving each of the other Party written notice thereof in the manner set forth above.

 

Section 7.2. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the TRA Parties and delivered to the other TRA Parties, it being understood that all TRA Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page to this Agreement by e-mail transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.3. Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.4. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any Law or public policy, all other terms and provisions hereunder shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner.

 

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Section 7.5. Assignments; Amendments; Successors; No Waiver.

 

(a) Assignment. No TRA Party may assign, sell, pledge or otherwise alienate or transfer any interest in this Agreement, including the right to receive any payments under this Agreement, to any Person without such Person executing and delivering a Joinder agreeing to succeed to the applicable portion of such TRA Party’s interest in this Agreement and to become a TRA Party for all purposes of this Agreement (the “Joinder Requirement”); provided, that the TRA Parties’ approval and consent rights described in Section 6.1 shall not be transferrable or assignable to any Person (other than Permitted Transferees) without the prior written consent of the Corporation, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any TRA Party sells, exchanges, distributes or otherwise transfers Common Units to any Person (other than the Corporation or the LLC) in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement, such TRA Party shall have the option to assign to the transferee of such Common Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Common Units; provided, that such transferee has satisfied the Joinder Requirement. For the avoidance of doubt, if a TRA Party transfers Common Units in accordance with the terms of the Operating Agreement but does not assign to the transferee of such Common Units its rights under this Agreement with respect to such transferred Common Units, such TRA Party shall continue to be entitled to receive the Tax Benefit Payments arising in respect of a subsequent Exchange of such Common Units (and any such transferred Common Units shall be separately identified, so as to facilitate the determination of payments hereunder). The Corporation may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any Person without the TRA Parties’ consent (and any purported assignment without such consent shall be null and void).

 

(b) Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be amended unless such amendment is approved in writing by the Corporation and the TRA Parties; provided, that amendment of the definition of Change of Control will also require the written approval of a majority of the Independent Directors; provided, further that any amendment that materially and adversely affects one or more TRA Parties on a materially disproportionate basis relative to other similarly situated TRA Parties shall require the consent of a majority (measured by Tax Benefit Payments receivable) of such similarly situated TRA Parties so materially disproportionately affected.

 

(c) Successors. Except as provided in Section 7.5(a), all of the terms and provisions hereunder shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the Parties and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether by equity purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation, by written agreement, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.

 

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(d) Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be waived unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No failure by any Party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement, or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof, shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 7.6. Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

 

Section 7.7. Resolution of Disputes; Governing Law.

 

(a) Except for Reconciliation Disputes subject to Section 7.8, any and all disputes which cannot be settled after good faith negotiation within sixty (60) calendar days, including any ancillary claims of any Party, arising out of, relating to or in connection with the validity, negotiation, execution, interpretation, performance or non-performance of this Agreement (including the validity, scope and enforceability of this Section 7.7 or Section 7.8) (each, a “Dispute”) shall be finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Rules for Non-Administered Arbitration by the majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators, of which the Corporation shall designate one arbitrator and the TRA Parties that are party to such Dispute shall designate one arbitrator, in each case in accordance with the “screened” appointment procedure provided in Resolution Rule 5.4. In addition to monetary damages, the arbitrators shall be empowered and permitted to award equitable relief, including an injunction and specific performance of any obligation under this Agreement. The arbitrators are not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages, and each TRA Party hereby irrevocably waives any right to recover punitive, exemplary or similar damages with respect to any Dispute. Any award shall be the sole and exclusive remedy between the TRA Parties regarding any claims, counterclaims, issues or accounting presented to the arbitrators. The arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq., and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. The place of the arbitration shall be the State of Delaware.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) above, any Party may bring an action or special proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling another Party to arbitrate, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration hereunder or enforcing an arbitration award and, for the purposes of this paragraph (b), each Party (i) expressly consents to the application of paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 7.7 to any such action or proceeding and (ii) agrees that proof shall not be required that monetary damages for breach of the provisions hereunder would be difficult to calculate and that remedies at law would be inadequate.

 

(c) This Agreement shall be governed in all respects, including as to validity, interpretation and effect, by the internal Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws rules thereof. Subject to this Section 7.7 and Section 7.8, the Parties agree that any suit or proceeding in connection with, arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be instituted only in a Delaware state court (or U.S. federal court), and the Parties, for the purpose of any such suit or proceeding, irrevocably consent and submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of any such court in any such suit or proceeding. Each Party agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.

 

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(d) Each Party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, (i) any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in Section 7.7(b) or 7.7(c) and (ii) the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(e) Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process by means of notice in the manner provided for in Section 7.1. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the right of any Party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Law.

 

(f) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, INTENTIONALLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND WITH THE ADVICE OF ITS COUNSEL, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, WHETHER A CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM, CROSS-CLAIM, OR THIRD PARTY CLAIM, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).

 

Section 7.8. Reconciliation Procedures.

 

(a) In the event that the Corporation and any TRA Party are unable to resolve a disagreement with respect to a Schedule prepared in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.4 or Section 4.2, as applicable, within the relevant time period designated in this Agreement (a “Reconciliation Dispute”), the procedures described in this paragraph (the “Reconciliation Procedures”) will apply. The applicable TRA Parties shall, within fifteen (15) calendar days of the commencement of a Reconciliation Dispute, mutually select a nationally recognized expert in the particular area of disagreement (the “Expert”) and submit the Reconciliation Dispute to such Expert for determination. The Expert shall be a partner or principal in a nationally recognized accounting firm, and unless the Corporation and such TRA Party agree otherwise, the Expert (and its employing firm) shall not have any material relationship with the Corporation or such TRA Party or other actual or potential conflict of interest. If the applicable Parties are unable to agree on an Expert within such fifteen (15) calendar-day time period, the selection of an Expert shall be treated as a Dispute subject to Section 7.7 and an arbitration panel shall pick an Expert from a nationally recognized accounting firm that does not have any material relationship with the applicable Parties or other actual or potential conflict of interest. The Expert shall resolve any matter relating to (i) an Attribute Schedule, Early Termination Schedule or an amendment to either within thirty (30) calendar days and (ii) a Tax Benefit Schedule or an amendment thereto within fifteen (15) calendar days or as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable, in each case after the matter has been submitted to the Expert for resolution. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the matter is not resolved before any payment that is the subject of a disagreement would be due (in the absence of such disagreement) or any Tax Return reflecting the subject of a disagreement is due, the undisputed amount shall be paid by the date prescribed by this Agreement and such Tax Return may be filed as prepared by the Corporation, subject to adjustment or amendment upon resolution. The Expert shall finally determine any Reconciliation Dispute, and its determinations pursuant to this Section 7.8(a) shall be binding on the applicable Parties and may be entered and enforced in any court having competent jurisdiction. Any dispute as to whether a dispute is a Reconciliation Dispute within the meaning of this Section 7.8 or a Dispute within the meaning of Section 7.7 shall be decided and resolved as a Dispute subject to the procedures set forth in Section 7.7.

 

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(b) Subject to the next sentence, the applicable Parties shall bear their own costs and expenses of such proceeding, unless (i) the Expert adopts the TRA Party’s position, in which case the Corporation shall reimburse the TRA Party for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding or (ii) the Expert adopts the Corporation’s position, in which case the TRA Parties shall reimburse the Corporation for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses in such proceeding. The costs and expenses relating to the engagement of such Expert or amending any Tax Return shall be borne by the Corporation.

 

Section 7.9. Withholding. The Corporation and its Affiliates shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment that is payable to any TRA Party pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as the Corporation is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment by applicable Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority by the Corporation, such deducted and withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid by the Corporation to the relevant TRA Party in respect of whom the deduction and withholding was made. Each TRA Party shall promptly provide the Corporation with any applicable tax forms and certifications reasonably requested by the Corporation in connection with determining whether any such deductions and withholdings are required by applicable Law.

 

Section 7.10. Admission of the Corporation into a Consolidated Group; Transfers of Corporate Assets.

 

(a) If the Corporation is or becomes a member of an affiliated or consolidated group of corporations that files a consolidated income Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 or other applicable sections of the Code governing affiliated or consolidated groups, or any corresponding provisions of state, local or foreign tax Law, then (i) the provisions of this Agreement shall be applied with respect to the group as a whole, and (ii) Payments and other applicable items hereunder shall be computed with reference to the consolidated taxable income of the group as a whole.

 

(b) If the Corporation or any member of the LLC Group transfers one or more Reference Assets to a Person treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (with which the Corporation does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code), such transferor, for purposes of calculating the amount of any Payment due hereunder, shall be treated as having disposed of such asset in a fully taxable transaction on the date of such transfer. The consideration deemed to be received by the Corporation or the LLC Group member, as the applicable transferor, shall be equal to the fair market value of the transferred asset plus the amount of debt to which such asset is subject, in the case of a transfer of an encumbered asset. For purposes of this Section 7.10, a transfer of a partnership interest shall be treated as a transfer of the transferring partner’s applicable share of each of the assets and liabilities of that partnership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, if the Corporation or any member of a group described in Section 7.10(a) transfers its assets pursuant to a transaction that qualifies as a “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code) in which such entity does not survive, pursuant to a contribution described in Section 351(a) of the Code or pursuant to any other transaction to which Section 381(a) of the Code applies (other than any such reorganization or any such other transaction, in each case, pursuant to which such entity transfers assets to a corporation with which the Corporation or any member of the group described in Section 7.10(a) (excluding any such member being transferred in such reorganization or other transaction) does not file a consolidated Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code), the transfer will not cause such entity to be treated as having transferred any assets to a corporation (or a Person classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) pursuant to this Section 7.10(b).

 

27

 

Section 7.11. Confidentiality. Each TRA Party and each of its respective assignees acknowledges and agrees that the information of the Corporation is confidential and, except in the course of performing any duties as necessary for the Corporation and its Affiliates, as required by Law or legal process or to enforce the terms of this Agreement, such Person shall keep and retain in the strictest confidence and not disclose to any other Person any confidential information acquired pursuant to this Agreement of the Corporation or its controlled Affiliates or their successors. This Section 7.11 shall not apply to (i) any information that has been made publicly available by the Corporation or any of its controlled Affiliates, becomes public knowledge (except as a result of an act of any TRA Party in violation of this Agreement) or is generally known to the business community, (ii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a TRA Party to prosecute or defend claims arising under or relating to this Agreement and (iii) the disclosure of information to the extent necessary for a TRA Party to prepare and file its Tax Returns, to respond to any inquiries regarding the same from any Taxing Authority or to prosecute or defend any action, proceeding or audit by any Taxing Authority with respect to such Tax Returns. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the TRA Parties and each of their assignees (and each employee, representative or other agent of the TRA Parties or their assignees, as applicable) may disclose at their discretion to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Corporation, the TRA Parties and any of their transactions, and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the TRA Parties relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. If a TRA Party or an assignee commits, or threatens to commit, a breach of any of the provisions of this Section 7.11, the Corporation shall have the right and remedy to have the provisions of this Section 7.11 specifically enforced by injunctive relief or otherwise by any court of competent jurisdiction without the need to post any bond or other security, it being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach will cause irreparable injury to the Corporation or any of its controlled Affiliates and that money damages alone will not provide an adequate remedy to such Persons. Such rights and remedies shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies available at Law or in equity.

 

28

 

Section 7.12. Change in Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if, in connection with an actual or proposed change in Law, a TRA Party reasonably believes that the existence of this Agreement could cause income (other than income arising from receipt of a payment under this Agreement) recognized by such TRA Party (or direct or indirect equity holders in such TRA Party) in connection with any Exchange to be treated as ordinary income (other than with respect to assets described in Section 751(a) of the Code) rather than capital gain (or otherwise taxed at ordinary income rates) for U.S. federal income tax purposes or would have other material adverse tax consequences to such TRA Party or any direct or indirect owner of such TRA Party, then, at the written election of such TRA Party in its sole discretion (in an instrument signed by such TRA Party and delivered to the Corporation) and to the extent specified therein by such TRA Party, this Agreement shall cease to have further effect and shall not apply to an Exchange occurring after a date specified by such TRA Party; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, such voluntary termination of rights by a TRA Party shall not result in or cause a termination or acceleration event under Section 4.1.

 

Section 7.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the interest paid or agreed to be paid hereunder with respect to amounts due to any TRA Party hereunder shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If any TRA Party shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the applicable payment (but in each case exclusive of any component thereof comprising interest) or, if it exceeds such unpaid non-interest amount, refunded to the Corporation. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged or received by any TRA Party exceeds the Maximum Rate, such TRA Party may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (i) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee or premium rather than interest, (ii) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof or (iii) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the payment obligations owed by the Corporation to such TRA Party hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is the intention of the Parties to conform strictly to any applicable usury Laws.

 

Section 7.14. Independent Nature of Rights and Obligations

 

(a) The rights and obligations of each TRA Party hereunder are several and not joint with the rights and obligations of any other Person. A TRA Party shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Person hereunder, nor shall a TRA Party have the right to enforce the rights or obligations of any other Person hereunder (other than obligations of the Corporation). The obligations of a TRA Party hereunder are solely for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable solely by, the Corporation. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered in connection herewith, and no action taken by any TRA Party pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the TRA Parties acting as a partnership, association, joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the TRA Parties are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such rights or obligations or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

29

 

(b) Except as otherwise explicitly provided in this Agreement, (i) the actions of the TRA Parties pursuant to and in accordance with this Agreement shall be binding on all TRA Parties. To the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the TRA Parties shall owe any duties (fiduciary or otherwise) to any other TRA Parties or any other Person in determining to take or refrain from taking any action or decision under or in connection with this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the TRA Parties acknowledge that, in taking or omitting to take any action or decision hereunder, each TRA Party shall be permitted to take into consideration solely its own interests and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting any other TRA Party or any other Person.

 

Section 7.15. Coordination with Operating Agreement. To the extent this Agreement imposes obligations on the LLC or a member of the LLC, this Agreement shall be treated as part of the Operating Agreement as described in Section 761(c) of the Code and Sections 1.761-1(c) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(h) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

[Signature Page Follows this Page]

 

30

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

CORPORATION:

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

 

By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

THE LLC:

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC

 

By:

 

Name:
Title:

 

1

 

TRA PARTIES:

 

The Bradbury Family Trust II A U/A/D December 29, 2015

 

  By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

GSB HOLDINGS LLC

 

  By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

2

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of _______________, 20___ (this “Joinder”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of [ ● ] (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Tax Receivable Agreement”), by and among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and each of the TRA Parties from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

1. Joinder to the Tax Receivable Agreement. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to the Corporation that, as of the date hereof, the undersigned has been assigned an interest in the Tax Receivable Agreement from a TRA Party.

 

2. Joinder to the Tax Receivable Agreement. Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to the Corporation, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a TRA Party under the Tax Receivable Agreement, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a party thereunder. The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the Tax Receivable Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof.

 

3. Incorporation by Reference. All terms and conditions of the Tax Receivable Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full.

 

4. Address. All notices under the Tax Receivable Agreement to the undersigned shall be direct to:

 

[Name]

[Address]

[City, State, Zip Code]

Attn:

Facsimile:

E-mail:

 

[Signature Page Follows this Page]

 

1

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

[NAME OF NEW TRA PARTY]

 

by

     
    Name:
    Title:

 

Acknowledged and agreed
as of the date first set forth above:

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

 

By

 
     
  Name:  
 

Title:

 
     

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

Dated as of [ ● ], 2023

 

 

 

THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS REPRESENTED BY THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM, AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER SUBSTANTIAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY SET FORTH HEREIN.

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

Article I. DEFINITIONS 2
Article II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS 13
Section 2.01      Formation and Conversion of Company 13
Section 2.02      Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement 14
Section 2.03      Name 14
Section 2.04      Purpose; Powers 14
Section 2.05      Principal Office; Registered Office 14
Section 2.06      Term 14
Section 2.07      No State-Law Partnership 14
Section 2.08      Liability 15
Article III. MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION 15
Section 3.01      Members 15
Section 3.02      Units 15
Section 3.03      Recapitalization; the Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units. 16
Section 3.04      Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units. 17
Section 3.05      Repurchase or Redemption of Shares of Class A Common Stock; Other Redemptions or Repurchases 19
Section 3.06      Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units 19
Section 3.07      Negative Capital Accounts 20
Section 3.08      No Withdrawal 20
Section 3.09      Loans From Members 20
Section 3.10      Equity Plans 20
Section 3.11      Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan 21
Article IV. DISTRIBUTIONS 21
Section 4.01      Distributions 21
Article V. CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS 24
Section 5.01      Capital Accounts 24
Section 5.02      Allocations 25
Section 5.03      Regulatory Allocations 25
Section 5.04      Final Allocations 26
Section 5.05      Tax Allocations 27
Section 5.06      Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member 28

 

 

 

 

Article VI. MANAGEMENT 29
Section 6.01      Authority of Manager 29
Section 6.02      Actions of the Manager 30
Section 6.03      Resignation; No Removal 30
Section 6.04      Vacancies 30
Section 6.05      Transactions Between the Company and the Manager 30
Section 6.06      Reimbursement for Expenses 31
Section 6.07      Delegation of Authority 31
Section 6.08      Limitation of Liability of Manager 32
Section 6.09      Investment Company Act 32
Article VII. RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND MANAGER 32
Section 7.01      Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members 32
Section 7.02      Lack of Authority 33
Section 7.03      No Right of Partition 33
Section 7.04      Indemnification 34
Article VIII. BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 35
Section 8.01      Records and Accounting 35
Section 8.02      Fiscal Year 35
Section 8.03      Inspection Rights 35
Article IX. TAX MATTERS 36
Section 9.01      Preparation of Tax Returns 36
Section 9.02      Tax Elections 36
Section 9.03      Tax Controversies 36
Article X. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS 38
Section 10.01               Transfers by Members 38
Section 10.02               Permitted Transfers 38
Section 10.03               Restricted Units Legend 38
Section 10.04               Transfer 39
Section 10.05               Assignee’s Rights 39
Section 10.06               Assignor’s Rights and Obligations 40
Section 10.07               Overriding Provisions 40
Section 10.08               Spousal Consent 41
Section 10.09               Certain Transactions with respect to the Corporation 41
Article XI. REDEMPTION AND DIRECT EXCHANGE RIGHTS 43
Section 11.01               Redemption Right of a Member 43
Section 11.02               Election and Contribution of the Corporation 46

 

 

iii

 

Section 11.03               Direct Exchange Right of the Corporation 47
Section 11.04               Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation 48
Section 11.05               Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Direct Exchange 49
Section 11.06               Tax Treatment 49
Article XII. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS 50
Section 12.01               Substituted Members 50
Section 12.02               Additional Members 50
Article XIII. WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS 50
Section 13.01               Withdrawal and Resignation of Members 50
Article XIV. DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION 50
Section 14.01               Dissolution 50
Section 14.02               Winding Up 51
Section 14.03               Deferment; Distribution in Kind 52
Section 14.04               Cancellation of Certificate 52
Section 14.05               Reasonable Time for Winding Up 52
Section 14.06               Return of Capital 52
Article XV. GENERAL PROVISIONS 53
Section 15.01               Power of Attorney 53
Section 15.02               Confidentiality 53
Section 15.03               Amendments 54
Section 15.04               Title to Company Assets 55
Section 15.05               Addresses and Notices 55
Section 15.06               Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries 56
Section 15.07               Creditors 56
Section 15.08               Waiver 56
Section 15.09               Counterparts 57
Section 15.10               Applicable Law 57
Section 15.11               Severability 57
Section 15.12               Further Action 57
Section 15.13               Execution and Delivery by Electronic Signature and Electronic Transmission 57
Section 15.14               Right of Offset 58
Section 15.15               Entire Agreement 58
Section 15.16               Remedies 58
Section 15.17               Descriptive Headings; Interpretation 58

 

 

iv

 

 

Schedules

 

Schedule 1 Schedule of Pre-IPO Members

Schedule 2 Schedule of Members

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A Form of Joinder Agreement

Exhibit B-1 Form of Agreement and Consent of Spouse

Exhibit B-2 Form of Spouse’s Confirmation of Separate Property

Exhibit C Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances

 

 

v

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

 

This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Agreement”) of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), dated as of [ ● ], 2023 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and among the Company, Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), as the sole managing member of the Company, and each of the other Members (as defined herein).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, unless the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms used herein have the respective meaning ascribed to them in Article I;

 

WHEREAS, Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “Converting Entity”), was formed pursuant to and in accordance with the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act, as amended from time to time (the “Georgia Act”), by the filing of Articles of Organization (the “Articles of Organization”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia on August 27, 2015;

 

WHEREAS, the Converting Entity converted (the “Conversion”) to a Delaware limited liability company pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware pursuant to and in accordance with Section 18-214 of the Delaware Act and applicable Georgia law by the filing of a Certificate of Conversion and a Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 21, 2023 and the filing of a Certificate of Conversion with the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia on September 21, 2023;

 

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the date hereof, the Company was governed by that certain Operating Agreement of the Company, dated as of September 21, 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together with all schedules, exhibits and annexes thereto, the “Original LLC Agreement”), among the parties listed on Schedule 1 hereto in their capacity as members (including pursuant to consents and joinders thereto) (collectively, the “Pre-IPO Members”) and adopted and approved by the board of managers of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO, the Company, the Corporation and the Pre-IPO Members desire to recapitalize and convert the Original Units into Common Units (as defined below) (the “Recapitalization”) as provided herein;

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation will sell shares of its Class A Common Stock to public investors in the IPO and will use the net proceeds received from the IPO (the “IPO Net Proceeds”) to (i) purchase newly issued Common Units from the Company pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and (ii) purchase certain Common Units held by the Members;

 

 

 

 

 

WHEREAS, the Corporation may issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with the IPO as a result of the exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) and, if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in whole or in part, any additional net proceeds (the “Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds”) shall be used by the Corporation to purchase newly issued Common Units from the Company and Common Units held by the Members;

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the foregoing matters, the Company and the Members desire to continue the Company without dissolution and amend and restate the Original LLC Agreement in its entirety as of the Effective Date to reflect, among other things, (a) the Recapitalization, (b) the admission of the Corporation as a Member and its designation as sole Manager of the Company and (c) the other rights and obligations of the Members as provided and agreed upon in the terms of this Agreement as of the Effective Date, at which time the Original LLC Agreement shall be superseded entirely by this Agreement and shall be of no further force or effect; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board (as defined in the Original LLC Agreement), by resolution dated, [ ● ], 2023, has consented to the amendment and restatement of the Original LLC Agreement and the adoption of this Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Original LLC Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety and the Company, the Corporation and the other Members, each intending to be legally bound, each hereby agrees as follows:

 

Article I.
DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall be applied to the terms used in this Agreement for all purposes, unless otherwise clearly indicated to the contrary.

 

Additional Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.02.

 

Adjusted Capital Account Deficit” means, with respect to the Capital Account of any Member as of the end of any Taxable Year, the amount by which the balance in such Capital Account is less than zero. For this purpose, such Member’s Capital Account balance shall be:

 

(a) reduced for any items described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5), and (6); and

 

(b) increased for any amount such Member is obligated to contribute or is treated as being obligated to contribute to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) (relating to partner liabilities to a partnership) or 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5) (relating to minimum gain).

 

 

2

 

 

Admission Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06.

 

Affiliate” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Affiliated”) means, with respect to a specified Person, each other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Person specified. As used in this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of voting securities or by contract or other agreement or otherwise).

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Assignee” means a Person to whom a Unit has been transferred but who has not become a Member pursuant to Article XII.

 

Assumed Tax Liability” means, with respect to any Member, an amount equal to the excess of (i) the product of (A) the Distribution Tax Rate multiplied by (B) the estimated or actual cumulative taxable income or gain of the Company, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, allocated to such Member for Taxable Years (or portions thereof) commencing on or after the Effective Date, less prior losses of the Company allocated to such Member for Taxable Years (or portions thereof) commencing on or after the Effective Date, to the extent such prior losses are available to reduce such income and have not previously been taken into account in the calculation of Assumed Tax Liability for any prior period, in each case, as determined by the Manager and, for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account any Code Section 704(c) allocations (including “reverse” Section 704(c) allocations) over (ii) the cumulative Tax Distributions made to such Member after the Effective Date pursuant to Sections 4.01(b)(i), 4.01(b)(ii) and 4.01(b)(iii); provided that, in the case of the Corporation, such Assumed Tax Liability shall in no event be less than an amount that will enable the Corporation to meet both its tax obligations and its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement for the relevant Taxable Year.

 

Base Rate” means, on any date, a variable rate per annum equal to the rate of interest most recently published by The Wall Street Journal as the “prime rate” at large U.S. money center banks.


Black-Out Period” means any “black-out” or similar period under the Corporation’s policies covering trading in the Corporation’s securities to which the applicable Redeeming Member is subject (or will be subject at such time as it owns Class A Common Stock), which period restricts the ability of such Redeeming Member to immediately resell shares of Class A Common Stock to be delivered to such Redeeming Member in connection with a Share Settlement.

 

Book Value” means, with respect to any property of the Company, the Company’s adjusted basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes, adjusted from time to time to reflect the adjustments required or permitted by Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d) through (g) and (m) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(s).

 

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banks located in New York City, New York are authorized or required by Law to close.

 

 

3

 

 

Capital Account” means the capital account maintained for a Member in accordance with Section 5.01.

 

Capital Contribution” means, with respect to any Member, the amount of any cash, cash equivalents, promissory obligations or the Fair Market Value of other property that such Member (or such Member’s predecessor) contributes (or is deemed to contribute) to the Company pursuant to Article III hereof.

 

Cash Settlement” means immediately available funds in U.S. dollars in an amount equal to the greater of (i) the Redeemed Units Equivalent and (ii) if the Redemption Notice provides that the Redemption is to be contingent upon the consummation of a transaction with another Person and specifies the amount of cash to be received therein, such amount of cash which the Redeeming Member would be entitled to receive in such transaction; provided that such funds are (x) in the case of a Redemption occurring in connection with the closing of the IPO, funds that are received from the IPO and (y) in any other case, funds received from a Qualifying Offering.

 

Certificate of Formation” means the Certificate of Formation of the Company, as amended from time to time.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(1) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person and its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan, and excluding the Permitted Transferees) becomes the “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of voting securities representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation;

 

(2) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation or there is consummated a sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (including a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company);

 

(3) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other corporation or entity, and, immediately after the consummation of such merger or consolidation, the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation do not continue to represent, or are not converted into, voting securities representing in the aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of all of the outstanding voting securities of the Person resulting from such merger or consolidation or, if the surviving company is a Subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or

 

(4) the Corporation ceases to be the sole Manager of the Company.

 

 

4

 

  

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a “Change of Control” shall not be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, preferred stock and/or any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in and voting control over, and own substantially all of the shares of, an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

 

Change of Control Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(a).

 

Change of Control Transaction” means any Change of Control that was approved by the Corporate Board prior to such Change of Control.

 

Class A Common Stock” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Class B Common Stock” means the shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Unless the context requires otherwise, any reference herein to a specific section of the Code shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

 

Common Unit” means a Unit designated as a “Common Unit” and having the rights and obligations specified with respect to the Common Units in this Agreement.

 

Common Unit Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Redemption, the VWAP for the five (5) consecutive full Trading Days ending on and including the last full Trading Day immediately prior to the applicable Redemption Date, subject to appropriate and equitable adjustment for any stock splits, reverse splits, stock dividends or similar events affecting the Class A Common Stock. If the Class A Common Stock no longer trades on the Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange or automated or electronic quotation system as of any particular Redemption Date, then the Manager (through a Disinterested Majority of the Corporate Board) shall determine the Common Unit Redemption Price in good faith.

 

Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.02(a).

 

Conversion” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Converting Entity” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Corporate Board” means the board of directors of the Corporation.

 

Corporate Charter” means the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Corporation in effect as of the date hereof, as it may be amended or restated.

 

 

5

 

 

Corporate Incentive Award Plan” means the 2023 Incentive Award Plan of the Corporation, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement, together with its successors and assigns.

 

Corresponding Rights” means any rights issued with respect to a share of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock pursuant to a “poison pill” or similar stockholder rights plan approved by the Corporate Board.

 

Credit Agreements” means any promissory note, mortgage, loan agreement, indenture or similar instrument or agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or becomes a borrower, as such instruments or agreements may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time and including any one or more refinancing or replacements thereof, in whole or in part, with any other debt facility or debt obligation, for as long as the payee or creditor to whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries owes such obligation is not an Affiliate of the Company.

 

Delaware Act” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, 6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.

 

DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

Direct Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(a).

 

Discount” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.06.

 

Disinterested Majority” means a majority of the directors of the Corporate Board who are disinterested, as determined by the Corporate Board in accordance with the DGCL, with respect to the matter being considered by the Corporate Board; provided, that to the extent a matter being considered by the Corporate Board is required to be considered by disinterested directors under the rules of the Stock Exchange or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange, the principal national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading, the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, such rules with respect to the definition of disinterested director shall apply solely with respect to such matter.

 

Distributable Cash” means, as of any relevant date on which a determination is being made by the Manager regarding a potential distribution pursuant to Section 4.01(a) or Section 4.01(b), the amount of cash that could be distributed by the Company for such purposes in accordance with any applicable Credit Agreements (and without otherwise violating any applicable provisions of any applicable Credit Agreements) and applicable Law.

 

Distribution” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Distribute”) means each distribution made by the Company to a Member with respect to such Member’s Units, whether in cash, property or securities of the Company and whether by liquidating distribution or otherwise; provided, however, that none of the following shall be a Distribution: (a) any recapitalization or any exchange of securities of the Company, in each case, that does not result in the distribution of cash or property (other than securities of the Company) to Members, and any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units or (b) any other payment made by the Company to a Member that is not properly treated as a “distribution” for purposes of Sections 731, 732, or 733 or other applicable provisions of the Code.

 

 

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Distribution Tax Rate” means a rate equal to the highest effective marginal combined U.S. federal, state and local income tax rate for a Taxable Year applicable to a corporate taxpayer or an individual taxpayer resident in Atlanta, Georgia (whichever combined rate is highest) that may potentially apply to any Member or any direct or indirect partner or member (that is tax resident in only the United States) of any Member for such Taxable Year, taking into account the character of the relevant items of income or gain (e.g., ordinary or capital) and the estimated deductibility of state and local income taxes for U.S. federal income tax purposes (but only to the extent such taxes are deductible under the Code), as reasonably determined by the Manager. For the avoidance of doubt, there shall be a single Distribution Tax Rate for all Members.

 

Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Election Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b).

 

Equity Plan” means any option, stock, unit, stock unit, appreciation right, phantom equity or other incentive equity or equity-based compensation plan or program, in each case, now or hereafter adopted by the Company or the Corporation, including the Corporate Incentive Award Plan.

 

Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person, (a) Units or other equity interests in such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person (including, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, other classes or groups thereof having such relative rights, powers and duties as may from time to time be established by the Manager pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including rights, powers and/or duties senior to existing classes and groups of Units and other equity interests in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company), (b) obligations, evidences of indebtedness or other securities or interests convertible or exchangeable into any equity interests in such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person, and (c) warrants, options or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any equity interests in such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person.

 

Estate Planning Vehicle” means, with respect to any Member (or former Member) that is a natural person, (a) a trust which is at all times controlled by such Member (or former Member) under which a distribution of such Member’s (or former Member’s) Units may be made only to beneficiaries who are such Member (or former Member) , his or her spouse, his or her parents or his or her lineal descendants, (b) a charitable remainder trust which is at all times controlled by such Member (or former Member) , the income from which will be paid to such Member (or former Member) during his or her life, (c) a corporation, the sole assets of which are Equity Securities in the Company, and at all times the majority and controlling shareholder of which is only such Member (or former Member) and the remaining shareholders of which are either such Member (or former Member) or his or her spouse, his or her parents or his or her lineal descendants and (d) a partnership or limited liability company, the sole assets of which are Equity Securities in the Company, and at all times the general partner or managing or majority member of which is only such Member (or former Member), and the remaining partners or members of which are either such Member (or former Member) or his or her spouse, his or her parents or his or her lineal descendants.

 

 

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Event of Withdrawal” means the occurrence of any event that terminates the continued membership of a Member in the Company. “Event of Withdrawal” shall not include an event that (a) terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, (i) a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, (ii) a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or (iii) merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member) but that (b) does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Units of such trust that is a Member).

 

Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations.

 

Exchange Election Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.03(b).

 

Fair Market Value” of a specific asset of the Company will mean the amount which the Company would receive in an all-cash sale of such asset in an arms-length transaction with a willing unaffiliated third party, with neither party having any compulsion to buy or sell, consummated on the day immediately preceding the date on which the event occurred which necessitated the determination of the Fair Market Value (and after giving effect to any transfer taxes payable in connection with such sale), as such amount is determined by the Manager (or, if pursuant to Section 14.02, the Liquidators) in its good faith judgment using all factors, information and data it deems to be pertinent.

 

Fiscal Period” means any interim accounting period within a Taxable Year established by the Manager and which is permitted or required by Section 706 of the Code.

 

Fiscal Year” means the Company’s annual accounting period established pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

Founder Fund Related Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Corporate Charter.

 

Georgia Act” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Governmental Entity” means (a) the United States of America, (b) any other sovereign nation, (c) any state, province, county, municipal, district, territory or other political subdivision of (a) or (b) of this definition, including, but not limited to, any county, municipal or other local subdivision of the foregoing, or (d) any agency, arbitrator or arbitral body (public or private), authority, board, body, bureau, commission, court, department, entity, instrumentality, organization (including any public international organization such as the United Nations) or tribunal exercising executive, legislative, judicial, quasi-judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government on behalf of (a), (b) or (c) of this definition.

 

GSB Holdings Related Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Corporate Charter.

 

 

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Indemnified Person” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04(a).

 

Internal Revenue Service” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

Investment Company Act” means the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

 

IPO” means the initial underwritten public offering of the shares of the Corporation’s Class A Common Stock.

 

IPO Common Unit Subscription” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(b).

 

IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement” means that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date, by and between the Corporation and the Company, relating to the subscription by the Corporation for Common Units.

 

IPO Net Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Joinder” means a joinder to this Agreement, in form and substance substantially similar to Exhibit A to this Agreement.

 

Law” means all laws, statutes, acts, constitutions, treaties, principles of common law, codes, ordinances, rules and regulations of any Governmental Entity.

 

Liquidator” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.02.

 

LLC Employee” means an employee of, or other service provider (including, without limitation, any management member whether or not treated as an employee for the purposes of U.S. federal income tax) to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case acting in such capacity.

 

Losses” means items of loss or deduction of the Company determined according to Section 5.01(b).

 

Manager” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

 

Member” means, as of any date of determination, (a) each of the members named on the Schedule of Members and (b) any Person admitted to the Company as a Substituted Member or Additional Member in accordance with Article XII, but in each case only so long as such Person is shown on the Company’s books and records as the owner of one or more Units, each in its capacity as a member of the Company.

 

Minimum Gain” means “partnership minimum gain” determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(d).

 

Net Loss” means, with respect to a Taxable Year, the excess if any, of Losses for such Taxable Year over Profits for such Taxable Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03 and Section 5.04).

 

 

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Net Profit” means, with respect to a Taxable Year, the excess if any, of Profits for such Taxable Year over Losses for such Taxable Year (excluding Profits and Losses specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03 and Section 5.04).

 

Non-Foreign Person Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.06(a).

 

Officer” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).

 

Original LLC Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Original Units” means the Class A Units, the Class C Units and the Class D Units (each as defined on Exhibit A to the Original LLC Agreement) of the Company.

 

Other Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.04.

 

Over-Allotment Option” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Partnership Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03.

 

Percentage Interest” means, with respect to a Member at a particular time, such Member’s percentage interest in the Company determined by dividing the number of such Member’s Units by the total number of Units of all Members at such time. The Percentage Interest of each Member shall be calculated to the fourth decimal place.

 

Permitted Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02.

 

Permitted Transferee” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02.

 

Person” means an individual or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or any other organization or entity, whether or not a legal entity.

 

Pre-IPO Members” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Pro rata,” “pro rata portion,” “according to their interests,” “ratably,” “proportionately,” “proportional,” “in proportion to,” “based on the number of Units held,” “based upon the percentage of Units held,” “based upon the number of Units outstanding,” and other terms with similar meanings, when used in the context of a number of Units of the Company relative to other Units, means as amongst an individual class of Units, pro rata based upon the number of such Units within such class of Units.

 

Profits” means items of income and gain of the Company determined according to Section 5.01(b).

 

Pubco Offer” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.09(b).

 

 

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Qualifying Offering” means any public or private offering of shares of Class A Common Stock by the Corporation following the date hereof.

 

Quarterly Tax Distribution” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i).

 

Recapitalization” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Redeemed Units” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

 

Redeemed Units Equivalent” means the product of (a) the applicable number of Redeemed Units, multiplied by (b) the Common Unit Redemption Price.

 

Redeeming Member” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

 

Redemption” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

 

Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

 

Redemption Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

 

Redemption Right” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

 

Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation, certain of the Members as of the date hereof and certain other Persons whose signatures are affixed thereto (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor or assign to any party to such agreement).

 

Regulatory Allocations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(f).

 

Retraction Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(c).

 

Revised Partnership Audit Provisions” means Section 1101 of Title XI (Revenue Provisions Related to Tax Compliance) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, H.R. 1314, Public Law Number 114-74, as amended. Unless the context requires otherwise, any reference herein to a specific section of the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

 

Schedule of Members” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions thereof.

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and any successor to such statute, rules or regulations. Any reference herein to a specific section, rule or regulation of the Securities Act shall be deemed to include any corresponding provisions of future Law.

 

Share Settlement” means a number of shares of Class A Common Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights) equal to the number of Redeemed Units.

 

 

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Specified Members” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03.

 

Stock Exchange” means The New York Stock Exchange.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, variable interest entity, or business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a limited liability company, partnership, association, variable interest entity, or other business entity (other than a corporation), a majority of the voting interests thereof are at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, references to a “Subsidiary” of the Company shall be given effect only at such times that the Company has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term “Subsidiary” refers to a Subsidiary of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the “Subsidiaries” of the Company shall include any and all of the Company’s direct and indirect, greater than fifty percent (50%) owned joint ventures.

 

Substituted Member” means a Person that is admitted as a Member to the Company pursuant to Section 12.01.

 

Tax Distributions” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.01(b)(i).

 

Tax Receivable Agreement” means that certain Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Corporation and the Company, on the one hand, and the TRA Parties (as such term is defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement) party thereto, on the other hand (together with any joinder thereto from time to time by any successor or assign to any party to such agreement) (as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with its terms).

 

Taxable Year” means the Company’s accounting period for U.S. federal income tax purposes determined pursuant to Section 9.02.

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the Stock Exchange or such other principal United States securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business (unless such trading shall have been suspended for the entire day).

 

Transfer” (and, with a correlative meaning, “Transferred” and “Transferring”) means any sale, transfer, assignment, redemption, pledge, encumbrance or other disposition of (whether directly or indirectly, whether with or without consideration and whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of Law) (a) any interest (legal or beneficial) in any Equity Securities of the Company or (b) any equity or other interest (legal or beneficial) in any Member that is not an institutional investor if substantially all of the assets of such Member consist solely of Units.

 

Treasury Regulations” means the final, temporary and (to the extent they can be relied upon) proposed regulations under the Code, as promulgated from time to time (including corresponding provisions and succeeding provisions) as in effect for the relevant taxable period.

 

 

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Underwriting Agreement” means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

Unit” means the fractional interest of a Member in Profits, Losses and Distributions of the Company, and otherwise having the rights and obligations specified with respect to “Units” in this Agreement; provided, however, that any class or group of Units issued shall have the relative rights, powers and duties set forth in this Agreement applicable to such class or group of Units.

 

Unvested Corporate Shares” means shares of Class A Common Stock issuable pursuant to awards granted under an Equity Plan that are not Vested Corporate Shares.

 

Vested Corporate Shares” means the shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to awards granted under an Equity Plan that are vested pursuant to the terms thereof or any award or similar agreement relating thereto.

 

VWAP” means with respect to shares of Class A Common Stock, the daily per share volume-weighted average price per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, or if no such sale took place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices per share of Class A Common Stock, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the Stock Exchange, as reported on the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Class A Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price, or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System or, if such system is no longer in use, the principal other automated quotation system that may then be in use or, if the Class A Common Stock is not quoted by any such system, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in shares of Class A Common Stock selected by the Corporate Board or, in the event that no trading price is available for the shares of Class A Common Stock, the fair market value of a share of Class A Common Stock, as determined in good faith by the Corporate Board.

 

Article II.ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

Section 2.01        Formation and Conversion of Company. The Converting Entity was formed on August 27, 2015 pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia Act. The Converting Entity was converted to a Delaware limited liability company on September 21, 2023 pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia Act and the Delaware Act.

 

Section 2.02        Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement. The Members hereby execute this Agreement for the purpose of amending, restating and superseding the Original LLC Agreement in its entirety and otherwise establishing the affairs of the Company and the conduct of its business in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Act. The Members hereby agree that during the term of the Company set forth in Section 2.06 the rights and obligations of the Members with respect to the Company will be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Delaware Act. No provision of this Agreement shall be in violation of the Delaware Act and to the extent any provision of this Agreement is in violation of the Delaware Act, such provision shall be void and of no effect to the extent of such violation without affecting the validity of the other provisions of this Agreement. Neither any Member nor the Manager nor any other Person shall have appraisal rights with respect to any Units.

 

 

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Section 2.03        Name. The name of the Company is “Smith Douglas Holdings LLC”. The Manager in its sole discretion may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time. Notification of any such change shall be given to all of the Members. The Company’s business may be conducted under its name and/or any other name or names deemed advisable by the Manager.

 

Section 2.04        Purpose; Powers. The primary business and purpose of the Company shall be to engage in such activities as are permitted under the Delaware Act and determined from time to time by the Manager in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Company shall have the power and authority to take (directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries) any and all actions and engage in any and all activities necessary, appropriate, desirable, advisable, ancillary or incidental to accomplish the foregoing purpose.

 

Section 2.05        Principal Office; Registered Office. The principal office of the Company shall be located at such place or places as the Manager may from time to time designate, each of which may be within or outside the State of Delaware. The address of the registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be c/o Corporation Service Company, 251 Little Falls Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, 19808, and the registered agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware at such registered office shall be Corporation Service Company. The Manager may from time to time change the Company’s registered agent and registered office in the State of Delaware.

 

Section 2.06        Term. The Company shall continue in perpetuity unless dissolved in accordance with the provisions of Article XIV.

 

Section 2.07        No State-Law Partnership. The Members intend that the Company not be a partnership (including, without limitation, a limited partnership) or joint venture, and that no Member be a partner or joint venturer of any other Member by virtue of this Agreement, for any purposes other than as set forth in the last sentence of this Section 2.07, and neither this Agreement nor any other document entered into by the Company or any Member relating to the subject matter hereof shall be construed to suggest otherwise. The Members intend that the Company shall be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal and, if applicable, state or local income tax purposes, and that each Member and the Company shall file all tax returns and shall otherwise take all tax and financial reporting positions in a manner consistent with such treatment.

 

Section 2.08        Liability. Except as otherwise provided by the Delaware Act, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be solely the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, and no Member or Manager shall be obligated personally for any such debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Member or acting as Manager.

 

 

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Article III.
MEMBERS; UNITS; CAPITALIZATION

 

Section 3.01        Members.

 

(a)        In connection with the IPO, the Corporation was admitted as a Member and will acquire Common Units pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement.

 

(b)        The Company shall maintain a schedule setting forth: (i) the name and address of each Member and (ii) the aggregate number of outstanding Units and the number and class of Units held by each Member (such schedule, the “Schedule of Members”). The applicable Schedule of Members in effect as of the Effective Date and after giving effect to the Recapitalization, the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and any Common Units to be purchased by the Corporation from the Members with the IPO Net Proceeds is set forth as Schedule 2 to this Agreement. The Company shall also maintain a record of (1) the Capital Account of each Member on the Effective Date; (2) the aggregate amount of cash Capital Contributions that has been made by the Members with respect to their Units; and (3) the Fair Market Value of any property other than cash contributed by the Members with respect to their Units (including, if applicable, a description and the amount of any liability assumed by the Company or to which contributed property is subject) in its books and records. The Schedule of Members may be updated by the Manager without the consent of any Member in the Company’s books and records from time to time, and as so updated, it shall be the definitive record of ownership of each Unit of the Company and all relevant information with respect to each Member. The Company shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person properly registered on its records as the owner of Units for all purposes and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the Delaware Act or other applicable Law.

 

(c)        No Member shall be required, except for a Capital Contribution by the Corporation pursuant to Section 3.04(c) or Section 11.02, or, except as approved by the Manager pursuant to Section 6.01 and in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement, or except for a loan by the Corporation pursuant to Section 3.04(c), permitted to (i) loan any money or property to the Company, (ii) borrow any money or property from the Company or (iii) make any additional Capital Contributions.

 

Section 3.02        Units.

 

(a)        Interests in the Company shall be represented by Units, or such other securities of the Company, in each case as the Manager may establish in its discretion in accordance with the terms and subject to the restrictions hereof. At the Effective Date, the Units will be comprised of a single class of Common Units.

 

 

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(b)        Subject to Section 3.04(a), the Manager may (i) issue additional Common Units at any time in its sole discretion and (ii) create one or more classes or series of Units or preferred Units solely to the extent such new class or series of Units or preferred Units are substantially economically equivalent to a class of common or other stock of the Corporation or class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, respectively; provided, that as long as there are any Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) (i) no such new class or series of Units may deprive such Members of, or dilute or reduce, the allocations and distributions they would have received, and the other rights and benefits to which they would have been entitled, in respect of their Units if such new class or series of Units had not been created and (ii) no such new class or series of Units may be issued, in each case, except to the extent (and solely to the extent) the Company actually receives cash in an aggregate amount, or other property with a Fair Market Value in an aggregate amount, equal to the aggregate distributions that would be made in respect of such new class or series of Units if the Company were liquidated immediately after the issuance of such new class or series of Units. When any such other Units or other Equity Securities are authorized and issued, the Schedule of Members and this Agreement shall be amended by the Manager without the consent of any Member or any other Person to reflect such additional issuances.

 

(c)        Subject to Sections 15.03(b) and Section 15.03(c), the Manager may amend this Agreement, without the consent of any Member or any other Person, in connection with the creation and issuance of such classes or series of Units, pursuant to Sections 3.02(b), 3.04(b) or 3.10.

 

Section 3.03        Recapitalization; the Corporation’s Capital Contribution; the Corporation’s Purchase of Common Units.

 

(a)         In order to effect the Recapitalization, the number of Original Units that were issued and outstanding and held by the Pre-IPO Members prior to the Effective Date as set forth opposite the respective Pre-IPO Member’s name in Schedule 1 are hereby recapitalized and converted, as of the Effective Date, and after giving effect to such recapitalization and conversion and the other transactions related to the Recapitalization, into the number of Common Units set forth opposite the name of the respective Pre-IPO Member’s name on the Schedule of Members attached hereto as Schedule 2 (provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the number of Common Units set forth on Schedule 2 includes the Common Units issued to the Corporation pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and reflects any Common Units to be purchased by the Corporation from the Members with the IPO Net Proceeds), and such Common Units are hereby issued and outstanding (or remain issued and outstanding with respect to any Common Units to be purchased by the Corporation from the Members with the IPO Net Proceeds) as of the Effective Date and the holders of such Common Units hereby continue as members of the Company (and, for the avoidance of doubt, are Members hereunder) and the Company is hereby continued without dissolution.

 

(b)               Following the Recapitalization, (i) the Company shall issue to the Corporation, and the Corporation will acquire [ ● ] newly issued Common Units in exchange for a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds payable to the Company upon consummation of the IPO pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement (the “IPO Common Unit Subscription”) and (ii) the Corporation will purchase (A) [ ● ] Common Units from the Company and (B) [ ● ] Common Units from The Bradbury Family Trust II A U/A/D December 29, 2015 and [ ● ] Common Units from GSB Holdings LLC, with a portion of the IPO Net Proceeds payable to the Members upon consummation of the IPO, and the Corporation is hereby admitted as a Member. In addition, to the extent the underwriters in the IPO exercise the Over-Allotment Option in whole or in part, upon the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the Company shall issue to the Corporation, and the Corporation will acquire [ ● ] newly issued Common Units in exchange for a portion of the Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds payable to the Company upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option pursuant to the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and (ii) the Corporation will purchase (A) [ ● ] Common Units from the Company and (B) [ ● ] Common Units from The Bradbury Family Trust II A U/A/D December 29, 2015 and [ ● ] Common Units from GSB Holdings LLC, with a portion of the Over-Allotment Option Net Proceeds payable to the Members upon exercise of the Over-Allotment Option. For the avoidance of doubt, the Corporation shall be automatically admitted as a Member with respect to all Common Units it holds from time to time.

 

 

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Section 3.04        Authorization and Issuance of Additional Units.

 

(a)         The Company, and the Corporation shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, undertake all actions, including, without limitation, an issuance, reclassification, distribution, division, repurchase, redemption, cancellation or recapitalization, with respect to the Common Units, the Class A Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock, as applicable, to maintain at all times (i) a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and (ii) a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), directly or indirectly, and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock owned by such Members, directly or indirectly, in each case disregarding, for purposes of maintaining the one-to-one ratio, (A) Unvested Corporate Shares, (B) treasury stock or (C) preferred stock or other debt or Equity Securities (including any Corresponding Rights) issued by the Corporation that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock (except to the extent the net proceeds from such other securities, including any exercise or purchase price payable upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, has been contributed by the Corporation to the equity capital of the Company). In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases or redeems Class A Common Stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager, the Company and the Corporation shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, the number of outstanding Common Units owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases or redeems the Corporation’s capital stock (other than the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock) or preferred stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager, the Company and the Corporation shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, the Corporation, directly or indirectly, holds (in the case of any issuance, transfer or delivery) or ceases to hold (in the case of any repurchase or redemption) Equity Securities issued by the Company which (in the good faith determination by the Manager) are in the aggregate substantially economically equivalent to the outstanding capital stock (other than the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock) or preferred stock of the Corporation so issued, transferred, delivered, repurchased or redeemed. In the event the Corporation issues, transfers or delivers from treasury stock or repurchases or redeems Class B Common Stock in a transaction not contemplated in this Agreement, the Manager and the Company shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, take all actions such that, after giving effect to all such issuances, transfers, deliveries, repurchases or redemptions, the number of outstanding Common Units owned, directly or indirectly, by the Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), directly or indirectly, will equal on a one-for-one basis the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock. The Company, the Manager and the Corporation shall not undertake any subdivision (by any Common Unit split, stock split, Common Unit distribution, stock distribution, reclassification, division, recapitalization or similar event) or combination (by reverse Common Unit split, reverse stock split, reclassification, division, recapitalization or similar event) of the Common Units or the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, as applicable, that is not accompanied by an identical subdivision or combination of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock or Common Units respectively, to maintain at all times (x) a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation and the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and (y) a one-to-one ratio between the number of Common Units owned by Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, in each case, unless such action is necessary to maintain at all times a one-to-one ratio between each of (i) the number of Common Units owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation and the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and (ii) the number of Common Units owned by Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) and the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock, in each case as contemplated by the first sentence of this Section 3.04(a).

 

 

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(b)         The Company shall only be permitted to issue additional Common Units, and/or establish other classes or series of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company to the Persons and on the terms and conditions provided for in Section 3.02, this Section 3.04, Section 3.10 and Section 3.11. Subject to the foregoing, the Manager may cause the Company to issue additional Common Units authorized under this Agreement and/or establish other classes or series of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company at such times and upon such terms as the Manager shall determine and the Manager shall amend this Agreement solely to the extent necessary in connection with the issuance of additional Common Units, to establish other classes or series of Units or other Equity Securities in the Company, or admission of additional Members under this Section 3.04, in each case without the requirement of any consent or acknowledgement of any other Member or any other Person and notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, including Section 15.03.

 

(c)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, except to the extent described in Section 3.04(a) and (b), from time to time at its sole discretion, (i) the Corporation may make loans to the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) the Corporation may contribute property (including cash and/or the loans described in the foregoing clause (i)) to the Company. Upon each contribution described in the foregoing clause (ii), and after giving proper effect to all related transactions, the Company shall (x) issue to the Corporation such number of Common Units or Equity Securities of the Company as necessary to maintain the one-to-one ratios, if any, or the economic parity between one share of Class A Common Stock and one Common Unit and (y) cancel such number of Common Units or Equity Securities of the Company held by Members other than the Corporation on a pro rata basis (based on the number of Common Units held by each such Member) as necessary to maintain the one-to-one ratios or the economic parity between one share of Class A Common Stock and one Common Unit.

 

 

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Section 3.05        Repurchase or Redemption of Shares of Class A Common Stock; Other Redemptions or Repurchases. If at any time, any shares of Class A Common Stock are repurchased or redeemed (whether by exercise of a put or call, automatically or by means of another arrangement) by the Corporation for cash, then the Manager shall cause the Company, immediately prior to such repurchase or redemption of Class A Common Stock, to redeem a corresponding number of Common Units held (directly or indirectly) by the Corporation, at an aggregate redemption price equal to the aggregate purchase or redemption price of the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation (plus any expenses related thereto) and upon such other terms as are the same for the shares of Class A Common Stock being repurchased or redeemed by the Corporation; provided, if the Corporation uses funds received from distributions from the Company or the net proceeds from an issuance of Class A Common Stock to fund such repurchase or redemption, then the Company shall cancel a corresponding number of Common Units held (directly or indirectly) by the Corporation for no consideration. The Corporation may not redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any other Equity Securities of the Corporation unless substantially simultaneously the Company redeems, repurchases or otherwise acquires (and the Company agrees to so redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire) from the Corporation (and the Corporation agrees to deliver to the Company) an equal number of Equity Securities of the Company of a corresponding class or series with substantially the same rights to dividends and distributions (including distributions upon liquidation) and other economic rights as those of such Equity Securities of the Corporation for the same price per security. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither the Company nor the Corporation shall make any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition if such repurchase, redemption or other acquisition, or the corresponding repurchase, redemption or other acquisition at the other of the Company or the Corporation, would violate any applicable Law.

 

Section 3.06        Certificates Representing Units; Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates; Registration and Transfer of Units.

 

(a)         Units shall not be certificated unless otherwise determined by the Manager. If the Manager determines that one or more Units shall be certificated, each such certificate shall be signed by or in the name of the Company, by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, Secretary or any other officer designated by the Manager, representing the number of Units held by such holder. Such certificate shall, subject to Section 10.03, be in such form (and shall contain such legends) as the Manager may determine. Any or all of such signatures on any certificate representing one or more Units may be a facsimile, engraved or printed, to the extent permitted by applicable Law. Unless otherwise determined by the Manager, no Units shall be treated as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code unless all Units then outstanding are certificated; notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, including Section 15.03, the Manager is authorized to amend this Agreement in order for the Company to opt-in to the provisions of Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code without the consent or approval of any Member or any other Person.

 

 

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(b)         If Units are certificated, the Manager may direct that a new certificate representing one or more Units be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon delivery to the Manager of an affidavit of the owner or owners of such certificate, setting forth such allegation. The Manager may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of any such new certificate.

 

(c)         To the extent Units are certificated, upon surrender to the Company or the transfer agent of the Company, if any, of a certificate for one or more Units, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, in compliance with the provisions hereof, the Company shall issue a new certificate representing one or more Units to the Person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Manager may prescribe such additional rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate relating to the issue, Transfer and registration of Units.

 

Section 3.07        Negative Capital Accounts. No Member shall be required to pay to any other Member or the Company any deficit or negative balance which may exist from time to time in such Member’s Capital Account (including upon and after dissolution of the Company).

 

Section 3.08        No Withdrawal. No Person shall be entitled to withdraw any part of such Person’s Capital Contribution or Capital Account or to receive any Distribution from the Company, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

 

Section 3.09        Loans From Members. Loans by Members to the Company shall not be considered Capital Contributions. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01(c) and/or Section 3.04(c), the amount of any such loans shall be a debt of the Company to such Member and shall be payable or collectible in accordance with the terms and conditions upon which such loans are made.

 

Section 3.10        Equity Plans. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or applied to preclude or restrain the Corporation from adopting, modifying or terminating an Equity Plan or from issuing shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to any such plans. The Corporation may implement such Equity Plans and any actions taken under such Equity Plans (such as the grant or exercise of options to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock, or the issuance of Unvested Corporate Shares), whether taken with respect to or by an employee or other service provider of the Corporation, the Company or its Subsidiaries, in a manner determined by the Corporation, in accordance with the Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances attached to this Agreement as Exhibit C, which may be amended by the Corporation from time to time without the consent or approval of any Member or any other Person. The Manager may, without the consent of any Member or any other Person and notwithstanding Section 15.03, amend this Agreement (including Exhibit C) as necessary or advisable in its sole discretion to adopt, implement, modify or terminate an Equity Plan. In the event of such an amendment by the Manager, the Company shall provide notice of such amendment to the Members. The Company is expressly authorized to issue Units (i) in accordance with the terms of any such Equity Plan, or (ii) in an amount equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued pursuant to any such Equity Plan, without any further act, approval or vote of any Member or any other Persons.

 

 

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Section 3.11        Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Cash Option Purchase Plan, Stock Incentive Plan or Other Plan. Except as may otherwise be provided in this Article III, all amounts received or deemed received by the Corporation in respect of any dividend reinvestment plan, cash option purchase plan, stock incentive or other stock or subscription plan or agreement, either (a) shall be utilized by the Corporation to effect open market purchases of a like number of shares of Class A Common Stock, or (b) if the Corporation elects instead to issue new shares of Class A Common Stock with respect to such amounts, shall be contributed by the Corporation to the Company in exchange for a like number of additional Common Units. Upon such contribution, the Company will issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to the number of new shares of Class A Common Stock so issued.

 

Article IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Section 4.01        Distributions.

 

(a) Distributable Cash; Other Distributions.

 

(i)          To the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, Distributions to Members may be declared by the Manager out of Distributable Cash or other funds or property legally available therefor in such amounts, at such time and on such terms (including the payment dates of such Distributions) as the Manager in its sole discretion shall determine using such record date as the Manager may designate. All Distributions made under this Section 4.01 shall be made to the Members holding Common Units as of the close of business on such record date on a pro rata basis in accordance with each Member’s Percentage Interest (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v)) as of the close of business on such record date; provided, however, that the Manager shall have the obligation to make Distributions as set forth in Sections 4.01(b) and 14.02; provided, further, that notwithstanding any other provision herein to the contrary, no distributions shall be made to any Member to the extent such distribution would render the Company insolvent or violate the Delaware Act. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, “insolvent” means the inability of the Company to meet its payment obligations when due. In furtherance of the foregoing, it is intended that the Manager shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law and hereunder, have the right in its sole discretion to make Distributions of Distributable Cash to the Members pursuant to this Section 4.01(a) in such amounts as shall enable the Corporation to meet its obligations, including its obligations pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement (to the extent such obligations are not otherwise able to be satisfied as a result of Tax Distributions required to be made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)).

 

 

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(ii)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4.01(a)(i), (i) the Company shall not make a distribution (other than Tax Distributions under Section 4.01(b)) to any Member in respect of any Common Units which remain subject to vesting conditions in accordance with any applicable equity plan or individual award agreement and (ii) with respect to any amounts that would otherwise have been distributed to a Member but for the preceding clause (i), such amount shall be held in trust by the Company for the benefit of such Member unless and until such time as such Common Units have vested or been forfeited in accordance with the applicable equity plan or individual award agreement, and within five (5) Business Days of such time, the Company shall distribute such amounts to such Member; provided, that, if any condition to the vesting of such unvested Common Units becomes incapable of being satisfied, then any amounts that have not been distributed with respect to such unvested Common Units may be distributed to all other Members in accordance with Section 4.01(a)(i) as if such distribution were a new distribution pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(i).

 

(b) Tax Distributions.

 

(i)          With respect to each Taxable Year, the Company shall, to the extent it has Distributable Cash, make cash distributions (“Tax Distributions”) to each Member in accordance with this Section 4.01(b) and such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability. Tax Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b)(i) shall be estimated by the Company on a quarterly basis and, to the extent feasible, shall be distributed to the Members (together with a statement showing the calculation of such Tax Distribution and an estimate of the Company’s net taxable income allocable to each Member for such period) on a quarterly basis on April 15th, June 15th, September 15th and December 15th (or such other dates for which corporations or individuals are required to make quarterly estimated tax payments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, whichever is earlier) (each, a “Quarterly Tax Distribution”); provided, that the foregoing shall not restrict the Company from making a Tax Distribution on any other date as the Company determines is necessary to enable the Members to timely make estimated income tax payments. Quarterly Tax Distributions shall take into account the estimated taxable income or loss of the Company for the Taxable Year through the end of the relevant quarterly period. A final accounting for Tax Distributions shall be made for each Taxable Year after the allocation of the Company’s actual net taxable income or loss has been determined and any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions a Member received for such Taxable Year based on such final accounting shall promptly be distributed to such Member. For the avoidance of doubt, any excess Tax Distributions a Member receives with respect to any Taxable Year shall reduce future Tax Distributions otherwise required to be made to such Member with respect to any subsequent Taxable Year. For the avoidance of doubt, Tax Distributions shall not be treated as an advance on any Distributions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Manager shall make, in its reasonable discretion, equitable adjustments (downward (but not below zero) or upward) to the Members’ Tax Distributions to take into account increases or decreases in the number of Common Units held by each Member during the relevant taxable period or portion thereof; provided that any such equitable adjustments are made in a manner that results in Tax Distributions being made pro rata in proportion to the Members’ respective Percentage Interests for any relevant taxable period or portion thereof.

 

(ii)          To the extent a Member otherwise would be entitled to receive less than its Percentage Interest of the aggregate Tax Distributions to be paid pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) (other than any distributions made pursuant to the last sentence of this Section 4.01(b)(ii) in respect of a shortfall, pursuant to the last sentence of Section 4.01(b)(iii) in respect of a shortfall, or pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v)) on any given date, the Tax Distributions to such Member shall be increased to ensure that all Distributions made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) are made pro rata in accordance with the Members’ respective Percentage Interests. If, on the date of a Tax Distribution, there are insufficient funds on hand to distribute to the Members the full amount of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled, Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) shall be made to the Members to the extent of available funds in accordance with their Percentage Interests and the Company shall make future Tax Distributions in accordance with the Members’ Percentage Interests at the time of such shortfalls as soon as sufficient funds become available to pay the remaining portion of the Tax Distributions to which such Members are otherwise entitled.

 

 

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(iii)         In the event of any audit by, or similar event with, a Governmental Entity that affects the calculation of any Member’s Assumed Tax Liability for any Taxable Year (other than an audit conducted pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions for which no election is made pursuant to Section 6226 thereof and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder), or in the event the Company files an amended tax return or administrative adjustment request, each Member’s Assumed Tax Liability with respect to such year shall be recalculated by giving effect to such event (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account interest or penalties). Any shortfall in the amount of Tax Distributions the Members and former Members received for the relevant Taxable Years based on such recalculated Assumed Tax Liability promptly shall be distributed to such Members and the successors of such former Members in accordance with the applicable Members’ and former Members’ Percentage Interests at the time of such shortfalls, except, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Distributions were made to such Members and former Members pursuant to Section 4.01(a) and this Section 4.01(b) in the relevant Taxable Years sufficient to cover such shortfall.

 

(iv)         Notwithstanding the foregoing, Tax Distributions pursuant to this Section 4.01(b) (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any distributions made pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(v)), if any, shall be made to a Member only to the extent all previous Tax Distributions to such Member pursuant to Section 4.01(b) with respect to the Taxable Year are less than the Tax Distributions such Member otherwise would have been entitled to receive with respect to such Taxable Year pursuant to this Section 4.01(b).

 

(v)          Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in this Agreement, a final accounting for distributions under Section 4.1(a) of the Original LLC Agreement in respect of the taxable income of the Company for the Taxable Years (or portions thereof) of the Company that end on or prior to the Effective Date shall be made by the Company following the closing date of the IPO and, based on such final accounting, the Company shall make a distribution to the Pre-IPO Members (or in the case of any Pre-IPO Member that no longer exists, the successor of such Pre-IPO Member) to the extent of the excess of the amount of distributions the Pre-IPO Members would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such subsections (without regard to the amendment and restatement of such Original LLC Agreement as of the Effective Date) over the amount of distributions the Pre-IPO Members received prior to the Effective Date under Section 4.1(a) of the Original LLC Agreement with respect to taxable income of the Company for such portion of such Taxable Year that will be allocated to the Pre-IPO Members (determined pursuant to Section 706 of the Code). For the avoidance of doubt, the amount of distributions to be made pursuant to this Section 4.01(b)(v) shall be calculated pursuant to the methodology set forth in Section 4.1(a) of the Original LLC Agreement.

 

 

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Article V.
CAPITAL ACCOUNTS; ALLOCATIONS; TAX MATTERS

 

Section 5.01        Capital Accounts.

 

(a)         The Company shall maintain a separate Capital Account for each Member according to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv). For this purpose, the Company may (in the discretion of the Manager), upon the occurrence of the events specified in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f), and shall, in connection with the execution of this Agreement, the IPO Common Unit Subscription and other transactions taking place in connection therewith, increase or decrease the Capital Accounts in accordance with the rules of such Treasury Regulations and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g) to reflect a revaluation of the Company’s property.

 

(b)         For purposes of computing the amount of any item of income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to the Company to be allocated pursuant to this Article V and to be reflected in the Capital Accounts of the Members, the determination, recognition and classification of any such item shall be the same as its determination, recognition and classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes (including any method of depreciation, cost recovery or amortization used for this purpose); provided, however, that:

 

(i)          the computation of all items of income, gain, loss and deduction shall include those items described in Code Section 705(a)(l)(B) or Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) and Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), without regard to the fact that such items are not includable in gross income or are not deductible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

(ii)         if the Book Value of any property of the Company is adjusted pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(e) or (f), the amount of such adjustment shall be taken into account as gain or loss from the disposition of such property;

 

(iii)        items of income, gain, loss or deduction attributable to the disposition of property of the Company having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Book Value of such property;

 

(iv)        items of depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions with respect to property of the Company having a Book Value that differs from its adjusted basis for tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the property’s Book Value in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(g); and

 

(v)         to the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset of the Company pursuant to Code Sections 732(d), 734(b) or 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis).

 

 

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Section 5.02        Allocations. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.03 and Section 5.04, Net Profits and Net Losses for any Taxable Year or Fiscal Period shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Members pro rata in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests, assuming that any Common Units which are subject to vesting conditions in accordance with any applicable Equity Plan or individual award agreement are fully vested.

 

Section 5.03        Regulatory Allocations.

 

(a)         Losses attributable to partner nonrecourse debt (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4)) shall be allocated in the manner required by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i). Except as otherwise provided for in Section 5.03(b), if there is a net decrease during a Taxable Year in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain (as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(3)), Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) shall be allocated to the Members in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4).

 

(b)         Nonrecourse deductions (as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(1)) for any Taxable Year shall be allocated pro rata among the Members in accordance with their Percentage Interests. If there is a net decrease in the Minimum Gain during any Taxable Year, each Member shall be allocated Profits for such Taxable Year (and, if necessary, for subsequent Taxable Years) in the amounts and of such character as determined according to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f). This Section 5.03(b) is intended to be a minimum gain chargeback provision that complies with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f), and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(c)         If any Member that unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation or Distribution described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6) has an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit as of the end of any Taxable Year, after all other allocations pursuant to Sections 5.02, 5.03, 5.04 and 5.05 have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.03(c) were not in this Agreement, then Profits for such Taxable Year shall be allocated to such Member in proportion to, and to the extent of, such Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. This Section 5.03(c) is intended to be a qualified income offset provision as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent therewith.

 

(d)         If the allocation of Net Losses (or items of Losses) to a Member as provided in Section 5.02 would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit, there shall be allocated to such Member only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit. The Net Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Member shall be allocated to the other Members in accordance with their relative Percentage Interests, subject to this Section 5.03(d).

 

 

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(e)         Profits and Losses described in Section 5.01(b)(v) shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the manner that the adjustments to the Capital Accounts are required to be made pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(j) and (m).

 

(f)         The allocations set forth in Section 5.03(a) through and including Section 5.03(e) (the “Regulatory Allocations”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 of the Treasury Regulations. The Regulatory Allocations may not be consistent with the manner in which the Members intend to allocate Net Profit and Net Loss of the Company or make Distributions. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article V, but subject to the Regulatory Allocations, income, gain, deduction and loss with respect to the Company shall be reallocated among the Members so as to eliminate the effect of the Regulatory Allocations and thereby cause the respective Capital Accounts of the Members to be in the amounts (or as close thereto as possible) they would have been if Net Profit and Net Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) had been allocated without reference to the Regulatory Allocations. In general, the Members anticipate that this will be accomplished by specially allocating other Profit and Loss (and such other items of income, gain, deduction and loss) among the Members so that the net amount of the Regulatory Allocations and such special allocations to each such Member is zero. In addition, if in any Taxable Year or Fiscal Period there is a decrease in partnership minimum gain, or in partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain, and application of the minimum gain chargeback requirements set forth in Section 5.03(a) or Section 5.03(b) would cause a distortion in the economic arrangement among the Members, the Manager may, if it does not expect that the Company will have sufficient other income to correct such distortion, request the Internal Revenue Service to waive either or both of such minimum gain chargeback requirements pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f)(4). If such request is granted, this Agreement shall be applied in such instance as if it did not contain such minimum gain chargeback requirement.

 

Section 5.04        Final Allocations.

 

(a)         Notwithstanding any contrary provision in this Agreement except Section 5.03, the Manager shall make appropriate adjustments to allocations of Net Profits and Net Losses to (or, if necessary, allocate items of gross income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company among) the Members upon the liquidation of the Company (within the meaning of Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) of the Treasury Regulations), upon the transfer of substantially all the Units (whether by sale or exchange or merger), upon the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, to the extent necessary in the connection with a distribution in respect of a shortfall pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(ii) or Section 4.01(b)(iii) or at any other time reasonably determined by the Manager, such that, to the maximum extent possible, the Capital Accounts of the Members are proportionate to their Percentage Interests. In each case, such adjustments or allocations shall occur, to the maximum extent possible, in the Taxable Year of the event requiring such adjustments or allocations.

 

(b)         If any holder of Common Units which are subject to vesting conditions forfeits (or the Company has repurchased at less than fair market value) all or a portion of such holder’s unvested Common Units, the Company shall make forfeiture allocations in respect of such unvested Common Units in the manner and to the extent required by Proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii) (as such Proposed Treasury Regulations may be amended or modified, including upon the issuance of temporary or final Treasury Regulations).

 

 

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Section 5.05        Tax Allocations.

 

(a)         The income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the Company will be allocated, for federal, state and local income tax purposes, among the Members in accordance with the allocation of such income, gains, losses, deductions and credits among the Members for computing their Capital Accounts; provided that if any such allocation is not permitted by the Code or other applicable Law, the Company’s subsequent income, gains, losses, deductions and credits will be allocated among the Members so as to reflect as nearly as possible the allocation set forth herein in computing their Capital Accounts.

 

(b)         Items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction of the Company with respect to any property contributed to the capital of the Company shall be allocated among the Members in accordance with Code Section 704(c) so as to take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such property to the Company for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using the traditional method set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

 

(c)         If the Book Value of any asset of the Company is adjusted pursuant to Section 5.01(b), including adjustments to the Book Value of any asset of the Company in connection with the execution of this Agreement, subsequent allocations of items of taxable income, gain, loss and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Book Value using the traditional method set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b).

 

(d)         Allocations of tax credits, tax credit recapture, and any items related thereto shall be allocated to the Members as determined by the Manager taking into account the principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(ii).

 

(e)         For purposes of determining a Member’s share of the Company’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member’s interest in income and gain shall be determined pursuant to any proper method, as reasonably determined by the Manager; provided, that each year the Manager shall use its reasonable best efforts (using in all instances any proper method permitted under applicable Law, including without limitation the “additional method” described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3)) to allocate a sufficient amount of the excess nonrecourse liabilities to those Members who would have at the end of the applicable Taxable Year, but for such allocation, taxable income due to the deemed distribution of money to such Member pursuant to Section 752(b) of the Code that is in excess of such Member’s adjusted tax basis in its Units.

 

(f)         In the event any Common Units issued pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances attached to this Agreement as Exhibit C are subsequently forfeited, the Company may make forfeiture allocations with respect to such Common Units in the Taxable Year of such forfeiture in accordance with the principles of proposed Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(4)(xii)(c), taking into account any amendments thereto and any temporary or final Treasury Regulations issued pursuant thereto.

 

 

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(g)         Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.05 are solely for purposes of federal, state and local income taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses, Distributions or other items of the Company pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 5.06        Indemnification and Reimbursement for Payments on Behalf of a Member. Except as otherwise determined by the Manager, if the Company or any other Person in which the Company holds an interest is obligated to pay any amount to a Governmental Entity (or otherwise makes a payment to a Governmental Entity) that is specifically attributable to a Member or a Member’s status as such (including federal income taxes, additions to tax, interest and penalties as a result of obligations of the Company pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions, federal withholding taxes, state personal property taxes and state unincorporated business taxes, but excluding payments such as payroll taxes, withholding taxes, benefits or professional association fees and the like required to be made or made voluntarily by the Company on behalf of any Member based upon such Member’s status as an employee of the Company), then such Member shall indemnify the Company in full for the entire amount paid (including interest, penalties and related expenses). The Manager may offset Distributions to which a Member is otherwise entitled under this Agreement against such Member’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.06. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each Member agrees that any Cash Settlement such Member is entitled to receive pursuant to Article XI may be offset by an amount equal to such Member’s obligation to indemnify the Company under this Section 5.06 and that such Member shall be treated as receiving the full amount of such Cash Settlement and paying to the Company an amount equal to such obligation. A Member’s obligation to make payments to the Company under this Section 5.06 shall survive the transfer or termination of any Member’s interest in any Units of the Company, the termination of this Agreement and the dissolution, liquidation, winding up and termination of the Company. In the event that the Company has been terminated prior to the date such payment is due, such Member shall make such payment to the Manager (or its designee), which shall distribute such funds in accordance with this Agreement. The Company may pursue and enforce all rights and remedies it may have against each Member under this Section 5.06, including instituting a lawsuit to collect such contribution with interest calculated at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus 300 basis points (but not in excess of the highest rate per annum permitted by Law). Each Member hereby agrees to furnish to the Company such information and forms as required or reasonably requested by the Company in order to comply with any Laws and regulations governing withholding of tax or in order to claim any reduced rate of, or exemption from, withholding to which the Member is legally entitled. The Company may withhold any amount that it determines is required to be withheld from any amount otherwise payable to any Member hereunder, and any such withheld amount shall be deemed to have been paid to such Member for all purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise reimbursed by such Member under this Section 5.06. For the avoidance of doubt, any income taxes, penalties, additions to tax and interest payable by the Company or any fiscally transparent entity in which the Company owns an interest that are attributable to income or gain that is (or otherwise would be) passed through to the Members under applicable Law shall be treated as specifically attributable to the Members and shall be allocated among the Members such that the burden of (or any diminution in distributable proceeds resulting from) any such amounts is borne by those Members to whom such amounts are specifically attributable, in each case as reasonably determined by the Manager.

 

 

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Article VI.
MANAGEMENT

 

Section 6.01        Authority of Manager; Officer Delegation.

 

(a)         Except for situations in which the approval of any Member(s) is specifically required by this Agreement, (i) all management powers over the business and affairs of the Company shall be exclusively vested in the Corporation, as the sole managing member of the Company (the Corporation, in such capacity, the “Manager”), (ii) the Manager shall conduct, direct and exercise full control over all activities of the Company and (iii) no other Member shall have any right, authority or power to vote, consent or approve any matter, whether under the Delaware Act, this Agreement or otherwise. The Manager shall be the “manager” of the Company for the purposes of the Delaware Act. Except as otherwise expressly provided for herein and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of all such powers and rights conferred on the Members by the Delaware Act with respect to the management and control of the Company. Any vacancies in the position of Manager shall be filled in accordance with Section 6.04.

 

(b)         Without limiting the authority of the Manager to act on behalf of the Company, the day-to-day business and operations of the Company shall be overseen and implemented by officers of the Company (each, an “Officer” and collectively, the “Officers”), subject to the limitations imposed by the Manager. An Officer may, but need not, be a Member. Each Officer shall be appointed by the Manager and shall hold office until his or her successor shall be duly designated and shall qualify or until his or her death or until he or she shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. Any one Person may hold more than one office. Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement (including in Section 6.07), the salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager. The authority and responsibility of the Officers shall be limited to such duties as the Manager may, from time to time, delegate to them. Unless the Manager decides otherwise, if the title is one commonly used for officers of a business corporation formed under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the assignment of such title shall constitute the delegation to such person of the authorities and duties that are normally associated with that office. All Officers shall be, and shall be deemed to be, officers and employees of the Company. An Officer may also perform one or more roles as an officer of the Manager. Any Officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Manager.

 

(c)         Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Manager shall have the power and authority to effectuate the sale, lease, transfer, exchange or other disposition of any, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the exercise or grant of any conversion, option, privilege or subscription right or any other right available in connection with any assets at any time held by the Company) or the merger, consolidation, conversion, division, reorganization or other combination of the Company with or into another entity, for the avoidance of doubt, without the prior consent of any Member or any other Person being required.

 

Section 6.02        Actions of the Manager. The Manager may act through any Officer or through any other Person or Persons to whom authority and duties have been delegated pursuant to Section 6.07.

 

 

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Section 6.03        Resignation; No Removal. The Manager may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Members; provided, however, that any such resignation shall be subject to the appointment of a new Manager in accordance with Section 6.04. Unless otherwise specified in the notice, the resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Members (subject to the appointment of a new Manager in accordance with Section 6.04), and the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. For the avoidance of doubt, the Members have no right under this Agreement to remove or replace the Manager. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no replacement of the Corporation as the Manager shall be effective unless proper provision is made, in compliance with this Agreement, so that the obligations of the Corporation, its successor or assign (if applicable), and any new Manager and the rights of all Members under this Agreement and applicable Law remain in full force and effect. No appointment of a Person other than the Corporation (or its successor or assign, as applicable) as the Manager shall be effective unless the Corporation (or its successor or assign, as applicable) and the new Manager (as applicable) provide all other Members with contractual rights, directly enforceable by such other Members against the Corporation (or its successor, as applicable) and the new Manager (as applicable), to cause (a) the Corporation to comply with all of the Corporation’s obligations under this Agreement (in its capacity as a Member) and (b) the new Manager to comply with all of the Manager’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.04        Vacancies. Vacancies in the position of Manager occurring for any reason shall be filled by the Corporation (or, if the Corporation has ceased to exist without any successor or assign, then by the holders of a majority in interest of the voting capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such cessation). For the avoidance of doubt, the Members (other than the Corporation) have no right under this Agreement to fill any vacancy in the position of Manager.

 

Section 6.05        Transactions Between the Company and the Manager. The Manager may cause the Company to contract and deal with the Manager, or any Affiliate of the Manager, provided, that such contracts and dealings (other than contracts and dealings between the Company and its Subsidiaries) are (i) on terms comparable to and competitive with those available to the Company from others dealing at arm’s length, (ii) approved by the disinterested Members (other than the Manager) holding a majority of the Percentage Interests of the disinterested Members (other than the Manager) or (iii) approved by the Disinterested Majority, and in each case, otherwise are permitted by the Credit Agreements; provided that the foregoing shall in no way limit the Manager’s rights under Sections 3.02, 3.04, 3.05 or 3.10. The Members hereby approve each of the contracts or agreements between or among the Manager or its Affiliates (other than the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Converting Entity) and its Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Converting Entity) or its Affiliates (other than the Manager and any of the Company’s (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Converting Entity’s) Subsidiaries), on the other hand, entered into on or prior to the date of this Agreement in accordance with the limited liability company agreement governing the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Converting Entity) at such time or that the board of managers of the Company or the Corporate Board has approved in connection with the Recapitalization or the IPO as of the date of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the IPO Common Unit Subscription Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

 

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Section 6.06        Reimbursement for Expenses. The Manager shall not be compensated for its services as Manager of the Company except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Members acknowledge and agree that, upon consummation of the IPO, the Manager’s Class A Common Stock will be publicly traded and, therefore, the Manager will have access to the public capital markets and that such status and the services performed by the Manager will inure to the benefit of the Company and all Members; therefore, the Manager shall be reimbursed by the Company for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, including, without limitation, all fees, expenses and costs associated with the IPO and all fees, expenses and costs of being a public company (including, without limitation, public reporting obligations, proxy statements, stockholder meetings, Stock Exchange fees, transfer agent fees, legal fees, SEC and FINRA filing fees and offering expenses) and maintaining its corporate existence. In the event that shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to underwriters in the IPO (or in any Qualifying Offering) at a price per share that is lower than the price per share for which such shares of Class A Common Stock are sold to the public in the IPO (or in such Qualifying Offering), after taking into account underwriters’ discounts or commissions and brokers’ fees or commissions (such difference, the “Discount”) (i) the Manager shall be deemed to have contributed to the Company in exchange for newly issued Common Units the full amount for which such shares of Class A Common Stock were sold to the public and (ii) the Company shall be deemed to have paid the Discount as an expense. To the extent practicable, expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company shall be billed directly to and paid by the Company and, if and to the extent any reimbursements to the Manager or any of its Affiliates by the Company pursuant to this Section 6.06 constitute gross income to such Person (as opposed to the repayment of advances made by such Person on behalf of the Company), such amounts shall be treated as “guaranteed payments” within the meaning of Code Section 707(c) (unless otherwise required by the Code and Treasury Regulations) and shall not be treated as distributions for purposes of computing the Members’ Capital Accounts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not bear any obligations with respect to income tax of the Manager or any payments made pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement other than in a manner that is expressly contemplated under this Agreement or the Tax Receivable Agreement.

 

Section 6.07        Delegation of Authority. The Manager (a) may, from time to time, delegate to one or more Persons such authority and duties as the Manager may deem advisable, and (b) may assign titles (including, without limitation, chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, general counsel, senior vice president, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer or assistant treasurer) and delegate certain authority and duties to such Persons, which may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time. Any number of titles may be held by the same individual. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of such agents of the Company shall be fixed from time to time by the Manager, subject to the other provisions in this Agreement.

 

Section 6.08        Limitation of Liability of Manager.

 

(a)         Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Company, neither the Manager nor any of the Manager’s Affiliates or Manager’s officers, directors, employees or other agents (collectively “Manager’s Representatives”) shall be liable to the Company, to any Member that is not the Manager or to any other Person (other than the Manager) bound by this Agreement for any act or omission performed or omitted by the Manager or such Manager’s Representative in its capacity as the managing member of the Company or as an Affiliate, officer, director, employee or agent of the Manager, as applicable, pursuant to authority granted to the Manager by this Agreement; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to the Manager’s or a Manager’s Representative’s fraud, willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future material breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by the Manager or any Manager’s Representative contained herein or in the Other Agreements with the Company. The Manager may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent (so long as such agent was selected in good faith and with reasonable care). The Manager and each Manager’s Representative shall be entitled to rely upon the advice of legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts, including financial advisors, as to matters the Manager or such Manager’s Representative reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence and any act of or failure to act by the Manager or such Manager’s Representative in good faith reliance on such advice shall in no event subject the Manager or any Manager’s Representative to liability to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager or any other Person (other than the Manager) bound by this Agreement.

 

 

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(b)         To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, whenever this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated herein provides that the Manager shall act in its reasonable discretion or in a manner which is, or provide terms which are, “fair and reasonable” to the Company or any Member that is not the Manager, the Manager shall determine such appropriate action or provide such terms considering, in each case, the relative interests of each party to such agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any applicable United States generally accepted accounting practices or principles, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of Law or equity or otherwise.

 

Section 6.09        Investment Company Act. The Manager shall use its best efforts to ensure that the Company shall not be subject to registration as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act.

 

Article VII.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS AND MANAGER

 

Section 7.01        Limitation of Liability and Duties of Members.

 

(a)         Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business and affairs under this Agreement or the Delaware Act shall not be grounds for imposing personal liability on the Members or the Manager for liabilities of the Company.

 

(b)         In accordance with the Delaware Act and the laws of the State of Delaware, a Member may, under certain circumstances, be required to return amounts previously distributed to such Member. It is the intent of the Members that no Distribution to any Member pursuant to Articles IV or XIV shall be deemed a return of money or other property paid or distributed in violation of the Delaware Act. The payment of any such money or Distribution of any such property to a Member shall be deemed to be a compromise within the meaning of Section 18-502(b) of the Delaware Act, and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any Member receiving any such money or property shall not be required to return any such money or property to the Company or any other Person, unless such distribution was made by the Company to its Members in clerical error. However, if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, any Member is obligated to make any such payment, such obligation shall be the obligation of such Member and not of any other Member.

 

 

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(c)         To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, including Section 18-1101(c) of the Delaware Act, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or in any agreement contemplated herein or applicable provisions of Law or equity or otherwise, the parties hereto hereby agree that to the extent that any Member in its capacity as such (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Manager in its capacity as such) (or any Member’s Affiliate or any manager, managing member, general partner, director, officer, employee, agent, fiduciary or trustee of any Member or of any Affiliate of a Member) has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, to the Manager, to another Member, to any Person who acquires an interest in a Unit or to any other Person bound by this Agreement, all such duties (including fiduciary duties) are hereby eliminated, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, and replaced with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The elimination of duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Unit and each other Person bound by this Agreement and replacement thereof with the duties or standards expressly set forth herein, if any, are approved by the Company, the Manager, each of the Members, each other Person who acquires an interest in a Unit and each other Person bound by this Agreement. Any exculpation or indemnification standards contained in this Agreement shall not restore or create, whether in contract or otherwise, any duties otherwise restricted or eliminated by this Agreement.

 

Section 7.02        Lack of Authority. No Member, other than the Manager or a duly appointed Officer or other agent of the Company, in each case in its capacity as such, has the authority or power to act for or on behalf of the Company, to do any act that would be binding on the Company or to make any expenditure on behalf of the Company. The Members hereby consent to the exercise by the Manager of the powers conferred on them by Law and this Agreement.

 

Section 7.03        No Right of Partition. No Member, other than the Manager, shall have the right to seek or obtain partition by court decree or operation of Law of any property of the Company, or the right to own or use particular or individual assets of the Company.

 

Section 7.04        Indemnification.

 

(a)         Subject to Section 5.06, the Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Person (each an “Indemnified Person”) to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, as the same now exists or may hereafter be amended, substituted or replaced (but, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, in the case of any such amendment, substitution or replacement only to the extent that such amendment, substitution or replacement permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than the Company is providing immediately prior to such amendment, substitution or replacement), against all expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties) reasonably incurred or suffered by such Person (or one or more of such Person’s Affiliates) by reason of the fact that such Person is or was a Member or an Affiliate thereof (other than solely as a result of an ownership interest in the Corporation) or is or was serving as the Manager or a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Manager, the Partnership Representative, or a director, manager, Officer, employee or other agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a manager, officer, director, principal, member, employee or agent of another Person; provided, however, that no Indemnified Person shall be indemnified for any expenses, liabilities and losses suffered that are attributable to such Indemnified Person’s or its Affiliates’ fraud, willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law or for any present or future material breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Indemnified Person or its Affiliates contained herein or in Other Agreements with the Company; provided, that the foregoing shall not limit the Company’s ability to provide indemnification to the Manager and its officers in respect of the performance of its or their duties to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Reasonable expenses, including out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees, incurred by any such Indemnified Person in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, including any appeal therefrom, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

 

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(b)         The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred in this Section 7.04 shall not be exclusive of any other right which any Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, agreement, bylaw, action by the Manager or otherwise.

 

(c)         The Company shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, or substantially equivalent insurance, at its expense, to protect any Indemnified Person against any expense, liability or loss described in Section 7.04(a) whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such Indemnified Person against such expense, liability or loss under the provisions of this Section 7.04. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase and maintain property, casualty and liability insurance in types and at levels customary for companies of similar size engaged in similar lines of business, as determined in good faith by the Manager, and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to purchase directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (including employment practices coverage) with a carrier and in an amount determined necessary or desirable as determined in good faith by the Manager.

 

(d)         The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for in this Section 7.04 shall be provided out of and to the extent of Company assets only. No Member (unless such Member otherwise agrees in writing or is found in a non-appealable decision by a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction to have personal liability on account thereof) shall have personal liability on account thereof or shall be required to make additional Capital Contributions to help satisfy such indemnity of the Company. The Company (i) shall be the primary indemnitor of first resort for such Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.04 and (ii) shall be fully responsible for the advancement of all expenses and the payment of all damages or liabilities with respect to such Indemnified Person which are addressed by this Section 7.04.

 

(e)         If this Section 7.04 or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction, then the Company shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person pursuant to this Section 7.04 to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Section 7.04 that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law.

 

 

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(f)         Except as otherwise provided herein or in an agreement entered into by such Person and the Company, no Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company, to any Member that is not the Manager or to any other Person (other than the Manager) bound by this Agreement for any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided herein, such limitation of liability shall not apply to the extent the act or omission was attributable to such Indemnified Person’s fraud, willful misconduct or knowing violation of Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exculpation rights in this Section 7.04(f) shall not apply to the Manager or any Manager’s Representative, whose exculpation rights shall be governed by Section 6.08.

 

Article VIII.
BOOKS, RECORDS, ACCOUNTING AND REPORTS, AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Section 8.01        Records and Accounting. The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, appropriate books and records with respect to the Company’s business, including all books and records necessary to provide any information, lists and copies of documents required pursuant to applicable Laws. All matters concerning (a) the determination of the relative amount of allocations and Distributions among the Members pursuant to Articles IV and V and (b) accounting procedures and determinations, and other determinations not specifically and expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, shall be determined by the Manager in a fair and reasonable manner, whose determination shall be final and conclusive as to all of the Members absent manifest clerical error or common law fraud.

 

Section 8.02        Fiscal Year. The Fiscal Year of the Company shall end on December 31 of each year or such other date as may be established by the Manager.

 

Section 8.03        Inspection Rights. The Company shall permit each Member and each of its designated representatives, at such Member’s sole cost and expense, to examine the books and records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the principal office of the Company or such other location as the Manager shall reasonably approve during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice for any purpose reasonably related to such Member’s interest as a member of the Company; provided, that the Manager has a right to keep confidential from the Members certain information in accordance with Section 18-305 of the Delaware Act.

 

Article IX.
TAX MATTERS

 

Section 9.01        Preparation of Tax Returns. The Manager shall arrange for the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns required to be filed by the Company. The Manager shall use reasonable efforts (taking into account applicable extensions of time to file tax returns) to furnish, within one hundred and fifty (150) days of the close of each Taxable Year, to each Member a completed IRS Schedule K-1 (and any comparable state and local income tax form) and such other information as is reasonably requested by such Member relating to the Company that is necessary for such Member to comply with its tax reporting obligations. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in its capacity as Partnership Representative, the Corporation shall have the authority to prepare the tax returns of the Company using such permissible methods and elections as it determines in its reasonable discretion, including without limitation the use of any permissible method under Section 706 of the Code for purposes of determining the varying Units of its Members.

 

 

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Section 9.02        Tax Elections. The Taxable Year shall be the Fiscal Year set forth in Section 8.02, unless otherwise required by Section 706 of the Code. The Manager shall cause the Company and each of its Subsidiaries that is treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes to have in effect an election pursuant to Section 754 of the Code (or any similar provisions of applicable state, local or foreign tax Law) for the Taxable Year that includes the Effective Date and each subsequent Taxable Year, and the Manager shall take commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Person in which the Company owns a direct or indirect equity interest (other than a Subsidiary) that is so treated as a partnership to have in effect any such election for such Taxable Years. Each Member will upon request supply any information reasonably necessary to give proper effect to any such elections.

 

Section 9.03        Tax Controversies. The Manager shall cause the Company to take all necessary actions required by Law to designate the Corporation as the “tax matters partner” of the Company within the meaning of Section 6231 of the Code (as in effect prior to repeal of such section pursuant to the Revised Partnership Audit Provisions) with respect any Taxable Year beginning on or before December 31, 2017. The Manager shall further cause the Company to take all necessary actions required by Law to designate the Corporation as the “partnership representative” of the Company as provided in Section 6223(a) of the Code with respect to any Taxable Year of the Company beginning after December 31, 2017, and the Corporation is hereby authorized to designate an individual to be the sole individual through which such entity “partnership representative” will act (in such capacities, including in similar capacities under analogous provisions of state or local Law, collectively, the “Partnership Representative”). The Company and the Members shall cooperate fully with each other and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Corporation (or its designated individual, as applicable) to become the Partnership Representative with respect to any taxable period of the Company with respect to which the statute of limitations has not yet expired (and causing any tax matters partner, partnership representative or designated individual designated prior to the Effective Date to resign, be revoked or replaced, as applicable), including (as applicable) by filing certifications pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.6231(a)(7)-1(d) and completing IRS Form 8979 or any other form or certificate required pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 301.6223-1(e)(1). The Partnership Representative shall have the right and obligation to take all actions authorized and required, by the Code and Treasury Regulations (and analogous provisions of state or local Law) for the Partnership Representative and is authorized and required to represent the Company (at the Company’s expense) in connection with all examinations of the Company’s affairs by tax authorities, including any resulting administrative and judicial proceedings, and to expend Company funds for professional services reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Each Member agrees to cooperate with the Company and the Partnership Representative and to do or refrain from doing any or all things reasonably requested by the Company or the Partnership Representative with respect to the conduct of such proceedings. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, with respect to any audit or other proceeding, the Partnership Representative shall be entitled to cause the Company (and any of its Subsidiaries) to make any available elections pursuant to Section 6226 of the Code (and similar provisions of state, local and other Law), and the Members shall cooperate to the extent reasonably requested by the Company in connection therewith. The Company shall reimburse the Partnership Representative for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Partnership Representative, including reasonable fees of any professional attorneys, in carrying out its duties as the Partnership Representative. The provisions of this Section 9.03 shall survive the transfer or termination of any Member’s interest in any Units of the Company, the termination of this Agreement and the termination of the Company, and shall remain binding on each Member for the period of time necessary to resolve all tax matters relating to the Company, and shall be subject to the provisions of the Tax Receivable Agreement, as applicable. The Partnership Representative will, within ten (10) days of the receipt of any notice from the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority of any audit, investigation or other proceeding relating to any flow-through income tax matters, mail a copy of such notice to each Member. The Partnership Representative shall not, with respect to tax matters related to a taxable period prior to the date of this Agreement, (i) enter into a settlement agreement with the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority that purports to bind (or has the effect of binding) the Founder Fund Related Parties and the GSB Holdings Related Parties (the “Specified Members”) (or their equityholders or successors or assigns) without the written consent of such Specified Members (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), or (ii) enter into an agreement extending the period of limitations for assessing an income tax deficiency with respect to any Company flow-through income tax matters without the consent of the Specified Members for so long as any Specified Member or its equityholders or successors or assigns could be affected by such action (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Partnership Representative shall: (i) keep the Specified Members reasonably informed of the material developments and status of any such audit or proceeding; (ii) permit the Specified Members (or their designees) to participate (including using separate counsel) in, in each case at the Specified Members’ sole cost and expense, but not control, any such audit or proceeding; and (iii) promptly notify the Specified Members of receipt of a notice of a final partnership adjustment (or equivalent under applicable laws) or a final decision of a court or IRS Appeals panel (or equivalent body under applicable laws) with respect to any such audit or proceeding. The Partnership Representative and the Company shall use reasonable efforts to promptly provide the Specified Members with copies of all material correspondence between the Partnership Representative or the Company (as applicable) and any governmental authority in connection with such audit or proceeding, and to give the Specified Members a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any material correspondence, submission (including settlement or compromise offers) or filing in connection with any such audit or proceeding.

  

 

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Article X.
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF UNITS; CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

 

Section 10.01    Transfers by Members. No holder of Units shall Transfer any interest in any Units, except Transfers (a) pursuant to and in accordance with Sections 10.02 and 10.09 or (b) approved in advance and in writing by the Manager, in the case of Transfers by any Member other than the Manager, or (c) in the case of Transfers by the Manager, to any Person who succeeds to the Manager in accordance with Section 6.04. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Transfer” shall not include (i) an event that terminates the existence of a Member for income tax purposes (including, without limitation, a change in entity classification of a Member under Treasury Regulations Section 301.7701-3, a sale of assets by, or liquidation of, a Member pursuant to an election under Code Sections 336 or 338, or merger, severance, or allocation within a trust or among sub-trusts of a trust that is a Member), but that does not terminate the existence of such Member under applicable state Law (or, in the case of a trust that is a Member, does not terminate the trusteeship of the fiduciaries under such trust with respect to all the Units of such trust that is a Member) or (ii) any indirect Transfer of Units held by the Manager by virtue of any Transfer of Equity Securities in the Corporation.

 

 

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Section 10.02    Permitted Transfers. The restrictions contained in Section 10.01 shall not apply to any of the following Transfers (each, a “Permitted Transfer” and each transferee, a “Permitted Transferee”): (i)(A) a Transfer pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange in accordance with Article XI hereof or that are necessary or desirable to comply with Sections 3.04 or 3.05 as determined by the Manager, or (B) a Transfer by a Member to the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a Transfer to an Affiliate of such Member, or (iii) a Transfer by a Member that is a natural person for estate-planning purposes of such Member to an Estate Planning Vehicle of such Member; provided, however, that (x) the restrictions contained in this Agreement will continue to apply to Units after any Permitted Transfer of such Units, and (y) in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii) or (iii), the Permitted Transferees of the Units so Transferred shall at the time of the Permitted Transfer agree in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and the Other Agreements pursuant to Section 10.04, and prior to such Transfer the transferor will deliver a written notice to the Company and the Members, which notice will disclose in reasonable detail the identity of the proposed Permitted Transferee. If a Permitted Transfer pursuant to clauses (ii) or (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence would result in a Change of Control, such Member must provide the Manager with written notice of such proposed Permitted Transfer at least sixty (60) calendar days prior to the consummation of such Permitted Transfer. In the case of a Permitted Transfer of any Common Units by any Member holding Class B Common Stock to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with this Section 10.02, such Member shall also transfer a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the number of Common Units that were transferred by such Member in the transaction to such Permitted Transferee. All Permitted Transfers are subject to the additional limitations set forth in Section 10.07(b).

 

Section 10.03    Restricted Units Legend. The Units have not been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, in addition to the other restrictions on Transfer contained in this Agreement, cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or if an exemption from such registration is then available with respect to such sale. To the extent such Units have been certificated, each certificate evidencing Units and each certificate issued in exchange for or upon the Transfer of any Units shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC, AS IT MAY BE AMENDED, RESTATED, AMENDED AND RESTATED, OR OTHERWISE MODIFIED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED WITH RESPECT TO ANY TRANSFER. A COPY OF SUCH CONDITIONS SHALL BE FURNISHED BY SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.”

 

 

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The Company shall imprint such legend on certificates (if any) evidencing Units. The legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates (if any) evidencing any Units which cease to be Units in accordance with the definition thereof.

 

Section 10.04    Transfer. Prior to Transferring any Units (other than in connection with Redemption or Direct Exchange in accordance with Article XI), the Transferring holder of Units shall cause the prospective Permitted Transferee to be bound by this Agreement and any other agreements executed by the holders of Units and relating to such Units in the aggregate to which the Transferring Member was a party (collectively, the “Other Agreements”) by executing and delivering to the Company counterparts of this Agreement and any applicable Other Agreements.

 

Section 10.05    Assignee’s Rights.

 

(a)         The Transfer of a Unit in accordance with this Agreement shall be effective as of the date of such Transfer (assuming compliance with all of the conditions to such Transfer set forth herein), and such Transfer shall be shown on the books and records of the Company. Profits, Losses and other items of the Company shall be allocated between the transferor and the transferee according to Code Section 706, using any permissible method as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Manager. Distributions made before the effective date of such Transfer shall be paid to the transferor, and Distributions made on or after such date shall be paid to the Assignee.

 

(b)         Unless and until an Assignee becomes a Member pursuant to Article XII, the Assignee shall not be entitled to any of the rights granted to a Member hereunder or under applicable Law, other than the rights granted specifically to Assignees pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that, without relieving the Transferring Member from any such limitations or obligations as more fully described in Section 10.06, such Assignee shall be bound by any limitations and obligations of a Member contained herein by which a Member would be bound on account of the Assignee’s Units (including the obligation to make Capital Contributions on account of such Units).

 

Section 10.06    Assignor’s Rights and Obligations. Any Member who shall Transfer any Unit in a manner in accordance with this Agreement shall cease to be a Member with respect to such Units and shall no longer have any rights or privileges, or, except as set forth in Section 5.06, Section 9.03 or this Section 10.06, duties, liabilities or obligations, of a Member with respect to such Units (it being understood, however, that the applicable provisions of Sections 6.08 and 7.04 shall continue to inure to such Person’s benefit), except that unless and until the Assignee (if not already a Member) is admitted as a Substituted Member in accordance with the provisions of Article XII (the “Admission Date”), (i) such Transferring Member shall retain all of the duties, liabilities and obligations of a Member with respect to such Units, and (ii) the Manager may, in its sole discretion, reinstate all or any portion of the rights and privileges of such Member with respect to such Units for any period of time prior to the Admission Date. Nothing contained herein shall relieve any Member who Transfers any Units in the Company from any liability of such Member to the Company with respect to such Units that may exist as of the Admission Date or that is otherwise specified in the Delaware Act or for any liability to the Company or any other Person for any materially false statement made by such Member (in its capacity as such) or for any present or future breaches of any representations, warranties or covenants by such Member (in its capacity as such) contained herein or in the Other Agreements with the Company or as otherwise expressly set forth in Section 5.06 or Section 9.03 of this Agreement.

 

 

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Section 10.07    Overriding Provisions.

 

(a)          Any Transfer or attempted Transfer of any Units in violation of this Agreement (including any prohibited indirect Transfers) shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, null and void ab initio, and the provisions of Sections 10.05 and 10.06 shall not apply to any such Transfers. For the avoidance of doubt, any Person to whom a Transfer is made or attempted in violation of this Agreement shall not become a Member and shall not have any other rights in or with respect to any rights of a Member of the Company with respect to the applicable Units. The approval of any Transfer in any one or more instances shall not limit or waive the requirement for such approval in any other or future instance. The Manager shall promptly amend the Schedule of Members without the consent or approval of any Member or any other Person to reflect any Permitted Transfer pursuant to this Article X.

 

(b)          Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 10.01 and Article XI and Article XII), in no event shall any Member Transfer any Units to the extent such Transfer would:

 

(i)          result in the violation of the Securities Act, or any other applicable federal, state or foreign Laws;

 

(ii)         cause an assignment under the Investment Company Act;

 

(iii)        be a Transfer to a Person who is not legally competent or who has not achieved his or her majority of age under applicable Law (excluding trusts for the benefit of minors);

 

(iv)        cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or any successor provision thereto under the Code; or

 

(v)         result in the Company having more than one hundred (100) partners, within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(1) (determined pursuant to the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.7704-1(h)(3)).

 

(c)          Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, in no event shall any Member that is not a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code Transfer any Units (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with a Redemption or a Direct Exchange), unless such Member and the transferee have delivered to the Company, in respect of the relevant Transfer (or Redemption or Direct Exchange, as applicable), written evidence that all required withholding under Section 1446(f) of the Code will have been done and duly remitted to the applicable Governmental Entity or duly executed certifications (prepared in accordance with the applicable Treasury Regulations or other authorities) of an exemption from such withholding; provided, that the Company shall cooperate in the manner set forth in Section 11.06(a) with any reasonable requests from such Member for certifications or other information from the Company in connection with satisfying this Section 10.07(c) prior to the relevant Transfer (or Redemption or Direct Exchange, as applicable).

 

 

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Section 10.08    Spousal Consent. In connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Member who is a natural person will deliver to the Company an executed consent from such Member’s spouse (if any) in the form of Exhibit B-1 attached hereto or a Member’s spouse confirmation of separate property in the form of Exhibit B-2 attached hereto. If, at any time subsequent to the date of this Agreement such Member becomes legally married (whether in the first instance or to a different spouse), such Member shall cause his or her spouse to execute and deliver to the Company a consent in the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 attached hereto. Such Member’s non-delivery to the Company of an executed consent in the form of Exhibit B-1 or Exhibit B-2 at any time shall constitute such Member’s continuing representation and warranty that such Member is not legally married as of such date.

 

Section 10.09    Certain Transactions with respect to the Corporation.

 

(a)         In connection with a Change of Control Transaction, the Manager shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require each Member (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) to effect a Redemption of all or a portion of such Member’s Units together with an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock, pursuant to which such Units and such shares of Class B Common Stock will be exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock (or to the extent being received by or offered to other stockholders of the Corporation economically equivalent cash or securities of a successor entity (or an offer thereof)), provided, however, that in the event of a Change of Control Transaction pursuant to which the Members (other than the Corporation) would be required to exchange Units for securities, without the written consent of such Members, such Members shall not be required to exchange Units pursuant to this ‎Section 10.09 unless, as a part of such transaction, the Members are permitted to exchange their Units for securities in a transaction that is expected to permit such exchange without current recognition of gain or loss, for U.S. and non-U.S. tax purposes, for such Members (or such Members’ direct or indirect beneficial owners). Any such Redemption pursuant to this Section 10.09(a) shall be effective immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control Transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be contingent upon the consummation of such Change of Control Transaction and shall not be effective if such Change of Control Transaction is not consummated) (the date of such Redemption pursuant to this Section 10.09(a), the “Change of Control Date”). From and after the Change of Control Date, (i) the Units and any shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Redemption shall be deemed to be transferred to the Company and the Corporation, as applicable, on the Change of Control Date and (ii) each such Member shall cease to have any rights with respect to the Units and any shares of Class B Common Stock subject to such Redemption (other than the right to receive shares of Class A Common Stock (or economically equivalent cash or Equity Securities in a successor entity) pursuant to such Redemption). In the event the Manager desires to initiate the provisions of this Section 10.09, the Manager shall provide written notice of an expected Change of Control Transaction to all Members no later than the earlier of (x) five (5) Business Days following the execution of a definitive agreement with respect to such Change of Control Transaction and (y) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the contemplated Change of Control Transaction is to be effected, including in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the Change of Control Transaction, subject to applicable Law, including the date of execution of such definitive agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for shares of Class A Common Stock in the Change of Control Transaction and any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with a Change of Control Transaction (which election shall be available to each Member on the same terms as holders of shares of Class A Common Stock). Following delivery of such notice and on or prior to the Change of Control Date, the Members shall take all actions necessary to effect such Redemption, including taking any action and delivering any document required pursuant to this Section 10.09(a) to effect such Redemption.

 

 

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(b)         In the event that a tender offer, share exchange offer, issuer bid, take-over bid, recapitalization, or similar transaction with respect to Class A Common Stock (a “Pubco Offer”) is proposed by the Corporation or is proposed to the Corporation or its stockholders and approved by the Corporate Board or is otherwise effected or to be effected with the consent or approval of the Corporate Board, the Manager shall provide written notice of the Pubco Offer to all Members no later than the earlier of (i) five (5) Business Days following the execution of a definitive agreement (if applicable) with respect to, or the commencement of (if applicable), such Pubco Offer and (ii) ten (10) Business Days before the proposed date upon which the Pubco Offer is to be effected, including in such notice such information as may reasonably describe the Pubco Offer, subject to applicable Law, including the date of execution of such definitive agreement (if applicable) or of such commencement (if applicable), the material terms of such Pubco Offer, including the amount and types of consideration to be received by holders of shares of Class A Common Stock in the Pubco Offer, any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, as applicable, shall be entitled to make in connection with such Pubco Offer, and the number of Units (and the corresponding shares of Class B Common Stock) held by such Member that is applicable to such Pubco Offer. The Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) shall be permitted to participate in such Pubco Offer by delivering a written notice of participation that is effective immediately prior to the consummation of such Pubco Offer (and that is contingent upon consummation of such offer and shall not be effective if such Pubco Offer is not consummated), and shall include such information necessary for consummation of such offer as requested by the Corporation. In the case of any Pubco Offer that was initially proposed by the Corporation, the Corporation shall use reasonable best efforts to enable and permit the Members (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) to participate in such transaction to the same extent or on an economically equivalent basis as the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, and to enable such Members to participate in such transaction without being required to exchange Units or shares of Class B Common Stock prior to the consummation of such transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Members be entitled to receive in such Pubco Offer aggregate consideration for each Common Unit that is less or greater than the consideration payable in respect of each share of Class A Common Stock in connection with a Pubco Offer (it being understood that payments under or in respect of the Tax Receivable Agreement shall not be considered part of any such consideration).

 

 

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(c)         In the event that a transaction or proposed transaction constitutes both a Change of Control Transaction and a Pubco Offer, the provisions of Section 10.09(b) shall take precedence over the provisions of Section 10.09(a) with respect to such transaction, and the provisions of Section 10.09(a) shall be subordinate to provisions of Section 10.09(b).

 

Article XI.
REDEMPTION AND DIRECT EXCHANGE RIGHTS

 

Section 11.01    Redemption Right of a Member.

 

(a)         Each Member (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries), from and after the expiration of any contractual lockup period relating to the shares of the Corporation that may be applicable to such Members, shall be entitled to cause the Company to redeem (a “Redemption”) all or a portion of its Common Units (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Common Units that are subject to vesting conditions or the Transfer of which is prohibited pursuant to Section 10.07(b) or Section 10.07(c) of this Agreement) in whole or in part (the “Redemption Right”). A Member desiring to exercise its Redemption Right (each, a “Redeeming Member”) shall exercise such right by giving written notice (the “Redemption Notice”) to the Company with a copy to the Corporation. The Redemption Notice shall specify the number of Common Units (the “Redeemed Units”) that the Redeeming Member intends to have the Company redeem and a date, not less than two (2) Business Days after delivery of such Redemption Notice (unless and to the extent that the Manager in its sole discretion agrees in writing to waive such time period), on which exercise of the Redemption Right shall be completed (the “Redemption Date”), and may specify that the Redemption is to be contingent (including as to timing) upon the consummation of a purchase by or exchange with another Person (whether in a tender offer, an underwritten offering, a block sale or otherwise) of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon Redemption of the Units and the transfer of the Class B Common Stock or contingent (including as to timing) upon the closing of an announced merger, consolidation or other transaction or event in which the Class A Common Stock would be exchanged or converted or become exchangeable for or convertible into cash or other securities or property or upon the closing or occurrence of any other event, in which case the Redemption shall be consummated immediately prior to and contingent upon such closing or occurrence, and in any such case specify the amount of cash or amount and type of property to be received by the Redeeming Member therein; provided, however, that, the Redeeming Member, by written notice at least one (1) Business Day prior to the previously specified Redemption Date, or the Company, the Corporation and the Redeeming Member, by mutual agreement signed in writing by each of them, may change the number of Redeemed Units and/or the Redemption Date specified in such Redemption Notice to another number and/or date; provided, further, that in the event the Corporation elects a Share Settlement, the Redemption may be conditioned (including as to timing) by the Redeeming Member on the closing of an underwritten distribution of the shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued in connection with such proposed Redemption. Subject to Section 11.03 and unless the Redeeming Member timely has delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c) or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Section 11.01(d), on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date):

 

(i)          the Redeeming Member shall Transfer and surrender, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances (x) the Redeemed Units to the Company (including any certificates representing the Redeemed Units if they are certificated), and (y) a number of shares of Class B Common Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights), equal to the number of Redeemed Units to the Corporation, to the extent applicable;

 

 

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(ii)          the Company shall (x) cancel the Redeemed Units, (y) transfer to the Redeeming Member the consideration to which the Redeeming Member is entitled under Section 11.01(b), and (z) if the Common Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Common Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 11.01(a) and the Redeemed Units; and

 

(iii)         the Corporation shall (x) cancel and retire for no consideration the shares of Class B Common Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights), that were Transferred to the Corporation pursuant to Section 11.01(a)(i)(y) above and (y) to the extent the Member holds certificated Class B Common Stock, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the difference (if any) between the number of shares of Class B Common Stock evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 11.01(a) and the Redeemed Units.

 

(b)         The Corporation shall have the option (as determined solely by the Disinterested Majority) as provided in Section 11.02 to elect to have the Redeemed Units be redeemed in consideration for either a Share Settlement or a Cash Settlement; provided, for the avoidance of doubt, that the Corporation may elect to have the Redeemed Units be redeemed in consideration for a Cash Settlement only to the extent that the Corporation has cash available in an amount equal to at least the Redeemed Units Equivalent, which cash was received from a Qualifying Offering. The Corporation shall give written notice (the “Election Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to the Redeeming Member) of such election on the earlier of (i) three (3) Business Days of receiving the Redemption Notice and (ii) the Redemption Date specified in the Redemption Notice; provided, that if the Corporation does not timely deliver an Election Notice, the Corporation shall be deemed to have elected the Share Settlement method.

 

(c)          In the event the Corporation elects the Cash Settlement in connection with a Redemption, the Redeeming Member may retract its Redemption Notice by giving written notice (the “Retraction Notice”) to the Company (with a copy to the Corporation) on or before the earlier of (i) the Redemption Date specified in the Redemption Notice and (ii) three (3) Business Days after delivery of the Election Notice. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Redeeming Member’s, the Company’s and the Corporation’s rights and obligations under this Section 11.01 arising from the related Redemption Notice.

 

(d)          In the event the Corporation elects a Share Settlement in connection with a Redemption, a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to revoke its Redemption Notice or delay the consummation of a Redemption if any of the following conditions exists:

 

(i)      any registration statement pursuant to which the resale of the Class A Common Stock to be registered for such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption shall have ceased to be effective pursuant to any action or inaction by the SEC or no such resale registration statement has yet become effective;

 

 

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(ii)          the Corporation shall have failed to cause any related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement necessary to effect such Redemption or resale of the Class A Common Stock;

 

(iii)         the Corporation shall have exercised its right to defer, delay or suspend the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement and such deferral, delay or suspension shall affect the ability of such Redeeming Member to have its Class A Common Stock registered at or immediately following the consummation of the Redemption or to have its Class A Common Stock resold;

 

(iv)         the Redeeming Member is in possession of any material non-public information concerning the Corporation, the receipt of which results in such Redeeming Member being prohibited or restricted from selling Class A Common Stock at or immediately following the Redemption or resale of its Class A Common Stock without disclosure of such information (and the Corporation does not permit disclosure of such information);

 

(v)          any stop order relating to the registration statement pursuant to which the Class A Common Stock was to be registered by such Redeeming Member at or immediately following the Redemption shall have been issued by the SEC;

 

(vi)         there shall have occurred a material disruption in the securities markets generally or in the market or markets in which the Class A Common Stock is then traded;

 

(vii)        there shall be in effect an injunction, a restraining order or a decree of any nature of any Governmental Entity that restrains or prohibits the Redemption;

 

(viii)       the Corporation shall have failed to comply in all material respects with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, and such failure shall have affected the ability of such Redeeming Member to consummate the resale of Class A Common Stock to be received upon such Redemption pursuant to an effective registration statement;

 

(ix)         the Redemption Date would occur during a Black-Out Period; or

 

(x)           the Redeeming Member so elects by written notice to the Company no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the scheduled Redemption Date.

 

If a Redeeming Member delays the consummation of a Redemption pursuant to this Section 11.01(d)(i)-(ix), the Redemption Date shall occur on the fifth (5th) Business Day following the date on which the condition(s) giving rise to such delay cease to exist (or such earlier day as the Corporation, the Company and such Redeeming Member may agree in writing) or, pursuant to Section 11.01(d)(x), the Redemption Date shall occur on the fourth (4th) Business Day following the date on which the condition(s) giving rise to such delay cease to exist (or such earlier day as the Corporation, the Company and such Redeeming Member may agree in writing).

 

 

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(e)         The number of shares of Class A Common Stock (or Redeemed Units Equivalent, if applicable) (together with any Corresponding Rights) applicable to any Share Settlement or Cash Settlement shall not be adjusted on account of any Distributions previously made with respect to the Redeemed Units or dividends previously paid with respect to Class A Common Stock; provided, however, that if a Redeeming Member causes the Company to redeem Redeemed Units and the Redemption Date occurs subsequent to the record date for any Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units but prior to payment of such Distribution, the Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive such Distribution with respect to the Redeemed Units on the date that it is made notwithstanding that the Redeeming Member Transferred and surrendered the Redeemed Units to the Company prior to such date; provided, further, however, that a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive any and all Tax Distributions that such Redeeming Member otherwise would have received in respect of income allocated to such Member for the portion of any Fiscal Year irrespective of whether such Tax Distribution(s) are declared or made after the Redemption Date.

 

(f)         In the case of a Share Settlement, in the event a reclassification or other similar transaction occurs following delivery of a Redemption Notice, but prior to the Redemption Date, as a result of which shares of Class A Common Stock are converted into another security, then a Redeeming Member shall be entitled to receive the amount of such other security (and, if applicable, any Corresponding Rights) that the Redeeming Member would have received if such Redemption Right had been exercised and the Redemption Date had occurred immediately prior to the record date of such reclassification or other similar transaction.

 

(g)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, neither the Company nor the Corporation shall be obligated to effectuate a Redemption if such Redemption could (as determined in the sole discretion of the Manager) cause the Company to be treated as a “publicly traded partnership” or to be taxed as a corporation pursuant to Section 7704 of the Code or successor provisions of the Code.

 

Section 11.02    Election and Contribution of the Corporation. Unless the Redeeming Member has timely delivered a Retraction Notice as provided in Section 11.01(c), or has revoked or delayed a Redemption as provided in Sections 11.01(d), subject to Section 11.03, on the Redemption Date (to be effective immediately prior to the close of business on the Redemption Date) (i) the Corporation shall make a Capital Contribution to the Company (in the form of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as determined by the Corporation in accordance with Section 11.01(b)), and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Corporation a number of Common Units equal to (A) in the case of a Share Settlement, the number of Redeemed Units surrendered by the Redeeming Member and (B) in the case of a Cash Settlement the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued (or to be issued) by the Corporation in the IPO or Qualifying Offering that provided the funds to effect the Cash Settlement in accordance with the proviso in the definition of “Cash Settlement”. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to Section 11.03, in the event that the Corporation elects a Cash Settlement, the Corporation shall only be obligated to contribute to the Company an amount in respect of such Cash Settlement equal to the Redeemed Units Equivalent with respect to such Cash Settlement, which in no event shall exceed the amount actually paid by the Company to the Redeeming Member as the Cash Settlement. The timely delivery of a Retraction Notice shall terminate all of the Company’s and the Corporation’s rights and obligations under this Section 11.02 arising from the Redemption Notice.

 

 

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Section 11.03    Direct Exchange Right of the Corporation.

 

(a)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article XI (save for the limitations set forth in Section 11.01(b) regarding the Corporation’s option to select the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, and without limitation to the rights of the Members under Section 11.01, including the right to revoke a Redemption Notice or otherwise alter or delay the consummation of a Redemption), the Corporation may, in its sole and absolute discretion (as determined solely by the Disinterested Majority) (subject to the limitations set forth on such discretion in Section 11.01(b)), elect to effect on the Redemption Date the exchange of Redeemed Units for the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as the case may be, through a direct exchange of such Redeemed Units and the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as applicable, between the Redeeming Member and the Corporation (a “Direct Exchange”) (rather than contributing the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as the case may be, to the Company in accordance with Section 11.02 for purposes of the Company redeeming the Redeemed Units from the Redeeming Member in consideration of the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as applicable). Upon such Direct Exchange pursuant to this Section 11.03, the Corporation shall acquire the Redeemed Units and shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as the owner of such Units. In connection with any Direct Exchange, the Company is hereby authorized to execute, deliver and perform, and the Manager or any officer of the Company on behalf of the Company is hereby authorized to execute and deliver, any unit and share transfer and cancellation agreement (or similar document) and any documents contemplated thereby or related thereto and any amendments thereto, without any further act, vote or approval of any Person, including any Member, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement.

 

(b)         The Corporation may, at any time prior to a Redemption Date (including after delivery of an Election Notice pursuant to Section 11.01(b)), deliver written notice (an “Exchange Election Notice”) to the Company and the Redeeming Member setting forth its election to exercise its right to consummate a Direct Exchange; provided, that such election is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 11.01(b) and does not unreasonably prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. An Exchange Election Notice may be revoked by the Corporation at any time; provided, that any such revocation does not unreasonably prejudice the ability of the parties to consummate a Redemption or Direct Exchange on the Redemption Date. The right to consummate a Direct Exchange in all events shall be exercisable for all of the Redeemed Units that would have otherwise been subject to a Redemption.

 

(c)         Except as otherwise provided by this Section 11.03, a Direct Exchange shall be consummated pursuant to the same timeframe as the relevant Redemption would have been consummated if the Corporation had not delivered an Exchange Election Notice and as follows:

 

(i)        the Redeeming Member shall transfer, assign and surrender, as applicable, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances (x) the Redeemed Units and (y) a number of shares of Class B Common Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights), equal to the number of Redeemed Units, to the extent applicable, in each case, to the Corporation;

 

(ii)       the Corporation shall (x) pay to the Redeeming Member the Share Settlement or the Cash Settlement, as applicable, (y) cancel and retire for no consideration the shares of Class B Common Stock (together with any Corresponding Rights), that were Transferred to the Corporation pursuant to Section 11.03(c)(i)(y) above, and (z) to the extent the Redeeming Member holds certificated Class B Common Stock issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to the difference (if any) between the number of shares of Class B Common Stock evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member and the Redeemed Units; and

 

 

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(iii)        the Company shall (x) register the Corporation as the owner of the Redeemed Units and (y) if the Common Units are certificated, issue to the Redeeming Member a certificate for a number of Units equal to the difference (if any) between the number of Common Units evidenced by the certificate surrendered by the Redeeming Member pursuant to Section 11.03(c)(i)(x) and the Redeemed Units, and issue to the Corporation a certificate for the number of Redeemed Units.

 

Section 11.04    Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock; Listing; Certificate of the Corporation. At all times the Corporation shall reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon a Share Settlement in connection with a Redemption or Direct Exchange, such number of shares of Class A Common Stock as shall be issuable upon any such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to preclude the Corporation from satisfying its obligations in respect of any such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange by delivery of purchased Class A Common Stock (which may or may not be held in the treasury of the Corporation), or by way of Cash Settlement. The Corporation shall deliver Class A Common Stock that has been registered under the Securities Act with respect to any Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent a registration statement is effective and available with respect to such shares. The Corporation shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to list the Class A Common Stock required to be delivered upon any such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange prior to such delivery upon each national securities exchange upon which the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are listed at the time of such Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange (it being understood that any such shares may be subject to transfer restrictions under applicable securities Laws). The Corporation covenants that all shares of Class A Common Stock issued in connection with a Share Settlement pursuant to a Redemption or Direct Exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The provisions of this Article XI shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with any corresponding provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation (if any).

 

Section 11.05    Effect of Exercise of Redemption or Direct Exchange. This Agreement shall continue notwithstanding the consummation of a Redemption or Direct Exchange by a Member and all rights set forth herein shall continue in effect with respect to the remaining Members and, to the extent the Redeeming Member has any remaining Units following such Redemption or Direct Exchange, the Redeeming Member. No Redemption or Direct Exchange shall relieve a Redeeming Member of any prior breach of this Agreement by such Redeeming Member.

 

 

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Section 11.06    Tax Treatment.

 

(a)         In connection with any Redemption or Direct Exchange, the Redeeming Member shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to deliver such form, deliver to the Manager or the Company, as applicable, a certificate, dated as of the Redemption Date, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Manager or the Company, as applicable, certifying as to such Redeeming Member’s taxpayer identification number and that such Redeeming Member is a not a foreign person for purposes of Section 1445 and Section 1446(f) of the Code (which certificate may be an IRS Form W-9 if then sufficient for such purposes under applicable Law) (such certificate a “Non-Foreign Person Certificate”). If a Redeeming Member is unable to provide a Non-Foreign Person Certificate in connection with a Redemption or a Direct Exchange, then (i) such Redeeming Member and the Company shall cooperate to provide any other certification or determination described in proposed Treasury Regulations Sections 1.1446(f)-2(b) and 1.1446(f)-2(c) or otherwise permitted under applicable Law at the time of such Redemption or Direct Exchange, and the Manager or the Company, as applicable, shall be permitted to withhold on the amount realized by such Redeeming Member in respect of such Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent required under in Section 1446(f) of the Code and Treasury Regulations thereunder after taking into account the certificate or other determination provided pursuant this sentence and (ii) upon request and to the extent permitted under applicable Law, the Company shall deliver a certificate pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-11T(d)(2) certifying that fifty percent (50%) or more of the value of the gross assets of the Company does not consist of “U.S. real property interests” (as used in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-11T), or that ninety percent (90%) or more of the value of the gross assets of the Company does not consist of “U.S. real property interests” plus “cash or cash equivalents” (as used in Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-11T); provided, that if the Company is not legally entitled to provide the certificate described in clause (ii), the Corporation shall be permitted to withhold on the amount realized by such Redeeming Member in respect of such Redemption or Direct Exchange to the extent required under in Section 1445 of the Code and Treasury Regulations.

 

(b)         Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that a Redemption or a Direct Exchange, as the case may be, shall be treated as a direct exchange of a Share Settlement or a Cash Settlement, as applicable, on the one hand, and the Redeemed Units, on the other hand, between the Corporation and the Redeeming Member for U.S. federal and applicable state and local income tax purposes.

 

Article XII.
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

 

Section 12.01    Substituted Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, in connection with the Permitted Transfer of a Unit hereunder, the Permitted Transferee shall become a Substituted Member on the effective date of such Transfer, which effective date shall not be earlier than the date of compliance with the conditions to such Transfer, and such admission shall be shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.

 

Section 12.02    Additional Members. Subject to the provisions of Article X hereof, any Person that is not a Member as of the Effective Date may be admitted to the Company as an additional Member (any such Person, an “Additional Member”) only upon furnishing to the Manager (a) duly executed Joinder and counterparts to any applicable Other Agreements and (b) such other documents or instruments as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to effect such Person’s admission as a Member (including entering into such documents as may reasonably be requested by the Manager). Such admission shall become effective on the date on which the Manager determines in its sole discretion that such conditions have been satisfied and when any such admission is shown on the books and records of the Company, including the Schedule of Members.

 

 

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Article XIII.
WITHDRAWAL AND RESIGNATION; TERMINATION OF RIGHTS

 

Section 13.01    Withdrawal and Resignation of Members. Except in the event of Transfers pursuant to Section 10.06 or redemptions pursuant to Section 3.05 or Article XI and the Manager’s right to resign pursuant to Section 6.03, no Member shall have the power or right to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company prior to the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV. Any Member, however, that attempts to withdraw or otherwise resign as a Member from the Company without the prior written consent of the Manager upon or following the dissolution and winding up of the Company pursuant to Article XIV, but prior to such Member receiving the full amount of Distributions from the Company to which such Member is entitled pursuant to Article XIV, shall be liable to the Company for all damages (including all lost profits and special, indirect and consequential damages) directly or indirectly caused by the withdrawal or resignation of such Member. Upon a Transfer of all of a Member’s Units in a Transfer or a redemption of all of a Member’s Units, in each case as permitted by this Agreement, subject to the provisions of Section 10.06, such Member shall cease to be a Member.

 

Article XIV.
DISSOLUTION AND LIQUIDATION

 

Section 14.01    Dissolution. The Company shall not be dissolved solely by the admission of Additional Members or Substituted Members or the attempted resignation, removal, dissolution, bankruptcy or resignation of a Member. The Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon:

 

(a)       the decision of the Manager together with the written approval of the Members holding a majority of the Units then outstanding to dissolve the Company (excluding for purposes of such calculation the Corporation and all Units held directly or indirectly by it);

 

(b)       a dissolution of the Company under Section 18-801(a)(4) of the Delaware Act, unless the Company is continued without dissolution pursuant thereto; or

 

(c)       the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Delaware Act.

 

Except as otherwise set forth in this Article XIV, the Company is intended to have perpetual existence. An Event of Withdrawal shall not in and of itself cause a dissolution of the Company and the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, continue in existence without dissolution subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

 

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Section 14.02    Winding Up. Subject to Section 14.05, on dissolution of the Company, the Manager shall act as liquidating trustee or may appoint one or more Persons as liquidating trustee (each such Person, a “Liquidator”). The Liquidators shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Delaware Act. The costs of liquidation shall be borne as an expense of the Company. Until final distribution, the Liquidators shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, continue to operate the properties of the Company with all of the power and authority of the Manager. The steps to be accomplished by the Liquidators are as follows:

 

(a)         as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the Liquidators shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;

 

(b)         the Liquidators shall pay, satisfy or discharge from the Company’s funds, or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including, without limitation, the establishment of a cash fund for contingent, conditional and unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the Liquidators may reasonably determine) the following: first, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company owed to creditors other than the Members, including all expenses incurred in connection with the liquidation and winding up of the Company; and second, all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company owed to the Members (other than any payments or distributions owed to such Members in their capacity as Members pursuant to this Agreement); and

 

(c)         following satisfaction of the Company’s debts, liabilities and obligations pursuant to the foregoing Section 14.02(b), all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Section 4.01(a)(i) by the end of the Taxable Year during which the liquidation of the Company occurs (or, if later, by ninety (90) days after the date of the liquidation).

 

The distribution of cash and/or property to the Members in accordance with the provisions of this Section 14.02 and Section 14.03 below shall constitute a complete return to the Members of their Capital Contributions, a complete distribution to the Members of their interest in the Company and all of the Company’s property and shall constitute a compromise to which all Members have consented within the meaning of the Delaware Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, it has no claim against any other Member for those funds.

 

Section 14.03    Deferment; Distribution in Kind. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 14.02, but subject to the order of priorities set forth therein, if upon dissolution of the Company the Liquidators determine that an immediate sale of part or all of the Company’s assets would be impractical or would cause undue loss (or would otherwise not be beneficial) to the Members, the Liquidators may, in their sole discretion and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, defer for a reasonable time the liquidation of any assets except those necessary to satisfy the Company’s liabilities (other than loans to the Company by any Member(s)) and reserves. Subject to the order of priorities set forth in Section 14.02, the Liquidators may, with the written approval of (i) both the Founder Fund Related Parties and the GSB Holdings Related Parties that are Members, at any time that the GSB Holdings Related Parties and the Founder Fund Related Parties that are Members continue to hold a majority of the Units then outstanding (excluding in each case for purposes of such calculations the Corporation and all Units held directly or indirectly by it), and (ii) the Members holding a majority of the Units then outstanding, at any other time (excluding for purposes of such calculation the Corporation and all Units held directly or indirectly by it), distribute to the Members, in lieu of cash, either (a) all or any portion of such remaining assets in-kind of the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(c), (b) as tenants in common and in accordance with the provisions of Section 14.02(c), undivided interests in all or any portion of such assets of the Company or (c) a combination of the foregoing. Any such Distributions in-kind shall be subject to (y) such conditions relating to the disposition and management of such assets as the Liquidators deem reasonable and equitable and (z) the terms and conditions of any agreements governing such assets (or the operation thereof or the holders thereof) at such time. Any assets of the Company distributed in kind will first be written up or down to their Fair Market Value, thus creating Profit or Loss (if any), which shall be allocated in accordance with Article V. The Liquidators shall determine the Fair Market Value of any property distributed.

 

 

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Section 14.04    Cancellation of Certificate. On completion of the winding up of the Company as provided herein, the Manager (or such other Person or Persons as the Delaware Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State of Delaware, cancel any other filings made pursuant to this Agreement that should be canceled and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. The Company shall continue in existence for all purposes of this Agreement until it is terminated pursuant to this Section 14.04.

 

Section 14.05    Reasonable Time for Winding Up. A reasonable time shall be allowed for the orderly winding up of the business and affairs of the Company and the liquidation of its assets pursuant to Sections 14.02 and 14.03 in order to minimize any losses otherwise attendant upon such winding up.

 

Section 14.06    Return of Capital. The Liquidators shall not be personally liable for the return of Capital Contributions or any portion thereof to the Members (it being understood that any such return shall be made solely from assets of the Company).

 

Article XV.
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 15.01    Power of Attorney.

 

(a)         Each Member hereby constitutes and appoints the Manager (or the Liquidator, if applicable) with full power of substitution, as his or her true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority in his, her or its name, place and stead, to:

 

(i)                     execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record in the appropriate public offices (A) this Agreement, all certificates and other instruments and all amendments thereof which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to form, qualify, or continue the qualification of, the Company as a limited liability company in the State of Delaware and in all other jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business or own property; (B) all conveyances and other instruments or documents which the Manager deems appropriate or necessary to reflect the dissolution, winding up and termination of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including a certificate of cancellation; and (C) all instruments relating to the admission, substitution or resignation of any Member pursuant to Article XII or XIII; and

 

 

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(ii)                       sign, execute, swear to and acknowledge all ballots, consents, approvals, waivers, certificates and other instruments appropriate or necessary, in the reasonable judgment of the Manager, to evidence, confirm or ratify any vote, consent, approval, agreement or other action which is made or given by the Members hereunder.

 

(b)         The foregoing power of attorney coupled with an interest and, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, is irrevocable, and shall survive the death, disability, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy, insolvency or termination of any Member and the transfer of all or any portion of his, her or its Units and shall extend to such Member’s heirs, successors, assigns and personal representatives.

 

Section 15.02    Confidentiality.

 

(a)         Each of the Members (other than the Corporation) agrees to hold the Company’s Confidential Information in confidence and may not disclose or use such information except as otherwise authorized separately in writing by the Manager. “Confidential Information” as used herein includes all information concerning the Corporation, the Company or their Subsidiaries, in whatever form, whether written, electronic or oral, including, but not limited to, ideas, financial product structuring, business strategies, innovations and materials, all aspects of the Corporation’s and/or the Company’s business plan, proposed operation and products, corporate structure, financial and organizational information, analyses, proposed partners, software code and system and product designs, employees and their identities, equity ownership, the methods and means by which either the Corporation or the Company plans to conduct its business, all trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and all intellectual property associated with the Corporation’s and/or Company’s business. With respect to each Member, Confidential Information does not include information or material that: (a) is, or becomes, generally available to the public other than as a direct or indirect result of a disclosure by such Member or its Affiliates or representatives; (b) is, or becomes, available to such Member from a source other than the Corporation, the Company or their representatives, provided that such source is not, and was not, known to such Member to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or any other contractual, fiduciary or other legal obligation of confidentiality to, the Corporation, the Company or any of their Affiliates or representatives; (c) is approved for release by written authorization of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel of the Company or of the Corporation, or any other officer designated by the Manager; or (d) is or becomes independently developed by such Member or its respective representatives without use of or reference to the Confidential Information.

 

(b)         Solely to the extent it is reasonably necessary or appropriate to fulfill its obligations or to exercise its rights under this Agreement, any Other Agreement or any other agreement to which such Member is party with the Corporation, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information to its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, members, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents, on the condition that such Persons keep the Confidential Information confidential to the same extent as such Member is required to keep the Confidential Information confidential; provided, that such Member shall remain liable with respect to any breach of this Section 15.02 by any such Subsidiaries, Affiliates, partners, directors, officers, employees, counsel, advisers, consultants, outside contractors and other agents (as if such Persons were party to this Agreement for purposes of this Section 15.02).

 

 

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(c)         Notwithstanding Section 15.02(a) or Section 15.02(b), each of the Members may disclose Confidential Information (i) to the extent that such Member is required by Law (by oral questions, interrogatories, request for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar process) to disclose any of the Confidential Information or to regulatory authorities requesting information from such Member, (ii) for purposes of reporting to its stockholders and direct and indirect equity holders (each of whom are bound by customary confidentiality obligations) the performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries and for purposes of including applicable information in its financial statements to the extent required by applicable Law or applicable accounting standards, or (iii) to any bona fide prospective purchaser of the equity or assets of a Member, or the Units held by such Member, or a prospective merger partner of such Member (provided, that (i) such Persons will be informed by such Member of the confidential nature of such information and shall agree in writing to keep such information confidential in accordance with the contents of this Agreement and (ii) each Member will be liable for any breaches of this Section 15.02 by any such Persons (as if such Persons were party to this Agreement for purposes of this Section 15.02)). Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, nothing in this Section 15.02 will restrict in any manner the ability of the Corporation to comply with its disclosure obligations under Law, and the extent to which any Confidential Information is necessary or desirable to disclose.

 

Section 15.03    Amendments. Except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, this Agreement may be amended or modified upon the prior written consent of the Manager, together with the prior written consent of the holders of a majority of the Units then outstanding (excluding all Units held directly or indirectly by the Corporation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification:

 

(a)         to this Section 15.03 that would adversely affect the Members may be made without the prior written consent of the Manager and each of the Members;

 

(b)         to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, which terms and conditions expressly require the approval or action of certain Persons, may be made without obtaining the consent of the requisite number or specified percentage of such Persons who are entitled to approve or take action on such matter; and

 

(c)         to any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement which would (A) reduce the amounts distributable to a Member pursuant to Articles IV and XIV in a manner that is not pro rata with respect to all Members, (B) increase the liabilities of such Member hereunder, (C) otherwise adversely affect in any material respect a holder of Units in a manner materially disproportionate to any other holder of Units (other than amendments, modifications and waivers necessary to implement the provisions of Article XII) or (D) adversely affect in any material respect the rights of any Member under Section 7.01 or Article XI, shall be effective against such affected Member or holder of Units, as the case may be, without the prior written consent of such Member or holder of Units, as the case may be.

 

 

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Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Manager may make any amendment to this Agreement (i) of an administrative nature that is necessary in order to implement the substantive provisions hereof, without the consent of any other Member; provided, that any such amendment does not adversely change the rights of the Members hereunder in any respect, or (ii) to reflect any changes to the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock or the issuance of any other capital stock of the Corporation without the consent of any Member or any other Person. The Manager shall deliver a copy of any amendment or modification to this Agreement that does not receive the consent of all Members promptly (but in any event within 30 days) after the effectiveness thereof to all Members that did not consent to such amendment or modification.

 

Section 15.04    Title to Company Assets. Company assets shall be owned by the Company as an entity, and no Member, individually or collectively, shall have any ownership interest in such assets of the Company or any portion thereof. The Company shall hold title to all of its property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Member. All assets of the Company shall be recorded as the property of the Company on its books and records, irrespective of the name in which legal title to such assets is held. The Company’s credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and no asset of the Company shall be transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Member.

 

Section 15.05    Addresses and Notices. All notices and other communications to be given to any party hereunder shall be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if in writing and delivered by hand, courier or overnight delivery service, or when received in the form of an electronic transmission (receipt confirmation requested), and shall be directed to the address set forth, or at such address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the Company or the sending party.

 

To the Company:

 

Smith Douglas Holdings LLC 

11 Village Trail, Suite 215 

Woodstock, Georgia 30188 

(770) 213-8067 

Attention: Brett Steele, General Counsel 

Email: bsteele@smithdouglas.com

 

with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP 

1271 Avenue of the Americas 

New York, New York 10020 

Attn: Marc Jaffe, Senet Bischoff and Benjamin Cohen 

(212) 906-1200 

E-mail: marc.jaffe@lw.com, senet.bischoff@lw.com and benjamin.cohen@lw.com 

 

To the Corporation:

 

Smith Douglas Homes Corp. 

11 Village Trail, Suite 215 

Woodstock, Georgia 30188 

(770) 213-8067

Attention: Brett Steele, General Counsel 

Email: bsteele@smithdouglas.com

 

 

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with a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP 

1271 Avenue of the Americas 

New York, New York 10020 

Attn: Marc Jaffe, Senet Bischoff and Benjamin Cohen 

(212) 906-1200 

E-mail: marc.jaffe@lw.com, senet.bischoff@lw.com and benjamin.cohen@lw.com 

 

To the Members, as set forth on Schedule 2.

 

Section 15.06    Binding Effect; Intended Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.

 

Section 15.07    Creditors. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of or enforceable by any creditors of the Company (other than Indemnified Persons) or any of its Affiliates, and no creditor who makes a loan to the Company or any of its Affiliates may have or acquire (except pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement executed by the Company in favor of such creditor) at any time as a result of making the loan any direct or indirect interest in Profits, Losses, Distributions, capital or property of the Company other than as a secured creditor.

 

Section 15.08    Waiver. No failure by any party to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant, duty, agreement or condition of this Agreement or to exercise any right or remedy consequent upon a breach thereof shall constitute a waiver of any such breach or any other covenant, duty, agreement or condition.

 

Section 15.09    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which will be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement binding on all the parties hereto.

 

Section 15.10    Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. Any suit, dispute, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement shall be heard in the state or federal courts of the State of Delaware, and the parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such court (and of the appropriate appellate courts) in any such suit, action or proceeding and waives any objection to venue laid therein. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE SERVED ON ANY PARTY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHETHER WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT) AND SHALL HAVE THE SAME LEGAL FORCE AND EFFECT AS IF SERVED UPON SUCH PARTY PERSONALLY WITHIN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS REFERRED TO IN SECTION 15.05 (INCLUDING BY PREPAID CERTIFIED MAIL WITH A VALIDATED PROOF OF MAILING RECEIPT), TOGETHER WITH WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH SERVICE TO SUCH PARTY, SHALL BE DEEMED EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON SUCH PARTY.

 

 

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Section 15.11    Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable Law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

Section 15.12    Further Action. The parties shall execute and deliver all documents, provide all information and take or refrain from taking such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Section 15.13    Execution and Delivery by Electronic Signature and Electronic Transmission. This Agreement and any signed agreement or instrument entered into in connection with this Agreement or contemplated hereby or entered into by the Company in accordance herewith, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of an electronic signature and/or electronic transmission, including by a facsimile machine or via email, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of electronic signature or electronic transmission to execute and/or deliver a document or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through such electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.

 

Section 15.14    Right of Offset. Whenever the Company or the Corporation is to pay any sum (other than pursuant to Article IV) to any Member, any amounts that such Member owes to the Company or the Corporation which are not the subject of a good faith dispute may be deducted from that sum before payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the distribution of Units to the Corporation shall not be subject to this Section 15.14.

 

Section 15.15    Entire Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly referred to herein (including the Registration Rights Agreement and the Tax Receivable Agreement), any indemnity agreements entered into in connection with the limited liability company agreement governing the Company (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Converting Company) prior to the Effective Date with any member of the board of directors, board of managers or other management body at that time and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. For the avoidance of doubt, the Original LLC Agreement is superseded in its entirety by this Agreement as of the Effective Date and shall be of no further force and effect thereafter, except to the extent reference thereto is contemplated in this Agreement, and only for such limited purposes as stated herein.

 

 

57

 

 

Section 15.16    Remedies. Each Member shall have all rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and all rights and remedies which such Person has been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such Person has under any Law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreements contemplated hereby shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by Law.

 

Section 15.17    Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a substantive part of this Agreement. Whenever required by the context, any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation. Reference to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, and if applicable hereof. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no amendment or other modification to any agreement, document or instrument that requires the consent of any Person pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement will be given effect hereunder unless such Person has consented in writing to such amendment or modification. Wherever required by the context, references to a Fiscal Year shall refer to a portion thereof. The use of the words “or,” “either” and “any” shall not be exclusive. Each of the parties hereto agrees that they have been represented by independent counsel of its own choice during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the parties hereto and their counsel have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

 

58

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed or caused to be executed on their behalf this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
    SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC
     
    By:           
    Name:
    Title:
     
  MANAGER:
   
    SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
     
    By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  MEMBERS:
   
    THE BRADBURY FAMILY TRUST II A U/A/D
    DECEMBER 29, 2015
     
    By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
    GSB HOLDINGS LLC
     
    By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
    SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
     
    By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

SCHEDULE OF PRE-IPO MEMBERS

 

Member Class A Units Class C
Units
Class D Units
The Bradbury Family Trust II A U/A/D December 29, 2015 100,000 2,000 600
GSB Holdings LLC 11,111 —-

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2*

 

SCHEDULE OF MEMBERS

 

[ ● ], 2023

 

Member

Common Units

(Vested)

 

Common Units

(Unvested)

 

Contact Information for Notice
1.    Smith Douglas Homes Corp. [    ] None  
2.    The Bradbury Family Trust II A U/A/D December 29, 2015 [    ] None  
3.    GSB Holdings LLC [    ] None  

 

* This Schedule of Members shall be updated from time to time in accordance with this Agreement, including to reflect any adjustment with respect to any subdivision (by Unit split or otherwise) or any combination (by reverse Unit split or otherwise) of any outstanding Units, or to reflect any additional issuances of Units pursuant to this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT

 

This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of _________________, 20___ (this “Joinder”), is delivered pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), dated as of [  ], 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “LLC Agreement”) by and among the Company, Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation and the sole managing member of the Company (the “Corporation”), and each of the Members from time to time party thereto. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the LLC Agreement.

 

1. Joinder to the LLC Agreement. Upon the execution of this Joinder by the undersigned and delivery hereof to the Corporation, the undersigned hereby is and hereafter will be a Member under the LLC Agreement and a party thereto, with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of a Member thereunder. The undersigned hereby agrees that it shall comply with and be fully bound by the terms of the LLC Agreement as if it had been a signatory thereto as of the date thereof. The undersigned hereby acknowledges, agrees and confirms that it has received a copy of the LLC Agreement and has reviewed the same and understands its contents.

 

2. Incorporation by Reference. All terms and conditions of the LLC Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference in this Joinder as if set forth herein in full.

 

3. Address. All notices under the LLC Agreement to the undersigned shall be direct to:

 

[Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Attn:
Facsimile:
E-mail:

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day and year first above written.

 

  [NAME OF NEW MEMBER]
     
  By:       
  Name:
  Title:

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledged and agreed
as of the date first set forth above:

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOLDINGS LLC

 

By: SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP., its Managing Member

   
By:          
Name:
Title:

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B-1

 

FORM OF AGREEMENT AND CONSENT OF SPOUSE

 

The undersigned spouse of _____________________________ (the “Member”), a party to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), dated as of [  ], 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”) by and among the Company, Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation and the sole managing member of the Company, and each of the Members from time to time party thereto (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), acknowledges on his or her own behalf that:

 

I have read the Agreement and understand its contents. I acknowledge and understand that under the Agreement, any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in the Units owned by the Member is subject to the terms of the Agreement, which include certain restrictions on Transfer.

 

I hereby consent to and approve the Agreement. I agree that said Units and any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in such Units are subject to the provisions of the Agreement and that I will take no action at any time to hinder operation of the Agreement on said Units or any interest I may have, community property or otherwise, in said Units.

 

I hereby acknowledge that the meaning and legal consequences of the Agreement have been explained fully to me and are understood by me, and that I am signing this Agreement and consent without any duress and of free will.

 

Dated: _____________________________

 

  [NAME OF SPOUSE]
     
  By:         
  Name:

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B-2

 

FORM OF SPOUSE’S CONFIRMATION OF SEPARATE PROPERTY

 

I, the undersigned, the spouse of _____________________________ (the “Member”), who is a party to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), dated as of [  ], 2023 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Agreement”) by and among the Company, Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation and the sole managing member of the Company, and each of the Members from time to time party thereto (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Agreement), acknowledge and confirm that the Units owned by said Member are the sole and separate property of said Member, and I hereby disclaim any interest in same.

 

I hereby acknowledge that the meaning and legal consequences of this Member’s spouse’s confirmation of separate property have been fully explained to me and are understood by me, and that I am signing this Member’s spouse’s confirmation of separate property without any duress and of free will.

 

Dated: _____________________________

 

  [NAME OF SPOUSE]
     
  By:         
  Name:

 

 

 

 

Exhibit C

 

POLICY REGARDING CERTAIN EQUITY ISSUANCES

 

[see attached]

 

 

 

 

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

 

2023 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

 

Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances

 

All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the 2023 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”).

 

Pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 10.17 of the Plan, this Policy Regarding Certain Equity Issuances (this “Policy”), effective as of [ ● ], 2023, is established to provide for the method by which shares of Common Stock or other securities and/or payment therefor may be exchanged or contributed between Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Corporation”) and Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (the “Operating Company”), or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or may be returned to the Corporation upon any forfeiture of such shares of Common Stock or other securities by the Participant, for the purpose of (i) ensuring that the relationship between the Corporation, the Operating Company and their respective Subsidiaries remains at arm’s-length, and (ii) maintaining economic parity between one share of Class A Common Stock and one Common Unit (as defined in the Operating Agreement) by preserving the one-to-one ratio between (x) the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock and (y) the number of Common Units held by the Corporation.

 

In the event of any conflict between the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, dated as of [ ● ], 2023 (the “Operating Agreement”) or the Plan and this Policy, the Operating Agreement or the Plan, as applicable, will control. In the event of any conflict between the Operating Agreement and the Plan, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the Operating Agreement will control. This Policy may be modified, supplemented or terminated at any time and from time to time in the Corporation’s discretion.

 

For purposes of this Policy, where this Policy refers to a Service Provider who is an Operating Company Service Provider (as defined below) or is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, all such references shall be deemed to include a former employee of or service provider to the Operating Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, who at the time of grant of the relevant award was then an employee or service provider of such entity.

 

1. Restricted Stock Awards

 

a. Transfers of Restricted Stock to Corporation Employees, Corporation Consultants or Corporation Directors. The following shall apply to Restricted Stock granted under the Plan to Employees and Consultants of the Corporation and Directors (collectively, “Corporation Service Providers”) in consideration for services performed by such Corporation Service Providers for the Corporation (but not for the Operating Company or its Subsidiaries):

 

i. Issuance of Restricted Stock.

 

A. The Corporation shall issue such number of shares of Restricted Stock as are to be issued to the Corporation Service Provider in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

B. Concurrently with or prior to such issuance, a Corporation Service Provider shall pay the purchase price (if any) of the Restricted Stock to the Corporation in exchange for the issuance of the Restricted Stock.

 

 

 

 

 

C. Prior to the Vesting Date (as defined below), the Corporation shall pay dividends to the holder of the Restricted Stock and make any other payments to the Corporation Service Provider (less any applicable withholding and other payroll taxes) as the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement provide for. The Corporation and the Operating Company shall treat such payments as having been made by the Corporation, and the Corporation shall report such payments as compensation to the Corporation Service Provider for all purposes. Prior to the Vesting Date (as defined below), the Operating Company shall pay to, or with respect to, the Corporation the amount of any such payments that the Corporation is required to pay to or with respect to the Corporation Service Provider as a reimbursement of Corporation expenses pursuant to Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement.

 

ii. Vesting of Restricted Stock. On the date when the value of any share of Restricted Stock is includible in the taxable income (with respect to each such share, the “Vesting Date”) of the Corporation Service Provider, the following events shall occur or be deemed to have occurred:

 

A. If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall be deemed to or actually reimburse the Corporation for the compensation expense equal to, or with respect to, the amount includible in the taxable income of the Corporation Service Provider.

 

B. The Operating Company shall issue to the Corporation on the Vesting Date a number of Common Units (as defined in the Operating Agreement) equal to the number of such shares of Restricted Stock (or portion thereof) that are includible in the taxable income of the Corporation Service Provider as of the applicable Vesting Date and any Restricted Stock (or portion thereof) purchased by the Corporation Service Provider in consideration for a deemed or actual Capital Contribution (as defined in the Operating Agreement) from the Corporation in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the per-Common Unit Fair Market Value (as defined in the Operating Agreement).

 

b. Transfers of Restricted Stock to Employees and other Service Providers of the Operating Company. The following shall apply to Restricted Stock granted under the Plan to Employees and other Service Providers of the Operating Company or its Subsidiaries (each, “Operating Company Service Providers”) in consideration for services performed by such Operating Company Service Providers for the Operating Company or its Subsidiaries:

 

i. Issuance of Restricted Stock.

 

A. The Corporation shall issue such number of shares of Restricted Stock as are to be issued to the Operating Company Service Provider in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

B. Concurrently with or prior to such issuance, an Operating Company Service Provider shall pay the purchase price (if any) of the Restricted Stock to the Corporation in exchange for the issuance of the Restricted Stock.

 

C. The Corporation shall transfer any such purchase price to the Operating Company (and, if the Operating Company Service Provider is an Employee or other Service Provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, the Operating Company shall transfer such purchase price to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company).For tax purposes, any such purchase price shall be treated as paid by the Operating Company Service Provider to the Operating Company (or an applicable Subsidiary) as the employer of the Employee or the recipient of the Consultant’s services (i.e., not a capital contribution).

 

 

 

 

 

D. Prior to the Vesting Date, the Corporation shall pay dividends to the holder of the Restricted Stock and make any other payments to the Operating Company Service Provider (less any applicable withholding and other payroll taxes) as provided by the terms of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement, provided that the Operating Company (or, if the Operating Company Service Provider is an Employee or other Service Providers of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, the Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall reimburse the Corporation for such amounts, handle any applicable withholding and deduct such amounts as compensation. In order to effectuate the foregoing, in addition to the Operating Company’s distributions to the Corporation with respect to the Common Units held by the Corporation, the Operating Company (or the applicable Subsidiary) shall make an additional payment to the Corporation in the amount of this reimbursement, which shall not be treated as a partnership distribution. Such dividend or other payments shall be treated as having been made by the Operating Company (or the applicable Subsidiary), and not by the Corporation, to such Operating Company Service Provider, and the Operating Company (or the applicable Subsidiary) shall report such payments as compensation to the Operating Company Service Provider for all purposes.

 

ii. Vesting of Restricted Stock. On the Vesting Date of any shares of Restricted Stock of the Operating Company Service Provider, the following events shall occur or be deemed to have occurred:

 

A. The Corporation shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Operating Company Service Provider is an Employee or other Service Provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Corporation, such shares of Restricted Stock (or portion thereof) that are includible in the taxable income of the Operating Company Service Provider on such Vesting Date (the “Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock”), which shall not include any Restricted Stock (or portion thereof) purchased by the Operating Company Service Provider. The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Corporation for Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the Vesting Date.

 

B. The Operating Company (or any Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation.

 

C. The Operating Company shall issue to the Corporation on the Vesting Date a number of Common Units equal to (i) the number of shares of Operating Company Purchased Restricted Stock in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the per-Common Unit Fair Market Value and (ii) the number of shares of Restricted Stock (or portion thereof) purchased by the Operating Company Service Provider in consideration for the Capital Contribution from the Corporation of any purchase price paid by the Operating Company Service Provider for the applicable Restricted Stock (or portion thereof) to the Corporation. In the case where an Operating Company Service Provider is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, then the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Restricted Stock Unit and Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. The following shall apply to all Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock or Cash Based Awards (other than cash awards) granted under the Plan and settled in shares of Common Stock:

 

a. Transfers of Common Stock to Corporation Service Providers. The Corporation shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to the Corporation Service Provider in accordance with the terms of the Plan and any Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award to a Corporation Service Provider in accordance with Section 6.3 or Article VII of the Plan. As soon as reasonably practicable after such Award is settled, with respect to each such settlement:

 

i. If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall be deemed to or actually reimburse the Corporation for the compensation expense equal to, or with respect to, the amount includible in the taxable income of the Corporation Service Provider with respect to such Award.

 

ii. The Operating Company shall issue to the Corporation on the date of settlement a number of Common Units equal to the number of shares of Common Stock issued in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the per-Common Unit Fair Market Value.

 

b. Transfer of Common Stock to Operating Company Service Providers. The Corporation shall issue such number of shares of Common Stock as are to be issued to an Operating Company Service Provider in accordance with the terms of the Plan and any Restricted Stock Unit or applicable Other Stock or Cash Based Award to an Operating Company Service Provider in accordance with Section 6.3 or Article VII of the Plan. As soon as reasonably practicable after such Award is settled, with respect to each such settlement:

 

i. The Corporation shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Operating Company Service Provider is an Employee or other Service Provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Corporation, the number of shares of Common Stock (the “Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares”) equal to the number issued in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Corporation for Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of settlement.

 

 

 

 

 

ii. The Operating Company (or Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer such shares of Common Stock to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation.

 

iii. The Operating Company shall issue to the Corporation on the date of settlement a number of Common Units equal to the number of Operating Company Purchased RSU/Other Award Shares in consideration for a deemed Capital Contribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the number of Common Units issued in accordance with this section, multiplied by the per-Common Unit Fair Market Value. In the case where an Operating Company Service Provider is an employee or service provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company.

 

c. Other Full-Value Awards. To the extent the Corporation grants full-value Awards (other than Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Other Stock and Cash Based Awards), the provisions of this Section 2 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to such full-value Awards, to the extent applicable (as determined by the Administrator).

 

3. Stock Options. The following shall apply to Options granted under the Plan:

 

a. Transfer of Common Stock to Corporation Service Providers. As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Corporation, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Plan, of payment for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Option (which in the case of a Corporation Service Provider was issued to and is held by such Participant in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is a Corporation Service Provider:

 

i. The Corporation shall transfer to the holder of such Option the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option (or portion thereof) that is exercised subject to the terms of the Plan.

 

ii. The Corporation, shall, as soon as practicable after such exercise, make a Capital Contribution to the Operating Company in an amount equal to the exercise price paid to the Corporation by such Participant in connection with the exercise of the Option. If required by Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement, the Operating Company shall reimburse the Corporation for the compensation expense equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock then being issued in connection with the exercise of such Option less the exercise price paid to the Corporation by such Participant in connection with the exercise of the Option. Notwithstanding the amount of the Capital Contribution actually made pursuant to this Section 3(a)(ii), the Corporation shall be deemed to have contributed in the aggregate to the Operating Company as a Capital Contribution, inclusive of any Capital Contribution actually made, an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of exercise multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock then being issued in connection with the exercise of such Option.

 

iii. The Operating Company shall issue to the Corporation, on the date of the issuance of any Common Stock described in Section 3(a)(i) hereof, a number of Common Units equal to the number of issued shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) hereof, in consideration for the Capital Contributions described in Section 3(a)(ii) hereof.

 

 

 

 

 

b. Transfer of Common Stock to Operating Company Service Providers. As soon as reasonably practicable after receipt by the Corporation, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Plan, of payment for the shares of Common Stock with respect to which an Option (which was issued to and is held by an Operating Company Service Provider in such capacity), or portion thereof, is exercised by a Participant who is an Operating Company Service Provider:

 

i. The Corporation shall transfer to the Participant the total number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Option was exercised subject to the terms of the Plan (the “Total Purchased Shares”). Of the Total Purchased Shares, the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be deemed to be transferred directly to the Participant shall be equal to (A) the amount of the exercise price paid by the Participant to the Corporation pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Plan (the “Exercise Price Paid”) divided by (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of exercise (the “Operating Company Holder Purchased Shares”).

 

ii. The Corporation shall be deemed to sell to the Operating Company (or, if the Operating Company Service Provider is an Employee or other Service Provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, to such Subsidiary of the Operating Company), and the Operating Company (or such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to purchase from the Corporation, the number of shares of Common Stock (the “Operating Company Purchased Option Shares”) equal to the excess of (A) the number of Total Purchased Shares, over (B) the number of Operating Company Holder Purchased Shares. The deemed price paid by the Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) to the Corporation for Operating Company Purchased Option Shares shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the number of Operating Company Purchased Option Shares and (y) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock at the time of the exercise.

 

iii. The Operating Company (or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall be deemed to transfer the Operating Company Purchased Option Shares to the Participant at no additional cost, as additional compensation.

 

iv. The Operating Company shall issue to the Corporation on the date of exercise a number of Common Units equal to the sum of the number of Total Purchased Shares in consideration for (i) a deemed Capital Contribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the number of Operating Company Purchased Option Shares, multiplied by the per-Common Unit Fair Market Value and (ii) a Capital Contribution from the Corporation in amount equal to the Exercise Price Paid. In the case where an Operating Company Service Provider is an Employee or other Service Provider to a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, the Operating Company shall be deemed to have contributed such amount to the capital of such Subsidiary of the Operating Company.

 

c. Stock Appreciation Rights. To the extent the Corporation grants any Stock Appreciation Rights, the provisions of this Section 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to such Stock Appreciation Rights, to the extent applicable (as determined by the Administrator).

 

4. Dividend Equivalent Awards. The following shall apply to Dividend Equivalents granted under the Plan:

 

a. The Corporation shall make any payments to a Corporation Service Provider under the terms of the Dividend Equivalent award, provided that the Corporation and the Operating Company shall treat such payments as having been made by the Corporation, and the Corporation shall report such payments as compensation to the Corporation Service Provider for all purposes. The Operating Company shall pay to the Corporation the amount of any such payments that the Corporation is required to pay to, or with respect to, the Corporation Service Provider as a reimbursement of Corporation expenses pursuant to Section 6.06 of the Operating Agreement.

 

 

 

 

 

b. The Corporation shall make any payments to an Operating Company Service Provider (less any applicable withholding and other payroll taxes) under the terms of the Dividend Equivalent award, provided that the Operating Company (or, if the Operating Company Service Provider is an Employee or other Service Provider of a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, such Subsidiary of the Operating Company) shall reimburse the Corporation for such amounts, handle any applicable withholding and deduct such amounts as compensation. In order to effectuate the foregoing, in addition to the Operating Company’s (or the applicable Subsidiary’s) distributions to the Corporation with respect to Common Units held by the Corporation, the Operating Company (or the applicable Subsidiary) shall make an additional payment to the Corporation in the amount of this reimbursement, which shall not be treated as a partnership distribution. Such payments shall be treated as having been made by the Operating Company (or the applicable Subsidiary), and not by the Corporation, to such Operating Company Service Provider, and the Operating Company (or the applicable Subsidiary) shall report such payments as compensation to such Operating Company Service Provider for all purposes.

 

5. Forfeiture, Surrender or Repurchase of Common Stock. If any shares of Common Stock granted under the Plan are (a) forfeited or surrendered by any Service Provider eligible to participate in the Plan (an “Eligible Service Provider”) or (b) repurchased from any Eligible Service Provider by the Corporation, the Operating Company or a Subsidiary, (i) the shares of Common Stock forfeited, surrendered or repurchased shall be returned to the Corporation, (ii) the Corporation (or, if the Eligible Service Provider is an Operating Company Service Provider, the Operating Company or a Subsidiary of the Operating Company, as applicable) shall pay the repurchase price (if any) of the repurchased shares of Common Stock to such Eligible Service Provider, and (iii) if corresponding Common Units had theretofore been issued in respect of the shares of Common Stock that were so forfeited, surrendered or repurchased, the Operating Company shall, contemporaneously with such forfeiture, surrender or repurchase of shares of Common Stock, redeem or repurchase a number of the Common Units held by the Corporation equal to the number of forfeited, surrendered or repurchased shares of Common Stock, such redemption or repurchase to be upon the same terms and for the same price per Common Unit as such shares of Common Stock are forfeited, surrendered or repurchased.

 

 

 


Exhibit 10.4

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made as of [●], 2023 by and among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the Corporation), and each Person identified on the Schedule of Holders attached hereto as of the date hereof (such Persons, collectively, the Holders).
 
RECITALS
 
WHEREAS, the Corporation is contemplating an offer and sale of its shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Class A Common Stock and such shares, the Shares), to the public in an underwritten initial public offering (the IPO);
 
WHEREAS, the Corporation desires to use a portion of the net proceeds from the IPO to purchase Common Units (as defined below) of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Company), and the Company desires to issue its Common Units to the Corporation in exchange for such portion of the net proceeds from the IPO;
 
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the consummation of the issuance of Common Units by the Company to the Corporation, the Holders and certain other Persons that hold equity interests in the Company are the sole members of the Company (the Holders, together with such other Persons, the Original Equity Owners);
 
WHEREAS, prior to the purchase by the Corporation of the Common Units, the Corporation, the Company and the Original Equity Owners will enter into that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company (such agreement, as it may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified form time to time, the LLC Agreement);
 
WHEREAS, in connection with the closing of the IPO, (i) the Corporation will become the sole managing member of the Company, (ii) under the LLC Agreement, the equity interests held by the Original Equity Owners prior to such time will be recapitalized into Common Units (as defined in the LLC Agreement, the Common Units) of the Company, (iii) each Person identified on the Schedule of Holders attached hereto as a Holder” and certain other Original Equity Owners will remain or become non‑managing members of the Company, but otherwise continue to hold Common Units in the Company (such persons, collectively, the Continuing Equity Owners), and (iv) in consideration of the Corporation acquiring the Common Units and becoming the managing member of the Company and for other good consideration, the Company has provided the Continuing Equity Owners with a redemption right pursuant to which the Continuing Equity Owners can redeem their Common Units for, at the Corporations option, shares of Class A Common Stock or cash on the terms set forth in the LLC Agreement; and
 
WHEREAS, in connection with the IPO and the transactions described above, the Corporation has agreed to grant to the Holders certain rights with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement hereby agree as follows:
 
Section 1.       Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1:

Affiliate of any Person means any other Person controlled by, controlling or under common control with such Person; provided that the Corporation and its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of any Holder. As used in this definition, control (including, with its correlative meanings, controlling, controlled by and under common control with) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities, by contract or otherwise).
 
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Automatic Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
 
Black Out Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 14.
 
Business Day means any day of the year on which national banking institutions in New York are open to the public for conducting business and are not required or authorized to close.
 
Capital Stock means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests or equivalents in capital stock of such corporation (whether voting or nonvoting and whether common or preferred), (ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, individual or governmental entity, any and all partnership, membership, limited liability company or other equity interests of such Person that confer on the holder thereof the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or the distribution of assets of the issuing Person, and (iii) any and all warrants, rights (including conversion and exchange rights) and options to purchase any security described in the clause (i) or (ii) above.
 
Class A Common Stock has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Class B Common Stock means the Corporations Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
 
Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Common Units has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Company has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Continuing Equity Owners has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Corporation has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Demand Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
 
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End of Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii).
 
Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
 
Free Writing Prospectus” means the free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
 
Holder has the meaning set forth in the recitals and any Person that is a party to this Agreement from time to time, as set forth on the signature pages hereto.
 
Indemnified Party has the meaning set forth in Section 8(c).
 
Indemnifying Party has the meaning set forth in Section 8(c).
 
IPO has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
LLC Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Long-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
 
Majority of the Registrable Securities” means, with respect to any group of Registrable Securities described in this Agreement, the Holders of a majority of such group of Registrable Securities.
 
MNPI” means material non-public information within the meaning of Regulation FD promulgated under the Exchange Act.
 
Original Equity Owners has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Person means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.
 
Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
 
Public Offering” means any sale or distribution to the public of Capital Stock of the Corporation pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act, whether by the Corporation, by Holders and/or by any other holders of the Corporation’s Capital Stock.
 
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Registrable Securities means (i) any Class A Common Stock issued or issuable by the Corporation in a Share Settlement in connection with (x) the redemption by the Company of Common Units owned by any Holder or (y) at the election of the Corporation, in a direct exchange for Common Units owned by any Holder, in each case in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement, (ii) any Capital Stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary of the Corporation issued or issuable with respect to the securities referred to in clause (i) above by way of dividend, distribution, split or combination of securities, or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization, and (iii) any other Shares owned (or which may be acquired upon exercise or conversion of any securities held), directly or indirectly, by Holders. As to any particular Registrable Securities owned by any Person, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities on the date such securities (a) have been sold or distributed pursuant to a Public Offering, (b) have been sold in compliance with Rule 144 following the consummation of the IPO, (c) have been repurchased by the Corporation or a Subsidiary of the Corporation or (d) may be disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 in a single transaction without volume limitation or other restrictions on transfer thereunder. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a Holder, and the Registrable Securities shall be deemed to be in existence, whenever such Person has the right to acquire, directly or indirectly, such Registrable Securities (upon conversion or exercise in connection with a transfer of securities or otherwise, but disregarding any restrictions or limitations upon the exercise of such right), whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected, and such Person shall be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of Registrable Securities hereunder; provided a holder of Registrable Securities may only request that Registrable Securities in the form of Capital Stock of the Corporation that is registered or to be registered as a class under Section 12 of the Exchange Act be registered pursuant to this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, while Common Units and/or shares of Class B Common Stock may constitute Registrable Securities, under no circumstances shall the Corporation be obligated to register Common Units or shares of Class B Common Stock, and only Shares issuable upon redemption, exchange or conversion of Common Units or Class B Common Stock will be registered.
 
Registration Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.
 
Rule 144,” “Rule 158,” “Rule 405” and “Rule 415” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) by the Commission, as the same shall be amended from time to time, or any successor rule then in force.
 
Schedule of Holders means the schedule attached to this Agreement entitled Schedule of Holders, which shall reflect each Holder from time to time party to this Agreement.
 
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor federal law then in force, together with all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
Share Settlement means Share Settlement as defined in the LLC Agreement.
 
Shares has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
 
Shelf Offering” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).
 
Shelf Offering Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).
 
Shelf Offering Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).
 
Shelf Registrable Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii)
 
Shelf Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
 
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Shelf Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i).
 
Short-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).
 
Subsidiary means, with respect to the Corporation, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, or (ii) if a limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity, either (x) a majority of the Capital Stock of such Person entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of managers, general partners or other oversight board vested with the authority to direct management of such Person is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation or (y) the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole manager or general partner of such Person.
 
Suspension Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii).
 
Suspension Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(ii).
 
Suspension Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(f)(i).
 
Underwritten Takedown” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii).
 
WKSI” means a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.
 
Section 2.       Demand Registrations.

(a)        Requests for Registration. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any lock-up agreement executed with the underwriters in connection with the IPO, each Original Equity Owner may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-1 or any similar long-form registration (“Long-Form Registrations”), and each Original Equity Owner may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of their Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (“Short-Form Registrations”) if available; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to file registration statements relating to any Long-Form Registration or Short-Form Registration under this Section 2(a) unless the market value of the Registrable Securities proposed to be registered is at least $15 million (or, if less, such Registrable Securities represent all Registrable Securities then held by the Original Equity Owner requesting such registration). All registrations requested pursuant to this Section 2(a) are referred to herein as “Demand Registrations.” The Original Equity Owner making a Demand Registration may request that the registration be made pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration”) and, if the Corporation is a WKSI at the time any request for a Demand Registration is submitted to the Corporation, that such Shelf Registration be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (an “Automatic Shelf Registration Statement”). Except to the extent that Section 2(d) applies, upon receipt of the request for the Demand Registration, the Corporation shall as promptly as reasonably practicable (but in no event later than ten days after receipt of the request for the Demand Registration) give written notice of the Demand Registration to all other Holders who hold Registrable Securities and, subject to the terms of Section 2(e), shall include in such Demand Registration (and in all related registrations and qualifications under state blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within (i) 15 days, in the case of any notice with respect to a Long-Form Registration, or (ii) ten days, in the case of any notice with respect to a Short-Form Registration, after the receipt of the Corporation’s notice. Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the notice of Demand Registration and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such notice of Demand Registration without the prior written consent of the Corporation or until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be required to take any action that would otherwise be required under this Section 2 or any similar provision contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with any underwritten Public Offering.
 
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(b)         Long-Form Registrations. The Original Equity Owners shall be entitled to request, in any twelve-month period, two Long-Form Registrations in which the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated. All Long-Form Registrations shall be underwritten registrations unless otherwise approved by the applicable Original Equity Owner.
 
(c)         Short-Form Registrations. In addition to the Long-Form Registrations described in Section 2(b), each Original Equity Owner shall be entitled to request an unlimited number of Short-Form Registrations in which the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses, regardless of whether any registration statement is filed or any such Demand Registration is consummated. Demand Registrations shall be Short-Form Registrations whenever the Corporation is permitted to use any applicable short form and if the managing underwriters (if any) agree to the use of a Short-Form Registration. After the Corporation has become subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to make Short-Form Registrations available for the sale of Registrable Securities.
 
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(d)         Shelf Registrations.
 
(i)       Subject to the availability of required financial information, as promptly as practicable after the Corporation receives written notice of a request for a Shelf Registration, the Corporation shall file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act for the Shelf Registration (a “Shelf Registration Statement”). The Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable after the initial filing of such Shelf Registration Statement, and once effective, the Corporation shall cause such Shelf Registration Statement to remain continuously effective for such time period as is specified in the request by the Holders, but for no time period longer than the period ending on the earliest of (A) the third anniversary of the initial effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement, (B) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, and (C) the date as of which there are no longer any Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement in existence. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to prepare a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to all of the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to the Original Equity Owner Parties in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement (or such other number of Registrable Securities specified in writing by the Holder with respect to the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder) to enable and cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be filed and maintained with the Commission as soon as practicable after the later to occur of (i) the expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as defined below) and (ii) the Corporation becoming eligible to file a Shelf Registration Statement for a Short-Form Registration; provided that any of the Original Equity Owners Parties may, with respect to itself, instruct the Corporation in writing not to include in such Shelf Registration Statement the Registrable Securities owned by or issuable to such Holder. In order for any of the Original Equity Owners to be named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement, the Corporation may require such Holder to deliver all information about such Holder that is required to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with applicable law, including Item 507 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2(d)(ii), any Holder that is named as a selling securityholder in such Shelf Registration Statement may make a secondary resale under such Shelf Registration Statement without the consent of the Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities or any other Holder if such resale does not require a supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement.
 
(ii)       In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is effective, Holders representing Registrable Securities either (a) with a market value of at least $25 million, or (b) that represent at least 10% of the aggregate market value of the Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement shall have the right at any time or from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an underwritten offering (an “Underwritten Takedown”)) Registrable Securities available for sale pursuant to such registration statement (“Shelf Registrable Securities”), so long as the Shelf Registration Statement remains in effect, and the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection therewith; provided that each Original Equity Owner shall have the right at any time and from time to time to elect to sell pursuant to an offering (including an Underwritten Takedown) pursuant to a Shelf Offering Request (as defined below) made by such Original Equity Owner. The applicable Holders shall make such election by delivering to the Corporation a written request (a “Shelf Offering Request”) for such offering specifying the number of Shelf Registrable Securities that such Holders desire to sell pursuant to such offering (the “Shelf Offering”). In the case of an Underwritten Takedown, as promptly as practicable, but no later than two Business Days after receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, the Corporation shall give written notice (the “Shelf Offering Notice”) of such Shelf Offering Request to all other holders of Shelf Registrable Securities. The Corporation, subject to Section 2(e) and Section 9 hereof, shall include in such Shelf Offering the Shelf Registrable Securities of any other Holder that shall have made a written request to the Corporation for inclusion in such Shelf Offering (which request shall specify the maximum number of Shelf Registrable Securities intended to be sold by such Holder) within five Business Days after the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice. The Corporation shall, as expeditiously as possible (and in any event within ten Business Days after the receipt of a Shelf Offering Request, unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities that made the Shelf Offering Request), use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Shelf Offering. Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Shelf Offering Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Shelf Offering Notice without the prior written consent of the Corporation or until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement.
 
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(iii)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Holder desires to effect a sale of Shelf Registrable Securities that does not constitute an Underwritten Takedown, the Holder shall deliver to the Corporation a Shelf Offering Request no later than two Business Days prior to the expected date of the sale of such Shelf Registrable Securities, and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2(d)(i), the Corporation shall file and effect an amendment or supplement to its Shelf Registration Statement for such purpose as soon as reasonably practicable.
 
(iv)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Original Equity Owner wishes to engage in an underwritten block trade off of a Shelf Registration Statement (either through filing an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement or through a take-down from an existing Shelf Registration Statement), then notwithstanding the foregoing time periods, such Holders only need to notify the Corporation of the block trade Shelf Offering two Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence (unless a longer period is agreed to by Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Corporation shall promptly notify other Holders and such other Holders must elect whether or not to participate by the next Business Day (i.e., one Business Day prior to the day such offering is to commence) (unless a longer period is agreed to by the Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade) and the Corporation shall as expeditiously as possible use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such offering (which may close as early as two Business Days after the date it commences); provided that Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the underwritten block trade shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Corporation and the underwriters prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the underwritten block trade.
 
(v)     The Corporation shall, at the request of Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, file any prospectus supplement or, if the applicable Shelf Registration Statement is an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, any post-effective amendments and otherwise take any action necessary to include therein all disclosure and language deemed necessary or advisable by such Holders to effect such Shelf Offering.
 
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(e)       Priority on Demand Registrations and Shelf Offerings. The Corporation shall not include in any Demand Registration or Shelf Offering any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration or offering. If a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering is an underwritten offering and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of Registrable Securities and, if permitted hereunder, other securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number of Registrable Securities and other securities, if any, that can be sold therein without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration or offering, as applicable, (i) first, the Registrable Securities of Holders requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the such Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein, (ii) second, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, and (iii) third, securities the Corporation requested to be included in such registration for its own account which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect. Alternatively, if the number of Registrable Securities which can be included on a Shelf Registration Statement is otherwise limited by Instruction I.B.6 to Form S-3 (or any successor provision thereto), the Corporation shall include in such registration or offering prior to the inclusion of any securities which are not Registrable Securities the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included which can be included on such Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-3, pro rata among the respective Holders thereof on the basis of the amount of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein.
 
(f)          Restrictions on Demand Registration and Shelf Offerings.
 
(i)    The Corporation shall not be obligated to effect any Demand Registration within 90 days after the effective date of a previous Demand Registration or a previous registration in which Registrable Securities were included pursuant to Section 3. The Corporation may postpone, for up to 60 days from the date of the request, the filing or the effectiveness of a registration statement for a Demand Registration or suspend the use of a prospectus that is part of a Shelf Registration Statement for up to 60 days from the date of the Suspension Notice (as defined below) and therefore suspend sales of the Shelf Registrable Securities (such period, the “Suspension Period”) by providing written notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities or Shelf Registrable Securities, as applicable, if (A) the Corporation’s board of directors determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that the offer or sale of Registrable Securities would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on any proposal or plan by the Corporation or any Subsidiary to engage in any material acquisition of assets or stock (other than in the ordinary course of business) or any material merger, consolidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization or other transaction involving the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (B) upon advice of counsel, the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement would require disclosure of MNPI not otherwise required to be disclosed under applicable law, and (C) either (x) the Corporation has a bona fide business purpose for preserving the confidentiality of such transaction or (y) disclosure of such MNPI would have a material adverse effect on the Corporation or the Corporation’s ability to consummate such transaction; provided that in such event, the Holders shall be entitled to withdraw such request for a Demand Registration or underwritten Shelf Offering and the Corporation shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such Demand Registration or Shelf Offering. The Corporation may delay a Demand Registration hereunder only once in any twelve-month period, except with the consent of each Original Equity Owner. The Corporation also may extend the Suspension Period with the consent of each Original Equity Owner.
 
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(ii)     In the case of an event that causes the Corporation to suspend the use of a Shelf Registration Statement as set forth in paragraph (f)(i) above or pursuant to applicable subsections of Section 5(a)(vi) (a “Suspension Event”), the Corporation shall give a notice to the Holders of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (a “Suspension Notice”) to suspend sales of the Registrable Securities and such notice shall state generally the basis for the notice and that such suspension shall continue only for so long as the Suspension Event or its effect is continuing. If the basis of such suspension is nondisclosure of MNPI, the Corporation shall not be required to disclose the subject matter of such MNPI to Holders. A Holder shall not effect any sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) at any time after it has received a Suspension Notice from the Corporation and prior to receipt of an End of Suspension Notice (as defined below). Each Holder agrees that such Holder shall treat as confidential the receipt of the Suspension Notice and shall not disclose or use the information contained in such Suspension Notice without the prior written consent of the Corporation or until such time as the information contained therein is or becomes available to the public generally, other than as a result of disclosure by the Holder in breach of the terms of this Agreement. Holders may recommence effecting sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (or such filings) following further written notice to such effect (an “End of Suspension Notice”) from the Corporation, which End of Suspension Notice shall be given by the Corporation to the Holders and their counsel, if any, promptly following the conclusion of any Suspension Event; provided that in no event shall an End of Suspension Notice be given after the end of the Suspension Period unless with the consent of each Original Equity Owner.
 
(iii)     Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Corporation gives a Suspension Notice with respect to any Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 2(f), the Corporation agrees that it shall (A) extend the period of time during which such Shelf Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from the date of receipt by the Holders of the Suspension Notice to and including the date of receipt by the Holders of the End of Suspension Notice, and (B) provide copies of any supplemented or amended prospectus necessary to resume sales, with respect to each Suspension Event; provided that such period of time shall not be extended beyond the date that there are no longer Registrable Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement.
 
(g)        Selection of Underwriters. Original Equity Owner(s) initiating any Demand Registration representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Demand Registration shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Corporation’s approval not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If any Shelf Offering is an Underwritten Takedown, the Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities participating in such Underwritten Takedown shall have the right to select the investment banker(s) and manager(s) to administer the offering relating to such Shelf Offering (including assignment of titles), subject to the Corporation’s approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
 
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(h)         Fulfillment of Registration Obligations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a registration requested pursuant to this Section 2 shall not be deemed to have been effected: (i) if the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in a Long-Form Registration by the initiating Original Equity Owner is cut back by the managing underwriters pursuant to Section 2(e) by more than twenty percent (20%); (ii) if the registration statement is withdrawn without becoming effective in accordance with Section 2(f) or otherwise without the consent of the initiating Original Equity Owner; (iii) if after it has become effective such registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or any other governmental authority for any reason other than a misrepresentation or an omission by the Holder making such Demand Registration, or an Affiliate of such Holder (other than the Corporation and its controlled Affiliates), and, as a result thereof, the Registrable Securities requested to be registered cannot be completely distributed in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in the related registration statement; (iv) if the registration does not contemplate an underwritten offering, if it does not remain effective for at least 180 days (or such shorter period as will terminate when all securities covered by such registration statement have been sold or withdrawn); or if such registration statement contemplates an underwritten offering, if it does not remain effective for at least 180 days plus such longer period as, in the opinion of counsel for the underwriter or underwriters, a prospectus is required by applicable law to be delivered in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer; or (v) in the event of an underwritten offering, if the conditions to closing (including any condition relating to an overallotment option) specified in the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement entered into in connection with such registration are not satisfied or waived other than by reason of some wrongful act or omission by the Holder that made the Demand Registration, or an Affiliate of such Holder.
 
(i)          Other Registration Rights. The Corporation represents and warrants that it is not a party to, or otherwise subject to, any other agreement granting registration rights to any other Person with respect to any securities of the Corporation. Except as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation shall not grant to any Persons the right to request the Corporation or any Subsidiary to register any Capital Stock of the Corporation or of any Subsidiary, or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such securities, without the prior written consent of each Original Equity Owner.
 
Section 3.        Piggyback Registrations.
 
(a)         Right to Piggyback. Following the IPO, whenever the Corporation proposes to register any of its securities under the Securities Act (other than (i) pursuant to a Demand Registration, (ii) in connection with registrations on Form S-4 or S-8 promulgated by the Commission or any successor or similar forms or (iii) a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of Registrable Securities) and the registration form to be used may be used for the registration of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Corporation shall give prompt written notice to all Holders who hold Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such Piggyback Registration and, subject to the terms of Section 3(c), shall include in such Piggyback Registration (and in all related registrations or qualifications under blue sky laws and in any related underwriting) all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Corporation has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten (10) days after delivery of the Corporation’s notice.
 
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(b)        Piggyback Expenses. The Registration Expenses of the Holders shall be paid by the Corporation in all Piggyback Registrations, whether or not any such registration became effective.
 
(c)       Priority on Primary Registrations. If a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten primary registration on behalf of the Corporation, and the managing underwriters advise the Corporation in writing that in their opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number which can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting the marketability, proposed offering price, timing or method of distribution of the offering, the Corporation shall include in such registration (i) first, the securities the Corporation proposes to sell, (ii) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect, pro rata among the Holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such Holder that such Holder of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein, and (iii) third, other securities requested to be included in such registration which, in the opinion of the underwriters, can be sold without any such adverse effect.
 
(d)         Selection of Underwriters. If any Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering, the selection of investment banker(s) and manager(s) for the offering shall be at the election of the Corporation (in the case of a primary registration) or at the election of the holders of other Corporation securities requesting such registration (in the case of a secondary registration); provided that Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities included in such Piggyback Registration may request that one or more investment banker(s) or manager(s) be included in such offering (such request not to be binding on the Corporation or such other initiating holders of Corporation securities).
 
(e)         Right to Terminate Registration. The Corporation shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 3 whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration. The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Corporation in accordance with Section 6.

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Section 4.      Lock-Up Agreements. In connection with the IPO, each Original Equity Owner (each a “Lock-Up Party”) has entered into a customary lock-up agreement with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several underwriters, pursuant to which each Lock-Up Party has agreed to certain restrictions relating to the shares of Capital Stock and certain other securities held by them (collectively, the “Lock-Up Restrictions”) during the period ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus issued in connection with the IPO (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”). In the event that the Representatives consent to the release from the Lock-Up Restrictions of any shares of Capital Stock (or other securities) held by a Lock-Up Party (any such party, the “Released Party,” and any shares of Capital Stock or other securities so released, the “Released Shares”), such Released Party hereby agrees not to sell or otherwise dispose of any Released Shares unless the same percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock held by each other Lock-Up Party (assuming the exchange of all membership interests of the Company for a corresponding number of shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the LLC Agreement) as is equal to the percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Released Party represented by the Released Shares (assuming the exchange of all membership interests of the Company for a corresponding number of shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the LLC Agreement) is immediately and fully released from any Lock-Up Restrictions on the same terms as the Released Shares. The Corporation may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Capital Stock and other securities subject to the Lock-Up Restrictions until the end of the Lock-Up Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, each Original Equity Owner shall be entitled to waive its rights hereunder.

Section 5.        Registration Procedures.

(a)        Whenever the Holders have requested that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to this Agreement or have initiated a Shelf Offering, (x) such Holders shall, if applicable, cause such Registrable Securities to be exchanged into shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the LLC Agreement prior to sale of such Registrable Securities and (y) the Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Corporation shall as expeditiously as possible:
 
(i)     in accordance with the Securities Act and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, prepare and file with the Commission (subject to the availability of required financial information) a registration statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and related prospectuses, with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective (provided that before filing a registration statement or prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the Corporation shall furnish to the counsel selected by the Original Equity Owner(s) initiating a Demand Registration or, in all other cases, the Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review and comment of such counsel);
 
(ii)      notify each holder of Registrable Securities of (A) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (B) the receipt by the Corporation or its counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (C) the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder;
 
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(iii)    prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period ending when all of the securities covered by such registration statement have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of distribution by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement (but in any event not before the expiration of any longer period required under the Securities Act or, if such registration statement relates to an underwritten Public Offering, such longer period as in the opinion of counsel for the underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sale of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;
 
(iv)    furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities thereunder such number of copies of such registration statement, each amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), each Free Writing Prospectus and such other documents as such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;
 
(v)     use its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any seller reasonably requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller (provided that the Corporation shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph, (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction or (C) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction);
 
(vi)     notify each seller of such Registrable Securities (A) promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the date and time when such registration statement and each post-effective amendment thereto has become effective or a prospectus or supplement to any prospectus relating to a registration statement has been filed and when any registration or qualification has become effective under a state securities or blue sky law or any exemption thereunder has been obtained, (B) promptly after receipt thereof, of any request by the Commission for the amendment or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for additional information and (C) at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, subject to Section 2(f), at the request of any such seller, the Corporation shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
 
(vii)    use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Corporation are then listed and, if not so listed, to be listed on a securities exchange and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to arrange for at least two market markers to register as such with respect to such Registrable Securities with FINRA;
 
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(viii)    use reasonable efforts to provide a transfer agent and registrar for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration statement;
 
(ix)      enter into and perform such customary agreements (including underwriting agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the underwriters, if any, reasonably request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, effecting a stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or reorganization);
 
(x)      make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such registration statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate and business documents and properties of the Corporation as shall be necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Corporation’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and independent accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration statement;
 
(xi)      take all reasonable actions to ensure that any Free-Writing Prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
 
(xii)     otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve months beginning with the first day of the Corporation’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the registration statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158;
 
(xiii)    to the extent that a Holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter of any Registrable Securities or a controlling person of the Corporation, permit such Holder to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and allow such Holder to provide language for insertion therein, in form and substance satisfactory to the Corporation, which in the reasonable judgment of such Holder and its counsel should be included;

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(xiv)   in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the issuance of any order suspending or preventing the use of any related prospectus or suspending the qualification of any Class A Common Stock included in such registration statement for sale in any jurisdiction, use reasonable efforts promptly to obtain the withdrawal of such order;
 
(xv)    use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to enable the sellers thereof to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
 
(xvi)    cooperate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and the managing underwriter or agent, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing securities to be sold under the registration statement and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter, or agent, if any, or such Holders may request;
 
(xvii)   cooperate with each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and each underwriter or agent participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA;
 
(xviii)  use its reasonable best efforts to make available the executive officers of the Corporation to participate with the Holders of Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement and any underwriters in any “road shows” or other selling efforts that may be reasonably requested by the Holders in connection with the methods of distribution for the Registrable Securities;
 
(xix)   in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to obtain one or more cold comfort letters from the Corporation’s independent public accountants in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by cold comfort letters as the Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities being sold reasonably request;
 
(xx)    in the case of any underwritten Public Offering, use its reasonable best efforts to provide a legal opinion of the Corporation’s outside counsel, dated the closing date of the Public Offering, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by legal opinions of such nature, which opinion shall be addressed to the underwriters and the Holders of such Registrable Securities being sold;
 
(xxi)   if the Corporation files an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering any Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to remain a WKSI (and not become an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act)) during the period during which such Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is required to remain effective;
 
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(xxii)   if the Corporation does not pay the filing fee covering the Registrable Securities at the time an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement is filed, pay such fee at such time or times as the Registrable Securities are to be sold; and
 
(xxiii)  if the Automatic Shelf Registration Statement has been outstanding for at least three (3) years, at the end of the third year, file a new Automatic Shelf Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities, and, if at any time when the Corporation is required to re-evaluate its WKSI status the Corporation determines that it is not a WKSI, use its reasonable efforts to refile the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 and, if such form is not available, Form S-1 and keep such registration statement effective during the period during which such registration statement is required to be kept effective.
 
(b)        Any officer of the Corporation who is a Holder agrees that if and for so long as he or she is employed by the Corporation or any Subsidiary thereof, he or she shall participate fully in the sale process in a manner customary and reasonable for persons in like positions and consistent with his or her other duties with the Corporation and in accordance with applicable law, including the preparation of the registration statement and the preparation and presentation of any road shows.
 
(c)        The Corporation may require each Holder requesting, or electing to participate in, any registration to furnish the Corporation such information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Corporation may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
 
If the Original Equity Owners  or any of their respective Affiliates seek to effectuate an in-kind distribution of all or part of their respective Registrable Securities to their respective direct or indirect equityholders, the Corporation shall, subject to any applicable lock-ups, work with the foregoing persons to facilitate such in-kind distribution in the manner reasonably requested and such distributees shall have the right to become a party to this Agreement by the joinder in the form of Exhibit A hereto and thereby have all of the rights of such Original Equity Owners  under this Agreement, other than the Demand Registration rights of an Original Equity Owner.
 
Section 6.     Registration Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incurred in connection with any registration pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, exchange listing fees, printing expenses, transfer taxes, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company and the reasonable fees and expenses of one counsel selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in such registration to represent them, state securities or Blue Sky fees and expenses, and the expense of any special audits incident to or required by any such registration, but excluding underwriting discounts and selling commissions relating to the sale of the Registrable Securities.
 
Section 7.       Notification. The Company shall promptly notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by any registration statement of any event that results in the prospectus included in such registration statement or such registration statement, as then in effect, containing an untrue statement of a material fact or omitting to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing.
 
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Section 8.       Indemnification and Contribution.
 
(a)        Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder included in any registration, its officers, directors, managers, members, partners and Affiliates, each underwriter of the Registrable Securities being sold by such Holder, and each controlling person of any of the foregoing, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any prospectus, offering, circular, or other document relating to such Registrable Securities (or in any related registration statement, notification or the like) or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any other law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance contemplated by this Agreement, and will reimburse each such Holder, each of its officers, directors, managers, members, partners and affiliates, and each such underwriter and controlling person for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, whether or not resulting in liability: provided, however, that (A) the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such claim, loss, damage, liability, action or proceeding if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) except that no such consent shall be required if the settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party, and (B) the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage or liability (i) arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder or underwriter and stated to be specifically for use therein, or (ii) results solely from the failure of such Holder to deliver a copy of the registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such Holder with a sufficient number of copies thereof.
 
(b)         Indemnification by the Holders of Registrable Securities. Each participating Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who has signed the registration statement, each underwriter of the Registrable Securities, each other participating Holder, its officers, directors, managers, members, partners and affiliates, and each controlling person of any of the foregoing, against all claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact concerning such Holder contained in any prospectus, offering circular or other document relating to the Registrable Securities (or in any related registration statement, notification or the like) or any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact concerning such Holder required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein concerning such Holder not misleading, and will reimburse the Company and each such director, officer, manager, member, other participating Holder, partner, affiliate or controlling person referred to above for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that no Holder will be liable in any such case except to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage or liability arises out of any untrue statement or omission based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder and stated to be specifically for use therein; and provided, further, that no Holder will be liable under this Section for losses, costs, damages or expenses exceeding in the aggregate the net proceeds paid to such Holder in such offering.
 
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(c)         Procedures for Indemnification. Each party entitled to indemnification under Section 9(a) or (b) (the “Indemnified Party”) shall give notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the “Indemnifying Party”) promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom; provided, that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party; and, provided, further, that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Agreement. The Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such party’s expense; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall pay such expenses if the Indemnified Party shall believe in good faith that representation of such Indemnified Party by the counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between the Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation, and no Indemnified Party shall consent to entry of any judgment or settle such claim or litigation without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
 
(d)        Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or (b) is unavailable to any Indemnified Party thereunder in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in such Sections, then each Person that would have been an Indemnifying Party thereunder shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and such Indemnified Party on the other. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Indemnifying Party or such Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission, or whether such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arose out of the action or failure to act of one or more of such parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) no Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the net proceeds paid to such Holder in respect of all Registrable Securities sold by such Holder pursuant to such registration statement, and (B) no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
 
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(e)         Reports Under Exchange Act. With a view to making available to the Holders the benefits of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a Holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor form), the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to satisfy the requirements of all such rules and regulations (including the requirements for public information, registration under the Exchange Act and timely reporting to the Commission) at the earliest possible date (but in any event not later than 90 days) after the effective date of the registration statement for its first registered public offering. The Company will furnish to each Holder, whenever requested, a written statement as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, a copy of its most recent annual or quarterly report, and such other reports and information filed by the Company as such Holder may reasonably request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration.
 
Section 9.      Additional Parties; Joinder. Subject to the prior written consent of each Controlling Holder, the Corporation may make any Person who acquires Class A Common Stock or rights to acquire Class A Common Stock from the Corporation after the date hereof (including without limitation any Person who acquires Common Units) a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “Additional Holder”) and to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of a Holder under this Agreement by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Holder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Upon the execution and delivery of a Joinder by such Additional Holder, the Class A Common Stock of the Corporation acquired by such Additional Holder or issuable upon redemption or exchange of Common Units acquired by such Additional Holder (the “Acquired Common”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein, such Additional Holder shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to the Acquired Common, and the Corporation shall add such Additional Holder’s name and address to the Schedule of Holders and circulate such information to the parties to this Agreement.
 
Section 9.       Underwritten Registrations.
 
(a)        Participation. No Person may participate in any Public Offering hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements (including, without limitation, pursuant to any over-allotment or “green shoe” option requested by the underwriters; provided that no Holder shall be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities such Holder has requested to include) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements, custody agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Each Holder shall execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Corporation and the lead managing underwriter(s) that are consistent with such Holder’s obligations under Section 4, Section 5 and this Section 9(a) or that are necessary to give further effect thereto. To the extent that any such agreement is entered into pursuant to, and consistent with, Section 4 and this Section 9(a), the respective rights and obligations created under such agreement shall supersede the respective rights and obligations of the Holders, the Corporation and the underwriters created pursuant to this Section 9(a).
 
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(b)        Price and Underwriting Discounts. In the case of an underwritten Demand Registration or Underwritten Takedown requested by the Holders pursuant to this Agreement, the price, underwriting discount and other financial terms of the related underwriting agreement for the Registrable Securities shall be determined by the Holders representing a Majority of the Registrable Securities included in such underwritten offering.
 
(c)       Suspended Distributions. Each Person that is participating in any registration under this Agreement, upon receipt of any notice from the Corporation of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5(a)(vi)(B) or (C), shall immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi). In the event the Corporation has given any such notice, the applicable time period set forth in Section 5(a)(iii) during which a registration statement is to remain effective shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to this Section 9(c) to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 5(a)(vi).
 
Section 10.     Rule 144. At all times after the Corporation has filed a registration statement with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Corporation shall file all reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, including (i) instructing the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities to remove restrictive legends from any Registrable Securities sold pursuant to Rule 144 (to the extent such removal is permitted under Rule 144 and other applicable law), and (ii) cooperating with the Holder of such Registrable Securities to facilitate the transfer of such securities through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, in such amounts and credited to such accounts as such Holder may request (or, if applicable, the preparation and delivery of certificates representing such securities, in such denominations and registered in such names as such Holder may request), all to the extent required to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities pursuant to Rule 144. Upon request, the Corporation shall deliver to any Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
 
Section 11.     Registration Rights of Others. The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, grant to any other Person the right to (a) require the Company to initiate the registration of any securities, or (b) require the Company to include in any registration securities owned by such Person, unless under the terms of such arrangement such Person may include securities in such registration only to the extent that the inclusion thereof does not limit the number of Registrable Securities included therein or adversely affect the offering price thereof. The Company represents and warrants that it has not granted any Person other than the parties hereto the right to require the Company to initiate the registration of any securities or include in any registration any securities owned by such Person.
 
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Section 12.    Transfer of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except in the case of (i) a transfer to the Corporation, (ii) a transfer by any Original Equity Owner or any of its Affiliates to its respective equityholders, (iii) a Public Offering, (iv) a sale pursuant to Rule 144 after the completion of the IPO or (v) a transfer in connection with a sale of the Corporation, prior to transferring any Registrable Securities to any Person (including, without limitation, by operation of law), the transferring Holder shall cause the prospective transferee to execute and deliver to the Corporation a Joinder agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Any transfer or attempted transfer of any Registrable Securities in violation of any provision of this Agreement shall be void, and the Corporation shall not record such transfer on its books or treat any purported transferee of such Registrable Securities as the owner thereof for any purpose.
 
Section 13.     MNPI Provisions.
 
(a)        Each Holder acknowledges that the provisions of this Agreement that require communications by the Corporation or other Holders to such Holder may result in such Holder and its Representatives (as defined below) acquiring MNPI (which may include, solely by way of illustration, the fact that an offering of the Corporation’s securities is pending or the number of Corporation securities or the identity of the selling Holders).
 
(b)         Each Holder agrees that it will maintain the confidentiality of such MNPI and, to the extent such Holder is not a natural person, such confidential treatment shall be in accordance with procedures adopted by it in good faith to protect confidential information of third parties delivered to such Holder (“Policies”); provided that a holder may deliver or disclose MNPI to (i) its directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, affiliates and financial and other advisors (collectively, the “Representatives”), but solely to the extent such disclosure reasonably relates to its evaluation of exercise of its rights under this Agreement and the sale of any Registrable Securities in connection with the subject of the notice, (ii) any federal or state regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Holder, (iii) any Person if necessary to effect compliance with any law, rule, regulation or order applicable to such Holder, (iv) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, or (v) in connection with any litigation to which such Holder is a party; provided further, that in the case of clause (i), the recipients of such MNPI are subject to the Policies or agree to hold confidential the MNPI in a manner substantially consistent with the terms of this Section 13 and that in the case of clauses (ii) through (v), such disclosure is required by law and such Holder shall promptly notify the Corporation of such disclosure to the extent such Holder is legally permitted to give such notice.
 
Each Holder shall have the right, at any time and from time to time (including after receiving information regarding any potential Public Offering), to elect to not receive any notice that the Corporation or any other Holders otherwise are required to deliver pursuant to this Agreement by delivering to the Corporation a written statement signed by such Holder that it does not want to receive any notices hereunder (an “Opt-Out Request”); in which case and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement the Corporation and other Holders shall not be required to, and shall not, deliver any notice or other information required to be provided to Holders hereunder to the extent that the Corporation or such other Holders reasonably expect would result in a Holder acquiring MNPI. An Opt-Out Request may state a date on which it expires or, if no such date is specified, shall remain in effect indefinitely. A Holder who previously has given the Corporation an Opt-Out Request may revoke such request at any time, and there shall be no limit on the ability of a Holder to issue and revoke subsequent Opt-Out Requests; provided that each Holder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to minimize the administrative burden on the Corporation arising in connection with any such Opt-Out Requests.
 
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Section 14.    Black-Out Periods. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 14 to the contrary, if the Company shall furnish to the Holders initiating a registration pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3 of this Agreement a certificate signed by the President or Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that the Corporation’s board of directors has made the good faith determination (after consultation with counsel) (i) that use by the Holders of such proposed registration statement for purposes of effecting offers or sales of Registrable Securities pursuant thereto would require, under the Securities Act, premature disclosure in such registration statement of material, nonpublic information concerning any proposed material transaction involving the Company; (ii) that such premature disclosure would be materially adverse to the Company or such proposed material transaction or would make the successful consummation by the Company of any such material transaction significantly less likely; and (iii) that it is therefore essential to defer the filing of such registration statement for purposes of effecting offers or sales of Registrable Securities pursuant thereto, then the right of the Holders to require the Company to file such registration statement for purposes of effecting offers or sales of Registrable Securities pursuant thereto shall be suspended for a period (the “Black Out Period”) of not more than 60 days after delivery by the Company of the certificate referred to above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) if the public announcement of such material transaction is made during a Black Out Period, then the Black Out Period shall terminate without any further action of the parties and the Company shall immediately notify such Holders of such termination, and (B) the Company may not exercise the right to initiate a Black Out Period more than once in any twelve month period.
 
Section 15.      General Provisions.

(a)       Amendments and Waivers. Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified, terminated or waived only with the prior written consent of the Corporation and the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities; provided that no such amendment, modification, termination or waiver that would materially and adversely affect a Holder in a manner materially different than any other Holder, shall be effective against such Holder without the consent of such Holder that is materially and adversely affected thereby. The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.
 
(b)        Remedies. The parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce their rights under this Agreement specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages caused by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in their favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that a breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable harm and money damages would not be an adequate remedy for any such breach and that, in addition to any other rights and remedies existing hereunder, any party shall be entitled to specific performance and/or other injunctive relief from any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or other security) in order to enforce or prevent violation of the provisions of this Agreement.
 
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(c)        Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or regulation in any jurisdiction, such prohibition, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such prohibited, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.
 
(d)        Entire Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the complete agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties hereto, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
 
(e)         Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit and be enforceable by the Corporation and its successors and assigns and the Holders and their respective successors and assigns (whether so expressed or not). In addition, whether or not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement which are for the benefit Holders are also for the benefit of, and enforceable by, any subsequent or successor Holder.
 
(f)         Notices. Any notice, demand or other communication to be given under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (i) when delivered personally to the recipient, (ii) when sent by confirmed electronic mail or facsimile if sent during normal business hours of the recipient but, if not, then on the next business day, (iii) one business day after it is sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid) or (iv) three business days after it is mailed to the recipient by first class mail, return receipt requested. Such notices, demands and other communications shall be sent to the Corporation at the address specified below and to any Holder or to any other party subject to this Agreement at such address as indicated on the Schedule of Holders, or at such address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any party may change such party’s address for receipt of notice by providing prior written notice of the change to the sending party as provided herein. The Corporation’s address is:
 
 
Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
 
110 Village Trail, Suite 215
 
Woodstock, Georgia 30188
 
 
 
Attn: Brett Steele, General Counsel
 
 
 
With a copy to:
 
 
 
Latham & Watkins LLP
 
1271 Avenue of the Americas
 
New York, New York 10022
 
Attn: Marc Jaffe
 
Facsimile: (212) 906-1200
 
or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending party.
 
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(g)        Business Days. If any time period for giving notice or taking action hereunder expires on a day that is not a business day, the time period shall automatically be extended to the immediately following business day.
 
(h)         Governing Law. The corporate law of the State of Delaware shall govern all issues and questions concerning the relative rights of the Corporation and its stockholders. All other issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.
 
(i)          MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. AS A SPECIFICALLY BARGAINED FOR INDUCEMENT FOR EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT (AFTER HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL), EACH PARTY HERETO EXPRESSLY WAIVES THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LAWSUIT OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO OR ARISING IN ANY WAY FROM THIS AGREEMENT OR THE MATTERS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 
(j)     CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH OF THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ANY PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR DOCUMENT BY U.S. REGISTERED MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S RESPECTIVE ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTERS TO WHICH IT HAS SUBMITTED TO JURISDICTION IN THIS PARAGRAPH. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RELATED DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AND HEREBY AND THEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
 
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(k)        No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Corporation and each Holder agrees and acknowledges that no recourse under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement, shall be had against any current or future director, officer, employee, general or limited partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any statute, regulation or other applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any current or future officer, agent or employee of any Holder or any current or future member of any Holder or any current or future director, officer, employee, partner or member of any Holder or of any Affiliate or assignee thereof, as such for any obligation of any Holder under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.
 
(l)          Descriptive Headings; Interpretation. The descriptive headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement. The use of the word “including” in this Agreement shall be by way of example rather than by limitation.
 
(m)       No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.
 
(n)         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, any one of which need not contain the signature of more than one party, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
 
(o)       Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the agreements referred to herein, and each other agreement or instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent executed and delivered by means of a photographic, photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of such signed writing using a facsimile machine or electronic mail shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic mail as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
 
(p)       Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Holder shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
(q)         No Inconsistent Agreements. The Corporation shall not hereafter enter into any agreement with respect to its securities which is inconsistent with or violates the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement.
 
* * * * *

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.
 
 
SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
     
 
By:
 
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
 
 
[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


 
GSB HOLDINGS LLC
     
 
By:
 
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


 
THE BRADBURY FAMILY TRUST II A U/A/D
DECEMBER 29, 2015
     
 
By:
 
 
Name:
 
 
Title:
 

[Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


SCHEDULE OF HOLDERS
 
Holder
GSB Holdings LLC
The Bradbury Family Trust II A
U/A/D December 29, 2015

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EXHIBIT A
 
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER
 
The undersigned is executing and delivering this Joinder pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [ ], 2023 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the Registration Rights Agreement), among Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the Corporation), and the other person named as parties therein.
 
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Corporation, and upon acceptance hereof by the Corporation upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigneds shares of Class A Common Stock (or shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued upon the conversion of the undersigned’s shares of Class B Common Stock) shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein. The Corporation is directed to add the address below the undersigneds signature on this Joinder to the Schedule of Holders attached to the Registration Rights Agreement.
 
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the day of _______________, 20__.
 
 
Signature of Stockholder
   
   
 
Print Name of Stockholder
 
Its:
   
 
Address:

Agreed and Accepted as of _______________, 20__
 
Smith Douglas Homes Corp.
 
     
By:
   
Name:
   
Its:
   


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Exhibit 10.5

 SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
 
 2023 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

ARTICLE I.
 PURPOSE
 
The Plan’s purpose is to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company and Smith Douglas Holdings LLC (the “Operating Company”) by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities and/or equity-linked compensatory opportunities. Capitalized terms used in the Plan are defined in Article XI.
 
ARTICLE II.
ELIGIBILITY
 
Service Providers are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan, subject to the limitations described herein.
 
ARTICLE III.
 ADMINISTRATION AND DELEGATION
 
3.1       Administration. The Plan is administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has authority to determine which Service Providers receive Awards, grant Awards and set Award terms and conditions, subject to the conditions and limitations in the Plan. The Administrator also has the authority to take all actions and make all determinations under the Plan, to interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and to adopt, amend and repeal Plan administrative rules, guidelines and practices as it deems advisable.  The Administrator may correct defects and ambiguities, supply omissions and reconcile inconsistencies in the Plan or any Award Agreement as it deems necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and any Awards. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan are in its sole discretion and will be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or any Award.
 
3.2         Appointment of Committees. To the extent Applicable Laws permit, the Board or the Administrator may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more Committees or committees of officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Board or the Administrator, as applicable, may rescind any such delegation, abolish any such committee or Committee and/or re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority at any time.
 
ARTICLE IV.
 STOCK AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS
 
4.1         Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Article VIII and the terms of this Article IV, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be equal to the Overall Share Limit. Shares issued under the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued Shares, Shares purchased on the open market or treasury Shares. Shares issued under the Plan will be shares of Class A Common Stock.
 

4.2       Share Recycling. If all or any part of an Award expires, lapses or is terminated, exchanged for or settled in cash, surrendered, repurchased, canceled without having been fully exercised or forfeited, in any case, in a manner that results in the Company acquiring Shares covered by the Award at a price not greater than the price (as adjusted to reflect any Equity Restructuring) paid by the Participant for such Shares or not issuing any Shares covered by the Award, the unused Shares covered by the Award will, as applicable, become or again be available for Award grants under the Plan. Further, Shares delivered (either by actual delivery or attestation) to the Company by a Participant to satisfy the applicable exercise or purchase price of an Award and/or to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award (including Shares retained by the Company from the Award being exercised or purchased and/or creating the tax obligation) will, as applicable, become or again be available for Award grants under the Plan, in each case, prior to the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not count against the Overall Share Limit.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the following Shares shall not be added to the Shares authorized for grant under Section 4.1 and shall not be available for future grants of Awards: (a) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof; and (b) Shares purchased on the open market with the cash proceeds from the exercise of Options.
 
4.3        Incentive Stock Option Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no more than 10,000,000 Shares may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.
 
4.4         Substitute Awards. In connection with an entity’s merger or consolidation with the Company or the Company’s acquisition of an entity’s property or stock, the Administrator may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted before such merger or consolidation by such entity or its affiliate. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Administrator deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in the Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the Overall Share Limit (nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above), except that Shares acquired by exercise of substitute Incentive Stock Options will count against the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards shall not be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees, Consultants or Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.
 
4.5        Non-Employee Director Compensation. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan, the Administrator may establish compensation for non-employee Directors from time to time, subject to the limitations in the Plan. The Administrator will from time to time determine the terms, conditions and amounts of all such non-employee Director compensation in its discretion and pursuant to the exercise of its business judgment, taking into account such factors, circumstances and considerations as it shall deem relevant from time to time, provided that, commencing with the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Effective Date occurs, the sum of any cash compensation, or other compensation, and the value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of Awards granted to a non-employee Director as compensation for services as a non-employee Director with respect to any fiscal year of the Company may not exceed $500,000 (increased to $1,000,000 in a non-employee Director’s initial calendar year of service as a non-employee director or any calendar year during which a non-employee Director serves as lead independent Director), which limits shall not apply to the compensation for any non-employee Director of the Company who serves in any capacity in addition to that of a non-employee Director for which he or she receives additional compensation. The Administrator may make exceptions to this limit for individual non-employee Directors in extraordinary circumstances, as the Administrator may determine in its discretion, provided that the non-employee Director receiving such additional compensation may not participate in the decision to award such compensation or in other contemporaneous compensation decisions involving non-employee Directors.

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 ARTICLE V.
STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
5.1          General. The Administrator may grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to Service Providers subject to the limitations in the Plan, including any limitations in the Plan that apply to Incentive Stock Options. A Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right) to receive from the Company upon exercise of the exercisable portion of the Stock Appreciation Right an amount determined by multiplying the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price per share of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.  Such amount shall be subject to any limitations of the Plan or that the Administrator may impose and payable in cash, Shares valued at Fair Market Value or a combination of the two as the Administrator may determine or provide in the Award Agreement.
 
5.2       Exercise Price. The Administrator will establish each Option’s and Stock Appreciation Right’s exercise price and specify the exercise price in the Award Agreement.  The exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the grant date of the Option (subject to Section 5.6) or Stock Appreciation Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Sections 424 and 409A of the Code.
 
5.3        Duration. Each Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable at such times and as specified in the Award Agreement, provided that, subject to Section 5.6, the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will not exceed ten years.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and unless determined otherwise by the Company, in the event that on the last business day of the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (other than an Incentive Stock Option) (i) the exercise of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right is prohibited by Applicable Law, as determined by the Company, or (ii) Shares may not be purchased or sold by the applicable Participant due to any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods) or a “lock-up” agreement undertaken in connection with an issuance of securities by the Company, the term of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be extended until the date that is 30 days after the end of the legal prohibition, black-out period or lock-up agreement, as determined by the Company; provided, however, in no event shall the extension last beyond the ten year term of the applicable Option or Stock Appreciation Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted under Applicable Laws, if the Participant, prior to the end of the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, violates the non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other similar restrictive covenant provisions of any employment contract, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the right of the Participant and the Participant’s transferees to exercise any Option or Stock Appreciation Right issued to the Participant shall terminate immediately upon such violation, unless the Company otherwise determines.
 
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5.4        Exercise. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivering to the Company a written notice of exercise, in a form the Administrator approves (which may be electronic), signed by the person authorized to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, together with, as applicable, payment in full (i) as specified in Section 5.5 for the number of Shares for which the Award is exercised and (ii) as specified in Section 9.5 for any applicable taxes.  Unless the Administrator otherwise determines, an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
 
5.5         Payment Upon Exercise. Subject to Sections 9.10 and 10.8, any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods) and Applicable Laws, the exercise price of an Option must be paid by:
 
(a)        cash, wire transfer of immediately available funds or by check payable to the order of the Company, provided that the Company may limit the use of one of the foregoing payment forms if one or more of the payment forms below is permitted;
 
(b)       if there is a public market for Shares at the time of exercise, unless the Company otherwise determines, (i) delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or (ii) the Participant’s delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Administrator;
 
(c)        to the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of Shares owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value;
 
(d)         to the extent permitted by the Administrator, surrendering Shares then issuable upon the Option’s exercise valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date;
 
(e)        to the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery of a promissory note or any other property that the Administrator determines is good and valuable consideration; or
 
(f)          to the extent permitted by the Company, any combination of the above payment forms approved by the Administrator.
 
5.6        Additional Terms of Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of its present or future parent or subsidiary corporations, as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. If an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the exercise price will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Option’s grant date, and the term of the Option will not exceed five years. All Incentive Stock Options will be subject to and construed consistently with Section 422 of the Code.  By accepting an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant agrees to give prompt notice to the Company of dispositions or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired under the Option made within (i) two years from the grant date of the Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, specifying the date of the disposition or other transfer and the amount the Participant realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, in such disposition or other transfer.  Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or any other party, if an Incentive Stock Option fails or ceases to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code.  Any Incentive Stock Option or portion thereof that fails to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code for any reason, including becoming exercisable with respect to Shares having a fair market value exceeding the $100,000 limitation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-4, will be a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
 
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 ARTICLE VI.
 RESTRICTED STOCK; RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
 
6.1         General. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock, or the right to purchase Restricted Stock, to any Service Provider, subject to the Company’s right to repurchase all or part of such Shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant (or to require forfeiture of such Shares) if conditions the Administrator specifies in the Award Agreement are not satisfied before the end of the applicable restriction period or periods that the Administrator establishes for such Award. In addition, the Administrator may grant to Service Providers Restricted Stock Units, which may be subject to vesting and forfeiture conditions during the applicable restriction period or periods, as set forth in an Award Agreement.
 
6.2          Restricted Stock.
 
(a)         Dividends. Subject to the terms of this Section 6.2(a), Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all ordinary cash dividends paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Administrator provides otherwise in the Award Agreement. In addition, unless the Administrator provides otherwise, if any dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock of property other than an ordinary cash dividend, the Shares or other property will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any award of Restricted Stock, dividends which are paid to holders of Common Stock prior to vesting shall only be paid out to a Participant holding such Restricted Stock to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied. All such dividend payments will be made no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the right to the dividend payment becomes nonforfeitable.
 
(b)        Stock Certificates. The Company may require that the Participant deposit in escrow with the Company (or its designee) any stock certificates issued in respect of Shares of Restricted Stock, together with a stock power endorsed in blank.
 
6.3          Restricted Stock Units.
 
(a)       Settlement. The Administrator may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units will occur upon or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Restricted Stock Units vest or will instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A.
 
(b)       Stockholder Rights. A Participant will have no rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to any Restricted Stock Unit unless and until the Shares are delivered in settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit.
 
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ARTICLE VII.
 OTHER STOCK OR CASH BASED AWARDS; DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
 
7.1         Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be granted to Participants, including Awards entitling Participants to receive Shares to be delivered in the future and including annual or other periodic or long-term cash bonus awards (whether based on specified Performance Criteria or otherwise), in each case subject to any conditions and limitations in the Plan. Such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards will also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other Awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or other property, as the Administrator determines.
 
7.2         Dividend Equivalents. A grant of Restricted Stock Units or Other Stock or Cash Based Award may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents, and no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.  Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Award with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are paid and subject to other terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award shall only be paid out to a Participant to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied. All such Dividend Equivalent payments will be made no later than March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the right to the Dividend Equivalent payment becomes nonforfeitable, unless determined otherwise by the Administrator or unless deferred in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A.
 
ARTICLE VIII.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK
AND CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS
 
8.1         Equity Restructuring. In connection with any Equity Restructuring, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VIII, the Administrator will equitably adjust each outstanding Award as it deems appropriate to reflect the Equity Restructuring, which may include (if applicable) adjusting the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award, adjusting the Award’s exercise price,  grant price and/or applicable performance goals, granting new Awards to Participants, and/or making a cash payment to Participants. The adjustments provided under this Section 8.1 will be nondiscretionary and final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company; provided that the Administrator will determine whether an adjustment is equitable.

8.2        Corporate Transactions. In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, amalgamation, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, Change in Control, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, other similar corporate transaction or event, other unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company or its financial statements or any change in any Applicable Laws or accounting principles, the Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken in connection with the occurrence of such transaction or event (any action to give effect to a change in Applicable Law or accounting principles may be made within a reasonable period of time after such change), is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to (x) prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award granted or issued under the Plan, (y) to facilitate such transaction or event or (z) give effect to such changes in Applicable Laws or accounting principles:
 
(a)         To provide for the cancellation of any such Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment; provided, further, that Awards held by members of the Board will be deemed settled in Shares on or immediately prior to the applicable event if the Administrator takes action under this clause (a);
 
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(b)       To provide that such Award shall vest and, to the extent applicable, be exercisable as to all Shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award;
 
(c)         To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or equivalent value thereof in cash, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and/or applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;
 
(d)        To make adjustments in the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards and/or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article IV on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued) and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price or applicable performance goals), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards;
 
(e)          To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; and/or
 
(f)          To provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the applicable event.
 
8.3         Effect of Non-Assumption in a Change in Control. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8.2, if a Change in Control occurs and a Participant’s Awards are not continued, converted, assumed, or replaced with a substantially similar award by (a) the Company, or (b) a successor entity or its parent or subsidiary (an “Assumption”), and provided that the Participant has not had a Termination of Service, then, immediately prior to the Change in Control, such Awards shall become fully vested, exercisable and/or payable, as applicable, and all forfeiture, repurchase and other restrictions on such Awards shall lapse, in which case, such Awards shall be canceled upon the consummation of the Change in Control in exchange for the right to receive the Change in Control consideration payable to other holders of Common Stock (i) which may be on such terms and conditions as apply generally to holders of Common Stock under the Change in Control documents (including, without limitation, any escrow, earn-out or other deferred consideration provisions) or such other terms and conditions as the Administrator may provide, and (ii) determined by reference to the number of Shares subject to such Awards and net of any applicable exercise price; provided that to the extent that any Awards constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” that may not be paid upon the Change in Control under Section 409A without the imposition of taxes thereon under Section 409A, the timing of such payments shall be governed by the applicable Award Agreement (subject to any deferred consideration provisions applicable under the Change in Control documents); and provided, further, that if the amount to which a Participant would be entitled upon the settlement or exercise of such Award at the time of the Change in Control is equal to or less than zero, then such Award may be terminated without payment. The Administrator shall determine whether an Assumption of an Award has occurred in connection with a Change in Control.
 
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8.4        Administrative Stand Still. In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other extraordinary transaction or change affecting the Shares or the share price of Common Stock, including any Equity Restructuring or any securities offering or other similar transaction, for administrative convenience, the Administrator may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award for up to 60 days before or after such transaction.
 
8.5          General. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no Participant will have any rights due to any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, dividend payment, increase or decrease in the number of Shares of any class or dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or other corporation. Except as expressly provided with respect to an Equity Restructuring under Section 8.1 or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of Shares of any class, or securities convertible into Shares of any class, will affect, and no adjustment will be made regarding, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the Award’s grant or exercise price. The existence of the Plan, any Award Agreements and the Awards granted hereunder will not affect or restrict in any way the Company’s right or power to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger, consolidation dissolution or liquidation of the Company or sale of Company assets or (iii) any sale or issuance of securities, including securities with rights superior to those of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares. The Administrator may treat Participants and Awards (or portions thereof) differently under this Article VIII.
 
ARTICLE IX.
GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
 
9.1         Transferability. Except as the Administrator may determine or provide in an Award Agreement or otherwise for Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except for certain Designated Beneficiary designations, by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, subject to the Administrator’s consent, pursuant to a domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, will be exercisable only by the Participant. Any permitted transfer of an Award hereunder shall be without consideration, except as required by Applicable Law. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, will include references to a Participant’s authorized transferee that the Administrator specifically approves.
 
9.2         Documentation. Each Award will be evidenced in an Award Agreement, which may be written or electronic, as the Administrator determines. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.
 
9.3         Discretion. Except as the Plan otherwise provides, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award to a Participant need not be identical, and the Administrator need not treat Participants or Awards (or portions thereof) uniformly.
 
9.4        Termination of Status. The Administrator will determine how the disability, death, retirement, an authorized leave of absence or any other change or purported change in a Participant’s Service Provider status affects an Award and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise rights under the Award, if applicable.
 
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9.5        Withholding. Each Participant must pay the Company or a Subsidiary, or make provision satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any taxes required by Applicable Law to be withheld in connection with such Participant’s Awards by the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Company or any Subsidiary may deduct an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations based on the applicable statutory withholding rates (or such other rate as may be determined by the Company or a Subsidiary after considering any accounting consequences or costs) from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant. In the absence of a contrary determination by the Company or a Subsidiary (or, with respect to withholding pursuant to clause (ii) below with respect to Awards held by individuals subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, a contrary determination by the Administrator), all tax withholding obligations will be calculated based on the minimum applicable statutory withholding rates. Subject to Section 10.8 and any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods), Participants may satisfy such tax obligations (i) in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, by check made payable to the order of the Company, provided that the Company may limit the use of the foregoing payment forms if one or more of the payment forms below is permitted, (ii) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, in whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation and Shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their fair market value on the date of delivery, (iii) subject to Section 9.10, if there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligations are satisfied, unless the Company otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to satisfy the tax obligations, or (B) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to satisfy the tax withholding; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Administrator, or (iv) to the extent permitted by the Company, any combination of the foregoing payment forms approved by the Administrator. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the number of Shares which may be so delivered or retained pursuant to clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of delivery or retention no greater than the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the maximum applicable statutory withholding rate in the applicable jurisdiction at the time of such withholding (or such other rate as may be required to avoid the liability classification of the applicable award under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America). Subject to Section 9.10, if any tax withholding obligation will be satisfied under clause (ii) above by the Company’s retention of Shares from the Award creating the tax obligation and there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligation is satisfied, the Company may elect to instruct any brokerage firm determined acceptable to the Company for such purpose to sell on the applicable Participant’s behalf some or all of the Shares retained and to remit the proceeds of the sale to the Company or its designee, and each Participant’s acceptance of an Award under the Plan will constitute the Participant’s authorization to the Company and instruction and authorization to such brokerage firm to complete the transactions described in this sentence.
 
9.6       Amendment of Award; Repricing. The Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including by substituting another Award of the same or a different type, changing the exercise or settlement date, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Non-Qualified Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action will be required unless (i) the action, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Award, or (ii) the change is permitted under Article VIII or pursuant to Section 10.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator may, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, reduce the exercise price per share of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or cancel outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights in exchange for cash, other Awards or Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with an exercise price per share that is less than the exercise price per share of the original Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.
 
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9.7         Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Shares under the Plan or remove restrictions from Shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all Award conditions have been met or removed to the Company’s satisfaction, (ii) as determined by the Company, all other legal matters regarding the issuance and delivery of such Shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy any Applicable Laws. The Company’s inability to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which the Administrator determines is necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any securities, will relieve the Company of any liability for failing to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority has not been obtained.
 
9.8         Acceleration. The Administrator may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately vested and fully or partially exercisable, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise fully or partially realizable.
 
9.9        Cash Settlement. Without limiting the generality of any other provision of the Plan, the Administrator may provide, in an Award Agreement or subsequent to the grant of an Award, in its discretion, that any Award may be settled in cash, Shares or a combination thereof.
 
9.10      Broker-Assisted Sales. In the event of a broker-assisted sale of Shares in connection with the payment of amounts owed by a Participant under or with respect to the Plan or Awards, including amounts to be paid under the final sentence of Section 9.5 above: (a) any Shares to be sold through the broker-assisted sale will be sold on the day the payment first becomes due, or as soon thereafter as practicable; (b) such Shares may be sold as part of a block trade with other Participants in the Plan in which all Participants receive an average price; (c) the applicable Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and by accepting an Award, each Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (d) to the extent the Company or its designee receives proceeds of such sale that exceed the amount owed, the Company will pay such excess in cash to the applicable Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (e) the Company and its designees are under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price; and (f) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the Participant’s applicable obligation, the Participant may be required to pay immediately upon demand to the Company or its designee an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Participant’s obligation.
 
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
 
10.1      No Right to Employment or Other Status. No person will have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award will not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan or any Award, except as expressly provided in an Award Agreement or in the Plan.

10.2       No Rights as Stockholder; Certificates. Subject to the Award Agreement, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary will have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under an Award until becoming the record holder of such Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless the Administrator otherwise determines or Applicable Laws require, the Company will not be required to deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares may be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator). The Company may place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan that the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to comply with Applicable Laws.

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10.3       Effective Date and Term of Plan. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the Plan will become effective on the day prior to the Public Trading Date (the “Effective Date”) and will remain in effect until terminated by the Administrator in accordance with the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, an Incentive Stock Option may not be granted under the Plan after 10 years from the earlier of (i) the date the Board adopted the Plan or (ii) the date the Company’s stockholders approved the Plan.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Plan is not approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Plan will not become effective and no Awards will be granted under the Plan.
 
10.4       Amendment of Plan. The Administrator may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided that no amendment to the Plan, other than an increase to the Overall Share Limit, may materially and adversely affect any Award outstanding at the time of such amendment without the affected Participant’s consent. No Awards may be granted under the Plan during any suspension period or after the Plan’s termination. Awards outstanding at the time of any Plan suspension or termination will continue to be governed by the Plan and the Award Agreement, as in effect before such suspension or termination. The Board will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Laws.
 
10.5       Provisions for Foreign Participants. The Administrator may modify Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or establish subplans or procedures under the Plan to address differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.
 
10.6        Section 409A.
 
(a)         General. The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A, such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A apply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (A) exempt this Plan or any Award from Section 409A, or (B) comply with Section 409A, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date.  The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax treatment under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company will have no obligation under this Section 10.6 or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A.

(b)        Separation from Service. If an Award constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A, any payment or settlement of such Award upon a termination of a Participant’s Service Provider relationship will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the termination of the Participant’s Service Provider relationship. For purposes of this Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms means a “separation from service.” Furthermore, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under the Plan that may be made in installments shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments.

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(c)       Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under an Award to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A and as the Administrator determines) due to his or her “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award Agreement) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest). Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.
 
10.7     Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer, other employee or agent of the Company or a Subsidiary will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan or any Award, and such individual will not be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument executed in his or her capacity as an Administrator, director, officer, other employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary.  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer, other employee and agent of the Company or any Subsidiary that has been or will be granted or delegated any duty or power relating to the Plan’s administration or interpretation, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Administrator’s approval) arising from any act or omission concerning this Plan unless arising from such person’s own fraud or bad faith.
 
10.8       Lock-Up Period. The Company may, at the request of any underwriter representative or otherwise, in connection with registering the offering of any Company securities under the Securities Act, prohibit Participants from, directly or indirectly, selling or otherwise transferring any Shares or other Company securities during a period of up to 180 days following the effective date of a Company registration statement filed under the Securities Act, or such longer period as determined by the underwriter.
 
10.9       Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this section by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s participation in the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its Subsidiaries and affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with the Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares.  The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 10.9 in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative.  If the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 10.9, the Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards. For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

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10.10    Severability. If any portion of the Plan or any action taken under it is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had been excluded, and the illegal or invalid action will be null and void.
 
10.11    Governing Documents. If any contradiction occurs between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company (or any Subsidiary) that the Administrator has approved, the Plan will govern, unless it is expressly specified in such Award Agreement or other written document that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply.
 
10.12     Governing Law. The Plan and all Awards will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, disregarding any state’s choice-of-law principles requiring the application of a jurisdiction’s laws other than the State of Delaware.
 
10.13    Claw-back Provisions. All Awards (including, without limitation, any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by Participant upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or sale of any Shares underlying the Award) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, the Company’s Policy for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation and any other claw-back policy adopted to comply with Applicable Laws, as and to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy or the Award Agreement.
 
10.14      Titles and Headings. The titles and headings in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, if any conflict, the Plan’s text, rather than such titles or headings, will control.
 
10.15    Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with Applicable Laws.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan and all Awards will be administered only in conformance with Applicable Laws.  To the extent Applicable Laws permit, the Plan and all Award Agreements will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Laws.
 
10.16    Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except as expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
 
10.17      Grant of Awards to Certain Eligible Service Providers. The Company may provide through the establishment of a formal written policy (which shall be deemed a part of this Plan) or otherwise for the method by which Common Stock or other securities of the Company may be issued and by which such Common Stock or other securities and/or payment therefor may be exchanged or contributed among the Company, the Operating Company, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or may be returned to the Company upon any forfeiture of Common Stock or other securities by the eligible Service Provider.
 
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ARTICLE XI.
DEFINITIONS
 
As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases will have the following meanings:
 
11.1      “Administrator” means the Board or a Committee to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee.
 
11.2       “Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity incentive plans under U.S. federal and state securities, tax and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, the applicable rules of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws and rules of any foreign country or other jurisdiction where Awards are granted.
 
11.3      “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents, or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards.
 
11.4      “Award Agreement” means a written agreement evidencing an Award, which may be electronic, that contains such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines, consistent with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
 
11.5        “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
11.6        “Cause” means, in respect of a Participant, either (a) the definition of “Cause” contained in the Participant’s Award Agreement or an effective, written service or employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company; or (b) if no such agreement exists or such agreement does not define Cause, then Cause shall mean (i) the Participant’s unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any material breach of a written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including without limitation a material breach of any employment, confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicit or similar agreement; (ii) the Participant’s commission of, indictment for or the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Participant to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or any crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude (or any similar crime in any jurisdiction outside the United States); (iii) the Participant’s negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the Participant’s duties or the Participant’s willful or repeated failure or refusal to substantially perform assigned duties; (iv) any act of fraud, embezzlement, material misappropriation or dishonesty committed by the Participant against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (v) any acts, omissions or statements by a Participant which the Company determines to be materially detrimental or damaging to the reputation, operations, prospects or business relations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The findings and decision of the Administrator with respect to any Cause determination will be final and binding for all purposes.

11.7        “Certificate of Incorporation” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as may be amended from time to time, dated as of [_____].

11.8        “Change in Control” means and includes each of the following:
 
(a)        A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or a transaction or series of transactions that meets the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c) below) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any Continuing Equity Owner or any of its Permitted Transferees (each, as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation), an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or
 
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(b)       During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in subsections (a) or (c)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the two-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or
 
(c)       The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:
 
(i)          which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and
 
(ii)         after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this clause (ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) the change in voting power of Class B Common Stock upon the Sunset Date (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation) shall not constitute a Change in Control and (2) if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or portion of any Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b) or (c) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award (or portion thereof) if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).
 
The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.
 
11.9        “Class A Common Stock” means the Class A common stock of the Company, par value of $0.0001 per share.
 
11.10        “Class B Common Stock” means the Class B common stock of the Company, par value of $0.0001 per share.
 
11.11      “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.
 
15

11.12      “Committee” means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board, which may include one or more Company directors or executive officers, to the extent Applicable Laws permit.  To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3, it is intended that each member of the Committee will be, at the time the Committee takes any action with respect to an Award that is subject to Rule 16b-3, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; however, a Committee member’s failure to qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 will not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.
 
11.13      “Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock.
 
11.14      “Company” means Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.
 
11.15    “Consultant” means any consultant or advisor, engaged by the Company, the Operating Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries to render services to such entity, who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of Form S-8 Registration Statement.
 
11.16    “Designated Beneficiary” means the beneficiary or beneficiaries the Participant designates, in a manner the Administrator determines, to receive amounts due or exercise the Participant’s rights if the Participant dies or becomes incapacitated.  Without a Participant’s effective designation, “Designated Beneficiary” will mean the Participant’s estate.
 
11.17      “Director” means a Board member.
 
11.18      “Disability” means a permanent and total disability under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as amended.
 
11.19     “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant under the Plan to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares.
 
11.20      “Employee” means any employee of the Company, the Operating Company or their respective Subsidiaries.

11.21    “Equity Restructuring” means, as determined by the Administrator, a non-reciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, or other large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the shares of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.
 
11.22      “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
11.23      “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows: (a) if the Class A Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such Class A Common Stock as quoted on such exchange for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the last day preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; (b) if the Class A Common Stock is not traded on a stock exchange but is quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the closing sales price on such date, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the last date preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; or (c) without an established market for the Class A Common Stock, the Administrator will determine the Fair Market Value in its discretion.
 
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted on the pricing date of the Company’s initial public offering, the Fair Market Value shall mean the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
11.24     “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” means an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively.
 
11.25     “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
 
11.26      “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option, or portion thereof, not intended or not qualifying as an Incentive Stock Option.
 
11.27      “Option” means an option to purchase Shares, which will either be an Incentive Stock option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
 
11.28    “Other Stock or Cash Based Awards” means cash awards, awards of Shares, and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property awarded to a Participant under Article VII.
 
11.29     “Overall Share Limit” means the sum of (a) [_____] Shares; and (b) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on and including January 1, 2024 and ending on and including January 1, 2033, equal to (i) a number of Shares equal to 1% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) such smaller number of Shares as is determined by the Board.
 
11.30      “Participant” means a Service Provider who has been granted an Award.
 
11.31    “Performance Criteria” mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Administrator may select for an Award to establish performance goals for a performance period, which may include the following: net earnings or losses (either before or after one or more of interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and non-cash equity-based compensation expense); gross or net sales or revenue or sales or revenue growth; net income (either before or after taxes) or adjusted net income; profits (including but not limited to gross profits, net profits, profit growth, net operation profit or economic profit), profit return ratios or operating margin; budget or operating earnings (either before or after taxes or before or after allocation of corporate overhead and bonus); cash flow (including operating cash flow and free cash flow or cash flow return on capital); return on assets; return on capital or invested capital; cost of capital; return on stockholders’ equity; total stockholder return; return on sales; costs, reductions in costs and cost control measures; expenses; working capital; earnings or loss per share; adjusted earnings or loss per share; price per share or dividends per share (or appreciation in or maintenance of such price or dividends); regulatory achievements or compliance; implementation, completion or attainment of objectives relating to research, development, regulatory, commercial, or strategic milestones or developments; market share; economic value or economic value added models; division, group or corporate financial goals; customer satisfaction/growth; customer service; employee satisfaction; recruitment and maintenance of personnel; human capital management (including diversity and inclusion); supervision of litigation and other legal matters; strategic partnerships and transactions; financial ratios (including those measuring liquidity, activity, profitability or leverage); debt levels or reductions; sales-related goals; financing and other capital raising transactions; cash on hand; acquisition activity; investment sourcing activity; and marketing initiatives, any of which may be measured in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease.  Such performance goals also may be based solely by reference to the Company’s performance or the performance of a Subsidiary, division, business segment or business unit of the Company or a Subsidiary, or based upon performance relative to performance of other companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to performance of other companies.

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11.32      “Plan” means this 2023 Incentive Award Plan.

11.33      “Preferred Stock” means the preferred stock of the Company, par value of $0.0001 per share.
 
11.34      “Public Trading Date” means the first date upon which the Class A Common Stock is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.
 
11.35    “Restricted Stock” means Shares awarded to a Participant under Article VI subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.
 
11.36      “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded, unsecured right to receive, on the applicable settlement date, one Share or an amount in cash or other consideration determined by the Administrator to be of equal value as of such settlement date awarded to a Participant under Article VI subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.
 
11.37      “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
 
11.38    “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority thereunder.
 
11.39      “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
11.40      “Service Provider” means an Employee, Consultant or Director.
 
11.41      “Share” means a share of Class A Common Stock.
 
11.42      “Stock Appreciation Right” means a stock appreciation right granted under Article V.
 
11.43      “Subsidiary” means any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.
 
11.44       “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.
 
11.45       “Termination of Service” means the date the Participant ceases to be a Service Provider.
 
* * * * *
 

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Exhibit 10.6

 SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

 2023 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) has granted to the participant listed below (“Participant”) the stock option (the “Option”) described in this Stock Option Grant Notice (the “Grant Notice”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Smith Douglas Homes Corp. 2023 Incentive Award Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”) and the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”), both of which are incorporated into this Grant Notice by reference. Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Grant Notice or the Agreement have the meanings given to them in the Plan.

Participant:
[To be specified]
Grant Date:
[To be specified]
Exercise Price per Share:
[To be specified]
Shares Subject to the Option:
[To be specified]
Final Expiration Date:
[To be specified]
Vesting Commencement Date:
[To be specified]
Vesting Schedule:
[To be specified]
Type of Option
[Incentive Stock Option]/[Non-Qualified Stock Option]

By accepting (whether in writing, electronically or otherwise) the Option, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of this Grant Notice, the Plan and the Agreement. Participant has reviewed the Plan, this Grant Notice and the Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, this Grant Notice and the Agreement. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, this Grant Notice or the Agreement.

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

PARTICIPANT



By:



Name:


[Participant Name]
Title:





Exhibit A

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified in the Grant Notice or, if not defined in the Grant Notice, in the Plan.

ARTICLE I.
GENERAL

1.1         Grant of Option. The Company has granted to Participant the Option effective as of the grant date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Grant Date”).

1.2        Incorporation of Terms of Plan. The Option is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan will control.

ARTICLE II.
PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY

2.1         Commencement of Exercisability. The Option will vest and become exercisable according to the vesting schedule in the Grant Notice (the “Vesting Schedule”) except that any fraction of a Share as to which the Option would be vested or exercisable will be accumulated and will vest and become exercisable only when a whole Share has accumulated. Notwithstanding anything in the Grant Notice, the Plan or this Agreement to the contrary, unless the Administrator otherwise determines, the Option will immediately expire and be forfeited as to any portion that is not vested and exercisable as of Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason (after taking into consideration any accelerated vesting and exercisability which may occur in connection with such Termination of Service).

2.2         Duration of Exercisability. The Vesting Schedule is cumulative. Any portion of the Option which vests and becomes exercisable will remain vested and exercisable until the Option expires. The Option will be forfeited immediately upon its expiration.

2.3         Expiration of Option. The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after, and will expire on, the first of the following to occur:

(a)          The final expiration date in the Grant Notice; provided, however, such final expiration date may be extended pursuant to Section 5.3 of the Plan;

(b)         Except as the Administrator may otherwise approve, the expiration of three months from the date of Participant’s Termination of Service, unless Participant’s Termination of Service is for Cause or by reason of Participant’s death or Disability;
 
(c)         Except as the Administrator may otherwise approve, the expiration of one year from the date of Participant’s Termination of Service by reason of Participant’s death or Disability; and

(d)          Except as the Administrator may otherwise approve, Participant’s Termination of Service for Cause.

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ARTICLE III.
EXERCISE OF OPTION
 
3.1         Person Eligible to Exercise. During Participant’s lifetime, only Participant may exercise the Option.  After Participant’s death, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time the Option expires, be exercised by Participant’s Designated Beneficiary as provided in the Plan.

3.2        Partial Exercise. Any exercisable portion of the Option or the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised, in whole or in part, according to the procedures in the Plan at any time prior to the time the Option or portion thereof expires, except that the Option may only be exercised for whole Shares.

3.3          Tax Withholding; Exercise Price.

(a)          Subject to Section 3.3(b) and 3.3(c), payment of the exercise price and withholding tax obligations with respect to the Option may be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Company:

(i)          Cash or check;

(ii)         In whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation and Shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery;

(iii)        Subject to Section 10.17 of the Plan, delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) by Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company that Participant has placed a market sell order with such broker with respect to Shares then-issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to deliver promptly to the Company funds sufficient to satisfy the applicable exercise price and/or tax withholding obligations; provided, that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Administrator; or

(iv)        In whole or in part by the Company withholding of Shares otherwise issuable upon exercise of this Award.

(b)         Unless the Company otherwise determines, the Company shall withhold, or cause to be withheld, Shares otherwise vesting or issuable under this Option in satisfaction of any exercise price and/or applicable withholding tax obligations.

(c)          Subject to Section 9.5 of the Plan, the applicable tax withholding obligation will be determined based on Participant’s Applicable Withholding Rate.  Participant’s “Applicable Withholding Rate” shall mean (i) if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the greater of (A) the minimum applicable statutory tax withholding rate or (B) with Participant’s consent, the maximum individual tax withholding rate permitted under the rules of the applicable taxing authority for tax withholding attributable to the underlying transaction, or (ii) if Participant is not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the minimum applicable statutory tax withholding rate or such other higher rate approved by the Company; provided, however, that (i) in no event shall Participant’s Applicable Withholding Rate exceed the maximum individual statutory tax rate in the applicable jurisdiction at the time of such withholding (or such other rate as may be required to avoid the liability classification of the applicable award under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America); and (ii) the number of Shares tendered or withheld, if applicable, shall be rounded up to the nearest whole Share sufficient to cover the applicable tax withholding obligation, to the extent rounding up to the nearest whole Share does not result in the liability classification of the Option under generally accepted accounting principles.

(d)          Participant acknowledges that Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for the exercise price and all taxes owed in connection with the Option  (and, with respect to taxes, regardless of any action the Company or any Subsidiary takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the Option). Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or exercise of the Option or the subsequent sale of Shares. The Company and the Subsidiaries do not commit and are under no obligation to structure the Option to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.

2

ARTICLE IV.
OTHER PROVISIONS

4.1        Adjustments. Participant acknowledges that the Option is subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan.

4.2          Clawback. The Option and the Shares issuable hereunder shall be subject to any clawback or recoupment policy in effect on the Grant Date or as may be adopted or maintained by the Company following the Grant Date, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

4.3        Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company must be in writing and addressed to the Company in care of the Company’s General Counsel at the Company’s principal office or the General Counsel’s then-current email address or facsimile number.  Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to Participant must be in writing and addressed to Participant (or, if Participant is then deceased, to the Designated Beneficiary) at Participant’s last known mailing address, email address or facsimile number in the Company’s personnel files. By a notice given pursuant to this Section, either party may designate a different address for notices to be given to that party.  Any notice will be deemed duly given when actually received, when sent by email, when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited with postage prepaid in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service, when delivered by a nationally recognized express shipping company or upon receipt of a facsimile transmission confirmation.

4.4         Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.
 
4.5        Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all Applicable Laws and, to the extent Applicable Laws permit, will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Laws.
 
4.6         Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement or the Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.
 
4.7         Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the Option will be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b‑3) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule.  To the extent Applicable Laws permit, this Agreement will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
 
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4.8         Entire Agreement; Amendment. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall materially and adversely affect the Option without the prior written consent of Participant.
 
4.9         Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held illegal or invalid, the provision will be severable from, and the illegality or invalidity of the provision will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.
 
4.10      Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and may not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. Participant will have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the Option, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Shares as a general unsecured creditor with respect to the Option, as and when exercised pursuant to the terms hereof.
 
4.11       Not a Contract of Employment. Nothing in the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement confers upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or interferes with or restricts in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and Participant.
 
4.12      Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to Applicable Law, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will constitute one instrument.
 
4.13        Incentive Stock Options. If the Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option:
 
(a)         Participant acknowledges that to the extent the aggregate fair market value of shares (determined as of the time the option with respect to the shares is granted) with respect to which stock options intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” under Section 422 of the Code, including the Option, are exercisable for the first time by Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000 or if for any other reason such stock options do not qualify or cease to qualify for treatment as “incentive stock options” under Section 422 of the Code, such stock options (including the Option) will be treated as non-qualified stock options.  Participant further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the preceding sentence will be applied by taking the Option and other stock options into account in the order in which they were granted, as determined under Section 422(d) of the Code. Participant also acknowledges that if the Option is exercised more than three months after Participant’s Termination of Service, other than by reason of death or Disability, the Option will be taxed as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
 
(b)         Participant will give prompt written notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any Shares acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or other transfer is made (i) within two years from the Grant Date or (ii) within one year after the transfer of such Shares to Participant. Such notice will specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by Participant in such disposition or other transfer.

* * * * *


4

Exhibit 10.7

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
 
2023 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT NOTICE

Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has granted to the participant listed below (“Participant”) the Restricted Stock Units (the “RSUs”) described in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice (this “Grant Notice”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Smith Douglas Homes Corp. 2023 Incentive Award Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”) and the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Agreement”), both of which are incorporated into this Grant Notice by reference. Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Grant Notice or the Agreement have the meanings given to them in the Plan.

Participant:
[To be specified]
Grant Date:
[To be specified]
Number of RSUs:
[To be specified]
Vesting Commencement Date:
[To be specified]
Vesting Schedule:
[To be specified]

By accepting (whether in writing, electronically or otherwise) the RSUs, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of this Grant Notice, the Plan and the Agreement.  Participant has reviewed the Plan, this Grant Notice and the Agreement in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of the Plan, this Grant Notice and the Agreement.  Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, this Grant Notice or the Agreement.

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
 
PARTICIPANT
     
By:
     
Name:
   
[Participant Name]
Title:
      


Exhibit A

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT

Capitalized terms not specifically defined in this Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (this “Agreement”) have the meanings specified in the Grant Notice or, if not defined in the Grant Notice, in the Plan.

ARTICLE I.
GENERAL

1.1 Award of RSUs. The Company has granted the RSUs to Participant effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “Grant Date”).  Each RSU represents the right to receive one Share as set forth in this Agreement. Participant will have no right to the distribution of any Shares until the time (if ever) the RSUs have vested.

1.2 Incorporation of Terms of Plan. The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan will control.

1.3 Unsecured Promise. The RSUs will at all times prior to settlement represent an unsecured Company obligation payable only from the Company’s general assets.

ARTICLE II.
VESTING; FORFEITURE AND SETTLEMENT

2.1 Vesting; Forfeiture. The RSUs will vest according to the vesting schedule in the Grant Notice except that any fraction of an RSU that would otherwise be vested will be accumulated and will vest only when a whole RSU has accumulated.  In the event of Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason, all unvested RSUs will immediately and automatically be cancelled and forfeited, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator or provided in a binding written agreement between Participant and the Company (after taking into consideration any accelerated vesting which may occur in connection with such Termination of Service).

2.2 Settlement.

(a)             The RSUs will be paid in Shares as soon as administratively practicable after the vesting of the applicable RSU, but in no event later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the RSU’s vesting date occurs.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may delay any payment under this Agreement that the Company reasonably determines would violate Applicable Law until the earliest date the Company reasonably determines the making of the payment will not cause such a violation (in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii)); provided the Company reasonably believes the delay will not result in the imposition of excise taxes under Section 409A.

ARTICLE III.
TAXATION AND TAX WITHHOLDING

3.1 Representation. Participant represents to the Company that Participant has reviewed with Participant’s own tax advisors the tax consequences of this award of RSUs (the “Award”) and the transactions contemplated by the Grant Notice and this Agreement. Participant is relying solely on such advisors and not on any statements or representations of the Company or any of its agents.
 
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3.2 Tax Withholding.

(a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), payment of the withholding tax obligations with respect to the Award may be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Company:

(i) Cash or check;

(ii)           In whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation and Shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery;

(iii)         Subject to Section 10.17 of the Plan, delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) by Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company that Participant has placed a market sell order with such broker with respect to Shares then-issuable upon settlement of the Award, and that the broker has been directed to deliver promptly to the Company funds sufficient to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligations; provided, that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Administrator; or

(iv)            In whole or in part by the Company withholding of Shares otherwise vesting or issuable under this Award in satisfaction of any applicable withholding tax obligations.

(b) Unless the Company otherwise determines, the Company shall withhold, or cause to be withheld, Shares otherwise vesting or issuable under this Award in satisfaction of any applicable withholding tax obligations.

(c) Subject to Section 9.5 of the Plan, the applicable tax withholding obligation will be determined based on Participant’s Applicable Withholding Rate.  Participant’s “Applicable Withholding Rate” shall mean (i) if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the greater of (A) the minimum applicable statutory tax withholding rate or (B) with Participant’s consent, the maximum individual tax withholding rate permitted under the rules of the applicable taxing authority for tax withholding attributable to the underlying transaction, or (ii) if Participant is not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the minimum applicable statutory tax withholding rate or such other higher rate approved by the Company; provided, however, that (i) in no event shall Participant’s Applicable Withholding Rate exceed the maximum individual statutory tax rate in the applicable jurisdiction at the time of such withholding (or such other rate as may be required to avoid the liability classification of the applicable award under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America); and (ii) the number of Shares tendered or withheld, if applicable, shall be rounded up to the nearest whole Share sufficient to cover the applicable tax withholding obligation, to the extent rounding up to the nearest whole Share does not result in the liability classification of the RSUs under generally accepted accounting principles.

(d) Participant acknowledges that Participant is ultimately liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the RSUs, regardless of any action the Company or any Subsidiary takes with respect to any tax withholding obligations that arise in connection with the RSUs. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary makes any representation or undertaking regarding the treatment of any tax withholding in connection with the awarding, vesting or payment of the RSUs or the subsequent sale of Shares. The Company and its Subsidiaries do not commit and are under no obligation to structure the RSUs to reduce or eliminate Participant’s tax liability.

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ARTICLE IV.
OTHER PROVISIONS

4.1 Adjustments. Participant acknowledges that the RSUs and the Shares subject to the RSUs  are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and the Plan.

4.2 Clawback. The Award and the Shares issuable hereunder shall be subject to any clawback or recoupment policy in effect on the Grant Date or as may be adopted or maintained by the Company following the Grant Date, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder.

4.3 Notices. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company must be in writing and addressed to the Company in care of the Company’s General Counsel at the Company’s principal office or the General Counsel’s then-current email address or facsimile number. Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to Participant must be in writing and addressed to Participant (or, if Participant is then deceased, to the Designated Beneficiary) at Participant’s last known mailing address, email address or facsimile number in the Company’s personnel files. By a notice given pursuant to this Section, either party may designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice will be deemed duly given when actually received, when sent by email, when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited with postage prepaid in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service, when delivered by a nationally recognized express shipping company or upon receipt of a facsimile transmission confirmation.

4.4 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

4.5 Conformity to Securities Laws. Participant acknowledges that the Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all Applicable Laws and, to the extent Applicable Laws permit, will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Laws.

4.6 Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to a single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement will inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement or the Plan, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

4.7 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Grant Notice, this Agreement and the RSUs will be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent Applicable Laws permit, this Agreement will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

4.8 Entire Agreement; Amendment. The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including any exhibit hereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof. To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall materially and adversely affect the RSUs without the prior written consent of Participant.

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4.9 Agreement Severable. In the event that any provision of the Grant Notice or this Agreement is held illegal or invalid, the provision will be severable from, and the illegality or invalidity of the provision will not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of the Grant Notice or this Agreement.

4.10 Limitation on Participant’s Rights. Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and may not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. Participant will have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs, and rights no greater than the right to receive cash or the Shares as a general unsecured creditor with respect to the RSUs, as and when settled pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

4.11 Not a Contract of Employment. Nothing in the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement confers upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary or interferes with or restricts in any way the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or a Subsidiary and Participant.

4.12 Counterparts. The Grant Notice may be executed in one or more counterparts, including by way of any electronic signature, subject to Applicable Law, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will constitute one instrument.

* * * * *


4


Exhibit 10.8

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION PROGRAM

Eligible Directors (as defined below) on the board of directors (the “Board”) of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Company”) shall be eligible to receive cash and equity compensation as set forth in this Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (this “Program”). The cash and equity compensation described in this Program shall be paid or be made, as applicable, automatically as set forth herein and without further action of the Board, to each member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries unless such member is determined by the Board to not be eligible to receive compensation under this Program (each, an “Eligible Director”) unless such Eligible Director declines the receipt of such cash or equity compensation by written notice to the Company.

This Program shall become effective upon the closing of the initial public offering of the Company’s common stock (the “Effective Date”) and shall remain in effect until it is revised or rescinded by further action of the Board. This Program may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board at any time in its sole discretion. No Eligible Director shall have any rights hereunder, except with respect to equity awards granted pursuant to Section 2 of this Program.

1.          Cash Compensation.

a.          Annual Retainers. Each Eligible Director shall be eligible to receive an annual cash retainer of $70,000 for service on the Board.

b.          Additional Annual Retainers. An Eligible Director shall be eligible to receive the following additional annual retainers, as applicable:

(i)          Lead Independent Director. An Eligible Director serving as Lead Independent Director of the Board shall be eligible to receive an additional annual retainer of $25,000 for such service.

(ii)          Committee Chair. An Eligible Director serving as Chair of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee or the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be eligible to receive an additional annual retainer of $15,000 for such service on each such committee.

(iii)       Non-Chair Committee Member. An Eligible Director serving as a non-Chair member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee or the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be eligible to receive an additional annual retainer of $5,000 for such service on each such committee.

c.         Payment of Retainers. The annual cash retainers described in Sections 1(a) and 1(b) shall be earned on a quarterly basis based on a calendar quarter and shall be paid by the Company in arrears not later than 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter. In the event an Eligible Director does not serve as a director, or in the applicable positions described in Section 1(b), for an entire calendar quarter, the retainer paid to such Eligible Director shall be prorated for the portion of such calendar quarter actually served as a director, or in such position, as applicable.


2.          Equity Compensation.

a.         General. Eligible Directors shall be granted the equity awards described below. The awards described below shall be granted under and shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Company’s 2023 Incentive Award Plan or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company (such plan, as may be amended from time to time, the “Equity Plan”) and may be granted subject to the execution and delivery of award agreements, including attached exhibits, in substantially the forms approved by the Board prior to or in connection with such grants. All applicable terms of the Equity Plan apply to this Program as if fully set forth herein, and all grants of equity awards hereby are subject in all respects to the terms of the Equity Plan.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Equity Plan.

b.         Annual Awards. An Eligible Director who is serving on the Board as of the date of the annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) each calendar year beginning with calendar year 2024 shall be granted a Restricted Stock Unit award with a value of $100,000 (an “Annual Award”). The number of Restricted Stock Units subject to an Annual Award will be determined by dividing $100,000 by the closing price for the Company’s common stock on the applicable grant date.  Each Annual Award shall vest in full on the earlier to occur of (x) the one-year anniversary of the applicable grant date and (y) the date of the next Annual Meeting following the grant date, subject to continued service through the applicable vesting date.

c.         Accelerated Vesting Events. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Eligible Director’s Annual Award(s) shall vest in full immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control, to the extent outstanding at such time, if the Eligible Director will not become, as of immediately following such Change in Control, a member of the Board or the board of directors of the ultimate parent of the Company.

3.          Compensation Limits. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Program, all compensation payable under this Program will be subject to any limits on the maximum amount of non-employee Director compensation set forth in the Equity Plan, as in effect from time to time.

*****


2


Exhibit 10.9
 
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT AGREEMENT
 
This Indemnification and Advancement Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of ________________, 202__ by and between Smith Douglas Homes Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and ______________, [a member of the Board of Directors/an officer/an employee] of the Company (“Indemnitee”).  This Agreement supersedes and replaces any and all previous Agreements between the Company and Indemnitee covering indemnification and advancement of expenses.
 
RECITALS
 
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors, officers, or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification and advancement of expenses against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation;
 
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that, in order to attract and retain qualified individuals, the Company will attempt to maintain on an ongoing basis, at its sole expense, liability insurance to protect persons serving the Company and its subsidiaries from certain liabilities. Although the furnishing of such insurance has been a customary and widespread practice among United States-based corporations and other business enterprises, the Company believes that, given current market conditions and trends, such insurance may be available to it in the future only at higher premiums and with more exclusions. At the same time, directors, officers, and other persons in service to corporations or business enterprises are being increasingly subjected to expensive and time-consuming litigation relating to, among other things, matters that traditionally would have been brought only against the Company or business enterprise itself.  The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) and the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company. Indemnitee may also be entitled to indemnification pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).  The Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, and the DGCL expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive, and thereby contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and its directors, officers, and other persons with respect to indemnification and advancement of expenses;
 
WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance, to indemnification, and to advancement of expenses may increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;
 
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;
 
WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;
 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to, and in furtherance of, the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, as well as any rights of Indemnitee under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, and is not a substitute therefor, and does not diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and
 
WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, and available insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve or continue to serve as a/an [officer/directors/employee] without adequate additional protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity.  Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnitee be so indemnified and be advanced expenses.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
 
Section 1.            Services to the Company.  Indemnitee agrees to serve as [a/an] [director/officer/employee] of the Company.  Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law). This Agreement does not create any obligation on the Company to continue Indemnitee in such position and is not an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee.
 
Section 2.             Definitions.  As used in this Agreement:
 
(a)          Reserved.
 
(b)          A “Change in Control” occurs upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:
 
i.            Acquisition of Stock by Third Party.  Any Person (as defined below) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifteen percent (15%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities unless the change in relative beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors;
 
ii.           Change in Board of Directors.  During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(b)(i), 2(b)(iii) or 2(b)(iv) of this Agreement) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;
 
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iii.          Corporate Transactions. The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;
 
iv.          Liquidation. The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and
 
v.           Other Events.  There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
 
vi.           For purposes of this Section 2(b), the following terms have the following meanings:
 

1)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
 

2)
“Person” has the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person excludes (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.
 

3)
“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner excludes any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.
 
(c)          “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was acting as a director, officer, or employee of the Company or an Enterprise.
 
(d)        “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.
 
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(e)          “Enterprise” means any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other entity for which Indemnitee is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, or employee.
 
(f)       “Expenses” includes all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees and other costs of experts and other professionals, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties, and all other disbursements, obligations, or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 14(d) of this Agreement only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. The parties agree that for the purposes of any advancement of Expenses for which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, all Expenses included in such demand that are certified by affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable in the good faith judgment of such counsel will be presumed conclusively to be reasonable.  Expenses, however, do not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.
 
(g)          “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of Delaware corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent:  (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements) or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” does not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel.
 
(h)          Reserved.
 
(i)          “Proceeding” includes any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, claim, counterclaim, cross claim, arbitration, mediation, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing, or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, regulatory, or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is, or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness, or otherwise by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status or by reason of any action taken by Indemnitee (or a failure to take action by Indemnitee) or of any action (or failure to act) on Indemnitee’s part while acting pursuant to Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or Expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of Expenses can be provided under this Agreement. A Proceeding also includes a situation the Indemnitee believes in good faith may lead to, or culminate in, the institution of a Proceeding.
 
(j)           “Sponsor Entities” means The Bradbury Family Trust II A U/A/D December 29, 2015 and The GSB Family Trust, or any of their respective affiliates as applicable.
 
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Section 3.          Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 3, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with, or in respect of, such Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue, or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
 
Section 4.             Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company will indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor.  Pursuant to this Section 4, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company. The Company will not indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses under this Section 4 related to any claim, issue, or matter in a Proceeding for which Indemnitee has been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless, and only to the extent that, the Court of Chancery of the state of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”) or any court in which the Proceeding was brought determines upon application by Indemnitee that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.
 
Section 5.            Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding to the extent that Indemnitee is successful, on the merits or otherwise.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues, or matters in such Proceeding, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section 5 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue, or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, will be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue, or matter.
 
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Section 6.            Indemnification for Expenses of a Witness.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party but to which Indemnitee is a witness, deponent, interviewee, or otherwise asked to participate or provide information.
 
Section 7.           Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled.
 
Section 8.            Additional Indemnification. Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5 of this Agreement, the Company will indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law (including but not limited to, the DGCL and any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that expand the Company’s ability to indemnify its officers, directors, or employees) if Indemnitee is a party to, or threatened to be made a party to, any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.
 
Section 9.             Exclusions.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company is not obligated under this Agreement to indemnify Indemnitee for:
 
(a)         for any amount actually paid to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except to the extent provided in Section 16(b) of this Agreement and except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision;
 
(b)        an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law;
 
(c)        reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act);
 
(d)         reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any compensation pursuant to any compensation recoupment or clawback policy adopted by the Board or the compensation committee of the Board, including but not limited to any such policy adopted to comply with stock exchange listing requirements implementing Section 10D of the Exchange Act; or
 
(e)        any Proceeding initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification or advancement, of Expenses, including a Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, (ii) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (iii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.
 
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Section 10.           Advances of Expenses.
 
(a)          The Company will advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with:
 
i.             any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) not initiated by Indemnitee; or
 
ii.           any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee if
 

1)
the Proceeding or part of any Proceeding is to enforce Indemnitee’s rights to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company or Enterprise, including a proceeding initiated pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement, or
 

2)
the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation.
 
(b)         The Company will advance the Expenses within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding eligible for advancement of expenses.
 
(c)         Advances will be unsecured and interest free. Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any amounts so advanced (without interest) to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company, thus Indemnitee qualifies for advances upon the execution of this Agreement and delivery to the Company. No other form of undertaking is required other than the execution of this Agreement. The Company will make advances without regard to Indemnitee’s ability to repay the Expenses and without regard to Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification under the other provisions of this Agreement. The right to advances under this Section 10 shall in all events continue until final disposition of any Proceeding, including any appeal therein.
 
Section 11.           Procedure for Notification of Claim for Indemnification or Advancement.
 
(a)        Indemnitee will notify the Company in writing of any Proceeding with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof.  Indemnitee will include in the written notification to the Company a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding and provide such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Proceeding. Indemnitee’s failure to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have to Indemnitee under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company will not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company will, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification or advancement, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification or advancement.
 
(b)          The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.
 
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Section 12.          Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.
 
(a)          Unless a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made:
 
i.             by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;
 
ii.         by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board;
 
iii.          if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by the Board; or
 
iv.           if so directed by the Board, by the stockholders of the Company.
 
(b)       If a Change in Control has occurred, the determination of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification will be made by written opinion provided by Independent Counsel selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee requests such selection be made by the Board)
 
(c)          The party selecting Independent Counsel pursuant to subsection (a)(iii) or (b) of this Section 12 will provide written notice of the selection to the other party.  The notified party may, within ten (10) days after receiving written notice of the selection of Independent Counsel, deliver to the selecting party a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection will set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion.  Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected will act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or the Delaware Court has determined that such objection is without merit.  If, within thirty (30) days after the later of submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and the final disposition of the Proceeding, Independent Counsel has not been selected or, if selected, any objection to such selection has not been resolved, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Delaware Court for resolution of any objection made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by such court or by such other person as such court designates.  Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel will be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).
 
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(d)       Indemnitee will cooperate with the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons, or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. The Company will advance and pay any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making the indemnification determination irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. The Company promptly will advise Indemnitee in writing of the determination that Indemnitee is or is not entitled to indemnification, including a description of any reason or basis for which indemnification has been denied and providing a copy of any written opinion provided to the Board by Independent Counsel.
 
(e)          If it is determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will make payment to Indemnitee within thirty (30) days after such determination.
 
Section 13.           Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
 
(a)         In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement, the person, persons, or entity making such determination will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Agreement, and the Company will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption.  Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper under the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, will be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
 
(b)         If the determination of the Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification has not been made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within sixty (60) days after the later of (i) receipt by the Company of Indemnitee’s request for indemnification pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and (ii) the final disposition of the Proceeding for which Indemnitee requested Indemnification (the “Determination Period”), the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification will, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee will be entitled to such indemnification absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law. The Determination Period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, the Determination Period may be extended an additional fifteen (15) days if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 12(a)(iv) of this Agreement.
 
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(c)          The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue, or matter therein by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.
 
(d)          For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee acted based on (i) the records or books of account of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise, including financial statements, (ii) information supplied to Indemnitee by the directors or officers of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise in the course of their duties, (iii) the advice of legal counsel for the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise or (iv) information or records given or reports made to the Company or an Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser, financial advisor or other expert selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company, its subsidiaries, or an Enterprise.  Further, Indemnitee will be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company,” as referred to in this Agreement if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan. The provisions of this Section 13(d) are not exclusive and do not limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.
 
(e)         The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other person affiliated with the Company or an Enterprise (including, but not limited to, a director, officer, trustee, partner, managing member, fiduciary, agent or employee) may not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining Indemnitee’s right to indemnification under this Agreement.
 
Section 14.           Remedies of Indemnitee.
 
(a)         Indemnitee may commence litigation against the Company in the Delaware Court to obtain indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) the Company does not advance Expenses pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement, (iii) the determination of entitlement to indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement within the Determination Period, (iv) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the second to last sentence of Section 12(d) of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) the Company does not indemnify Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3, 4, 7, or 8 of this Agreement within thirty (30) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder.  Alternatively, Indemnitee, at Indemnitee’s option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.  Indemnitee must commence such Proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such Proceeding pursuant to this Section 14(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause does not apply in respect of a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company will not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.
 
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(b)         If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 will be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial or arbitration on the merits and Indemnitee may not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.  In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 the Company will have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be, and will not introduce evidence of the determination made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement.
 
(c)         If a determination is made pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company will be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 unless (i) a made of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with Indemnitees’ request for indemnification, or (ii) the Company is prohibited from indemnifying Indemnitee under applicable law.
 
(d)        The Company is, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 14 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding, or enforceable and will stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement.
 
(e)          It is the intent of the Company that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement, or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise, because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee under this Agreement. The Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, will (within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance to Indemnitee such Expenses which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding concerning this Agreement, Indemnitee’s other rights to indemnification or advancement of Expenses from the Company, or concerning any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, and will indemnify Indemnitee against any and all such Expenses unless the court determines that Indemnitee’s claims in such action were made in bad faith or frivolous, or that the Company is prohibited by law from indemnifying Indemnitee for such Expenses.
 
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Section 15.           Reserved
 
Section 16.           Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.
 
(a)         The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement are not exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders, a resolution of the board of directors, or otherwise.  The indemnification and advancement of Expenses provided by this Agreement may not be limited or restricted by any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement in any way with respect to any action taken or omitted by Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status occurring prior to any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement.  To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, or this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy is cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, will not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
 
(b)         The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses and/or insurance provided by one or more other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities). The relationship between the Company and such other Persons, other than an Enterprise, with respect to Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification, advancement of Expenses, and insurance is described by this subsection, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section 16 with respect to a Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise.
 
i.             The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees:
 
1)          the Company’s obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of any other Persons, other than an Enterprise, are secondary (i.e., the Company is the indemnitor of first resort) with respect to any request for indemnification or advancement of Expenses made pursuant to this Agreement concerning any Proceeding;
 
2)         the Company is primarily liable for all indemnification or advancement of Expenses obligations for any Proceeding, whether created by law, the Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, contract (including this Agreement) or otherwise;
 
3)         any obligation of any other Persons with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) to indemnify Indemnitee and/or advance Expenses to Indemnitee in respect of any proceeding are secondary to the Company’s obligations;
 
4)         the Company will indemnify Indemnitee and advance Expenses to Indemnitee hereunder to the fullest extent provided herein without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, any Sponsor Entities) or an insurer of any such Person; and
 
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ii.          the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases (A) any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) from any claim of contribution, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration or indemnification, or any other recovery of any kind in respect of amounts paid by the Company to Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement and (B) any right to participate in any claim or remedy of Indemnitee against any Person (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities), whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from any Person (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities), directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right.
 
iii.        In the event any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) or their insurers advances or extinguishes any liability or loss for Indemnitee, the payor has a right of subrogation against the Company or its insurers for all amounts so paid which would otherwise be payable by the Company or its insurers under this Agreement.  In no event will payment by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) or their insurers affect the obligations of the Company hereunder or shift primary liability for the Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses to any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities).
 
iv.          Any indemnification or advancement of Expenses provided by any other Person with whom or which Indemnitee may be associated (including, without limitation, any Sponsor Entities) is specifically in excess over the Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses or any valid and collectible insurance (including but not limited to any malpractice insurance or professional errors and omissions insurance) provided by the Company.
 
(c)        To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, agents or employees of the Company, the Company will obtain a policy or policies covering Indemnitee to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, agent or employee under such policy or policies, including coverage in the event the Company does not or cannot, for any reason, indemnify or advance Expenses to Indemnitee as required by this Agreement.  If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to this Agreement, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company will give prompt notice of such claim or of the commencement of a Proceeding, as the case may be, to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.  The Company will thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.  Indemnitee agrees to assist the Company’s efforts to cause the insurers to pay such amounts and will comply with the terms of such policies, including selection of approved panel counsel, if required.
 
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(d)         The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee for any Proceeding concerning Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with an Enterprise will be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such Enterprise. The Company and Indemnitee intend that any such Enterprise (and its insurers) be the indemnitor of first resort with respect to indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to or arising from Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise. The Company’s obligation to indemnify and advance Expenses to Indemnitee is secondary to the obligations the Enterprise or its insurers owe to Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to take all reasonably necessary and desirable action to obtain from an Enterprise indemnification and advancement of Expenses for any Proceeding related to, or arising from, Indemnitee’s Corporate Status with such Enterprise.
 
(e)          In the event of any payment made by the Company under this Agreement, the Company will be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee from any Enterprise or its insurance carrier.  Indemnitee will execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
 
Section 17.         Duration of Agreement. This Agreement continues until and terminates upon the later of: (a) ten (10) years after the date that Indemnitee ceases to have a Corporate Status or (b) one (1) year after the final termination of any Proceeding then pending in respect of which Indemnitee is granted rights of indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder and of any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement relating thereto. The indemnification and advancement of Expenses rights provided by or granted pursuant to this Agreement are (i) binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), (ii) continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, or employee of the Company or of any other Enterprise, and (iii) inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
 
Section 18.          Severability.  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and will remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions will be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) will be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
 
Section 19.         Interpretation. Any ambiguity in the terms of this Agreement will be resolved in favor of Indemnitee and in a manner to provide the maximum indemnification and advancement of Expenses permitted by law.  The Company and Indemnitee intend that this Agreement provide to the fullest extent permitted by law for indemnification and advancement of Expenses in excess of that expressly provided, without limitation, by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, vote of the Company’s stockholders or disinterested directors, or applicable law.
 
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Section 20.           Enforcement.
 
(a)         The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director, officer, or employee of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving or continuing to serve as director, officer, or employee of the Company.
 
(b)         This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, any directors’ and officers’ insurance maintained by the Company, and applicable law, is not a substitute therefor, and does not diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.
 
(c)         The Company shall not seek from a court, or agree to, a “bar order” which would have the effect of prohibiting or limiting Indemnitee’s rights to receive advances of expenses under this Agreement.
 
Section 21.          Modification and Waiver.  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement is binding unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed to constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement nor will any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
 
Section 22.        Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees to promptly notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder.  The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company does not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.
 
Section 23.          Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand to the other party, (b) sent by reputable overnight courier to the other party or (c) sent by facsimile transmission or electronic mail, with receipt of oral confirmation that such communication has been received:

(a)               If  to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee provides to the Company.

 
(b)
If to the Company to:

 
     


Name:
Smith Douglas Homes Corp:
 


Address:
110 Village Trail, Suite 215 Woodstock, Georgia 30188
 


Attention:
General Counsel
 


Email:
[ ]
 

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.
 
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Section 24.          Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, will contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (a) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (b) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, agents and employees) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).
 
Section 25.          Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties are governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules.  Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 14(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agree that any action, claim, or proceeding between the parties arising out of or in connection with this Agreement may be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action, claim, or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (c) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action, claim, or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (d) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action, claim, or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.
 
Section 26.           Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
 
Section 27.         Headings. The headings of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute part of this Agreement or affect the construction thereof.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.
 
[Signature Page to Follow]
 
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Exhibit 10.9

SMITH DOUGLAS HOMES CORP.
INDEMNITEE

 By:          
Name:
   

   
Office:
   
Name:
   
      Address:    
           




Exhibit 23.1
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated July 28, 2023 with respect to the financial statements of Smith Douglas Homes Corp., in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-1 No. 333-274379) and the related Prospectus of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for the registration of shares of its common stock.
 
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
October 16, 2023



 

Exhibit 23.2
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated July 28, 2023 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Smith Douglas Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries, in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-1 No. 333-274379) and the related Prospectus of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. for the registration of shares of its common stock.
 
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Atlanta, Georgia
October 16, 2023



Exhibit 23.3

CONSENT OF DOEREN MAYHEW

We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Registration Statement”) and the related Prospectus of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Company”), of our report dated July 14, 2023, on our audit of the financial statements of Devon Street Homes, L.P. as of December 31, 2022 and for the year then ended and our report dated August 16, 2023, on our review of the financial statements of Devon Street Homes, L.P. as of June 30, 2023 and for the six months then ended. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts”.

 
/s/ DOEREN MAYHEW
 
October 16, 2023



Exhibit 99.1

Consent of Director Nominee

In connection with the filing by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Corporation”) of its Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of the Corporation in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto.


/s/ George E. Perdue III

George E. Perdue III

October 16, 2023



Exhibit 99.2

Consent of Director Nominee

In connection with the filing by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Corporation”) of its Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of the Corporation in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto.


/s/ Neill B. Faucett

Neill B. Faucett

October 16, 2023



Exhibit 99.3

Consent of Director Nominee

In connection with the filing by Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (the “Corporation”) of its Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”) on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), I hereby consent, pursuant to Rule 438 of the Securities Act, to being named as a nominee to the board of directors of the Corporation in the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements thereto. I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto.


/s/ Janice E. Walker

Janice E. Walker

October 16, 2023