UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report: January 12, 2010

 

 

M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-8951   84-0622967

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification #)

4350 South Monaco Street, Suite 500

Denver, Colorado 80237

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(303) 773-1100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 210.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


ITEM 1.01. ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

On January 12, 2010, M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an Underwriting Agreement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., for itself and as representative of the several other underwriters listed therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), in connection with the offering and sale of an aggregate principal amount of $250 million of 5.625% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “Notes”). The offering is being made pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3ASR (Registration No. 333-154874), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated January 12, 2010.

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, and customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and the Underwriters, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

The Company expects to receive net proceeds, after the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses, of approximately $241.8 million. The offering of the Notes closed on January 15, 2010.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is a lender under the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 22, 2006, among MDC as Borrower and the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent, as amended.

 

ITEM 2.03. CREATION OF A DIRECT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OR AN OBLIGATION UNDER AN OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENT OF A REGISTRANT

On January 15, 2010, the Company announced that it had completed the issuance of $250 million of its 5.625% Senior Notes due February 1, 2020 (the “Notes”), in accordance with terms previously announced. The Notes were issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of December 3, 2002, among the Company, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture dated as of January 15, 2010 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

 

ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS

In connection with the offering and sale of the Notes described under Item 1.01 above, Holme Roberts & Owen LLP provided the Company with the legal opinion attached as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.

The Registrant’s press release announcing the transaction is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

 

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated as of January 12, 2010, by and among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., for itself and as Representative of the several other Underwriters named in Schedule II thereto.
  4.1    Supplemental indenture dated as of January 15, 2010, among the Company, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.
  5.1    Opinion of Holme Roberts & Owen LLP.
99.1    Press release dated January 12, 2010.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
Dated: January 15, 2010     By:   /s/    J OSEPH H. F RETZ        
      Joseph H. Fretz
      Secretary and Corporate Counsel


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated as of January 12, 2010, by and between the Company, certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
  4.1    Supplemental indenture dated as of January 15, 2010, among the Company, the guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee.
  5.1    Opinion of Holme Roberts & Owen LLP.
99.1    Press release dated January 12, 2010.

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION COPY

M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

$250,000,000

5.625% Senior Notes Due 2020

Underwriting Agreement

New York, New York

January 12, 2010

To the Representative named in

Schedule I hereto of the several

Underwriters named in

Schedule II hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representative”) are acting as the representative, the principal amount of its notes identified in Schedule I hereto (the “Notes”), to be issued under the indenture dated as of December 3, 2002, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (as supplemented from time to time, the “Base Indenture”), and a supplemental indenture to be dated January 15, 2010 by and among the Company, each of the subsidiaries of the Company listed on the signature pages hereof (the “Guarantors”) and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”), jointly and severally, by the Guarantors. The Notes and the Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Company and the Guarantors are collectively referred to herein as the “Issuers.” To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule II other than you, the term Representative as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriter, and the terms Representative and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base


Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 20 hereof.

1. Representations and Warranties . The Issuers, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.

(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement, as defined in Rule 405 (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto) on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, became effective upon filing. The Company may have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements relating to the Securities, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall contain all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Representative shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).

(b) On each Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined herein), the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; on each Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date the Indenture did or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules thereunder; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not 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 under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Issuers make no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Issuers by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the

 

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Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(c) (i) The Disclosure Package and (ii) each electronic road show, if any, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not contain 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 under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuers by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(d) (i) At the time of filing of the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163, and (iv) at the Execution Time, the Company was or is (as the case may be) a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Company agrees to pay, or has paid, the fees required by the Commission relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

(e) (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Act and (ii) as of the Execution Time, the Company was not and is not an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

(f) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated therein by reference and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Issuers by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(g) Each Issuer and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized with full power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to

 

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operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except in each case as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto) (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(h) The Company’s authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. The Securities being sold hereunder by the Company shall be on the Closing Date duly listed, and admitted and authorized for trading, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).

(i) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries (as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) (the “Significant Subsidiaries”) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and except for Allegiant Insurance Company, Inc., all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries and all such shares of capital stock owned by the Company either directly or indirectly are free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances. There is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or filed as required (and the Preliminary Prospectus contains in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters contained in the Final Prospectus ); and the statements in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the headings, “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”, “Description of Debt Securities”, “Underwriting” and “Description of Notes” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings.

(j) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Issuer.

(k) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Issuers and is a valid and binding agreement of the Issuers, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

 

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(l) The Notes have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to each Underwriter against payment therefor as provided by this Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

(m) The Guarantees have been duly authorized and, upon execution and authentication of the Notes in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivery of the Notes to each Underwriter against payment therefor as provided by this Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and will be valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

(n) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(o) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(p) Neither the issue and sale of the Securities nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of any of the Issuers pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of any of the Issuers, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which any of the Issuers are a party or bound or to which their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to any of the Issuers of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over any of the Issuers or any of their properties, except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii), as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) No holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement.

 

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(r) The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The selected financial data set forth under the caption “Prospectus Supplement Summary—Selected Financial and Other Data” in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and Registration Statement fairly present, on the basis stated in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the information included therein.

(s) Except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or bylaws, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii), as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Ernst & Young LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, is a registered independent public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, Ernst & Young LLP is not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with respect to the Company.

(w) The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect) and have paid all taxes

 

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required to be paid by them and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against them, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that, in either case, could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) No subsidiary of the Company (other than any Finance Subsidiary, as defined in the Supplemental Indenture) is currently materially restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

(aa) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by all applicable authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess any such license, certificate, permit or authorization would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that, in all material respects, (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 generally accepted accounting principles 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

 

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assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and its subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting are effective and the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any material weakness in their internal controls over financial reporting.

(cc) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

(dd) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(ee) The Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under any environmental law, except where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of the subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

(ff) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company generally reviews the effect of Environmental Laws in connection with specific land acquisition and development activities, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up or compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such reviews, the Company has reasonably concluded that any additional associated costs and liabilities not already accrued or reserved for would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(gg) None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any of the Company or any of its

 

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subsidiaries that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries; (ii) a material increase in the “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such obligations in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA that could have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries related to their employment that could have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may have any liability.

(hh) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 relating to loans and Sections 302 and 906 relating to certifications.

(ii) The subsidiaries listed on Annex A attached hereto are the only Significant Subsidiaries of the Company.

(jj) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business as now conducted or as proposed in the Final Prospectus to be conducted.

(kk) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(ll) None of the Issuers nor any of their properties or assets has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise).

 

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Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.

2. Purchase and Sale . Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto.

3. Delivery and Payment . Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made on the date and at the time specified in Schedule I hereto or at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representative shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representative and the Company or as provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representative of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct. Certificates for the Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as Citigroup Global Markets Inc. may request not less than two Business Days in advance of the Closing Date.

The Company agrees to have the Securities available for inspection and checking by the Representative in New York, New York, not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time on the Business Day prior to the Closing Date.

4. Offering by Underwriters . It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

5. Agreements . The Issuers agree with the several Underwriters that:

(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object. The Company will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representative with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representative (i) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of any request by

 

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the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

(b) They will prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form approved by you and attached as Schedule IV hereto and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.

(c) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representative so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(d) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Final Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representative of any such event, (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Final Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Final Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

 

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(e) In the ordinary course of filing its periodic reports, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representative an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

(f) The Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representative may reasonably request.

(g) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions located in the United States as the Representative may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(h) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representative, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433, other than a free writing prospectus containing the information contained in the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule III hereto and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representative or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

(i) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any

 

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person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities) or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, until the Business Day set forth on Schedule I hereto.

(j) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(k) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (v) the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Securities on the NYSE; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such filings); (viii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Issuers contained herein as of the Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Issuers made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Issuers of their obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

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(a) The Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(b) hereto, and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

(b) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative the opinion of Michael Touff, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, and Joseph Fretz, Secretary and Corporate Counsel of the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, to the effect that:

(i) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized with full power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except in each case as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(ii) each Issuer has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and to perform its obligations thereunder;

(iii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary that is a corporation have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries (other than Allegiant Insurance Company, Inc., a Risk Retention Group) are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry, any other security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance;

(iv) the Company’s authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the Securities being sold hereunder by the Company are duly listed and admitted and authorized for trading, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution on the NYSE;

(v) to the knowledge of such counsel, there is no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not adequately disclosed in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, and there is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be described in the

 

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Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or filed as required;

(vi) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Indenture, the issue and sale of the Securities nor the consummation of any other of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of the Guarantors pursuant to, (x) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of the Guarantors, (y) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or the Guarantors is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (z) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or the Guarantors of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or the Guarantors or any of its or their properties, except, in the case of clause (y) or (z), as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

(vii) no holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement; and

(viii) neither the Company nor any Guarantor is and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may assume as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Colorado and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (collectively, the “Subject States’ Laws”) and the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, that insofar as the opinions expressed relate to matters governed by state law other than the Subject States’ Laws, the relevant laws of such other states, and their application to such matters, are and would be the same as the laws which would be applicable to such matters if such agreement were governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws (other than the law governing conflict of law matters) of the State of Colorado. References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (b) shall also include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

(c) Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, counsel for the Issuers, shall have furnished to the Representative an opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, to the effect that:

(i) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act; all required filings pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act have been made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule; to the knowledge of such counsel, (i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued by the Commission, and (ii) no proceedings for that

 

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purpose have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and the Registration Statement as of the time it became effective and the Final Prospectus as of its date (other than the financial statements, the related notes and schedules and other financial information and statistical data, including, without limitation, all pro forma financial data, contained or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable respective rules thereunder;

(ii) the statements included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the heading “Certain United Stated Federal Income Tax Considerations” fairly summarize the matters therein described in all material respects;

(iii) the statements included or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Notes” constitute accurate summaries of the terms of the Indenture, the Notes and the Guarantees in all material respects;

(iv) the Indenture has been duly authorized by the requisite corporate or limited partnership action, as the case may be, on the part of the Company and the Guarantors, has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors, and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; the Indenture constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuers, enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with its terms;

(v) the Notes have been duly authorized by the requisite corporate action on the part of the Company, and have been duly executed by the Company; the Notes, when authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture;

(vi) the Guarantees have been duly authorized by the requisite corporate or limited partnership action, as the case may be, on the part of the Guarantors and have been duly executed by the Guarantors; when the Notes are authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, each Guarantee will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantors, enforceable against such Guarantor in accordance with its terms;

(vii) this Agreement has been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or limited partnership action, as the case may be, on the part of the Company and the Guarantors and has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Guarantors; and

 

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(viii) no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of (i) any State of Delaware court or governmental agency or body, in each case solely under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or (ii) any State of New York, State of Colorado or United States federal court or governmental agency or body is required for the due execution and delivery by the Company or the Guarantors of, and the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of the acts required by, the Transaction Documents, except such as have been obtained under the Act, and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated in this Agreement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

In addition, such counsel shall also state that it has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company and the Guarantors (as you and your counsel have done); that at such conferences it has made inquiries of such officers and representatives and discussed the contents of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and that it is not passing upon and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, except as expressly set forth in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above. However, subject to the foregoing, such counsel shall state that no facts have come to its attention that have caused it to believe (i) that the Registration Statement, as of its Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, (ii) that the Disclosure Package, at the Execution Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) that the Final Prospectus, as of its date or on the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits 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, in each case, such counsel may state that it expresses no view as to the financial statements, the related notes and schedules and other financial information and statistical data, including, without limitation, all pro forma financial data, contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus.

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may limit its opinion to (i) the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America, (ii) with respect to its opinions in paragraphs (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii) with respect to the Company and the Guarantors organized in the State of Delaware, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, (iii) with respect to its opinions in paragraphs (iv), (vi), (vii) and (viii) with respect to the Guarantors organized in the State of Colorado, the laws of the State of Colorado, (iv) with respect to its opinions in paragraphs (iv), (vi) and (vii) with respect to the Guarantor organized in the State of Maryland, the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland, and (v) with respect to its opinions in paragraphs (iv), (vi) and (vii) with respect to the Guarantor organized in the State of Virginia, the Stock Corporation Act of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 

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In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials and (B) for purposes of the opinions in paragraphs (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii), on paragraphs (i) and (vii) in the opinion given pursuant to Section 6(b). References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (c) shall also include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

(d) The Representative shall have received from Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP , counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representative may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate of the Company, signed by the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company and an executive vice president, vice president, manager or officer of the general partner of each of the Guarantors, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto, as well as each electronic road show, if any, used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and that:

(i) the representations and warranties of the Issuers in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

(f) The Company shall have requested and caused Ernst & Young LLP to have furnished to the Representative, at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, “comfort letters,” in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder and confirming certain matters with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and other financial and accounting information

 

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contained in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and Final Prospectus.

(g) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representative, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(h) Subsequent to the Execution Time and prior to the Closing Date, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.

(i) Prior to the Closing Date, the Issuers shall have furnished to the Representative such further information, certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

(j) The Securities shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the NYSE, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representative.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representative. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP , counsel for the Underwriters, at 80 Pine Street, New York, New York 10005, on the Closing Date.

 

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7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses . If the sale of the Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP ) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

8. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) The Issuers agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or any other preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the information contained in the final term sheet required to be prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however , that no Issuer will be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Issuers may otherwise have.

(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Issuers, each of their respective directors, each of their respective officers who sign the Registration Statement, and each person who controls any Issuer within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Issuers to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Issuers by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representative specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Issuers

 

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acknowledge that the statements set forth in (i) the last paragraph of the cover page regarding delivery of the Securities and, under the heading “Underwriting,” (ii) the list of Underwriters and their respective participation in the sale of the Securities, (iii) the sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (iv) the paragraph related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids, in each case in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided , however , that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any

 

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reason, the Issuers and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Issuers and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Issuers on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities; provided , however , that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Issuers and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Issuers on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Issuers shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Issuers on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Issuers and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls any Issuer within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of any Issuer who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

9. Default by an Underwriter . If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase;

 

22


provided , however , that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Issuers. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representative shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Issuers and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

10. Termination . This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice given to the Issuers prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Company’s common stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the NYSE or trading in securities generally on the NYSE shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representative, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Issuers or their respective officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Issuers or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

12. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representative, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to it c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc. General Counsel (fax no.: (212) 816-7912) and confirmed to the General Counsel, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, 10013, Attention: General Counsel; or, if sent to the Issuers, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to (720) 977-4324 and confirmed to it at attention of the General Counsel, at 4350 South Monaco Street, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80237, Attention: General Counsel.

13. Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

23


14. No fiduciary duty . The Issuers hereby acknowledge that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Issuers, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the Issuers and (c) the Issuers’ engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Issuers agree that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising any of the Issuers on related or other matters). The Issuers agree that they will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Issuers, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

15. Integration . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Issuers and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

16. Applicable Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.

17. Waiver of Jury Trial . Each of the Issuers and the Representative hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

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

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

20. Definitions . The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

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

“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in Section 1(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.

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

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Execution Time, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing

 

24


Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule III hereto, (iv) the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto, if any, and (v) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.

“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective.

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

“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

“Final Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Base Prospectus.

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus referred to in Section 1(a) above which is used prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus.

“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.

“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433 refer to such rules under the Act.

“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

25


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company, the Guarantors and the several Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,
M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Christopher M. Anderson

Name:   Christopher M. Anderson
Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Guarantors:

M.D.C. LAND CORPORATION

RAH OF FLORIDA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF ARIZONA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF COLORADO, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF DELAWARE, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF FLORIDA, LP
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF ILLINOIS, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF MARYLAND, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF NEVADA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF NEW JERSEY INC.

 

26


RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF UTAH, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF VIRGINIA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.
By:  

/s/ Christopher M. Anderson

  Name:  Christopher M. Anderson
  Title:    Authorized officer or representative of
             each Guarantor

 

27


 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

By:  

/s/ Brian D. Bednarski

  Name:  Brian D. Bednarski
  Title:    Managing Director

For itself and the other several

Underwriters, if any, named in Schedule II

to the foregoing Agreement


SCHEDULE I

Underwriting Agreement dated January 12, 2010

Registration Statement No. 333-154874

Representative: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:

Title: 5.625% Senior Notes due 2020

Principal amount: $250,000,000

Purchase price: 96.915% of principal amount

Sinking fund provisions: None

Redemption provisions: As set forth in the Disclosure Package

Other provisions: As set forth in the Disclosure Package

Closing Date, Time and Location: January 15, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP , Underwriters counsel, at 80 Pine Street New York, New York 10005

Type of Offering: Non-delayed

Date referred to in Section 5(i) after which the Company may offer or sell debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company without the consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc.: 90 days.


SCHEDULE II

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount
of Securities to

be Purchased

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   $ 250,000,000
      

Total

   $ 250,000,000
      


SCHEDULE III

Final pricing term sheet as set forth in Schedule IV.

Bloomberg e-mail which shall not include any information that is different from the information set forth in Schedule IV.


SCHEDULE IV

 

Free Writing Prospectus

(To the Preliminary Prospectus

Supplement dated January 12, 2010)

 

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration Statement No. 333-154874

M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

$250,000,000 of 5.625% Senior Notes Due 2020

FINAL TERM SHEET

January 12, 2010

 

Issuer:    M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
Security:    5.625% Senior Notes due 2020
Principal Amount:    $250,000,000
Trade Date:    January 12, 2010
Settlement Date:    January 15, 2010 (T+3)
Final Maturity:    February 1, 2020
Interest Rate:    5.625% per annum
Public Offering Price:    97.565%
Yield to Maturity:    5.950%
Benchmark Treasury:    3.375% due November 15, 2019
Benchmark Treasury Price:    97-6+
Benchmark Treasury Yield:    3.717%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:    +223.3 basis points
Interest Payment Dates:    Semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2010
Optional Redemption:    Greater of par and make whole at Treasury plus 35 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption
Authorized Denominations:    $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof
Ratings 1 :    BBB- (S&P) / Baa3 (Moody’s) / BBB- (Fitch)
CUSIP/ISIN:    552676 AP3 / US552676AP38
Sole Book-Running Manager:    Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Global Settlement:    Through The Depository Trust Company
Net Proceeds:    We estimate that the net proceeds, after deducting underwriters’ discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us, from sale of the notes offered hereby will be approximately $241.8 million.

 

 

    The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC

 

1

A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.


Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement if you request it by calling Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at 877-858-5407 (toll free).

Any disclaimers or other notices that may appear below are not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimers were automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent via Bloomberg or another email system.

Exhibit 4.1

Execution Copy

M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC. AND THE GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO

5.625% Senior Notes due 2020

 

 

Supplemental Indenture

Dated as of January 15, 2010

 

 

U.S. Bank National Association,

Trustee

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

ARTICLE One Scope of Supplemental Indenture; General

   1

ARTICLE Two Certain Definitions

   2

ARTICLE Three Redemption

   11

        Section 3.01.

  

Right of Redemption.

   11

        Section 3.02.

  

No Sinking Fund.

   12

ARTICLE Four Covenants

   12

        Section 4.01.

  

Restrictions on Secured Debt.

   12

        Section 4.02.

  

Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

   13

        Section 4.03.

  

SEC Reports.

   14

        Section 4.04.

  

Change of Control Repurchase Event.

   14

ARTICLE Five Successor Corporation

   16

        Section 5.01.

  

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets.

   16

ARTICLE Six Guarantees

   17

        Section 6.01.

  

Unconditional Guarantee.

   17

        Section 6.02.

  

Fraudulent Conveyance Limitation.

   18

        Section 6.03.

  

Waiver.

   19

        Section 6.04.

  

Subordinated Indebtedness.

   19

        Section 6.05.

  

Execution of Guarantee.

   21

        Section 6.06.

  

Additional Guarantees and Release of Guarantees.

   21

ARTICLE Seven Miscellaneous

   23

        Section 7.01.

  

Confirmation of Indenture.

   23

        Section 7.02.

  

Concerning the Trustee.

   23

        Section 7.03.

  

Governing Law.

   23

        Section 7.04.

  

Separability.

   23

        Section 7.05.

  

Counterparts.

   23

        Section 7.06.

  

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

   23

        Section 7.07.

  

No Recourse Against Others.

   23

        Section 7.08.

  

Successors and Assigns.

   24

        Section 7.09.

  

Duplicate Originals.

   24

        Section 7.10.

  

Severability.

   24

 

-i-


SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of January 15, 2010 (“ Supplemental Indenture ”), to the Senior Debt Securities Indenture dated as of December 3, 2002 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “ Indenture ”), by and among M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), the Guarantors (as defined herein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Notes (as defined herein):

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have executed an Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of senior debt securities (the “ Securities ”) to be issued in one or more series as in the Indenture provided;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Guarantors desire and have requested the Trustee to join them in the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture in order to establish and provide for the issuance by the Company of a series of Securities designated as its 5.625% Senior Notes due 2020, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , guaranteed by the Guarantors, on the terms set forth herein;

WHEREAS, Section 2.01 of the Indenture provides that a supplemental indenture may be entered into for such purpose provided certain conditions are met;

WHEREAS, the conditions set forth in the Indenture for the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, and a valid amendment of, and supplement to, the Indenture have been done;

NOW, THEREFORE:

In consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the holders thereof the Company and the Guarantors mutually covenant and agree with the Trustee, for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders, that the Indenture is supplemented and amended, to the extent expressed herein, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

Scope of Supplemental Indenture; General

The changes, modifications and supplements to the Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and govern the terms of, the


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Notes, which shall not be limited in aggregate principal amount, and shall not apply to any other Securities that may be issued under the Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements. Pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, there is hereby created and designated a series of Securities under the Indenture entitled “5.625% Senior Notes due 2020.” The Notes shall be in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Notes shall be guaranteed by the Guarantors as provided in such form and this Supplemental Indenture. If required, the Notes may bear an appropriate legend regarding original issue discount for federal income tax purposes and any other legend required by applicable law or the rules of any exchange on which the Notes may be listed.

ARTICLE TWO

Certain Definitions

The following terms have the meanings set forth below in this Supplemental Indenture. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture. To the extent terms defined herein differ from the Indenture the terms defined herein will govern.

Attributable Debt ” means, in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, the present value (discounted at the weighted average effective interest cost per annum of the outstanding debt securities of all series, compounded semiannually) of the obligation of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such transaction, including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended or, if earlier, until the earliest date on which the lessee may terminate such lease upon payment of a penalty (in which case the obligation of the lessee for rental payments shall include such penalty), after excluding all amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water and utility rates and similar charges.

Below Investment Grade Rating Event ” means the Notes are rated below Investment Grade by all three Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing


-3-

 

at our request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of, or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred within the 60-day period preceding the reduction in ratings).

Business Day ” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.

Capital Stock ” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of or in a Person’s capital stock or other equity interests, and options, rights or warrants to purchase such capital stock or other equity interests, whether now outstanding or issued after the Issue Date, including, without limitation, all Preferred Stock of such Person if such Person is a corporation or membership interests if such Person is a limited liability company and each general and limited partnership interest of such Person if such Person is a partnership.

Capitalized Lease Obligations ” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of such obligations will be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

cash ” means U.S. Legal Tender.

Change of Control ” means the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s Voting Stock, measured by voting power rather than number of shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (1) the Company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company and (2) the holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction.

Change of Control Repurchase Event ” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (a) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in


-4-

 

each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated “Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities” or (b) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such price on such Business Day, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means the total amount of assets which would be included on a combined balance sheet of the Company and the Guarantors under GAAP (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom:

(1) all short-term liabilities, except for (x) liabilities payable by their terms more than one year from the date of determination (or renewable or extendible at the option of the obligor for a period ending more than one year after such date) and (y) liabilities in respect of retiree benefits other than pensions for which the Restricted Subsidiaries are required to accrue pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106;

(2) investments in subsidiaries that are not Restricted Subsidiaries; and

(3) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount, unamortized expense incurred in the issuance of debt and other intangible assets.

Consolidated Net Worth ” of any Person means the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Person determined in accordance with GAAP.

Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Event of Default ” means any one of the following events:

(a) default in the payment of interest on the Notes as and when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for 30 days;

(b) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal or premium, if any, on the Notes when and as the same become due and payable at maturity, at redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise;


-5-

 

(c) default in the observance or performance of, or breach of, any covenant, agreement or warranty of the Company contained in the Notes, the Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture (unless specifically dealt with elsewhere), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee, or to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, a written notice specifying such default or breach, requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

(d) a decree, judgment, or order by a court of competent jurisdiction shall have been entered adjudging the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition in an involuntary case or proceeding seeking reorganization of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries under any bankruptcy or similar law, or a decree, judgment or order of a court of competent jurisdiction directing the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee, or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries, or of the assets or property of any such Person, or the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of any such Person, shall have been entered, and the continuance of any such decree, judgment or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days;

(e) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a voluntary bankrupt (including conversion of an involuntary proceeding into a voluntary proceeding), or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a Custodian, receiver, liquidator, trustee, or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or any of its assets or property, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or shall, within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, become insolvent, or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

(f) (i) the acceleration of any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries (in accordance with the terms of such Indebtedness and after giving effect to any applicable grace period set forth in the documents governing such Indebtedness) that has an outstanding principal amount of $25,000,000 or more individually or $40,000,000 or more in the aggregate to be immediately due and payable; provided that, in the event any such acceleration is withdrawn or otherwise rescinded (including satisfaction of such Indebtedness) within a period of ten business days after such acceleration by the holders of such Indebtedness, any Event of Default under this clause (f) will be deemed to be cured and any acceleration hereunder will be deemed withdrawn or rescinded; or (ii) the failure by


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the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to make any principal, premium, interest or other required payment in respect of Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries with an outstanding aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000 or more individually or $40,000,000 or more in the aggregate (after giving effect to any applicable grace period set forth in the documents governing such Indebtedness);

(g) one or more final nonappealable judgments (in the amount not covered by insurance or not reserved for) or the issuance of any warrant of attachment against any portion of the property or assets (except with respect to Non-Recourse Indebtedness) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, which are $25,000,000 or more individually or $40,000,000 or more in the aggregate, at any one time rendered against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries by a court of competent jurisdiction and not bonded, satisfied or discharged for a period (during which execution shall not be effectively stayed) of (i) 60 days after the judgment becomes final and such court shall not have ordered or approved, and the parties shall not have agreed upon, the payment of such judgment at a later date or dates or (ii) 60 days after all or any part of such judgment is payable pursuant to any court order or agreement between the parties; or

(h) the Guarantee of any Guarantor shall fail to remain in full force and effect except in accordance with this Indenture or any action shall be taken by any Guarantor to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of its Guarantee, or any Guarantor shall fail to comply with any of the terms or provisions of its Guarantee, or any Guarantor denies that it has any further liability under its Guarantee or gives notice to such effect.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Finance Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of the Company substantially all of whose operations consist of (a) the mortgage financing business or (b) the insurance business.

Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings.

Funded Indebtedness ” means notes, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences of Indebtedness for money borrowed which by their terms mature at or are extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to a date more than 12 months after the date of the creation of such debt.

Guarantee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01 hereof.

Guaranteed Indebtedness ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.06 hereof.


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Guaranteed Obligations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01 hereof.

Guarantors ” means (i) initially, each of:

M.D.C. Land Corporation, a Colorado corporation;

RAH of Florida, Inc., a Colorado corporation;

Richmond American Construction, Inc., a Delaware corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Arizona, Inc., a Delaware corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc., a Delaware corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Delaware, Inc., a Colorado corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP, a Colorado limited partnership;

Richmond American Homes of Illinois, Inc., a Colorado corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Maryland, Inc., a Maryland corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Nevada, Inc., a Colorado corporation;

Richmond American Homes of New Jersey, Inc., a Colorado corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Pennsylvania, Inc., a Colorado corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Utah, Inc., a Colorado corporation;

Richmond American Homes of Virginia, Inc., a Virginia corporation; and

Richmond American Homes of West Virginia, Inc., a Colorado corporation;

and (ii) any other Subsidiary of the Company that executes and delivers a guarantee of the Notes pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.

Indebtedness ” means (a) any liability of any Person (i) for borrowed money, or (ii) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind (other than a trade payable or a current liability arising in the ordinary course of business), or (iii) for the payment of money relating to a Capitalized Lease Obligation or (iv) for all Redeemable Capital Stock valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; (b) any liability of others described in the preceding clause (a) that such Person has guaranteed or that is otherwise its legal liability; (c) all Indebtedness referred to in (but not excluded from) clauses (a) and (b) above of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons, the payment of which is secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Security Interest upon or in property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness; and (d) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above.

Interest Payment Date ” means the stated due date of an installment of interest on the Notes.


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Investment Grade ” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s); a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch); a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P); and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by us.

Issue Date ” means January 15, 2010, the date of original issuance of the Notes.

Legal Holiday ” means a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in Denver, Colorado and New York, New York are not required to be open.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

Non-Recourse Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness or other obligations secured by a lien on property to the extent that the liability for the Indebtedness or other obligations is limited to the security of the property without liability on the part of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than the Restricted Subsidiary which holds title to the property) for any deficiency.

Notes ” means the 5.625% Senior Notes due 2020 created under Article One hereof.

Paying Agent ” means an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Preferential Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.

Preferred Stock ” of any Person means all Capital Stock of such Person which has a preference in liquidation or with respect to the payment of dividends.

Primary Treasury Dealer ” means a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City.

Rating Agency ” means (1) each of Moody’s, Fitch and S&P; and (2) if any of Moody’s, Fitch or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available (for reasons outside of our control), a “nationally recognized statistical rating


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organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our board of directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s, Fitch or S&P, or all three, as the case may be.

Record Date ” means a Record Date specified in the Notes whether or not such Record Date is a Business Day.

Redeemable Capital Stock ” means any Capital Stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, either by its terms, by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or otherwise, (a) is or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be required to be redeemed on or prior to the final stated maturity of the securities or (b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to such final stated maturity or (c) is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time on or prior to such final stated maturity.

Redemption Date ,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture and Paragraph 5 of the Notes.

Redemption Price ,” when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed, means the price for such redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Notes, which shall include, without duplication, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means (a) Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (or its affiliates which are Primary Treasury Dealers), and its successors; provided , however , that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (b) any other Primary Treasury Dealer(s) selected by the Company.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

Registrar ” means the office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange.

Remaining Scheduled Payments ” means, with respect to any Note, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof to be redeemed and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date but for such redemption; provided , however , that if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date with respect to such Note, the


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amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such Redemption Date.

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Guarantor and any successor to such Guarantor.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction ” means a sale or transfer made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (except a sale or transfer made to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of any property which is either (a) a manufacturing facility, office building or warehouse whose book value equals or exceeds 1% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the date of determination or (b) another property (not including a model home) which exceeds 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the date of determination, if such sale or transfer is made with the agreement, commitment or intention of leasing such property to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary for more than a three-year term.

Secured Debt ” means any Indebtedness, except Indebtedness of the Finance Subsidiaries, which is secured by (i) a Security Interest in any of the property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) a Security Interest in shares of stock owned directly or indirectly by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a corporation or in equity interests owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in a partnership or other entity not organized as a corporation or in the Company’s rights or the rights of a Restricted Subsidiary in respect of Indebtedness of a corporation, partnership or other entity in which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary has an equity interest. The securing in the foregoing manner of any such Indebtedness which immediately prior thereto was not Secured Debt shall be deemed to be the creation of Secured Debt at the time security is given.

Security Interests ” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or other security interest which secures the payment or performance of an obligation.

Significant Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary (a) whose revenues exceed 10% of our total consolidated revenues, in each case for the most recent fiscal year, or (b) whose net worth exceeds 10% of our total stockholders’ equity, in each case as of the end of the most recent fiscal year.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Specified Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness under (i) the Notes, (ii) the Indenture and (iii) the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 22, 2006, among the Company and the banks named therein, as amended or supplemented from time to time, and any refinancing, extension, renewal or replacement of any of the foregoing.


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Stated Maturity ” when used with respect to any Note, means February 1, 2020.

Subordinated Indebtedness ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04.

Subsidiary ” means any Person of which at the time of determination by the Company, directly and/or indirectly through one or more Subsidiaries, the Company owns more than 50% of its Voting Stock.

Supplemental Indenture ” has the meaning set forth in Article One hereof.

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect from time to time.

Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

Trustee ” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

U.S. Legal Tender ” means such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Voting Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, the Capital Stock of such Person that is generally entitled to vote in the election of the members of the board of directors (or functional equivalent) of such Person.

ARTICLE THREE

Redemption

Section 3.01. Right of Redemption .

Redemption of Notes, as permitted by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and Article Three of the Indenture.

The Notes may be redeemed at the election of the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on at least 30 but not more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of their principal amount, and (ii) the present value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments on the Notes being redeemed on the Redemption Date, discounted to the Redemption Date, on a semiannual basis, at the Treasury Rate plus 35 basis points (0.35%), plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on


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the Notes to the Redemption Date. In determining the Redemption Price and accrued interest, interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on the Notes to be redeemed is deposited with the Trustee on or before the Redemption Date, on and after the Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes (or such portions thereof) called for redemption and the Notes will cease to be outstanding.

On and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion of the Notes called for redemption (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest). On or before the Redemption Date, the Company will deposit with a paying agent (or the Trustee) money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of and accrued interest on the Notes to be redeemed on that date. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by lot by DTC, in the case of Notes represented by a global security.

Section 3.02. No Sinking Fund .

The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

ARTICLE FOUR

Covenants

The following additional covenants will apply with respect to the Notes:

Section 4.01. Restrictions on Secured Debt .

The Company will not, and will not cause or permit a Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Finance Subsidiary) to, create, incur, assume or guarantee any Secured Debt unless the Notes will be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Secured Debt, with certain exceptions. This restriction does not prohibit the creation, incurrence, assumption or guarantee of Secured Debt which is secured by:

(1) Security Interests in model homes, homes held for sale, homes that are under contract for sale, contracts for the sale of homes, land (improved or unimproved), manufacturing plants, warehouses or office buildings and fixtures and equipment located thereat or thereon;

(2) Security Interests in property at the time of its acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, including Capitalized Lease Obligations, which Security Interests secure obligations assumed by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or in the property of a corporation or other entity at the time it is merged into or


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consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (other than Secured Debt created in contemplation of the acquisition of such property or the consummation of such a merger or where the Security Interest attaches to or affects the property of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary prior to such transaction);

(3) Security Interests arising from conditional sales agreements or title retention agreements with respect to property acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(4) Security Interests incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue, water, sewage or any similar item; and

(5) Security Interests securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that is wholly owned (directly or indirectly) by the Company or Security Interests securing the Company’s Indebtedness owing to a Guarantor.

Such permitted Secured Debt also includes any amendment, restatement, supplement, renewal, replacement, extension or refunding, in whole or in part, of Secured Debt permitted at the time of the original incurrence thereof.

In addition, the Company and the Guarantors may create, incur, assume or guarantee Secured Debt, without equally and ratably securing the Notes, if immediately thereafter the sum of (1) the aggregate principal amount of all Secured Debt outstanding (excluding Secured Debt permitted under clauses (1) through (5) above and any Secured Debt in relation to which the Notes have been equally and ratably secured) and (2) all Attributable Debt in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions (excluding Attributable Debt in respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions as to which the provisions of clauses (1) through (3) under Section 4.02 have been complied with) as of the date of determination would not exceed 20% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

The provisions described above with respect to limitations on Secured Debt are not applicable to Non-Recourse Indebtedness by virtue of the definition of Secured Debt, and will not restrict the Company’s or the Guarantors’ ability to create, incur, assume or guarantee any unsecured Indebtedness, or of any Subsidiary which is not a Restricted Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or guarantee any secured or unsecured Indebtedness.

Section 4.02. Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions .

The Company will not, and will not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction unless (1) the net proceeds to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such sale or transfer equal or exceed the fair value (as determined by the Board of Directors, chairman of the board, vice chairman, president or principal


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financial officer of the Company) of the property or asset so leased, (2) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Secured Debt pursuant to Section 4.01, (3) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall, and in any case the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, covenant that they will, within 180 days of the effective date of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, apply an amount equal to the fair value of the property so leased to the retirement of Funded Indebtedness, (4) the Sale and Leaseback Transaction relates to a sale which occurred within 180 days from the date of acquisition of such property or asset by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or the date of the completion of construction or commencement of full operations on such property, whichever is later, or (5) the Sale and Leaseback Transaction was consummated prior to the date of this Supplemental Indenture.

Section 4.03. SEC Reports .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee and each Holder, within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC, copies of all reports and information (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe), if any, exclusive of exhibits, which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or pursuant to the immediately following sentence. So long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall file with the Commission such reports as may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act. If the Company is not subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or otherwise required to file reports pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee and to each Holder, within 15 days after it would have been required to file such information with the SEC were it required to do so, financial statements, including any notes thereto (and, in the case of a fiscal year end, an auditors’ report by an independent certified public accounting firm of established national reputation), and a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” substantially equivalent to that which it would have been required to include in such quarterly or annual reports, information, documents or other reports if it had been subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company shall also comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).

The Trustee has no duty to review the financial reports and other information for the purpose of determining compliance with any provision of this Indenture.

Section 4.04. Change of Control Repurchase Event

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company has previously exercised its right to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.01, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part (in amounts of $2,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase. Within 30 days


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following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. Such notice shall state:

(a) that an offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.04 and that all Notes tendered and not withdrawn will be accepted for payment;

(b) the purchase price (including the amount of accrued interest) and the payment date;

(c) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;

(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making payment therefor, any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the offer being made pursuant to this Section 4.04 shall cease to accrue interest after the payment date stated in such notice;

(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant the offer being made pursuant to this Section 4.04 will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Note completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to payment date stated in such notice;

(f) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the second Business Day prior to the payment date stated in such notice, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Notes the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Note purchased; and

(g) that Holders whose Notes are purchased only in part will be issued new Notes in a principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations under the Exchange Act to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities


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laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions herein, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions herein by virtue of such conflict.

On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Company’s offer;

(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by the Company.

The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of properly tendered Notes the purchase price for the Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

ARTICLE FIVE

Successor Corporation

Article Five of the Indenture is replaced with the following in its entirety:

Section 5.01. Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets .

Neither the Company nor the Guarantors will consolidate or merge into or sell, assign, transfer or lease all or substantially all of their assets to another person unless:

(1) the person is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof;


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(2) the person assumes by supplemental indenture, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, relating to the Notes, the Guarantees and the Indenture, as the case may be; and

(3) immediately after the transaction no Event of Default exists; provided that this clause (3) will not restrict or be applicable to a merger, consolidation or liquidation of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another Subsidiary that is wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company that is, or concurrently with the completion of such merger, consolidation or liquidation becomes, a Guarantor or a Restricted Subsidiary that is wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.

Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment or transfer, the successor corporation will be substituted for the Company or such Guarantor (including any merger or consolidation described in the proviso at the end of the immediately preceding sentence), as applicable, under the Indenture. The successor corporation may then exercise every power and right of the Company or such Guarantor under the Indenture, and the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, will be released from all of its respective liabilities and obligations in respect of the Notes and the Indenture. If the Company or any Guarantor leases all or substantially all of its assets, the lessee corporation will be the successor to the Company or such Guarantor and may exercise every power and right of the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, under the Indenture, but the Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be, will not be released from its respective obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes.

ARTICLE SIX

Guarantees

Section 6.01. Unconditional Guarantee .

Each Guarantor hereby fully and unconditionally, jointly and severally, guarantees (each such guarantee to be referred to herein as the “ Guarantee ”) to the Holders of the Notes and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns that: (i) the principal of and interest on the Notes will be promptly paid in full when due, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and interest on the overdue principal, if any, and interest on any interest of the Notes and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee hereunder or thereunder will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or of any such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, subject to any applicable grace period, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise (collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”), subject, however, in the case of clauses (i) and


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(ii) above, to the limitations set forth in Section 6.02. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or the Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor.

The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are separate and independent of the obligations of the Company and of any other Guarantor, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against a Guarantor whether action is brought against the Company or any other Guarantor or whether the Company or any other Guarantor is joined in any action or actions. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall survive and continue in full force and effect until the earlier of (i) such time as such Guarantor may be released from its obligations hereunder pursuant to the terms Section 6.06 hereof, or (ii) payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations is actually received by the Holders or the Trustee on behalf of the Holders and the period of time has expired during which any payment made by the Company or such Guarantor may be determined to be a Preferential Payment (defined below), notwithstanding any release or termination of the Company’s or any other Guarantor’s liability by express or implied agreement or by operation of law and notwithstanding that the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof are deemed to have been paid or discharged by operation of law or by some act or agreement. For purposes of this Guarantee, the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed to be paid only to the extent that the Holders, or the Trustee on behalf of the Holders, actually receive immediately available funds.

Each Guarantor agrees that to the extent the Company or any other Guarantor makes any payment to the Holders, or to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders, in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations, and all or any part of such payment is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be repaid by the Holders or the Trustee or paid over to a trustee, receiver or any other entity, whether under any bankruptcy act or otherwise (any such payment is hereinafter referred to as a “ Preferential Payment ”), then this Guarantee shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, and, to the extent of such payment or repayment by the Holders or the Trustee, the Guaranteed Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied by such Preferential Payment shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said Preferential Payment had not been made.

Section 6.02. Fraudulent Conveyance Limitation .

Notwithstanding any contrary provision, the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed by each Guarantor under this Guarantee shall be, but not in excess of, the maximum amount permitted by fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar laws


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applicable to such Guarantor. Accordingly, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Guarantee or any other agreement or instrument executed in connection with the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed by any Guarantor by this Guarantee shall be limited to an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder subject to avoidance under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 6.03. Waiver .

Each Guarantor waives and agrees not to assert: (a) any right to require the Holders or the Trustee to proceed against the Company or any other Guarantor, to proceed against or exhaust any security for the Guaranteed Obligations, to pursue any other remedy available to the Holders or the Trustee or to pursue any remedy in any particular order or manner; (b) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement hereof; (c) demand, diligence, presentment for payment, protest and demand, and notice of extension, dishonor, protest, demand, nonpayment and acceptance of this Guarantee; (d) notice of the existence, creation or incurring of new or additional indebtedness of the Company to the Holders; and (e) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of the Company or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever (other than payment in full of all amounts demanded to be paid by such Guarantor under this Guarantee) of the liability of the Company for the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby expressly consents to any impairment of collateral, including, but not limited to, failure to perfect a security interest and release collateral and any such impairment or release shall not affect Guarantors’ obligations hereunder. Until payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations, no Guarantor shall have a right of subrogation and hereby waives any right to enforce any remedy which the Holders or the Trustee now have, or may hereafter have, against the Company, and waives any benefit of, any right to participate in, any security now or hereafter held on behalf of the Holders.

Section 6.04. Subordinated Indebtedness .

If from time to time the Company shall have liabilities or obligations to the Guarantors, whether absolute or contingent, joint, several, or joint and several, such liabilities and obligations (the “ Subordinated Indebtedness ”) and any and all assignments as security, grants in trust, liens, mortgages, security interests, other encumbrances, and other interests and rights securing such liabilities and obligations shall at all times be fully subordinate to payment and performance in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor agrees that such liabilities and obligations of the Company to such Guarantor shall not be secured by any assignment as security, grant in trust, lien, mortgage, security interest, other encumbrance or other interest or right in any property, interests in property, or rights to property of the Company. Each Guarantor agrees that (i) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, payments of principal and interest on the Subordinated Indebtedness may be made by


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the Company and accepted by Guarantor as such payments become due; and (ii) after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Company shall not make and Guarantor shall not accept any payments with respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, subsequent to an Event of Default, any Guarantor receives any payment from the Company, such payment shall be held in trust by such Guarantor for the benefit of the Holders, and shall be segregated from the other funds of such Guarantor, and shall forthwith be paid by Guarantor to the Holders or to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders and applied to payment of the Guaranteed Obligations whether or not then due.

In the event of any distribution, division, or application, partial or complete, voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, of all or any part of the assets of the Company, or the proceeds thereof, to creditors of the Company, by reason of the liquidation, dissolution, or other winding up of the Company’s business, or in the event of any receivership, insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings by or against the Company, or assignment for the benefit of creditors, or of any proceedings by or against the Company for any relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or relating to the relief of debtors, readjustment of indebtedness, reorganizations, arrangements, compositions or extensions, or of any other event whereby it becomes necessary or desirable to file or present claims against the Company for the purpose of receiving payment thereof, or on account thereof, then and in any such event, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, either in cash or other property, which shall be made or shall be payable with respect to any Subordinated Indebtedness shall be paid over to the Holders or to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders for application to the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether due or not due, and no payments shall be made upon or in respect of the Subordinated Indebtedness unless and until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been paid and satisfied in full. In any such event, all claims of the Holders and all claims of the Guarantors shall, at the option of the Trustee, forthwith become due and payable without demand or notice.

In the event of any distribution, division, or application, partial or complete, voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, of all or any part of the assets of the Company, or the proceeds thereof, to creditors of the Company, by reason of the liquidation, dissolution, or other winding up of the Company’s business, or in the event of any receivership, insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings by or against the Company, or assignment for the benefit of creditors, or of any proceedings by or against the Company for any relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or relating to the relief of debtors, readjustment of indebtedness, reorganizations, arrangements, compositions or extensions, or of any other event whereby it becomes necessary or desirable to file or present claims against the Company for the purpose of receiving payment thereof, or on account thereof, each Guarantor irrevocably authorizes and empowers the Trustee, or any person the Trustee may designate, to act as attorney for Guarantor with full power and authority in the name of Guarantor, or otherwise, to make and present such claims or proofs of claims against the Company on account of the Subordinated Indebtedness as the Trustee, or its appointee, may deem expedient and


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proper and, if necessary, to vote such claims in any proceedings and to receive and collect for the benefit of the Holders any and all dividends or other payments and disbursements made thereon in whatever form they may be paid or issued, and to give acquittance therefor and to apply same to the Guaranteed Obligations, and each Guarantor hereby agrees, from time to time and upon request, to make, execute and deliver to the Trustee such powers of attorney, assignments, endorsements, proofs of claim, pleadings, verifications, affidavits, consents, agreements or other instruments as may be requested by the Trustee in order to enable the Trustee and the Holders to enforce any and all claims upon, or with respect to, the Subordinated Indebtedness, and to collect and receive any and all payments or distributions which may be payable or deliverable at any time upon or with respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness.

Except as otherwise permitted herein, should any payment or distribution or security or proceeds thereof be received by a Guarantor upon or with respect to the Subordinated Indebtedness prior to the satisfaction of the Guaranteed Obligations, such Guarantor will forthwith deliver the same to the Trustee on behalf of the Holders in precisely the form as received except for the endorsement or assignment of such Guarantor where necessary for application on the Guaranteed Obligations, whether due or not due, and until so delivered the same shall be held in trust by such Guarantor as property of the Trustee on behalf of the Holders. In the event of the failure of Guarantor to make any such endorsement or assignment, the Trustee, or any of its officers or employees, on behalf of the Trustee, is hereby irrevocably authorized to make the same.

Each Guarantor agrees to maintain in its records notations satisfactory to the Trustee of the rights and priorities of the Holders hereunder, and from time to time, upon request, to furnish the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders with sworn financial statements. The Trustee may inspect the books of account and any records of each Guarantor at any time during business hours. Each Guarantor agrees that any promissory note now or hereafter evidencing the Subordinated Indebtedness shall be nonnegotiable and shall be marked with a specific statement that the indebtedness thereby evidenced is subject to the provisions of this Guarantee.

Section 6.05. Execution of Guarantee .

Each Guarantor hereby agrees to execute a notation of Guarantee in substantially the form attached to the form of Note, and to deliver such notation to the Trustee.

Section 6.06. Additional Guarantees and Release of Guarantees .

(a) The Company shall not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, to guarantee any Specified Indebtedness (“ Guaranteed Indebtedness ”) unless such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers to the Trustee a supplemental indenture, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, pursuant to which such


-22-

 

Restricted Subsidiary guarantees, jointly and severally with all other Guarantors, on the same basis as such Guaranteed Indebtedness is guaranteed, the Guaranteed Obligations. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and, subject to customary exceptions, constitutes a valid and legally binding and enforceable obligation of such Subsidiary. If the Guaranteed Indebtedness (1) ranks pari passu in right of payment with the Notes, then the guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall rank pari passu with, or be subordinated in right of payment to, the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary or (2) is subordinated by its terms in right of payment to the Notes, then the guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary at least to the extent that the Guaranteed Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes.

(b) The Guarantee of any Guarantor will be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged so long as:

(i) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result from release of such Guarantee;

(ii) the Guarantor being released has Consolidated Net Worth of less than 5% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Worth as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter;

(iii) the Guarantors released from their Guarantees in any year-end period comprise in the aggregate less than 10% (or 15% if and to the extent necessary to permit the Company to cure a Default) of the Company’s Consolidated Net Worth as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter;

(iv) such release would not have a material adverse effect on the homebuilding business of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(v) the Guarantor is released from its guarantee(s) under all Specified Indebtedness (other than by reason of payment under its guarantee of Specified Indebtedness);

provided , in each such case, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to such transactions have been complied with and that such release is authorized and permitted under the Indenture.

(c) If there are no guarantors under any Specified Indebtedness, the Guarantors under this Supplemental Indenture will be released from their Guarantees.


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ARTICLE SEVEN

Miscellaneous

Section 7.01. Confirmation of Indenture .

The Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.

Section 7.02. Concerning the Trustee .

The rights and duties of the Trustee set forth in Article Seven of the Indenture shall not be modified by reason of this Supplemental Indenture.

Section 7.03. Governing Law .

This Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture, the Notes, and the Guarantee shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Section 7.04. Separability .

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplemental Indenture shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, but this Supplemental Indenture shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

Section 7.05. Counterparts.

This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 7.06. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

This Supplemental Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Supplemental Indenture.

Section 7.07. No Recourse Against Others .


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All liability described in Paragraph 12 of the Notes of any director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company or any Guarantor is waived and released.

Section 7.08. Successors and Assigns .

All covenants and agreements of the Company and the Guarantors in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns.

Section 7.09. Duplicate Originals .

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.

Section 7.10. Severability .

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes.

[Signature Page Follows]


S-1

 

SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Christopher M. Anderson

  Name:   Christopher M. Anderson
  Title:   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
GUARANTORS:
M.D.C. LAND CORPORATION
RAH OF FLORIDA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF ARIZONA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF COLORADO, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF DELAWARE, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF ILLINOIS, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF MARYLAND, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF NEVADA, INC.


S-2

 

RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF NEW JERSEY, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF UTAH, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF VIRGINIA, INC.
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.
By:  

/s/ Christopher M. Anderson

  Name:   Christopher M. Anderson
  Title:   Authorized Officer
RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES OF FLORIDA, LP
  By: RAH of Florida, Inc., a Colorado corporation, its General Partner
By:  

/s/ Christopher M. Anderson

  Name:   Christopher M. Anderson
  Title:   Senior Vice President


S-3

 

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Richard Prokosch

  Name:   Richard Prokosch
  Title:   Authorized Signatory


Exhibit A

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITORY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY. THIS SECURITY IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.


CUSIP No.:            

5.625% Senior Notes due 2020

M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.

a Delaware corporation

promises to pay to

[            ]

or registered assigns

the principal sum of $                         on

February 1, 2020.

5.625% Senior Notes due 2020

 

Interest Payment Dates:   February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2010
Record Dates:   January 15 and July 15

Dated:

 

M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Authorized Signatory


M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.

5.625% Senior Notes due 2020

 

1. Interest .

M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC. (the “ Company ”), a Delaware corporation, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above. The Company will pay interest semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing on August 1, 2010, until the principal is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from January 15, 2010; provided that, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding interest payment date, interest shall accrue from such interest payment date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

2. Method of Payment .

The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest, if any, which will be paid on such special payment date to Holders of record on such special record date as may be fixed by the Company) on each Interest Payment Date to the persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the January 15 and July 15 preceding such Interest Payment Date. Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3. Paying Agent and Registrar .

Initially, U.S. Bank National Association (the “ Trustee ”) will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change or appoint any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.

 

4. Indenture .

The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of December 3, 2002 between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by a Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 15, 2010 among the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee (together, the “ Indenture ”). The terms of the Notes and the Guarantees include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (“ TIA ”) as in effect on the date of the Indenture. The Notes and the Guarantees are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of them.


The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to: M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., 4350 South Monaco Street, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80237, Attention: Secretary.

 

5. Optional Redemption .

The Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on at least 30 but not more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of their principal amount, and (ii) the present value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments on the Notes being redeemed on the Redemption Date, discounted to the Redemption Date, on a semiannual basis, at the Treasury Rate plus 35 basis points (0.35%), plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to the Redemption Date. In determining the Redemption Price and accrued interest, interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part. On and after the Redemption Date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of them called for redemption; provided that if the Company shall default in the payment of such Note at the redemption price together with accrued interest, interest shall continue to accrue at the rate borne by the Notes.

 

6. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange .

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes by presentation of such Notes to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption, except the unredeemed part thereof if the Note is redeemed in part, or transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.

 

7. Persons Deemed Owners .

The registered Holder of this Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

 

8. Unclaimed Money .

If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Company at its request.


After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment unless an abandoned property law designates another person.

 

9. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver .

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes and any past default or compliance with any provision relating to the Notes may be waived in a particular instance with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to remove a Guarantor which, in accordance with the terms of the Supplemental Indenture, ceases to be liable in respect of its Guarantee, or to make any other change, provided such action does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

 

10. Successor Corporation .

When a successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor corporation will be released from those obligations, except that a lease of all or substantially all its assets does not release the predecessor from its obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes.

 

11. Trustee Dealings With Company .

U.S. Bank National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

 

12. No Recourse Against Others .

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.

 

13. Discharge of Indenture .

The Indenture contains certain provisions pertaining to defeasance, which provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth herein.


14. Authentication .

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

15. Abbreviations .

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).


ASSIGNMENT FORM

If you, the Holder, want to assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax ID number)

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address, and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint:

 

 

agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

 

Date:  

 

    Your signature:  

 

       

(Sign exactly as your name appears

on the other side of this Note)


Signature Guarantee:  

 

SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“ STAMP ”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have all of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.04, check this box: [    ]

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.04, state the amount: $                     

 

Dated:  

 

    Signed:  

 

       

(Sign exactly as name appears on the other

side of this Note)

 

  Signature Guarantee:     

 

      

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion

Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably

acceptable to the Trustee)


[FORM OF NOTATION ON SECURITY RELATING TO GUARANTEE]

GUARANTEE

The undersigned (the “ Guarantors ”) have fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally (such guarantee by each Guarantor being referred to herein as the “ Guarantee ”) (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the Notes, whether at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, the due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal and interest, if any, on the Notes, to the extent lawful, and the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee all in accordance with the terms set forth in Article Six of the Supplemental Indenture and (ii) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that the same will be promptly paid in full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise.

No past, present or future stockholder, officer, director, employee or incorporator, as such, of any of the Guarantors shall have any liability under the Guarantee by reason of such person’s status as stockholder, officer, director, employee or incorporator. Each holder of a Note by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Guarantees.

Each holder of a Note by accepting a Note agrees that any Guarantor named below shall have no further liability with respect to its Guarantee if such Guarantor otherwise ceases to be liable in respect of its Guarantee in accordance with the terms of the Supplemental Indenture.


The Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Securities upon which the Guarantee is noted shall have been executed by the Trustee under the Supplemental Indenture by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers.

 

[GUARANTORS]
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Holme Roberts & Owen LLP]

January 15, 2010

M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

4350 S. Monaco Street

Denver, CO 80237

 

Re: M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. 5.625% Senior Notes Dated 2020

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with (i) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the “ Act ”) on October 30, 2008 (File No. 333-154874); (ii) the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement dated October 30, 2008 (the “ Base Prospectus ”), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated January 12, 2010 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ” and, together with the Base Prospectus, the “ Prospectus ”) and (iii) the offering and sale by the Company pursuant to the Prospectus of its 5.625% Senior Notes Due February 1, 2020 (the “ Notes ”), which have been fully and unconditionally guaranteed by certain of its subsidiaries listed on Exhibit A (the “ Guarantors ”). The Notes, together with the guarantees issued by the Guarantors (the “ Guarantees ”), are described herein as the “Debt Securities.”

All capitalized terms that are not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Prospectus Supplement.

In connection with the Company’s and the Guarantors’ preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and their offering and sale of the Debt Securities, we have examined originals or copies of all documents, corporate records or other writings that we consider relevant for the purposes of this opinion. In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on all original documents, the legal competency of each individual executing any such documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as photocopies of originals. As to matters of fact not directly


M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

January 15, 2010

Page 2

 

within our actual knowledge, we have relied upon certificates, telegrams and other documents from public officials in certain jurisdictions.

In connection with this opinion, we have examined the following documents:

(1) The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date, certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Company;

(2) The Bylaws of the Company, as amended to date, certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Company;

(3) The Senior Indenture dated December 3, 2002 and Supplemental Indenture dated January 15, 2010 (together, the “ Indenture ”), and the form of the Notes and the Guarantees, attached as exhibits to the Supplemental Indenture, which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K to be filed with the SEC on or about February 15, 2010;

(4) The Underwriting Agreement dated January 12, 2010, among the Company and Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”);

(5) The Prospectus;

(6) The Certificate or Articles of Incorporation, Certificate or Articles of Organization, Bylaws, Operating Agreements and Partnership Agreements, as applicable, of the Guarantors, as set forth on Exhibit A hereto, certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Guarantors (the “ Guarantor Documents ”);

(7) Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof approving the terms of the Notes, certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Company;

(8) Resolutions adopted by the boards of directors or other governing bodies of each of the Guarantors authorizing the Guarantee to be


M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

January 15, 2010

Page 3

 

entered into in connection with the Notes, certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Guarantors;

(9) Such other records of the corporate proceedings of the Company and Guarantors that we considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion;

(10) Such other certificates and assurances from public officials, officers and representatives of the Company that we considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion; and

(11) Such other documents that we considered necessary or appropriate for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

In rendering this opinion, we have assumed the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture (the “ Trustee ”), and that the Indentures are the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or conveyances or preferential transfers or conveyances) and general principles of equity, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

On the basis of the foregoing examination, our reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that (subject to compliance with the pertinent provisions of the Act and, with respect to the Indentures (as defined below) and the Debt Securities, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and to compliance with such securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction as may be applicable, as to which we express no opinion):

When (a) the Debt Securities in substantially the form contained in the Indenture shall have been issued, executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with the Indenture and shall have


M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

January 15, 2010

Page 4

 

been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, and (b) the Debt Securities shall have been paid for as described in the Prospectus, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, and in a manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus Supplement, (i) the Notes will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms; and (ii) the Guarantees will be duly authorized by the respective Guarantors and will be valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors, enforceable against the Guarantors in accordance with their terms; in each case subject to the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or conveyances or preferential transfers or conveyances) and general principles of equity, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to (i) the laws of the States of Colorado and New York, (ii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Stock Corporation Act of the State of Virginia and the Maryland General Corporation Law (including the respective statutory provisions and all applicable provisions of the applicable state Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws), and (iii) the federal laws of the United States of America.

This opinion may be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Consent is also given to the reference to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus contained in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.


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January 15, 2010

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The opinions expressed herein are rendered as of the date hereof. We do not undertake to advise you of matters that may come to our attention subsequent to the date hereof and that may affect the opinions expressed herein, including without limitation, future changes in applicable law. This letter is our opinion as to certain legal conclusions as specifically set forth herein and is not and should not be deemed to be a representation or opinion as to any factual matters. The opinions expressed herein may not be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise used or referred to in connection with any other transactions.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ HOLME ROBERTS & OWEN LLP
HOLME ROBERTS & OWEN LLP


Exhibit A

Guarantor Documents

M.D.C. Land Corporation

Articles of Incorporation of M.D.C. Land Corporation

By-Laws of M.D.C. Land Corporation

RAH of Florida, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of RAH of Florida, Inc.

By-Laws of RAH of Florida, Inc.

Richmond American Construction, Inc.

Certificate of Incorporation of Richmond American Construction, Inc.

By-Laws of Richmond American Construction, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of Arizona, Inc.

Certificate of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Arizona, Inc.

By-Laws of Richmond American Homes of Arizona, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc.

Certificate of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc.

By-Laws of Richmond American Homes of Colorado, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of Delaware, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Delaware, Inc.

Bylaws of Richmond American Homes of Delaware, Inc.

 

A-1


Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP

Certificate of Limited Partnership of Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP

Agreement of Limited Partnership of Richmond American Homes of Florida, LP

Richmond American Homes of Illinois, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Illinois, Inc.

Bylaws of Richmond American Homes of Illinois, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of Maryland, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Maryland, Inc.

By-Laws of Richmond American Homes of Maryland, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of Nevada, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Nevada, Inc.

By-Laws of Richmond American Homes of Nevada, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of New Jersey, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of New Jersey, Inc.

Bylaws of Richmond American Homes of New Jersey, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Pennsylvania, Inc.

Bylaws of Richmond American Homes of Pennsylvania, Inc.

 

A-2


Richmond American Homes of Utah, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Utah, Inc.

By-Laws of Richmond American Homes of Utah, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of Virginia, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond American Homes of Virginia, Inc.

By-Laws of Richmond American Homes of Virginia, Inc.

Richmond American Homes of West Virginia, Inc.

Articles of Incorporation of Richmond Homes of West Virginia, Inc.

By-Laws of Richmond American Homes of West Virginia, Inc.

 

A-3

Exhibit 99.1

 

NEWS BULLETIN    LOGO
M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.    RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES
   HOMEAMERICAN MORTGAGE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2010

 

 

 

Contacts:    Robert N. Martin
  

Investor Relations

(720) 977-3431

bob.martin@mdch.com

M.D.C. HOLDINGS ANNOUNCES OFFERING OF

$250 MILLION 5.625% SENIOR NOTES

DENVER, Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: MDC) today announced the pricing of a public offering of $250 million principal amount of 5.625% senior notes due February 2020 (the “Notes”). The Notes will be general unsecured obligations of MDC and will rank equally and ratably with its other general unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. In addition, the Notes will be fully guaranteed on an unsecured basis, jointly and severally, by most of the Company’s homebuilding subsidiaries. MDC will use the proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes. The offering is expected to close on January 15, 2010, subject to customary closing conditions.

The Notes will be issued pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement and are being offered by means of the Prospectus included in the registration statement and the related Prospectus Supplement. The offering is being underwritten by Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Copies of the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering may be obtained at no charge by visiting the SEC website at www.sec.gov or by contacting Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at the following address: Brooklyn Army Terminal 140 58th Street, 8th floor, Brooklyn, New York 11220, Attn: Prospectus Department; telephone: (800) 831-9146.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell the Notes, nor shall there be any sale of these notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.

Since 1972, MDC’s subsidiary companies have built and financed the American dream for more than 160,000 families. MDC’s commitment to customer satisfaction, quality and value

 

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LOGO

M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.

Page 2

 

is reflected in each home its subsidiaries build. MDC is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. Its subsidiaries have homebuilding divisions across the country, including Denver, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, California, Northern Virginia, Maryland, Philadelphia/Delaware Valley and Jacksonville. The Company’s subsidiaries also provide mortgage financing, insurance and title services, primarily for Richmond American homebuyers, through HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency, Inc. and American Home Title and Escrow Company, respectively. M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MDC.” For more information, visit www.mdcholdings.com.

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