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| BZH > SEC Filings for BZH > Form 8-K on 1-Jul-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
1-Jul-2009
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On July 1, 2009, Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (the "Company") announced that it has
resolved several previously-disclosed governmental investigations. The Company
has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement ("DPA") with the U.S.
Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina ("the U.S.
Attorney") and a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development ("HUD") and the civil division of the Department of Justice.
In addition, certain of the Company's subsidiaries have entered into a
settlement agreement with the North Carolina Real Estate Commission ("NCREC").
Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Attorney
Under the DPA, the U.S. Attorney has agreed not to prosecute the Company in
connection with the matters that were the subject of the Audit Committee
investigation and are set forth in a Bill of Information filed with the United
States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, provided that
the Company satisfies its obligations under the DPA over the next 60 months. The
term of the DPA may be less than 60 months in the event certain conditions, as
described more fully in the DPA, are met. The DPA recognizes the cooperation of
the Company, its voluntary disclosure and its adoption of remedial measures.
Under the terms of the DPA, in fiscal year 2009, the Company will contribute
$7.5 million to a restitution fund established to compensate those Beazer
customers who can demonstrate that they were injured by certain of the practices
identified in the Bill of Information. For fiscal year 2010 the Company will
contribute to the restitution fund the greater of $1.0 million or an amount
equal to 4% of the Company's fiscal 2010 adjusted EBITDA as defined in the DPA.
The Company's liability in each of the fiscal years after 2010 will also be
equal to 4% of the Company's adjusted EBITDA through a portion of fiscal year
2014, unless extended as described below. Under the terms of the DPA, the
Company's total contributions to the restitution fund will not exceed $50.0
million.
Settlement Agreement with HUD
Under the terms of the settlement agreement with HUD and the civil division of
the Department of Justice, the Company will make an immediate payment of
$4.0 million to HUD to resolve civil and administrative investigations. In
addition, on the first anniversary of the agreement, the Company will make a
$1.0 million payment to HUD.
If the amounts paid into the restitution fund with the U.S. Attorney do not
reach $48.0 million at the end of 60 months, the restitution fund term will be
extended using the adjusted EBITDA formula until the earlier of an additional
24 months or the time the Company's contribution reaches $48.0 million.
The amounts paid to the U.S. Attorney for contribution into the restitution fund
and payments to HUD do not include the $2.5 million contributed to resolve the
investigation by the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks ("OCOB")
which was previously announced by the Company in May 2009, although this amount
will be counted as part of the Company's maximum obligation to the restitution
fund.
As previously disclosed, the Company recognized expense in the quarter ended
March 31, 2009 of $10.5 million for the amounts yet to be paid in fiscal years
2009 and 2010. The Company will recognize additional expense in the quarter
ended June 30, 2009 of $3.0 million. In recognition of
the financial challenges currently facing the Company, Ian McCarthy, president
and chief executive officer, and Michael Furlow, executive vice president and
chief operating officer, have voluntarily contributed to the Company an amount
equal to the after-tax proceeds of their fiscal 2008 bonuses to defray part of
its initial payment to the restitution fund.
The Company's payment obligations under the DPA and the settlement agreement
with HUD are interrelated. The total amount of such obligations will be
dependent on several factors; however, the maximum liability under both
agreements and the previously announced agreement with the OCOB will not exceed
$55.0 million.
Agreement with NCREC
With respect to the NCREC, Beazer/Squires Realty, Inc. ("Beazer/Squires") and
Beazer Homes Corp. each has agreed to the entry of a consent order regarding
violations of certain North Carolina statutes. Under the respective consent
orders, the NCREC agreed that a reprimand of Beazer Homes would not be issued as
long as Beazer Homes completed certain remedial measures and that the broker
license held by Beazer/Squires is revoked. The broker license held by
Beazer/Squires has been on inactive status since October 2007. There is no
monetary payment by the Company or its subsidiaries under either of the consent
orders.
The consent orders conclude the investigation by the NCREC into these matters
with respect to the Company.
A copy of a press release announcing the settlement is attached hereto as
exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
99.1 Press Release dated July 1, 2009.
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