Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-171349

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 31, 2011

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT (TO PROSPECTUS DATED JANUARY 28, 2011)

 

3,000,000     % Tangible Equity Units

Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

 

This is an offering of tangible equity units, or “Units,” issued by Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc (“Hovnanian”) and K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (“K. Hovnanian”). Each Unit has a stated amount of $25. Each Unit is comprised of a prepaid stock purchase contract issued by Hovnanian and a senior subordinated amortizing note due February 15, 2014 issued by K. Hovnanian, which has an initial principal amount of $      per amortizing note and a final installment payment date of February 15, 2014.

 

Unless settled earlier as described herein, on February 15, 2014 (subject to postponement in certain limited circumstances), each purchase contract will automatically settle, and we will deliver a number of shares of our Class A common stock based on the applicable market value of our Class A common stock. The applicable market value is the average of the daily closing prices of the Class A common stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014. On the mandatory settlement date, each purchase contract will settle, unless earlier settled, as follows (subject to adjustment):

 

 

At any time prior to the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, you may settle your purchase contract early, and we will deliver           shares of our Class A common stock per purchase contract (subject to adjustment). In addition, if a “fundamental change” (as defined herein) occurs and you elect to settle your purchase contracts early in connection with such fundamental change, you will receive a number of shares of our Class A common stock based on the fundamental change early settlement rate, as described herein. We may elect to settle all, but not less than all, outstanding purchase contracts prior to February 15, 2014 at the “early mandatory settlement rate” (as defined herein), upon a date fixed by us upon not less than five business days’ notice. Except for cash in lieu of fractional shares, the purchase contract holders will not receive any cash distributions under the purchase contracts.

 

In order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), beneficial owners of Units and any separate purchase contracts will be subject to both a beneficial ownership limitation and a settlement limitation as described herein. In addition, as a Class A common stockholder upon settlement of your purchase contract, you will be subject to both our Rights Plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation. See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts.”

 

The amortizing notes will pay you equal quarterly cash installments of $      per amortizing note, which cash payment in the aggregate will be equivalent to     % per year with respect to each $25 stated amount of Units. The amortizing notes will be K. Hovnanian’s unsecured senior subordinated obligations and will be subordinated in right of payment to all of K. Hovnanian’s senior indebtedness as described herein. The obligations under the amortizing notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Hovnanian and most of its existing and future subsidiaries. If we elect to settle the purchase contracts early, you will have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase your amortizing notes, except in certain circumstances as described herein.

 

Each Unit may be separated into its constituent purchase contract and amortizing note after the initial issuance date of the Units, and the separate components may be combined to create a Unit.

 

We will apply to list the Units on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to satisfaction of its minimum listing standards with respect to the Units. If the Units are approved for listing, we expect trading on the New York Stock Exchange to begin within 30 calendar days after the Units are first issued. However, we will not initially apply to list the separate purchase contracts or the separate amortizing notes on any securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system, but we may apply to list such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes in the future as described herein. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Units.

 

Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOV.” On January 28, 2011, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $4.56 per share.

 

The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 450,000 Units from us to cover over-allotments, if any, at the price to public less the underwriting discount and commissions.

 

Concurrently with this offering of Units, pursuant to separate prospectus supplements, we are offering $150.0 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due 2015 and           shares of our Class A common stock for a total price to public of approximately $50.0 million (or     shares, for a total price to public of approximately $57.5 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). The completion of this offering is not contingent on the completion of the offerings of the senior notes or the Class A common stock, and the completion of the offerings of the senior notes and Class A common stock are not contingent on the completion of this offering or each other.

 

Investing in the Units involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-14.

 

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

 

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the Units to purchasers on or about February   , 2011 through the book-entry facilities of The Depository Trust Company.

Joint Book-Running Managers

Co-Managers

 

          , 2011

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us and the documents incorporated by reference herein. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only be accurate on the date of this prospectus supplement or such incorporated document.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Prospectus dated January 28, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we are offering to sell the securities described in this prospectus supplement, using this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. When we refer to “prospectus” we are referring to both this prospectus supplement as well as the accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement describes the specific terms of this offering. The accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by reference therein describes our business and gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. You should read this prospectus supplement together with the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein and herein, before making an investment in the securities offered by this prospectus supplement. If the information in this prospectus supplement or the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement or the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement will apply and will supersede that information in the accompanying prospectus.

 

Unless otherwise stated or context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus supplement to:

 

 

We obtained the market and competitive position data used throughout this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus from our own research, surveys or studies conducted by third parties and industry or general publications. Industry publications and surveys generally state that they have obtained information from sources believed to be reliable, but do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of such information. While we believe that each of these studies and publications is reliable, neither we nor the underwriters have independently verified such data and neither we nor the underwriters make any representation as to the accuracy of such information. Similarly, we believe our internal research is reliable, but it has not been verified by any independent sources.

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference include “forward-looking statements.” Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in, or suggested by such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions, or expectations will be achieved. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to:

 

 

 

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements and risk factors contained throughout this prospectus. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

 

Summary

Issuer		Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a California corporation.
Number of Units offered		3,000,000 Units. We have also granted the underwriters an option, for a period of 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, to purchase up to an additional 450,000 Units, solely to cover over-allotments.
Stated amount and initial offering price of each Unit		$25 for each Unit.
Components of each Unit		Each Unit is comprised of two parts:
		• a prepaid stock purchase contract issued by Hovnanian (a “purchase contract”); and
		• a senior subordinated amortizing note issued by K. Hovnanian (an “amortizing note”).
		Unless settled earlier at the holder’s option or our option, each purchase contract will, subject to postponement in certain limited circumstances, automatically settle on February 15, 2014 (such date, as so postponed (if applicable), the “mandatory settlement date”), and we will deliver not more than          shares and not less than          shares of our Class A common stock per purchase contract, subject to adjustment, based upon the applicable settlement rate and applicable market value of our Class A common stock, as described below under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Delivery of Class A Common Stock.”
		No fractional shares of our Class A common stock will be issued to holders upon settlement of purchase contracts. In lieu of fractional shares, holders will be entitled to receive a cash payment of equivalent value calculated as described herein. Other than cash payments in lieu of fractional shares, the purchase contract holders will not receive any cash distributions under the purchase contracts.
		Each amortizing note will have an initial principal amount of $     , will bear interest at the rate of     % per annum and will have a final installment payment date of February 15, 2014. On each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 commencing on May 15, 2011, K. Hovnanian will pay equal quarterly cash installments of $      per amortizing note, which cash payment in the aggregate per year will be equivalent to     % per year with respect to each $25 stated amount of Units. Each installment will constitute a payment of interest and a partial

		repayment of principal, allocated as set forth on the amortization schedule set forth under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Amortization Schedule.”
		The return to an investor on a Unit will depend upon the return provided by each component. The overall return will consist of the value of the shares of our Class A common stock delivered upon settlement of the purchase contracts and the cash installments paid on the amortizing notes.
Limitation on beneficial ownership		In order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards under the Code, holders of Units and any separate purchase contracts will be subject to both a beneficial ownership limitation and a settlement limitation as described herein. In addition, as a Class A common stockholder upon settlement of your purchase contract, you will be subject to both our Rights Plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation. See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts.”
Each Unit may be separated into its components		Each Unit may be separated by a holder into its constituent purchase contract and amortizing note on any business day during the period beginning on, and including, the business day immediately following the date of initial issuance of the Units to, but excluding, the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014 or any “early mandatory settlement date,” as defined below. Prior to separation, the purchase contracts and amortizing notes may only be purchased and transferred together as Units. See “Description of the Units — Separating and Recreating Units.”
A Unit may be recreated from its components		If you hold a separate purchase contract and a separate amortizing note, you may combine the two components to recreate a Unit. See “Description of the Units — Separating and Recreating Units.”
Trading		We will apply to list the Units on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to satisfaction of its minimum listing standards with respect to the Units. If approved for listing, we expect trading on the New York Stock Exchange to begin within 30 calendar days after the Units are first issued. However, we will not initially apply to list the separate purchase contracts or the separate amortizing notes on any securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system, but we may apply to list such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes in the future as described under “Description of the Units — Listing of Securities.” Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Units.
		Our Class A common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOV.”
Use of proceeds		We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses of the offering, will be approximately $72.5 million (or approximately $83.4 million if the underwriters exercise their

		over-allotment option in full). We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with the net proceeds from the Concurrent Offerings to finance the Tender Offers and/or the Redemptions, and for general corporate purposes. See “—Related Transactions” above and “Use of Proceeds.”
United States federal income tax considerations		Although there is no authority directly on point and therefore the issue is not entirely free from doubt, each Unit will be treated as an investment unit composed of two separate instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (i) a purchase contract and (ii) an amortizing note. Under this treatment, a holder of Units will be treated as if it held each component of the Units for U.S. federal income tax purposes. By acquiring a Unit, you will agree to treat (i) a Unit as an investment unit composed of two separate instruments in accordance with its form and (ii) the amortizing notes as indebtedness of K. Hovnanian for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If, however, the components of a Unit were treated as a single instrument, the U.S. federal income tax consequences could differ from the consequences described herein.
		Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax treatment of an investment in Units and whether a purchase of a Unit is advisable in light of the investor’s particular tax situation and the tax treatment described under “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences.”
The Purchase Contracts
Mandatory settlement date		February 15, 2014, subject to postponement in limited circumstances.
Mandatory settlement		On the mandatory settlement date, unless such purchase contract has been earlier settled, each purchase contract will automatically settle, and we will deliver a number of shares of our Class A common stock, based on the applicable settlement rate.
Settlement rate for the mandatory settlement date		The “settlement rate” for each purchase contract will be not more than          shares and not less than          shares of our Class A common stock (each subject to adjustment as described herein) depending on the applicable market value of our Class A common stock, calculated as described below.
		• If the applicable market value is equal to or greater than $      (the “threshold appreciation price”), you will receive          shares of Class A common stock per purchase contract (the “minimum settlement rate”).
		• If the applicable market value is greater than $      (the “reference price”) but less than the threshold appreciation price, you will receive a number of shares per purchase contract equal to $25, divided by the applicable market value.
		• If the applicable market value is less than or equal to the reference price, you will receive          shares of Class A

		common stock per purchase contract (the “maximum settlement rate”).
		Each of the maximum settlement rate and the minimum settlement rate is subject to adjustment as described below under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates.”
		The “applicable market value” means the average of the “daily closing prices” (as defined below) of our Class A common stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014.
		The reference price is the public offering price of our Class A common stock in the common stock offering described above. The threshold appreciation price shall be equal to $25, divided by the minimum settlement rate (rounded to the nearest $0.0001) and represents an approximately     % appreciation over the reference price.
		No fractional shares of our Class A common stock will be issued to holders upon settlement of purchase contracts. In lieu of fractional shares, holders will be entitled to receive a cash payment of equivalent value calculated as described herein. Other than cash payments in lieu of fractional shares, the purchase contract holders will not receive any cash distributions.

				Value of Class A Common Stock
Applicable Market Value of Our				Delivered (Based on the
Class A Common Stock		Settlement Rate		Applicable Market Value Thereof)
Less than or equal to $		shares of our Class A common stock		Less than $	25
Greater than $     but less than $		A number of shares of our Class A common stock equal to $25, divided by the applicable market value		$	25
Equal to or greater than $		shares of our Class A common stock		Greater than $	25

Early settlement at your election		At any time prior to the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, you may settle any or all of your purchase contracts early, in which case we will deliver a number of shares of our Class A common stock per purchase contract equal to the minimum settlement rate, which is subject to adjustment as described below under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates.” That is, the market value of our Class A common stock on the early settlement date will not affect the early settlement rate. Your right to settle your purchase contract prior to the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014 is subject to the delivery of your purchase contract.

		Upon early settlement at your election of a purchase contract that is a component of a Unit, the corresponding amortizing note will remain outstanding and beneficially owned by or registered in the name of, as the case may be, the holder who elected to settle the related purchase contract early.
Early settlement at your election upon a fundamental change		At any time prior to the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, if a “fundamental change” (as defined herein) occurs, you may settle any or all of your purchase contracts early. If you elect to settle your purchase contracts early in connection with such fundamental change, you will receive a number of shares of our Class A common stock based on the “fundamental change early settlement rate” as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change.”
		Upon early settlement at your election in connection with a fundamental change of a purchase contract that is a component of a Unit, the corresponding amortizing note will remain outstanding and beneficially owned by or registered in the name of, as the case may be, the holder who elected to settle the related purchase contract early upon such fundamental change.
Early mandatory settlement at our election		We may elect to settle all, but not less than all, outstanding purchase contracts early at the “early mandatory settlement rate” (as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement at Our Election”) upon a date fixed by us upon not less than five business days’ notice (the “early mandatory settlement date”).
		The “early mandatory settlement rate” will be the maximum settlement rate, unless the closing price of our Class A common stock for 20 or more trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the “notice date” (as defined under “— Early Settlement at Our Election” below) exceeds 130% of the threshold appreciation price in effect on each such trading day, in which case the “early mandatory settlement rate” will be the minimum settlement rate.
		If we elect to settle all the purchase contracts early, you will have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase your amortizing notes, except in certain circumstances, on the repurchase date and at the repurchase price as described under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Repurchase of Amortizing Notes at the Option of the Holder.”
Limitation on beneficial ownership		In order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards under the Code, holders of Units and any separate purchase contracts will be subject to both a beneficial ownership limitation and a settlement limitation as described herein. In addition, as a Class A common stockholder upon settlement of your purchase contract, you will be subject to both our Rights Plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of

		Incorporation. See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts.”
The Amortizing Notes
Issuer		K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., a California corporation
Initial principal amount of each amortizing note		$
Installment payments		Each installment payment of $      per amortizing note (except for the May 15, 2011 installment payment, which will be $      per amortizing note) will be paid in cash and will constitute a partial repayment of principal and a payment of interest, computed at an annual rate of     %. Interest will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Payments will be applied first to the interest due and payable and then to the reduction of the unpaid principal amount, allocated as set forth on the amortization schedule set forth under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Amortization Schedule.”
Installment payment dates		Each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing on May 15, 2011, with a final installment payment date of February 15, 2014.
Senior Subordinated Guarantees		Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., the parent corporation of K. Hovnanian, and most of the parent’s existing and future subsidiaries (collectively, the “Guarantors”) will, jointly and severally, unconditionally guarantee on a senior subordinated basis all of K. Hovnanian’s obligations under the amortizing notes. If K. Hovnanian cannot make payments on the amortizing notes when they are due, the Guarantors must make the payments instead.
		As of the date of this prospectus supplement, our home mortgage subsidiaries, our joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures and certain of our title insurance subsidiaries are not Guarantors.
Ranking of the amortizing notes and subsidiary guarantees		The amortizing notes are senior subordinated obligations of K. Hovnanian and will not be secured by any collateral. Your right to payment under the amortizing notes will be:
		• junior to the rights of secured creditors to the extent of their security in K. Hovnanian’s assets;
		• subordinated in right of payment to all K. Hovnanian’s existing and future “Senior Indebtedness” (as defined under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Subordination”);
		• equal with the rights of creditors under other existing and future unsecured senior subordinated debt of K. Hovnanian, if any; and
		• senior to the rights of creditors under existing and future debt that is expressly subordinated to the amortizing notes, if any.
		The senior subordinated guarantees of the amortizing notes are the senior subordinated obligations of the Guarantors and will not be

		secured by any collateral. Your right to payment under any senior subordinated guarantee will be:
		• junior to the rights of secured creditors of the relevant Guarantor to the extent of their security in the relevant Guarantor’s assets;
		• subordinated to the rights of creditors under the relevant Guarantor’s existing and future Senior Indebtedness;
		• equal with the rights of creditors under the relevant Guarantor’s other existing and future unsecured senior subordinated debt, if any; and
		• senior to the rights of creditors under the relevant Guarantor’s existing and future debt that is expressly subordinated to such senior subordinated guarantee, if any.
		See “Description of Amortizing Notes — Ranking” below.
		At October 31, 2010, on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the completion of this offering and the Concurrent Offerings and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors would have had:
		• approximately $797.2 million of secured indebtedness outstanding ($784.6 million, net of discount); and
		• approximately $827.7 million of senior unsecured notes ($826.1 million, net of discount (assuming no discount on the senior unsecured notes offered in the Notes Offering)).
		In addition, after giving effect to the use of proceeds from this offering and the Concurrent Offerings, the amortizing notes will be our only senior subordinated indebtedness outstanding and we will not have any other senior subordinated notes or subordinated notes.
		As of October 31, 2010, our non-Guarantor subsidiaries had approximately $90.0 million of liabilities, including trade payables, but excluding intercompany obligations.
Repurchase of amortizing notes at the option of the holder		If we elect to settle the purchase contracts early, holders will have the right to require us to repurchase their amortizing notes for cash at the repurchase price as described under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Repurchase of Amortizing Notes at the Option of the Holder.”

		Year Ended
		October 31,				October 31,				October 31,				October 31,				October 31,
		2010				2009				2008				2007				2006
		(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Statement of Operations and Other Data
Revenues		$	1,371,842			$	1,596,290			$	3,308,111			$	4,798,921			$	6,148,235
Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs		$	135,699			$	659,475			$	710,120			$	457,773			$	336,204
Gain on extinguishment of debt		$	25,047			$	410,185				—				—				—
Income (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures		$	956			$	(46,041	)		$	(36,600	)		$	(28,223	)		$	15,385
(Loss) income before income taxes excluding land-related charges, intangible impairments and gain on extinguishment of debt(1)		$	(184,630	)		$	(379,118	)		$	(391,323	)		$	(20,887	)		$	581,360
(Loss) income before income taxes		$	(295,282	)		$	(672,019	)		$	(1,168,048	)		$	(646,966	)		$	233,106
State and Federal income tax (benefit) provision			(297,870	)			44,693				(43,458	)			(19,847	)			83,573
Net income (loss)			2,588				(716,712	)			(1,124,590	)			(627,119	)			149,533
Less: preferred stock dividends			—				—				—				10,674				10,675
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$	2,588			$	(716,712	)		$	(1,124,590	)		$	(637,793	)		$	138,858
Per share data:
Basic:
Income (loss) per common share		$	0.03			$	(9.16	)		$	(16.04	)		$	(10.11	)		$	2.21
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding			78,691				78,238				70,131				63,079				62,822
Assuming dilution:
Income (loss) per common share		$	0.03			$	(9.16	)		$	(16.04	)		$	(10.11	)		$	2.14
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding			79,683				78,238				70,131				63,079				64,838

		October 31,				October 31,				October 31,				October 31,				October 31,
		2010				2009				2008				2007				2006
		(Dollars in thousands)
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
Total Assets		$	1,817,560			$	2,024,577			$	3,637,322			$	4,540,548			$	5,480,035
Mortgages, term loans, revolving credit agreements, and notes payable		$	98,613			$	77,364			$	107,913			$	410,298			$	319,943
Senior secured notes, senior notes and senior subordinated notes		$	1,616,347			$	1,751,701			$	2,505,805			$	1,910,600			$	2,049,778
Total equity deficit		$	(337,938	)		$	(348,868	)		$	330,264			$	1,321,803			$	1,942,163

		Net Contracts(2)
		for the Year												Contract Backlog as of
		Ended October 31,												October 31,
		2010				2009				2008				2010				2009				2008
		(Dollars in thousands)
Northeast:
Dollars		$	193,826			$	350,515			$	381,401			$	94,363			$	196,262			$	215,604
Homes			497				783				934				236				457				497
Mid-Atlantic:
Dollars		$	236,095			$	281,194			$	313,405			$	106,589			$	150,819			$	165,871
Homes			629				789				880				262				386				385
Midwest:
Dollars		$	72,347			$	95,764			$	106,887			$	34,188			$	46,418			$	61,108
Homes			408				482				497				222				253				291
Southeast:
Dollars		$	76,799			$	103,173			$	132,245			$	20,212			$	35,970			$	45,657
Homes			331				461				584				82				135				163
Southwest:
Dollars		$	393,943			$	377,292			$	518,565			$	88,123			$	77,418			$	100,305
Homes			1,753				1,798				2,285				337				351				420
West:
Dollars		$	144,782			$	220,369			$	421,292			$	27,304			$	52,666			$	57,642
Homes			588				914				1,366				110				190				151
Consolidated total:
Dollars		$	1,117,792			$	1,428,307			$	1,873,795			$	370,779			$	559,553			$	646,187
Homes			4,206				5,227				6,546				1,249				1,772				1,907
Unconsolidated joint ventures:
Dollars		$	114,740			$	56,886			$	221,858			$	67,112			$	88,263			$	157,167
Homes			266				193				540				145				159				263
Totals:
Dollars		$	1,232,532			$	1,485,193			$	2,095,653			$	437,891			$	647,816			$	803,354
Homes			4,472				5,420				7,086				1,394				1,931				2,170

(1)		(Loss) income before income-taxes excluding land-related charges, intangible impairments and gain on extinguishment of debt is not a financial measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is (Loss) income before income taxes. The reconciliation of (Loss) income before income taxes excluding land-related charges, intangible impairments and gain on extinguishment of debt to (Loss) income before income taxes is presented below. (Loss) income before income taxes excluding land-related charges, intangible impairments and gain on extinguishment of debt should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, (loss) income before income taxes, net income (loss) and other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP that are presented on the financial statements and notes included in Hovnanian’s public filings. Additionally, the Company’s calculation of (Loss) income before income taxes excluding land-related charges, intangible impairments and gain on extinguishment of debt may be different than the calculation used by other companies, and, therefore, comparability may be affected. Management believes (Loss) income before income taxes excluding land-related charges, intangible impairments and gain on extinguishment of debt to be relevant and useful information because it provides a better metric for our operating performance.
		Reconciliation of (Loss) income before income taxes excluding land-related charges, intangible impairments and gain on extinguishment of debt to (loss) income before income taxes:

		Year Ended
		October 31,				October 31,				October 31,				October 31,				October 31,
		2010				2009				2008				2007				2006
		(Dollars in thousands)
(Loss) income before income taxes		$	(295,282	)		$	(672,019	)		$	(1,168,048	)		$	(646,966	)		$	233,106
Inventory impairment loss and land option write-offs			135,699				659,475				710,120				457,773				336,204
Goodwill and definite life intangible impairments			—				—				35,363				135,206				4,241
Unconsolidated joint venture investment, intangible and land-related charges			—				43,611				31,242				33,100				7,809
Gain on extinguishment of debt			(25,047	)			(410,185	)			—				—				—
(Loss) income before income taxes excluding land-related charges, intangible impairments and gain on extinguishment of debt		$	(184,630	)		$	(379,118	)		$	(391,323	)		$	(20,887	)		$	581,360

(2)		Net contracts are defined as new contracts during the period for the purchase of homes, less cancellations of prior contracts in the same period.

 

An investment in the Units involves material risks. You should carefully consider the risks set forth below, as well as the other information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before deciding to invest in the Units. The occurrence of any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and the value of the Units, any separate purchase contracts or separate amortizing notes, and our Class A common stock. In such case, the trading price of the Units, any separate purchase contracts or separate amortizing notes, and/or our Class A common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

The homebuilding industry is significantly affected by changes in general and local economic conditions, real estate markets, and weather and other environmental conditions, which could affect our ability to build homes at prices our customers are willing or able to pay, could reduce profits that may not be recaptured, could result in cancellation of sales contracts, and could affect our liquidity.

 

The homebuilding industry is cyclical, has from time to time experienced significant difficulties, and is significantly affected by changes in general and local economic conditions such as:

 

 

Turmoil in the financial markets could affect our liquidity. In addition, our cash balances are primarily invested in short-term government-backed instruments. The remaining cash balances are held at numerous financial institutions and may, at times, exceed insurable amounts. We believe we help to mitigate this risk by depositing our cash in major financial institutions and diversifying our investments. In addition, our homebuilding operations often require us to obtain letters of credit. In connection with the issuance of our senior secured first lien notes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, we terminated our revolving credit facility and refinanced the borrowing capacity thereunder. In addition, we entered into certain stand alone letter of credit facilities, and agreements pursuant to which all of the outstanding letters of credit under our revolving credit facility were replaced with letters of credit issued under such new letter of credit facilities and agreements. However, we may need additional letters of credit above the amounts provided under these new letter of credit facilities and agreements. If we are unable to obtain such additional letters of credit as needed to operate our business, we may be adversely affected.

 

Weather conditions and natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, droughts, fires and other environmental conditions can harm the local homebuilding business. Our business in Florida was adversely affected in late 2005 and into 2006 due to the effect of Hurricane Wilma on materials and labor availability and pricing. Conversely, Hurricane Ike, which hit Houston in September 2008, did not have an

effect on materials and labor availability or pricing, but did affect the volume of home sales in subsequent weeks.

 

The difficulties described above could cause us to take longer and incur more costs to build our homes. We may not be able to recapture increased costs by raising prices in many cases because we fix our prices up to 12 months in advance of delivery by signing home sales contracts. In addition, some home buyers may cancel or not honor their home sales contracts altogether.

 

The homebuilding industry is undergoing a significant and sustained downturn which has, and could continue to, materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity, and results of operations.

 

The homebuilding industry is now experiencing a significant and sustained downturn. An industry-wide softening of demand for new homes has resulted from a lack of consumer confidence, decreased availability of mortgage financing, and large supplies of resale and new home inventories, among other factors. In addition, an oversupply of alternatives to new homes, such as rental properties, resale homes, and foreclosures, has depressed prices and reduced margins for the sale of new homes. Industry conditions had a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations in fiscal years 2007 through 2010 and may continue to materially adversely affect our business and results of operations in fiscal 2011. Further, we substantially increased our inventory through fiscal 2006, which required significant cash outlays and which has increased our price and margin exposure as we continue to work through this inventory. Looking forward, if the housing market continues to deteriorate it will become more difficult to generate positive cash flow. General economic conditions in the U.S. remain weak. Market volatility has been unprecedented and extraordinary in the last several years, and the resulting economic turmoil may continue to exacerbate industry conditions or have other unforeseen consequences, leading to uncertainty about future conditions in the homebuilding industry. Continuation or worsening of this downturn or general economic conditions would continue to have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, and results of operations.

 

In addition, an increase in the default rate on the mortgages we originate may adversely affect our ability to sell mortgages or the pricing we receive upon the sale of mortgages. Although substantially all of the mortgage loans we originate are sold in the secondary mortgage market on a servicing released, non-recourse basis, we remain liable for certain limited representations, such as fraud, and warranties related to loan sales. As default rates rise, this may increase our potential exposure regarding mortgage loan sales because investors may seek to have us buy back or make whole investors for mortgages we previously sold. To date, we have not made significant payments related to our mortgage loans but because of the uncertainties inherent to these matters, actual future payments could differ significantly from our currently estimated amounts.

 

There can be no assurances that government responses to the disruptions in the financial markets will restore consumer confidence, stabilize the markets, or increase liquidity and the availability of credit, or whether any such results will be sustainable. The housing market has benefited from a number of government programs, including:

 

 

These programs are expected to wind down over time; for example the California tax credit ended in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 and the federal tax credit expired in April 2010. In addition, in fiscal 2010, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) tightened FHA underwriting standards. Housing markets may further decline as these programs are modified or terminated.

Leverage places burdens on our ability to comply with the terms of our indebtedness, may restrict our ability to operate, may prevent us from fulfilling our obligations, and may adversely affect our financial condition.

 

We have a significant amount of debt.

 

 

In addition, as of October 31, 2010, we had $89.5 million in aggregate outstanding face amount of letters of credit issued under various letter of credit facilities and agreements, which were collateralized by $92.3 million of cash. Our fees for these letters of credit for the 12 months ended October 31, 2020, which are based on both the used and unused portion of the facilities and agreements, were $1.4 million. We also had substantial contractual commitments and contingent obligations, including approximately $359.1 million of performance bonds as of October 31, 2010. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Contractual Obligations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A incorporated by reference herein.

 

Our significant amount of debt could have important consequences. For example, it could:

 

 

Our ability to meet our debt service and other obligations will depend upon our future performance. We are engaged in businesses that are substantially affected by changes in economic cycles. Our revenues and earnings vary with the level of general economic activity in the markets we serve. Our businesses are also affected by customer sentiment and financial, political, business, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. The factors that affect our ability to generate cash can also affect our ability to raise additional funds for these purposes through the sale of equity securities, the refinancing of debt, or the sale of assets. Changes in prevailing interest rates may affect our ability to meet our debt service obligations to the extent we have any floating rate indebtedness. A higher interest rate on our debt service obligations could result in lower earnings or increased losses.

 

Our sources of liquidity are limited and may not be sufficient to meet our needs.

 

In connection with the issuance of our senior secured first lien notes in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, we terminated our revolving credit facility and refinanced the borrowing capacity thereunder. Because we no longer have a revolving credit facility, we are dependent on our current cash balance and future cash flows from operations (which may not be positive) to enable us to service our indebtedness, to cover our operating expenses, and/or to fund our other liquidity needs. In addition, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our debt on or before maturity, which we may not be able to do on favorable terms or at all. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations or we are unable to refinance our indebtedness, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets, seek additional capital, or restructure our indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful and may

not permit us to meet our debt service obligations. We have also entered into certain cash collateralized letter of credit agreements and facilities that require us to maintain specified amounts of cash in segregated accounts as collateral to support our letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash we have available for other uses. If our available cash and capital resources are insufficient to meet our debt service obligations, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or the proceeds from the dispositions may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due.

 

Restrictive covenants in our debt instruments may restrict our ability to operate and if our financial performance worsens, we may not be able to undertake transactions within the restrictions of our debt instruments.

 

The indentures governing our outstanding debt securities impose certain restrictions on our operations and activities. The most significant restrictions relate to debt incurrence, creating liens, sales of assets, cash distributions, including paying dividends on common and preferred stock, capital stock and debt repurchases, and investments by us and certain of our subsidiaries. Because of these restrictions, we are currently prohibited from paying dividends on our preferred stock and anticipate that we will remain prohibited for the foreseeable future.

 

The restrictions in our debt instruments could prohibit or restrict our activities such as undertaking capital, raising or restructuring activities or entering into other transactions. In such a situation, we may be unable to amend the instrument or obtain a waiver. In addition, if we fail to make timely payments on this debt and other material indebtedness, our debt under these debt instruments could become due and payable prior to maturity. In such a situation, there can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain alternative financing. Either situation could have a material adverse effect on the solvency of the Company.

 

The terms of our debt instruments allow us to incur additional indebtedness.

 

Under the terms of our indebtedness under our indentures, we have the ability, subject to our debt covenants, to incur additional amounts of debt. The incurrence of additional indebtedness could magnify the risks described above. In addition, certain obligations such as standby letters of credit and performance bonds issued in the ordinary course of business, including those issued under our stand-alone letter of credit agreements and facilities, are not considered indebtedness under our indentures (and may be secured), and therefore, are not subject to limits in our debt covenants.

 

We could be adversely affected by a negative change in our credit rating.

 

Our ability to access capital on favorable terms is a key factor in our ability to service our indebtedness to cover our operating expenses, and to fund our other liquidity needs. On March 16, 2009, Fitch Ratings lowered the Company’s issuer default rating to CCC from B-. On April 7, 2009, Moody’s Investor Services affirmed our corporate family rating of Caa1, with a negative outlook. On April 1, 2009, Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) lowered our B-corporate credit rating to CCC, with a negative outlook. On September 14, 2010, S&P affirmed our corporate credit rating of CCC+ but revised our outlook from developing to negative. Downgrades may make it more difficult and costly for us to access capital. Therefore, any further downgrade by any of the principal credit agencies may exacerbate these difficulties.

 

Our business is seasonal in nature and our quarterly operating results can fluctuate.

 

Our quarterly operating results generally fluctuate by season. Historically, a large percentage of our agreements of sale have been entered into in the winter and spring. The construction of a customer’s home typically begins after signing the agreement of sale and can take 12 months or more to complete. Weather-related problems, typically in the fall, late winter and early spring, can delay starts or closings and increase costs and thus reduce profitability. In addition, delays in opening communities could have an adverse effect on our sales and revenues. Due to these factors, our quarterly operating results will likely continue to fluctuate.

Our success depends on the availability of suitable undeveloped land and improved lots at acceptable prices and our having sufficient liquidity to fund such investments.

 

Our success in developing land and in building and selling homes depends in part upon the continued availability of suitable undeveloped land and improved lots at acceptable prices. The availability of undeveloped land and improved lots for purchase at favorable prices depends on a number of factors outside of our control, including the risk of competitive over-bidding on land and lots and restrictive governmental regulation. Should suitable land opportunities become less available, the number of homes we may be able to build and sell would be reduced, which would reduce revenue and profits. In addition, our ability to make land purchases will depend upon us having sufficient liquidity to fund such purchases. We may be at a disadvantage in competing for land due to our significant debt obligations, which require substantial cash resources.

 

Raw material and labor shortages and price fluctuations could delay or increase the cost of home construction and adversely affect our operating results.

 

The homebuilding industry has from time to time experienced raw material and labor shortages. In particular, shortages and fluctuations in the price of lumber or in other important raw materials could result in delays in the start or completion of, or increase the cost of, developing one or more of our residential communities. In addition, we contract with subcontractors to construct our homes. Therefore, the timing and quality of our construction depends on the availability, skill, and cost of our subcontractors. Delays or cost increases caused by shortages and price fluctuations could harm our operating results, the impact of which may be further affected depending on our ability to raise sales prices to offset increased costs.

 

Changes in economic and market conditions could result in the sale of homes at a loss or holding land in inventory longer than planned, the cost of which can be significant.

 

Land inventory risk can be substantial for homebuilders. We must continuously seek and make acquisitions of land for expansion into new markets and for replacement and expansion of land inventory within our current markets. The market value of undeveloped land, buildable lots, and housing inventories can fluctuate significantly as a result of changing economic and market conditions. In the event of significant changes in economic or market conditions, we may have to sell homes at a loss or hold land in inventory longer than planned. In the case of land options, we could choose not to exercise them, in which case we would write off the value of these options. Inventory carrying costs can be significant and can result in losses in a poorly performing project or market. The assessment of communities for indication of impairment is performed quarterly. While we consider available information to determine what we believe to be our best estimates as of the reporting period, these estimates are subject to change in future reporting periods as facts and circumstances change. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A incorporated by reference herein. For example, during 2010, 2009, and 2008, we decided not to exercise many option contracts and walked away from land option deposits and predevelopment costs, which resulted in land option write-offs of $13.2 million, $45.4 million and $114.1 million, respectively. Also, in 2010, 2009, and 2008, as a result of the difficult market conditions, we recorded inventory impairment losses on owned property of $122.5 million, $614.1 million, and $596.0 million, respectively. If market conditions continue to worsen, additional inventory impairment losses and land option write-offs will likely be necessary.

 

Home prices and sales activities in the California, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia markets have a large impact on our results of operations because we conduct a significant portion of our business in these markets.

 

We presently conduct a significant portion of our business in the California, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia markets. Home prices and sales activities in these markets and in most of the other markets in which we operate have declined from time to time, particularly as a result of slow economic growth. In particular, market conditions in California, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia have declined significantly since the end of 2006. Furthermore, precarious economic and budget situations at the state government level

may adversely affect the market for our homes in those affected areas. If home prices and sales activity decline in one or more of the markets in which we operate, our costs may not decline at all or at the same rate and may negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Because almost all of our customers require mortgage financing, increases in interest rates or the decreased availability of mortgage financing could impair the affordability of our homes, lower demand for our products, limit our marketing effectiveness, and limit our ability to fully realize our backlog.

 

Virtually all of our customers finance their acquisitions through lenders providing mortgage financing. Increases in interest rates or decreases in availability of mortgage financing could lower demand for new homes because of the increased monthly mortgage costs to potential home buyers. Even if potential customers do not need financing, changes in interest rates and mortgage availability could make it harder for them to sell their existing homes to potential buyers who need financing. This could prevent or limit our ability to attract new customers as well as our ability to fully realize our backlog because our sales contracts generally include a financing contingency. Financing contingencies permit the customer to cancel its obligation in the event mortgage financing at prevailing interest rates, including financing arranged or provided by us, is unobtainable within the period specified in the contract. This contingency period is typically four to eight weeks following the date of execution of the sales contract.

 

Starting in 2007, many lenders have been significantly tightening their underwriting standards, and many subprime and other alternative mortgage products are no longer being made available in the marketplace. If these trends continue and mortgage loans continue to be difficult to obtain, the ability and willingness of prospective buyers to finance home purchases or to sell their existing homes will be adversely affected, which will adversely affect our operating results. In addition, we believe that the availability of mortgage financing, including Federal National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp, and FHA/VA financing, is an important factor in marketing many of our homes. In addition, in fiscal 2010, HUD tightened FHA underwriting standards. Any limitations or restrictions on the availability of those types of financing could reduce our sales.

 

Increases in the costs of owning a home could prevent potential customers from buying our homes and adversely affect our business or financial results.

 

Significant expenses of owning a home, including mortgage interest expenses and real estate taxes, generally are deductible expenses for an individual’s federal, and in some cases state, income taxes, subject to limitations under current tax law and policy. If the federal government or a state government were to change its income tax laws to eliminate or substantially limit these income tax deductions, as has been discussed from time to time, the after-tax cost of owning a new home would increase for many of our potential customers. The loss or reduction of these homeowner tax deductions, if such tax law changes were enacted without any offsetting legislation, would adversely impact demand for and sales prices of new homes, including ours. In addition, increases in property tax rates or fees on developers by local governmental authorities, as experienced in response to reduced federal and state funding or to fund local initiatives such as funding schools or road improvements, can adversely affect the ability of potential customers to obtain financing or their desire to purchase new homes, and can have an adverse impact on our business and financial results.

 

We conduct certain of our operations through unconsolidated joint ventures with independent third parties in which we do not have a controlling interest. These investments involve risks and are highly illiquid.

 

We currently operate through a number of unconsolidated homebuilding and land development joint ventures with independent third parties in which we do not have a controlling interest. At October 31, 2010, we had invested an aggregate of $38.0 million in these joint ventures, including advances to these joint ventures of approximately $13.5 million. In addition, as part of our strategy, we intend to continue to evaluate additional joint venture opportunities.

These investments involve risks and are highly illiquid. There are a limited number of sources willing to provide acquisition, development, and construction financing to land development and homebuilding joint ventures, and as market conditions become more challenging, it may be difficult or impossible to obtain financing for our joint ventures on commercially reasonable terms. Recently, we have been unable to obtain financing for newly created joint ventures. In addition, we lack a controlling interest in these joint ventures and, therefore, are usually unable to require that our joint ventures sell assets or return invested capital, make additional capital contributions, or take any other action without the vote of at least one of our venture partners. Therefore, absent partner agreement, we will be unable to liquidate our joint venture investments to generate cash.

 

Homebuilders are subject to a number of federal, local, state, and foreign laws and regulations concerning the development of land, the homebuilding, sales, and customer financing processes and protection of the environment, which can cause us to incur delays and costs associated with compliance and which can prohibit or restrict our activity in some regions or areas.

 

We are subject to extensive and complex regulations that affect the development and home building, sales, and customer financing processes, including zoning, density, building standards, and mortgage financing. These regulations often provide broad discretion to the administering governmental authorities. This can delay or increase the cost of development or homebuilding. In light of recent developments in the home building industry and the financial markets, federal, state, or local governments may seek to adopt regulations that limit or prohibit homebuilders from providing mortgage financing to their customers. If adopted, any such regulations could adversely affect future revenues and earnings. In addition, some state and local governments in markets where we operate have approved, and others may approve, slow-growth or no-growth initiatives that could negatively impact the availability of land and building opportunities within those areas. Approval of these initiatives could adversely affect our ability to build and sell homes in the affected markets and/or could require the satisfaction of additional administrative and regulatory requirements, which could result in slowing the progress or increasing the costs of our homebuilding operations in these markets. Any such delays or costs could have a negative effect on our future revenues and earnings.

 

We also are subject to a variety of local, state, federal, and foreign laws and regulations concerning protection of health and the environment. The particular environmental laws that apply to any given community vary greatly according to the community site, the site’s environmental conditions, and the present and former uses of the site. These environmental laws may result in delays, may cause us to incur substantial compliance, remediation, and/or other costs and can prohibit or severely restrict development and homebuilding activity.

 

For example, the Company was engaged in discussions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding alleged violations of storm water discharge requirements. In resolution of this matter, in April 2010 we agreed to the terms of a consent decree with the EPA, DOJ and the states of Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia (collectively the States). The consent decree was approved by the federal district court in August 2010. Under the terms of the consent decree, we have paid a fine of $1.0 million collectively to the United States and the States named above and have agreed to perform under the terms of the consent decree for a minimum of three years, which includes implementing certain operational and training measures nationwide to facilitate ongoing compliance with storm water regulations. More recently, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is seeking a civil penalty from us in connection with notices of violation for allegedly failing to comply with a storm water permit at an incomplete project in the state of New York; and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has contacted us regarding violations it asserts occurred when one of our contractors demolished a structure in New Jersey prior to obtaining a storm water permit. Although we do not know the final outcomes, we believe any penalties and any other impacts of these two matters will not have a material adverse effect on us.

 

We anticipate that increasingly stringent requirements will be imposed on developers and homebuilders in the future. Although we cannot predict the effect of these requirements, they could result in time-consuming and expensive compliance programs and in substantial expenditures, which could cause delays and increase

our cost of operations. In addition, the continued effectiveness of permits already granted or approvals already obtained is dependent upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control, such as changes in policies, rules, and regulations and their interpretation and application.

 

Product liability litigation and warranty claims that arise in the ordinary course of business may be costly.

 

As a homebuilder, we are subject to construction defect and home warranty claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Such claims are common in the homebuilding industry and can be costly. In addition, the amount and scope of coverage offered by insurance companies is currently limited, and this coverage may be further restricted and become more costly. If we are not able to obtain adequate insurance against such claims, we may experience losses that could hurt our financial results. Our financial results could also be adversely affected if we were to experience an unusually high number of claims or unusually severe claims. Recently, other homebuilders in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have had construction defect claims associated with allegedly defective drywall manufactured in China (Chinese Drywall) that may be responsible for noxious smells and accelerated corrosion of certain metals in the home. We have currently identified 10 homes with Chinese Drywall that must be remediated, and we have been notified of 19 more homes that potentially have Chinese Drywall that may need remediation. These homes are located in our Florida and Houston markets. The estimated costs of the remediations of these homes are reserved. If additional homes are identified to have this issue, or our actual costs to remediate differ from our current estimated costs, it may require us to revise our warranty reserves.

 

We compete on several levels with homebuilders that may have greater sales and financial resources, which could hurt future earnings.

 

We compete not only for home buyers but also for desirable properties, financing, raw materials, and skilled labor often within larger subdivisions designed, planned, and developed by other homebuilders. Our competitors include other local, regional, and national homebuilders, some of which have greater sales and financial resources.

 

The competitive conditions in the homebuilding industry together with current market conditions have, and could continue to, result in:

 

 

Any of these problems could increase costs and/or lower profit margins.

 

We may have difficulty in obtaining the additional financing required to operate and develop our business.

 

Our operations require significant amounts of cash, and we may be required to seek additional capital, whether from sales of equity or borrowing additional money, for the future growth and development of our business. The terms or availability of additional capital is uncertain. Moreover, the indentures for our outstanding debt securities contain provisions that restrict the debt we may incur in the future and our ability to pay dividends on equity. If we are not successful in obtaining sufficient capital, it could reduce our sales and may hinder our future growth and results of operations. In addition, pledging substantially all of our assets to support our first, second and third lien senior secured notes may make it more difficult to raise additional financing in the future.

Our future growth may include additional acquisitions of companies that may not be successfully integrated and may not achieve expected benefits.

 

Acquisitions of companies have contributed to our historical growth and may again be a component of our growth strategy in the future. In the future, we may acquire businesses, some of which may be significant. As a result of acquisitions of companies, we may need to seek additional financing and integrate product lines, dispersed operations, and distinct corporate cultures. These integration efforts may not succeed or may distract our management from operating our existing business. Additionally, we may not be able to enhance our earnings as a result of acquisitions. Our failure to successfully identify and manage future acquisitions could harm our operating results.

 

Utility shortages and outages or rate fluctuations could have an adverse effect on our operations.

 

In prior years, the areas in which we operate in California have experienced power shortages, including periods without electrical power, as well as significant fluctuations in utility costs. We may incur additional costs and may not be able to complete construction on a timely basis if such power shortages/outages and utility rate fluctuations continue. Furthermore, power shortages and outages, such as the blackout that occurred in 2003 in the Northeast, and rate fluctuations may adversely affect the regional economies in which we operate, which may reduce demand for our homes. Our operations may be adversely affected if further rate fluctuations and/or power shortages and outages occur in California, the Northeast, or in our other markets.

 

Geopolitical risks and market disruption could adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

 

Geopolitical events, such as the aftermath of the war with Iraq and the continuing involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, may have a substantial impact on the economy and the housing market. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 had an impact on our business and the occurrence of similar events in the future cannot be ruled out. The war and the continuing involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorism, and related geopolitical risks have created many economic and political uncertainties, some of which may have additional material adverse effects on the U.S. economy, and our customers and, in turn, our results of operations and financial condition.

 

Risks Related to Ownership of the Units, Separate Purchase Contracts, Separate Amortizing Notes and Class A Common Stock

 

You will bear the risk that the market value of our Class A common stock may decline.

 

The market price for our Class A common stock has been and may continue to be volatile. As the price of our Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange constantly changes, it is impossible to predict whether the price of our Class A common stock will rise or fall. Trading prices of our Class A common stock will be influenced by our financial conditions, operating results and prospects and by economic, financial and whether the price of our Class A common stock will rise or fall. Trading prices of our Class A common stock will be influenced by our financial conditions, operating results and prospects and by economic, financial and other factors, such as prevailing interest rates, interest rate volatility and changes in our industry and competitors. In addition, general market conditions, including the level of, and fluctuations in, the trading prices of stocks generally, and sales of substantial amounts of Class A common stock by us in the market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could affect the price of shares of our Class A common stock.

 

The purchase contracts, pursuant to which we will deliver to you shares of our Class A common stock, are components of the Units. The number of shares of Class A common stock that you will receive upon settlement of a purchase contract on the mandatory settlement date, whether as a component of a Unit or a separate purchase contract, will depend upon the applicable market value, which is equal to the average of the daily closing prices of our Class A common stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014. There can be no assurance that the market value of the Class A common stock received by you will be equal to or greater than the reference price of $      . If the applicable market value of our Class A common stock is less than the

reference price, then the market value of the Class A common stock issued to you on the mandatory settlement date (assuming that the market value is the same as the applicable market value of the Class A common stock) will be less than the effective price per share paid by you for such Class A common stock on the date of issuance of the Units. Furthermore, because we will in no event deliver more than           shares (subject to adjustment as described herein) upon settlement of a purchase contact, the market value of the Class A common stock delivered to you upon any early settlement may be less than the effective price per share paid to you for such Class A common stock on the date of the issuance of the Units. Therefore, you assume the entire risk that the market value of our Class A common stock may decline before the mandatory settlement date, early settlement date, fundamental change early settlement date or early mandatory settlement date, as applicable. Any decline in the market value of our Class A common stock may be substantial.

 

The opportunity for equity appreciation provided by an investment in the Units is less than that provided by a direct investment in our Class A common stock.

 

The aggregate market value of our Class A common stock delivered to you upon settlement of a purchase contract on the mandatory settlement date generally will exceed the $25 stated amount of each Unit only if the applicable market value of our Class A common stock exceeds the threshold appreciation price. Therefore, during the period prior to the mandatory settlement date, an investment in a Unit affords less opportunity for equity appreciation than a direct investment in our Class A common stock. If the applicable market value exceeds the reference price but is less than or equal to the threshold appreciation price, you will realize no equity appreciation on our Class A common stock above the reference price. Furthermore, if the applicable market value exceeds the threshold appreciation price, you would receive only a portion of the appreciation in the market value of the shares of our Class A common stock you would have received had you purchased shares of Class A common stock with $25 at the public offering price in the concurrent common stock offering. See “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Delivery of Class A Common Stock” for a table showing the number of shares of Class A common stock that you would receive at various applicable market values.

 

Our net operating loss carryforwards could be substantially limited if we experience an ownership change as defined in the Internal Revenue Code. As a Class A common stockholder upon settlement of your purchase contract you will be subject to both our Rights Plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Based on recent impairments and our current financial performance, we generated a federal net operating loss carryforward of $904.9 million through the year ended October 31, 2010, and we may generate net operating loss carryforwards in future years.

 

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code contains rules that limit the ability of a company that undergoes an ownership change, which is generally any change in ownership of more than 50% of its stock over a three-year period, to utilize its net operating loss carryforwards and certain built-in losses recognized in years after the ownership change. These rules generally operate by focusing on ownership shifts among stockholders owning directly or indirectly 5% or more of the stock of a company and any change in ownership arising from a new issuance of stock by the company.

 

If we undergo an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 as a result of this issuance, the concurrent offerings or future transactions involving our stock, including purchases or sales of stock between 5% shareholders, our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and to recognize certain built-in losses would be subject to the limitations of Section 382. Depending on the resulting limitation, a significant portion of our net operating loss carryforwards could expire before we would be able to use them. A limitation imposed under Section 382 on our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards could have a negative impact on our financial position and results of operations.

 

In August 2008, we announced that the Board adopted a shareholder rights plan (the “Rights Plan”) designed to preserve shareholder value and the value of certain tax assets primarily associated with net loss carryforwards and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Code, and on December 5, 2008, our stockholders

approved the Board’s decision to adopt the Rights Plan. The Rights Plan is intended to act as a deterrent to any person or group acquiring 4.9% or more of our outstanding Class A common stock (any such person an “Acquiring Person”), without the approval of the Company’s board of directors. Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the rights plan, if and when they become exercisable, each right would entitle its holder to purchase from the Company one ten-thousandth of a share of the Company’s Series B Junior Preferred Stock for a purchase price of $35.00. The rights will not be exercisable until the earlier of (i) 10 business days after a public announcement by us that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person and (ii) 10 business days after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by a person or group for 4.9% of the Class A common stock. If issued, each fractional share of Series B Junior Preferred Stock would give the stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as does one share of the Company’s Class A common stock. However, prior to exercise, a right does not give its holder any rights as a stockholder of the Company, including without limitation any dividend, voting or liquidation rights. See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts.”

 

In addition, on December 5, 2008, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of our stock in order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards and built-in losses under Section 382 of the Code. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to pre-existing 5% stockholders and Class B stockholders, the transfer restrictions in the amended Certificate of Incorporation generally restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of the Company’s stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own the Company’s stock) if the effect would be to: (i) increase the direct or indirect ownership of the Company’s stock by any person (or public group) from less than 5% to 5% or more of the Company’s stock; (ii) increase the percentage of the Company’s stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of the Company’s stock; or (iii) create a new “public group” (as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations). See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts.”

 

Holders that receive shares of our Class A common stock upon settlement of the purchase contracts will be subject to both the limitations imposed by the Rights Plan and the amended Certificate of Incorporation and you should carefully consider these limitations prior to your investment.

 

Beneficial ownership of Units and separate purchase contracts will be restricted while the Section 382 ownership blocker is in effect. In addition, beneficial owners of Units and separate purchase contracts cannot receive shares of Class A common stock in settlement of their purchase contracts in excess of the amount described below while the Section 382 settlement blocker is in effect with respect to such purchase contracts.

 

The purchase contract agreement governing the Units and separate purchase contracts provides that no person may purchase a Unit or separate purchase contract, and no beneficial owner of Units or separate purchase contracts will be permitted to purchase any additional Units or separate purchase contracts, if as a result of such acquisition, such person would Beneficially Own (as defined below) 4.9% or more of our Class A common stock (the “Section 382 Ownership Blocker”). To determine whether 4.9% or more of our Class A common stock is Beneficially Owned, such person shall: (1) take into account all shares of Class A common stock Beneficially Owned by such person, (2) assume that such person Beneficially Owns the number of shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon settlement of the Units or separate purchase contracts based on the maximum settlement rate and (3) deem the number of shares of Class A common stock calculated pursuant to clause (2) to be outstanding for purposes of the calculation with respect to such person, in the case of clauses (2) and (3), without taking into account the Section 382 settlement blocker described below. In addition, in the event that a beneficial owner of Units or separate purchase contracts acquires shares or additional shares of Class A common stock, as applicable, such beneficial owner may not beneficially own Units or separate purchase contracts to the extent such acquisition of our Class A common stock causes such beneficial owner to Beneficially Own 4.9% or more of the outstanding Class A common stock, calculated for this purpose in the same manner as described in the immediately preceding sentence. For purposes of the Section 382 Ownership Blocker, the terms “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficial Owner” shall be as defined in the Rights Plan (for the

avoidance of doubt, regardless of whether such Rights Plan is then in effect). See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts — Units and Separate Purchase Contracts — Section 382 Ownership Blocker.”

 

Additionally, under the purchase contract agreement governing the Units and separate purchase contracts, no beneficial owner of Units or separate purchase contracts will be entitled to receive shares of our Class A common stock upon settlement of the purchase contracts of such beneficial owner, and any delivery of shares of our Class A common stock upon settlement of such purchase contracts will be void and of no effect, to the extent (but only to the extent) that such receipt or delivery would cause such beneficial owner to become an Acquiring Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Plan (for the avoidance of doubt, regardless of whether the Rights Plan is then in effect)), unless such beneficial owner has received prior approval of our board of directors (the “Section 382 settlement blocker”). If any delivery of shares of our Class A common stock owed to a beneficial owner upon settlement of purchase contracts is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of the Section 382 settlement blocker, our obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and we shall deliver such shares as promptly as practicable after such delivery would not result in such beneficial owner being an Acquiring Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Plan) and such beneficial owner gives notice thereof to us. Such beneficial owner will not be entitled to any compensation for any loss of value or settlement opportunity. See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts — Units and Separate Purchase Contracts — Section 382 Settlement Blocker.”

 

We may not be able to settle your purchase contracts and deliver shares of our Class A common stock, or make payments on the amortizing notes, in the event that we file for bankruptcy.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the purchase contract agreement, your purchase contracts will automatically accelerate upon the occurrence of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Hovnanian. A bankruptcy court may prevent us from delivering our Class A common stock to you in settlement of your purchase contracts. In such circumstances, we expect that your resulting claim for damages will rank equally with the claims of our Class A common stockholders, in which case you will only be able to recover damages to the extent holders of our Class A common stock receive any recovery. See “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Consequences of Bankruptcy.”

 

In addition, with respect to the amortizing notes, bankruptcy law generally prohibits the payment of pre-bankruptcy debt by a company that has commenced a bankruptcy case while the case is pending. If K. Hovnanian becomes a debtor in a bankruptcy case, so long as the case was pending, you would likely not receive timely payments of principal or interest due under the amortizing note component of the Units and the subordination provisions of the notes would give the holders of “Senior Indebtedness” (as defined under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Subordination”) a prior right to receive any distributions on account of your claim until they were paid in full.

 

Future sales of substantial amounts of our Class A common stock could affect the market price of our Class A common stock.

 

Future sales of substantial numbers of our Class A common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of our Class A common stock, into the public market, future issuances of substantial numbers of additional shares of Class A common stock in connection with any future acquisitions or pursuant to employee benefit plans and future issuances of shares of Class A common stock upon exercise of options or warrants, conversion of Class B common stock upon sale thereof or settlement of the purchase contracts, or perceptions that those sales, issuances and/or exercises, conversions or settlements could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our Class A common stock and our ability to raise capital in the future.

The trading prices for the Units, the purchase contracts and the amortizing notes will be directly affected by the trading prices for our Class A common stock, the general level of interest rates and our credit quality, each of which is impossible to predict.

 

It is impossible to predict whether the prices of our Class A common stock, interest rates or our credit quality will rise or fall. Trading prices of the Class A common stock will be influenced by general stock market conditions and our operating results and business prospects and other factors described elsewhere in these “Risk Factors.”

 

The market for our Class A common stock likely will influence, and be influenced by, any market that develops for the Units or the separate purchase contracts. For example, investors’ anticipation of the distribution into the market of the additional shares of Class A common stock issuable upon settlement of the purchase contracts could depress the price of our Class A common stock and increase the volatility of the Class A common stock price, which could in turn depress the price of the Units or the separate purchase contracts. The price of our Class A common stock also could be affected by possible sales of such Class A common stock by investors who view the Units as a more attractive means of equity participation in Hovnanian and by hedging or arbitrage trading activity that is likely to develop involving the Units, separate purchase contracts and the Class A common stock. The arbitrage activity could, in turn, affect the trading prices of the Units, the separate purchase contracts and the Class A common stock.

 

Our controlling stockholders are able to exercise significant influence over us.

 

Members of the Hovnanian family, including Ara K. Hovnanian, our chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer, have voting control, through personal holdings, the limited partnership established for members of Mr. Hovnanian’s family and family trusts, of Class A and Class B common stock that enables them to cast approximately 70% of the votes that may be cast by the holders of our outstanding Class A and Class B common stock combined. Their combined stock ownership enables them to exert significant control over us, including power to control the election of the Board and to approve matters presented to our stockholders. This concentration of ownership may also make some transactions, including mergers or other changes in control, more difficult or impossible without their support. Also, because of their combined voting power, circumstances may occur in which their interests could be in conflict with the interests of other stakeholders.

 

Our issuance of preferred stock may cause our Class A common stock price to decline, which may negatively impact your investment.

 

Our board of directors is authorized to issue additional series of shares of preferred stock without any action on the part of our stockholders. Our board of directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, to set the terms of any such series of shares of preferred stock that may be issued, including voting rights, conversion rights, dividend rights, preferences over our Class A common stock or our Series A preferred stock with respect to dividends or if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business and other terms. If we issue cumulative preferred stock in the future that has preference over our Class A common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or if we issue preferred stock with voting rights that dilute the voting power of our Class A common stock, the market price of our Class A common stock could decrease, which may negatively impact your investment.

 

Developments in the equity-linked and convertible securities markets may adversely affect the market value of the Units.

 

Governmental actions that interfere with the ability of equity-linked and convertible securities investors to effect short sales of the underlying shares of Class A common stock could significantly affect the market value of the Units. Such government actions would make the convertible arbitrage strategy that many equity-linked

and convertible securities investors employ difficult to execute for outstanding equity-linked or convertible securities of any company whose shares of Class A common stock are subject to such actions.

 

At an open meeting on February 24, 2010, the SEC adopted a new short sale price test through an amendment to Rule 201 of Regulation SHO. The amendments to Rule 201 became effective on May 10, 2010 and restrict short selling when the price of a “covered security” has triggered a “circuit breaker” by falling at least 10% in one day, at which point short sale orders can be displayed or executed only if the order price is above the current national best bid, subject to certain limited exceptions. Compliance with the amendments to Rule 201 was required by November 10, 2010. Because our Class A common stock is a “covered security,” the new restrictions may interfere with the ability of investors in, and potential purchasers of, the Units, to effect short sales in our Class A common stock and conduct the convertible arbitrage strategy that we believe they will employ, or seek to employ, with respect to the Units.

 

In addition, on June 10, 2010, the SEC approved a six-month pilot (the “circuit breaker pilot”) pursuant to which several national securities exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) adopted rules to halt trading in securities included in the S&P 500 Index if the price of any such security moves 10% or more from a sale in a five-minute period. On September 10, 2010, the SEC approved an expansion of the circuit breaker pilot to include component securities of the Russell 1000 Index and over 300 exchange traded funds. Our Class A common stock is not included in either the S&P 500 Index or the Russell 1000 Index and therefore is not subject to the circuit breaker pilot at this time. However, the SEC could further expand the circuit breaker pilot in the future or adopt other rules that limit trading in response to market volatility. Any such additional regulatory actions may decrease or prevent an increase in the market price and/or liquidity of our Class A common stock and/or interfere with the ability of investors in, and potential purchasers of, the Units, to effect hedging transactions in or relating to our Class A common stock and conduct the convertible arbitrage strategy that we believe they will employ, or will seek to employ, with respect to the Units and/or separate purchase contracts.

 

Although the direction and magnitude of the effect that the amendments to Regulation SHO, the circuit breaker pilot and any additional regulations may have on the trading price and the liquidity of the Units will depend on a variety of factors, many of which cannot be determined at this time, past regulatory actions have had a significant impact on the trading prices and liquidity of convertible debt instruments. For example, in September 2008, the SEC issued emergency orders generally prohibiting short sales in the Class A common stock of a variety of financial services companies while Congress worked to provide a comprehensive legislative plan to stabilize the credit and capital markets. The orders made the convertible arbitrage strategy that many convertible debt investors employ difficult to execute and adversely affected both the liquidity and trading price of convertible notes issued by many of the financial services companies subject to the prohibition. Any governmental actions that restrict the ability of investors in, or potential purchasers of, the Units to effect short sales in our Class A common stock or to implement hedging strategies, including the recently adopted amendments to Regulation SHO, could similarly adversely affect the trading price and the liquidity of the Units and/or separate purchase contracts.

 

You may receive shares of Class A common stock upon settlement of the purchase contracts that are lower in value than the price of the Class A common stock just prior to the mandatory settlement date.

 

Because the applicable market value of the Class A common stock is determined over the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, the number of shares of Class A common stock delivered for each purchase contract may, on the mandatory settlement date, be greater than or less than the number that would have been delivered based on the closing price of the Class A common stock on the last trading day in such 20 trading day period. In addition, you will bear the risk of fluctuations in the market price of the shares of Class A common stock deliverable upon settlement of the purchase contracts between the end of such period and the date such shares are delivered.

If you elect to settle your purchase contracts early, you may not receive the same return on your investment as purchasers whose purchase contracts are settled on the mandatory settlement date.

 

Holders of the Units or separate purchase contracts have the option to settle their purchase contracts early at any time beginning on, and including, the business day immediately following the date of initial issuance of the Units until the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014. However, if you settle your purchase contracts prior to the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, you will receive for each purchase contract a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to the minimum settlement rate, regardless of the current market value of our Class A common stock, unless you elect to settle your purchase contracts early in connection with a fundamental change, in which case you will be entitled to settle your purchase contracts at the fundamental change early settlement rate, which may be greater than the minimum settlement rate. In either case, you may not receive the same return on your investment as purchasers whose purchase contracts are settled on the mandatory settlement date.

 

Upon issuance of the Units, our Class A common stock will incur immediate dilution.

 

Upon issuance of the Units, which includes a purchase contract component, our Class A common stock will incur immediate and substantial net tangible book value dilution on a per share basis.

 

We may issue additional shares of our Class A common stock, which may dilute the value of our Class A common stock but may not trigger an anti-dilution adjustment under the terms of the purchase contracts.

 

The trading price of our Class A common stock may be adversely affected if we issue additional shares of our Class A common stock. The number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon settlement of the purchase contracts is subject to adjustment only for certain events, including, but not limited to, the issuance of stock dividends on our Class A common stock, the issuance of certain rights or warrants, subdivisions, combinations, distributions of capital stock, indebtedness or assets, certain cash dividends and certain issuer tender or exchange offers. The number of shares of Class A common stock deliverable upon settlement is not subject to adjustment for other events that may adversely affect the value of our Class A common stock, such as employee stock options grants, offerings of our Class A common stock for cash (including under the concurrent common stock offering), certain exchanges of our Class A common stock for other Hovnanian securities or in connection with acquisitions and other transactions. The terms of the Units do not restrict our ability to offer our Class A common stock in the future or to engage in other transactions that could dilute our Class A common stock, which may adversely affect the value of the Units and separate purchase contracts.

 

The fundamental change early settlement rate may not adequately compensate you.

 

If a “fundamental change” occurs and you elect to exercise your fundamental change early settlement right, you will be entitled to settle your purchase contracts at the fundamental change early settlement rate. Although the fundamental change early settlement rate is designed to compensate you for the lost option value of your purchase contracts as a result of the early settlement of the purchase contracts, this feature may not adequately compensate you for such loss. In addition, if the stock price in the fundamental change is greater than $      per share (subject to adjustment), this feature of the purchase contracts will not compensate you for any additional loss suffered in connection with a fundamental change. See “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change.”

 

Our obligation to settle the purchase contracts at the fundamental change early settlement rate could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness of economic remedies.

 

Unlike the terms of our other debt securities, the amortizing notes will not provide holders with the right to require the Company to repurchase them upon a fundamental change.

 

The terms of our existing debt securities, including the senior notes being offered concurrently with the Units, provide that upon the occurrence of certain corporate events, including certain events that would

constitute a “fundamental change” as defined under “Description of the Purchase Contracts”, holders will have the right to require us to repurchase their debt securities. The terms of the indenture governing the amortizing notes do not provide holders of amortizing notes with any such repurchase right. Accordingly, holders of our amortizing notes will bear the risk that any such fundamental change occurs and adversely affects our capital structure, credit ratings or the value of the amortizing notes.

 

Until you acquire our Class A common stock, you are not entitled to any rights with respect to our Class A common stock, but you are subject to all changes made with respect to our Class A common stock.

 

Until you acquire our Class A common stock, you are not entitled to any rights with respect to our Class A common stock, including voting rights and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on our Class A common stock, but you are subject to all changes affecting the Class A common stock. You will have the rights with respect to shares of our Class A common stock only when you become the holder of record of such shares. You will be deemed to be the holder of record of shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon settlement of the purchase contracts as follows:

 

 

For example, in the event that an amendment is proposed to our certificate of incorporation or bylaws requiring stockholder approval and the record date for determining the stockholders of record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to the date you are deemed the owner of the shares of our Class A common stock, you will not be entitled to vote on the amendment, although you will nevertheless be subject to any changes in the powers, preferences or special rights of our Class A common stock once you become a stockholder.

 

We do not expect to pay dividends to holders of our Class A common stock.

 

Certain debt instruments to which we are a party contain restrictions on the payment of cash dividends. As a result of the most restrictive of these provisions, we are not currently able to pay any cash dividends and anticipates that we will be prohibited from doing so for the foreseeable future. We have never paid cash dividends on our Class A common stock nor do we currently intend to pay cash dividends on our Class A common stock. Other than the payment of dividends on our Series A preferred stock (if permitted by our debt instruments), our board of directors presently intends to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations.

 

The secondary market for the Units, the purchase contracts and the amortizing notes may be illiquid.

 

We will apply to list the Units on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to satisfaction of its minimum listing standards with respect to the Units. However, even if we do so apply to list the Units, we cannot assure you that the Units will be approved for listing. If the Units are approved for listing, we expect that the Units will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange within 30 calendar days after the Units are first issued. In addition, the underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the Units, but the underwriters are not obligated to do so. However, listing on the New York Stock Exchange does not guarantee that a trading market will develop, and the underwriters may discontinue market making at any time in their sole discretion without prior notice to Unit holders. Accordingly we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market

will develop for the Units (or, if developed, that a liquid trading market will be maintained), that you will be able to sell Units at a particular time or that the prices you receive when you sell will be favorable.

 

Beginning on the business day immediately succeeding the date of initial issuance of the Units, purchasers of Units will be able to separate each Unit into a purchase contract and an amortizing note. We are unable to predict how the separate purchase contracts or the separate amortizing notes will trade in the secondary market, or whether that market will be liquid or illiquid. We will not initially apply to list the separate purchase contracts or the separate amortizing notes on any securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system, but we may apply to list such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes in the future as described herein. If (i) a sufficient number of Units are separated into separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes and traded separately such that applicable listing requirements are met and (ii) a sufficient number of holders of such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes request that we list such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes, we may endeavor to list such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes on an exchange of our choosing (which may or may not be the New York Stock Exchange) subject to applicable listing requirements. However, even if we do so apply to list such separate purchase contracts or separate amortizing notes, we cannot assure you that such securities will be approved for listing.

 

The purchase contract agreement will not be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and the obligations of the purchase contract agent are limited.

 

The purchase contract agreement between us and the purchase contract agent will not be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and the purchase contract agent will not be required to qualify as a trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Thus, you will not have the benefit of the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the purchase contract agreement or the purchase contract agent. The amortizing notes constituting a part of the Units will be issued pursuant to an indenture, which has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. Accordingly, if you hold Units, you will have the benefit of the protections of the Trust Indenture Act only to the extent applicable to the amortizing notes. The protections generally afforded the holder of a security issued under an indenture that has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act include:

 

 

The amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees are unsecured obligations and will be junior to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

 

The amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees will not be secured by any of our assets and will be junior to any of our existing and future secured indebtedness. Accordingly, in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or any similar proceeding, our assets which serve as collateral under our secured indebtedness would be made available to satisfy our obligations under any secured indebtedness we may have before any payments are made on the amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees. At October 31, 2010, we had approximately $797.2 million of secured indebtedness outstanding. The aggregate book value of the real property collateral securing this indebtedness was approximately $759.5 million, as of October 31, 2010, which does not include the impact of inventory investments, home deliveries, or impairments thereafter and which may differ from the appraised value. In addition, cash collateralizing our secured indebtedness was $300.0 million as of October 31, 2010, which includes $92.3 million of restricted cash collateralizing certain letters of credit. Subsequent to such date, cash uses include general business operations and real estate and

other investments. Subject to the limits in the indenture under which the amortizing notes will be issued and our other existing debt instruments, we will be able to incur additional secured obligations. See “Description of the Amortizing Notes.”

 

The amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees will be subordinated to some of our debt and other liabilities.

 

The amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees will be subordinated to all of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors, respectively. Senior Indebtedness includes all indebtedness of K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors under our senior notes, and also includes lease obligations and the deferred and unpaid balance of the purchase price of any property, other than certain accounts payable and other indebtedness to trade creditors created in the ordinary course of business, as well as other debt and obligations. As a result of the subordination of the amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees, if K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor becomes insolvent or enters into a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, then the holders of K. Hovnanian’s or that Guarantor’s Senior Indebtedness must be paid in full before a holder of amortizing notes is paid.

 

In addition, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors cannot make any cash payments to a holder of amortizing notes if K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor has failed to make payments to holders of its Senior Indebtedness. Under certain circumstances, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors cannot make any payments to a holder of amortizing notes for a period of up to 120 days if K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor has defaulted, other than failures to make payments, under Senior Indebtedness covenants. See “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Subordination” for a more complete description of the subordination provisions of the amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees.

 

At October 31, 2010, on a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the completion of this offering and the Concurrent Offerings and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors would have had:

 

 

In addition, after giving effect to the use of proceeds from this offering and the Concurrent Offerings, the amortizing notes will be our only senior subordinated indebtedness outstanding and we will not have any other senior subordinated notes or subordinated notes. As of October 31, 2010, our non-Guarantor subsidiaries had approximately $90.0 million of liabilities, including trade payables, but excluding intercompany obligations.

 

The indenture will not contain any limitation on the ability of K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors to incur additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that is Senior Indebtedness.

 

The amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees will be structurally subordinated to indebtedness of our non-Guarantor subsidiaries.

 

The amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness (including trade payables) of any non-Guarantor subsidiary to the extent of the value of their assets, and holders of the amortizing notes will not have any claim as a creditor against any non-Guarantor subsidiary. In addition, the indenture under which the amortizing notes will be issued permits, subject to certain limitations, non-Guarantor subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness and will not contain any limitation on the amount of liabilities (such as trade payables) that may be incurred by them. At October 31, 2010, our non-Guarantor subsidiaries had $90.0 million of outstanding liabilities, including trade payables, but excluding intercompany obligations.

Federal and state laws allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void senior subordinated guarantees and to require you to return payments received from Guarantors.

 

Although you will be direct creditors of the Guarantors by virtue of the senior subordinated guarantees, existing or future creditors of any Guarantor could avoid or subordinate that Guarantor’s senior subordinated guarantee under the fraudulent conveyance laws if they were successful in establishing that:

 

 

 

The measures of insolvency for purposes of determining whether a fraudulent conveyance occurred vary depending upon the laws of the relevant jurisdiction and upon the valuation assumptions and methodology applied by the court. Generally, however, a company would be considered insolvent for purposes of the foregoing if:

 

 

We cannot assure you as to what standard a court would apply in order to determine whether a Guarantor was “insolvent” as of the date its senior subordinated guarantee was issued, and we cannot assure you that, regardless of the method of valuation, a court would not determine that any Guarantors were insolvent on that date. The senior subordinated guarantees of subsidiaries of Hovnanian could be subject to the claim that, since the senior subordinated guarantees were incurred for the benefit of Hovnanian and K. Hovnanian, and only indirectly for the benefit of the Guarantors, the obligations of the Guarantors thereunder were incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration.

 

Corporate benefit laws and other limitations on guarantees may adversely affect the validity and enforceability of the senior subordinated guarantees of the amortizing notes.

 

The senior subordinated guarantees of the amortizing notes by the Guarantors provide the holders of the amortizing notes with a direct claim against the assets of the Guarantors. The senior subordinated guarantees, however, will be limited to the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by a particular Guarantor without rendering the senior subordinated guarantee, as it relates to that Guarantor, voidable or otherwise ineffective under applicable law. This limit may not be effective to protect the guarantees from being voided under fraudulent transfer laws or may eliminate any Guarantor’s obligations or reduce such Guarantor’s obligations to an amount that effectively makes the guarantee worthless. In a recent Florida bankruptcy case, a similar limit was found to be ineffective to protect the guarantees. In addition, enforcement of any of these senior subordinated guarantees against any Guarantor will be subject to certain defenses available to Guarantors generally. These laws and defenses include those that relate to fraudulent conveyance or transfer (as described in the preceding risk factor), voidable preference, corporate purpose or benefit, preservation of share capital, thin capitalization and regulations or defenses affecting the rights of creditors generally. If one or more of these laws and defenses are applicable, a Guarantor may have no liability or decreased liability under its senior subordinated guarantee.

If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the amortizing notes.

 

Any default under the agreements governing our other indebtedness and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness, could prevent us from paying principal of, and interest on, the amortizing notes (including, without limitation, installment payments) and substantially decrease the market value of the amortizing notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our other indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants in our debt instruments, we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing our other indebtedness. In the event of such default:

 

 

If our operating performance declines, we may in the future need to amend or modify the agreements governing our indebtedness or seek concessions from the holders of such indebtedness.

 

The U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the Units are uncertain.

 

No statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly addresses the characterization of the Units or instruments similar to the Units for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, some aspects of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Units are not certain. Specifically, the amortizing notes and the purchase contracts could potentially be recharacterized as a single instrument for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in which case (i) “U.S. holders” (as defined below under “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences — U.S. Holders”) could be required to recognize the entire amount of each installment payment on the amortizing notes, rather than merely the portion of such payment denominated as interest, as income and (ii) payments of principal and interest made to “non-U.S. holders” (as defined below under “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences — Non-U.S Holders”) on the amortizing notes could be subject to U.S. withholding tax. We have not sought any rulings concerning the treatment of the Units, and the tax consequences described in “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences” are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, either of which could disagree with the explanations or conclusions contained therein. Even if the components of a Unit are respected as separate instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) the amortizing notes could be recharacterized as equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in which case payments of interest to non-U.S. holders on the amortizing notes could potentially be subject to U.S. withholding tax and (ii) the purchase contracts could be treated as Hovnanian’s stock on the date of issuance, in which case the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition thereof would be substantially the same as the tax consequences described herein. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potential alternative tax characterizations of the Units.

 

You may be subject to tax upon an adjustment to the settlement rate of the purchase contracts even though you do not receive a corresponding cash distribution.

 

The settlement rate of the purchase contracts is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, including the payment of certain cash dividends or upon a fundamental change. If the settlement rate is adjusted as a result of a distribution that is taxable to our Class A common stockholders, such as a cash dividend, you will be deemed to have received for U.S. federal income tax purposes a taxable dividend to the extent of our earnings and profits without the receipt of any cash. If you are a “non-U.S. holder” (as defined in “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences — Non-U.S. Holders”), such deemed dividend may be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax (currently at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be withheld from shares of Class A common stock or sales proceeds subsequently paid or credited to you. See “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Considerations.”

Non-U.S. holders who own, or in certain cases have owned, directly or constructively, more than a certain ownership threshold may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on (and, under certain circumstances, withholding tax on the proceeds of) the disposition of the Units, purchase contracts and shares of our Class A common stock.

 

Because we have significant U.S. real estate holdings, we believe that we currently are a “United States real property holding corporation” (USRPHC) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a “non-U.S. holder” (as defined in “Certain United States Federal Income Tax and Estate Consequences — Non-U.S. Holders”) will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on (and with respect to the purchase contracts, possibly U.S. federal withholding tax on the proceeds of) a sale or other disposition of the Units or the purchase contracts or shares of our Class A common stock if such non-U.S. holder exceeds certain ownership thresholds. So long as our Class A common stock continues to be regularly traded on an established securities market, (i) a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the disposition of our Class A common stock if the non-U.S. holder has not held (at any time during the shorter of the five year period preceding the date of disposition or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period) more than 5% (actually or constructively) of our total outstanding Class A common stock, and (ii) a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the disposition of our purchase contracts (x) if, as a result of the Units being deemed regularly traded, the purchase contracts are considered to be regularly traded, and on the date acquired by the non-U.S. holder, the purchase contracts held by the non-U.S. holder had a fair market value less than or equal to 5% of the fair market value of all the purchase contracts, or (y) if the purchase contracts are not considered to be regularly traded, on the date such purchase contracts were acquired by the non-U.S. holder the purchase contracts had a fair market value less than or equal to 5% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock. In addition, if the purchase contracts are not considered to be “regularly traded” for these purposes, a non-U.S. holder will be subject to withholding upon a disposition of our purchase contracts if on the date acquired by the non-U.S. holder, the purchase contracts had a fair market value greater than 5% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own U.S. income tax advisors concerning the consequences of disposing of Units, purchase contracts or shares of Class A common stock.

 

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to repurchase the amortizing notes following the exercise of our early mandatory settlement right, and our debt outstanding at that time may contain limitations on our ability to repurchase the amortizing notes.

 

If we elect to exercise our early mandatory settlement right, holders of the amortizing notes will have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase the amortizing notes on the repurchase date at the repurchase price described under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Repurchase of Amortizing Notes at the Option of the Holder.” However, neither K. Hovnanian nor the Guarantors may have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time K. Hovnanian is required to make repurchases of amortizing notes surrendered for repurchase. In addition, the ability of K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors to pay the repurchase price for the amortizing notes may be limited by agreements governing our current and future indebtedness. Our failure to repurchase amortizing notes at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture would constitute a default under the indenture. A default under the indenture could also lead to a default under agreements governing our indebtedness outstanding at that time. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, neither K. Hovnanian nor the Guarantors may have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and the repurchase price for the amortizing notes.

 

We expect to receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $72.5 million (or $83.4 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated transaction expenses payable by us. In addition, we expect that the net proceeds from the Common Stock Offering will be approximately $47.2 million (or approximately $54.3 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full for the Common Stock Offering) and the net proceeds from the concurrent Notes Offering will be approximately $147.0 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated transaction expenses payable by us. There can be no assurance that the Common Stock Offering or the Notes Offering will be completed.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with the net proceeds from the Concurrent Offerings, to fund the Tender Offers and/or the Redemptions, and for general corporate purposes. The interest rate of each series of Tender Offer Notes is set forth in “Summary — Related Transactions — Tender Offers and Redemptions.”

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of October 31, 2010, on:

 

 

This information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated by reference herein and our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

 

 

Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOV.” The following table sets forth the high and low closing sales prices for transactions involving our Class A common stock during each fiscal quarter, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape.

 

 

On January 28, 2011, the last reported sale price of our Class A common stock on the New York Exchange was $4.56 per share. As of January 18, our Class A common stock was held of record by approximately 541 holders and our Class B common stock was held of record by approximately 260 holders. There is no established public trading market for our Class B common stock and in order to trade Class B common stock, the shares must be converted into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.

 

Certain debt instruments to which we are a party contain restrictions on the payment of cash dividends. As a result of the most restrictive of these provisions, we are not currently able to pay any cash dividends. We have never paid a cash dividend to common stockholders.

 

We are offering 3,000,000 Units (or 3,450,000 Units if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), each with a stated amount of $25. Each Unit is comprised of a prepaid stock purchase contract issued by Hovnanian (a “purchase contract”) and a senior subordinated amortizing note issued by K. Hovnanian (an “amortizing note”). The following summary of the terms of the Units, the summary of the terms of the purchase contracts set forth under the caption “Description of the Purchase Contracts” and the summary of the terms of the amortizing notes set forth under the caption “Description of the Amortizing Notes” in this prospectus supplement contain a description of all of the material terms of the Units and their components but are not complete. We refer you to:

 

 

The form of K. Hovnanian senior subordinated debt indenture has been, and the related supplemental indenture for the amortizing notes and the purchase contract agreement will be, filed and incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part. Whenever particular sections or defined terms are referred to, such sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference.

 

As used in this section, the term “Hovnanian” means Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and does not include K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. or any other subsidiary of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

 

Components of the Units

 

Each Unit offered is comprised of:

 

 

Unless previously settled at your option as described in “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement” or “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change” or unless previously settled at our option as described in “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement at Our Election,” we will deliver to you not more than          shares and not less than           shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A common stock”) on the mandatory settlement date, based upon the “applicable settlement rate” (as defined below), which is subject to adjustment as described herein, and the “applicable market value” (as defined below) of our Class A common stock, as described below under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Delivery of Class A Common Stock.”

 

Each amortizing note will have an initial principal amount of $     . On each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing on May 15, 2011, K. Hovnanian will pay equal cash installments of $      on each amortizing note (except for the May 15, 2011 installment payment, which will be $      per amortizing note). Each installment will constitute a payment of interest (at a rate of     % per annum) and a

partial repayment of principal on the amortizing note, allocated as set forth on the amortization schedule set forth under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Amortization Schedule.”

 

The stated amount of each Unit must be allocated between the amortizing note and the purchase contract based upon their relative fair market values. We have determined that the fair market value of each amortizing note is $      and the fair market value of each purchase contract is $     . Each holder agrees to such allocation and this position will be binding upon each holder (but not on the Internal Revenue Service).

 

Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Units, Separate Purchase Contracts and Class A Common Stock

 

In order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards under the Code, beneficial owners of Units and any separate purchase contracts will be subject to both a beneficial ownership limitation and a settlement limitation as described herein. In addition, as a Class A common stockholder upon settlement of your purchase contract, you will be subject to both our Rights Plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation. See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts.”

 

Separating and Recreating Units

 

Upon the conditions and under the circumstances described below, a holder of a Unit will have the right to separate a Unit into its component parts, and a holder of a separate purchase contract and a separate amortizing note will have the right to combine the two components to recreate a Unit.

 

Separating Units

 

At initial issuance, the purchase contracts and amortizing notes may be purchased and transferred only as Units and will trade under the CUSIP number for the Units.

 

On any business day during the period beginning on, and including, the business day immediately following the date of initial issuance of the Units to, but excluding, the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014 or any “early mandatory settlement date” (as defined below), you will have the right to separate your Unit into its constituent purchase contract and amortizing note (which we refer to as a “separate purchase contract” and a “separate amortizing note,” respectively, and which will thereafter trade under their respective CUSIP numbers), in which case that Unit will cease to exist.

 

“Business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by applicable law or executive order to close or be closed.

 

Your Unit, purchase contract and amortizing note will be represented by global securities registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). You will not be entitled to receive a definitive physical certificate for your Units, purchase contracts or amortizing notes, except under the limited circumstances described under “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement.” Beneficial interests in a Unit and, after separation, the separate purchase contract and separate amortizing note will be shown on and transfers will be effected through direct or indirect participants in DTC. In order to separate your Unit into its component parts, you must deliver written instructions to the broker or other direct or indirect participant through which you hold an interest in your Unit (your “participant”) to notify DTC through DTC’s Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) System of your election to separate the Unit.

 

Separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes will be transferable independently from each other.

 

Recreating Units

 

If you beneficially own a separate purchase contract and a separate amortizing note, you may combine the two components to recreate a Unit by delivering written instructions to your participant to notify DTC through its DWAC System of your desire to recreate the Unit on any business day during the period beginning on, and including, the business day immediately following the date of initial issuance of the Units to, but excluding, the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014 or any early mandatory settlement date.

Listing of Securities

 

We will apply to list the Units on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to satisfaction of its minimum listing standards with respect to the Units. However, we can give no assurance that the Units will be so listed. If the Units are approved for listing, we expect that the Units will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange within 30 calendar days after the Units are first issued. In addition, the underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the Units, but the underwriters are not obligated to do so. However, listing on the New York Stock Exchange does not guarantee that a trading market will develop, and the underwriters may discontinue market making at any time in their sole discretion without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop for the Units (or, if developed, that a liquid trading market will be maintained), that you will be able to sell Units at a particular time or that the prices you receive when you sell will be favorable.

 

We will not initially apply to list the separate purchase contracts or the separate amortizing notes on any securities exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. If (i) a sufficient number of Units are separated into separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes and traded separately such that applicable listing requirements are met and (ii) a sufficient number of holders of such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes request that we list such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes, we may endeavor to list such separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes on an exchange of our choosing (which may or may not be the New York Stock Exchange) subject to applicable listing requirements.

 

Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HOV.” We have applied to have the shares of our Class A common stock deliverable upon settlement of all purchase contracts approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Title

 

Hovnanian and the purchase contract agent will treat the registered owner of any Unit or separate purchase contract or amortizing note as the absolute owner of the Unit or separate purchase contract or amortizing note for the purpose of settling the related purchase contracts or amortizing note and for all other purposes.

 

Replacement of Unit Certificates

 

In the event that physical certificates evidencing the Units have been issued, any mutilated Unit certificate will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon surrender of the certificate to the purchase contract agent. Unit certificates that become destroyed, lost or stolen will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon delivery to Hovnanian and the purchase contract agent of evidence of their destruction, loss or theft satisfactory to us and the purchase contract agent. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen Unit certificate, an indemnity satisfactory to us and the purchase contract agent may be required at the expense of the registered holder of the Units before a replacement will be issued.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we will not be obligated to replace any Unit certificates on or after the business day immediately preceding February 15, 2014 or any early settlement date. In those circumstances, the purchase contract agreement will provide that, in lieu of the delivery of a replacement Unit certificate, the purchase contract agent, upon delivery of the evidence and indemnity described above, will deliver the shares of Class A common stock issuable pursuant to the purchase contracts included in the Units evidenced by the certificate.

 

Miscellaneous

 

The purchase contract agreement will provide that we will pay all fees and expenses related to the offering of the Units and the enforcement by the purchase contract agent of the rights of the holders of the Units or the separate purchase contracts or amortizing notes, other than expenses (including legal fees) of the underwriters.

 

Should you elect to separate or recreate Units, you will be responsible for any fees or expenses payable in connection with that separation or recreation, and we will have no liability therefor.

 

Each purchase contract, which initially forms a part of a Unit and which, at the holder’s option after the date of initial issuance of the Units, can be separated and transferred separately from the amortizing note also forming a part of a Unit, will be issued pursuant to the terms and provisions of the purchase contract agreement. The following summary of the terms of the purchase contracts contains a description of all of the material terms of the purchase contracts but is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety reference to, all of the provisions of the purchase contract agreement, including the definitions in the purchase contract agreement of certain terms. We refer you to the purchase contract agreement to be filed and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part.

 

As used in this section, the terms “Hovnanian,” “we,” “us” and “our” means Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and does not include K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. or any other subsidiary of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

 

Delivery of Class A Common Stock

 

Unless previously settled early at your or our option, for each purchase contract we will deliver to you on February 15, 2014 (subject to postponement in certain limited circumstances described below, the “mandatory settlement date”) a number of shares of our Class A common stock. The number of shares of our Class A common stock issuable upon settlement of each purchase contract (the “settlement rate”) will be determined as follows:

 

 

The maximum settlement rate, minimum settlement rate and the applicable market value are each subject to adjustment as described under “— Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates” below. Each of the minimum settlement rate and the maximum settlement rate is referred to as a “fixed settlement rate.”

 

The reference price is the public offering price of our Class A common stock in the concurrent common stock offering. The threshold appreciation price shall be equal to $25, divided by the minimum settlement rate (rounded to the nearest $0.0001) and represents an appreciation of approximately     % over the reference price.

 

For illustrative purposes only, the following table shows the number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon settlement of a purchase contract at the assumed applicable market values, based on a reference price of $      and a threshold appreciation price of $     . The table assumes that there will be no adjustments to the fixed settlement rates described under “— Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates” below and that neither Hovnanian nor holders elect to settle early as described under “— Early Settlement,”

“— Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change” or “— Early Settlement at Our Election” below. We cannot assure you that the actual applicable market value will be within the assumed range set forth below.

 

A holder of a Unit or a separate purchase contract, as applicable, will receive on the mandatory settlement date the following number of shares of Class A common stock at the following assumed applicable market values:

 

 

As the above table illustrates, if, on the mandatory settlement date, the applicable market value is greater than or equal to the threshold appreciation price of $     , we would be obligated to deliver   shares of Class A common stock for each purchase contract. As a result, you would receive only a portion of the appreciation in market value of the shares of our Class A common stock that you would have received had you purchased $25 worth of shares of our Class A common stock at the public offering price in the concurrent common stock offering.

 

If, on the mandatory settlement date, the applicable market value is less than the threshold appreciation price of $      but greater than the reference price of $     , we would be obligated to deliver a number of shares of our Class A common stock on the mandatory settlement date equal to $25, divided by the applicable market value. As a result, we would retain all appreciation in the market value of our Class A common stock underlying each purchase contract between the reference price and the threshold appreciation price.

 

If, on the mandatory settlement date, the applicable market value is less than or equal to the reference price of $     , we would be obligated to deliver upon settlement of the purchase contract   shares of Class A common stock for each purchase contract, regardless of the market price of our Class A common stock. As a result, the holder would realize the entire loss on the decline in market value of the Class A common stock underlying each purchase contract since the initial issuance date of the Units.

 

Because the applicable market value of the Class A common stock is determined over the 20 “trading days” (as defined below) beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, the number of shares of Class A common stock delivered for each purchase contract may be greater than or less than the number that would have been delivered based on the closing price of the Class A common stock on the last trading day in such 20 trading day period. In addition, you will bear the

risk of fluctuations in the market price of the shares of Class A common stock deliverable upon settlement of the purchase contracts between the end of such 20 trading day period and the date such shares are delivered.

 

The term “applicable market value” means the average of the closing prices of our Class A common stock on each of the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014.

 

The “closing price” of our Class A common stock on any given date means:

 

 

A “trading day” is a day on which shares of our Class A common stock:

 

 

If our Class A common stock (or any other security for which the closing price must be determined) is not listed or admitted for trading on any U.S. national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market, “trading day” means a business day.

 

A “scheduled trading day” is a day that is scheduled to be a trading day on the U.S. national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market on which our Class A common stock is listed or admitted for trading. If our Class A common stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “scheduled trading day” means a business day.

 

On the mandatory settlement date, our Class A common stock will be issued and delivered to you or your designee, upon (i) surrender of certificates representing the purchase contracts, if such purchase contracts are held in certificated form, and (ii) payment by you of any transfer or similar taxes payable in connection with the issuance of our Class A common stock to any person other than you. As long as the purchase contracts are evidenced by one or more global purchase contract certificates deposited with DTC, procedures for settlement will be governed by standing arrangements between DTC and the purchase contract agent.

 

If one or more of the 20 scheduled trading days beginning on, and including, the 23rd scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014 is not a trading day, the mandatory settlement date will be postponed until the third scheduled trading day immediately following the last trading day of the 20 trading day period during which the applicable market value is determined.

 

Prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the last trading day of the 20 trading day period during which the applicable market value is determined, the shares of Class A common stock underlying each purchase contract will not be outstanding, and the holder of such purchase contract will not have any voting rights, rights to dividends or other distributions or other rights of a holder of our Class A common stock by virtue of holding such purchase contract. The person in whose name any shares of our Class A common stock shall be issuable upon settlement of the purchase contract on the mandatory settlement date will become the holder of

record of such shares as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the last trading day of 20 trading day period during which the applicable market value is determined.

 

We will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issue of any shares of our Class A common stock upon settlement of the purchase contracts, unless the tax is due because the holder requests any shares to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name, in which case the holder will pay that tax.

 

Early Settlement

 

On any trading day prior to the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014, you, as a holder of Units or a holder of a separate purchase contract, may elect to settle your purchase contracts early, in whole or in part, and receive shares of Class A common stock at the “early settlement rate.” The early settlement rate is equal to the minimum settlement rate, subject to adjustment as described below under “— Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates,” unless you elect to settle your purchase contracts early in connection with a fundamental change, in which case you will receive upon settlement of your purchase contracts a number of shares of our Class A common stock based on the “fundamental change early settlement rate” as described under “— Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change.”

 

Your right to receive Class A common stock upon early settlement of your purchase contract is subject to (i) delivery of a written and signed notice of election (an “early settlement notice”) to the purchase contract agent electing early settlement of your purchase contract, (ii) if such purchase contract or the Unit that includes such purchase contract is held in certificated form, surrendering the certificates representing the purchase contract and (iii) payment by you of any transfer or similar taxes payable in connection with the issuance of our Class A common stock to any person other than you. As long as the purchase contracts or the Units are evidenced by one or more global certificates deposited with DTC, procedures for early settlement will be governed by standing arrangements between DTC and the purchase contract agent.

 

Upon surrender of the purchase contract or the related Unit and payment of any applicable transfer or similar taxes due because of any issue of such shares in a name of a person other than the holder, you will receive the applicable number of shares of Class A common stock (and any cash payable for fractional shares) on the third business day following the “early settlement date” (as defined below).

 

If you comply with the requirements for effecting early settlement of your purchase contracts earlier than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any business day, then that day will be considered the “early settlement date.” If you comply with such requirements at or after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any business day or at any time on a day that is not a business day, then the next business day will be considered the “early settlement date.” The person in whose name any shares of our Class A common stock shall be issuable upon such early settlement of the purchase contract will become the holder of record of such shares as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the relevant early settlement date.

 

Upon early settlement of the purchase contract component of a Unit, the corresponding amortizing note will remain outstanding and beneficially owned by or registered in the name of, as they case may be, the holder who elected to settle the related purchase contract early.

 

Early Settlement Upon A Fundamental Change

 

If a “fundamental change” occurs and you elect to settle your purchase contracts early in connection with such fundamental change in accordance with the procedures described under “— Early Settlement” above, you will receive a number of shares of our Class A common stock or cash, securities or other property, as applicable, based on the “fundamental change early settlement rate,” as described below. An early settlement will be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such fundamental change if you deliver your early settlement notice to the purchase contract agent, and otherwise satisfy the requirements for effecting early settlement of your purchase contracts, during the period beginning on, and including, the effective date of the fundamental change and ending at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the 30th business day thereafter

(or, if earlier, the third scheduled trading day immediately preceding February 15, 2014) (the “fundamental change early settlement period”). We refer to this right as the “fundamental change early settlement right.”

 

If you comply with the requirements for effecting early settlement upon a fundamental change earlier than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any business day during the fundamental change early settlement period, then that day will be considered the “fundamental change early settlement date.” If you comply with such requirements at or after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any business day during the fundamental change early settlement period, then the next business day will be considered the “fundamental change early settlement date.”

 

We will provide the purchase contract agent and the holders of Units and separate purchase contracts with a notice of a fundamental change within five business days after its occurrence, issue a press release announcing such effective date and post such press release on our website. The notice will also set forth, among other things, (i) the applicable fundamental change early settlement rate, (ii) if not Class A common stock, the kind and amount of cash, securities and other property receivable by the holder upon settlement and (iii) the deadline by which each holder’s fundamental change early settlement right must be exercised.

 

A “fundamental change” will be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following:

 

 

 

 

The “fundamental change early settlement rate” will be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the fundamental change occurs or becomes effective (the “effective date”) and the “stock price” in the fundamental change, which will be:

 

 

The stock prices set forth in the first column of the table below will be adjusted as of any date on which any fixed settlement rate is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted stock prices will equal the stock prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum settlement rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the stock price adjustment and the denominator of which is the maximum settlement rate as so adjusted. The number of shares in the table below

will be adjusted in the same manner as the fixed settlement rates as set forth under “— Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates.”

 

The following table sets forth the fundamental change early settlement rate per purchase contract for each stock price and effective date set forth below:

 

 

The exact stock prices and effective dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

 

 

The maximum number of shares of our Class A common stock deliverable under a purchase contract is          , subject to adjustment in the same manner as the fixed settlement rates as set forth under “— Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates.”

 

Our obligation to settle the purchase contracts at the fundamental change early settlement rate could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness of economic remedies.

 

If you exercise the fundamental change early settlement right following the effective date of a fundamental change described in the second bullet of the definition of “fundamental change,” we will deliver to you the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that you would have been entitled to receive

in such fundamental change transaction as a holder of a number of shares of our Class A common stock equal to the fundamental change settlement rate for each purchase contract being settled early. If such fundamental change causes our Class A common stock to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of shareholder election) and you exercise the fundamental change early settlement right, we will deliver to you the types and amounts of consideration based on the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by holders of our Class A common stock that affirmatively make such an election.

 

We will deliver the shares of our Class A common stock, securities, cash or other property payable as a result of your exercise of the fundamental change early settlement right on the third business day following the fundamental change early settlement date. The person in whose name any shares of our Class A common stock or other securities, if applicable, shall be issuable following exercise of a holder’s fundamental change early settlement right will become the holder of record of such shares or other securities, if applicable, as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date such right is exercised.

 

Upon early settlement of the purchase contract component of a Unit upon a fundamental change, the corresponding amortizing note will remain outstanding and, beneficially owned by or registered in the name of, as the case may be, the holder who elected to settle the related purchase contract early upon the fundamental change.

 

If you do not elect to exercise your fundamental change early settlement right, your purchase contracts will remain outstanding and will be subject to normal settlement on any subsequent early settlement date or the mandatory settlement date, including, if applicable, the provisions set forth under “— Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates” regarding the occurrence of the relevant fundamental change.

 

Early Mandatory Settlement at Our Election

 

We have the right to settle the purchase contracts early, in whole but not in part, on a date fixed by us as described below at the “early mandatory settlement rate” described below. We refer to this right as our “early mandatory settlement right.”

 

The “early mandatory settlement rate” will be the maximum settlement rate, unless the “closing price” (as defined above) of our Class A common stock for 20 or more trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the “notice date” (as defined below) exceeds 130% of the threshold appreciation price in effect on each such trading day, in which case the “early mandatory settlement rate” will be the minimum settlement rate.

 

In the event we elect to settle the purchase contracts early, you will have the right to require us to repurchase your amortizing notes, as described under “Description of the Amortizing Notes — Repurchase of Amortizing Notes at the Option of the Holder.”

 

If we elect to exercise our early mandatory settlement right, we will provide the purchase contract agent and the holders of Units, separate purchase contracts and separate amortizing notes with a notice of our election (the “early mandatory settlement notice”), issue a press release announcing our election and post such press release on our website. The early mandatory settlement notice will specify, among other things:

 

 

 

We will deliver the shares of our Class A common stock and any cash payable for fractional shares to you on the early mandatory settlement date. The person in whose name any shares of our Class A common stock shall be issuable following exercise of our early mandatory settlement right will become the holder of record of such shares as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the notice date.

 

Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Units, Separate Purchase Contracts and Class A Common Stock

 

In order to preserve the tax treatment of our net operating loss carryforwards under the Code, beneficial owners of Units and any separate purchase contracts will be subject to both a beneficial ownership limitation and a settlement limitation as described herein. In addition, as a Class A common stockholder upon settlement of your purchase contract, you will be subject to both our Rights Plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation. See “Limitation on Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock, Units and Separate Purchase Contracts.”

 

Adjustments to the Fixed Settlement Rates

 

Each fixed settlement rate will be adjusted, without duplication, if:

 

(a) We issue Class A common stock to all or substantially all of the holders of our Class A common stock as a dividend or other distribution, in which event, each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the “record date” (as defined below) for such dividend or distribution will be divided by a fraction:

 

 

Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (a) will become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date for such dividend or distribution. If any dividend or distribution described in this clause (a) is declared but not so paid or made, each fixed settlement rate will be readjusted, effective as of the date our board of directors publicly announces its decision not to make such dividend or distribution, to such fixed settlement rate that would be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. For the purposes of this clause (a), the number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date for such dividend or distribution will not include shares held in treasury but will include any shares issuable in respect of any scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Class A common stock. We will not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Class A common stock held in treasury.

 

(b) We issue to all or substantially all holders of our Class A common stock rights, options or warrants (other than rights, options or warrants issued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan, shareholder rights plan or share purchase plan or other similar plans) entitling them, for a period of up to 45 calendar days from the date of issuance of such rights, options or warrants, to subscribe for or purchase our shares of Class A common stock at less than the “current market price” (as defined below)

of our Class A common stock, in which case each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date for such issuance will be multiplied by a fraction:

 

 

Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (b) will be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and will become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date for such issuance. In the event that such rights, options or warrants described in this clause (b) are not so issued, each fixed settlement rate will be readjusted, effective as of the date our board of directors publicly announces its decision not to issue such rights, options or warrants, to such fixed settlement rate that would then be in effect if such issuance had not been declared. To the extent that such rights, options or warrants are not exercised prior to their expiration or shares of our Class A common stock are otherwise not delivered pursuant to such rights, options or warrants upon the exercise of such rights, options or warrants, each fixed settlement rate will be readjusted, effective as of the date of such expiration or the date of such exercise, as the case may be, to such fixed settlement rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment made upon the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of the delivery of only the number of shares of our Class A common stock actually delivered.

 

In determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of our Class A common stock at less than the current market price per share of our Class A common stock, and in determining the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, there will be taken into account any consideration received by us for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof (the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by our board of directors).

 

For the purposes of this clause (b), the number of shares of Class A common stock at the time outstanding will not include shares held in treasury but will include any shares issuable in respect of any scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Class A common stock. We will not issue any such rights or warrants, options in respect of shares of Class A common stock held in treasury.

 

(c) We subdivide or combine our Class A common stock, in which event each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of such subdivision or combination will be multiplied by a fraction:

 

 

Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (c) will become effective immediately after 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of such subdivision or combination.

 

(d) We distribute to all or substantially all holders of our Class A common stock evidences of our indebtedness, shares of our capital stock (other than our Class A common stock), securities, cash or other assets, excluding:

 

 

 

in which event each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date for such distribution will be multiplied by a fraction:

 

 

Any adjustment made pursuant to the portion of this clause (d) above will become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date for such distribution. In the event that such distribution is not so made, each fixed settlement rate will be readjusted, effective as of the date our board of directors publicly announces its decision not to make such distribution, to such fixed settlement rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.

 

In the event that we make a distribution to all or substantially all holders of our Class A common stock consisting of capital stock of, or similar equity interests in, or relating to, a subsidiary or other business unit of ours that, upon issuance, will be traded on a U.S. national securities exchange (herein referred to as a “spin-off”), each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date for such distribution will instead be multiplied by a fraction:

 

 

Any adjustment made pursuant to this portion of clause (d) will become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the last trading day of the valuation period; provided that if any date for determining the number of shares of our Class A common stock issuable to a holder occurs during the valuation period, references in the preceding paragraph to 10 trading days will be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed between the effective date of such spin-off and such determination date for purposes of determining the fixed settlement rates. In the event that such distribution described in this clause (d) is not so made, each fixed settlement rate will be readjusted, effective as of the date our board of directors publicly announces its decision not to pay such distribution, to such fixed settlement rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.

 

(e) We make a distribution consisting exclusively of cash to all or substantially all holders of our Class A common stock, excluding:

 

 

in which event, each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date fixed for such distribution will be multiplied by a fraction:

 

 

 

Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (e) will become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the record date for such distribution. In the event that any distribution described in this clause (e) is not so made, each fixed settlement rate will be readjusted, effective as of the date our board of directors publicly announces its decision not to pay such distribution, to such fixed settlement rate which would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.

 

(f) We or any of our subsidiaries successfully complete a tender or exchange offer pursuant to a Schedule TO or registration statement on Form S-4 for our Class A common stock (excluding any securities convertible or exchangeable for our Class A common stock), where the cash and the value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of our Class A common stock validly tendered or exchanged exceeds the current market price per share of our Class A common stock, in which event each fixed settlement rate in effect immediately prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the 10th trading day immediately following, and including, the trading day immediately following the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (the “expiration date”) will be multiplied by a fraction:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any adjustment made pursuant to this clause (f) will become effective immediately after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the 10th trading day immediately following the expiration date; provided that if any date for determining the number of shares of our Class A common stock issuable to a holder occurs during the 10 trading days immediately following, and including, the trading day next succeeding the expiration date, references in the preceding paragraph to 10 trading days will be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of trading days as have elapsed between such expiration date and such determination date for purposes of determining the fixed settlement rates. In the event that we are, or one of our subsidiaries is, obligated to purchase shares of our Class A common stock pursuant to any such tender or exchange offer, but we are, or such subsidiary is, permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases, or all such purchases are rescinded, then each fixed settlement rate will be readjusted to be such fixed settlement rate that would then be in effect if such tender or exchange offer had not been made.

 

Except with respect to a spin-off, in cases where the fair market value of assets (including cash), debt securities or certain rights, warrants or options to purchase our securities as to which clauses (d) or (e) above apply, applicable to one share of Class A common stock, distributed to stockholders equals or exceeds the applicable current market price per share of our Class A common stock, rather than being entitled to an adjustment in each fixed settlement rate, holders of the purchase contracts will be entitled to receive (without

settling such holders’ purchase contract) on the date on which such assets (including cash), debt securities or rights, options or warrants are distributed to holders of our Class A common stock, for each purchase contract, the amount of such assets or securities that such holder would have received had such holder owned a number of shares of our Class A common stock equal to the maximum settlement rate on the record date for such distribution.

 

To the extent that we have a rights plan in effect with respect to our Class A common stock on any date for determining the number of shares of our Class A common stock issuable to a holder, you will receive, in addition to our Class A common stock, the rights under the rights plan, unless, prior to such determination date, the rights have separated from our Class A common stock, in which case each fixed settlement rate will be adjusted at the time of separation as if we made a distribution to all holders of our Class A common stock as described in clause (d) above, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

 

The “current market price” per share of Class A common stock on any day means:

 

 

The term “ex-date,” when used with respect to any issuance or distribution, means the first date on which shares of our Class A common stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such issuance or distribution in question from us or, if applicable, from the seller of our Class A common stock on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market.

 

The term “record date” means, when used with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of our Class A common stock (or other applicable security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which our Class A common stock (or other applicable security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of our Class A common stock (or other applicable security) entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by our board of directors or by statute, contract or otherwise).

 

In the event of:

 

 

 

in each case, as a result of which our Class A common stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, securities, cash or property (each, a “reorganization event”), each purchase contract outstanding immediately prior to such reorganization event will, without the consent of the holders of the purchase contracts, become a contract to purchase the kind of securities, cash and other property that a holder of Class A common stock would have been entitled to receive immediately prior to such reorganization event (such securities, cash and other property, the “exchange property”). For purposes of the foregoing, the type and amount of exchange property in the case of any reorganization event that causes our Class A common stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of shareholder election) will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of our Class A common stock that affirmatively make such an election. The number of units of exchange property for each purchase contract settled following the effective date of such reorganization event will be determined by the fixed settlement rates then in effect on the applicable settlement date (without interest thereon and without any right to dividends or distributions thereon which have a record date prior to the date such contracts are actually settled). Each fixed settlement rate will be determined using the applicable market value of a unit of exchange property that a holder of one share of our Class A common stock would have received in such reorganization event, and such value will be determined with respect to any publicly traded securities that compose all or part of the exchange property, based on the closing price of such securities; in the case of any cash that composes all or part of the exchange property, based on the amount of such cash; and in the case of any other property that composes all or part of the exchange property, based on the value of such property, as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained by us for this purpose.

 

In addition, we may make such increases in each fixed settlement rate as we deem advisable in order to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of our Class A common stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of shares of our Class A common stock (or issuance of rights, options or warrants to acquire shares of our Class A common stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes or for any other reason. We may only make such a discretionary adjustment if we make the same proportionate adjustment to each fixed settlement rate.

 

In the event of a taxable distribution to holders of our Class A common stock that results in an adjustment of each fixed settlement rate or an increase in each fixed settlement rate in our discretion, holders of the purchase contracts may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a dividend. See “Certain United States Federal Income and Estate Consequences” in this prospectus supplement. In addition, non-U.S. holders of the purchase contracts may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal withholding tax requirements. See “Certain United States Federal Income Tax and Estate Considerations — Non-U.S. Holders” in this prospectus supplement.

 

Adjustments to each fixed settlement rate will be calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share. No adjustment in the fixed settlement rates will be required unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent. If any adjustment is not required to be made because it would not change the fixed settlement rates by at least one percent, then the adjustment will be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment; provided that, on any date for determining the number of shares of our Class A common stock issuable to a holder, adjustments to the fixed settlement rates will be made with respect to any such adjustment carried forward and which has not been taken into account before such determination date.

 

No adjustment to the fixed settlement rates will be made if holders of Units or any separate purchase contracts may participate in the transaction (at a level based on the maximum settlement rate) that would otherwise give rise to such adjustment at the same time and on the same terms as holders of our Class A common stock without having to settle such holders’ purchase contracts.

The fixed settlement rates will only be adjusted as set forth above and will not be adjusted:

 

 

Whenever the fixed settlement rates are adjusted, we will deliver to the purchase contract agent a certificate setting forth in reasonable detail the method by which the adjustment to each fixed settlement rate was determined and setting forth each revised fixed settlement rate. In addition, we will, within five business days of any event requiring such adjustment, provide or cause to be provided written notice of the adjustment to the holders of the Units and separate purchase contracts and describe in reasonable detail the method by which each fixed settlement rate was adjusted.

 

Each adjustment to each fixed settlement rate will result in a corresponding adjustment to the early settlement rate. If an adjustment is made to the fixed settlement rates, an inversely proportional adjustment will also be made to the threshold appreciation price and the reference price solely for the purposes of determining which clauses of the definition of the settlement rate will apply on the settlement date. Because (a) the applicable market value is an average of the closing prices of our Class A common stock over a 20 consecutive trading day period and (b) the fundamental change early settlement rate is generally calculated based on an average of the closing prices over a 10 day trading day period, we will make appropriate adjustments to the closing prices prior to the relevant issuance date, record date, ex-date, effective date or expiration date, as the case may be, used to calculate the applicable market value to account for any adjustments to the fixed settlement rates that become effective during the period in which the applicable market value or the stock price, as the case may be, is being calculated.

 

Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares of our Class A common stock will be issued to holders upon settlement of the purchase contracts. In lieu of fractional shares otherwise issuable, holders will be entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the fraction of a share of our Class A common stock, calculated on an aggregate basis in respect of the purchase contracts being settled, multiplied by the closing price of our Class A common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the mandatory settlement date, early settlement date, fundamental change early settlement date or early mandatory settlement date, as the case may be.

 

Consequences of Bankruptcy

 

Pursuant to the terms of the purchase contract agreement, the mandatory settlement date for each purchase contract, whether held separately or as part of a Unit, will automatically accelerate upon the occurrence of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Hovnanian. Pursuant to the terms of the purchase contract agreement, upon acceleration, holders will be entitled under the terms of the purchase contracts to receive a number of shares of our Class A common stock per purchase contract equal to the maximum settlement rate in effect immediately prior to such acceleration (regardless of the market value of our Class A common stock at that time). However, a bankruptcy court may prevent us from delivering our Class A common stock in settlement of the accelerated purchase contracts. In such event, a holder would have a damage claim against us for the value of the Class A common stock that we would have otherwise been required to deliver upon settlement of the purchase contracts. We expect that this claim for damages will rank equally with the claims by holders of our Class A common stock in the bankruptcy

proceeding, in which case you will only be able to recover damages to the extent holders of our Class A common stock receive any recovery.

 

Modification

 

The purchase contract agreement will contain provisions permitting us and the purchase contract agent to modify the purchase contract agreement without the consent of the holders of purchase contracts (whether held separately or as a component of Units) for any of the following purposes:

 

 

The purchase contract agreement will contain provisions permitting us and the purchase contract agent, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority of the purchase contracts at the time outstanding, to modify the terms of the purchase contracts or the purchase contract agreement. However, no such modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding purchase contract affected by the modification,

 

 

In executing any modification, the purchase contract agent shall be entitled to receive an opinion of counsel stating that such modification is authorized or permitted under the terms of the purchase contract agreement.

 

Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance

 

We will covenant in the purchase contract agreement that we will not merge with or into, consolidate with any other entity or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person or entity, unless:

 

 

 

Reservation of Class A Common Stock

 

We will at all times reserve and keep available out of our authorized and unissued Class A common stock, solely for issuance upon settlement of the purchase contracts, that number of shares of Class A common stock as shall from time to time be issuable upon the settlement of all purchase contracts then outstanding, assuming settlement at the maximum settlement rate.

 

Governing Law

 

The purchase contract agreement, the purchase contracts and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the purchase contract agreement or the purchase contracts will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Information Concerning the Purchase Contract Agent

 

Wilmington Trust Company will be the purchase contract agent. The purchase contract agent will act as the agent for the holders of Units and separate purchase contracts from time to time. The purchase contract agreement will not obligate the purchase contract agent to exercise any discretionary actions in connection with a default under the terms of the purchase contracts or the purchase contract agreement.

 

The purchase contract agreement will contain provisions limiting the liability of the purchase contract agent. The purchase contract agreement will contain provisions under which the purchase contract agent may resign or be replaced. This resignation or replacement would be effective upon the acceptance of appointment by a successor.

 

Calculations in Respect of Purchase Contracts

 

We will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Units and any separate purchase contracts. The purchase contract agent will have no obligation to make any such calculations. All such calculations made by us will be made in good faith and, absent manifest error, will be final and binding on the purchase contract agent and the holders of the Units and any separate purchase contracts. We will provide a schedule of such calculations to the purchase contract agent and the purchase contract agent will be entitled to conclusively rely upon the accuracy of such calculations without independent verification.

 

The amortizing notes will be issued by K. Hovnanian pursuant to its senior subordinated debt indenture, and a related supplemental indenture for such amortizing notes, each to be dated the date of first issuance of the amortizing notes, and each among K. Hovnanian, as issuer, Hovnanian and certain subsidiaries of Hovnanian, as Guarantors, and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (collectively referred to herein as the “indenture”).

 

The following summary of the terms of the amortizing notes contains a description of all of the material terms of the amortizing notes but is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture, including the definitions in the indenture of certain terms. We refer you to the form of base indenture, which has been filed, and the supplemental indenture, which will be filed, and in each case incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part. A copy of the base indenture is, and a copy of the supplemental indenture will be, available for inspection at the office of K. Hovnanian.

 

As used in this section, the term “Hovnanian” means Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and does not include K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. or any other subsidiary of Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and references to “K. Hovnanian” mean K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. and do not include any of its subsidiaries.

 

General

 

The amortizing notes will be issued as a separate series of senior subordinated debt securities under the indenture. The amortizing notes will be issued by K. Hovnanian in an initial aggregate principal amount of $      (or $      initial aggregate principal amount if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). The final installment payment date will be February 15, 2014. K. Hovnanian may not redeem the amortizing notes.

 

Amortizing notes may only be issued in certificated form in exchange for a global security under the circumstances described below under “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement.” In the event that amortizing notes are issued in certificated form, such amortizing notes may be transferred or exchanged at the offices described below. Payments on amortizing notes issued as a global security will be made to DTC, to a successor depositary or, in the event that no depositary is used, to a paying agent for the amortizing notes. In the event amortizing notes are issued in certificated form, installments will be payable, the transfer of the amortizing notes will be registrable and amortizing notes will be exchangeable for amortizing notes of other denominations of a like aggregate principal amount at the corporate trust office of the trustee in Wilmington, DE. Installment payments on certificated amortizing notes may be made at K. Hovnanian’s option by check mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto. See “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement.”

 

There are no covenants or provisions in the indenture that would afford the holders of the amortizing notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving Hovnanian or K. Hovnanian that may adversely affect such holders.

 

Ranking

 

The amortizing notes will be general unsecured senior subordinated obligations of K. Hovnanian. This means that the payment of principal of, and interest on (including, without limitation, installment payments), and all other amounts owing with respect to, the amortizing notes will be subordinated as set forth in the indenture to the prior payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of all existing and future “Senior Indebtedness” (as defined under “— Subordination” below) of K. Hovnanian.

 

The senior subordinated guarantees described under “— The Senior Subordinated Guarantees” below will be general unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the “Guarantors” (as defined under “— The Senior Subordinated Guarantees” below). This means that payments of any amounts pursuant to the senior subordinated guarantees will be subordinated on the same basis to Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantors as the amortizing notes will be subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian.

At October 31, 2010, on an as adjusted basis to give effect to this offering and the Concurrent Offerings and the application of the estimated net proceeds from this offering and the Concurrent Offerings, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors would have had approximately $797.2 million of secured indebtedness outstanding and approximately $827.7 million of senior unsecured notes ($826.1 million, net of discount (assuming no discount on the senior unsecured notes being offered in the Notes Offering)), all of which would be Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors. After giving effect to the Concurrent Offerings and the use of proceeds from this offering and the Concurrent Offerings, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors would not have any other senior subordinated notes or subordinated notes.

 

Subordination

 

The indebtedness evidenced by the amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees will be subordinate to the prior payment when due of the principal of and interest on all Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors, respectively.

 

Upon maturity of the principal of any Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor, including by reason of acceleration, payment in full must be made on such Senior Indebtedness before any payment is made on or in respect of the amortizing notes by K. Hovnanian or the senior subordinated guarantee of such Guarantor, respectively.

 

During the continuation of payment default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor and upon written notice thereof to K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor and the trustee or upon acceleration of such Senior Indebtedness, no direct or indirect payment may be made by K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor or the trustee with respect to the principal of, or interest on (including, without limitation, installment payments), the amortizing notes or such Guarantor’s senior subordinated guarantee, respectively, or to repurchase any of the amortizing notes.

 

During the continuation of any non-payment default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated, no payment or distribution of any kind or character may be made by K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor on account of the principal of, or interest on (including, without limitation, installment payments), the amortizing notes or such Guarantor’s senior subordinated guarantee, or the repurchase or other acquisition of, any amortizing notes for the period specified below (the “payment blockage period”). The payment blockage period will commence upon the receipt of notice of the default by the trustee from the holders of Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor or any representative of a holder of such Senior Indebtedness and will end on the earlier of:

 

(i) 120 days thereafter;

 

(ii) the date on which such default is cured, waived or ceases to exist or on which such Senior Indebtedness is discharged; or

 

(iii) the date on which such payment blockage period shall have been terminated by written notice to K. Hovnanian or to the trustee from the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or any representative of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness that initiated such payment blockage period,

 

after which K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors will promptly resume making any and all required payments in respect of the amortizing notes or the applicable senior subordinated guarantees, including any missed payments.

 

In no event will a payment blockage period extend beyond 120 days from the date of receipt by the trustee of the notice initiating such payment blockage period (the “initial period”). Any number of additional payment blockage periods may be commenced during the initial period; provided that no such additional period will extend beyond the initial period. After the expiration of the initial period, no payment blockage period with respect to the amortizing notes may be commenced on the basis of a non-payment default on the Senior Indebtedness which was the basis of a payment blockage period commenced during the initial period until 270 consecutive days have elapsed after the end of the initial period. No non-payment event of default

with respect to Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor that existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any payment blockage period with respect to the Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor initiating such payment blockage period and of which such Senior Indebtedness holder(s) are aware will be, or can be made, the basis for the commencement of a second payment blockage period whether or not within the specified period, unless such event of default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

 

If K. Hovnanian fails to make any payment on any amortizing notes when due or within any applicable grace period, whether or not on account of the payment blockage provisions referred to above, such failure would constitute an event of default under the indenture and would enable the holders of such amortizing notes to accelerate the maturity thereof. If any Guarantor fails to make any payment on any senior subordinated guarantee when due or within any applicable grace period, whether or not on account of the payment blockage provisions referred to above, such failure would constitute an event of default under the indenture and would enable the holders of the amortizing notes to accelerate the maturity thereof.

 

Upon any distribution of assets of K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor in any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor, payment of the principal of, and interest on (including, without limitation, installment payments), amortizing notes or the applicable senior subordinated guarantee will be subordinated to the extent and in the manner set forth in the indenture to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor. Because of these subordination provisions, unless holders of Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor are paid in full, holders of Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor, including general creditors (other than certain trade creditors) of K. Hovnanian will recover more, ratably, than holders of the amortizing notes.

 

“Senior Indebtedness” of any person means:

 

(i) all “Indebtedness” (as defined under “— The Senior Subordinated Guarantees” below) of such person;

 

(ii) lease obligations of such person;

 

(iii) all Indebtedness, secured or unsecured, in connection with the acquisition or improvement of any property or asset or acquisition of any business by such person;

 

(iv) all Indebtedness secured by an mortgage, lien, pledge, charge or encumbrance upon property owned by such person and all Indebtedness secured in the manner specified in this clause (iv) even if such person has not assumed or become liable for the payment thereof;

 

(v) all customer deposits held in escrow accounts by such person pending closing of the related sales;

 

(vi) all Indebtedness of such person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such person or otherwise representing the deferred and unpaid balance of the purchase price of any such property, including all Indebtedness created or arising in the manner specified in this clause (vi) even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property;

 

(vii) guarantees by such person, direct or indirect, of any indebtedness of another person of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (vi); and

 

(viii) contingent obligations of such person in respect of, or to purchase or otherwise acquire or be responsible or liable for through the purchase of products or services irrespective of whether such products are delivered or such services are rendered, any such Indebtedness referred to in clauses (i) through (vi);

 

which indebtedness, lease obligation, deposit, guarantee or contingent obligation such person has directly or indirectly created, incurred, assumed, guaranteed or otherwise become liable or responsible for, whether currently outstanding or hereafter created. All references to indebtedness include any indebtedness that renews,

extends, refunds, amends or modifies any such indebtedness; provided, however, that, with respect to K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors, “Senior Indebtedness” does not include, without limitation:

 

(a) the amortizing notes and the senior subordinated guarantees;

 

(b) K. Hovnanian’s 87/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 and related senior subordinated guarantees;

 

(c) K. Hovnanian’s 73/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 and related senior subordinated guarantees;

 

(d) accounts payable or any other indebtedness to trade creditors created or assumed by K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services;

 

(e) any liability for federal, state or local taxes owed or owing by K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor;

 

(f) all obligations of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor owed to Hovnanian or any Subsidiary of Hovnanian; and

 

(g) any Indebtedness as to which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such indebtedness is on a parity with or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the amortizing notes or the senior subordinated guarantees, as applicable.

 

Limitation on Senior Subordinated Indebtedness

 

Hovnanian and K. Hovnanian will not, and will not cause or permit any Guarantor to, incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor, as the case may be, unless such Indebtedness is pari passu with, or subordinated in right of payment to, the amortizing notes or any senior subordinated guarantee; provided that the foregoing limitation will not apply to distinctions between categories of Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor, as the case may be, that exist by reasons of any “Liens” (as defined under “— The Senior Subordinated Guarantees” below) or guarantees arising or created in respect of some but not all such Senior Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor, as the case may be, or priorities of paydown, from proceeds of collateral or otherwise, among classes or tranches of any issue of Senior Indebtedness.

 

The Senior Subordinated Guarantees

 

Hovnanian, the parent corporation of K. Hovnanian, and each of the parent’s existing and future subsidiaries that from time to time guarantee K. Hovnanian’s obligations under any “Applicable Debt” (as defined below) then outstanding (collectively, the “Guarantors”) will unconditionally guarantee, on a joint and several basis, all of K. Hovnanian’s obligations under the amortizing notes, including K. Hovnanian’s obligations to pay principal of, interest on (including, without limitation, installment payments) and all other amounts owing with respect to, the amortizing notes and under the indenture (each such guarantee, a “senior subordinated guarantee”). The obligations of each Guarantor are limited to the maximum amount which, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under the indenture, will result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its senior subordinated guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law. Each Guarantor other than Hovnanian that makes a payment or distribution under a senior subordinated guarantee will be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount pro rata, based on the net assets of each Guarantor, determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, our home mortgage subsidiaries, our joint ventures and subsidiaries holding interests in our joint ventures and certain of our title insurance subsidiaries are not Guarantors.

Upon the release of a Guarantor from its guarantee of all then outstanding Applicable Debt, the senior subordinated guarantee of such Guarantor under the indenture will be deemed to be released and discharged at such time without any further action on the part of the trustee or any holder of the amortizing notes. If any such released Guarantor thereafter guarantees any Applicable Debt (or if any released guarantee under any Applicable Debt is reinstated or renewed), then such released Guarantor will guarantee the amortizing notes on the terms and conditions set forth in the indenture.

 

For the purposes of this section, the following definitions will apply:

 

“Applicable Debt” means all Indebtedness of Hovnanian or K. Hovnanian under K. Hovnanian’s or Hovnanian’s senior notes and senior subordinated notes outstanding on the Issue Date.

 

“Attributable Debt” means, with respect to any Capitalized Lease Obligations, the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

“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.

 

“Currency Agreement” of any person means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in currency values.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

“Indebtedness” of any person means, without duplication:

 

(i) any liability of such person (a) for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit or other similar instruments (other than standby letters of credit or similar instruments issued for the benefit of, or surety, performance, completion or payment bonds, earnest money notes or similar purpose undertakings or indemnifications issued by, such person in the ordinary course of business), (b) 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 or with services incurred in connection with capital expenditures (other than any obligation to pay a contingent purchase price which, as of the date of incurrence thereof, is not required to be recorded as a liability in accordance with GAAP), or (c) in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations (to the extent of the Attributable Debt in respect thereof);

 

(ii) any Indebtedness of others that such person has guaranteed to the extent of the guarantee; provided, however, that Indebtedness of K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor will not include the obligations of K. Hovnanian or such Guarantor under warehouse lines of credit of Mortgage Subsidiaries to repurchase mortgages at prices no greater than 98% of the principal amount thereof;

 

(iii) to the extent not otherwise included, the obligations of such person under Currency Agreements or Interest Protection Agreements to the extent recorded as liabilities not constituting Interest Incurred, net of amounts recorded as assets in respect of such agreements, in accordance with GAAP; and

 

(iv) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such person;

 

provided that Indebtedness will not include accounts payable, liabilities to trade creditors of such person or other accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business. The amount of Indebtedness of any person at any date will be (a) the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above, net of any unamortized discount to be accounted for as Interest Expense, in accordance with GAAP, (b) the

maximum liability of such person for any contingent obligations under clause (i) above at such date, net of an unamortized discount to be accounted for as Interest Expense in accordance with GAAP, and (c) in the case of clause (iv) above, the lesser of (x) the fair market value of any asset subject to a Lien securing the Indebtedness of others on the date that the Lien attaches and (y) the amount of the Indebtedness secured.

 

“Interest Expense” of any person for any period means, without duplication, the aggregate amount of (i) interest which, in conformity with GAAP, would be set opposite the caption “interest expense” or any like caption on an income statement for such person (including, without limitation, imputed interest included in Capitalized Lease Obligations, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing, the net costs (but reduced by net gains) associated with Currency Agreements and Interest Protection Agreements, amortization of other financing fees and expenses, the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation, amortization of discount or premium, if any, and all other noncash interest expense (other than interest and other charges amortized to cost of sales)), and (ii) all interest actually paid by K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor under any guarantee of Indebtedness (including, without limitation, a guarantee of principal, interest or any combination thereof) of any person other than K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor during such period; provided, that Interest Expense will exclude any expense associated with the complete write-off of financing fees and expenses in connection with the repayment of any Indebtedness.

 

“Interest Incurred” of any person for any period means, without duplication, the aggregate amount of (i) Interest Expense and (ii) all capitalized interest and amortized debt issuance costs.

 

“Interest Protection Agreement” of any person means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, option or futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the indentures governing the Applicable Debt then outstanding.

 

“Issue Date” means the date the amortizing notes are originally issued.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any Property, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such Property. For purposes of this definition, a person will be deemed to own, subject to a Lien, any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such Property.

 

“Mortgage Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Hovnanian substantially all of whose operations consist of the mortgage lending business.

 

“Property” of any person means all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property owned by such person, whether or not included in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such person and its Subsidiaries under GAAP.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Hovnanian which would constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w)(1) or (2) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date.

 

“Subsidiary” of any person means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions of such corporation or other entity is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such person.

 

Installment Payments

 

Each amortizing note will have an initial principal amount of $     . On each February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, commencing on May 15, 2011 (each, an “installment payment date”), K. Hovnanian will pay, in cash, equal quarterly installments of $      on each amortizing note (except for the May 15, 2011 installment payment, which will be $      per amortizing note). Each installment will constitute a payment of interest (at a rate of     % per annum) and a partial repayment of principal on the amortizing

note, allocated as set forth on the amortization schedule set forth under “— Amortization Schedule.” Installments will be paid to the person in whose name an amortizing note is registered as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the related installment payment date. In the event the amortizing notes do not continue to remain in book-entry only form, K. Hovnanian will have the right to select regular record dates, which will be more than 14 days but less than 60 days prior to the relevant installment payment date.

 

Each installment payment for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The installment payable for any period shorter than a full installment payment period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. In the event that any date on which an installment is payable is not a business day, then payment of the installment on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day, and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay. However, if such business day is in the next succeeding calendar year, then such installment payment will be made on the immediately preceding business day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.

 

Amortization Schedule

 

The total installments of principal on the amortizing notes for each scheduled installment payment date are set forth below:

 

 

Repurchase of Amortizing Notes at the Option of the Holder

 

If we elect to exercise our early mandatory settlement right with respect to the purchase contracts, then holders of the amortizing notes (whether as components of Units or separate amortizing notes) will have the right (the “repurchase right”) to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase some or all of their amortizing notes for cash at the repurchase price per amortizing note to be repurchased on the repurchase date, as described below. Holders may not require K. Hovnanian to repurchase a portion of an amortizing note. Holders will not have the right to require K. Hovnanian to repurchase any or all of such holder’s amortizing notes in connection with any early settlement of such holder’s purchase contracts at the holder’s option, as described above under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement” and “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change.”

 

The “repurchase date” will be a date specified by us in the early mandatory settlement notice, which will be at least 20 but not more than 45 business days following the date of our early mandatory settlement notice as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement at Our Option” (and which may or may not fall on the early mandatory settlement date).

The “repurchase price” per amortizing note to be redeemed will be equal to the principal amount of such amortizing note as of the repurchase date, plus accrued and unpaid interest on such principal amount from, and including, the immediately preceding installment payment date to, but not including, the repurchase date, calculated at a rate of     % per annum. However, if the amortizing notes are in certificated form and the repurchase date falls after a regular record date and on or prior to the immediately succeeding installment payment date, the installment payment payable on such installment payment date will be paid on such installment payment date to the holder as of such regular record date and will not be included in the repurchase price per amortizing note.

 

To exercise your repurchase right, you must deliver, on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the repurchase date, the amortizing notes to be repurchased (or the Units, if the early mandatory settlement date falls on the same day as the repurchase date and you have not separated your Units into their constituent components), together with a duly completed written repurchase notice in the form entitled “Form of Repurchase Notice” on the reverse side of the amortizing notes (a “repurchase notice”), in each case in accordance with appropriate DTC procedures, unless you hold certificated amortizing notes (or Units), in which case you must deliver the amortizing notes to be repurchased (or Units), duly endorsed for transfer, together with a repurchase notice, to the paying agent. Your repurchase notice must state:

 

 

You may withdraw any repurchase notice (in whole or in part) by a written, irrevocable notice of withdrawal delivered to the trustee, on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day immediately preceding the repurchase date. The notice of withdrawal must state:

 

 

K. Hovnanian will be required to repurchase the amortizing notes on the repurchase date. You will receive payment of the repurchase price on the later of (i) the repurchase date and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of the amortizing notes. If the trustee holds money sufficient to pay the repurchase price of the amortizing notes on the repurchase date, then:

 

 

In connection with any repurchase offer pursuant to an early mandatory settlement notice, we will, if required:

 

 

No amortizing notes may be repurchased at the option of holders if the principal amount thereof has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to the repurchase date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by us of the payment of the repurchase price with respect to such amortizing notes).

 

Events of Default

 

The following are “Events of Default” under the indenture:

 

(i) the failure by K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors to pay the repurchase price of any amortizing notes when the same shall become due and payable;

 

(ii) the failure by K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors to pay any installment payment on any amortizing notes as and when the same shall become due and payable and continuance of such failure for a period of 30 days;

 

(iii) the failure by Hovnanian to give notice of a fundamental change as described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change” when due;

 

(iv) the failure by K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor to comply with any of its other agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the amortizing notes, the senior subordinated guarantees or the indenture and such failure continues for the period and after the notice specified below;

 

(v) the acceleration of any Indebtedness (other than non-recourse indebtedness) of K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor that has an outstanding principal amount of $10 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, and such acceleration does not cease to exist, or such Indebtedness is not satisfied, in either case within 30 days after such acceleration;

 

(vi) the failure by K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor to make any principal or interest payment in an amount of $10 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, in respect of Indebtedness (other than non-recourse indebtedness) of K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor within 30 days of such principal or interest becoming due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period set forth in the documents governing such Indebtedness);

 

(vii) a final judgment or judgments that exceed $10 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, for the payment of money having been entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor and such judgment or judgments is not satisfied, stayed, annulled or rescinded within 60 days of being entered;

 

(viii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

(ix) any senior subordinated guarantee of a Guarantor that is a Significant Subsidiary ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such senior subordinated guarantee and the indenture) or is declared null and void and unenforceable or found to be invalid, or any Guarantor denies its liability under its senior subordinated guarantee (other than by reason of release of a Guarantor from its senior subordinated guarantee in accordance with the terms of such senior subordinated guarantee and the indenture).

 

A default as described in clause (iv) above will not be deemed an Event of Default until the trustee notifies us, or the holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the then outstanding amortizing notes notify us and the trustee, of the default and we do not cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” If such a default is cured within such time period, it ceases.

 

The trustee will not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default or knowledge of any cure of any default or Event of Default unless an authorized officer of the trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of the indenture has actual knowledge of such default or event of default or written notice of such default or Event of Default has been given to the trustee by us or any holder.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to Hovnanian or K. Hovnanian described in clause (viii) above), shall have occurred and be continuing under the indenture, the trustee by notice to us, or the holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the amortizing notes then outstanding by notice to us and the trustee, may declare all amortizing notes to be due and payable immediately; provided that the subordination provisions of the indenture and the amortizing notes may bar K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors from making timely payment. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the amounts due and payable on the amortizing notes will be due and payable immediately. An Event of Default under the indenture may also be an event of default under our Senior Indebtedness activating the subordination provisions for the benefit of the holders of our Senior Indebtedness. If an Event of Default with respect to Hovnanian or K. Hovnanian specified in clause (viii) above occurs, such an amount will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the trustee, K. Hovnanian, any Guarantor or any Holder.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the amortizing notes then outstanding by written notice to the trustee and K. Hovnanian may waive any continuing default or Event of Default (other than any default or Event of Default in payment of installment payments) on the amortizing notes under the indenture. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding amortizing notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequence (except an acceleration due to nonpayment of installment payments on the amortizing notes) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree, if all existing Events of Default (other than the non-payment of accelerated installment payments) have been cured or waived and if there has been deposited with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with such Event of Default.

 

The holders may not enforce the provisions of the indenture, the amortizing notes or the subsidiary guarantees except as provided in the indenture, including the subordination provisions. Subject to certain limitations, holders of a majority in principal amount of the amortizing notes then outstanding may direct the trustee in its exercise of any trust or power; provided that such direction does not conflict with the terms of the indenture.

 

The trustee, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the amortizing notes, will mail to all holders, at our expense, notice of all such defaults known to the trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice. However, the trustee may withhold from the holders notice of any continuing default or Event of Default (except a default or Event of Default in payment of installment payments or that resulted from the failure to comply with any obligations described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts — Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change”) if the trustee determines that withholding such notice is in the holders’ interest.

 

Hovnanian is required to deliver to the trustee an annual statement regarding compliance with the indenture, and include in such statement, if any officer is aware of any default or Event of Default, a statement specifying such default or Event of Default and what action Hovnanian is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. In addition, Hovnanian is required to deliver to the trustee prompt written notice of the occurrence of any default or Event of Default.

 

Discharge and Defeasance of Indenture

 

Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors may discharge their obligations under the amortizing notes, the senior subordinated guarantees and the indenture (with the exception of any obligations which expressly survives the terminations of the indenture) by irrevocably depositing in trust with the trustee money or U.S. government obligations sufficient to pay principal of, and interest on, the amortizing notes to maturity and the amortizing notes mature within one year, subject to meeting certain other conditions.

 

The indenture will permit Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors to terminate all of their respective obligations under the indenture with respect to the amortizing notes and the senior subordinated

guarantees, other than the obligation to pay interest on and the principal of the amortizing notes and certain other obligations (“legal defeasance”), at any time by:

 

(1) depositing in trust with the trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of, and interest on, the amortizing notes to their maturity; and

 

(2) complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel or a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service, to the effect that holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of Hovnanian’s exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise, which opinion of counsel is based upon a change in the applicable federal tax law since the Issue Date.

 

In addition, the indenture will permit Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors to terminate all of their obligations under the indenture with respect to certain covenants and Events of Default specified in the indenture, and the Guarantors will be released (“covenant defeasance”), at any time by:

 

(1) depositing in trust with the trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of, and interest on, the amortizing notes to their maturity; and

 

(2) complying with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel or a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service, to the effect that holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no discharge, legal defeasance or covenant defeasance described above will affect the following obligations to, or rights of, the holders of the amortizing notes:

 

 

Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors may exercise the legal defeasance option with respect to the amortizing notes notwithstanding the prior exercise of the covenant defeasance option with respect to the amortizing notes. If Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors exercise the legal defeasance option with respect to the amortizing notes, payment of the amortizing notes may not be accelerated due to an Event of Default with respect to the amortizing notes. If Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian and the Guarantors exercise the covenant defeasance option with respect to the amortizing notes, payment of the amortizing notes may not be accelerated due to an Event of Default with respect to the covenants to which such covenant defeasance is applicable. However, if acceleration were to occur by reason of another Event of Default, the realizable value at the acceleration date of the cash and U.S. government obligations in the defeasance trust could be less than the principal of and interest then due on the amortizing notes, in that the required deposit in the defeasance trust is based upon scheduled cash flow rather than market value, which will vary depending upon interest rates and other factors.

Limitations on Mergers, Consolidations and Sales of Assets

 

The indenture will provide that neither K. Hovnanian nor any Guarantor will consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (including, without limitation, by way of liquidation or dissolution), or assign any of its obligations under the amortizing notes, the senior subordinated guarantees or the indenture (as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in one transaction or in a series of related transactions), to any person (in each case other than in a transaction in which Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian or a Guarantor is the survivor of a consolidation or merger, or the transferee in a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition) unless:

 

(1) the person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian or the Guarantor, as the case may be), or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition or assignment will be made (collectively, the “Successor”), is a corporation or other legal entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor assumes by supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee all of the obligations of Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian or the Guarantor, as the case may be, under the amortizing notes or a senior subordinated guarantee, as the case may be, and the indenture; and

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

The foregoing provisions shall not apply to:

 

(a) a transaction involving the sale or disposition of capital stock of a Guarantor, or the consolidation or merger of a Guarantor, or the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of a Guarantor, that in any such case results in such Guarantor being released from its senior subordinated guarantee as provided under “— The Senior Subordinated Guarantees” above, or

 

(b) a transaction the purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of Hovnanian, K. Hovnanian or any Guarantor.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture, the amortizing notes and senior subordinated guarantees, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the indenture or amortizing notes and senior subordinated guarantees, for all purposes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Unclaimed Funds

 

Any monies deposited with the trustee or any paying agent or then held by K. Hovnanian in trust for the payment of installment payments on the amortizing notes that remains unclaimed for two years after the date the payments became due and payable, shall, at K. Hovnanian’s request, be repaid to K. Hovnanian or released from trust, as applicable, and the holder of the amortizing note shall thereafter look, as a general unsecured creditor, only to K. Hovnanian for payment thereof.

 

Class A Common Stock

 

As a Class A common stockholder upon settlement of your purchase contract, you will be subject to both our Rights Plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation. The following is a summary of the Rights Plan and the transfer restrictions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation but is not complete. We refer you to both the Rights Agreement and our amended Certificate of Incorporation which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

Rights Plan