Edgar Filing: Homeowners Choice, Inc.

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Registration Statement

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 3, 2012

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Florida

20-5961396

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100

Tampa, Florida 33607

(813) 405-3600

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

F&L Corp.

One Independent Drive, Suite 1300

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

(904) 359-2000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Andrew Graham, Esq.

General Counsel

Homeowners Choice, Inc.

5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100

Tampa, Florida 33607

Telephone No.: (813) 405-3600

Curt P. Creely, Esq.

Foley & Lardner LLP

100 N. Tampa Street, Suite 2700

Tampa, Florida 33602

Telephone No.: (813) 229-2300

Facsimile No.: (813) 221-4210

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered^{(1) (2)}	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Security⁽²⁾	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price^{(2) (3)}	Amount of Registration Fee⁽²⁾
Common Stock, no par value
Preferred Stock, no par value
Debt Securities
Warrants
Stock Purchase Contracts
Stock Purchase Units
Total			$50,000,000⁽⁴⁾	$6,820⁽⁴⁾

⁽¹⁾

Includes an indeterminate aggregate principal amount and number of securities of each identified class of securities up to a proposed aggregate offering price of $50,000,000, which may be offered by the registrant from time to time in unspecified numbers and at indeterminate prices, and as may be issued upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including any applicable anti-dilution provisions. This registration statement also covers delayed delivery contracts that may be issued by the registrant under which the party purchasing such contracts may be required to purchase debt securities, common stock or preferred stock. Such contracts may be issued together with the specific securities to which they relate. Securities registered hereunder to be sold by the registrant may be sold either separately or as units comprised of more than one type of security registered hereunder.

⁽²⁾

Pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3, the table lists each of the classes of securities being registered and the aggregate proceeds to be raised but does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered, proposed maximum offering price per security, and proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

⁽³⁾	If applicable, includes consideration to be received by the registrant for registered securities that are issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other registered securities or that are issued in units.

⁽⁴⁾	The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) and General Instruction II. D. of Form S-3.

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED DECEMBER 3, 2012

LOGO

Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities,

Warrants, Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units

We may offer and sell from time to time securities in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of the offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.

We may offer and sell the following securities:

•

common stock;

•

preferred stock, which may be convertible into our common stock or other securities;

•

senior or subordinated debt securities, which may be convertible into our common stock or preferred stock;

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warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities; and

•

stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units.

Each time securities are sold using this prospectus, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus and possibly other offering materials containing specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities being sold, including the offering price. The supplement or other offering materials may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the supplement, any other offering materials and the information incorporated by reference carefully before you invest.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to investors, on a continued or a delayed basis. The supplements to this prospectus will provide the specific terms of the plan of distribution.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HCI.”

Investment in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in any prospectus supplement or other offering material or in such other document we refer you to in any prospectus supplement for a discussion of certain risks that prospective investors should consider before investing in our securities.

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

The date of this prospectus is , 2012.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS			1
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS			1
HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC.			2
RISK FACTORS			3
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS			4
USE OF PROCEEDS			4
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES			5
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK			18
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS			26
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS			28
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION			28
LEGAL MATTERS			30
EXPERTS			30
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL			30
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			31

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” and “the Company” refer to Homeowners Choice, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities or combinations of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, this prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. For additional information regarding us and the offered securities, please refer to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. This prospectus provides you with a general description of those securities. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and/or other offering material that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. “Incorporated by reference” means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. This information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The prospectus supplement and/or other offering material may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any other offering material together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement and in any other offering material. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.

We are not making offers to sell or soliciting offers to buy, nor will we make an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus or any other offering material, or the information we file or previously filed with the SEC that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, is accurate only as of the dates on their covers. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and/or any other offering material, and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and/or any other offering material, contain forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and/or any other offering material, including, without limitation, estimates, projections, outlook, guidance, statements relating to our business plans, strategy, objectives, expected operating results and future financial position, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among others, those we identify under “Risk Factors”

in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents that we file from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Numerous important factors described in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, could affect these statements and could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. We assume no obligation, and disclaim any duty, to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC.

Our Business

General Overview

Homeowners Choice, Inc. is a property and casualty insurance holding company incorporated in Florida in 2006. Through our subsidiaries, we provide property and casualty homeowners’ insurance, condominium-owners’ insurance, and tenants’ insurance to individuals owning property in Florida. We offer these insurance products at competitive rates, while pursuing profitability using selective underwriting criteria. Our principal revenues are earned premiums, which are reported net of reinsurance costs, and investment income. We cede a substantial portion of our earned premiums to reinsurers to mitigate risks primarily associated with hurricanes and other catastrophic events. Our principal expenses are claims from policyholders, policy acquisition costs, and other underwriting expenses.

We began operations in June of 2007 by participating in a “take-out program” through which we assumed insurance policies held by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (“Citizens”), a Florida state-supported insurer. The take-out program is a legislatively mandated program designed to reduce the state’s risk exposure by encouraging private companies to assume policies from Citizens. Policies were assumed in eight separate assumption transactions which took place from July 2007 through December 2010 and one additional assumption transaction which was completed in November 2012 (see “—Recent Developments”). In November 2011, we completed an assumption transaction with HomeWise Insurance Company (“HomeWise”) through which we acquired the Florida homeowners policies of HomeWise. Substantially all of our premium revenue since inception has come from the policies acquired in these assumption transactions and subsequent renewals. Through the Citizens assumptions and the HomeWise policy acquisition, we have been able to increase our geographic diversification within the state of Florida.

We strive to retain these policies by offering competitive rates to our policyholders at premiums we consider commensurate with the risk.

We face various challenges to implementing our operating and growth strategies. Since our policies cover Florida homeowners, condominium owners, and tenants, we cover losses that may arise from, among other things, catastrophes such as hurricanes, tropical storms and tornadoes, which could have a significant effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. To mitigate our risk of such catastrophic losses, we cede a portion of our exposure to reinsurers under catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance treaties. Even without catastrophic events, we may incur losses and loss adjustment expenses that deviate substantially from our estimates and that may exceed our reserves, in which case our net income and capital would decrease. Our operating and growth strategies may also be impacted by regulation and supervision of our business by the state of Florida, which must approve our policy forms and premium rates as well as monitor our insurance subsidiary’s ability to meet all requirements for regulatory compliance. Additionally, we compete with large, well-established insurance companies as well as other specialty insurers that, in most cases, possess greater financial resources, larger agency networks, and greater name recognition. We believe recent trends in the competitive environment

in Florida, however, such as a de-emphasis of Florida property risk by large national insurers and efforts by the state of Florida to reduce exposure at Citizens, bode well for our competitive position in the market.

Recent Developments

Effective November 6, 2012, we assumed approximately 60,000 policies upon completion of our ninth assumption transaction with Citizens representing approximately $150 million in additional annualized premiums.

On October 25, 2012, shares of our common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “HCI.” Immediately prior to that, our common stock was listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “HCII.”

On October 19, 2012, our Board of Directors declared quarterly and special dividends on our common shares of $0.225 and $0.10 per share, respectively. Both dividends will be paid on December 21, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business November 16, 2012.

On September 26, 2012, our Board of Directors fixed October 27, 2012 as the cancellation date for the warrants issued in connection with our initial public offering. As such, record holders of the warrants had no further rights under the warrants on and after October 27, 2012.

Company Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100, Tampa, Florida 33607, and our telephone number is (813) 405-3600. Our website address is www.hcpci.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and such information should not be considered to be part of this prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves significant risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. In particular, you should consider the risk factors under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be revised or supplemented by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, each of which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations. Additional risk factors may be included in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of securities.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

The following table sets forth the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated.


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012		Years Ended December 31,
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012		2011		2010		2009		2008		2007
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ⁽¹⁾		232.8		206.1		139.5		296.8		463.1		149.3
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends⁽¹⁾		70.0		18.4		139.5		296.8		463.1		149.3

⁽¹⁾

For purposes of calculating these ratios, earnings consist of net income to which as been added income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on all indebtedness (including capitalized interest) and one-third of rental expense (approximating the portion which represents interest). The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing earnings by the sum of fixed charges and the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is computed by dividing earnings by the sum of fixed charges and preferred stock dividends.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will describe the use of the net proceeds from the sales of the securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description of the debt securities sets forth the material terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material and the extent, if any, to which the provisions described in this prospectus may apply to the offered debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the offered debt securities. As used in this section, the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” “the Company,” and “Homeowners Choice” refer to Homeowners Choice, Inc., a Florida corporation, and not any of its subsidiaries, unless the context requires.

Senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture between Homeowners Choice and a U.S. banking institution named as trustee in a prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indenture relating to the senior debt securities, as amended or otherwise supplemented by any supplemental indentures, is referred to in this prospectus as the senior indenture. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under an indenture between Homeowners Choice and a U.S. banking institution named as trustee in a prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indenture relating to the subordinated debt securities, as amended or otherwise supplemented by any supplemental indentures, is referred to in this prospectus as the subordinated indenture. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are sometimes referred to in this prospectus collectively as the indentures, and each individually, as an indenture.

The following summaries of the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indentures, including the definitions of specified terms used in the indentures, and the debt securities. Wherever particular articles, sections or defined terms of an indenture are referred to, it is intended that those articles, sections or defined terms will be incorporated herein by reference, and the statement in connection with which reference is made is qualified in its entirety by the article, section or defined term in the indenture.

General

The indentures do not limit the amount of debt, either secured or unsecured, which we may issue under the indentures or otherwise. We may from time to time, without giving notice to or seeking the consent of the holders of a series of debt securities issued under an indenture, issue debt securities under that indenture having the same terms (except for the issue date, and, in some cases, the public offering price and the first interest payment date) as, and ranking equally and ratably with, the debt securities of a series previously issued under that indenture. Any additional debt securities having such similar terms, together with the debt securities of the applicable series, will constitute a single series of securities under the applicable indenture, including for purposes of voting and redemptions. No such additional debt securities may be issued if an event of default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to the applicable series of debt securities.

The debt securities may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities and may be sold at par, a premium or an original issue discount. Some of the debt securities may be issued under the applicable indenture as original issue discount securities to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Federal income tax and other considerations applicable to any original issue discount securities will be described in the related prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.

Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will be unsecured obligations of ours and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness outstanding from time to time. The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured obligations of ours, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior debt securities of ours as described below under “Subordination of the Subordinated Debt Securities” and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The indentures do not limit the amount of senior, pari passu and junior indebtedness that we may issue. As of September 30, 2012, we had no senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities outstanding.

We conduct a substantial amount of our operations through subsidiaries and expect that we will continue to do so. The debt securities will not be guaranteed by any of our existing or future subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due with respect to the debt securities or to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans or other payments. Our right to participate as a shareholder in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise and the ability of a holder of debt securities to benefit as our creditor from any distribution are subject to prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary. As a result, the debt securities will effectively rank junior in right of payment to all existing and future debt and other liabilities (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries. In addition, to the extent the debt securities are unsecured, the debt securities will also effectively rank junior in right of payment to any secured debt that we may have outstanding to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

The prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the particular series of debt securities offered thereby will describe the following terms of the offered debt securities:

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the title of the offered debt securities;

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any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the offered debt securities;

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the date or dates (or the manner of calculating the date or dates) on which the principal of the offered debt securities is payable;

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the rate or rates (or the manner of calculating the rate or rates) at which the offered debt securities shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be payable and the regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

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the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the offered debt securities will be payable;

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the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the currency in which, and the terms and conditions upon which the offered debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option;

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our obligation, if any, to redeem or purchase the offered debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices in the currency at which, the currency in which, and the terms and conditions upon which the offered debt securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

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whether the offered debt securities are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if subordinated debt securities, the specific subordination provisions applicable thereto;

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the denominations in which the offered debt securities shall be issuable if other than in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

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if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currencies in which payments of interest or principal of (and premium, if any, with respect to) the offered debt securities are to be made;

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if the interest on or principal of (or premium, if any, with respect to) the offered debt securities are to be payable, at our election or at the election of a holder thereof or otherwise, in a currency other than that in which such debt securities are payable, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency in which such debt securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency in which such debt securities or any of them are to be so payable;

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whether the amount of payments of interest on or principal of (or premium, if any, with respect to) the offered debt securities of such series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined and paid or payable;

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the extent to which any offered debt securities will be issuable in permanent global form, the manner in which any payments on a permanent global debt security will be made, and the appointment of any depository relating thereto;

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the inapplicability of specified provisions relating to discharge and defeasance described in this prospectus with respect to the offered debt securities;

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any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants with respect to the offered debt securities of such series, whether or not such events of default or covenants are consistent with the events of default or covenants set forth herein;

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if any of the offered debt securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and, if so, the time, manner and place for such debt securities to be authenticated and delivered;

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the terms of any right to convert the offered debt securities of such series into, or exchange the debt securities for, our common stock or other securities or property or cash in lieu of our common stock or other securities or property, or any combination thereof; and

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any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the related indenture).

Payments

Unless otherwise indicated in any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the offered debt securities will be payable, and transfers of the offered debt securities will be registrable, at the corporate trust office of the trustee. Alternatively, at our option, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as it appears in the debt security register.

Denominations, Registration and Transfer

Unless otherwise indicated in any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, the offered debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, or the equivalent in foreign currency. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of offered debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange.

If the purchase price of any of the offered debt securities is denominated in a foreign currency or currencies or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any series of offered debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies, the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to the issue of offered debt securities and the foreign currency or currencies will be described in the related prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.

We will not be required to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange debt securities of any series during the period from 15 days prior to the mailing of a notice of redemption of debt securities of that series to the date the notice is mailed. We will also not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any debt security so selected for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.

Conversion and Exchange

The terms, if any, on which debt securities of any series are convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or preferred stock, property or cash, or a combination of any of the foregoing, will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement and/or other offering material. Terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange that is either mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at our option. The number of shares of common stock or preferred stock to be received by the holders of the debt securities will be calculated in the manner, according to the factors and at the time as described in the related prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.

Merger

Each indenture provides that we may, without the consent of the holders of debt securities, consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or merge into any other corporation, provided that:

•

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default under the applicable indenture has occurred and is continuing;

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the successor corporation is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or a state thereof; and

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the successor corporation expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all debt securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the applicable indenture to be performed by us.

In addition, we must provide to the trustee an opinion of legal counsel that any such transaction and any assumption by a successor corporation complies with the applicable provisions of the indenture and that we have complied with all conditions precedent provided in the indenture relating to such transaction.

Other than the covenants described above, or as set forth in any accompanying prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, neither indenture contains any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or a highly leveraged transaction involving us.

Modification of the Indentures

With the consent of the holders of more than 50% in aggregate principal amount of any series of debt securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, waivers, modifications and alterations of the terms of either indenture may be made which affect the rights of such holders of the series of debt securities. However, no modification or alteration may, without the consent of all holders of any series of debt securities then outstanding affected thereby:

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change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest on, any debt security of that series;

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reduce the principal amount of, or the rate, or modify the calculation of such rate, of interest on, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, any debt security;

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reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy;

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change the redemption provisions of any debt security or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any holder of any debt security of that series;

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change the place of payment or the coin or currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on any debt security of that series is payable;

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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any debt security of that series or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder, on or after the repayment date;

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make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any debt security into or for shares of common stock or preferred stock or other securities, cash or property in accordance with its terms;

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modify any of the provisions of the subordinated indenture relating to the subordination of the subordinated debt securities in a manner adverse to holders of the subordinated debt securities; or

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reduce the percentage of debt securities of that series, the holders of which are required to consent to:

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any supplemental indenture;

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rescind and annul a declaration that the debt securities of that series are due and payable as a result of the occurrence of an event of default;

•

waive any past event of default under the applicable indenture and its consequences; and

•

waive compliance with other specified provisions of the applicable indenture.

In addition, as described in the description of “Events of Default” set forth below, holders of more than 50% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding may waive past events of default with respect to such series of debt securities in specified circumstances and may direct the trustee in enforcement of remedies.

We and the trustee may, without the consent of any holders, modify and supplement the applicable indenture:

•

to evidence the succession of another corporation to us under the applicable indenture, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of us pursuant to the applicable indenture;

•

to add to the covenants applicable to us such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as our board of directors and the trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of debt securities of any or all series, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a default or event of default with respect to such series permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in the applicable indenture; provided, however, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or condition, such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the trustee upon such default;

•

to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the applicable indenture or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained in the indenture or in any supplemental indenture;

•

to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the trustee;

•

to make other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the applicable indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders and to make any change that would provide additional rights or benefits to the holders of any or all series or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the applicable indenture of any such holder;

•

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another corporation as a successor trustee under the applicable indenture with respect to one or more series of debt securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than one trustee;

•

to modify, amend or supplement the applicable indenture in such a manner as to permit the qualification of any supplemental indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as then in effect, except that nothing contained in the indentures shall permit or authorize the inclusion in any supplemental indenture of the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939;

•

to provide for the issuance under the applicable indenture of debt securities in coupon form (including debt securities registrable as to principal only) and to provide for exchangeability of such debt securities with debt securities of the same series issued hereunder in fully registered form and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;

•

to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture, provided, however, that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no debt security outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; and

•

to establish any additional form of debt security and to provide for the issuance of any additional series of debt securities.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The indenture will provide that, at our option, we:

•

will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of a series, except for certain obligations set forth in the indenture that survive such discharge (“legal defeasance”); or

•

may omit to comply with certain restrictive covenants of the indenture, including those described under “Merger,” and the occurrence of an event described in clause (4) under “Events of Default” with respect to any such covenants will no longer be an event of default (“covenant defeasance”);

in each case, if

•

we irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of such series of debt securities, (i) lawful money, (ii) direct obligations of the government which issued the currency in which such debt securities are denominated, or obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government and which obligations are guaranteed by such government (which direct or guaranteed obligations are full faith and credit obligations of such government, are denominated in the currency in which such debt securities are denominated and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof) or (iii) a combination thereof, in each case in an amount sufficient, after payment of all federal, state and local taxes in respect thereof payable by the trustee, in the opinion of a nationally-recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee, to pay when due the principal, premium, if any, and interest to maturity or to the redemption date, as the case may be, with respect to the debt securities of such series then outstanding, and any mandatory sinking fund payments or similar payments or payment pursuant to any call for redemption applicable to such debt securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture and such debt securities;

•

no event of default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default with respect to debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of the deposit or insofar as an event of default resulting from certain events involving our bankruptcy or insolvency are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of the deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration date of the longest preference period applicable to us in respect of the deposit (and this condition will not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period);

•

the defeasance will not cause the trustee to have any conflicting interest with respect to any of our securities or result in the trust arising from the deposit to constitute, unless it is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

•

the defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which we are a party or by which we bound;

•

we have delivered an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax in the same manner as if the defeasance had not occurred, which opinion of counsel, in the case of legal defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a published ruling of the Internal Revenue Service, a private ruling of the Internal Revenue Service addressed to us, or otherwise a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture; and

•

we shall have delivered an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that the conditions to such defeasance set forth in the indenture have been complied with.

If we fail to comply with our remaining obligations under the indenture after a covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities of any series and such debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amount of money and government obligations on deposit with the trustee may be insufficient to pay amounts due on such debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. We will, however, remain liable for those payments.

Satisfaction and Discharge

With respect to any series of debt securities, the indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities of such series, as expressly provided for in the indenture) as to all outstanding debt securities of such series when:

(1)

either (a) all the debt securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities which have been replaced or paid and debt securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by us and thereafter repaid to us or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation or (b) all of the debt securities of such series (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or (iii) if redeemable at our option, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the trustee in the name, and at the expense, of us, and we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee lawful money, direct or guaranteed government obligations, or a combination thereof, of the nature and in the amounts described above under the heading “Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” above in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of such series to the date of deposit together with irrevocable instructions from us directing the trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2)

we have paid all other sums payable under the indenture in respect of such series of debt securities; and

(3)

we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture with respect to such series of debt securities have been complied with.

Events of Default

As to any series of debt securities, an event of default is defined in the applicable indenture as being:

(1)

failure to pay any interest on the debt securities of that series when due, which failure continues for 30 days;

(2)

failure to pay principal or premium, if any, with respect to the debt securities of that series when due;

(3)

failure to pay or satisfy any sinking fund payment or similar obligation with respect to debt securities of that series when due;

(4)

failure to observe or perform any other covenant, warranty or agreement in the applicable indenture or debt securities of that series, other than a covenant, warranty or agreement, a default in whose performance or whose breach is specifically dealt with in the section of the applicable indenture governing events of default, if the failure continues for 60 days after written notice by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding;

(5)

if any event of default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness of ours, whether such indebtedness now exists or is hereafter created or incurred, happens and consists of default in the payment of more than $25,000,000 in principal amount of such indebtedness at the maturity thereof, after giving effect to any applicable grace period, or results in such indebtedness in principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and such default is not cured or such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within a period of 30 days after there has been given written notice as provided in the applicable indenture;

(6)

we shall fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any uninsured judgment or court order for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith;

(7)

specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization; or

(8)

any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series.

Notice and Declaration of Defaults

So long as the debt securities of any series remain outstanding, we will be required to furnish annually to the trustee a certificate of one of our corporate officers stating whether, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, we are in default under any of the provisions of the applicable indenture, and specifying all defaults, and the nature thereof, of which such officer has knowledge. We will also be required to furnish to the trustee copies of specified reports filed by us with the SEC.

Each indenture provides that the trustee will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to any series for which there are debt securities outstanding which is continuing, give to the holders of those debt securities notice of all uncured defaults known to it, including events specified above without grace periods. Except in the case of default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any of the debt securities of any series or the payment of any sinking fund installment on the debt securities of any series, the trustee may withhold notice to the holders if the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of the debt securities.

If a specified event of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, or reorganization occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of (or, if the debt securities of that series are original issue discount debt securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in their terms as due and payable upon acceleration) and any accrued and unpaid interest on that series will immediately become due and payable without any declaration or

other act on the part of the trustee or any holder. If any other event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series immediately due and payable. In some cases, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding may waive any past default and its consequences, except a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, including sinking fund payments.

Actions upon Default

Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the applicable indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the applicable indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the holders of debt securities outstanding of any series unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. The right of a holder to institute a proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture is subject to conditions precedent including notice and indemnity to the trustee, but the holder has a right to receipt of principal, premium, if any, and interest on their due dates or to institute suit for the enforcement thereof, subject to specified limitations with respect to defaulted interest.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities outstanding of the series in default will have the right to direct the time, method and place for conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any power or trust conferred on the trustee. Any direction by the holders will be in accordance with law and the provisions of the related indenture, provided that the trustee may decline to follow any such direction if the trustee determines on the advice of counsel that the proceeding may not be lawfully taken or would be materially or unjustly prejudicial to holders not joining in the direction. The trustee will be under no obligation to act in accordance with the direction unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred thereby.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

Except as set forth in the related prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated, in right of payment, to the prior payment in full of the senior indebtedness, including the senior debt securities, whether outstanding at the date of the subordinated indenture or thereafter incurred, assumed or guaranteed. The term “senior indebtedness” means:

•

the principal, premium, if any, and unpaid interest on indebtedness for money borrowed;

•

purchase money and similar obligations;

•

obligations under capital leases;

•

guarantees, assumptions or purchase commitments relating to, or other transactions as a result of which we are responsible for the payment of, indebtedness of others;

•

renewals, extensions and refunding of any senior indebtedness;

•

interest or obligations in respect of any senior indebtedness seeming after the commencement of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings; and

•

obligations associated with derivative products, including interest rate and currency exchange contracts, foreign exchange contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements unless, in each case, the instrument by which we incurred, assumed or guaranteed the indebtedness or obligations described in the foregoing clauses expressly provides that the indebtedness or obligation is not senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities.

Upon any distribution of our assets in connection with any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of our company, whether in a bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceeding or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of our assets and

liabilities or otherwise, except a distribution in connection with a merger or consolidation or a conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of our properties in accordance with the subordinated indenture, the holders of all senior indebtedness will first be entitled to receive payment of the full amount due on the senior indebtedness, or provision will be made for that payment in money or money’s worth, before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive any payment in respect of the subordinated debt securities.

In the event that a payment default occurs and is continuing with respect to the senior indebtedness, the holders of all senior indebtedness will first be entitled to receive payment of the full amount due on the senior indebtedness, or provision will be made for that payment in money or money’s worth, before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive any payment in respect of the subordinated debt securities. In the event that the principal of the subordinated debt securities of any series is declared due and payable pursuant to the subordinated indenture and that declaration is not rescinded and annulled, the holders of all senior indebtedness outstanding at the time of the declaration will first be entitled to receive payment of the full amount due on the senior indebtedness, or provision will be made for that payment in money or money’s worth, before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive any payment in respect of the subordinated debt securities.

This subordination will not prevent the occurrence of any event of default with respect to the subordinated debt securities. There is no limitation on the issuance of additional senior indebtedness in the subordinated indenture.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Concerning the Trustee

We may from time to time maintain lines of credit, and have other customary banking relationships, with the trustee or its affiliates under the senior indenture or the trustee or its affiliates under the subordinated indenture.

The indentures and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 that are incorporated by reference in the indentures contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become one of our creditors, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us or any of our affiliates. However, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939), it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Settlement

We will issue the debt securities in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates, which we refer to as global securities. We will deposit the global securities with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company, which we refer to as DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC.

We have provided the following descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of DTC and are subject to change by them from time to time. Neither we, any underwriter nor the trustee take any responsibility for these operations or procedures, and you are urged to contact DTC directly to discuss these matters.

DTC has advised us that:

•

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;

•

DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC and facilitates the settlement among direct participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in direct participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates;

•

Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations;

•

DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries;

•

Access to the DTC system is also available to indirect participants such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly; and

•

The rules applicable to DTC and its direct and indirect participants are on file with the SEC.

We expect that under procedures established by DTC:

•

Upon deposit of the global securities with DTC or its custodian, DTC will credit on its internal system the accounts of direct participants designated by the underwriters with portions of the principal amounts of the global securities; and

•

Ownership of the debt securities will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership of the debt securities will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee, with respect to interests of direct participants, and the records of direct and indirect participants, with respect to interests of persons other than participants.

Investors in the global securities who are participants in DTC’s system may hold their interests therein directly through DTC. Investors in the global notes who are not participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through organizations which are participants in such system. All interests in securities may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC.

The laws of some jurisdictions require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in the form of a certificate. For that reason, it may not be possible to transfer interests in a global security to those persons. In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through participants, the ability of a person having an interest in a global security to pledge or transfer that interest to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC’s system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of that interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of that interest.

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a global security, DTC or that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by that global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture and under the debt securities. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have debt securities represented by that global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive the debt securities in the form of a physical certificate and will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the applicable indenture or under the debt securities, and may not be entitled to give the trustee directions, instructions or approvals. For that reason, each holder owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on DTC’s procedures and, if that holder is not a direct or indirect participant in DTC, on the procedures of the DTC participant through which that holder owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities under the applicable indenture or the global security.

Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of DTC’s records relating to the debt securities or relating to payments made by DTC on account of the debt securities, or any responsibility to maintain, supervise or review any of DTC’s records relating to the debt securities.

We will make payments on the debt securities represented by the global securities to DTC or its nominee, as the registered owner of the debt securities. We expect that when DTC or its nominee receives any payment on the debt securities represented by a global security, DTC will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their beneficial interests in the global security as shown in DTC’s records. We also expect that payments by DTC’s participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. DTC’s participants will be responsible for those payments.

Payments on the debt securities represented by the global securities will be made in immediately available funds. Transfers between participants in DTC will be made in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the global securities and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an event of default under the notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the global securities for certificated notes, and to distribute such notes to its participants.

Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the global securities among participants in DTC, it is under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may discontinue such procedures at any time. None of the company, the trustee or any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its respective direct or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Exchange of Global Securities for Certificated Securities

We will issue certificated debt securities to each person that DTC identifies as the beneficial owner of debt securities represented by the global securities upon surrender by DTC of the global securities only if:

•

DTC notifies us that it is no longer willing or able to act as a depository for the global securities, and we have not appointed a successor depository within 90 days of that notice;

•

An event of default with respect to the debt securities has occurred and is continuing; or

•

We decide not to have the debt securities represented by a global security.

Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC, its nominee or any direct or indirect participant in identifying the beneficial owners of the related debt securities. We and the trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC or its nominee, including instructions about the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the debt securities to be issued.

Same Day Settlement and Payment

We will make payments in respect of the notes represented by the global securities (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the global securities holder. We will make all payments of principal, interest and premium, if any, with respect to certificated notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders of the certificated notes or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holder’s registered address. The notes represented by the global securities are expected to be eligible to trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. The company expects that secondary trading in any certificated notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

We are authorized to issue up to 40,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, of which 1,500,000 shares are designated as “Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock,” which is referred to herein as the “Series A Preferred.” Subject to the rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred described below, our board of directors may issue the remaining 18,500,000 undesignated shares of preferred stock in one or more series and has the authority to fix the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of this preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms, and the number of shares constituting any series.

As of November 27, 2012, there were 10,331,217 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and 241,182 shares of Series A Preferred issued and outstanding. We will disclose in an applicable prospectus supplement the number of shares of common stock and Series A Preferred then outstanding.

Common Stock

The following section summarizes the material terms and provisions of our common stock. This summary is not a complete legal description of our common stock, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our articles of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws, as amended, because they, rather than this description, define the rights of the holders of our common stock.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by shareholders.

Shares of our common stock have no preemptive rights, no redemption or sinking fund provisions, and are not liable for further call or assessment. The holders of such common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends.

Upon a liquidation of our company, our creditors and any holders of our preferred stock with preferential liquidation rights, such as the Series A Preferred, will be paid before any distribution to holders of our common stock. The holders of our common stock would be entitled to receive a pro rata distribution per share of any excess amount. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred as described herein and the rights of the holders of shares of any other series of preferred stock which we may designate and issue in the future.

Series A Preferred Stock

The following section summarizes the material terms and provisions of our Series A Preferred. This summary is not a complete legal description of our Series A Preferred, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our articles of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws, as amended, because they, rather than this description, define the rights of the holders of our Series A Preferred.

Rank

With respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, all shares of the Series A Preferred rank: (a) senior to the common stock issued by us, (b) senior to all classes or series of preferred stock issued by us and ranking junior to the Series A Preferred with respect to dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, (c) on a parity with all classes or series of preferred stock issued by us and ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred with respect to dividend rights or rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and (d) junior to all of our existing and future indebtedness.

Maturity

The Series A Preferred has no stated maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption.

Dividends

Holders of the Series A Preferred are entitled to receive, when and as authorized by our board of directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, and declared by us out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, preferential cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 7.0% per year of the $10.00 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to a fixed annual amount of $0.70 per share).

Dividends on the Series A Preferred are cumulative from the date of original issue and accrue on the last day of each month (each, a “Dividend Accrual Date”). The first dividend accrued on May 31, 2011 with respect to the period commencing on the date of issue and ending on May 31, 2011. Any monthly dividend accruing on the Series A Preferred for any partial dividend period is computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

Dividends are payable to holders of record as they appear in our records at the close of business on the applicable record date, which is the date designated by our board of directors as the record date for the payment of dividends (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). When so designating a Dividend Record Date, our board of directors also establishes the date of payment for such accrued dividends (each, a “Dividend Payment Date”), which date shall be no more than 30 nor less than 10 days after such Dividend Record Date.

Dividends are paid only when and as declared by our board of directors. No dividends on the Series A Preferred shall be authorized by our board of directors or declared or paid or set apart for payment by us at such time as the terms and provisions of any of our agreements, including any agreement relating to our indebtedness, prohibits such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment or provides that such declaration, payment or setting apart for payment would constitute a breach thereof or a default thereunder, or if such declaration or payment shall be restricted or prohibited by law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends on the Series A Preferred accrue whether or not we have earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such dividends, whether or not such dividends are declared and whether or not such dividends are prohibited by agreement. Accrued but unpaid dividends on the Series A Preferred accumulate and earn additional dividends at 7.0%, compounded monthly. Except as set forth below, our board of directors shall not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividends on any other class or series of preferred stock ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred (other than a dividend payable in capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred as to dividends and upon liquidation) if, after the tenth day after the respective Dividend Accrual Date, we have not paid, in full, the cumulative dividends due to the holders of the Series A Preferred. However, following the payment of such cumulative dividends, our board of directors may declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividends on any other class or series of preferred stock ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred. When dividends are not paid in full (or a sum sufficient for such full payment is not so set apart) upon the Series A Preferred and the shares of any other class or series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series A Preferred, all dividends declared upon the Series A Preferred and any other class or series of preferred stock ranking on a parity as to dividends with the Series A Preferred shall be declared pro rata so that the amount of dividends declared per share of Series A Preferred and such other class or series of preferred stock, shall in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends per share on the Series A Preferred and such other class or series of preferred stock (which shall not include any accrual in respect of unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods if such preferred stock does not have a cumulative dividend) bear to each other.

Unless full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment for all past dividend

periods and the then current dividend period, neither our common stock nor any other class or series of our capital stock ranking junior to or on a parity with the Series A Preferred as to dividends or upon liquidation may be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such shares) by us.

Holders of the Series A Preferred shall not be entitled to any dividend, whether payable in cash, property or stock, in excess of full cumulative dividends on the Series A Preferred as provided above. Any dividend payment made on the Series A Preferred shall first be credited against the earliest accrued but unpaid dividend due with respect to such shares which remains payable.

Liquidation Preference

Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of the Series A Preferred will be entitled to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders a liquidation preference of $10.00 per share in cash or property at its fair market value as determined by our board of directors, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of payment, but without interest, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of our common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock that ranks junior to the Series A Preferred as to liquidation rights. After payment of the full amount of the liquidation preference, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends to which they are entitled, the holders of the Series A Preferred will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets. The consolidation or merger of our company with or into any other corporation, trust or entity or of any other corporation, trust or entity with or into our company, the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of our property or business or a statutory share exchange, will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, unless a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company is effected in connection with, or as a step in a series of transactions by which, a consolidation or merger of our company is effected.

In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation) by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of our capital stock or otherwise is permitted under Florida law, no effect shall be given to amounts that would be needed, if we were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon distribution of holders of shares of our capital stock whose preferential rights upon distribution are superior to those receiving the distribution.

Redemption

We may redeem the Series A Preferred on or after March 31, 2014. If we issue a conversion cancellation notice as described in “—Conversion” on or after March 31, 2014, we may, at our option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, redeem the Series A Preferred, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of $10.00 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without interest. Otherwise, we may, at our option, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice, redeem the Series A Preferred, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price equal to:

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$10.40 per share for redemptions on or after March 31, 2014,

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$10.20 per share for redemptions on or after March 31, 2015, and

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$10.00 per share for redemptions on or after March 31, 2016,

plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the date fixed for redemption, without interest. No Series A Preferred may be redeemed except with assets legally available for the payment of the redemption price. If notice of redemption of any of the Series A Preferred has been given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside, separate and apart from other funds, by us in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of any Series A Preferred so called for redemption, then from and after the redemption date dividends will cease to accrue on such Series A Preferred, such Series A Preferred shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights

of the holders of such shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price. If less than all of the outstanding Series A Preferred is to be redeemed, the Series A Preferred to be redeemed shall be selected pro rata (as nearly as may be practicable without creating fractional shares) or by any other equitable method determined by us.

Unless full cumulative dividends on all the Series A Preferred have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for payment for all past dividend periods and the then current dividend period, no Series A Preferred shall be redeemed unless all outstanding Series A Preferred is simultaneously redeemed and we shall not purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any Series A Preferred (except by exchange for any other class or series of capital stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred as to dividends and upon liquidation); provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent the purchase or acquisition of the Series A Preferred pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred. So long as no dividends are in arrears, we will be entitled at any time and from time to time to repurchase shares of the Series A Preferred in open-market transactions duly authorized by our board of directors and effected in compliance with applicable laws.

Notice of redemption of the Series A Preferred will be mailed by us, postage prepaid, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date, addressed to the respective holders of record of the Series A Preferred to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they appear on our share transfer records. No failure to give such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any Series A Preferred except as to the holder to whom notice was defective or not given. Each notice shall state: (a) the redemption date; (b) the redemption price; (c) the number of shares of Series A Preferred to be redeemed; and (d) the place or places where the Series A Preferred is to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.

Immediately prior to any redemption of the Series A Preferred, we shall pay, in cash, any accumulated and unpaid dividends through the redemption date, unless a redemption date falls after a Dividend Record Date and prior to the corresponding Dividend Payment Date, in which case each holder of the Series A Preferred at the close of business on such Dividend Record Date shall be entitled to the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the redemption of such shares before such Dividend Payment Date.

The Series A Preferred has no stated maturity and is not subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption provisions. All redeemed shares of the Series A Preferred shall be retired and shall be reclassified as authorized but unissued preferred stock, without designation as to class or series, and may thereafter be reissued as any class or series of preferred stock.

Voting Rights

Holders of the Series A Preferred have no voting rights, except as set forth below.

Whenever dividends on the Series A Preferred have not been declared and fully paid for more than six consecutive months (a “Preferred Dividend Default”), the number of directors then constituting our board of directors will increase by two (if not already increased by reason of a similar arrearage with respect to any Parity Preferred (as defined below)). The holders of such Series A Preferred (voting separately as a class with all other classes or series of preferred stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred as to dividends or upon liquidation (and upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable (“Parity Preferred”)) will be entitled to vote separately as a class, in order to fill the vacancies created thereby, for the election of a total of two additional directors (the “Preferred Stock Directors”), at least one of whom must meet the “independence” standards mandated by The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”), at a special meeting called by the holders of record of at least 20% of the Series A Preferred or the holders of record of at least 20% of any series of Parity Preferred so in arrears (unless such request is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual

or special meeting of shareholders) or at the next annual meeting of shareholders, and at each subsequent annual meeting at which a Preferred Stock Director is to be elected until up to twelve months after all dividends accumulated on such Series A Preferred and Parity Preferred for the past dividend periods and the dividends for the then current dividend period have been fully paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment. For so long as our directors are divided into classes, each such vacancy will be apportioned among the classes of directors to prevent stacking in any one class and to ensure that the number of directors in each of the classes of directors are as equal as possible.

Within twelve months after all accumulated dividends and the dividend for the then current dividend period on the Series A Preferred have been paid in full or declared and set aside for payment in full, the holders thereof will be divested of the foregoing voting rights (subject to revesting in the event of each and every Preferred Dividend Default) and, if all accumulated dividends and the dividend for the then current dividend period have been paid in full or declared and set aside for payment in full on the Series A Preferred and all series of Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable, the term of office of each Preferred Stock Director so elected will terminate within twelve months thereafter and the number of directors then constituting our board of directors will decrease accordingly. Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time with or without cause by, and may not be removed otherwise than by the vote of, the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred when they have the voting rights described above (voting separately as a class with all series of Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable). So long as a Preferred Dividend Default continues, any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Stock Director may be filled by written consent of the Preferred Stock Director remaining in office, or if none remains in office, by a vote of the holders of record of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred when they have the voting rights described above (voting separately as a class with all series of Parity Preferred upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable). The Preferred Stock Directors will each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter.

So long as any shares of the Series A Preferred remain outstanding, we will not, without the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of the Series A Preferred entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the Series A Preferred, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or at a meeting (voting together as a class):

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amend, alter or repeal the provisions of our articles of incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise (an “Event”), so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting power of the Series A Preferred or the holders thereof; or

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authorize, create or issue, or increase the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of capital stock or rights to subscribe to or acquire any class or series of capital stock or any class or series of capital stock convertible into any class or series of capital stock, in each case ranking senior to the Series A Preferred with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or reclassify any shares of capital stock into any such shares;

provided, however, that with respect to the occurrence of any Event set forth above, so long as the Series A Preferred (or any equivalent class or series of stock or shares issued by the surviving corporation, trust or other entity in any merger or consolidation to which we became a party) remain outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged, the occurrence of any such Event will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting power of holders of the Series A Preferred and provided further, that (a) any increase in the amount of the authorized preferred stock or the creation or issuance of any other class or series of preferred stock, (b) any increase in the amount of the authorized shares of such series, in each case ranking on a parity with or junior to the Series A Preferred with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or (c) any merger or consolidation in which we are not the surviving entity if, as a result of the merger or consolidation, the holders of the Series A Preferred receive cash in the amount of the liquidation preference in exchange for each of their shares of the Series A Preferred, will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.

With respect to the voting privileges described above, each share of the Series A Preferred will have one vote per share, except that when any other class or series of capital stock has the right to vote with the Series A Preferred as a single class, then the Series A Preferred and such other class or series of capital stock will each have one vote per $10.00 of liquidation preference.

The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required will be effected, all outstanding Series A Preferred have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds have been deposited in trust to effect such redemption.

Except as expressly stated in the articles of amendment to our articles of incorporation setting forth the terms of the Series A Preferred, the Series A Preferred do not have any relative, participating, optional or other special voting rights and powers, and the consent of the holders thereof is not required for the taking of any corporate action, including but not limited to, (a) any merger or consolidation involving us or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, irrespective of the effect that such merger, consolidation or sale may have upon the rights, preferences or voting power of the holders of the Series A Preferred, or (b) any authorization, creation or issuance, or increase in the authorized or issued amount of, any class or series of Parity Preferred or rights to subscribe to or acquire any class or series of Parity Preferred or any class or series of capital stock convertible into any class or series of Parity Preferred, or reclassification of any shares of capital stock into any such shares.

Conversion

The Series A Preferred is convertible, in whole or in part, at any time, at the option of the holders thereof, into authorized but previously unissued shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $10.00 per share of common stock (equivalent to an initial conversion rate of one share of common stock for each share of Series A Preferred), subject to proportionate adjustment in the event of stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, or similar changes with respect to our common stock, which we refer to as the “Conversion Price.” The right to convert shares of the Series A Preferred called for redemption will terminate at the close of business on the business day prior to the redemption date.

The conversion rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred are subject to cancellation by us on or after March 31, 2014 if (a) for at least twenty (20) trading days within any period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days, the market price of our common stock exceeds the conversion price of the Series A Preferred by more than 20% and (b) our common stock is then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market, or the NYSE Amex. Within 90 days of the occurrence of any such event, we may, at our option, provide notice to the respective holders of record of the Series A Preferred at their respective addresses as they appear on our share transfer records, via first class mail, specifying a date upon which each such holder’s conversion rights will be deemed cancelled. The cancellation date specified in the notice will be more than 30 days, but less than 60 days, after the notice is mailed. The right to convert the shares of the Series A Preferred for which any such conversion cancellation notice has been issued will terminate at the close of business on the business day prior to the cancellation date specified in the notice.

Conversion of shares of the Series A Preferred, or a specified portion thereof, may be effected by delivering the certificates evidencing such shares, duly endorsed or properly assigned to us or in blank, to the office of our transfer agent, together with written notice to us that the holder of such certificates is electing to convert such shares. Currently, our transfer agent is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

Each conversion will be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the date on which the certificates for the Series A Preferred shall have been surrendered and notice shall have been received by us as described above and the conversion shall be at the Conversion Price in effect at such time and on such date.

Holders of the Series A Preferred who convert their Series A Preferred will not be entitled to, nor will the Conversion Price be adjusted for, any accumulated and unpaid dividends, whether or not in arrears, or for dividends on the common stock issued upon such conversion. Holders of the Series A Preferred at the close of business on a Dividend Record Date will be entitled to receive the dividend payable on such shares on the corresponding Dividend Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion of such shares following such Dividend Record Date and prior to such Dividend Payment Date. A holder of the Series A Preferred on a Dividend Record Date who (or whose transferee) tenders any such shares for conversion into common stock on such Dividend Payment Date will receive the dividend payable by us on such Series A Preferred on such date.

Fractional shares of common stock will not be issued upon conversion but, in lieu thereof, we will pay a cash adjustment based on the current market price of the common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the conversion date.

No Preemptive Rights

Holders of the Series A Preferred have no preemptive right to acquire shares of any class or series of our capital stock.

Other Preferred Stock

If we offer preferred stock, we will file the terms of the preferred stock with the SEC and the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to that offering will include a description of the specific terms of the offering, including any of the following applicable specific terms:

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the series, the number of shares offered and the liquidation value of the preferred stock;

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the price at which the preferred stock will be issued;

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the dividend rate, the dates on which the dividends will be payable and other terms relating to the payment of dividends on the preferred stock;

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the liquidation preference of the preferred stock;

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the voting rights of the preferred stock;

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whether the preferred stock is redeemable or subject to a sinking fund, and the terms of any such redemption or sinking fund;

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whether the preferred stock is convertible or exchangeable for any other securities, and the terms of any such conversion; and

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any additional rights, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock.

It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock upon the rights of holders of our common stock until our board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of the preferred stock. However, these effects might include:

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restricting dividends on the common stock;

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diluting the voting power of the common stock;

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impairing the liquidation rights of the common stock; and

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delaying or preventing a change in control of our company.

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

Our bylaws, as amended, provide for indemnification of our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by Florida law. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our officers and directors pursuant to which we have agreed to hold harmless and indemnify such officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time. These indemnification agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses by our company and, under certain circumstances, obligate us to pay, in whole or in part, certain amounts paid in judgment or settlement.

There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers, employees or other agents as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director, officer, employee or other agent.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Our bylaws, as amended, contain certain provisions that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and in the policies formulated by the board of directors. In addition, certain provisions of Florida law may hinder or delay an attempted takeover of us other than through negotiation with our board of directors. These provisions could have the effect of discouraging certain attempts to acquire us or remove incumbent management even if some or a majority of our shareholders were to deem such an attempt to be in their best interest, including attempts that might result in the shareholders’ receiving a premium over the market price for the shares of our common stock and preferred stock held by shareholders.

Limitations on Shareholder Action by Written Consent

Bylaws

Our bylaws, as amended, provide that any action required or permitted to be taken at a shareholders’ meeting may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote were present and voted.

Provisions of Florida Law

We are governed by two Florida Statutes that may deter or frustrate takeovers of Florida corporations. The Florida Control Share Act generally provides that shares acquired in excess of certain specified thresholds, without first obtaining the approval of our board of directors, will not possess any voting rights unless such voting rights are approved by a majority of our disinterested shareholders.

The Florida Affiliated Transactions Act generally requires supermajority approval by disinterested shareholders of certain specified transactions between a public corporation and holders of more than 10% of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation (or their affiliates).

Florida law also authorizes us to indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents under certain circumstances and to limit the personal liability of corporate directors for monetary damages, except where the directors (i) breach their fiduciary duties and (ii) such breach constitutes or includes certain violations of criminal law, a transaction from which the directors derived an improper personal benefit, certain unlawful distributions or certain other reckless, wanton or willful acts or misconduct.

Trading

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “HCI.” Our Series A Preferred is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “HCIIP.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent’s address is 59 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038, and its telephone number is 1-800-937-5449. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC also serves as the transfer agent and registrar for our Series A Preferred.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

Outstanding Warrants

The following section summarizes the material terms and provisions of our outstanding warrants. This summary is not a complete legal description of our warrants, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Warrant Grant Agreement and Warrant Agreement, dated November 2, 2011, between us and Glencoe Acquisition, Inc., filed as Exhibit 4.6 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 (filed on November 14, 2011), because these documents along with our articles of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws, as amended, rather than this description, define the rights of the holders of our warrants.

On November 2, 2011, in connection with the HomeWise assumption transaction, we issued to Glencoe Acquisition, Inc. 1,000,000 warrants for the purchase of up to 500,000 shares of our common stock. Two warrants are exercisable to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $9.10 per share before July 31, 2013. The warrants were issued pursuant to the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Other than the warrants held by Glencoe Acquisition, as of November 30, 2012, we had no warrants outstanding. We will disclose in an applicable prospectus supplement the number of warrants then outstanding.

Other Warrants

We may issue warrants for the purchase of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as will be set forth in the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants.

The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the warrant agreements.

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the particular issue of warrants offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement and/or other offering material for the terms of and information relating to such warrants, including, where applicable:

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the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of warrants to purchase debt securities and the price at which such debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

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the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase common stock and the price at which such number of shares of common stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

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the number of shares and series of preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase preferred stock and the price at which such number of shares of such series of preferred stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

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the designation and number of units of other securities purchasable upon the exercise of warrants to purchase other securities and the price at which such number of units of such other securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

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the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

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U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to such warrants;

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the number of warrants outstanding as of the most recent practicable date; and

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any other terms of such warrants.

Warrants will be issued in registered form only. The exercise price for warrants will be subject to adjustment in accordance with provisions described in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.

Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such principal amount of debt securities or such number of shares of preferred stock, common stock or other securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the warrants, which exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in such prospectus supplement and/or other offering material. After the close of business on the expiration date, or such later date to which such expiration date may be extended by us, unexercised warrants will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, warrants may be exercised shall be specified in the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to such warrants.

Prior to the exercise of any warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities, holders of such warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities, as the case may be, purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture, or to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the preferred stock, or common stock purchasable upon such exercise, or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock or other securities at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “stock purchase contracts.” The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a stock purchase contract and debt securities, preferred securities, warrants, other securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the securities under the stock purchase contracts, which we refer to herein as “stock purchase units.” The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the stock purchase contracts in a specified manner. The stock purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis.

The stock purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. The prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to a particular issue of stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units will describe the terms of those stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units, including the following:

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if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

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any other information we think is important about the stock purchase contracts or the stock purchase units.

If we issue stock purchase units where debt obligations of third parties are used as security for your obligations to purchase or sell shares of common stock or preferred stock or other securities, we will include in the prospectus supplement and/or other offering material relating to the offering information about the issuer of the debt securities. Specifically, if the issuer has a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is either eligible to register its securities on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 or meets the listing criteria to be listed on a national securities exchange, we will include a brief description of the business of the issuer, the market price of its securities and how you can obtain more information about the issuer. If the issuer does not meet the criteria described in the previous sentence, we will include substantially all of the information that would be required if the issuer were making a public offering of the debt securities.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell securities in any one or more of the following ways from time to time: (1) through agents; (2) to or through underwriters; (3) through brokers or dealers; (4) directly to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; or (5) through a combination of any of these methods of sale. The applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering materials will contain the terms of the transaction, name or names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents and the respective amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by them, the initial public offering price of the securities, and the applicable agent’s commission, dealer’s purchase price or underwriter’s discount. Any dealers and/or agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts.

Any initial offering price, dealer purchase price, discount or commission may be changed from time to time.

The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions, at negotiated prices, at a fixed price or fixed prices (that may be subject to change), at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at various prices determined at the time of sale or at prices related to prevailing market prices.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us or by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the securities so offered and sold.

If underwriters are utilized in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, such securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined by the underwriters at the time of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities if they purchase any of them.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Transactions through brokers or dealers may include block trades in which brokers or dealers will attempt to sell shares as agent but may position and resell as principal to facilitate the transaction or in cross trades, in which the same broker or dealer acts as agent on both sides of the trade. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under relevant agreements with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which such agents, underwriters and dealers may be required to make in respect thereof. The terms and conditions of any indemnification or contribution will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material.

We may enter into derivative, sale or forward sale transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material indicates, in connection with those transactions, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, including in short sale transactions and by issuing securities not covered by this prospectus but convertible into, exchangeable for or representing beneficial interests in securities covered by this prospectus, or the return of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of such securities. The third parties may use securities received under derivative, sale or forward sale transactions or securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those transactions to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment) and/or other offering material.

Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from us. Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of shares for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both. Compensation as to a particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent will be in amounts to be negotiated in connection with transactions involving shares and might be in excess of customary commissions. In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by us may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in the resales.

Any securities offered other than common stock will be a new issue and, other than the common stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of securities on an exchange, and in the case of the common stock, on any additional exchange, but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, we shall not be obligated to do so. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and/or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. An underwriter may carry out these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

The place and time of delivery for securities will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement and/or other offering material for such securities.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Foley & Lardner LLP. The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The opinions of Foley & Lardner LLP and counsel for any underwriters or agents may be conditioned upon and may be subject to assumptions regarding future action required to be taken by us and any underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the issuance of any securities. The opinions of Foley & Lardner LLP and counsel for any underwriters or agents may be subject to other conditions and assumptions, as indicated in the prospectus supplement.

One of our directors, Martin Traber, is a partner at the law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP, and since our inception in 2007, the firm has provided legal representation to us on certain matters, including the preparation of this prospectus. Fees billed to us by Foley & Lardner LLP have represented less than 1% of the firm’s fee revenue. The legal services were provided on an arm’s-length basis, and paid for at fair market value. We believe that such services were effected on terms no less favorable to us than those that would have been realized in transactions with unaffiliated entities or individuals.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, have been audited by Hacker, Johnson & Smith PA, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing therein. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

Attorneys with Foley & Lardner LLP representing us with respect to this offering beneficially owned approximately 225,057 shares of our common stock as of the date of this prospectus.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We also filed a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement, but does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement or the exhibits. You may read and copy the registration statement and any other document that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

We are “incorporating by reference” specified documents that we file with the SEC, which means:

•

incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus;

•

we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents; and

•

information we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the date of this prospectus and before the end of the offering of the securities pursuant to this prospectus:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (as filed on March 30, 2012);

•

the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (filed on April 27, 2012) that were incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011;

•

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2012 (as filed on May 14, 2012, August 14, 2012 and November 13, 2012, respectively);

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 8, 2012, March 14, 2012, April 2, 2012, April 20, 2012, April 25, 2012, May 10, 2012, May 31, 2012, June 14, 2012, August 1, 2012, August 13, 2012, October 2, 2012, October 12, 2012, October 18, 2012, November 6, 2012, November 9, 2012, November 21, 2012, and December 3, 2012;

•

the description of our common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on October 19, 2012, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating such description; and

•

the description of our 7.0% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on March 25, 2011, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating such description.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits under Item 9.01, is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

You may request a copy of any of these filings, at no cost, by request directed to us at the following address or telephone number:

Homeowners Choice, Inc.

Attn: Andrew Graham

5300 West Cypress Street, Suite 100

Tampa, Florida 33607

(813) 405-3600

You can also find these filings on our website at www.hcpci.com. However, we are not incorporating the information on our website other than these filings into this prospectus.

You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, as well as the information we file or previously filed with the SEC that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and/or other offering material, is accurate as of any date other than its respective date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the registration of the securities being registered hereby. All amounts shown are estimates, with the exception of the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.



Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee		$6,820⁽¹⁾

Printing and engraving expenses		*

Accounting fees and expenses		*

Legal fees and expenses		*

Miscellaneous (including any applicable listing fees, rating agency fees, trustee and transfer agent fees and expenses)		*

Total		*

⁽¹⁾	Rounded up to nearest whole number.

*	Fees and expenses (other than the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee to be paid upon filing of this registration statement) will depend on the number of issuances and the nature of the offerings, and cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Florida Business Corporation Act, or FBCA, permits a Florida corporation to indemnify any person who may be a party to any third party proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, against liability incurred in connection with such proceeding (including any appeal thereof) if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

The FBCA permits a Florida corporation to indemnify any person who may be a party to a derivative action if such person acted in any of the capacities set forth in the preceding paragraph, against expenses and amounts paid in settlement not exceeding, in the judgment of the board of directors, the estimated expenses of litigating the proceeding to conclusion, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such proceeding (including appeals), provided that the person acted under the standards set forth in the preceding paragraph. However, no indemnification shall be made for any claim, issue, or matter for which such person is found to be liable unless, and only to the extent that, the court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses which the court deems proper.

The FBCA provides that any indemnification made under the above provisions, unless pursuant to a court determination, may be made only after a determination that the person to be indemnified has met the standard of conduct described above. This determination is to be made by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of the disinterested directors of the board of directors, by duly selected independent legal counsel, or by a majority vote of the disinterested stockholders. The board of directors also may designate a special committee of disinterested directors to make this determination. Notwithstanding, the FBCA provides that a Florida corporation must indemnify any director or officer, employee or agent of a corporation who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding referred to above.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the FBCA provides, in general, that no director shall be personally liable for monetary damages to our company or any other person for any statement, vote, decision, or failure to act, regarding corporate management or policy, unless: (a) the director breached or failed to perform his duties as a director; and (b) the director’s breach of, or failure to perform, those duties constitutes (i) a violation of criminal law, unless the director had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, (ii) a transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, either directly or indirectly, (iii) unlawful distributions, (iv) with respect to a proceeding by or in the right of the company to procure a judgment in its favor or by or in the right of a stockholder, conscious disregard for the best interest of the company, or willful misconduct, or (v) with respect to a proceeding by or in the right of someone other than the company or a stockholder, recklessness or an act or omission which was committed in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property. The term “recklessness,” as used above, means the action, or omission to act, in conscious disregard of a risk: (a) known, or so obvious that it should have been known, to the directors; and (b) known to the director, or so obvious that it should have been known, to be so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow from such action or omission.

The FBCA further provides that the indemnification and advancement of payment provisions contained therein are not exclusive and it specifically empowers a corporation to make any other further indemnification or advancement of expenses under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, or disinterested directors or otherwise, both for actions taken in an official capacity and for actions taken in other capacities while holding an office. However, a corporation cannot indemnify or advance expenses if a judgment or other final adjudication establishes that the actions of the director or officer were material to the adjudicated cause of action and the director or officer (a) violated criminal law, unless the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, (b) derived an improper personal benefit from a transaction, (c) was or is a director in a circumstance where the liability for unlawful distributions applies, or (d) engages in willful misconduct or conscious disregard for the best interests of the corporation in a proceeding by or in right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor or in a proceeding by or in right of a stockholder.

We have adopted provisions in our bylaws, as amended, providing that our directors, officers, employees, and agents shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by Florida law. Accordingly, we have acquired directors and officers insurance coverage for our officers and directors. In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our officers and directors pursuant to which we have agreed to hold harmless and indemnify such officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time. These indemnification agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses by our company and, under certain circumstances, obligate us to pay, in whole or in part, certain amounts paid in judgment or settlement.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to our directors or officers pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, and is therefore unenforceable.

There is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers, employees, or other agents as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification by any director, officer, employee or other agent.

Item 16.

Exhibits.

The exhibits filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference are set forth in the attached Exhibit Index, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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Item 17.

Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by a registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; and

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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, each undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of an undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4), or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tampa, State of Florida, on December 3, 2012.


HOMEOWNERS CHOICE, INC.

By:		/s/ Paresh Patel
		Paresh Patel Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Andrew Graham and Paresh Patel and each of them individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any Rule 462(b) registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Paresh Patel Paresh Patel	Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer)	December 3, 2012

/s/ Richard R. Allen Richard R. Allen	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)	December 3, 2012

/s/ George Apostolou George Apostolou	Director	December 3, 2012

/s/ Sanjay Madhu Sanjay Madhu	Director	December 3, 2012

/s/ Harish M. Patel Harish M. Patel	Director	December 3, 2012

/s/ Gregory Politis Gregory Politis	Director	December 3, 2012

/s/ Anthony Saravanos	Director	December 3, 2012
Anthony Saravanos	Director	December 3, 2012

/s/ Martin A. Traber Martin A. Traber	Director	December 3, 2012

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EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER		DESCRIPTION

1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement.

3.1		Articles of Incorporation of Homeowners Choice, Inc., as amended. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2011.

3.2		Bylaws, as amended April 16, 2009. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2009.

4.1		Specimen Common Stock Certificate. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-150513) filed on August 6, 2008.

4.2		Specimen 7.0% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock Certificate. Incorporated by reference to the correspondingly numbered exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on March 25, 2011.

4.3		Warrant Grant Agreement and Warrant Agreement, dated November 2, 2011, between Homeowners Choice, Inc. and Glencoe Acquisition, Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, filed on November 14, 2011.

4.4***		Form of Senior Indenture.

4.5*		Form of Senior Debt Securities.

4.6***		Form of Subordinated Indenture.

4.7*		Form of Subordinated Debt Securities.

4.8*		Form of Warrant.

4.9*		Form of Warrant Agreement.

4.10*		Form of Stock Purchase Contract.

4.11*		Form of Stock Purchase Unit.

4.12		See Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 of this registration statement for provisions of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and our Bylaws, as amended, defining certain rights of security holders.

5.1***		Opinion of Foley & Lardner LLP.

12.1		Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.

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23.1		Consent of Hacker, Johnson & Smith, P.A.

23.2		Consent of Foley & Lardner LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1		Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

25.1**		Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee on Form T-1.

25.2**		Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee on Form T-1.

*	To be filed by amendment or as an Exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

**	To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.

***	To be filed by amendment.

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