Note 6 - Senior Debt

As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, senior debt, net consisted of the following (in thousands):


	December 31,
	2017		2016
6.625% Senior Notes due 2022	$	400,000	$	—
6.00% Senior Convertible Notes due 2020		80,000		80,000
8.50% Senior Notes due 2019		—		200,000
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility		—		—
Senior Secured Credit Facility		—		—
Total senior debt		480,000		280,000
Deferred debt issuance costs		(7,853)		(4,285)
Debt discount		(39)		(55)
Total senior debt, net	$	472,108	$	275,660

6.625% Senior Notes due 2022

On May 18, 2017, we completed a private offering of $400.0 million of our 6.625% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “6.625% Notes”). The proceeds of the 6.625% Notes were used to (i) fund the repurchase and redemption of the $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 8.50% Notes and (ii) pay amounts outstanding under our Senior Secured Credit Facility (as defined below), totaling $30.0 million. We intend to use the remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include the financing of acquisitions. The 6.625% Notes mature on May 15, 2022, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased. Interest on the 6.625% Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing November 15, 2017.

We have the option to redeem all or a portion of the 6.625% Notes at any time on or after May 15, 2019 at certain redemption prices, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date of redemption. At any time prior to May 15, 2019, we have the option to redeem up to 35% of the original principal amount of the 6.625% Notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings by us at a redemption price of 106.625% of the principal amount of the 6.625% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date of redemption, provided that at least 65% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 6.625% Notes remains outstanding after such redemption. Prior to May 15, 2019, we may redeem some or all of the 6.625% Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 6.625% Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the applicable redemption date plus the applicable “make-whole” premium.

The indenture governing the 6.625% Notes contains covenants that limit our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to (i) pay dividends, or make other distributions or redeem or repurchase our capital stock; (ii) prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt; (iii) incur additional and guarantee indebtedness; (iv) issue certain preferred stock or similar equity securities; (v) make loans and investments; (vi) incur liens; (vii) sell assets; (viii) enter into transactions with affiliates; (ix) enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends; and (x) consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all assets. These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications.

The indenture further provides that upon certain specified change of control events, certain covenants will no longer apply to the 6.625% Notes and will be replaced with new covenants (a “Covenant Replacement Event”). Additionally, if we experience specific kinds of changes in control that do not result in a Covenant Replacement Event or, if following a Covenant Replacement Event we experience a subsequent change of control that result in a downgrade of the rating assigned to the 6.625% Notes, holders of the 6.625% Notes will be entitled to require us to purchase all or a portion of the 6.625% Notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the date of repurchase.

Certain of our subsidiaries are guarantors of the 6.625% Notes. All of the subsidiary guarantors are 100% owned by us, and all of the guarantees are full, unconditional, and joint and several. We have no independent assets or operations, and our subsidiaries, other than the subsidiary guarantors, are minor.

In August 2017, we satisfied our obligation to exchange the 6.625% Notes and related guarantees for registered notes and guarantees having substantially the same terms.

We have assessed the 6.625% Notes and concluded that the impact of any embedded derivative features are not material as of December 31, 2017.

6.00% Senior Convertible Notes due 2020

On June 23, 2015, we completed a private offering of $80.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Senior Convertible Notes due 2020 (the “6.00% Notes”). The 6.00% Notes were issued in exchange for $15.4 million aggregate principal amount of 7.50% Exchange Notes and $64.5 million in cash. We used $30.7 million of the net cash proceeds from the sale of the 6.00% Notes to (i) repurchase 7.50% Exchange Notes and 7.50% Notes and (ii) pay approximately $1.5 million of accrued interest (in respect of the notes being exchanged or repurchased) and premium (in respect of the notes being repurchased). The 6.00% Notes will mature on July 1, 2020, unless earlier repurchased or converted. The 6.00% Notes are governed by the Indenture dated February 4, 2011 and the Third Supplemental Indenture dated June 23, 2015 between us and the trustee named therein. The 6.00% Notes bear regular cash interest on the principal amount of each note, payable semiannually in arrears on January 1 and July 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2016.

The 6.00% Notes were issued pursuant a series of separate, privately negotiated note purchase agreements entered into on June 17, 2015 by us and certain qualified institutional buyers. TPG Aviator, L.P. (“TPG”) purchased $20.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.00% Notes for $20.0 million in cash and waived its rights to purchase additional 6.00% Notes, resulting in a fully diluted beneficial ownership of approximately 43.5% of our common stock for TPG. Pursuant to the terms of the Company’s Related Person Transaction Policy, the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors reviewed and approved the terms of the 6.00% Notes and TPG’s purchase of 6.00% Notes.

8.50% Senior Notes due 2019

On June 30, 2014, we completed an underwritten offering for $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 8.50% Senior Notes due 2019 (the “8.50% Notes”). The 8.50% Notes were scheduled to mature on July 1, 2019, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased. Interest on the 8.50% Notes was 8.50% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on January 1 and July 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 2015. The 8.50% Notes were redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on or after July 1, 2016, at certain redemption prices, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date of redemption.

Certain of our subsidiaries were guarantors of the 8.50% Notes. All of the subsidiary guarantors are 100% owned by us, and all of the guarantees are full, unconditional, and joint and several. We have no independent assets or operations, and our subsidiaries, other than the subsidiary guarantors, are minor.

On May 18, 2017, in conjunction with the completion of our private offering of $400.0 million of the 6.625% Notes, we repurchased $45.5 million aggregate principal amount of the 8.50% Notes representing approximately 23% of the total principal amount outstanding. Holders of the tendered notes received the total consideration of $1,038.87 per $1,000 principal amount of 8.50% Notes tendered, which includes an early tender payment of $6.99 per $1,000 principal amount of 8.50% Notes tendered. In addition, holders of the tendered notes received accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, May 18, 2017. Effective July 1, 2017, we redeemed the remaining $154.5 million principal of our 8.50% Notes. During the year ended December 31, 2017, we recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $9.8 million, which includes a redemption premium of $4.9 million and the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs.

Senior Unsecured Credit Facility

On May 18, 2017, we entered into an unsecured revolving credit agreement (the “Senior Unsecured Credit Facility”) with each of the financial institutions party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and Citibank, N.A., as syndication agent. As of June 30, 2017, the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility had replaced the previously outstanding Senior Secured Credit Facility.

The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility has substantially similar terms and provisions to the Senior Secured Credit Facility, except that the facility is no longer secured by substantially all of our assets and the assets of certain of our subsidiaries.

The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility includes a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $155.0 million, with an “accordion” feature that allows us, with the consent of the lenders, to increase the aggregate amount to $250.0 million. The facility includes a letter of credit sub-facility in an amount equal to 50% of total commitments then in effect. The maximum amount available under the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility is limited to the lesser of (i) $155.0 million (subject to increase pursuant to the “accordion”) and (ii) an amount equal to the borrowing base minus our consolidated senior debt. The borrowing base includes 100% of unrestricted cash, to the extent it exceeds the interest reserve, and escrowed deposits and funds payable to us following the sale of real property, plus the following, subject to certain limitations:

85% of the book value of our real property that is under contract or under construction and is or is planned to be residential housing units or model homes; plus

65% of the book value of our finished lots and lots under development; plus

50% of the book value of our entitled lands that are not finished lots or lots under development.

To be included in the borrowing base, the real property must be owned by us or one of our subsidiaries that guarantees the Company’s obligations under the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility and meet certain criteria. As of September 30, 2017, we had sufficient qualified assets in the borrowing base to cover borrowings of up to $155.0 million and had no borrowings outstanding.

Interest will be payable on revolving credit borrowings at variable rates determined by the applicable LIBOR plus 3.25% or the prime rate plus 2.25%, at our election. We pay quarterly fees of 0.50% per annum on the unused portion of the lenders’ commitments under the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility to the lenders.

The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility expires on July 28, 2020. Upon expiration, all borrowings become due and payable. We may prepay loans borrowed under the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility or reduce the commitments thereunder at our option, without any prepayment fee or penalty.

The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility is guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries, and we have the option to add or remove guarantors from time to time, subject to certain limitations.

The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility contains certain restrictions and covenants, which, among other things, restrict our ability to acquire or merge with another entity, make investments, loans or guarantees, incur additional indebtedness, create liens or other encumbrances, or pay cash dividends or make other distributions. The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility also requires that we comply with the following financial covenants as of the end of each fiscal quarter:

our leverage ratio may not exceed 60%;

if our interest coverage ratio is less than 1.50 to 1.00, we must deposit to an interest reserve account an amount equal to the interest we have incurred on all indebtedness during the prior twelve months; and

our consolidated tangible net worth, excluding the tangible net worth of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility unless such subsidiaries are a subsidiary of a guarantor, must be at least $325.1 million plus 50% of our cumulative consolidated net income since December 31, 2016 plus 50% of the net proceeds of any equity offerings.

We were in compliance with all financial covenants as of December 31, 2017.

Maturities of senior notes as of December 31, 2017 are as follows (in thousands):


	Total
2018	$	—
2019		—
2020		80,000
2021		—
2022		400,000
Thereafter		—
Total	$	480,000