EXCHANGE AGENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit
99.3
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
0 Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Vice President
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Lennar Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”) proposes to make an offer (the
“Exchange Offer”) to exchange up to $250,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its Series B
6.50% Senior Notes due 2016 (the “Outstanding Notes),
for a like principal amount of its outstanding Series A
6.50% Senior Notes due 2016 ( the “Exchange
Notes”). The terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer are
set forth in a prospectus (the “Prospectus”), included
in the Company’s Registration Statement on
Form S-4
(the “Registration Statement”), filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that
the Company proposes to distribute to all record holders of the
Outstanding Notes. The Outstanding Notes and the Exchange Notes
are collectively referred to as the “Securities.”
The Company hereby appoints JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. to act as
exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) in connection
with the Exchange Offer. References hereinafter to
“you” shall refer to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
The Exchange Offer is expected to be commenced by the Company on
or about August [ ], 2006. The
Letter of Transmittal accompanying the Prospectus (or in the
case of book-entry securities, the Automated Tender Offer
Program (“ATOP”) of the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
(as defined below)) is to be used by the holders of the
Outstanding Notes to accept the Exchange Offer, and contains
instructions with respect to delivery of certificates for
Outstanding Notes to be tendered in connection therewith.
The Exchange Offer shall expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City
time, on
[ ]
[ ],
2006 or on such later date or time to which the Company may
extend the Exchange Offer (the “Expiration Date”).
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus,
the Company expressly reserves the right to extend the Exchange
Offer from time to time and may extend the Exchange Offer by
giving oral (promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice to
you before 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business
day following the previously scheduled Expiration Date.
The Company expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate
the Exchange Offer, and not to accept for exchange any
Outstanding Notes not theretofore accepted for exchange, for any
reason, including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of
any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer specified in the
Prospectus under the caption “The Exchange
Offer — Certain Conditions to the Exchange
Offer.” The Company will give oral (promptly confirmed in
writing) or written notice of any amendment, termination or
non-acceptance to you as promptly as practicable.
In carrying out your duties as Exchange Agent, you are to act in
accordance with the following instructions:
1. You will perform such duties and only such duties
as are specifically set forth in the section of the Prospectus
entitled “The Exchange Offer,” in the Letter of
Transmittal and as specifically set forth herein and such duties
which are necessarily incidental thereto; provided,
however, that in no way will your general duty to act in
good faith be discharged by the foregoing.
2. You will establish a book-entry account with
respect to the Outstanding Notes at The Depository Trust Company
(the “Book-Entry Transfer Facility”) for purposes of
the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of
the Prospectus, or, if you already have established an account
with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility suitable for the Exchange
Offer, you will identify such pre-existing account to be used in
the Exchange Offer, and any financial institution that is a
participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility’s systems
may make book-entry delivery of the Outstanding Notes by causing
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Outstanding
Notes into your account in accordance with the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility’s procedure for such transfer.
3. You are to examine each of the Letters of
Transmittal and certificates for Outstanding Notes (or
confirmation of book-entry transfer into your account at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility) and any other documents delivered
or mailed to you by or for holders of the Outstanding Notes to
ascertain whether: (i) the Letters of Transmittal and any
such other documents are duly executed and properly completed in
accordance with instructions set forth therein; and
(ii) the Outstanding Notes have otherwise been properly
tendered. In each case where the Letter of Transmittal or any
other document has been improperly completed or executed or any
of the certificates for Outstanding Notes are not in proper form
for transfer or some other irregularity in connection with the
acceptance of the Exchange Offer exists, you will endeavor to
inform the presenters of the need (i) for fulfillment of
all requirements and (ii) to take any other action as may
be reasonably necessary or advisable to cause such irregularity
to be corrected. The Company has sole discretion to determine
whether any tender is complete and valid and has the absolute
right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be
in proper form and to determine whether the acceptance of or the
exchange of the Outstanding Notes in respect thereof by it for
such tenders would be unlawful.
4. With the approval of any of the Chief Executive
Officer and President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior
Vice President, any Vice President or the Vice President and the
Treasurer (each, an “Authorized Officer”) (such
approval, if given orally, to be promptly confirmed in writing)
or any other party designated by such an Authorized Officer in
writing, you are authorized to waive any irregularities in
connection with any tender of Outstanding Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer.
5. Tenders of Outstanding Notes may be made only as
set forth in the Letter of Transmittal and in the section of the
Prospectus captioned “The Exchange Offer —
Procedures for Tendering,” and Outstanding Notes shall be
considered properly tendered to you only when tendered in
accordance with the procedures set forth therein.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5,
Outstanding Notes approved by an Authorized Officer or any other
party designated by any such Authorized Officer in writing as
having been properly tendered shall be considered to be properly
tendered (such approval, if given orally, shall be promptly
confirmed in writing).
6. You shall keep records of and advise the Company
on a regular basis with respect to any Outstanding Notes
delivered in accordance with any of the procedures set forth in
the Letter of Transmittal subsequent to the Expiration Date and
accept the Company’s instructions with respect to
disposition of such Outstanding Notes.
7. You shall accept tenders:
(a) in cases where the Outstanding Notes are registered in
two or more names only if signed by all named holders;
(b) in cases where the signing person (as indicated on the
Letter of Transmittal) is acting in a fiduciary or a
representative capacity only when proper evidence of his or her
authority so to act is submitted; and
(c) from persons other than the registered holder of
Outstanding Notes, provided that customary transfer
requirements, including payment of any applicable transfer
taxes, are fulfilled.
You shall accept partial tenders of Outstanding Notes where so
indicated and as permitted in the Letter of Transmittal and
deliver certificates for Outstanding Notes to the registrar for
split-up and
return any untendered Outstanding Notes to the holder (or such
other person as may be designated in the Letter of Transmittal)
as promptly as practicable after expiration or termination of
the Exchange Offer.
8. Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the
conditions to the Exchange Offer, the Company will notify you
(such notice, if given orally, to be promptly confirmed in
writing) of its acceptance, promptly after the Expiration Date,
of all Outstanding Notes properly tendered and you, on behalf of
the Company, will exchange such Outstanding Notes for Exchange
Notes and cause such Outstanding Notes to be cancelled. Delivery
of Exchange Notes will be made on behalf of the Company by you
at the rate of $1,000 principal amount of Exchange Notes for
each $1,000 principal amount of the corresponding series of
Outstanding Notes tendered promptly after notice (such notice,
if given orally, to be promptly confirmed in writing) of
acceptance of said Outstanding Notes by the Company; provided,
however, that in all cases, Outstanding Notes tendered pursuant
to the Exchange Offer will be exchanged only after timely
receipt by you of certificates for such Outstanding Notes (or
confirmation of book-entry transfer into your account at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility), a properly completed and duly
executed Letter of Transmittal (or manually signed facsimile
thereof, or an agent’s message (as defined in the
Prospectus) in lieu thereof) with any required signature
guarantees and any other required documents. You shall issue
Exchange Notes only in denominations of $2,000 or any integral
multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.
9. Tenders pursuant to the Exchange Offer are
irrevocable, except that, subject to the terms and upon the
conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the Letter of
Transmittal, Outstanding Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
10. The Company shall not be required to exchange any
Outstanding Notes tendered if any of the conditions relating to
the Exchange Offer, as described in the Prospectus, are not met.
Notice of any decision by the Company not to exchange any
Outstanding Notes tendered shall be given (such notice, if given
orally, shall be promptly confirmed in writing) by the Company
to you.
11. If, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Company
does not accept for exchange all or part of the Outstanding
Notes tendered because of an invalid tender, the occurrence of
certain other events set forth in the Prospectus under the
caption “The Exchange Offer — Certain Conditions
to the Exchange Offer” or otherwise, you shall promptly
after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer return
those certificates for unaccepted Outstanding Notes (or effect
appropriate book-entry transfer), together with any related
required documents and the Letters of Transmittal relating
thereto that are in your possession, to the persons who
deposited them.
12. All certificates for reissued Outstanding Notes,
unaccepted Outstanding Notes or Exchange Notes shall be
forwarded by (a) first-class mail, postage prepaid under a
blanket surety bond protecting you and the Company from loss or
liability arising out of the nonreceipt or nondelivery of such
certificates or (b) by registered mail insured separately
for the replacement value of each of such certificates.
13. You are not authorized to pay or offer to pay any
concessions, commissions or solicitation fees to any broker,
dealer, bank or other persons or to engage or utilize any person
to solicit tenders.
14. As Exchange Agent hereunder you:
(a) will be regarded as making no representations and
having no responsibilities as to the validity, sufficiency,
value or genuineness of any of the certificates or the
Outstanding Notes represented thereby deposited with you
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, and will not be required to and
will make no representation as to the validity, value or
genuineness of the Exchange Offer;
(b) shall not be obligated to take any legal action
hereunder which might in your reasonable judgment involve any
expense or liability, unless you shall have been furnished with
reasonable indemnity;
(c) shall not be liable to the Company for any action taken
or omitted by you, or any action suffered by you to be taken or
omitted, without negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or
bad faith on your part, by reason of or as a result of the
administration of your duties hereunder in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement or by reason of your
compliance with the instructions set forth herein or with any
written or oral instructions delivered to you pursuant hereto,
and may reasonably rely on and shall be protected in acting in
good faith in reliance upon any certificate, instrument,
opinion, notice, letter, facsimile or other document or security
delivered to you and reasonably believed by you to be genuine
and to have been signed by the proper party or parties;
(d) may reasonably act upon any tender, statement, request,
comment, agreement or other instrument whatsoever not only as to
its due execution and validity and effectiveness of its
provisions, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any
information contained therein, which you shall in good faith
reasonably believe to be genuine or to have been signed or
represented by a proper person or persons;
(e) may rely on and shall be protected in acting upon
written or oral instructions from any Authorized Officer of the
Company with respect to the Exchange Offer;
(f) shall not advise any person tendering Outstanding Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer as to the wisdom of making such
tender or as to the market value or decline or appreciation in
market value of any Outstanding Notes;
(g) may consult with your counsel and the written opinion
of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
to be taken by you hereunder in good faith and in accordance
with such written opinion of such counsel; and
(h) in no event will you be liable for special, indirect or
consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including
but not limited to lost profits) even if you have been advised
of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the
form of action.
15. You shall send to all holders of Outstanding
Notes a copy of the Prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal, the
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, as defined in the Prospectus, and
such other documents as may be furnished by the Company to
commence the Exchange Offer and take such action as may from
time to time be requested by the Company or its counsel (and
such other action as you may reasonably deem necessary) to
furnish copies of the Prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal and
the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or such other forms as may be
approved from time to time by the Company, to all holders of
Outstanding Notes and to all persons requesting such documents
and to accept and comply with telephone requests for information
relating to the Exchange Offer, provided that such information
shall relate only to the procedures for accepting (or
withdrawing from) the Exchange Offer. The Company will furnish
you with copies of such documents as you may request. All other
requests for information relating to the Exchange Offer shall be
directed in writing to the Company, Attention: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Esq., at the Company’s offices at 000
Xxxxxxxxx 000xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, telephone
(000) 000-0000.
16. You shall keep records and advise by facsimile
transmission or telephone, and promptly thereafter confirm in
writing to the General Counsel of the Company, and such other
person or persons as the Company may request in writing, not
later than 7:00 p.m., New York City time, each business
day, and more frequently if reasonably requested, up to and
including the Expiration Date, as to the number of Outstanding
Notes which have been tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer
and the items received by you pursuant to this Agreement,
separately reporting and giving cumulative totals as to items
properly received and items improperly received. In addition,
you will also inform, and cooperate in making available to, the
Company or any such other person or persons as the Company
requests from time to time prior to the Expiration Date of such
other information as they may reasonably request. Such
cooperation shall include, without limitation, the granting by
you to the Company and such person as the Company may request of
access to those persons on your staff who are responsible for
receiving tenders, in order to ensure that immediately prior to
the Expiration Date the Company shall have received information
in sufficient detail to enable it to decide whether to extend
the Exchange Offer. You shall prepare a final list of all
persons whose tenders were accepted, the aggregate principal
amount of Outstanding Notes tendered, the aggregate principal
amount of Outstanding Notes accepted and deliver said list to
the Company.
17. Letters of Transmittal and Notices of Guaranteed
Delivery shall be stamped by you as to the date and the time of
receipt and shall, except as provided in Section 11, be
preserved by you for a period of time at least equal to the
period of time you preserve other records pertaining to the
transfer of securities (or, if earlier, until such time as such
documents are delivered to the Company upon termination of this
Agreement, pursuant to Section 29). You shall dispose of
unused Letters of Transmittal and other surplus materials in
accordance with your customary procedures.
18. You hereby expressly waive any rights of lien,
encumbrance, attachment or set-off whatsoever, if any, that you
may have with respect to funds deposited with you for the
payment of transfer taxes, whether such rights arise by reason
of statutory or common law, by contract or otherwise.
19. For services rendered as Exchange Agent
hereunder, you shall be entitled to such compensation and
reimbursement of
out-of-pocket
expenses as set forth on Schedule I attached hereto.
20. You hereby acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus,
the Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and
the other documents associated with the Exchange Offer attached
hereto and further acknowledge that you have examined each of
them to the extent necessary to perform your duties hereunder.
Any inconsistency between this Agreement, on the one hand, and
the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal
(as they may be amended from time to time), on the other hand,
shall be resolved in favor of the latter two documents, except
with respect to the duties, liabilities and indemnification of
you as Exchange Agent which shall be controlled by this
Agreement.
21. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold you
harmless in your capacity as Exchange Agent hereunder against
any liability, reasonable cost or reasonable expense, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or in connection
with any act, omission, delay or refusal made by you in
reasonable reliance upon any signature, endorsement, assignment,
certificate, order, request, notice, instruction or other
instrument or document reasonably believed by you in good faith
to be valid, genuine and sufficient and in accepting any tender
or effecting any transfer of Outstanding Notes reasonably
believed by you in good faith to be authorized, and in delaying
or refusing in good faith to accept any tenders or effect any
transfer of Outstanding Notes; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be liable for indemnification or
otherwise for any loss, liability, cost or expense to the extent
arising out of your negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct
or bad faith. In no case shall the Company be liable under this
indemnity with respect to any claim against you unless the
Company shall be notified by you, by letter or cable or by
facsimile confirmed by letter, of the written assertion of a
claim against you or of any other action commenced against you,
promptly after you shall have received any such written
assertion or written notice of the commencement of any such
action. The Company shall be entitled to participate at its own
expense in the defense of any such claim or other action, and,
if the Company so elects, the Company shall assume the defense
of any suit brought to enforce any such claim. In the event that
the Company shall assume the defense of any such suit, the
Company shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel thereafter retained by you so long as the
Company shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to you to
defend such suit. You shall not enter into any settlement or
other compromise with respect to any indemnified loss,
liability, cost or expense without the prior written consent of
the Company which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
delayed or conditioned. The provisions of this section shall
survive the termination of this Agreement.
22. You shall arrange to comply with all requirements
under the tax laws of the United States, including those
relating to missing Tax Identification Numbers, and shall file
any appropriate reports with the Internal Revenue Service.
23. You shall deliver or cause to be delivered, in a
timely manner to each governmental authority to which any
transfer taxes are payable in respect of the exchange of the
Outstanding Notes, your check in the amount of all transfer
taxes so payable, and the Company shall reimburse you for the
amount of any and all transfer taxes payable in respect of the
exchange of Outstanding Notes; provided, however,
that you shall reimburse the Company for amounts refunded to you
in respect of your payment of any such transfer taxes, at such
time as such refund is received by you.
24. This Agreement and your appointment as Exchange
Agent hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements
made and to be performed entirely within such state, and without
regard to conflicts of law principles, and shall inure to the
benefit of, and the obligations created hereby shall be binding
upon, the successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto.
25. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same agreement.
26. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way
be affected or impaired thereby.
27. This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed
to be modified, amended, rescinded, cancelled or waived, in
whole or in part, except by a written instrument signed by a
duly authorized representative of the party to be charged. This
Agreement may not be modified orally.
28. Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices,
requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall
be in writing (including facsimile) and shall be given to such
party, addressed to it, at its address or telecopy number set
forth below:
If to the Company:
Lennar Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx 000xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
000 Xxxxxxxxx 000xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxxx Chance US LLP
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Exchange Agent:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
4 New York Plaza (00xx Xxxxx)
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Vice President
4 New York Plaza (00xx Xxxxx)
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Vice President
29. Unless terminated earlier by the parties hereto,
this Agreement shall terminate 90 days following the
Expiration Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Sections 18, 19, 21 and 23 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement. Upon any termination of this
Agreement, you shall promptly deliver to the Company any
certificates for Outstanding Notes, funds or property
(including, without limitation, Letters of Transmittal and any
other documents relating to the Offer) then held by you as
Exchange Agent under this Agreement.
30. This Agreement shall be binding and effective as
of the date hereof.
Please acknowledge receipt of this Agreement and confirm the
arrangements herein provided by signing and returning the
enclosed copy.
By: _
_
Name:
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
Accepted as of the date
first above written:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
By: _
_
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: | Vice President |