EXHIBIT 10.1

 

THIRD MODIFICATION AGREEMENT TO BORROWING BASE REVOLVING

LINE OF CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

DATE:

   As of October 23, 2006     

PARTIES:

               Borrower:    WILLIAM LYON HOMES, INC., a California corporation  
   Guarantor:    WILLIAM LYON HOMES, a Delaware corporation      Bank:   
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (successor by merger to Bank One, NA (Main Office
Chicago, Illinois)), a national banking association

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (successor by merger to Bank One, NA (Main Office
Chicago, Illinois)), a national banking association (“Bank”), and WILLIAM LYON
HOMES, INC., a California corporation (“Borrower”), hereby enter into this Third
Modification Agreement (the “Modification”) to the Borrowing Base Revolving Line
of Credit Agreement dated as of June 28, 2004, as modified by a Modification
Agreement, dated as of December 7, 2004, and as further modified by a Second
Modification Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2005 (the “Loan Agreement”), with
the consent of guarantor WILLIAM LYON HOMES, a Delaware corporation
(“Guarantor”).

 

RECITALS

 

A. Bank has extended to Borrower credit (“Loan”) up to the maximum principal
amount of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000) pursuant to the Loan
Agreement, as further evidenced by that certain Amended and Restated Promissory
Note dated as of July 14, 2005 (the “Note”) executed by Borrower and payable to
the order of Bank.

 

B. The Loan is secured by, among other things, certain Construction Deeds of
Trust and Fixture Filing (With Assignment of Rents and Security Agreement)
executed by Borrower as Trustor for the benefit of Bank (such Deeds of Trust, as
amended to dated, shall be hereinafter referred to, individually, as a “Deed of
Trust” and, collectively, as the “Deeds of Trust”). The Loan is further secured
by the personal property described in certain UCC-1 Financing Statements
relating to the property encumbered by the Deeds of Trust naming Borrower as
Debtor and Bank as Secured Party (as amended to date, the “UCC Financing
Statements”). The Deeds of Trust, the UCC Financing Statements, and such other
agreements, documents and instruments securing the Loan are referred to
individually and collectively as the “Security Documents”).

 

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C. Repayment of the Loan and the completion of the improvements have been, and
continue to be, guaranteed by the Repayment Guaranty dated as of June 28, 2004
and executed by Guarantor in favor of Bank (the “Guaranty”). The Guaranty and
any other agreements, documents and instruments guarantying the Loan are
referred to individually and collectively as the “Guaranty Documents”.

 

D. The Loan Agreement, the Note, the Security Documents, the Guaranty Documents,
any environmental certification and indemnity agreement, and all other
agreements, documents, and instruments evidencing, securing, or otherwise
relating to the Loan, as may be amended, modified, extended or restated from
time to time, are sometimes referred to individually and collectively as the
“Loan Documents”. Hereinafter, the Loan Documents shall mean such documents as
modified in this Modification.

 

E. The Borrower has requested that the Bank agree to extend the Revolving Credit
Termination Date from June 28, 2007 to June 28, 2008, and to extend the Maturity
Date from June 28, 2008, to June 28, 2009. Based on the representations of
Borrower, Bank is willing to so extend the Revolving Credit Termination Date and
the Maturity Date, subject to the terms and conditions herein.

 

F. The Borrower has also requested that the Bank revise the limitation on Spec
Units to be based on the lesser of the number of units specified, the appraised
absorption rate or the actual absorption rate. Based on the representations of
Borrower, Bank is willing to so revise the limitation on Spec Units, subject to
the terms and conditions herein.

 

G. The Borrower has also requested that the Bank increase the limitation on the
Collateral Value of all Lots and Units in any Approved Subdivision located in
California from Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) to Thirty Million
Dollars ($30,000,000). Based on the representations of Borrower, Bank is willing
to so increase the limitation on Collateral Value for Approved Subdivisions
located in California, subject to the terms and conditions herein.

 

H. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the
meanings given to such terms in the Loan Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, Borrower and Bank agree as follows:

 

1. ACCURACY OF RECITALS.

 

Borrower acknowledges the accuracy of the Recitals.

 

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2. MODIFICATION OF LOAN DOCUMENTS.

 

2.1 The Revolving Credit Termination Date is hereby extended from June 28, 2007
to June 28, 2008. In no event shall the Bank be required to make Advances of the
Loan to Borrower and to issue Facility LCs for the account of Borrower after the
Revolving Credit Termination Date, as extended hereby.

 

2.2 The Maturity Date is hereby extended from June 28, 2008 to June 28, 2009.
All principal, interest and Other Amounts shall be immediately due and payable
on the Maturity Date, as extended hereby.

 

2.3 Section 2.5 of the Loan Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following:

 

“2.5 Method of Advances.

 

(a) Advances may be made by Bank at the written request of the Person or Persons
designated by Borrower from time to time on Bank’s form of signature
authorization; provided, however, that Bank shall have acknowledged receipt of
any changes in the Person or Persons designated by Borrower, and such Person or
Persons designated by Borrower will have executed a new signature authorization
form. Subject to Section 2.4 and the other terms and conditions of this
Agreement (including those hereinafter set forth), such Person or Persons are
hereby authorized by Borrower to request Advances (subject to the limitations in
this Agreement) not more frequently than one (1) time per day, and to direct the
disposition of the proceeds of Advances until written notice of the revocation
of such authority is received from Borrower by Bank and Bank has had a
reasonable time to act upon such notice. Bank has no duty to monitor for
Borrower or Guarantor, or to report to any such Person, the use of proceeds of
Advances. Subject to the satisfaction of all applicable terms and conditions,
(i) with respect to each Draw Request submitted on or before 11:00 a.m. on any
Business Day, Bank will make the requested advance on or before Noon on the next
Business Day and (ii) with respect to a Draw Request received by Bank after
11:00 a.m. on any Business Day, Bank will make the requested advance on or
before Noon on the second (2nd) Business Day thereafter. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at the sole option of Bank, advances may be paid in the joint names
of Borrower and the contractor, engineer, subcontractor(s), or supplier(s) in
payment of sums due under any applicable construction or similar contract to
which Borrower is a party. At its sole option, Bank may directly pay the
contractor, engineer, and any subcontractors or other parties the sums due under
such construction or similar contract to which Borrower is a party. Borrower
appoints Bank as its attorney-in-fact to make such payments. This power shall be
deemed to be coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable, and shall survive
an Event of Default under this Agreement.

 

(b) Bank, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to permit the Borrower
to transmit Draw Requests electronically through an Internet website developed

 

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by Bank (“Website”). Bank shall deliver written notice of such election to the
Borrower. Thereafter, upon completion of enrollment for appropriate access on
the Website, any of the Persons authorized to request Advances under
Section 2.5(a) above, may transmit a Draw Request to Bank through the Website
and such transmission shall be considered a “writing” in satisfaction of the
requirement under this Agreement for a written Draw Request for any Advance.
Borrower’s access to, and use of, the Website shall be subject to Borrower’s
compliance with all of the terms and conditions established by Bank for access
to and use of the Website, including, without limitation, the Terms of Use and
Privacy Policy, as published on the Website and amended from time to time. Bank
reserves the right to deny the Borrower access to the Website, or withdraw its
permission for Borrower to furnish Draw Requests through the Website, at any
time, for any reason, without notice. The ability of Borrower to furnish Draw
Requests through the Website is at all times subject to the availability of the
Website.”

 

2.4 Section 3.6(c) of the Loan Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following:

 

“(c) Limitation on Spec Units by Subdivision. With respect to each Approved
Subdivision, Borrower may not include in Eligible Collateral at any time more
than the following: (i) for each Approved Subdivision other than a High End
Subdivision which will contain SFR Units, the lesser of (A) thirty (30) Spec
Units per each Approved Subdivision, (B) a five (5) Calendar Month supply based
on the appraised absorption rate set forth in the most recent Appraisal for the
Approved Subdivision or (C) a five (5) Calendar Month supply based on Bank’s
then most recent determination, which determination shall be based on the actual
absorption rate for the six (6) Calendar Month period preceding the date of such
determination, (ii) for each High End Subdivision which will contain SFR Units,
the lesser of (A) twenty-four (24) Spec Units per each Approved Subdivision,
(B) a four (4) Calendar Month supply based on the appraised absorption rate set
forth in the most recent Appraisal for the Approved Subdivision or (C) a four
(4) Calendar Month supply based on Bank’s then most recent determination, which
determination shall be based on the actual absorption rate for the six
(6) Calendar Month period preceding the date of such determination, and
(iii) for each Approved Subdivision which will contain Attached Units, such Spec
Unit limitations as Bank shall determine upon admission of such Subdivision into
the Borrowing Base (the “Absolute Maximum for Spec Units”).”

 

2.5 Section 3.8(c) of the Loan Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following:

 

“(c) Limitation on Collateral Value of Subdivision. The Collateral Value of all
Lots and Units in any Approved Subdivision located in a state other than
California shall not exceed Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000). The
Collateral Value of all Lots and Units in any Approved Subdivision located in
California shall not exceed Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000).”

 

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2.6 The Deeds of Trust are modified to secure payment and performance of the
Loan as amended to date, in addition to all other “Obligations” of Borrower as
therein defined. The foregoing notwithstanding, certain obligations continue to
be excluded from the Obligations, as provided in the Deeds of Trust.

 

2.7 Each of the Loan Documents is modified to provide that it shall be a default
or an event of default thereunder if Borrower shall fail to comply with any of
the covenants of Borrower herein or if any representation or warranty by
Borrower herein or by any guarantor in any related Consent and Agreement of
Guarantor is materially incomplete, incorrect, or misleading as of the date
hereof.

 

2.8 Each reference in the Loan Documents to any of the Loan Documents shall be a
reference to such document as modified herein.

 

3. RATIFICATION OF LOAN DOCUMENTS AND COLLATERAL.

 

The Loan Documents are ratified and affirmed by Borrower and shall remain in
full force and effect as modified herein. Any property or rights to or interests
in property granted as security in the Loan Documents shall remain as security
for the Loan and the obligations of Borrower in the Loan Documents.

 

4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

 

Before this Agreement becomes effective and any party becomes obligated under
it, all of the following conditions shall have been satisfied at Borrower’s sole
cost and expense in a manner acceptable to Bank in the exercise of Bank’s sole
judgment:

 

4.1 Bank shall have received fully executed and, where appropriate, acknowledged
originals of this Modification, the attached consents signed by Guarantor, and
any other documents which Bank may require or request in accordance with this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

4.2 Bank shall have received reimbursement, in immediately available funds, of
all costs and expenses incurred by Bank in connection with this Agreement,
including charges for title insurance (including endorsements), recording,
filing and escrow charges, fees for appraisal, architectural and engineering
review, construction services and environmental services, mortgage taxes, and
legal fees and expenses of Bank’s counsel. Such costs and expenses may include
the allocated costs for services of Bank’s in-house staffs, such as legal,
appraisal, construction services and environmental services. Borrower
acknowledges that any extension and modification fees payable in connection with
this transaction do not include the amounts payable by Borrower under this
subsection.

 

5. ENTIRE AGREEMENT, CHANGE, DISCHARGE, TERMINATION, OR WAIVER.

 

The Loan Documents as modified herein contain the entire understanding and
agreement of Borrower and Bank in respect of the Loan and supersede all prior

 

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representations, warranties, agreements, arrangements, and understandings. No
provision of the Loan Documents as modified herein may be changed, discharged,
supplemented, terminated, or waived except in a writing signed by Bank and
Borrower.

 

6. BINDING EFFECT.

 

The Loan Documents as modified herein shall be binding upon, and inure to the
benefit of, Borrower and Bank and their respective successors and assigns.

 

7. CHOICE OF LAW.

 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of California, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles.

 

8. COUNTERPART EXECUTION.

 

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the
same document. Signature pages may be detached from the counterparts and
attached to a single copy of this Agreement to physically form one document.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

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DATED as of the date first above stated.

 

BORROWER:

     

WILLIAM LYON HOMES, INC.,

a California corporation

            By:   /S/    MICHAEL D. GRUBBS                     Name:   Michael
D. Grubbs             Title:   Sr. Vice President             By:  
/S/    RICHARD S. ROBINSON                     Name:  

Richard S. Robinson

            Title:   Sr. Vice President

BANK:

      JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. (successor by merger to Bank One, NA (Main
Office Chicago, Illinois)), a national banking association             By:  
/S/    KIMBERLEE EDWARDS                     Name:   Kimberlee Edwards          
  Title:   F.V.P.

 

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CONSENT AND AGREEMENT OF GUARANTOR

 

With respect to that certain Third Modification Agreement to the Borrowing Base
Revolving Line of Credit Agreement (hereinafter, the “Modification”) between
WILLIAM LYON HOMES, INC., a California corporation (“Borrower”), and JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A. (successor by merger to Bank One, NA (Main Office Chicago,
Illinois)), a national banking association (“Bank”), to which this Consent is
attached, the undersigned (“Guarantor”), hereby (i) ratifies and reaffirms all
of its obligations to Bank under the Guaranty, (ii) consents to the execution
and delivery by Borrower of the attached Modification, and (iii) confirms that
the Guaranty remains in full force and effect notwithstanding Borrower’s
execution of the attached Modification. The undersigned agrees that the
execution of this Consent and Reaffirmation of Guarantor (the “Consent”) is not
necessary for the continued validity and enforceability of the Guaranty, but it
is executed to induce Bank to enter into the Modification Agreement.

 

This Consent may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
document. Signature pages may be detached from the counterparts and attached to
a single copy of this Consent to physically form one document. Facsimile
transmission of the signed original of this Consent or the retransmission of any
signed facsimile transmission will be deemed the same as delivery of an
original.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Guarantor has executed this Agreement as of the date set
forth on the attached Third Modification Agreement.

 

“Guarantor”      

WILLIAM LYON HOMES,

a Delaware corporation

            By:   /S/    MICHAEL D. GRUBBS                     Name:   Michael
D. Grubbs             Title:   Sr. Vice President             By:  
/S/    RICHARD S. ROBINSON                     Name:   Richard S. Robinson      
      Title:   Sr. Vice President

 

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