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exv10w40

 

EXHIBIT 10.40

Execution Copy

GUARANTY AGREEMENT

     THIS GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this “Guaranty”) is made as of the 31st day of January,
2006, by COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Guarantor”) in favor
of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association (the “Lender”), and its successors and
assigns.

R E C I T A L S:

     WHEREAS, Lender has made an acquisition loan to Comstock Carter Lake, L.C. (“Borrower”) in the
maximum principal amount of $26,000,000.00 (or so much thereof as shall be advanced) (such
extensions of credit being herein sometimes called individually and/or collectively the “Loan”);

     WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to making the Loan, the Lender has required, among other
things, the execution and delivery of this Guaranty by Guarantor;

     WHEREAS, the Loan shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of a Loan
Agreement of even date herewith, between the Lender and Borrower (as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”);

     WHEREAS, the Loan shall be evidenced by certain notes, applications or agreements for the
issuance of a letter or letters of credit, including, without limitation, that certain Deed of
Trust Note of even date herewith, from Borrower payable to the order of the Lender in the maximum
principal amount of $26,000,000.00, or so much thereof as shall be advanced, and any other
instrument or agreement executed from time to time by the Borrower in favor of the Lender, as any
of the same may from time to time be amended, modified, replaced or supplemented (the “Note”);

     WHEREAS, the Guaranty is or shall be secured by one or more Credit Line Deed(s) of Trust and
Security Agreements now or hereafter executed and delivered by the Borrower to certain trustees for
the benefit of the Lender, including, without limitation, that certain Credit Line Deed of Trust
and Security Agreement of even date herewith, from Borrower as grantor, to certain trustees for the
benefit of the Lender (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, collectively, the
“Deeds of Trust”), covering certain real property as more particularly described therein, as well
as all improvements located thereon;

     WHEREAS, it is intended that this Guaranty extend to the Loan and all other amounts owing
under any of the “Loan Documents” (hereinafter defined), without any need for any notice to the
Guarantor of the making of the Loan or advances thereunder and without any need for any supplements
or amendments to this Guaranty or any other documentation to be executed by the Guarantor; and

     WHEREAS, unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Loan Agreement.

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W I T N E S S E T H:

     For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby
acknowledged, and as a material inducement to the Lender to extend credit to the Borrower from time
to time, the Guarantor hereby guarantees to the Lender the prompt and full payment and performance
of the Indebtedness and the other obligations in connection with the Loan as defined and described
below in this Guaranty (hereinafter sometimes collectively called the “Obligations”), upon the
following terms and conditions:

     1. Guaranty of Payment. The Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably
guarantees to the Lender the punctual payment when due, whether by scheduled payment date, upon
maturity, lapse of time, by acceleration of maturity, or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of
all principal, interest (including interest accruing after the commencement of any bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding by or against the Borrower, whether or not allowed in such proceeding), fees,
late charges, costs, expenses, indemnification indebtedness (including, without limitation,
indemnification for environmental matters), and other sums of money now or hereafter due and owing
pursuant to (a) the terms of the Note, the Loan Agreement, the Deed(s) of Trust, and any and all
other documents executed by the Borrower in connection with the Loan (the “Loan Documents”), now or
hereafter existing, and specifically including any and all advances made by the Lender under the
Loan Documents from sources other than the Loan, and interest on such advances, and (b) all
renewals, extensions, increases, refinancings, modifications, supplements or amendments to such
indebtedness, or any of the Loan Documents, or any part thereof (such indebtedness being
hereinafter collectively called the “Indebtedness”). This Guaranty covers the Indebtedness,
whether presently outstanding or arising subsequent to the date hereof, whether or not presently
contemplated by the Guarantor, the Borrower or the Lender, and whether or not the same shall be
incurred after satisfaction, payment or reduction of any previous Indebtedness, including all
amounts advanced and/or readvanced by the Lender in stages or installments. The guaranty of the
Guarantor as set forth in this Section is a continuing guaranty of payment and not a guaranty of
collection.

     2. Guaranty of Performance. The Guarantor additionally hereby unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantees to the Lender the timely performance of all other obligations of the
Borrower under all of the Loan Documents, including without limitation, compliance with all
covenants regarding environmental matters.

     3. Primary Liability of the Guarantor. This Guaranty is an absolute, irrevocable and
unconditional guaranty of payment and performance. The Guarantor
shall be liable for the payment and performance of the Obligations, as set forth in this Guaranty,
as a primary obligor. This Guaranty shall be effective as a waiver of, and the Guarantor hereby
expressly waives any and all rights to which the Guarantor may otherwise have been entitled under
any suretyship laws in effect from time to time, including any right or privilege, whether existing
under statute, at law or in equity, to require the Lender to take prior recourse or proceedings
against any collateral, security or Person (hereinafter defined) whatsoever. Upon the occurrence
of: (i) any Default under the Loan, (ii) any reasonable determination by the Lender that a
material adverse

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change has occurred in the financial condition of the Guarantor, (iii) the
dissolution or insolvency of Guarantor, subject to the provisions of Section 4 below, or (iv) any
transfer of assets of Guarantor without receiving fair value in exchange therefor, the Indebtedness
shall be deemed immediately due and payable at the election of the Lender, and the Guarantor shall,
on demand and without presentment, protest, any notice whatsoever, pay the amount due thereon to
the Lender or perform or observe the agreement, covenant, term or condition, as the case may be,
and it shall not be necessary for the Lender, in order to enforce such payment or performance by
Guarantor, first to institute suit or pursue or exhaust any rights or remedies against the Borrower
or others liable on the Obligations or for such performance, or to institute suit or pursue or
exhaust any rights or remedies against the Borrower or Guarantor or other sureties of the
Obligations as contemplated by applicable law or to enforce any rights against any security that
shall ever have been given to secure the Obligations, or to join the Borrower or any others liable
for the payment or performance of the Obligations or any part thereof in any action to enforce this
Guaranty, or to resort to any other means of obtaining payment or performance of the Obligations.
The term “Person” as used herein shall mean all of the Borrower and the Guarantor.

     4. Representations, Warranties, and Covenants of the Guarantor. Guarantor hereby
represents, warrants, and covenants that: (a) Guarantor will derive substantial benefit, directly
or indirectly, from the making of the Loan to the Borrower and from the making of this Guaranty by
the Guarantor; (b) this Guaranty is duly authorized and valid, and is binding upon and enforceable
against the Guarantor; (c) the Guarantor is not, and the execution, delivery and performance by the
Guarantor of this Guaranty will not cause the Guarantor to be, in violation of or in default with
respect to any law or in default (or at risk of acceleration of indebtedness) under any agreement
or restriction by which the Guarantor is bound or affected; (d) Guarantor is a duly organized,
validly existing limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, is lawfully doing business in the jurisdiction where it operates, and has full power and
authority to enter into and perform this Guaranty; (e) except as may have been disclosed to the
Lender in writing, there is not now pending against or affecting the Guarantor, nor, to the
knowledge of the Guarantor, is there threatened, any action, investigation, suit or proceeding by
or before any administrative agency which if adversely determined would materially impair or affect
the Guarantor’s financial condition (f) all financial statements and information heretofore
furnished to the Lender by the Guarantor do, and all financial statements and information hereafter
furnished to the Lender by the Guarantor will, fully and accurately present the financial condition
of the Guarantor as of their dates and the results of the Guarantor’s operations for the periods
therein specified, and, since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Guarantor
heretofore furnished to the Lender, no material adverse change has occurred in the financial
condition of the Guarantor, nor, except as heretofore disclosed in writing to the Lender, has the
Guarantor incurred any material liability, direct or indirect, fixed or contingent; (g) after
giving effect to this Guaranty, the Guarantor is solvent, is not engaged or about to engage in
business or a transaction for which the property of the Guarantor is an unreasonably small capital,
and does not intend to incur or believes that it will incur debts that will be beyond its ability
to pay as such debts mature; (h) the Lender has no duty at any time to investigate or inform the
Guarantor of the financial or business condition or affairs of the Borrower or any change

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therein,
and the Guarantor will keep fully appraised of the Borrower’s financial and business condition; (i)
the Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that the Guarantor may be required to pay and perform the
Obligations in full without assistance or support from the Borrower or any other Person; and (j)
the Guarantor has read and fully understand the provisions contained in the Loan Agreement, the
Deed(s) of Trust, and the other Loan Documents, each of which may be modified, extended,
supplemented or extended from time to time without notice to or consent from the Guarantor and
without affecting the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty.

     In addition, during the term of the Loan, Lender must be satisfied that Guarantor’s financial
condition meets the following requirements:

(i) Adjusted Tangible Net Worth (ATNW) shall be at least $65,000,000 for fiscal year
2005, increasing by 50% of consolidated after tax net earnings for each year
thereafter. Adjusted Tangible Net Worth is defined as GAAP net worth plus
subordinated debt approved by Agent less any goodwill, organizational costs,
leasehold improvements and Affiliate and/or stockholder receivables and investments
in joint ventures; and

(ii) Debt to Tangible Net Worth (“Leverage Ratio”) shall be 3.50:1. Leverage Ratio
is the total Adjusted Liabilities to Adjusted Tangible Net Worth (ATNW). Adjusted
Liabilities is defined as GAAP total liabilities less Variable Interest Entities,
less subordinated debt due to related parties and investments in affiliates and
joint ventures that are not co-borrowers (“Related Venturer Subordinated Debt”),
less subordinated debt (“Direct Subordinated Debt”), plus any other debt guaranteed
by Borrower. For purposes hereof, a “Variable Interest Entity” is either: (A) an
entity that is consolidated for financial statement purposes when (1) the equity
investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity from financing its
activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties or
(2) equity holders either (a) lack direct or indirect ability to make decisions
about the entity (b) are not obligated to absorb expected losses of the entity or
(c) do not have the right to receive expected residual
returns of the entity if they occur or (B) a “variable interest entity” as defined
in Guarantor’s SEC-filed financial statements and as the definition of such term is
amended from time to time based upon guidance from the Financial Accounting
Standards Board. For purposes of clarity, the primary beneficiary of a Variable
Interest Entity is the party that absorbs a majority of the Variable Interest
Entity’s expected losses, receives a majority of the entity’s expected residual
returns, or both, as a result of ownership, contractual or other financial interests
in the entity.

     The Guarantor’s representations, warranties and covenants are a material inducement to the
Lender to enter into the other Loan Documents and shall survive the execution hereof and any
bankruptcy, foreclosure, transfer of security or other event affecting the Borrower, the Guarantor,
any other party, or any security for all or any part of the Obligations.

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     5. Financial Information. The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Lender upon request any financial statements for Guarantor and any entity related to the Guarantor
containing such information and in such form as Lender may from time to time reasonably determine,
provided the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder have not already terminated.

          Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guarantor shall furnish to the Lender
financial statements as follows:

          (a) as soon as available, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the close of its
fiscal year (but in no event earlier than the date such financial statements must be submitted to
governmental authorities), financial statements (all of which financial statements may include, as
requested by the Lender, a balance sheet, income statement, sources and uses of funds for such
fiscal and/or calendar year, projected sources and uses of funds for the coming year, detailed
listing and description of all contingent liabilities, tax returns, written verification of
liquidity and such other supporting schedules and documentation which the Lender may request). All
such financial statements shall be audited by a certified public accountant acceptable to the
Lender in all respects; and

          (b) if requested by the Lender, within forty-five (45) days after the close of its quarterly
business period (but in no event earlier than the date such financial statements must be submitted
to governmental authorities), the financial statements to be filed with applicable governmental
authorities.

     6. Certain Agreements and Waivers by the Guarantor.

          (a) The Guarantor hereby waives the benefits of Va. Code Ann. § 49-25 and § 49-26 as amended
and agrees that neither the Lender’s rights or remedies nor
the Obligations shall be released, diminished, impaired, reduced or affected by any one or more of
the following events, actions, facts, or circumstances, and the liability of the Guarantor under
this Guaranty shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

          (i) any limitation of liability or recourse in any other Loan Document or arising under
any law;

          (ii) any claim or defense that this Guaranty was made without consideration or is not
supported by adequate consideration;

          (iii) the taking or accepting of any other security or guaranty for,
or right of recourse with respect to, any or all of the Obligations;

          (iv) any homestead exemption or other exemption under applicable law;

          (v) any release, surrender, abandonment, exchange, alteration, sale or other
disposition, subordination, deterioration, waste, failure to protect or preserve,
impairment, or loss of, or any failure to create or perfect any lien or

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security interest
with respect to, or any other dealings with, any collateral or security at any time existing
or purported, believed or expected to exist in connection with any or all of the
Obligations, including any impairment of the Guarantor’ s recourse against any Person or
collateral;

     (vi) whether express or by any operation of law, any full or partial release of the
liability of the Guarantor, the Borrower or any other party hereunder or under any of the
other Loan Documents;

     (vii) the death, insolvency, bankruptcy, disability, dissolution, liquidation,
termination, receivership, reorganization, merger, consolidation, change of form, structure
or ownership, sale of all assets, or lack of corporate, partnership or other power of the
Borrower, the Guarantor or any other party at any time liable for the payment or performance
of any or all of the Obligations;

     (viii) either with or without notice to or consent of the Guarantor, any renewal,
extension, modification or rearrangement of the terms of any or all of the Obligations
and/or any of the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, material alterations of the
terms of payment (including changes in maturity date(s), interest rate(s) and amortization)
or performance or any other terms thereof, or any waiver, termination, or release of, or
consent to departure from, any of the Loan Documents or any other guaranty of any or all of
the Obligations, or any adjustment, indulgence, forbearance, or compromise that may be
granted from time to time by the Lender to the Borrower, the Guarantor, and/or any other
Person at any time liable for the payment or performance of any or all of the Obligations;

     (ix) any neglect, lack of diligence, delay, omission, failure, or refusal of the Lender
to take or prosecute (or in taking or prosecuting) any action for the collection or
enforcement of any of the Obligations, or to foreclose or take or prosecute any action to
foreclose (or in foreclosing or taking or prosecuting any action to foreclose) upon any
security therefor, or to exercise (or in exercising) any other right or power with respect
to any security therefor, or to take or prosecute (or in taking or prosecuting) any action
in connection with any Loan Document, or any failure to sell or otherwise dispose of in a
commercially reasonable manner any collateral securing any or all of the Obligations;

     (x) any failure of the Lender to notify the Guarantor of any creation, renewal,
extension, rearrangement, modification, supplement, subordination, or assignment of the
Obligations or any part thereof, or of any Loan Document, or of any release of or change in
any security, or of any other action taken or refrained from being taken by the Lender
against the Borrower or any security or other recourse, or of any new agreement between the
Lender and the Borrower, it being understood that the Lender shall not be required to give
the Guarantor any notice of any kind under any circumstances with respect to or in
connection with the Obligations, any and all rights to notice that the Guarantor may have
otherwise had being hereby waived by the Guarantor;

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     (xi) any refund of any payment by the Borrower or any other party liable for the
payment or performance of any or all of the Obligations;

     (xii) the existence of any claim, set-off, or other right that the Guarantor may at
any time have against the Borrower, the Lender (other than pursuant to a final judgment), or
any other Person, whether or not arising in connection with this Guaranty or any other Loan
Document;

     (xiii) the unenforceability of all or any part of the Obligations against the
Borrower, whether because the Obligations exceed the amount permitted by law or violate any
usury law, or because the act of creating the Obligations, or any part thereof, is beyond
the scope of powers granted, or because the officers or Persons creating same acted in
excess of their authority, or because of a lack of validity or enforceability of or defect
or deficiency in any of the Loan Documents, or because the Borrower has any valid defense,
claim or offset with respect thereto, or because the Borrower’s obligation ceases to exist
by operation of law, or because of any other reason or circumstance, it being agreed that
the Guarantor shall remain liable hereunder regardless of whether the Borrower or any other
Person are found not liable on the Obligations, or any part thereof, for any reason (and
regardless of any joinder of the Borrower or any other party in any action to obtain payment
or performance of any or all of the Obligations);

     (xiv) any order, ruling or plan of reorganization emanating from proceedings under
Title 11 of the United States Code with respect to the Borrower or any other Person,
including any extension, reduction, composition, or other alteration of the Obligations,
whether or not consented to by the Lender; or

     (xv) any failure to notify the Guarantor of, or obtain the Guarantor’s consent to, the
making of the Loan or any advances thereunder.

             (b) In the event that any payment by the Borrower or any other Person to the Lender is held to
constitute a preference, fraudulent transfer or other voidable payment under any bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar law, or if for any other reason the Lender is required to refund such payment
or pay the amount thereof to any other party, such payment by the Borrower or any other party to
the Lender shall not constitute a release of the Guarantor from any liability hereunder, and this
Guaranty shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated (notwithstanding any prior release,
surrender or discharge by the Lender of this Guaranty or of the Guarantor), as the case may be,
with respect to, and this Guaranty shall apply to, any and all amounts so refunded by the
Lender or
paid by the Lender to another Person (which amounts shall constitute part of the Obligations), and
any interest paid by the Lender and any reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses paid or
incurred by the Lender in connection with any such event. It is the intent of the Guarantor and
the Lender that the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantor hereunder are absolute and
unconditional under any and all circumstances and that until the Obligations are fully and finally
paid and performed, and not subject to refund or disgorgement, the obligations and liabilities of
the Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or released, in whole or in part, by any act or
occurrence that might, but for the provisions of this Guaranty, be deemed a

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legal or equitable
discharge or release of any of the Guarantor except as otherwise set forth herein. The Lender
shall be entitled to continue to hold this Guaranty in its possession for a period of one year from
the date the Obligations are paid and performed in full and for so long thereafter as may be
necessary to enforce any obligation of the Guarantor hereunder and/or to exercise any right or
remedy of the Lender hereunder.

          (c) If acceleration of the time for payment of any amount payable by the Borrower under the
Note or any other Loan Document is stayed or delayed by any law or tribunal, all such amounts shall
nonetheless be payable by the Guarantor on demand by the Lender.

     7. Waiver of Trial by Jury; Consent to Jurisdiction. WITHOUT INTENDING IN ANY WAY TO
LIMIT THE PARTIES’ AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE ANY “DISPUTE” (FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, AS DEFINED
IN THE “DISPUTE RESOLUTION” SECTION) AS SET FORTH IN THIS NOTE, AGREEMENT, OR GUARANTY, AS
APPLICABLE, TO THE EXTENT ANY “DISPUTE” IS NOT SUBMITTED TO ARBITRATION OR IS DEEMED BY THE
ARBITRATOR OR BY ANY COURT WITH JURISDICTION TO BE NOT ARBITRABLE
OR NOT REQUIRED TO BE ARBITRATED, BORROWER AND LENDER WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH
“DISPUTE” AND ANY ACTION ON SUCH “DISPUTE.” THIS WAIVER IS KNOWINGLY, WILLINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY
MADE BY BORROWER AND LENDER, AND BORROWER AND LENDER HEREBY REPRESENT THAT NO REPRESENTATIONS OF
FACT OR OPINION HAVE BEEN MADE BY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY TO INDUCE THIS WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY OR TO
IN ANY WAY MODIFY OR NULLIFY ITS EFFECT. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE PARTIES
ENTERING INTO THE LOAN DOCUMENTS. BORROWER AND LENDER ARE EACH HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO FILE A COPY OF
THIS SECTION IN ANY PROCEEDING AS CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF THIS WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. BORROWER
FURTHER REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT HAS BEEN REPRESENTED IN THE SIGNING OF THIS NOTE,
AGREEMENT, OR GUARANTY, AS APPLICABLE, AND IN THE MAKING OF THIS WAIVER BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL
COUNSEL, OR HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE REPRESENTED BY INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL SELECTED OF ITS
OWN FREE WILL, AND THAT IT HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS WAIVER WITH COUNSEL.

          The Guarantor irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal
court sitting in the Jurisdiction of Choice over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of, or
relating to, this Guaranty, and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in such state or federal court. The Guarantor irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that the Guarantor may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such
court, and any claims that any such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.
Final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court shall be

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conclusive and binding upon the Guarantor and may be enforced in any court in which the Guarantor
are subject to jurisdiction, by a suit upon such judgment provided that service of process is
effected upon the Guarantor as provided in the Loan Documents or as otherwise permitted by
applicable law.

     8. Dispute Resolution.

     (a) Arbitration. Except to the extent expressly provided below, any Dispute shall,
upon the request of either party, be determined by binding arbitration in accordance with the
Federal Arbitration Act, Title 9, United States Code (or if not applicable, the applicable state
law), the then-current rules for arbitration of financial services disputes of the American
Arbitration Association, or any successor thereof (“AAA”) and the “Special Rules” set forth below.
“Dispute” means any controversy, claim or dispute between or among the parties to this Note,
Agreement, or Guaranty, as applicable, including any controversy, claim or dispute arising out of
or relating to (a) this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as applicable, (b) any other Loan Documents,
(c)
any related agreements or instruments, or (d) the transaction contemplated herein or therein
(including any claim based on or arising from an alleged personal injury or business tort). In the
event of any inconsistency, the Special Rules shall control. The filing of a court action is not
intended to constitute a waiver of the right of Borrower or Lender, including the suing party,
thereafter to require submittal of the Dispute to arbitration. Any party to this Note, Agreement,
or Guaranty, as applicable, may bring an action, including a summary or expedited proceeding, to
compel arbitration of any Dispute in any court having jurisdiction over such action. For the
purposes of this Dispute Resolution Section only, the terms “party” and “parties” shall include
any parent corporation, subsidiary or affiliate of Lender involved in the servicing, management or
administration of any obligation described in or evidenced by this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as
applicable, together with the officers, employees, successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

     (b) Special Rules.

     (i) The arbitration shall be conducted in any U.S. state where real or tangible
personal property collateral is located, or if there is no such collateral, in the City and
County where Lender is located pursuant to its address for notice purposes in this Note,
Agreement, or Guaranty, as applicable.

     (ii) The arbitration shall be administered by AAA, who will appoint an arbitrator. If
AAA is unwilling or unable to administer or legally precluded from administering the
arbitration, or if AAA is unwilling or unable to enforce or legally precluded from enforcing
any and all provisions of this Dispute Resolution Section, the any party to this Note,
Agreement, or Guaranty, as applicable, may substitute another arbitration organization that
has similar procedures to AAA and that will observe and enforce any and all provisions of
this Dispute Resolution Section. All Disputes shall be determined by one arbitrator;
however, if the amount in controversy in a Dispute exceeds Five Million Dollars
($5,000,000), upon the request of any party, the Dispute shall be decided by three
arbitrators (for purposes of this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as applicable, referred to
collectively as the “arbitrator”).

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     (iii) All arbitration hearings will be commenced within ninety (90) days of the demand
for arbitration and completed within ninety (90) days from the date of commencement;
provided, however, that upon a showing of good cause, the arbitrator shall be permitted to
extend the commencement of such hearing for up to an additional sixty (60) days.

     (iv) The judgment and the award, if any, of the arbitrator shall be issued within
thirty (30) days of the close of the hearing. The arbitrator shall provide a concise
written statement setting forth the reasons for the judgment and for the award, if any. The
arbitration award, if any, may be submitted to any court
having jurisdiction to be confirmed and enforced, and such confirmation and enforcement
shall not be subject to arbitration.

     (v) The arbitrator will give effect to statutes of limitations and any waivers thereof
in determining the disposition of any Dispute and may dismiss one or more claims in the
arbitration on the basis that such claim or claims is or are barred. For purposes of the
application of the statute of limitations, the service on AAA under applicable AAA rules of
a notice of Dispute is the equivalent of the filing of a lawsuit.

     (vi) Any dispute concerning this arbitration provision, including any such dispute as
to the validity or enforceability of this provision, or whether a Dispute is arbitrable,
shall be determined by the arbitrator; provided, however, that the arbitrator shall not be
permitted to vary the express provisions of these Special Rules or the Reservations of
Rights in subsection (c) below.

     (vii) The arbitrator shall have the power to award legal fees and costs pursuant to the
terms of this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as applicable.

     (viii) The arbitration will take place on an individual basis without reference to,
resort to, or consideration of any form of class or class action.

     (c) Reservations of Rights. Nothing in this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as
applicable, shall be deemed to (i) limit the applicability of any otherwise applicable statutes of
limitation and any waivers contained in this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as applicable, or (ii)
apply to or limit the right of Lender (A) to exercise self help remedies such as (but not limited
to) setoff, or (B) to foreclose judicially or nonjudicially against any real or personal property
collateral, or to exercise judicial or nonjudicial power of sale rights, (C) to obtain from a court
provisional or ancillary remedies such as (but not limited to) injunctive relief, writ of
possession, prejudgment attachment, or the appointment of a receiver, or (D) to pursue rights
against a party to this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as applicable, in a third-party proceeding in
any action brought against Lender in a state, federal or international court, tribunal or hearing
body (including actions in specialty courts, such as bankruptcy and patent courts). Lender may
exercise the rights set forth in clauses (A) through (D), inclusive, before, during or after the
pendency of any arbitration proceeding brought pursuant to this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as
applicable. Neither the exercise of self help remedies nor the institution or maintenance of an
action for foreclosure or provisional or ancillary

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remedies shall constitute a waiver of the right
of any party, including the claimant in any such action, to arbitrate the merits of the Dispute
occasioning resort to such remedies. No provision in the Loan Documents regarding submission to
jurisdiction and/or venue in any court is intended or shall be construed to be in derogation of the
provisions in any Loan Document for arbitration of any Dispute.

     (d) Conflicting Provisions for Dispute Resolution. If there is any conflict between
the terms, conditions and provisions of this Section and those of any other provision or agreement
for arbitration or dispute resolution, the terms, conditions and provisions of this Section shall
prevail as to any Dispute arising out of or relating to (i) this Note, Agreement, or Guaranty, as
applicable, (ii) any other Loan Document, (iii) any related agreements or instruments, or (iv) the
transaction contemplated herein or therein (including any claim based on or arising from an alleged
personal injury or business tort). In any other situation, if the resolution of a given Dispute is
specifically governed by another provision or agreement for arbitration or dispute resolution, the
other provision or agreement shall prevail with respect to said Dispute.

     (e) Jury Trial Waiver in Arbitration. By agreeing to this Section, the parties
irrevocably and voluntarily waive any right they may have to a trial by jury in respect of any
Dispute.

     9. Attorneys’ Fees and Costs of Collection. The Guarantor shall pay on demand all
attorneys’ fees and all other costs and expenses incurred by the Lender in the enforcement of or
preservation of the Lender’s rights under this Guaranty. The Guarantor’s obligations and
liabilities under this Section 9 shall survive any payment or discharge in full of the Obligations.

     10. Term of Guaranty. This Guaranty shall continue in effect until such time as the
Obligations have been fully and finally paid and performed, except that, and notwithstanding any
return of this Guaranty to the Guarantor, this Guaranty shall continue in effect (a) with respect
to any of the Obligations that survive after expiration or termination of the Loan, (b) with
respect to all obligations and liabilities of the Guarantor for indemnification and for the payment
of all costs and expenses, as provided herein, and (c) as provided herein with respect to
preferential, fraudulent or other voidable payments or other transfers.

     11. Subordination. If, for any reason whatsoever, the Borrower is now or hereafter
becomes indebted to the Guarantor:

          (a) such indebtedness and all interest thereon and all liens, security interests and rights
now or hereafter existing with respect to property of the Borrower securing same shall, at all
times, be subordinate in all respects to the Obligations and to all liens, security interests and
rights now or hereafter existing to secure the Obligations; and

          (b) The Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or receive payment, directly or indirectly,
of any such indebtedness of the Borrower to the Guarantor until the Obligations have been fully and
finally paid and performed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Guarantor may receive payments upon
close-out of any Project with regard to loans made by the Guarantor to the owner of any such
Project, or with

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regard to loans made to Borrower on behalf of the owner of any such Project.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Guarantor may receive payments from Borrower in the form of salaries or
shareholder or member dividends.

     12. Subrogation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein (a) the
Guarantor shall not have any right of subrogation in or under any of the Loan Documents or to
participate in any way therein, or in any right, title or interest in and to any security or right
of recourse for the Indebtedness, until the later of the date on which the Indebtedness has been
fully and finally paid, or the Loan has expired or been terminated, and (b) if the Guarantor is or
becomes an “insider” (as defined in Section 101 of the United States Bankruptcy Code) with respect
to the Borrower, then the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and absolutely waives any and all rights of
contribution, indemnification, reimbursement or any similar rights against the Borrower with
respect to this Guaranty (including any right of subrogation, except to the extent of collateral
held by the Lender), whether such rights arise under an express or implied contract or by operation
of law. It is the intention of the parties that the Guarantor shall not be deemed to be a
“creditor” (as defined in Section 101 of the United States Bankruptcy Code) of the Borrower by
reason of the existence of this Guaranty in the event that the Borrower or the Guarantor becomes a
debtor in any proceeding under the United States Bankruptcy code.

     13. Notices. Unless specifically provided otherwise, any notice for purposes of this
Guaranty shall be given in writing or by telecopier transmission and shall be addressed or
delivered to the respective addresses set forth at the end of this Guaranty, or to such other
address as may have been previously designated by the intended recipient by notice given in
accordance with this Section. If sent by prepaid, registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested), the notice shall be deemed effective when the receipt is signed or when the attempted
initial delivery is refused or cannot be made because of a change in address of which the sending
party has not been notified; and if transmitted by telecopier or personal delivery, the notice
shall be effective when received. No notice of change of address shall be effective except upon
actual receipt.

     14. Cumulative Rights. The exercise by the Lender of any right or remedy hereunder or
under any other Loan Document, or at law or in equity, shall not preclude the concurrent or
subsequent exercise of any other right or remedy. The Lender shall have all rights, remedies and
recourses afforded to the Lender by reason of this Guaranty or any other Loan Document or by law or
equity or otherwise, and the same shall be cumulative and concurrent and are intended to be, and
shall be, nonexclusive. No waiver of any default on the part of the Guarantor or of any breach of
any of the provisions of this Guaranty or of any other document shall be considered a waiver of any
other or subsequent default or breach, and no delay or omission in exercising or enforcing the
rights and powers granted herein or in any other document shall be construed as a waiver of such
rights and powers, and no exercise or enforcement of any rights or powers hereunder or under any
other document shall be held to exhaust such rights and powers, and every such right and power may
be exercised from time to time. No provision of this Guaranty or any right, remedy or recourse of
the Lender with
respect hereto, or any default or breach, can be waived, nor can this Guaranty or the

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Guarantor be
released or discharged in any way or to any extent, except specifically in each case by a writing
intended for that purpose (and which refers specifically to this Guaranty) executed, and delivered
to the Guarantor, by the Lender, except as otherwise provided herein.

     15. Disclosure of Information. The Lender may sell or offer to sell the Loan or an
interest in the Loan to one or more assignees or participants and may disclose to any such assignee
or participant or prospective assignee or participant any information the Lender has pertaining to
the Loan, the Obligations, this Guaranty, or the Guarantor. The Lender also may disclose any such
information to any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Lender and to any agent or attorney
of the Lender and in such other circumstances and to such other parties as necessary or appropriate
in the Lender’s reasonable judgment.

     16. Governing Law; Forum. This Guaranty is an agreement executed under seal, and its
validity, enforcement, and interpretation, shall for all purposes be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Jurisdiction of Choice and applicable United States federal law,
and is intended to be performed in accordance with, and only to the extent permitted by, such laws.
If the Guarantor is a corporation, the designation “(SEAL)” on this Guaranty shall be effective as
the affixing of Guarantor’s corporate seal physically to this Guaranty. All obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder are payable and performable at the place or places where the Obligations are
payable and performable. The Guarantor hereby irrevocably submits generally and unconditionally
for the Guarantor and in respect of the Guarantor’ respective property to the jurisdiction of any
state court, or any United States federal court, sitting in the state in which any of the Land is
located, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Guaranty or the
Obligations. The Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
objection that the Guarantor may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue in any such court and
any claim that any such court is an inconvenient forum.

     17. Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of
which, for all purposes, shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute
one and the same agreement.

     18. Miscellaneous. This Guaranty embodies the entire agreement between the Lender and
the Guarantor with respect to the guaranty by the Guarantor of the Obligations. This Guaranty
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, if any, with respect to guaranty by the
Guarantor of the Obligations. This Guaranty may not be modified, amended or superseded except in a
writing signed by the Lender and the Guarantor referencing this Guaranty by its date and
specifically identifying the portions hereof that are to be modified, amended or superseded. This
Guaranty is binding not only on the Guarantor, but also on the Guarantor’s heirs, personal
representatives, successors and assigns. If any provision of this Guaranty or the application
thereof to
any Person or circumstance shall, for any reason and to any extent, be declared to be invalid or
unenforceable, neither the remaining provisions of this Guaranty nor the application of such
provision to any other Person or circumstance shall be affected thereby, and the remaining
provisions of this Guaranty, or the

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applicability of such provision to other Persons or
circumstances, as applicable, shall remain in effect and be enforceable to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law.

[SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor duly executed and delivered this Guaranty, intending that it
be an instrument under seal, as of the date first written above.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	WITNESS:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	GUARANTOR:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	COMSTOCK HOMEBUILDING COMPANIES,	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	INC., a Delaware corporation	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	 	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Name:  

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Christopher Clemente,	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Title:    

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Chief Executive Officer	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	(Seal)	 	 	 	Address:	 	11465 Sunset Hills Road	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	5th Floor	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Reston, Virginia 20190	 	 

ADDRESS OF LENDER:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

8300 Greensboro Drive

Suite 300

McLean, Virginia 22102-3604

Attention: Homebuilder Division

Fax No: (703) 761-8160

-15-exv10w53

 

Exhibit 10.53

SUNRISE SENIOR LIVING, INC.

SENIOR EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN*

          Sunrise Senior Living, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), sets forth herein the
terms of its Senior Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”) as follows:

SECTION 1. PURPOSE.

          The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) believes that it is in the best interests
of the Company to encourage the continued employment with and dedication to the Company of certain
of the Company’s key executive officers in the face of potentially distracting circumstances
arising from the possibility of a change in control of the Company, and the Board has established
the Plan for this purpose.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.

          (a) “Accrued Obligations” means, with respect to an Executive, the sum of (1) the Executive’s
Annual Base Salary through the Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid, (2) the
product of (x) the Executive’s Annual Bonus and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of days in the current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the denominator of
which is 365, and (3) any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any
accrued interest or earnings thereon) and any accrued vacation pay, in each case, to the extent not
theretofore paid.

          (b)
“Annual Base Salary” means, with respect to an Executive, the greater of (a) the annual
base salary payable to the Executive by the Company and its affiliates as of the Date of
Termination or (b) the amount equal to twelve times the highest monthly base salary paid or
payable, including any base salary which has been earned but deferred, to the Executive by the
Company and its affiliate in respect of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the month in
which the Date of Termination occurs.

          (c)
“Annual Bonus” means, with respect to an Executive, the highest amount paid to the
Executive as bonus payments in a single year during the last three full fiscal years prior to the
Date of Termination (annualized in the event that the Executive was not employed by the Company for
the whole of such fiscal year).

 

			
	*	 	See Schedule A for a list of officers that are
designated as “Executives” by the Board to participate in the Plan.

 

 

          (d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

          (e) “Cause” for termination of an Executive’s employment by the Company shall be deemed to
exist if: (a) the Executive is found guilty by a court of having committed fraud or theft against
the Company and such conviction is affirmed on appeal or the time for appeal has expired; (b) the
Executive is found guilty by a court of having committed a crime involving moral turpitude and such
conviction is affirmed on appeal or the time for appeal has expired; (c) in the reasonable
judgment of the Board, the Executive has compromised trade secrets or other similarly valuable
proprietary information of the Company; or (d) in the reasonable judgment of the Board, the
Executive has engaged in gross or willful misconduct that causes substantial and material harm to
the business and operations of the Company or any of its affiliates, the continuation of which will
continue to substantially and materially harm the business and operations of the Company or any of
its affiliates in the future.

          (f)
“Change in Control” means:

          (1) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section
13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) (a
“Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act) of more than 50% of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
“Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
“Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection
(a), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by
the Company; (ii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; and (iii) any acquisition
by any entity pursuant to a transaction which complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of
subsection (3) of this Section 2(f); or

          (2) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”)
cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any
individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a
member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to
the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

2

 

          (3) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case
unless, following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and
entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially
own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such
Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such
transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or
through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (ii) no Person (excluding any
corporation resulting from such Business Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 35% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of
the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership
existed prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board
of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the
Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the
Board, providing for such Business Combination; or

          (4) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of
the Company.

          (g)
“Change in Control Event” means the earlier to occur of (i) a Change in Control or (ii)
the execution and delivery by the Company of an agreement providing for a Change in Control.

          (h)
“Change in Control Period” means the period commencing upon a Change in Control Event
and ending two years after such Change in Control Event.

          (i) “Company” means Sunrise Senior Living, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

3

 

          (j)
“Date of Termination” means, with respect to an Executive, the effective date of
termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its affiliates.

          (k) “Executive” means an executive officer of the Company designated by the Board to
participate in the Plan.

          (l) “Good Reason” means, with respect to an Executive: (1) any reduction in the Executive’s
base salary, fringe benefits or bonus eligibility, except, in the case of fringe benefits or bonus
eligibility, in connection with a reduction in such compensation generally applicable to peer
employees of the Company; (2) that the Executive has his responsibilities or areas of supervision
with the Company substantially reduced (in the Executive’s reasonable judgment) or the Executive is
requested to report to a lower level supervisor; (3) that the Executive has his responsibilities or
areas of supervision with the Company substantially increased without an appropriate increase in
Executive’s compensation (in the Executive’s reasonable judgment); (4) that the Executive is
required to move his office outside the metropolitan area in which the office of the Executive was
previously located; or (5) that the Executive is required to report to a new supervisor and the
Executive and the new supervisor have irreconcilable working relationship problems or difficulties.

          (m)
“Other Benefits” means, with respect to an Executive, any other amounts or benefits
required to be paid or provided or which the Executive is eligible to receive under any plan,
program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliates.

          (n) “Sunrise Service Provider” means any employee or independent contractor of the Company or
any of its affiliates.

SECTION 3. TERM.

          This Plan shall be for a period commencing on November 16, 2005 and ending on November 16,
2010; provided, however, that, in the event of a Change in Control Event during the term of this
Plan, the term of this Plan shall be automatically extended, if necessary, so that this Plan
remains in full force and effect for the Change in Control Period relating to such Change in
Control Event and until all payments required to be made hereunder have been made. References
herein to the term of this Plan shall include the initial term and any additional period for which
this Plan is extended or renewed.

4

 

SECTION 4. SEVERANCE BENEFITS FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL.

          (a) Good Reason; Other Than for Cause. If a Change in Control Event occurs during the term
of this Plan and the Company terminates an Executive’s employment other than for Cause or the
Executive terminates employment for Good Reason during the Change in Control Period:

     (i) The Company shall pay to the Executive the following amounts:

A. the Accrued Obligations in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of
Termination;

B. the amount equal to the product of (1) two and (2) the sum of (x) the
Executive’s Annual Base Salary and (y) the Annual Bonus.

The Company shall pay the amounts provided in subparagraph (B) in a lump sum in cash within
30 days of the Executive’s Date of Termination; provided, however, that if requested by the
acquiror in the Change in Control transaction to provide transition services, payment of up
to one half of amounts due under this Agreement may be deferred until the completion of a
transition period ending up to 120 days following the consummation of such transaction.
Anything in this Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, if, as a result of termination of an
Executive’s employment with the Company, the Executive would receive any payment that,
absent the application of this Section 4(a)(i), would be subject to interest and additional
tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A(a) of the Code as a result of the application of
Section 409A(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then no such payment shall be payable prior to the date
that is the earliest of (1) 6 months after the Executive’s Date of Termination, (2) the
Executive’s death or (3) such other date as will cause such payment not to be subject to
such interest and additional tax.

(ii) For two (2) years after the Date of Termination, or such longer period as may be
provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, the Company
shall continue benefits to the Executive and/or the Executive’s family at least equal to
those which would have been provided to them in accordance with the welfare benefit plans,
practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliates (including,
without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life,
accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable
generally to other peer employees of the Company and its affiliates, as if the Executive’s
employment had not been terminated; provided, however, that if the Executive becomes
reemployed with another employer and is eligible to receive medical or other welfare
benefits under

5

 

another employer provided plan, the medical and other welfare benefits
described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan during such
applicable period of eligibility.

(iv) To the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall timely pay or
provide to the Executive all Other Benefits.

          (b) Cause; Other Than for Good Reason. If the Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause
during the Change in Control Period, this Plan shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive, other than the obligation to pay to the Executive (x) his Annual Base Salary through the
Date of Termination, (y) the amount of any compensation previously deferred by the Executive and
(z) Other Benefits through the Date of Termination, in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid.
If the Executive voluntarily terminates employment during the Change in Control Period, excluding a
termination for Good Reason, this Plan shall terminate without further obligations to the
Executive, other than for Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits
through the Date of Termination. In such case, all Accrued Obligations shall be paid to the
Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.

SECTION 5. EFFECT ON EQUITY COMPENSATION.

          Immediately prior to a Change in Control, all equity compensation grants made to an Executive
by the Company that are outstanding at the time of such Change in Control shall be accelerated and
vest. Accordingly, all stock options shall be exercisable at such time in accordance with their
terms. This Plan is intended to amend all equity compensation grants previously awarded to
Executives to accelerate vesting as described above to the extent vesting would not otherwise be
accelerated under the terms of such equity compensation grants.

SECTION 6. NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION.

          As a condition to the receipt and retention of the severance payment provided in Section
4(a)(i)(B) of this Plan, an Executive shall not during the period commencing with the Date of
Termination and ending twelve (12) months thereafter (the “Restricted Period”):

          (a) provide services to any business or other enterprise in the senior living industry
directly competing with the Company or any of its affiliates in any geographic market where the
Company or any of its affiliates maintains a senior living facility; or

          (b) directly or indirectly solicit, induce or encourage any Sunrise Service Provider to
terminate their employment with the Company or any of its affiliates or to cease rendering services
to the Company or any of its affiliates,

6

 

initiate discussions with any such Sunrise Service
Provider for any such purpose or
authorize or knowingly cooperate with the taking of any such actions by any person, or hire (on
behalf of himself or any other person or entity) any person who was a Sunrise Service Provider on
the Executive’s Date of Termination.

          If an Executive fails to comply with the conditions of this Section 6 on one or more occasions
during the Restricted Period, the Executive shall be required to repay the full amount of the
severance paid to the Executive pursuant to Section 4(a)(i)(B) of this Plan.

SECTION 7. CONFIDENTIALITY.

          An Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all secret or
confidential information, knowledge or data relating to the Company or any of its affiliates, and
their respective businesses, which shall have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive’s
employment by the Company or any of its affiliates and which shall not be or become public
knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the Executive in violation of
this Agreement). After the Executive’s Date of Termination, the Executive shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or legal process,
communicate or divulge any such information, knowledge or data to anyone other than the Company and
those designated by it.

SECTION 8. PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS.

          Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any other agreement, contract or
understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by an Executive with the Company or any
affiliate, except an agreement, contract or understanding hereafter entered into that expressly
modifies or excludes application of this paragraph (an “Other Agreement”), and notwithstanding any
formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation
to the Executive (including groups or classes of participants or beneficiaries of which the
Executive is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form
of a benefit to or for the Executive (a “Benefit Arrangement”), if the Executive is a “disqualified
individual” (as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”)), any right to receive any payment or other benefit under this Plan shall not become vested
(i) to the extent that such right to payment or other benefit, taking into account all other
rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Executive under this Plan, all Other Agreements and all
Benefit Arrangements, would cause any payment or benefit to the Executive under this Plan to be
considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code as then in
effect (a “Parachute Payment”) and (ii) if, as a result of receiving a Parachute Payment, the
aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Executive
from the

7

 

Company under this Plan, all Other
Agreements and all Benefit Arrangements
would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Executive without
causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment. In the event that the
receipt of any such right to payment or other benefit under this Plan, in conjunction with all
other rights, payments or benefits to or for the Executive under any Other Agreement or any Benefit
Arrangement would cause the Executive to be considered to have received a Parachute Payment under
this Plan that would have the effect of decreasing the after-tax amount received by the Executive
as described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then the Executive shall have the right, in
the Executive’s sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments or benefits under this Plan,
any Other Agreements and any Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to
avoid having the payment or benefit to the Executive under this Plan be deemed to be a Parachute
Payment.

SECTION 9. EXPENSES.

          The Company shall pay any and all reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by an Executive
in seeking to obtain or enforce, by bringing an action against the Company, any right or benefit
provided in this Plan if the Executive is successful in whole or in part in such action.

SECTION 10. WITHHOLDING.

          Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary , all payments required to be made by
the Company hereunder to an Executive or his estate or beneficiaries shall be subject to the
withholding of such amounts relating to taxes as the Company reasonably may determine it should
withhold pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. In lieu of withholding such amounts, in
whole or in part, the Company may, in its sole discretion, accept other provisions for the payment
of taxes and any withholdings as required by law, provided that the Company is satisfied that all
requirements of law affecting its responsibilities to withhold compensation have been satisfied.

SECTION 11. NO DUTY TO MITIGATE.

          An Executive’s payments received hereunder shall be considered severance pay in consideration
of past service, and pay in consideration of continued service from the date hereof and entitlement
thereto shall not be governed by any duty to mitigate damages by seeking further employment.

SECTION 12. AMENDMENT, SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION.

          This Plan may be amended, suspended or terminated at any time by the Board; provided, however,
that, following a Change in Control Event and during

8

 

the Change in Control Period relating to such
Change in Control Event, the Board may not amend, suspend or terminate this Plan without the consent of all Executives then subject to
the Plan.

SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW.

          This Plan shall be governed by the laws of United States to the extent applicable and
otherwise by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding the choice of law rules thereof.

SECTION 14. SEVERABILITY.

          If any part of any provision of this Plan shall be invalid or unenforceable under applicable
law, such part shall be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability only,
without in any way affecting the remaining parts of such provision or the remaining provisions of
this Plan.

SECTION 15. DISCLAIMER OF RIGHTS.

          No provision in this Plan shall be construed to confer upon any individual the right to remain
in the employ or service of the Company or any affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any
contractual or other right or authority of the Company either to increase or decrease the
compensation or other payments to any individual at any time, or to terminate any employment or
other relationship between any individual and the Company. The obligation of the Company to pay any
benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those
amounts described herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan shall
in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or
otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any participant or beneficiary under
the terms of the Plan.

SECTION 16. CAPTIONS.

          The use of captions in this Plan is for the convenience of reference only and shall not affect
the meaning of any provision of this Plan.

SECTION 17. NUMBER AND GENDER.

          With respect to words used in this Plan, the singular form shall include the plural form, the
masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, etc., as the context requires.

9

 

SECTION 18. SECTION 409A.

     It is the intention of the parties that payments or benefits payable under this Plan not be
subject to the additional tax imposed pursuant to Section
409A of the Code. To the extent such potential payments or benefits could become subject to such
Section, the parties shall cooperate to amend this Plan with the goal of giving the Executives the
economic benefits described herein in a manner that does not result in such tax being imposed.

* * * * *

     This Plan was duly adopted and approved by the Compensation Committee as of the
16th day of November, 2005.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ John F. Gaul	 	 
	 

	 	Secretary of the Meeting	 	 

10

 

Schedule A

 

 

 

The
following officers have been designated as “Executives” by the Board to participate in the Plan:

	 	 	 	 
	 	President
	 	 
	 	Chief Operating Officer
	 	 
	 	Chief Financial Officer
	 	 
	 	General Counsel
	 	 
	 	Treasurer
	 	 
	 	Chief Accounting Officer

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