RISK FACTORS
In addition to the description of the risks related to our business, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement from our 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2020, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2020 and August 3, 2020, respectively, and the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should carefully consider the following risk factors before making an investment in the notes. The risks described below and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks not known to us may also impair our business.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Health epidemics, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have had, and could in the future have, an adverse impact on our business and operations, and the markets, states and local communities in which we operate.
Our business and operations could be adversely affected by health epidemics, including the recent COVID-19 pandemic, impacting the markets, states and local communities in which we operate. The COVID-19 pandemic has been declared a national emergency. Efforts to contain the virus have led to significant disruptions to commerce, increased unemployment, lower consumer confidence and consumer demand for goods and services and general uncertainty regarding the near-term and long-term impact of the COVID-19 virus on the domestic and international economy and on public health. These developments and other consequences of the outbreak could materially and adversely affect our operations, profitability and cash flows.
The duration, severity, and scope of the COVID-19 outbreak are highly uncertain. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted and may continue to adversely impact our business. To date, our primary focus as we face this challenge has been to do everything we can to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees, customers and trade partners.
Homebuilding: State governments in every market where we operate have instituted social distancing and other restrictions, which have resulted in significant changes to the way we conduct business. We are operating in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and local guidelines, in all of our markets.
Mortgage: We are operating in accordance with state and local guidelines with respect to our mortgage banking and settlement services activities. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mortgage market has been significantly disrupted as investors tightened their credit standards or exited the market. This disruption has adversely impacted our business to date, as it has resulted in significantly lower values for mortgage servicing rights.
The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or a similar health epidemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. There is uncertainty regarding governmental actions that may occur, and the effects of economic relief efforts on the U.S. economy, either of which could be potential disruptors to our business. Over the long term, these disruptions related to COVID-19 could lower demand for our products, impair our ability to sell and/or build homes in our normal manner, increase our losses on contract land deposits, and negatively impact our lending and secondary mortgage market activities.
The full extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic will affect our operations cannot be predicted at this time, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the outbreak, governmental reactions and policies, the impact of such on our employees, customers and trade partners, and the length of time required for normal economic and operating conditions to resume. While the spread of COVID-19 may eventually be mitigated, there is no guarantee that a future outbreak of this or any other widespread epidemics will not occur, or that the U.S. economy will recover, either of which could seriously harm our business.
Risks Relating to the Notes
As used in this section of the prospectus supplement, the term “notes” includes the initial notes, unless the context requires otherwise.
The notes will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.
The notes will not be guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries and will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future claims of creditors of our subsidiaries. This is because these creditors will have priority as to the assets of our subsidiaries over our claims as an equity holder in our subsidiaries and thereby, indirectly, your claims as holders of the notes. As a result, upon any distribution to these creditors in a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or similar proceeding relating to us or our property, these creditors would be
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