UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
December 17, 2008
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)
THE RYLAND GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Maryland | 001-08029 | 52-0849948 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
24025 Park Sorrento, Suite 400, Calabasas, California 91302
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (ZIP Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (818) 223-7500
| Not Applicable | |
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On December 17, 2008, the Board of Directors of The Ryland Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), adopted a rights plan and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock. The dividend is payable to our stockholders of record as of December 29, 2008. The terms of the rights and the rights plan are set forth in a Rights Agreement, by and between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent, dated as of December 18, 2008 (the “Rights Plan”).
This summary of rights provides only a general description of the Rights Plan, and thus, should be read together with the entire Rights Plan, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on form 8-A that will be filed by the Company at the time the dividend is payable.
Our Board of Directors adopted the Rights Plan in an effort to protect stockholder value by attempting to diminish the risk that our ability to use our net operating losses and unrealized losses (collectively, the “NOLs”) to reduce potential future federal income tax obligations may become substantially limited. We have experienced and continue to experience substantial operating losses, including realized losses for tax purposes from sales of inventory and land previously written down for financial statement purposes, which would produce NOLs. Under the Internal Revenue Code and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, we may “carry forward” these NOLs in certain circumstances to offset any current and future taxable income and thus reduce our federal income tax liability, subject to certain requirements and restrictions. To the extent that the NOLs do not otherwise become limited, we believe that we will be able to carry forward a significant amount of NOLs, and therefore these NOLs could be a substantial asset to us. However, if we experience an “Ownership Change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, our ability to use the NOLs, including NOLs later arising from sales of land and inventory previously written down, will be substantially limited, and the timing of the usage of the NOLs could be substantially delayed, which could therefore significantly impair the value of that asset.
The Rights Plan is intended to act as a deterrent to any person or group acquiring 4.9% or more of our outstanding common stock (an “Acquiring Person”) without the approval of our Board of Directors. Stockholders who own 4.9% or more of our outstanding common stock as of the close of business on December 29, 2008 will not trigger the Rights Plan so long as they do not (i) acquire any additional shares of common stock or (ii) fall under 4.9% ownership of common stock and then re-acquire 4.9% or more of the common stock of the Company. The Rights Plan does not exempt any future acquisitions of common stock by such persons. Any rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not be exercised. Our Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, exempt any person or group from being deemed an Acquiring Person for purposes of the Rights Plan.
The Rights. Our Board of Directors authorized the issuance of one right per each outstanding share of our common stock payable to our stockholders of record as of December 29, 2008. Subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Plan, if the rights become exercisable, each right would initially represent the right to purchase from us one ten-thousandth of a share of our Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) for a purchase price of $90.00 (the “Purchase Price”). If issued, each fractional share of preferred stock would give the stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as does one share of our common stock. However, prior to exercise, a right does not give its holder any rights as a stockholder of the Company, including without limitation any dividend, voting or liquidation rights.
Exercisability. The rights will not be exercisable until the earlier of (i) 10 business days after a public announcement by us that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person and (ii) 10 business days after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by a person or group for 4.9% or more of our common stock.
We refer to the date that the rights become exercisable as the “Distribution Date.” Until the Distribution Date, our common stock certificates will evidence the rights and will contain a notation to that effect. Any transfer of shares of common stock prior to the Distribution Date will constitute a transfer of the associated rights. After the Distribution Date, the rights may be transferred other than in connection with the transfer of the underlying shares of common stock unless and until our Board has determined not to affect an exchange pursuant to the Rights Plan (as described below).
After the Distribution Date, each holder of a right, other than rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a right and payment of the Purchase Price, that number of shares of common stock, as the case may be, having a market value of two times the Purchase Price.
Exchange. After the Distribution Date, the Board of Directors may exchange the rights (other than rights owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a fractional share of Series A Preferred Stock (or of a share of a similar class or series of the Company’s preferred stock having similar rights, preferences and privileges) of equivalent value, per right (subject to adjustment).
Stockholder Approval. The Company intends to submit the Rights Plan for stockholder approval (“Stockholder Approval”) at a meeting of stockholders of the Company.
Expiration. The rights and the Rights Plan will expire on the earliest of (i) December 18, 2018, (ii) the time at which the rights are redeemed pursuant to the Rights Agreement, (iii) the time at which the rights are exchanged pursuant to the Rights Agreement, (iv) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code or any successor statute if the Board of Directors determines that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary for the preservation of Tax Benefits, (v) the beginning of a taxable year of the Company to which the Board of Directors determines that no Tax Benefits may be carried forward and (vi) December 18, 2009 if Stockholder Approval has not been obtained.
Redemption. At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the Board of Directors may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the rights, the right to exercise the rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Anti-Dilution Provisions. Our Board of Directors may adjust the purchase price of the preferred shares, the number of preferred shares issuable and the number of outstanding rights to prevent dilution that may occur as a result of certain events, including among others, a stock dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the preferred shares or our common stock. No adjustments to the purchase price of less than 1% will be made.
Amendments. Before the Distribution Date, our Board of Directors may amend or supplement the Rights Plan without the consent of the holders of the rights. After the Distribution Date, our Board of Directors may amend or supplement the rights Plan only to cure an ambiguity, to alter time period provisions, to correct inconsistent provisions, or to make any additional changes to the Rights Plan, but only to the extent that those changes do not impair or adversely affect any rights holder and do not result in the rights again becoming redeemable, and no such amendment may cause the rights again to become redeemable or cause this Rights Agreement again to become amendable other than in accordance with this sentence.
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The information set forth under “Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated December 23, 2008
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| THE RYLAND GROUP, INC. |
| |
| |
Date: December 23, 2008 | By: | /s/ Timothy J. Geckle | |
| | Timothy J. Geckle |
| | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | | Description |
| | |
Exhibit 99.1 | | Press release dated December 23, 2008 |
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