HORTON D R INC /DE/
8-K, 1997-12-24
OPERATIVE BUILDERS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 Current Report
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                December 19,1997
                                ----------------
                (Date of Report--Date of Earliest Event Reported)



                               D. R. Horton, Inc.
                               ------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)




          Delaware                    1-4112                  75-2386963
          --------                    ------                  ----------
(State or Other Jurisdiction        (Commission             (IRS Employer
      of Incorporation)             File Number)          Identification No.)




           1901 Ascension Boulevard, Suite 100, Arlington, Texas 76006
           ----------------------------------------------------------- 
                   (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (817) 856-8200
                                 --------------
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)



        ------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)





<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events.

On December 19, 1997, D.R. Horton, Inc. (the "Registrant") announced that it had
entered  into a  definitive  agreement  and  plan of  merger  pursuant  to which
Continental  Homes  Holding  Corporation  would be merged into  Registrant.  The
announcement was by means of a news release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.



































<PAGE>




Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits

99.1              News release dated December 19, 1997.




                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: December 24, 1997



                                       D.R. Horton, Inc.



                                       By:/s/ Charles N. Warren
                                          --------------------------------
                                          Charles N. Warren
                                          Senior Vice President






                                                                    Exhibit 99.1
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]                                    


PRESS RELEASE
                                       Rick Beckwitt, EVP
         FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: David J. Keller, EVP
         ADDRESS:  1901 Ascension Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, TX 76006
         PHONE:    817-856-8200
         DATE:     December 19, 1997                      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

D.R. HORTON, INC. AND CONTINENTAL HOMES ANNOUNCE MERGER

     ARLINGTON,  TEXAS -- D.R.  Horton,  Inc.  (NYSE:DHI) and Continental  Homes
Holding Corp.  (NYSE:  CON) Friday  (December 19, 1997) announced that they have
entered  into a  definitive  agreement  and  plan of  merger  pursuant  to which
Continental would be merged into Horton.

     The merger,  which was unanimously  approved by both  companies'  Boards of
Directors,  will create one of the largest and most  geographically  diversified
single-family  homebuilders  in the United States,  with operations in 21 states
and 29 markets.  Using the latest public  information,  the Companies had latest
twelve months  combined  revenues of $1.6 billion and closed 10,172 homes.  Over
the last  twelve  months,  the  combined  company  would be the  fourth  largest
homebuilder  in the United States based upon revenues and homes closed and would
be among the best capitalized companies in the homebuilding industry.

     Donald R. Horton, Chairman and President of D.R. Horton, Inc. said, "We are
extremely  excited  about the  prospects of  combining  the  operations  of D.R.
Horton, Inc. and Continental Homes. The merger represents the combination of two
of the best  performing  homebuilders  in the  industry  and is  expected  to be
accretive  to D.R.  Horton  earnings.  The  combined  company will be one of the
largest  builders in the United  States and our combined  equity will provide an
excellent platform for continued growth. Together, we will have a leading market
share  in  six of the  strongest  homebuilding  markets  in the  United  States:
Arizona,  California,  Colorado,  Florida, Georgia and Texas. In addition, there
will be  significant  opportunities  for  operating  synergies  and expansion of
Continental's  mortgage  operations.  We are  delighted  to join forces with the
outstanding  management  team led by President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of
Continental,  Tom Hickcox.  Given Continental's  management depth and historical
success, we plan to operate Continental as a separate operating region."

     Tom Hickcox, President and Chief Executive Officer of Continental,  stated,
"D.R.  Horton,  Inc. has a proven  track  record of success in the  homebuilding
industry.  We at Continental are pleased to be teaming-up with D.R. Horton, Inc.
and look  forward  to  continued  growth and  profitability.  By  combining  our
operations, we expand our product line to capture  more price points, as well as


<PAGE>


solidify our presence in several of the best homebuilding  markets in the United
States. Our Board is confident that the merger with D.R. Horton,  Inc. is in the
best interests of our stockholders and our people."

     Under the terms of the merger agreement,  the ratio of the number of Horton
shares to be exchanged  for  Continental  shares in the proposed  merger will be
determined  pursuant to a floating exchange ratio. The final exchange ratio will
be determined based on the average of Horton's stock price 15 randomly  selected
trading  days within the 30  consecutive  trading days ending five days prior to
the closing date. The floating exchange ratio operates as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Horton Share Price               Below $14.50       $14.50-$16.87      $16.88-$18.78       $18.79-$19.78       Above $19.79
- ----------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- -------------------
<S>                              <C>                 <C>               <C>                  <C>                 <C>    
Exchange Ratio *                    2.759            2.759-2.370           2.370            2.370-2.250            2.250
Implied Purchase Price           Below $40.00           $40.00         $40.00-$44.50           $44.50           Above $44.50
- ----------------------------- ------------------- ------------------ ------------------ ------------------- -------------------

<FN>
     (*)  Represents  the  number  of Horton  shares  issued  for each  share of
          Continental
</FN>
</TABLE>

     The  merger  has been  structured  as a  tax-free  transaction  and will be
treated  as a pooling  of  interests  for  accounting  purposes.  Based upon the
closing  stock price of D.R.  Horton,  Inc. on December 18,  1997,  the exchange
ratio for the transaction would be 2.312, and implies a purchase price per share
of  $44.50.  The  merger is  subject to the  approval  of  stockholders  of both
companies,  various pre-merger regulatory approvals, and other customary closing
conditions and is expected to close late in the first calendar quarter of 1998.

     As part of the merger,  Continental's Interim Chairman of the Board Bradley
Anderson  and Chief  Executive  Officer  and  President  Tom  Hickcox  will join
Horton's board, increasing the number of directors to eleven.

     As of September 30, 1997, D.R.  Horton,  Inc. had $719.8 million in assets.
For the year then ended,  D.R. Horton reported revenue of $837.3 million and net
income of $36.2 million.

     As of November 30, 1997, Continental Homes Holding Corp. had $544.4 million
in assets.  For the latest  twelve months ended  November 30, 1997,  Continental
reported revenues of $737.3 million and net income of $27.7 million.

     Donaldson,  Lufkin & Jenrette acted as the financial  advisor of Horton and
Smith Barney,  Inc. acted as financial advisor to Continental.  Morgan Stanley &
Co. acted as financial advisor to the independent members of Continental's Board
of Directors.

     Portions of this document may constitute  "forward  looking  statements" as
defined by federal law.  Although the companies  believe any such statements are
based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will
not be materially different. Additional information about issues that could lead
to material changes in performance is contained in the companies' annual reports
on Form 10-K, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.




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