UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. )*
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
RALCORP HOLDINGS, INC.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
751028101
(CUSIP Number)
Keith Meister
Corvex Management LP
712 Fifth Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, New York 10019
(212) 474-6700
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
COPIES TO:
Patrick J. Dooley, Esq.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036
(212) 872-1000
August 22, 2012
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule §240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
* | The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. |
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
Continued on following page(s)
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 2 of 10 Pages |
(1) |
Names of reporting persons
CORVEX MANAGEMENT LP | |||||
(2) | Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (see instructions)
(a) ¨ (b) x | |||||
(3) | SEC use only
| |||||
(4) | Source of funds (see instructions)
WC | |||||
(5) | Check box if disclosure of legal proceedings is required pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
¨ | |||||
(6) | Citizenship or place of organization
DELAWARE | |||||
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with |
(7) | Sole voting power
2,835,296 | ||||
(8) | Shared voting power
0 | |||||
(9) | Sole dispositive power
2,835,296 | |||||
(10) | Shared dispositive power
0 | |||||
(11) |
Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person
2,835,296 | |||||
(12) |
Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (11) excludes certain shares (see instructions)
¨ | |||||
(13) |
Percent of class represented by amount in Row (11)
5.13% | |||||
(14) |
Type of reporting person (see instructions)
PN; IA |
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 3 of 10 Pages |
(1) |
Names of reporting persons
KEITH MEISTER | |||||
(2) | Check the appropriate box if a member of a group (see instructions)
c. ¨ d. x | |||||
(3) | SEC use only
| |||||
(4) | Source of funds (see instructions)
WC | |||||
(5) | Check box if disclosure of legal proceedings is required pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)
¨ | |||||
(6) | Citizenship or place of organization
UNITED STATES | |||||
Number of shares beneficially owned by each reporting person with |
(7) | Sole voting power
2,835,296 | ||||
(8) | Shared voting power
0 | |||||
(9) | Sole dispositive power
2,835,296 | |||||
(10) | Shared dispositive power
0 | |||||
(11) |
Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person
2,835,296 | |||||
(12) |
Check box if the aggregate amount in Row (11) excludes certain shares (see instructions)
¨ | |||||
(13) |
Percent of class represented by amount in Row (11)
5.13% | |||||
(14) |
Type of reporting person (see instructions)
IN; HC |
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 4 of 10 Pages |
Item 1. | Security and Issuer. |
The title of the class of equity security to which this statement on Schedule 13D relates is the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Shares) of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the Issuer). The address of the Issuers principal executive offices is 800 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63101.
Item 2. | Identity and Background. |
This statement on Schedule 13D is filed on behalf of Corvex Management LP, a Delaware limited partnership (Corvex), and Keith Meister, an American citizen (collectively, the Reporting Persons). This statement relates to Shares held for the account of certain private investment funds for which Corvex acts as investment adviser, including Corvex Master Fund, LP, a Cayman Islands limited partnership, the general partner of which is controlled by Mr. Meister (collectively, the Corvex Funds). The general partner of Corvex is controlled by Mr. Meister. The principal business address of each of Corvex and Mr. Meister is 712 Fifth Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10019. A joint filing agreement of Corvex and Mr. Meister is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
During the last five years, none of Corvex, Mr. Meister or any of the Corvex Funds has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. |
The responses to Items 4, 5 and 6 of this Schedule 13D are incorporated herein by reference.
The Reporting Persons used working capital of the Corvex Funds to purchase the 1,121,048 Shares reported herein and to acquire the call options and put options referenced in Item 6. The total purchase price for the Shares reported herein was $83,715,117 (including Shares purchased prior to the Post separation) and the purchase price to acquire such call options and put options was $36,465,940.
Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction. |
The responses to Items 3, 5 and 6 of this Schedule 13D are incorporated herein by reference.
The Reporting Persons acquired the Shares in the belief that the Shares are undervalued and are an attractive investment. The Reporting Persons have had meetings and conversations with management of the Issuer to discuss the Issuers operations, strategy, and governance and will seek to have additional conversations with one or more of the Issuers management, members of the Issuers board, other stockholders of the Issuer and other persons to discuss the Issuers business, strategies, potential value enhancing actions or transactions and other matters related to the Issuer. The Reporting Persons believe that the Issuer has a strong competitive position in an attractive industry with secular growth tailwinds but that poor execution has prevented the Issuers shares from reflecting full value. The Reporting Persons intend to discuss with one or more of the persons referenced above, among other topics, the Issuers performance since rejecting ConAgras acquisition offer last year. Specifically, the Reporting Persons believe that the status quo is unacceptable and the Issuer should immediately pursue three alternatives to enhance stockholder value: 1) a sale of the company, 2) a merger with another food company to take advantage of economies of scale and cost synergies or 3) a self-help strategy with new investor board representation and a renewed focus on execution, accretive acquisitions and efficient capital allocation. The Reporting Persons intend to express their concern that the Issuer has had several serious execution issues since the Post separation including disappointing earnings, inability to file quarterly financials on a timely basis and poor communication with investors and analysts.
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 5 of 10 Pages |
The Reporting Persons intend to review the investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis and may from time to time and at any time in the future depending on various factors, including, without limitation, the outcome of any discussions referenced above, the Issuers financial position and strategic direction, actions taken by the Issuers board, price levels of the Shares, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, conditions in the securities market and general economic and industry conditions, take such actions with respect to the investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate, including: (i) acquiring additional Shares and/or other equity, debt, notes, other securities, or derivative or other instruments that are based upon or relate to the value of the Shares or the Issuer (collectively, Securities) of the Issuer in the open market or otherwise; (ii) disposing of any or all of their Securities in the open market or otherwise; (iii) engaging in any hedging or similar transactions with respect to the Securities; or (iv) proposing one or more of the actions described in subsections (a)(j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.
Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer. |
(a) (b) Corvex may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 1,121,048 Shares and 1,714,248 Shares underlying the call options referenced in Item 6, which collectively represent approximately 5.13% of the Issuers outstanding Shares. Corvex may be deemed to have sole power to vote and sole power to dispose of such Shares. By virtue of his position as control person of the general partner of Corvex, Mr. Meister may be considered to beneficially own such Shares.
The percentage in the immediately foregoing paragraph is calculated based on a total of 55,274,475 Shares outstanding as of February 8, 2012 (based on the Issuers Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending December 31, 2011).
(c) Except as set forth on Exhibit 2 attached hereto, there have been no transactions with respect to the Shares during the sixty days prior to the date hereof by either Corvex or Mr. Meister.
(d) The limited partners of (or investors in) each of two or more private investment funds, or their respective subsidiaries or affiliated entities, for which Corvex or its affiliates acts as general partner and/or investment adviser have the right to participate in the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares held for the accounts of their respective funds in accordance with their respective limited partnership interests (or investment percentages) in their respective funds.
(e) Not applicable.
Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer. |
The responses to Items 3, 4 and 5 of this Schedule 13D are incorporated herein by reference.
The Reporting Persons purchased, in the over the counter market, American-style call options referencing an aggregate of 1,714,248 Shares at an exercise price of $42.50 per Share, of which 977,248 expire on July 24, 2013 and 737,000 expire on August 30, 2013.
The Reporting Persons have sold, in the over the counter market, European-style put options referencing an aggregate of 1,714,248 Shares at an exercise price of $42.50 per share, of which 977,248 expire on July 24, 2013 and 737,000 expire on August 30, 2013 or, in each case, the date on which the corresponding American-style call option described above in this Item 6 is exercised.
Except for the arrangements described herein, to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise) among the persons named in Item 2 and between such persons and any other person with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including but not limited to, transfer or voting of any of the securities, finders fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies.
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 6 of 10 Pages |
Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
Exhibit 1Agreement between Corvex and Keith Meister to file this Schedule 13D and any amendments thereto jointly on behalf of each of them.
Exhibit 2Transactions in the Shares effected in the past 60 days.
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 7 of 10 Pages |
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Date: August 22, 2012 | CORVEX MANAGEMENT LP | |||
By: | /s/ Keith Meister | |||
Name: | Keith Meister | |||
Title: | Managing Partner | |||
Date: August 22, 2012 | KEITH MEISTER | |||
By: | /s/ Keith Meister |
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 8 of 10 Pages |
EXHIBIT 1
AGREEMENT
JOINT FILING OF SCHEDULE 13D
The undersigned hereby agree to jointly prepare and file with regulatory authorities this Schedule 13D and any future amendments thereto reporting each of the undersigneds ownership of securities of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., and hereby affirm that such Schedule 13D is being filed on behalf of each of the undersigned pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the other, except to the extent that he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
Date: August 22, 2012 | CORVEX MANAGEMENT LP | |||
By: | /s/ Keith Meister | |||
Name: | Keith Meister | |||
Title: | Managing Partner | |||
Date: August 22, 2012 | KEITH MEISTER | |||
By: | /s/ Keith Meister |
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 9 of 10 Pages |
EXHIBIT 2
The following table sets forth all transactions with respect to Shares effected since June 22, 2012, by the Reporting Persons on behalf of the Corvex Funds in respect of the Shares, inclusive of any transactions effected through 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 22, 2012. Except as otherwise noted below, all such transactions were purchases or sales of Shares effected in the open market, and the table includes commissions paid in per share prices.
NATURE OF TRANSACTION |
DATE OF TRANSACTION |
AMOUNT OF SECURITIES |
PRICE PER SHARE/PREMIUM PER OPTION |
|||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/9/2012 | 34,077 | $ | 66.8894 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/13/2012 | 8,900 | $ | 62.3326 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/13/2012 | 6,299 | $ | 62.3214 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/13/2012 | 49,093 | $ | 61.9848 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/13/2012 | 5,500 | $ | 62.3466 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/16/2012 | 39,007 | $ | 61.0644 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/17/2012 | 56,048 | $ | 60.9361 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/17/2012 | 65,000 | $ | 60.9399 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
7/20/2012 | 50,000 | $ | 61.495 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
8/2/2012 | 150,000 | $ | 61.9375 | ||||||||
Open Market Purchase Transaction |
8/7/2012 | 50,000 | $ | 64.435 | ||||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
7/19/2012 | 72,800 | (1) | $ | 19.5417 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
7/20/2012 | 39,700 | (1) | $ | 19.0913 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
7/23/2012 | 179,000 | (1) | $ | 18.0909 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
7/24/2012 | 100,000 | (1) | $ | 17.5526 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
7/25/2012 | 126,600 | (1) | $ | 17.1208 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
7/26/2012 | 106,000 | (1) | $ | 17.3443 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
7/27/2012 | 10,100 | (1) | $ | 17.674 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/1/2012 | 53,600 | (1) | $ | 18.006 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/2/2012 | 75,600 | (1) | $ | 19.3486 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/3/2012 | 43,300 | (1) | $ | 21.2558 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/6/2012 | 57,587 | (1) | $ | 21.7162 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/7/2012 | 12,961 | (1) | $ | 21.8852 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/8/2012 | 100,000 | (1) | $ | 21.8129 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/9/2012 | 49,000 | (2) | $ | 21.5642 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/10/2012 | 70,000 | (2) | $ | 21.1973 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/13/2012 | 20,000 | (2) | $ | 22.1587 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/14/2012 | 55,000 | (2) | $ | 22.3601 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/15/2012 | 50,000 | (2) | $ | 22.9341 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/16/2012 | 100,000 | (2) | $ | 24.3644 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/17/2012 | 38,000 | (2) | $ | 24.9674 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/20/2012 | 145,000 | (2) | $ | 25.3522 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/21/2012 | 110,000 | (2) | $ | 25.7584 | (3) | ||||||
Purchase of Call Options |
8/22/2012 | 100,000 | (2) | $ | 25.6375 | (3) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
7/19/2012 | 72,800 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
7/20/2012 | 39,700 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
7/23/2012 | 179,000 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
7/24/2012 | 100,000 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
7/25/2012 | 126,600 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) |
CUSIP No. 751028101 | Page 10 of 10 Pages |
NATURE OF TRANSACTION |
DATE OF TRANSACTION |
AMOUNT OF SECURITIES |
PRICE PER SHARE/PREMIUM PER OPTION |
|||||||||
Sale of Put Options |
7/26/2012 | 106,000 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
7/27/2012 | 10,100 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/1/2012 | 53,600 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/2/2012 | 75,600 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/3/2012 | 43,300 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/6/2012 | 57,587 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/7/2012 | 12,961 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/8/2012 | 100,000 | (4) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/9/2012 | 49,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/10/2012 | 70,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/13/2012 | 20,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/14/2012 | 55,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/15/2012 | 50,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/16/2012 | 100,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/17/2012 | 38,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/20/2012 | 145,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/21/2012 | 110,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Sale of Put Options |
8/22/2012 | 100,000 | (5) | $ | 0.01 | (6) | ||||||
Purchase of Put Options |
7/27/2012 | 100,000 | (7) | $ | 2.25 | (8) |
(1) | Represents shares underlying American-style call options purchased in the over the counter market. These call options expire on July 24, 2013. |
(2) | Represents shares underlying American-style call options purchased in the over the counter market. These call options expire on August 30, 2013. |
(3) | This amount represents the cost of an applicable American-style call option to purchase one Share. The per share exercise price of these call options is $42.50. This exercise price will be adjusted to account for any dividends or other distributions declared by the Issuer prior to exercise of the options. |
(4) | Represents shares underlying European-style put options sold in the over the counter market. These put options expire on the earlier of July 24, 2013 or the date on which the corresponding American-style call option described above in footnote 1 is exercised. |
(5) | Represents shares underlying European-style put options sold in the over the counter market. These put options expire on the earlier of August 30, 2013 or the date on which the corresponding American-style call option described above in footnote 2 is exercised. |
(6) | This amount represents the proceeds received from an applicable European-style put option to sell one Share. The per share exercise price of these put options is $42.50. This exercise price will be adjusted to account for any dividends or other distributions declared by the Issuer prior to exercise of the options. |
(7) | Represents shares underlying American-style put options purchased in the open market. These put options expired on August 18, 2012. |
(8) | This amount represents the cost of an applicable American-style put option to purchase one Share. The per share exercise prices of these put options was $57.50. |