SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------------
SCHEDULE 13G*
(Rule 13d-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO 13d-2(b)
Darling International Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
237266101
(CUSIP Number)
April 7, 2004
(Date of event which requires filing of this statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule 13G is filed:
[ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
(Page 1 of 14 Pages)
----------------
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for purposes 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).
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 2 of 14 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Partners, L.P.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
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(3) SEC USE ONLY
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(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
1,583,117
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,583,117
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(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,583,117
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(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
2.5%
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(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
PN
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** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 3 of 14 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Management, L.L.C.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
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(3) SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
1,583,117
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,583,117
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,583,117
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
2.5%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
OO
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** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 4 of 14 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Capital Partners, L.P.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
1,001,300
OWNED BY ______________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,001,300
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,001,300
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
1.6%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
PN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 5 of 14 Pages
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
1,001,300
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,001,300
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,001,300
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
1.6%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
OO
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 6 of 14 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
1,049,630
OWNED BY ______________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,049,630
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,049,630
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
1.7%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 7 of 14 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Associates, L.L.C.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
60,000
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
60,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
60,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0.1%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
IA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 8 of 14 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE
PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Jeffrey L. Gendell
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
3,694,047
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
3,694,047
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
3,694,047
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
5.8%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 9 of 14 Pages
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
The name of the issuer is Darling International Inc. (the "Company").
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 251 O'Connor Ridge
Blvd., Suite 300, Irving, Texas 75038.
Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:
This statement is filed by:
(i) Tontine Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("TP")
with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by it;
(ii) Tontine Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
("TCP") with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned
by it;
(iii) Tontine Management, L.L.C., a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TM"), with
respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TP;
(iv) Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C., a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TCM"), with
respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TCP;
(v) Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C., a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TOA"), which
serves as investment manager to Tontine Overseas Fund, Ltd.
("TOF"), a company organized under the laws of the Cayman
Islands, with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly
owned by TOF;
(vi) Tontine Associates, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TA"), which serves as
investment manager to a managed account (the "Managed Account"),
with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by the
Managed Account; and
(vii) Jeffrey L. Gendell, with respect to the shares of Common Stock
directly owned by each of TP, TCP, TOF and the Managed Account.
The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively
referred to as the "Reporting Persons." Any disclosures herein with respect to
persons other than the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief
after making inquiry to the appropriate party.
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 10 of 14 Pages
Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:
The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 55
Railroad Avenue, 3rd Floor, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830.
Item 2(c). Citizenship:
TP and TCP are limited partnerships organized under the laws of the State
of Delaware. TM, TCM, TOA and TA are limited liability companies organized under
the laws of the State of Delaware. Mr. Gendell is a United States citizen.
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the "Common Stock")
Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:
237266101
Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or
(c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act,
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act,
(c) [ ] Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the
Act,
(d) [ ] Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940,
(e) [ ] Investment Adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1
(b)(1)(ii)(E),
(f) [ ] Employee Benefit Plan or Endowment Fund in accordance
with 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F),
(g) [ ] Parent Holding Company or control person in accordance
with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G),
(h) [ ] Savings Association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act,
(i) [ ] Church Plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940,
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
Not applicable.
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 11 of 14 Pages
Item 4. Ownership.
A. Tontine Partners, L.P.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,583,117
(b) Percent of class: 2.5% The percentages used herein and in the
rest of Item 4 are calculated based upon the 63,726,060 shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding as of March 16, 2004 as reflected in the Company's Form
10-K filed on March 29, 2004 for the year ending December 31, 2003.
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,583,117
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 1,583,117
B. Tontine Management, L.L.C.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,583,117
(b) Percent of class: 2.5 %
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,583,117
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
1,583,117
C. Tontine Capital Partners, L.P.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,001,300
(b) Percent of class: 1.6 %
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,001,300
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
1,001,300
D. Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,001,300
(b) Percent of class: 1.6 %
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,001,300
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
1,001,300
D. Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,049,630
(b) Percent of class: 1.7%
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,049,630
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
1,049,630
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 12 of 14 Pages
E. Tontine Associates, L.L.C.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 60,000
(b) Percent of class: 0.1%
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 60,000
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 60,000
F. Jeffrey L. Gendell
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 3,694,047
(b) Percent of class: 5.8%
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 3,694,047
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 3,694,047
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
TM, the general partner of TP, has the power to direct the affairs of TP,
including decisions respecting the disposition of the proceeds from the sale of
the shares of the Company. TCM, the general partner of TCP, has the power to
direct the affairs of TCP, including decisions respecting the disposition of the
proceeds from the sale of the shares of the Company. Mr. Gendell is the managing
member of TM, TCM, TOA and TA and in that capacity directs their operations.
Each of the clients of TOA and TA has the power to direct the receipt of
dividends from or the proceeds of sale of such shares.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
See Item 2.
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Certification.
Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification:
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for
the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the
issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 13 of 14 Pages
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, the
undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
DATED:
April 19, 2004
/s/ JEFFREY L. GENDELL
Jeffrey L. Gendell, individually, and as
managing member of
Tontine Management, L.L.C.;
general partner of
Tontine Partners, L.P.;
managing member of
Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C.;
general partner of
Tontine Capital Partners, L.P.;
managing member of
Tontine Associates, L.L.C.; and
managing member of
Tontine Overseas Associates.
CUSIP No. 237266101 13G Page 14 of 14 Pages
JOINT FILING AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(K)(1)
---------------------------------------------------
The undersigned acknowledges and agree that the foregoing
statement on Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that
all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G shall be filed on
behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional
joint filing statements. The undersigned acknowledges that each shall be
responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness
and accuracy of the information concerning him, her or it contained herein, but
shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information
concerning the other entities or persons, except to the extent that he, she or
it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.
Dated as of April 19, 2004
/ s/ JEFFREY L. GENDELL
Jeffrey L. Gendell, individually, and as
managing member of
Tontine Management, L.L.C.;
general partner of
Tontine Partners, L.P.;
managing member of
Tontine Capital Management, L.L.C.;
general partner of
Tontine Capital Partners, L.P.;
managing member of
Tontine Associates, L.L.C.; and
managing member of
Tontine Overseas Associates.