UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13G

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.         )*

 

 

 

 

DOWNEY FINANCIAL CORP.

(Name of Issuer)

 

 

COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

261018105

(CUSIP Number)

 

 

JULY 30, 2007

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

¨ Rule 13d-1(b)

x Rule 13d-1(c)

¨ Rule 13d-1(d)

 

 

---

*

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 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).

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 2 of 14 Pages

 

1.		NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)   Highfields Capital Management LP
2.		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a)  ¨ (b)  ¨
3.		SEC USE ONLY
4.		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   Delaware

NUMBER OF   SHARES   BENEFICIALLY   OWNED BY   EACH   REPORTING   PERSON   WITH		5.    SOLE VOTING POWER         1,829,385
		6.    SHARED VOTING POWER         —0—
		7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER         1,829,385
		8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER         —0—

9.		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON   1,829,385
10.		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨
11.		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9   6.6%
12.		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   PN

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 3 of 14 Pages

 

1.		NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)   Highfields GP LLC
2.		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a)  ¨ (b)  ¨
3.		SEC USE ONLY
4.		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   Delaware

NUMBER OF   SHARES   BENEFICIALLY   OWNED BY   EACH   REPORTING   PERSON   WITH		5.    SOLE VOTING POWER         1,829,385
		6.    SHARED VOTING POWER         —0—
		7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER         1,829,385
		8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER         —0—

9.		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON   1,829,385
10.		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨
11.		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9   6.6%
12.		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   OO

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 4 of 14 Pages

 

1.		NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)   Highfields Associates LLC
2.		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a)  ¨ (b)  ¨
3.		SEC USE ONLY
4.		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   Delaware

NUMBER OF   SHARES   BENEFICIALLY   OWNED BY   EACH   REPORTING   PERSON   WITH		5.    SOLE VOTING POWER         1,829,385
		6.    SHARED VOTING POWER         —0—
		7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER         1,829,385
		8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER         —0—

9.		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON   1,829,385
10.		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨
11.		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9   6.6%
12.		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   OO

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 5 of 14 Pages

 

1.		NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)   Jonathon S. Jacobson
2.		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a)  ¨ (b)  ¨
3.		SEC USE ONLY
4.		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   United States

NUMBER OF   SHARES   BENEFICIALLY   OWNED BY   EACH   REPORTING   PERSON   WITH		5.    SOLE VOTING POWER         1,829,385
		6.    SHARED VOTING POWER         —0—
		7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER         1,829,385
		8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER         —0—

9.		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON   1,829,385
10.		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨
11.		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9   6.6%
12.		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   IN

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 6 of 14 Pages

 

1.		NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)   Richard L. Grubman
2.		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (a)  ¨ (b)  ¨
3.		SEC USE ONLY
4.		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION   United States

NUMBER OF   SHARES   BENEFICIALLY   OWNED BY   EACH   REPORTING   PERSON   WITH		5.    SOLE VOTING POWER         1,829,385
		6.    SHARED VOTING POWER         —0—
		7.    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER         1,829,385
		8.    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER         —0—

9.		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON   1,829,385
10.		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨
11.		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9   6.6%
12.		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   IN

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 7 of 14 Pages

 

Item 1(a).

Name of Issuer:

Downey Financial Corp. (the “Issuer”)

 

Item 1(b).

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:

3501 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, CA 92660

 

Item 2(a).

Name of Person Filing:

This statement is being filed by the following persons with respect to the shares of common stock (“Common Stock”) of the Issuer directly owned by Highfields Capital I LP (“Highfields I”), Highfields Capital II LP (“Highfields II”) and Highfields Capital III L.P. (“Highfields III” and, collectively, the “Funds”):

 

(i)

Highfields Capital Management LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Highfields Capital Management”) and investment manager to each of the Funds;

 

(ii)

Highfields GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Highfields GP”) and the General Partner of Highfields Capital Management;

 

(iii)

Highfields Associates LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Highfields Associates”) and the General Partner of the Funds;

 

(iv)

Jonathon S. Jacobson, a Managing Member of Highfields GP and a Senior Managing Member of Highfields Associates; and

 

(v)

Richard L. Grubman, a Managing Member of Highfields GP and a Senior Managing Member of Highfields Associates.

Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Highfields Associates, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman are sometimes individually referred to herein as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.”

 

Item 2(b).

Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:

Address for Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Highfields Associates,

Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman:

c/o Highfields Capital Management

John Hancock Tower

200 Clarendon Street, 59^th Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 8 of 14 Pages

 

Item 2(c).

Citizenship:

Highfields Capital Management – Delaware

Highfields GP – Delaware

Highfields Associates – Delaware

Jonathon S. Jacobson – United States

Richard L. Grubman – United States

 

Item 2(d).

Title of Class of Securities:

Common Stock, $0.01 par value

 

Item 2(e).

CUSIP Number:

261018105

 

Item 3.

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.

Ownership.

For Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Highfields Associates, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman:

 

(a)

Amount beneficially owned: 1,829,385 shares of Common Stock

 

(b)

Percent of class: 6.6%

 

(c)

Number of shares as to which such person has:

 

(i)

Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 1,829,385

 

(ii)

Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: —0—

 

(iii)

Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,829,385

 

(iv)

Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: —0—

 

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.

The shares beneficially owned by Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Highfields Associates, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman are beneficially owned by the Funds. Each of Highfields I, Highfields II and Highfields III individually owns less than 5% of the shares. Highfields Capital Management serves as the investment manager to each of the Funds. Each of Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Highfields Associates, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman has the power to direct the dividends from or the proceeds of the sale of the shares owned by the Funds.

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 9 of 14 Pages

 

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.

Not applicable.

 

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not applicable.

 

Item 10.

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. 261018105		13G		Page 10 of 14 Pages

 

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 11 of 14 Pages

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 12 of 14 Pages

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit 1.		Joint Filing Agreement as required by Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 13 of 14 Pages

 

Exhibit 1

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(k)(1)

The undersigned acknowledge 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 acknowledge 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.

 

---

CUSIP No. 261018105		13G		Page 14 of 14 Pages