================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE TO (RULE 14d-100) TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(d)(1) OR SECTION 13(e)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION (Name of Subject Company (Issuer)) CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION (Name of Filing Person (Offeror)) COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE (Title of Class Securities) 225310-10-1 (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities) CHARLES A. PEARCE VICE PRESIDENT -- GENERAL COUNSEL AND CORPORATE SECRETARY CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION 25505 WEST TWELVE MILE ROAD, SUITE 3000 SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034-8339 (248) 353-2700 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons) WITH A COPY TO: KENT E. SHAFER, ESQ. MILLER, CANFIELD, PADDOCK AND STONE, P.L.C. 150 WEST JEFFERSON AVE DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48226 (313) 496-7570 CALCULATION OF FILING FEE ================================================================================ 1 TRANSACTION VALUATION*...................................... $60,000,000 AMOUNT OF FILING FEE**...................................... $ 7,602 ================================================================================ * Estimated for purposes of calculating the amount of the filing fee only. The amount assumes the purchase of a total of 3 million shares of the outstanding common stock at a price of $20.00 per share in cash. ** The amount of the filing fee equals $126.70 per $1 million of the transaction value and is estimated in accordance with Rule 0-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. [ ] Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. Amount Previously Paid: N/A Form or Registration No.: N/A Filing Party: N/A Date Filed: N/A [ ] Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates: [ ] third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1. [X] issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4. [ ] going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3. [ ] amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2. Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer: [ ] ================================================================================ 2 This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO ("Schedule TO") relates to the offer by Credit Acceptance Corporation, a Michigan corporation ("CAC"), to purchase up to 3 million shares of its Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"), at a price between $20.00 and $14.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest. The tender offer is being made upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated August 11, 2004 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and the related Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), which together, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitute the "Offer." This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO is intended to satisfy the reporting requirements of Rule 13e-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The information contained in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal, copies of which are attached to this Schedule TO as Exhibits (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii), respectively, is incorporated herein by reference in response to all of the items of this Schedule TO as more particularly described below. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Offer to Purchase. ITEM 1. SUMMARY TERM SHEET. The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Summary Term Sheet" is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 2. SUBJECT COMPANY INFORMATION. (a) The name of the issuer is Credit Acceptance Corporation. The address of CAC's principal executive offices is 25505 West Twelve Mile Road, Suite 3000, Southfield, MI 48034-8339. CAC's telephone number is (248) 353-2700. (b) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 11 -- Interest of Directors and Executive Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning Shares" is incorporated herein by reference. (c) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 8 -- Price Range of Shares; Dividends" is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 3. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND OF FILING PERSON. (a) This Tender Offer Statement is filed by CAC, the subject company. CAC's business address is 25505 West Twelve Mile Road, Suite 3000, Southfield, MI 48034-8339. CAC's business telephone number is (248) 353-2700. Pursuant to Instruction C to Schedule TO, the following persons are the directors and/or executive officers of CAC: 1 NAME POSITION ------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Donald A Foss ........... Director, Chairman of Board Brett A. Roberts ........ Director, Chief Executive Officer Michael W. Knoblauch .... Chief Operating Officer Keith P. McCluskey ...... President David S. Simmet ......... Chief Information Officer Douglas W. Busk ......... Treasurer Kenneth S. Booth ........ Chief Accounting Officer Charles A. Pearce ....... Vice President -- General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Steven M. Jones ......... Chief Administrative Officer Harry E. Craig .......... Director Glenda Flanagan ......... Director Daniel P. Leff .......... Director Thomas N. Tryforos ...... Director The business address and telephone number of each of the above directors and executive officers is c/o Credit Acceptance Corporation, 25505 West Twelve Mile Road, Suite 3000, Southfield, MI 48034-8339, telephone number (248) 353-2700. ITEM 4. TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION. (a) The information set forth in the sections of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Summary Term Sheet," "Section 1 -- Number of Shares; Proration," "Section 3 -- Procedures for Tendering Shares," "Section 4 -- Withdrawal Rights," "Section 5 -- Purchase of Shares and Payment of Purchase Price" and "Section 13 -- U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences" and in the Letter of Transmittal is incorporated herein by reference. (b) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 2 -- Purpose of the Tender Offer; Certain Effects of the Tender Offer; Plans and Proposals -- Purpose of the Tender Offer" is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 5. PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS, NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS. (e) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 11 -- Interest of Directors and Executive Officers; Transactions and Agreements Concerning Shares" is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 6. PURPOSE OF THE TRANSACTION AND PLANS OR PROPOSALS. (a) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 2 -- Purpose of the Tender Offer; Certain Effects of the Tender Offer; Plans and Proposals -- Purpose of the Tender Offer" is incorporated herein by reference. (b) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 2 -- Purpose of the Tender Offer; Certain Effects of the Tender Offer; Plans and Proposals -- Certain Effects of the Tender Offer" is incorporated herein by reference. 2 (c) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 2 -- Purpose of the Tender Offer; Certain Effects of the Tender Offer; Plans and Proposals -- Plans and Proposals" is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 7. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION. (a) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 9 -- Source and Amount of Funds" is incorporated herein by reference. (b) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 9 -- Source and Amount of Funds" is incorporated herein by reference. (d) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 9 -- Source and Amount of Funds" is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 8. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE SUBJECT COMPANY. (a) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 11 -- Interest of Directors and Executive Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning Shares" is incorporated herein by reference. (b) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 11 -- Interest of Directors and Executive Officers; Transactions and Arrangements Concerning Shares" is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 9. PERSONS/ASSETS RETAINED, EMPLOYED, COMPENSATED OR USED. (a) The information set forth in the section of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 15 -- Fees and Expenses" is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 10. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Not applicable. ITEM 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. (a) The information set forth in the sections of the Offer to Purchase captioned "Section 11 -- Interest of Directors and Executive Officers; Transactions and Agreements Concerning Shares -- Agreements, Arrangements or Understandings" and "Section 12 -- Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals" is incorporated herein by reference. (b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 12. EXHIBITS. 3 (a)(1)(i) Offer to Purchase. (a)(1)(ii) Letter of Transmittal. (a)(5)(i) Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. (a)(5)(ii) Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (a)(5)(iii) Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (a)(5)(iv) Form of Letter to Participants in the CAC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust. (a)(5)(v) Press release dated August 11, 2004 announcing the commencement of the offer. (b)(i) Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2004, among CAC, certain of CAC's subsidiaries, Comerica Bank, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the banks signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to CAC's Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004). (d)(1) Credit Acceptance Corporation 1992 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated May 1999 (incorporated by reference to CAC's Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1999). (d)(2) Credit Acceptance Corporation Director Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to CAC's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001). (d)(3) Credit Acceptance Corporation Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to CAC's Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004). ITEM 13. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SCHEDULE 13E-3. Not Applicable. SIGNATURES After due 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. CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION BY: /s/ BRETT A. ROBERTS ------------------------------------- BRETT A. ROBERTS Chief Executive Officer Dated: August 11, 2004 4 EXHIBIT INDEX The following documents are filed as part of this report. Those exhibits previously filed and incorporated herein by reference are identified below. Exhibits not required for this report have been omitted. CAC's commission file number is 000-20202. EXHIBIT NUMBER DESCRIPTION -------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- (a)(1)(i) Offer to Purchase. (a)(1)(ii) Letter of Transmittal. (a)(5)(i) Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. (a)(5)(ii) Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (a)(5)(iii) Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (a)(5)(iv) Form of Letter to Participants in the CAC 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Trust. (a)(5)(v) Press release dated August 11, 2004 announcing the commencement of the offer. (b)(i) Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2004, among CAC, certain of CAC's subsidiaries, Comerica Bank, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the banks signatory thereto (incorporated by reference to CAC's Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004). (d)(1) Credit Acceptance Corporation 1992 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated May 1999 (incorporated by reference to CAC's Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1999). (d)(2) Credit Acceptance Corporation Director Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to CAC's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001). (d)(3) Credit Acceptance Corporation Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to CAC's Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004). 5