UNITED STATES 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 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 18, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------ CIT GROUP INC. ------------------------------------------------------ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 001-31369 65-1051192 (State or other (Commission (IRS Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.) incorporation) 1 CIT Drive Livingston, New Jersey 07039 (Address of registrant's principal executive office) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (973) 740-5000 Not Applicable ------------------------------------------------------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) ----------------- Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): [_] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) [_] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) [_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) [_] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 8.01. Other Events. CIT Group Inc. maintains the CIT Group Inc. Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan (the "ECP"), which provides for the granting of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance shares, and performance units to employees and directors of CIT and its subsidiaries. In connection with individual award grants under the ECP, CIT issues an Award Agreement to each recipient. Attached as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 are two forms of Award Agreement used in connection with the award of stock options to executive officers and directors. Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (c) Exhibits. 99.1 Form of CIT Group Inc. Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan Award Agreement. 99.2 Form of CIT Group Inc. Long-Term Equity Compensation Plan Award Agreement. This document contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements (including statements regarding future financial and operating results) involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond CIT's control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. All statements contained in this document that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking, and the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Economic, business, funding market, competitive and/or regulatory factors, among others, affecting CIT's businesses are examples of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. More detailed information about these factors are described in CIT's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004. CIT is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 2 SIGNATURES 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. CIT GROUP INC. (Registrant) By: /s/ William J. Taylor ----------------------------------------- William J. Taylor Executive Vice President & Controller (Chief Accounting Officer) Dated: January 18, 2005 3