---------------------------- OMB APPROVAL ---------------------------- OMB Number: 3235-0145 Estimated average burden hours per response.....14.90 ---------------------------- UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G INFORMATION STATEMENT TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b) (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b) (AMENDMENT NO. ___)* MERITAGE CORP. ------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) COMMON STOCK ------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 59001A102 ---------------------- (CUSIP Number) DECEMBER 31, 1998 ------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [x] Rule 13d-1(b) [ ] 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. 59001A102 13G PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES --------------- -- -- - ------------------------- ------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION OF ABOVE PERSON CADENCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (IRS NO. 04-3244012) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [x] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION DELAWARE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF SHARES 5 SOLE VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY -0- ----------------------------------------------------- EACH 6 SHARED VOTING POWER REPORTING PERSON WITH 298,000 ----------------------------------------------------- 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- ----------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 298,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 298,000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.5 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IA - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT! 2 ITEM 1 (a) NAME OF ISSUER: Meritage Corp. (b) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES: 6613 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 200 Scottsdale, Arizona 85250 ITEM 2 (a) NAME OF PERSON FILING: CADENCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT (b) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE: One Exchange Place, 29th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (c) CITIZENSHIP: Not Applicable. (d) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: Common Stock (e) CUSIP NUMBER: 59001A102 ITEM 3 IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(b), OR 13d-2(b), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange ACT; (b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange 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; (e) [X] Investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940; (f) [ ] Employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) [ ] Parent holding company or control person, in accordance with 13d-1(b)(ii)(G); (h) [ ] Savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act; (g) [ ] Church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act; (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H). If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box. [ ] 3 ITEM 4 OWNERSHIP. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 298,000** (b) Percent of Class: 5.5 (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote: 298,000** (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of: 298,000** **This report is being filed on behalf of Cadence Capital Management, a Delaware general partnership and/or certain investment advisory clients or discretionary accounts relating to their collective beneficial ownership of shares of common stock of the Issuer. Cadence Capital Management is a registered investment adviser under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. As a result of its role as investment adviser Cadence Capital Management may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities of the Issuer. Cadence Capital Management has the sole power to dispose of the shares and to vote the shares under its written guidelines established by its Management Board. ITEM 5 OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ]. ITEM 6 OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON. Our clients have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends or the profits from the sale of such securities. No one client owns more than five percent of the securities of the Issuer. ITEM 7 IDENTIFICATION AND CLARIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY. Not Applicable. ITEM 8 IDENTIFICATION AND CLARIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. Not Applicable. ITEM 9 NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP. Not Applicable. 4 ITEM 10 CERTIFICATION. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have 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. 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. Date: April 28, 1999 /s/ DAVID B. BREED ---------------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer 5