-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, TfSfVSk9Qst1UtUqvIBb+l80jCUvOohW8A+SQXp2WRqL5xHC4aTEz7NeIpUhu+QT heBkEBXZLjrDYQT+Hv1v0Q== 0000950123-99-008033.txt : 19990830 0000950123-99-008033.hdr.sgml : 19990830 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-99-008033 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19990827 GROUP MEMBERS: BRIAN SHERMAN GROUP MEMBERS: EQUITILINK LTD GROUP MEMBERS: EQUITILINK USA INC GROUP MEMBERS: LAURENCE FREEDMAN SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST AUSTRALIA FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000779336 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] IRS NUMBER: 133304681 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MD FISCAL YEAR END: 1031 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-55117 FILM NUMBER: 99700610 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 100 MUDBERRY STREET CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NJ ZIP: 07102-4077 BUSINESS PHONE: 2122141250 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 100 MUDBERRY STREET CITY: NEWARK STATE: NJ ZIP: 07102-4077 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: EQUITILINK LTD CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001083114 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [] FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 190 GEORGE STREET LEVEL 3 STREET 2: SYDNEY NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA BUSINESS PHONE: 01161299502888 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 190 GEORGE STREET LEVEL 3 STREET 2: SYDNEY NWS 2000 AUSTRALIA SC 13D/A 1 AMENDMENT #2 TO SCHEDULE 13D 1 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 2)* The First Australia Fund, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock ($.01 par value) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 318652104 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) Meredith M. Brown, Esq. Debevoise & Plimpton 875 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) August 26, 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Section 240.13d-1(e), (f) or (g), check the following box [ ]. Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the Schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. * 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 disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the 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). (Continued on the following pages) 2 CUSIP No. 318652104 13D Page 2 of 8 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Laurence Freedman I.R.S. No. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS AF, PF - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Australia - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES None BENEFICIALLY ----------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH REPORTING 1,867,389 PERSON ----------------------------------------------------- WITH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER None ----------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,867,389 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,867,389 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 10.9% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 (Continued on the following pages) 3 CUSIP No. 318652104 13D Page 3 of 8 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Brian Sherman I.R.S. No. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS AF, PF - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Australia - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES None BENEFICIALLY ----------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH REPORTING 1,867,389 PERSON ----------------------------------------------------- WITH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER None ----------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,867,389 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,867,389 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 10.9% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IN - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 (Continued on the following pages) 4 CUSIP No. 318652104 13D Page 4 of 8 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON EquitiLink Limited I.R.S. No. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS WC - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION New South Wales, Australia 7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES None BENEFICIALLY ----------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH REPORTING 192,700 PERSON ----------------------------------------------------- WITH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER None ----------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 192,700 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1.1% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.1% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON HC, CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 5 CUSIP No. 318652104 13D Page 5 of 8 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON EquitiLink U.S.A., Inc. I.R.S. No. 521635331 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS AF - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES None BENEFICIALLY ----------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 8 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH REPORTING 1,624,627 PERSON ----------------------------------------------------- WITH 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER None ----------------------------------------------------- 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,624,627 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,624,627 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 9.5% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 6 CUSIP No. 318652104 13D Page 6 of 8 Statement on Schedule 13D This Amendment No. 2 amends and supplements Items 3 and 5 of the Schedule 13D of the Reporting Persons with respect to the shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of The First Australia Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") as originally filed on April 1, 1999 and as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed on July 9, 1999. Item 3 of the Schedule 13D, "Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration," is hereby amended to add the following information: The shares of Common Stock acquired by EquitiLink Limited and reported in this Amendment No. 2 were acquired for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.5 million, all of which came from working capital of EquitiLink Limited. Item 5 of the Schedule 13D, "Interest in Securities of the Issuer," is hereby restated in its entirety as set forth below: Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Fund. (a) The Reporting Persons beneficially own an aggregate of 1,871,389 shares of Common Stock, constituting approximately 10.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (computed on the basis of 17,189,998 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of April 30, 1999 as reported in the Fund's Semi-Annual Report to the SEC on Form N-30D for the six months ended April 30, 1999). In the aggregate, all persons named in Item 2 and Annex A hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference, beneficially own 1,871,954 shares of Common Stock, which represents 10.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. (b) Each of Laurence Freedman, Brian Sherman and Richard Strickler owns 4,000, 4,000 and 565 shares of Common Stock, respectively, with sole voting and dispositive power for all such shares. Messrs. Freedman and Sherman each share voting and dispositive power with each of EquitiLink U.S.A., EIML and EquitiLink Limited, with respect to 1,624,627, 46,062 and 192,700 shares of Common Stock, respectively. (c) During the past sixty days, EquitiLink Limited has purchased a total of 192,700 shares of Common Stock in open-market transactions on the American Stock Exchange, as set forth below:
Date Number of Shares Price per Share ---- ---------------- --------------- August 13, 1999 30,000 $7.8729 August 16, 1999 800 $7.9375 August 17, 1999 37,500 $7.9992
6 7 CUSIP No. 318652104 13D Page 7 of 8 August 18, 1999 18,300 $7.9375 August 19, 1999 49,500 $7.9217 August 20, 1999 13,900 $7.9083 August 26,1999 42,700 $7.9174
(d) Not applicable. (e) Not applicable. 7 8 CUSIP No. 318652104 13D Page 8 of 8 SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement with respect to the undersigned is true, complete and correct. Date: August 27, 1999 Laurence Freedman /s/ Laurence Freedman -------------------------------------------------- Brian Sherman /s/Brian Sherman -------------------------------------------------- EQUITILINK LIMITED By: /s/Barry Sechos ----------------------------------------------- Name: Barry Sechos Title: Director EQUITILINK U.S.A., INC. By: /s/Richard P. Strickler ----------------------------------------------- Name: Richard P. Strickler Title: Managing Director -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----