SC 13G 1 butler2003.txt SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Butler Manufacturing Company ------------------------------------------------------ (NAME OF ISSUER) COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE PER SHARE ------------------------------------------------------ (TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES) 123655102 ------------------------------------------------------ (CUSIP NUMBER) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ ] 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). - -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS THIRD AVENUE MANAGEMENT LLC (EIN 01-0690900) - -------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware Limited Liability Company - -------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 375,800 NUMBER OF --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY NONE --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER REPORTING PERSON 375,800 --------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER NONE - -------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 375,800 - -------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.9% - -------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON* IA - -------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 1. (A) NAME OF ISSUER: This schedule is being filed by Third Avenue Management LLC ("TAM"). (TAM is sometimes referred to hereinafter as "Filer"). (B) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OR,IF NONE, RESIDENCE: 1540 Genessee Street, Kansas City, MO 64102 ITEM 2. (A) NAME OF PERSON FILING: This schedule is being filed by Third Avenue Management LLC ("TAM"). (TAM is sometimes referred to hereinafter as "Filer"). (B) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE: The address of the principal executive office of TAM is: 622 Third Avenue, 32nd Floor New York, New York 10017-6715. (C) CITIZENSHIP: The citizenship or place of organization of each of the reporting persons is as follows: Third Avenue Management LLC- Delaware Limited Liability Company (D) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: Common Stock, no par value per share. (E) CUSIP NUMBER: 123655102 ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS BEING FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13D-1(B),OR 13D-2(B), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: (E) Investment Adviser. TAM is registered under section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP. (a) & (b) TAM beneficially owns 375,800 shares or 5.9% of the class of securities of the issuer. (c) (i) TAM: 375,800 (ii) Not applicable. (iii) TAM: 375,800 (iv) Not applicable. 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. Third Avenue Real Estate Fund, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, has the right to receive dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of 253,800 of the shares reported by TAM, Various separately managed clients for whom TAM acts as investment advisor have the right to receive dividends from, and the proceeds of the sale of 33,700 of the shares reported by TAM, and Met Investors Series Trust-Third Avenue Small Cap Portfolio, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, has the right to receive dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of 88,300 of the shares reported by TAM. 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 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 such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purposes 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. August 8, 2003 --------------------------- (Date) THIRD AVENUE MANAGEMENT LLC BY:/S/ MARTIN J. WHITMAN ------------------------ Martin J. Whitman Co-Chief Investment Officer