SC 13G 1 needham_13g.txt UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 1)* Southwall Technologies Inc. (Name of Issuer) COMMON STOCK, $.001 par value (Title of Class of Securities) 844909101 (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2003 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: Rule 13d-1(b) [x] 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 PERSON S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Needham Investment Management L.L.C. 22-3408336 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 5 SOLE VOTING POWER None NUMBER OF SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY 763,000 shares EACH REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON WITH None 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 763,000 shares 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 763,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer ("Shares") which consists of 763,000 Shares held by various series of The Needham Funds, Inc. which Needham Investment Management L.L.C. may be deemed to beneficially own by virtue of its position as investment adviser to these series. 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 6.08% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IA 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON The Needham Funds, Inc. 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 5 SOLE VOTING POWER None NUMBER OF SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY 763,000 shares EACH REPORTING 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON WITH None 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 763,000 shares 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 763,000 shares (includes 728,000 shares beneficially owned by Needham Growth Fund, a series of The Needham Funds, Inc. and 35,000 shares beneficially owned by Needham Small Cap Growth Fund, a series of The Needham Funds, Inc.) 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9 6.08% 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON IV Item 1(a) NAME OF ISSUER: Southwall Technologies Inc. Item 1(b) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES: 1029 Corporation Way Palo Alto, CA 94303 Item 2(a) NAME OF PERSON FILING: (i) Needham Investment Management L.L.C. (ii) The Needham Funds, Inc. Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office, or if none, residence: (i) 445 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 (ii) 445 Park Avenue New York, New York 10022 Item 2(c) CITIZENSHIP: See Item 4 of the cover pages attached hereto Item 2(d) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES: Common Stock, $.001 par value Item 2(e) CUSIP NUMBER: 844909101 Item 3 (i) Needham Investment Management L.L.C. is a registered investment adviser under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. (ii) The Needham Funds, Inc. is an investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Item 4 OWNERSHIP: (a) Amount beneficially owned and (b) Percent of Class: See Items 5 through 11 of the cover pages attached hereto. The aggregate amount held by all Reporting Persons is 6.08% (763,000 shares). This Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that the Reporting Person, either for purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act") or for other purposes, is the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this statement. (c) See Items 5 through 8 of the cover pages attached hereto 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: Not applicable 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 and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with 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. SIGNATURES 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. January 16, 2004 NEEDHAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT L.L.C. By: /s/ John C. Michaelson Name: John C. Michaelson Title: President and Chief Executive Officer THE NEEDHAM FUNDS, INC. By: /s/ Glen W. Albanese Name: Glen W. Albanese Title: Chief Financial Officer Exhibit A AGREEMENT The undersigned, Needham Investment Management L.L.C. and The Needham Funds, Inc., agree that the statement to which this exhibit is appended is filed on behalf of each of them. January 16, 2004 NEEDHAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT L.L.C. By: /s/ John C. Michaelson Name: John C. Michaelson Title: President and Chief Executive Officer THE NEEDHAM FUNDS, INC. By: /s/ Glen W. Albanese Name: Glen W. Albanese Title: Chief Financial Officer