-----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, LeHpu6JyirFbG93BUMi9YwnltPHixTUgiCaxmfg/61uhnQ6eCF/CnpBbSygZnXEN vr8LPH4whJ52IzC7xjcWtg== 0000950136-00-000212.txt : 20000214 0000950136-00-000212.hdr.sgml : 20000214 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950136-00-000212 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20000211 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FRANCE GROWTH FUND INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000860743 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000] IRS NUMBER: 133560020 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-42274 FILM NUMBER: 535659 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1285 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS STREET 2: C/O MITCHELL HUTCHINS ASSET MANAGEMENT CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10019 BUSINESS PHONE: 2127133589 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1285 AVE OF THE AMERICAS STREET 2: 32ND FL CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10019 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: BANKGESELLSCHAFT BERLIN AG CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001038872 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [] FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ALEXANDERPLATZ 2 CITY: 10178 BERLIN GERMANY MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ALEXANDERPLATZ 2 CITY: 10178 BERLIN GERMANY SC 13D/A 1 AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE 13D Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 6) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(a) The France Growth Fund, Inc. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $.01 per share - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 35177K108 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) Moritz A. Sell Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin Germany - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) February 8, 2000 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box. [ ] Page 1 of 10 Pages - --------------------- --------------------- CUSIP No.: 35177K108 13D Page 2 of 10 Pages - --------------------- --------------------- - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. ID NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Federal Republic of Germany - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF SOLE VOTING POWER 2,460,000 SHARES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BENEFICIALLY SHARED VOTING POWER 0 OWNED - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BY EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 2,460,000 REPORTING - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PERSON SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 WITH - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 2,460,000 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 16.03% - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON BK - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 of 10 Pages This Amendment No. 6 amends and supplements Items 3, 4 and 5 of the Schedule 13D of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG (the "Bank") with respect to the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of The France Growth Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"). In addition, this Amendment No. 6 restates in its entirety Annex A of the Schedule 13D of the Bank. Annex A sets forth the name, address and principal occupation of each director and executive officer of the Bank and the name, address, jurisdiction of incorporation and principal business of each shareholder of the Bank who may be deemed to be in control of the Bank. All of the individuals listed on Annex A are citizens of Germany, except for Zoe Shaw, who is a citizen of Great Britain, and Erik Blahut, who is a citizen of Austria. ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION The source of the funds used by the Bank to purchase the 2,460,000 shares of Common Stock listed in Item 5(a) was working capital. The amount of the funds used to purchase such shares aggregated approximately $33,097,614 (exclusive of commissions). ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION The Bank and the Fund have held discussions, most recently on February 8, 2000, regarding the persistent discount from net asset value at which the shares of the Fund have traded and possible methods of reducing the discount. To the knowledge of the Bank, the Fund has not determined to pursue any of the courses of action discussed by the Bank and the Fund. Unlike prior discussions between the Bank and the Fund, the Bank and the Fund have not recently discussed the possibility of nominees of the Bank being offered representation on the Board of Directors of the Fund. Except as set forth herein and the Bank's initial Schedule 13D and amendments thereto, the Bank has not formulated any plans or proposals which relate to or would result in any of the transactions described in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER (a) The financial statements included in the Fund's semi-annual report for the period ended June 30, 1999 indicate that, as of June 30, 1999, there were 15,345,333 shares of Common Stock outstanding. The percentage set forth in this Item 5(a) was derived using such number. The Bank is the beneficial owner of 2,460,000 shares of Common Stock, which constitute approximately 16.03% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. (b) The Bank has sole power to vote and to dispose of the shares of Common Stock owned by it. Page 3 of 10 Pages (c) Since the filing of Amendment No. 5 to its Schedule 13D with respect to the shares of Common Stock of the Fund, the Bank has effected the following purchases in the shares of Common Stock, all of which were made on the New York Stock Exchange: Date Number of Shares Purchased Price Per Share ---- -------------------------- --------------- January 28, 2000 5,200 $14.7428 February 4, 2000 2,000 15.8750 February 4, 2000 5,000 15.3750 February 4, 2000 5,600 15.4732 February 7, 2000 2,000 15.8750 February 8, 2000 4,100 16.1250 February 9, 2000 12,100 16.2293 February 9, 2000 14,200 16.1250 February 11, 2000 5,800 16.2500 (d) No person other than the Bank has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares of Common Stock owned by the Bank. (e) It is inapplicable to state the date on which the Bank ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the Common Stock. Page 4 of 10 Pages SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, we certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: February 11, 2000 BANKGESELLSCHAFT BERLIN AG By: /s/ Gregory L. Melville ----------------------------------- Name: Gregory L. Melville Title: Assistant Director By: /s/ Moritz Sell ----------------------------------- Name: Moritz Sell Title: Market Strategist Page 5 of 10 Pages ANNEX A Unless otherwise indicated, the business address for all individuals listed in this Annex A is Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG, Alexanderplatz 2, 10178 Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany. MEMBERS OF THE MANAGING BOARD Name and Address Principal Occupation - ---------------- --------------------- Dr. Wolfgang Rupf Speaker of the Managing Board of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Norbert Pawlowski Member of the Managing Board of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Hans Leukers Member of the Managing Board of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Dr. Thomas Kurze Member of the Managing Board of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Dr. Lothar Wackerbeck Member of the Managing Board of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Dr. Johannes Evers Member of the Managing Board of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Hubert Piel Member of the Managing Board of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Page 6 of 10 Pages EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Name and Address Principal Occupation - ---------------- --------------------- Willi Boehmer Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG AG Konzern-Finanzen und Beteiligungen Hardenbergstrasse 32 10623 Berlin Federal Republic of Germany Peter Koenig Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Hans Joachim Bley Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Jochen W. Sawahn Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Dhariush Ghassemi-Moghadam Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Heinrich Honerlage Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Konzern-Revision AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Otto-Braun Str. 90 10249 Berlin Federal Republic of Germany Dr. Karl-Friedrich Hirschhaeuser Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Risk and Performance AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG 13355 Berlin Federal Republic of Germany Stefan Traegler Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Konzern-Organisation AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Brunnestrasse 111 13355 Berlin Federal Republic of Germany Page 7 of 10 Pages Name and Address Principal Occupation - ---------------- --------------------- Helmut Ramthun Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Compliance AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Brunnestrasse 111 13355 Berlin Federal Republic of Germany Joachim Antczack Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Wolfgang Stoeckel Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Jochen Zimmermann Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Frank-Michael Boenke Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Georg-Heinrich Sieveking Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Hadi Saidi Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Zoe Shaw Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Asset-Backed Transaktionen AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG London Branch 1 Crown Court Cheapside London EC2V 6JP Gerhard Richter General Manager of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG AG London Branch 1 Crown Court Cheapside London EC2V 6JP Dr. Erik Blahut Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Page 8 of 10 Pages Name and Address Principal Occupation - ---------------- --------------------- Serge Demoliere Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Hans-Werner Wilms General Manager of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Invest GmbH Guenter Laubner General Manager of Bankgesellschaft Berlin Invest GmbH Bruno Schmidt-Voss Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Cord-Friedrich Koening Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Michael Renner Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Page 9 of 10 Pages SHAREHOLDERS WHO MAY BE DEEMED TO CONTROL THE BANK The following shareholders of the Bank may be deemed to control the Bank: The City of Berlin Gothaer Beteiligungsgesellschaft, an affiliate of an insurance company formed under the laws of Germany, whose principal address is Lutzowstrasse 89, 10785 Berlin, Germany, and whose principal shareholders are Gothaer Versicherungs Bank AG (principal office: Gothaer Allee 1, 50672, Koln, Germany), Gothaer Lebenversicherung AG (principal office: Gothaer Platz 2-8, 37069 Gottingen, Germany) and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale NORD/LB (principal address is Georgplatz 1, D-30159, Hannover, Germany). Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale NORD/LB, a bank formed under the laws of Germany, whose principal address is Georgplatz 1, D-30159, Hannover, Germany. Page 10 of 10 Pages -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----