0000902664-16-005259.txt : 20160205 0000902664-16-005259.hdr.sgml : 20160205 20160205170343 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000902664-16-005259 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13G PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20160205 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20160205 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WELLS FINANCIAL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000934739 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035] IRS NUMBER: 411799504 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13G SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-45455 FILM NUMBER: 161393015 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 53 FIRST ST SW STREET 2: P.O. BOX 310 CITY: WELLS STATE: MN ZIP: 56097 BUSINESS PHONE: 5075533151 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 53 1ST ST SW STREET 2: PO BOX 310 CITY: WELLS STATE: MN ZIP: 56097 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GENDELL JEFFREY L ET AL CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000948904 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13G MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 2: 200 PARK AVENUE SUITE 3900 CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10166 SC 13G 1 p16-0177sc13g.htm JEFFREY L. GENDELL

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13G
 
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.)*
 

WELLS FINANCIAL CORP.

(Name of Issuer)
 

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)
 

949759203

(CUSIP Number)
 

December 31, 2015

(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)
 
(Page 1 of 9 Pages)

 

______________________________

*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. 94975920313G Page 2 of 9 Pages

 

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Tontine Financial Partners, L.P.

2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨

(b) ¨

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH:
5

SOLE VOTING POWER

-0-

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

41,548

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

-0-

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

41,548

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

41,548

10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.16%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

PN

         

 

 

CUSIP No. 94975920313G Page 3 of 9 Pages

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Tontine Management, L.L.C.

2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨

(b) ¨

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Delaware

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH:
5

SOLE VOTING POWER

-0-

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

41,548

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

-0-

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

41,548

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

41,548

10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.16%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

OO

         

 

 

CUSIP No. 94975920313G Page 4 of 9 Pages

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Jeffrey L. Gendell

2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ¨

(b) ¨

3 SEC USE ONLY
4

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

United States

NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY
EACH
REPORTING
PERSON WITH:
5

SOLE VOTING POWER

-0-

6

SHARED VOTING POWER

41,548

7

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

-0-

8

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

41,548

9

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

41,548

10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ¨
11

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

5.16%

12

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN

         

 

CUSIP No. 94975920313G Page 5 of 9 Pages

 

Item 1(a). NAME OF ISSUER
   
  The name of the issuer is Wells Financial Corp. (the "Company").

 

Item 1(b). ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
   
  The Company's principal executive offices are located at 53 First Street, S.W., Wells, Minnesota 56097.

 

Item 2(a). NAME OF PERSON FILING
   
  This statement is filed by:

 

  (i) Tontine Financial Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("TFP") with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by it; and
  (ii) Tontine Management, L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TM"), which serves as general partner of TFP, with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by TFP;
  (iii) Jeffrey L. Gendell, a United States citizen ("Mr. Gendell"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock owned directly by TFP.
   
  The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the "Reporting Persons."  Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to the appropriate party.

 

Item 2(b). ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE
   
  The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 1 Sound Shore Drive, Suite 304, Greenwich, CT 06830-7251.

 

Item 2(c). CITIZENSHIP
   
  See Item 2(a) above.

 

Item 2(d). TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES
   
  Common Stock, $0.10 par value (the "Common Stock").

 

Item 2(e). CUSIP NUMBER
   
  949759203

 

 

CUSIP No. 94975920313G Page 6 of 9 Pages

 

Item 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO Rules 13d-1(b), OR 13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:

 

  (a) ¨ Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act;
  (b) ¨ Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the 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 of 1940;
  (e) ¨ An investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
  (f) ¨

An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

 

  (g) ¨ A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
  (h) ¨

A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;

 

  (i) ¨

A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act;

 

  (j) ¨ A non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);
  (k) ¨ Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).

 

  If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please
  specify the type of institution: Not applicable.  

 

Item 4. OWNERSHIP

 

  A. Tontine Financial Partners, L.P.
      (a) Amount beneficially owned:  41,548
      (b) Percent of class: 5.16%.  The percentages used herein and in the rest of Item 4 are calculated based upon the 805,710 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of November 13, 2015, as set forth in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015 filed on November 16, 2015.
      (c) (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote:  -0-
        (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote:  41,548
        (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition:  -0-
        (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of:  41,548

 

 

CUSIP No. 94975920313G Page 7 of 9 Pages

 

  B. Tontine Management, L.L.C.
      (a) Amount beneficially owned:  41,548
      (b) Percent of class:  5.16%
      (c) (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote:  -0-
        (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote:  41,548
        (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition:  -0-
        (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:  41,548

 

  C. Jeffrey L. Gendell
      (a) Amount beneficially owned:  41,548
      (b) Percent of class:  5.16%
      (c) (i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote:  -0-
        (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote:  41,548
        (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition:  -0-
        (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:  41,548

 

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
   
  TM, the general partner of TFP, has the power to direct the affairs of TFP, including directing the receipt of dividends from or the proceeds from the sale of such shares.  Mr. Gendell is the Managing Member of TM and in that capacity directs its operations.

 

Item 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY OR CONTROL PERSON
   
  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

 

  Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification:
   
  By signing below each Reporting Person certifies that, to the best of his or its knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above 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.

 

 

CUSIP No. 94975920313G Page 8 of 9 Pages

 

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his or its knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

DATE: February 5, 2016

 

     
/s/ JEFFREY L. GENDELL    
Jeffrey L. Gendell, individually, and as managing member of Tontine Management, L.L.C., for itself and as the general partner of Tontine Financial Partners, L.P.    
     
     

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 94975920313G Page 9 of 9 Pages

 

 

EXHIBIT 1

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(k)

The undersigned acknowledge and agree that the foregoing statement on Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned and that all subsequent amendments to this statement on Schedule 13G shall be filed on behalf of each of the undersigned without the necessity of filing additional joint filing agreements. The undersigned acknowledge that each shall be responsible for the timely filing of such amendments, and for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning him or it contained herein and therein, but shall not be responsible for the completeness and accuracy of the information concerning the others, except to the extent that he or it knows or has reason to believe that such information is inaccurate.

 

DATE: February 5, 2016

 

   
   
/s/ JEFFREY L. GENDELL  
Jeffrey L. Gendell, individually, and as managing member of Tontine Management, L.L.C., for itself and as the general partner of Tontine Financial Partners, L.P.