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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
(RULE 13d-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO
RULES 13d-1(b) (c), AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)
(AMENDMENT NO. __________)/1/
MERKERT AMERICAN CORPORATION
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(Name of issuer)
COMMON STOCK, par value $.01
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(Title of class of securities)
590080 10 7
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(CUSIP number)
December 18, 1998
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(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)
(Continued on the following pages)
(Page 1 of 5 Pages)
________________________________
/1/ 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 purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 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).
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SCHEDULE 13G
CUSIP NO. 590080 10 7 PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES
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NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS.
1 I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY).
Merkert Enterprises, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust
I.R.S. Identification No. 04-6064550
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CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
2 (a) [_]
(b) [x]
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SEC USE ONLY
3
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CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
4
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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SOLE VOTING POWER
5
NUMBER OF None
SHARES -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 6
473,319 /1/ /2/
OWNED BY
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EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
7
REPORTING None
PERSON -----------------------------------------------------------
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 8
473,319 /1/ /2/
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AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
9
473,319 shares of Common Stock /1/ /2/
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CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
10 (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
[ ]
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PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
11
6.6%
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TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
12
EP
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/1/ INCLUDES 25,034 SHARES HELD BY STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY ("STATE
STREET") AS ESCROW AGENT PURSUANT TO THAT CERTAIN INDEMNIFICATION ESCROW
AGREEMENT, DATED DECEMBER 18, 1998, BY AND AMONG MERKERT AMERICAN CORPORATION,
STATE STREET AND CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS OF MERKERT AMERICAN CORPORATION.
/2/ VOTING AND DISPOSITIVE POWER OF SHARES HELD BY THE MERKERT ENTERPRISES, INC.
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP TRUST (THE "ESOT") IS HELD PRIMARILY BY THE ESOT.
HOWEVER IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE ESOT BENEFICIARY CAN DIRECT THE VOTING OR
CAUSE THE DISPOSITION OF SUCH SHARES BY THE ESOT.
* SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
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STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 13G
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
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Merkert American Corporation
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
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490 Turnpike Street
Canton, Massachusetts 02021
Item 2(a). Names of Persons Filing:
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Merkert Enterprises, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust
Item 2(b). Business Mailing Address for the Person Filing:
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Merkert Enterprises, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust
500 Turnpike Street
Canton, MA 02021
Item 2(c). Citizenship:
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Massachusetts
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
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Common stock, par value $.01
Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:
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590080 10 7
Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b),
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check whether the person filing is a:
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Not Applicable
If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check
this box. [x]
Item 4. Ownership:
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MERKERT ENTERPRISES, INC. EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP TRUST
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
473,319 shares of Common Stock (1) (2)
(b) Percent of Class:
6.6%
Page 3 of 5
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(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
None
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
473,319 shares of Common Stock (1) (2)
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
None
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
473,319 shares of Common Stock (1) (2)
/1/ Includes 25,034 shares held by State Street Bank and Trust
Company ("State Street") as Escrow Agent pursuant to that certain
Indemnification Escrow Agreement, dated December 18, 1998, by and
among Merkert American Corporation, State Street and certain
stockholders of Merkert American Corporation.
/2/ Voting and dispositive power of shares held by the Merkert
Enterprises, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust (the "ESOT") is
held primarily by the ESOT. However in certain circumstances the
ESOT beneficiary can direct the voting or cause the disposition
of such shares by the ESOT.
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class:
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Not Applicable
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person:
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Not Applicable
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
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the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company:
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Not Applicable
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
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Not Applicable
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group:
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Not Applicable
Item 10. Certification:
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By signing below I certify that, to the best of my 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.
Page 4 of 5
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Signature
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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.
Dated: December 28, 1998
Merkert Enterprises, Inc. Employee Stock
Ownership Trust
By: /s/ James A. Schlindwein
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James A. Schlindwein, Trustee
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