<PAGE>
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
-------------------------------
OMB APPROVAL
-------------------------------
OMB Number: 3235-0145
Expires: August 31, 1999
Estimated average burden
hours per response . . . 14.90
-------------------------------
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. ______)*
Digital River, Inc.
------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
25388B 10 4
------------------------------------------------
(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 1998
------------------------------------------------
(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)
/ / Rule 13d-1(c)
/X/ 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).
POTENTIAL PERSONS WHO ARE TO RESPOND TO THE COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THIS FORM ARE NOT REQUIRED TO RESPOND UNLESS THE FORM DISPLAYS A CURRENTLY
VALID OMB CONTROL NUMBER.
Page 1 of 5 pages
<PAGE>
CUSIP NO. 25388B 10 4 13G Page 2 of 5 Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO(S). OF ABOVE PERSON(S) (ENTITIES ONLY)
CHRISTOPHER J. SHARPLES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a)
(b)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
UNITED KINGDOM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 100,000(1)
BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 1,070,178(2)
REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH: 100,000(1)
-------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,070,178(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,170,178
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
6.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------
(1) Includes 100,000 shares the reporting person has the right to acquire
pursuant to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998.
(2) Includes 535,000, 10,843 and 524,335 shares registered in the name of
Latour Trustees (Jersey) Limited, Latour Trustees (Jersey) Limited and Mark
Henry Murray as Trustees of the Murray 1987 Settlement and Willbro Nominees
Limited, respectively. The reporting person is deemed to have beneficial
ownership of such shares. Of the 535,000 shares of Common Stock registered in
the name of Latour Trustees (Jersey) Limited, 35,000 of such shares are held by
the reporting person's wife. Of the 524,335 shares of Common Stock registered
in the name of Willbro Nominees Limited, 3,002 of such shares are held by the
reporting person's children.
Page 2 of 5 pages
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 13G
ITEM 1.
(a) Name of Issuer
Digital River, Inc.
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices
9625 W. 76th Street
Suite 150
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
ITEM 2.
(a) Name of Person Filing
Christopher J. Sharples
(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence
GNI Ltd.
25 Dowgate Hill
London EC4R 2GN
United Kingdom
(c) Citizenship
United Kingdom
(d) Title of Class of Securities
Common Stock
(e) CUSIP Number
25388B 10 4
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 240.13d-1(b), OR
240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
Not Applicable
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and
percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.
Item 1.
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
The reporting person beneficially owns an aggregate of 1,170,178
shares. Includes 535,000, 10,843 and 524,335 shares registered
in the name of Latour Trustees (Jersey) Limited, Latour Trustees
(Jersey) Limited and Mark Henry Murray as Trustees of the Murray
1987 Settlement and Willbro Nominees Limited, respectively. The
reporting person is deemed to have beneficial ownership of such
shares. Of the 535,000 shares of Common Stock registered in the
name of Latour Trustees (Jersey) Limited, 35,000 of such shares
are held by the reporting person's wife. Of the 524,335 shares
of Common Stock registered in the name of Willbro Nominees
Limited, 3,002 of such shares are held by the reporting person's
children. Also, the reporting person has the right to acquire
100,000 shares pursuant to a warrant exercisable within 60 days
of December 31, 1998.
Page 3 of 5 pages
<PAGE>
(b) Percent of Class:
6.0
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
100,000(1)
(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
1,070,178(2)
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
100,000(1)
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
1,070,178(2)
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 A 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.
- ------------
(1) Includes 100,000 shares the reporting person has the right to acquire
pursuant to a warrant exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998.
(2) Includes 535,000, 10,843 and 524,335 shares registered in the name of
Latour Trustees (Jersey) Limited, Latour Trustees (Jersey) Limited and Mark
Henry Murray as Trustees of the Murray 1987 Settlement and Willbro Nominees
Limited, respectively. The reporting person is deemed to have beneficial
ownership of such shares. Of the 535,000 shares of Common Stock registered in
the name of Latour Trustees (Jersey) Limited, 35,000 of such shares are held by
the reporting person's wife. Of the 524,335 shares of Common Stock registered
in the name of Willbro Nominees Limited, 3,002 of such shares are held by the
reporting person's children.
Page 4 of 5 pages
<PAGE>
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.
February 11, 1999
--------------------------------------------------
Date
/s/ Christopher J. Sharples
--------------------------------------------------
Signature
Christopher J. Sharples
--------------------------------------------------
Name/Title
Page 5 of 5 pages
