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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. 3)*
of
Tweedy, Browne Company LLC
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. 3)*
of
TBK Partners, L.P.
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. 3)*
of
Vanderbilt Partners, L.P.
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
EKCO GROUP, INC.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
282636109
(CUSIP Number)
John D. Spears
52 Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 916-0600
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Persons
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
August 10, 1999
(Date of Event which Required Filing of this Statement)
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If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(b)(3) or (4), check the following box [ ].
Check the following box if a fee is paid with the statement[ ]. (A fee is not
required only if the reporting person: (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7.)
* 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 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act,
but shall be subject to all the provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
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CUSIP No. 282636109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 3 of 9 Pages
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
Tweedy, Browne Company LLC ("TBC")
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
00
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5. CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS (2)(d) OR 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
TBC has sole voting power with respect to
1,210,772 shares held in certain TBC accounts (as
hereinafter defined). Additionally, certain of the
members of TBC may be deemed to have sole power to
vote certain shares as more fully set forth
herein.
NUMBER OF -------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 0 Shares
EACH -------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH: 0 shares, except that certain of the members
of TBC may be deemed to have sole power
to dispose of certain shares as more fully set
forth herein.
-------------------------------------------------------
10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,311,985 shares held in accounts of TBC (as
hereinafter defined).
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11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,311,985 shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [X]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
6.86%
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14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
BD, IA & 00
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CUSIP No. 282636109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 4 of 9 Pages
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1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
TBK Partners, L.P. ("TBK")
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
WC and BK
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5. CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS (2)(d) OR 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
76,000 shares, except that the general partners in
TBK, solely by reason of their position as such,
may be deemed to have shared power to vote these
shares.
NUMBER OF -------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 0 Shares
EACH -------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH: 76,000 shares, except that the general partners in
TBK, solely by reason of their position as such,
may be deemed to have shared power to vote certain
shares as more fully set forth herein.
-------------------------------------------------------
10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
76,000 shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
0.40%
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14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
PN
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CUSIP No. 282636109 SCHEDULE 13D Page 5 of 9 Pages
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1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
Vanderbilt Partners, L.P. ("Vanderbilt")
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2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
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3. SEC USE ONLY
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4. SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
WC and BK
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS (2)(d) OR 2(e) [ ]
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6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7. SOLE VOTING POWER
30,900 shares, except the general partners in
Vanderbilt, solely by reason of their position as
such, may be deemed to have shared power to vote
these shares.
NUMBER OF -------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8. SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY 0 Shares
EACH -------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON
WITH: 30,900 shares, except that the general partners in
Vanderbilt, solely by reason of their position as
such, may be deemed to have shared power to vote
these shares.
-------------------------------------------------------
10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
30,900 shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS) [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
0.16%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
PN
================================================================================
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PRELIMINARY NOTE
The persons filing this Amendment No. 3 are (i) Tweedy, Browne Company LLC
("TBC"), a Delaware limited liability company, (ii) TBK Partners, L.P. ("TBK"),
a Delaware limited partnership and (iii) Vanderbilt Partners, L.P.
("Vanderbilt"), a Delaware limited partnership. This Amendment No. 3 amends a
Statement on Schedule 13D filed by TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt dated March 4, 1996
(the "Statement"}. The filing of this Amendment No. 3 should not be deemed an
admission that TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt comprise a group within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Act").
This Amendment No. 3 relates to the Common Stock, $0.01 par value (the
"Common Stock"), of Ekco Group, Inc. (the "Company"), which, to the best
knowledge of the persons filing this Amendment No. 3 is a company organized
under the laws of Delaware, with its principal executive offices at 98 Spit
Brook Road, Nashua, New Hampshire 03062.
This Amendment No. 3 contains information regarding shares of Common Stock
that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by TBC. Such shares are held in the
accounts of various customers of TBC, with respect to which it has obtained sole
or shared voting power.
Other than as set forth below, to the best knowledge of TBC, TBK and
Vanderbilt, there has been no material change in the information set forth in
response to Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the Statement, as amended. Accordingly,
those Items are omitted from this Amendment No. 3.
ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER
(a) As of the date hereof, TBC may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of
an aggregate of 1,311,985 shares of Common Stock, which constitutes
approximately 6.86% of the 19,130,000 shares of Common Stock which TBC believes
to be the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. The TBC Shares are
held in the TBC Accounts.
Also included in the TBC Shares are 410 shares of Common Stock held in a
TBC account for a charitable foundation, of which Christopher H. Browne is a
trustee. Mr. Browne is a member of TBC and a general partner of TBK and
Vanderbilt.
As of the date hereof, TBK beneficially owns directly 76,000 shares of
Common Stock, which constitutes approximately 0.40% of the 19,130,000 shares of
Common Stock which TBK believes to be the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding.
As of the date hereof, Vanderbilt beneficially owns directly 30,900 shares
of Common Stock, which constitutes approximately 0.16% of the 19,130,000 shares
of Common Stock which Vanderbilt believes to be the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding.
Each of TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt disclaims that it is the beneficial owner
of any of the shares of Common Stock held in the TBC Accounts. The aggregate
number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt
could be deemed to be the beneficial owner as of the date hereof, is 1,418,885
shares, which constitutes approximately 7.42% of the 19,130,000 shares of Common
Stock, which the filing persons believe to be the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding, but nothing contained herein shall be construed as an
admission that TBC is the beneficial owner of any of the TBC Shares.
The aggregate number of shares and percentage of Common Stock with respect
to which each of the General partners and Members may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner by reason of his being a general partner of TBK and Vanderbilt,
or a member of TBC, is 1,418,885 shares, which constitutes approximately 7.42%
of the 19,130,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding. The aggregate number of
shares and percentage of Common Stock with respect to which Thomas P. Knapp may
be deemed to be a beneficial owner by reason of his being a general partner of
TBK is 76,000 shares of Common Stock which constitutes approximately 0.40% of
the 19,130,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding. However, nothing contained
herein shall be construed as an admission that any of the General Partners or
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Thomas P. Knapp is the beneficial owner of any shares of Common Stock, except as
set forth herein as expressly and admittedly being beneficially owned by a
particular General Partner or Thomas P. Knapp.
Each of TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt disclaims beneficial ownership of Common
Stock held by the other. Except as described herein, to the best knowledge of
TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt, no person who may be deemed to comprise a group with
any of TBC, TBK, Vanderbilt, or any other person named in Item 2 hereof,
beneficially owns any shares of Common Stock.
(b) TBC has investment discretion with respect to 1,311,985 shares of
Common Stock held by the TBC Accounts and has sole power to dispose or direct
the disposition of all of such shares. Of these shares of Common Stock, TBC has
sole power to vote or to direct the voting of 1,210,772 shares of Common Stock
held in certain TBC Accounts.
Each of the Members of TBC, solely by reason of their positions as such,
may be deemed to have (i) shared power to dispose of or to direct the
disposition of all of the shares of Common Stock held in the TBC Accounts; and
(ii) shared power to vote or direct the vote of 1,210,772 shares of Common Stock
held in certain TBC Accounts.
TBK has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of and dispose or
direct the disposition of the TBK Shares. Each of the General Partners and
Thomas P. Knapp, solely by reason of their positions as general partners, may be
deemed to have shared power to vote or direct the vote of and to dispose or
direct the disposition of the TBK Shares.
Vanderbilt has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of and dispose
or direct the disposition of the Vanderbilt Shares. Each of the General Partners
of Vanderbilt, solely by reason of their positions as such, may be deemed to
have shared power to vote or direct the vote of and to dispose or direct the
disposition of the TBK Shares.
(c) No transactions in Common Stock were effected by TBK and Vanderbilt
during the sixty-day period ended as of the date hereof. During the 60-day
period ended as of the date hereof, transactions in Common Stock effected by TBC
are set forth below:
TBC ACCOUNTS NO OF SHARES PRICE
SOLD PER SHARE
07/07/99 675 $4 1/2
07/21/99 1,605 $4 11/16
07/23/99 17,255 $4 7/8
08/02/99 810 $4 5/8
08/03/99 310 $4 7/16
08/04/99 365 $4 9/16
08/10/99 46,196 $6 3/4
(d) To the best knowledge of TBC, each of the persons maintaining an
account with TBC 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
held in said person's TBC Account.
To the best knowledge of TBK, no person other than TBK has the right to
receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds
from the sale of, the TBK Shares, except that the General Partners and Thomas P.
Knapp may be deemed to have such rights and powers solely by reason of being
general partners in TBK.
To the best knowledge of Vanderbilt, no person other than Vanderbilt has
the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or
the proceeds from the sale of, the Vanderbilt Shares, except that the General
Partners in Vanderbilt may be deemed to have such rights and powers solely by
reason of being general partners in Vanderbilt.
(e) Not applicable.
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SIGNATURE
Each of Tweedy, Browne Company LLC, TBK Partners, L.P. and Vanderbilt
Partners, L.P., after reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and
belief, hereby certifies that the information set forth in this Amendment No. 3
is true, complete and correct.
TWEEDY, BROWNE COMPANY LLC
By /s/Christopher H. Browne
--------------------------------------
Christopher H. Browne
Member
TBK PARTNERS, L.P.
By /s/Christopher H. Browne
--------------------------------------
Christopher H. Browne
General Partner
VANDERBILT PARTNERS, L.P.
By /s/Christopher H. Browne
--------------------------------------
Christopher H. Browne
General Partner
Dated: August 18, 1999
