FORSCHNER GROUP INC
SC 13D, 1995-04-06
HARDWARE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                           THE FORSCHNER GROUP, INC.
                                (Name of Issuer)


                          Common Stock, $.10 Par Value
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   346590102
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                           Herbert M. Friedman, Esq.
                        Zimet, Haines, Friedman & Kaplan
                                460 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022
                                 (212) 486-1700

                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Persons
               Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)



                                 March 27, 1994
           (Dates of Events Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


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 being paid with this statement.

                                      [x]







Page 1 of 11 Pages.


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 CUSIP No.                         13D                        Page 2 of 11 Pages
 346590102

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

                                 Victorinox 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 OF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                               [ ]

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF  ORGANIZATION
                                         Switzerland

 NUMBER OF        7   SOLE VOTING POWER
  SHARES
BENEFICIALLY      8   SHARED VOTING POWER
 OWNED BY                                 675,500
   EACH
 REPORTING        9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON WITH

                 10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                          675,500

11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                    675,500

12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES   [ ]


13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
                                      8.3%

14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
                                       CO


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 CUSIP No.                         13D                        Page 3 of 11 Pages
 346590102

1    NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
     S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

                                 Charles Elsener, Sr.

2    CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP                    (a) [ ]
                                                                         (b) [ ]

3    SEC USE ONLY

4    SOURCE OF FUNDS
                                     N/A

5    CHECK BOX OF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
     IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                               [ ]

6    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF  ORGANIZATION
                                         Switzerland

 NUMBER OF        7   SOLE VOTING POWER
  SHARES
BENEFICIALLY      8   SHARED VOTING POWER
 OWNED BY                                 675,500
   EACH
 REPORTING        9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON WITH

                 10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                          675,500

11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                                    675,500

12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES   [ ]


13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
                                      8.3%

14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
                                       IN

<PAGE>
Item 1  - Security and Issuer.

     This Schedule 13D filed to reflect  information  required  pursuant to Rule
13d-2 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended (the "Act"),  with respect to the ownership of
shares of Common  Stock,  par value  $.10 per  share  ("Common  Stock"),  of The
Forschner Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Forschner").

     The  address of  Forschner's  principal  executive  office is One  Research
Drive, Shelton, Connecticut 06484.


Item 2 - Identity and Background.

     This  statement  is  being  filed  on  behalf  of  Victorinox AG,  a  Swiss
corporation  ("Victorinox"),  and Charles Elsener, Sr., a citizen of Switzerland
and the President and controlling stockholder of Victorinox ("Mr. Elsener").

     Victorinox is a manufacturer  of cutlery and pocket knives.  The address of
Victorinox's principal business and principal office, and Mr. Elsener's business
address, is Victorinox Cutlery Company, CH-6438, Ibach-Schwyz,  Switzerland. Mr.
Elsener's principal occupation is Chief Executive Officer of Victorinox.




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     During the last five years, neither Victorinox nor Mr. Elsener,  nor to the
best knowledge of Victorinox,  any director or executive  officer of Victorinox,
has been convicted in a criminal  proceeding  (excluding  traffic  violations or
similar misdemeanors).

     During the last five years, neither Victorinox nor Mr. Elsener,  nor to the
best knowledge of Victorinox,  any director or executive  officer of Victorinox,
has been party to a civil  proceeding  of a judicial or  administrative  body of
competent  jurisdiction  and as a  result  of such  proceeding  was or is or are
subject to a judgment,  decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or
prohibiting  or mandating  activities  subject to,  federal or state  securities
laws, or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

     Each of Victorinox and Mr. Elsener is responsible for the  completeness and
accuracy of only that information concerning each of Victorinox and Mr. Elsener,
respectively,  contained  herein,  or in  any  subsequent  amendment  and is not
responsible for the  completeness or accuracy of any information  concerning the
other party.  Neither  Victorinox nor Mr. Elsener knows or has reason to believe
that any information  concerning the other party contained  herein is inaccurate
and the execution of any subsequent  amendment by each party shall  constitute a
representation  by such party  that it  neither  knows nor has reason to believe
that any  information  concerning the other party



                                       -5-


<PAGE>

contained in such amendment is inaccurate at the time of such execution.


Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

     During the period of March 3 through April 5, 1995,  Victorinox purchased a
total of 675,500 shares of Common Stock of Forschner in open market transactions
for  an  aggregate   purchase  price   (including   brokerage   commissions)  of
$7,432,228.20, paid in cash from Victorinox's working capital.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction.

     Victorinox acquired the Shares for investment purposes.

     Although  neither  Victorinox  nor Mr.  Elsener has formulated any definite
plans or  proposals  with respect to their  investment  in  Forschner,  they may
consider the acquisition of additional shares of Common Stock or the disposition
of  some or all of the  shares  of  Common  Stock  held  or to be held by  them,
depending  on market  conditions  and other  circumstances.  Except as set forth
above,  neither  Victorinox  nor Mr.  Elsener has any plans or  proposals  which
relate to or would result in any of the following:

          (a)  The  acquisition  by  any  person  of  additional  securities  of
     Forschner,   or  the  disposition  of  securities  of  Forschner;



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         (b)  An   extraordinary  corporate  transaction,   such  as  a  merger,
     reorganization   or   liquidation,  involving   Forschner  or  any  of  its
     subsidiaries;

          (c) A sale or transfer of a material  amount of assets of Forschner or
     any of its subsidiaries;

          (d) Any change in the present  board of  directors  or  management  of
     Forschner, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of
     directors or to fill any existing vacancies on the board;

          (e) Any  material  change in the  present  capitalization  or dividend
     policy of Forschner;

          (f) Any other  material  change in  Forschner's  business or corporate
     structure;

          (g)   Changes  in   Forschner's   charter,   by-laws  or   instruments
     corresponding  thereto or other actions which may impede the acquisition of
     control of Forschner by any person;

          (h) Causing a class of  securities  of Forschner to be delisted from a
     national  securities  exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in
     an  inter-dealer  quotation  system  of a  registered  national  securities
     association;


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          (i) A class of equity  securities of Forschner  becoming  eligible for
     termination of registration  pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or

          (j) Any action similar to any of those enumerated above.

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

     (a) Victorinox is the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 675,500 shares of
Common  Stock,  constituting  approximately  8.3% of the issued and  outstanding
shares of Common Stock as of the date hereof. As the controlling  stockholder of
Victorinox,  Mr. Elsener may be deemed to be the beneficial  owner of the shares
of Common Stock held by Victorinox  and thus may be deemed to be the  beneficial
owner of 675,500 shares of Common Stock, constituting  approximately 8.3% of the
issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the date hereof.

     (b)  Victorinox  and Mr. Elsener share with each other the power to vote or
direct the vote and to dispose or direct disposition of 675,500 shares of Common
Stock held by Victorinox.



     (c)  Except  for the open market purchases made by Victorinox as set  forth
below, there were no  transactions  in Common Stock

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effected  during the past 60 days by the persons named in response  to paragraph
(a) of Item 5.

            Date                    Number of                 Purchase Price
                                      Shares                     Per Share(1)

     March 3, 1995                    16,500                     $ 11.06
     March 6, 1995                     1,000                     $ 10.87
     March 8, 1995                     5,500                     $ 10.81
     March 8, 1995                    72,000                     $ 10.81
     March 10, 1995                   33,000                     $ 11.10
     March 10, 1995                    5,000                     $ 10.68
     March 10, 1995                    2,000                     $ 11.10
     March 10, 1995                   12,500                     $ 10.68
     March 10, 1995                    2,500                     $ 10.62
     March 13, 1995                   55,000                     $ 10.63
     March 15, 1995                   15,000                     $ 10.72
     March 16, 1995                   10,400                     $ 10.72
     March 17, 1995                   23,000                     $ 11.02
     March 21, 1995                   15,600                     $ 11.19
     March 21, 1995                  100,000                     $ 11.30
     March 23, 1995                   15,500                     $ 10.97
     March 24, 1995                    2,400                     $ 11.00
     March 27, 1995                  108,000                     $ 11.13
     March 29, 1995                   20,000                     $ 11.00
     March 31, 1995                    5,000                     $ 10.94
     March 31, 1995                    4,000                     $ 11.00
     April 3, 1995                    20,000                     $ 11.00
     April 4, 1995                    31,600                     $ 10.96
     April 5, 1995                   100,000                     $ 11.10

- ------------------
(1) Exclusive of brokerage commissions.



<PAGE>

     (d) No  person  other  than Mr.  Elsener  and  Victorinox  has the right to
receive  or the power to direct  the

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receipt  of  dividends  from the shares of Common Stock  beneficially  owned  by
him  or  the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of the proceeds
from the sale of such shares.


Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or
        Relationships With Respect to Securities of
        the Issuer.

     There  are no  contracts,  arrangements,  understandings  or  relationships
(legal or  otherwise)  among the persons named in Item 2 or between such persons
and any person with respect to any securities of Forschner,  including,  but not
limited to,  transfer or voting of any of the securities,  finder's fees,  joint
ventures,  loan or option  arrangements,  puts or calls,  guarantees of profits,
division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies.

Item 7.  Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

     (a) None.




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<PAGE>



     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the undersigned's knowledge and
belief,  the undersigned hereby certifies that the information set forth in this
statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:  April 5, 1995
                                              VICTORINOX AG

                                              By:  /s/ Charles Elsener, Sr.
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                       Charles Elsener, Sr.




                                                   /s/ Charles Elsener, Sr.
                                                 ----------------------------
                                                       Charles Elsener, Sr.




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