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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. 4)*
of
Tweedy, Browne Company LLC
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. 4)*
of
TBK Partners, L.P.
SCHEDULE 13D
(Amendment No. 4)*
of
Vanderbilt Partners, L.P.
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
MERCHANTS GROUP, INC.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 PER SHARE
(Title of Class of Securities)
588539106
(CUSIP Number)
John D. Spears
350 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 916-0600
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Persons
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
DECEMBER 16, 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. 588539106
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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) [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7) Sole Voting Power
TBC has sole voting power with respect to 175,728
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 ---------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially (8) Shared Voting Power
Owned by Each 0 shares
Reporting Person
With ---------------------------------------------------------
(9) Sole Dispositive Power
0 shares, except that certain of the members of
TBC may be deemed to have sole power to vote
certain Shares as more fully set forth herein.
---------------------------------------------------------
(10) Shared Dispositive Power
179,878 shares held in accounts of TBC (as
hereinafter defined).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
179,878 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)
6.55%
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(14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
IA, BD & 00
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CUSIP No. 588539106
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Names of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons
TBK Partners, L.P. ("TBK")
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a) [ ]
(b) [X]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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) [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
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(7) Sole Voting Power
5,000 shares, except that the general partners in
TBK, solely by reason of their positions as such,
may be deemed to have shared power to vote these
shares.
Number of Shares ---------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially (8) Shared Voting Power
Owned by Each 0 shares
Reporting Person
With ---------------------------------------------------------
(9) Sole Dispositive Power
5,000 shares, except that the general partners in
TBK, solely by reason of their positions 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
5,000 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)
0.18%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
PN
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CUSIP No. 588539106
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Names of Reporting Persons I.R.S. Identification Nos. of Above Persons
Vanderbilt Partners, L.P. ("Vanderbilt")
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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) [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6) Citizenship or Place of Organization
Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7) Sole Voting Power
3,600 shares, except that the general partners in
Vanderbilt, solely by reason of their positions as
such, may be deemed to have shared power to vote
these shares.
Number of Shares ---------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially (8) Shared Voting Power
Owned by Each 0 shares
Reporting Person
With ---------------------------------------------------------
(9) Sole Dispositive Power
3,600 shares, except that the general partners in
Vanderbilt, solely by reason of their positions 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
3,600 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)
0.13%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
PN
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PRELIMINARY NOTE
The persons filing this Amendment No. 4 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. 4 amends a
Statement on Schedule 13D filed by TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt dated October 14,
1993 ( the "Statement"). The filing of this Amendment No. 4 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. 4 relates to the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the "Common Stock"), of Merchants Group, Inc. (the "Company"), which, to
the best knowledge of the persons filing this Amendment No. 4, is a company
organized under the laws of Delaware, with its principal executive offices at
250 Main Street, Buffalo, New York 14202.
This Amendment No. 4 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. 4.
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 179,878 shares of Common Stock, which constitutes
approximately 6.55% of the 2,745,000 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.
As of the date hereof, TBK beneficially owns directly 5,000 shares of
Common Stock, which constitutes approximately 0.18% of the 2,745,000 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 3,600
shares of Common Stock, which, constitutes approximately 0.13% of the 2,745,000
shares of Common Stock which Vanderbilt believes to be the total number 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
188,478 shares, which constitutes approximately 6.86% of the 2,745,000 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 may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner by reason of his being a general partner of TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt,
respectively, is 188,478 shares, which constitutes approximately 6.86% of the
2,745,000 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
5,000 shares of Common Stock which constitutes approximately 0.18% of the
2,745,000 shares of Common Stock outstanding. However, nothing contained herein
shall be construed as an admission that any of the General Partners or 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.
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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 of
the Statement, beneficially owns any shares of Common Stock.
(b) TBC has investment discretion with respect to 179,878 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 175,728 shares of Common Stock
held in certain TBC Accounts.
Each of the General Partners 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 179,878 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 Vanderbilt Shares.
(c) No transactions in Common Stock were effected by TBK and Vanderbilt during
the sixty-day period ended as of the date hereof. Transactions in Common Stock
effected by TBC during the sixty-day period ended as of the date hereof are set
forth below:
REPORTING NO. OF SHARES NO. OF SHARES PRICE
PERSON DATE PURCHASED SOLD PER SHARE
TBC Accounts 12/08/99 9,700 $22 1/4
12/10/99 715 $27 1/8
12/13/99 1,445 $21 7/8
12/16/99 180 $20 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. 4
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: December 21, 1999
