TWEEDY BROWNE CO LLC//
SC 13D/A, 2000-03-03
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<PAGE>   1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                               (Amendment No. 9 )*
                                       of
                           Tweedy, Browne Company LLC


                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                               (Amendment No. 9)*
                                       of
                               TBK Partners, L.P.


                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                               (Amendment No. 9)*
                                       of
                            Vanderbilt Partners, L.P.



                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                               TREMONT CORPORATION
                                (Name of Issuer)


                    Common Stock, Par Value $.0.10 per share
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    894745207
                                 (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)


                                FEBRUARY 28, 2000
             (Date of Event which Required Filing of this Statement)


<PAGE>   2



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).


<PAGE>   3



CUSIP No. 894745207

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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 562,415
                               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 may
                               be deemed to have sole power to vote certain
                               shares as more fully set forth herein.
                       ---------------------------------------------------------
                       (10)  Shared Dispositive Power
                               596,436 shares held in accounts of TBC (as
                               hereinafter defined.)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

       596,436 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) 9.34%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
       IA, BD & 00


<PAGE>   4



CUSIP No. 894745207
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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) [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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
                               83,930 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
                               83,930 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
       83,930 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)
       1.31%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
       PN


<PAGE>   5



CUSIP No. 894745207

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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
                               11,000 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
                               11,000 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
       11,000 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)
       0.17%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14) Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
       PN


<PAGE>   6





PRELIMINARY NOTE

         The persons filing this Amendment No. 9 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. 9 amends a
Statement on Schedule 13D filed by TBC, TBK and Vanderbilt dated June 7, 1991.
(the "Statement"). The filing of this Amendment No. 9 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. 9 relates to the Common Stock, $.0.10 par value (the
"Common Stock"), of Tremont Corporation (the "Company"), which, to the best
knowledge of the persons filing this Amendment No. 9 is a company organized
under the laws of Delaware, with its principal executive offices located at 1999
Broadway, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80202. This Amendment No. 9 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. 9.

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 596,436 shares of Common Stock, which constitutes
approximately 9.34% of the 6,387,000 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 304 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 in TBK and
Vanderbilt.

         Also included in the TBC Shares are 12,660 shares held in certain TBC
Accounts, of which John D. Spears, a member of TBC and a general partner in TBK
and Vanderbilt, may be deemed to beneficially own directly.

         As of the date hereof, TBK beneficially owns directly 83,930 shares of
Common Stock, which constitutes approximately 1.31% of the 6,387,000 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 11,000
shares of Common Stock, which constitutes approximately 0.17% of the 6,387,000
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
691,366 shares, which constitutes approximately 10.82% of the 6,387,000 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 691,366 shares, which constitutes
approximately 10.82% of the 6,387,000 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 83,930 shares of Common Stock which constitutes
approximately 1.31% of the 6,387,000 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


<PAGE>   7



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 596,436 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 562,415 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 562,415 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:

                      NO OF SHARES                            PRICE
TBC ACCOUNTS          PURCHASED                SOLD           PER SHARE

12/30/99                                         65           $14 3//4
01/04/00                                        269           $15 1/4
01/10/00                                        260           $16 13/16
01/18/00                                        560           $16 3/8
01/19/00                                      2,130           $16.4434
01/26/00                                        804           $16.1567
01/31/00                                        500           $15.8625
02/09/00                                        238           $15 1/2
02/14/00                                      1,608           $14.1454
02/18/00                                        698           $14.1517
02/22/00                                         97           $13 15/16
02/23/00                                     15,565           $13.7792
02/25/00                                        222           $13 3/4
02/28/00                                        540           $13 5/8


         (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.


<PAGE>   8



         (e) Not applicable.

                                    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. 9
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: March 3, 2000



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