UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
RALSTON PURINA COMPANY
(Name of Issuer)
Ralston-Continental Baking Group Common Stock ("CBG Stock")
(Title of Class of Securities)
751 262 106 (CBG Stock)
(CUSIP Number)
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement: \ \. (A fee
is not required only if the filing 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 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.
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON:
1
Ralston Purina Benefits Policy Board ("BPB").
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP:
Not applicable.
3. SEC USE ONLY:
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
BPB is an unincorporated committee consisting of employees of the Issuer
with fiduciary responsibility for the administration of the Issuer's
Savings Investment Plan (the "Plan"), a 401K Plan with an ESOP feature.
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
5. SOLE VOTING POWER: 0
6. SHARED VOTING POWER: 0
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON: 0
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*:
Not applicable.
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9: 0%
2
On May 15, 1995, the Issuer exchanged each outstanding share of CBG Stock
for .0886 shares of Ralston Purina Company Common Stock ("RAL Stock"),
which now represents the Issuer's sole outstanding class of common stock.
The exchange was authorized by the Issuer's Articles of Incorporation. As
a result of the exchange, the terms of the Issuer's $1.00 par Series A ESOP
Convertible Preferred Stock were adjusted to provide that such shares were
convertible only into 2.29 shares of RAL Stock. Upon the exchange, all
shares of CBG Stock allocated to participate accounts in the Plan were
exchanged for shares of RAL Stock, and the CBG Stock Fund in the Plan was
thereafter deleted.
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON:
EP
SCHEDULE 13G
Item 1.
(a) Name of Issuer: Ralston Purina Company
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: Checkerboard Square, St.
Louis, MO 63164
Item 2.
(a) Name of Person Filing: BPB
(b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63164
(c) Citizenship: See responses to Item 4 on Cover Sheets
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(d) Title of Class of Securities: CBG Stock.
(e) CUSIP Number: 751 262 106 (CBG Stock).
Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b),
or 13d-2(b),
check whether the person filing is a:
(a) Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act: No
(b) Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act: No
(c) Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act: No
(d) Investment Company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company
Act: No.
(e) Investment Adviser registered under section 203 of the Investment Advisers
Act of 1940: No
(f) Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is subject to the provisions of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or Endowment
Fund;
see Section 240. 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F): Yes
(g) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G)
(Note: See Item 7): No
(h) Group, in accordance with Section 240. 13d-1(b)(l)(ii)(H): No
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Item 4. Ownership
If the percent of the class owned, as of December 31 of the year covered by
the statement, or as of the last day of any month described in Rule 13d-
1(b)(2), if applicable, exceeds five percent, provide the following
information as of that date and identify those shares which there is a
right to acquire.
This Schedule was inadvertently not filed by February 14 of 1996 to report
ownership levels as of December 31, 1995. The ownership levels disclosed
are as of December 31, 1995 but remain the same as of the date hereof.
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more
than five percent of the class of securities, check the following: [X]
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of
Another Person.
If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of,
such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response
to this item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the
class, such person should be identified. A listing of the shareholders of
an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940
5
or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment
fund is not required.
Not applicable.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary
Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company
If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule 13d-
1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the
identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a
parent holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c),
attach an exhibit stating the identification of the relevant subsidiary.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the
Group
If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(H), so
indicate under Item 3(h) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and
Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed
this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), attach an exhibit stating the
identity of each member of the group.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group
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Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating the
date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to
transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required, by
members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5.
Not applicable.
Item 10. Certification
The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed pursuant
to Rule 13d-1(b):
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of
business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the
effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such
securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in
any transaction having such purposes or effect.
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.
Date: December 4, 1996
Signature:
7
C. S. Sommer, Secretary,
Ralston Purina Benefits Policy Board
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