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Schedule 13D
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 4)
MERCURY FINANCE COMPANY
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value
(Title of Class of Securities)
589395 10 2
(CUSIP Number)
Steven E. Ducommun
Bell, Boyd & Lloyd
70 West Madison Street, Suite 3300
Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 372-1121
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
May 16, 1997
(Date of Event 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 the statement ( ).
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 other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
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SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No. 589395 10 2
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: James D. Terra
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON:
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP: Not applicable
a ( ) b ( )
3 SEC USE ONLY
4 SOURCE OF FUNDS: Not applicable
5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(E): ( ) None
6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: United States of America
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH:
7 SOLE VOTING POWER: 6,884,196
8 SHARED VOTING POWER: 0
9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 6,884,196
10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON: 6,884,196
12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
CERTAIN SHARES: ( )
13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11): 3.9%
14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: IN
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INTRODUCTION
This Amendment No. 4 relates to the Schedule 13D filed by
James D. Terra on July 26, 1996, and amended on March 5, 1997, April 8, 1997,
and May 6, 1997 (the "Schedule 13D"). All terms used herein unless otherwise
defined shall have the same meaning as in the Schedule 13D. The Schedule 13D
is hereby amended as follows:
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ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.
Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is amended to add the following:
This Amendment No. 4 relates to Mr. Terra's sale on the Estate's
behalf of 3,680,500 Estate Shares from May 6, 1997, through May 19, 1997,
in brokers' transactions effected on the New York Stock Exchange. The
3,680,500 Estate Shares were sold as follows: 514,500 shares on May 6, 1997,
for an average price of $1.5035 per share; 7,500 shares on May 7, 1997, for
$1.625 per share; 341,000 shares on May 14, 1997, for $1.75 per share; 162,000
shares on May 15, 1997, for $1.875 per share; 2,055,500 shares on May 16, 1997,
for an average price of $2.0012 per share; and 600,000 shares on May 19, 1997,
for an average price of $2.2708 per share. Mr. Terra sold the shares to raise
cash to pay the Estate's general obligations.
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ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.
Paragraphs (a) and (c) of Item 5 of the Schedule 13D are amended
and restated to read in their entirety as follows:
(a) Mr. Terra beneficially owns 6,884,196 shares representing
3.9% of the total Common Stock issued and outstanding on November 11, 1996.
DISCLAIMER OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
James D. Terra disclaims beneficial ownership of any shares of Common
Stock held by the Terra Foundation For The Arts (formerly, the Terra
Museum of American Art)(the "Foundation"), of which he is a director. As
of May 19, 1997, the Foundation owned 5,269,688 shares of Common
Stock, all of which were acquired through gifts to the Foundation by
Daniel J. Terra. These shares are not among the shares of Common Stock
reported herein.
(c) Except as reported herein, Mr. Terra has not engaged in any
transaction in the Common Stock since the date of the last transaction
reported in Amendment No. 3 to this Schedule 13D.
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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.
Dated: May 20, 1997 /s/ James D. Terra
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James D. Terra
