ARTISOFT INC
SC 13D/A, 1998-09-21
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               (Amendment No. 5)*

                                 ARTISOFT, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

                     Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   04314L106
              ---------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                               Gerald R. Forsythe
                                1075 Noel Avenue
                            Wheeling, Illinois 60090
                                 (847) 459-4250
              ---------------------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
               Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                    Copy to:
                              Robert A. McWilliams
                               Freeborn & Peters
                       311 South Wacker Drive, Suite 3000
                          Chicago, Illinois 60606-2118
                                 (312) 360-6000

                                August 31, 1998
            -------------------------------------------------------
            (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: [  ].

Note: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed
with the Commission.  See Rule 13d-1(a) for other parties to whom copies are to
be sent.

* 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 other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
<PAGE>
 
==============================================================================
CUSIP No. 04314L106                                                        13D
==============================================================================
(1)   NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
      S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
                          
           GERALD R. FORSYTHE                              
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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)
     
           PF,OO  
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5)   CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 
      ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)             [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6)   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
           UNITED STATES    
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (7)    SOLE VOTING POWER
                         
     NUMBER OF                 603,570 
                             
      SHARES       -----------------------------------------------------------
                   (8)    SHARED VOTING POWER
   BENEFICIALLY          
                               1,480,389
     OWNED BY                    
                   -----------------------------------------------------------
       EACH        (9)    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                          
    REPORTING                  603,570
                         
      PERSON       -----------------------------------------------------------
                   (10)   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
       WITH            
                               1,480,389
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11)   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    
           2,083,959 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12)   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN 
       SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)           [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
    
           14.33%       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

           IN
==============================================================================
<PAGE>
==============================================================================
CUSIP No. 04314L106                                                        13D
==============================================================================
(1)   NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
      S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
                          
           INDECK POWER EQUIPMENT COMPANY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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,OO  
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5)   CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 
      ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)             [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6)   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
           ILLINOIS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (7)    SOLE VOTING POWER
                         
     NUMBER OF                 0
                             
      SHARES       -----------------------------------------------------------
                   (8)    SHARED VOTING POWER
   BENEFICIALLY          
                               576,369
     OWNED BY                    
                   -----------------------------------------------------------
       EACH        (9)    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                          
    REPORTING                  0
                         
      PERSON       -----------------------------------------------------------
                   (10)   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
       WITH            
                               576,369
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11)   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    
           576,369
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12)   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN 
       SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)           [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
    
           3.96%       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

           CO
==============================================================================
<PAGE>

==============================================================================
CUSIP No. 04314L106                                                        13D
==============================================================================
(1)   NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
      S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
                          
           INDECK ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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,OO  
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5)   CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 
      ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)             [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(6)   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
           ILLINOIS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   (7)    SOLE VOTING POWER
                         
     NUMBER OF                 0
                             
      SHARES       -----------------------------------------------------------
                   (8)    SHARED VOTING POWER
   BENEFICIALLY          
                               864,650
     OWNED BY                    
                   -----------------------------------------------------------
       EACH        (9)    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                          
    REPORTING                  0
                         
      PERSON       -----------------------------------------------------------
                   (10)   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
       WITH            
                               864,650
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11)   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    
           864,650
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12)   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN 
       SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)           [_]
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(13)   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
    
           5.95%       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(14)   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

           CO
==============================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                        AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO SCHEDULE 13D

       This Amendment No. 5, which is being filed jointly by Gerald R. Forsythe
  ("Mr. Forsythe"), Indeck Power Equipment Company ("Indeck Power") and Indeck
  Energy Services, Inc. ("Indeck Energy") (collectively, the "Reporting
  Persons"), supplements and amends the Statement on Schedule 13D relating to
  the common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Artisoft,
  Inc. (the "Company") originally filed jointly by the Reporting Persons with
  the Commission on January 19, 1996, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with
  the Commission on July 9, 1996, Amendment No. 2 filed with the Commission on
  November 6, 1996, Amendment No. 3 filed with the Commission in September 1988
  and Amendment No. 4 filed with the Commission on April 9, 1998 (as amended,
  the "Statement").

       The following items of this Statement are hereby supplemented and/or
  amended as indicated:

  ITEM 4.   PURPOSE OF THE TRANSACTION.

       The Reporting Persons have acquired the Common Stock beneficially owned
  by them for investment purposes, because they believe that the trading prices
  of the Common Stock in the public market do not adequately reflect the
  potential value of the Company's underlying businesses and assets.

       None of the Reporting Persons presently has any plans or proposals which
  relate to or would result in (a) the acquisition by any person of additional
  securities of the Company or the disposition of any such securities, (b) an
  extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or
  liquidation, involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (c) a sale or
  transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or any of its
  subsidiaries, (d) any change in the present management of the Company, (e) any
  material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of the
  Company, (f) any other material change in the Company's business or corporate
  structure, (g) any other material change in the Company's charter, bylaws or
  instruments corresponding thereto or other actions which may impede the
  acquisition of control of the Company by any person, (h) causing a class of
  securities of the Company 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, (i) a class of equity
  securities of the Company becoming eligible for termination of registration
  pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Act, or (j) any action similar to those
  enumerated in the foregoing clauses (a) through (i).

       However, as substantial shareholders of the Company, the Reporting
  Persons expect and intend to explore and be receptive to opportunities to
  enhance the value of the Common Stock owned by the Reporting Persons,
  including changes to the composition of the Company's board of directors
  and/or management and extraordinary transactions involving the Company.  In
  addition, depending on market conditions and other factors that the Reporting
  Persons may deem material to their respective investment decisions, any of the
  Reporting Persons may purchase additional shares of Common Stock or rights to
  purchase additional shares of Common Stock in the open market, in

                                       1

<PAGE>
 
  privately negotiated transactions or by any other permissible means and, based
  on such factors, any of the Reporting Persons may dispose of any or all of the
  shares of Common Stock to which this Statement relates or any other shares of
  Common Stock that they may hereafter acquire.

       The Reporting Persons may encourage the Company to explore strategic
  alternatives to increase shareholder value and, depending on the Company's
  response, may consider pursuing such alternatives on their own or with third
  parties.  The Reporting Persons also may seek to have the Company eliminate or
  amend its Rights Agreement (poison pill) and, depending on the Company's
  response, may seek a shareholder referendum on the issue.  However, the
  Reporting Persons currently have no specific plans or proposals with respect
  to these matters.  On August 21, 1998, the Company modified its Rights
  Agreement to raise the threshold limit allowing the acquisition of up to 25%
  of the Company's Common Stock without triggering the poison pill.

  ITEM 5.   INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

       (a) The Reporting Persons beneficially own an aggregate of 2,055,059
  shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 14.135% of the outstanding
  shares of Common Stock (based on 14,539,231 shares outstanding as reported by
  the Company in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
  31, 1998).

       (b) Mr. Forsythe has the sole power to vote and dispose of 642,940 shares
  of Common Stock owned by him personally, except with respect to 39,370 shares
  which he and his wife, Jean D. Forsythe, hold as joint tenants; Mr. Forsythe
  and Indeck Power share the power to vote and dispose of the 576,369 shares of
  Common Stock owned by Indeck Power; and Mr. Forsythe and Indeck Energy share
  the power to vote and dispose of the 864,650 shares owned by Indeck Energy.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
       (c) The Reporting Person acquired, in market transactions, the following
  shares of Common Stock during the past 60 days:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             ---------------------------------------
                Date      Purchaser  Shares  Price
             ---------------------------------------
               <C>      <S>          <C>     <C>
               9/14/98  IES, Inc.    28,900   2.27
             ---------------------------------------
               8/31/98  Forsythe      8,500   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      1,000   1.75
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      3,000  1.875
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      2,000  1.813
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe        100   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      2,900   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      3,000  1.906
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe     10,000  1.969
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      3,000  1.938
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      4,000   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      5,000   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      3,000   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      4,000   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      3,000   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      2,500   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
               8/28/98  Forsythe      1,500   2.00
             ---------------------------------------
</TABLE>

  ITEM 7.   MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.

            Exhibit 7.8    Agreement of Joint Filing among the Reporting Persons
                           dated September 17, 1998

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES

       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: September 17, 1998


                                         /s/ Gerald R. Forsythe
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Gerald R. Forsythe


                                      INDECK POWER EQUIPMENT COMPANY



                                      By:  /s/ Gerald R. Forsythe
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                           Gerald R. Forsythe, Chairman and CEO

 
                                      INDECK ENERGY SERVICES, INC.



                                      By:  /s/ Gerald R. Forsythe
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                           Gerald R. Forsythe, Chairman and CEO

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
  Exhibit                      Description
  <S>         <C> 
    7.8       Agreement of Joint Filing among the Reporting Persons dated
              September 17, 1998
</TABLE> 

                                       5

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 7.8

                           AGREEMENT OF JOINT FILING

       Gerald R. Forsythe, Indeck Power Equipment Company and Indeck Energy
  Services, Inc. hereby agree that the Amendment No. 5 to the Schedule 13D to
  which this Agreement is attached as an exhibit may be filed on behalf of each
  such person.

  Dated: September 17, 1998


                                        /s/ Gerald R. Forsythe
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Gerald R. Forsythe


                                      INDECK POWER EQUIPMENT COMPANY



                                      By:  /s/ Gerald R. Forsythe
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                           Gerald R. Forsythe, Chairman and CEO

 
                                      INDECK ENERGY SERVICES, INC.



                                      By:  /s/ Gerald R. Forsythe
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                           Gerald R. Forsythe, Chairman and CEO


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