GOTHAM CAPITAL III L P ET AL
SC 13D, 1997-04-14
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                                  UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                         MONEYGRAM PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                           Common Stock, No Par Value
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   608910-10-5
                  ---------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                 Bruce Berkowitz
                             100 Jericho Quadrangle
                                    Suite 212
                             Jericho, New York 11753
                                 (212) 319-4100

                                -with copies to-

                            Joseph F. Mazzella, Esq.
                             Lane Altman & Owens LLP
                               101 Federal Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                 (617) 345-9800
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and
  Communications)

                                  April 4, 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 [X ].

Check the following box if a fee is being 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.)

NOTE: Six copies of this statement, including all exhibits, should be filed with
the  Commission.  See Rule  13-d(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). 






                                  SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP NO.       608910-10-5                      PAGE    2    OF     9    PAGES

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1   Name of Reporting Person
    S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person     Joel M. Greenblatt
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*              (a) [ ]
                                                                   (b) [X]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3   SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4   Source of Funds*         AF 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5   Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceeding is Required Pursuant to Items 
    2(d) or 2(e)                                                       [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6   Citizenship or Place of Organization    USA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Number of          7     Sole Voting Power         0
  Shares             -----------------------------------------------------------
  Beneficially       8     Shared Voting Power       1,615,500
  Owned by           -----------------------------------------------------------
  Each               9     Sole Dispositive Power    0
  Reporting          -----------------------------------------------------------
  Person With        10  Shared Dispositive Power    1,615,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person       1,615,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12  Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*  [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)        9.7%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14  Type of Reporting Person*       IN


                      *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
          INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEMS 1-7
      (INCLUDING EXHIBITS) OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THE SIGNATURE ATTESTATION.







                                  SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP NO.       608910-10-5                       PAGE    3    OF     9    PAGES

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1   Name of Reporting Person
        S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person     Daniel L. Nir
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*                (a) [ ]
                                                                     (b) [X]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3   SEC Use Only
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4   Source of Funds*       AF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5   Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceeding is Required Pursuant to Items 2
   (d) or 2(e)                                                           [ ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6   Citizenship or Place of Organization    USA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Number of          7     Sole Voting Power         0
  Shares             -----------------------------------------------------------
  Beneficially       8     Shared Voting Power       1,615,500
  Owned by           -----------------------------------------------------------
  Each               9     Sole Dispositive Power    0
  Reporting          -----------------------------------------------------------
  Person With        10  Shared Dispositive Power    1,615,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person       1,615,500
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12  Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*   [ ]
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)        9.7%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14  Type of Reporting Person*       IN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
          INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEMS 1-7
      (INCLUDING EXHIBITS) OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THE SIGNATURE ATTESTATION.





CUSIP NO. 608910-10-5                         PAGE   4   OF   9   PAGES





ITEM 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER

         Securities acquired:  Common Stock, no par value

         Issuer:  Moneygram Payment Systems, Inc.
                  7401 W. Mansfield Avenue
                  Lakewood, Colorado 80235


ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND

        (a) This  Schedule  is being  filed  jointly by Joel M.  Greenblatt  and
Daniel L. Nir (hereinafter  sometimes collectively referred to as the "Reporting
Persons") in their capacities as controlling persons of the following entities:

     (i) Alfred Partners,  L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("Alfred
LLC"); and

    (ii)Gotham Capital III, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Gotham III").

         (b),  (c) and (f) Each of the  Reporting  Persons  and  other  entities
described  above has a business  address of 100 Jericho  Quadrangle,  Suite 212,
Jericho, New York 11753.

     Joel M.  Greenblatt  and  Daniel  L. Nir are each  United  States  citizens
residing  in the State of New York whose  principal  occupations  are as General
Partners of Gotham III and Managing Members of Alfred LLC.

     Gotham III is a  privately  owned  investment  partnership  which is in the
business of  purchasing,  for investment  and trading  purposes,  securities and
other financial instruments.

     Alfred LLC is a privately  owned  Delaware  limited  liability  company the
principal  business  of which is to invest  in  securities  and other  financial
instruments and to act as General Partner of Alfred Partners, L.P., an affiliate
of Gotham III.

         (d) No events  have  occurred  which  would be  required to be reported
under the provisions of this Item.

         (e) No events  have  occurred  which  would be  required to be reported
under the provisions of this Item.

ITEM 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS

     The  source  of the funds  used by each of  Messrs.  Greenblatt  and Nir to
purchase  securities  of the  Issuer on behalf of Gotham  III and Alfred LLC was
working  capital  and margin  borrowing  through  Speer Leeds and  Kellogg.  The
approximate  aggregate  amounts  of funds of Gotham  III and  Alfred LLC used to
purchase such securities were  $10,536,104.68  and  $4,627,963.28,  respectively
(exclusive  of  commissions  and other  expenses).  The  portion  of such  funds
provided by margin borrowing is not readily determinable and varies from time to
time as a result of varying margin account  availability  and unrelated  ongoing
transactions  in  such  accounts.   Working  capital  was  provided  by  capital
contributions of partners and internally generated funds.








CUSIP NO. 608910-10-5                             PAGE   5   OF   9   PAGES




ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF THE TRANSACTION

     For each of the  Reporting  Persons,  the  purpose  of the  acquisition  of
securities  of the Issuer is  investment.  Except as otherwise  set forth below,
neither of the Reporting Persons nor any of the entities controlled thereby have
any current plans or proposals which would result in any of the following:

     1)  acquisition  by any person of additional  securities of the Issuer,  or
         the  disposition  of securities of the Issuer except for open market or
         privately  negotiated  purchases or sales of the Issuer's securities at
         times and prices determined by the investment objectives of each of the
         Reporting Persons;

     2)  any   extraordinary   corporate   transaction,   such   as  a   merger,
         reorganization  or  liquidation,  involving  the  Issuer  or any of its
         subsidiaries;

     3)  any sale or  transfer  of a material  amount of assets of the Issuer or
         any of its subsidiaries;

     4)  any change in the present board of directors or managers of the Issuer;

     5)  any material change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of
         the Issuer;

     6)  any  other  material  change  in the  Issuer's  business  or  corporate
         structure;

     7)  any  change  in  the   Issuer's   charter,   by-laws   or   instruments
         corresponding thereto or other actions which may impede the acquisition
         of control of the Issuer by any person;

     8)  causing  a class of  securities  of the  Issuer to be  delisted  from a
         national securities exchange;

     9)  causing a class of  securities  of the  Issuer to become  eligible  for
         termination  of  registration  pursuant  to  Section  12(g)(4)  of  the
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or

     10) any action similar to any of those enumerated above.


ITEM 5.  INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

         (a) The beneficial  ownership by each of Joel M.  Greenblatt and Daniel
L. Nir of Common Stock of the Issuer as of the date hereof is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

        No. of Shares Deemed                  Nature of Ownership                  Percentage of Class
      to be Beneficially Owned:               -------------------                  -------------------
      -------------------------

       <S>                            <C>                                          <C> 
               493,900                The record ownership and                             3.0%
                                      economic  interest  in such shares is held
                                      by Alfred LLC. Messrs.  Greenblatt and Nir
                                      are  managing  members  of Alfred LLC and,
                                      therefore,  may be deemed to have indirect
                                      beneficial ownership of, and shared voting
                                      and  dispositive  power with  respect  to,
                                      such shares.


</TABLE>





CUSIP NO. 608910-10-5                               PAGE   6   OF   9   PAGES




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


        No. of Shares Deemed                   Nature of Ownership                 Percentage of Class
      to be Beneficially Owned:                -------------------                 -------------------
      -------------------------
    <S>                               <C>                                           <C>
                                      The record ownership and                             6.7%
              1,121,600               economic interest in such shares
                                      is held by Gotham III.  Messrs.
                                      Greenblatt and Nir are general
                                      partners of Gotham III and,
                                      therefore, may be deemed to
                                      have indirect beneficial
                                      ownership of, and shared voting
                                      and dispositive power with
                                      respect to, such shares.

           ==============                                                            ===============
              1,615,500                                                                    9.7%

</TABLE>

         Under  Section  13(d) of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934,  as
amended,  and the rules and regulations  thereunder,  as a result of the control
relationships  described  above,  Joel M.  Greenblatt  may be  deemed  to be the
beneficial  owner of 1,615,500  shares (9.7%) of the Common Stock of the Issuer.
Joel M. Greenblatt does not  beneficially  own any shares of Common Stock of the
Issuer other than through his interests as a general  partner or managing member
as aforesaid,  and he does not have exclusive  voting or dispositive  power over
any such shares.

         Under  Section  13(d) of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934,  as
amended,  and the rules and regulations  thereunder,  as a result of the control
relationships  described above, Daniel L. Nir may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner of 1,615,500  shares  (9.7%) of the Common Stock of the Issuer.  Daniel L.
Nir does not  beneficially  own any shares of the Common  Stock of Issuer  other
than through his interests as a general partner or managing member as aforesaid,
and he does not have exclusive voting or dispositive power over any such shares.

         The  number  of  shares   beneficially  owned  and  the  percentage  of
outstanding  shares represented  thereby,  for each of the Reporting Persons and
other  entities,  have been  computed  in  accordance  with Rule 13d-3 under the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended.  The  percentages  of  ownership
described above are based on the 16,625,000  outstanding  shares of Common Stock
of the Issuer  reported  in the  Issuer's  Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended
December 31, 1996.

         (b)  Alfred  LLC and  Gotham  III each have the sole  power to vote and
dispose  of the  Common  Stock of the Issuer  beneficially  owned by them.  Such
voting and  dispositive  power may be  exercised  on behalf of Alfred LLC by its
Managing Members and on behalf of Gotham III by either of its general  partners.
Both Joel M. Greenblatt and Daniel L. Nir are the general partners of Gotham III
and the managing members of Alfred LLC. Therefore, Joel M. Greenblatt and Daniel
L. Nir may be deemed to each have shared voting and  dispositive  power over the
1,615,500 shares (9.7%) of the Common Stock of the Issuer  beneficially owned in
the aggregate by Gotham III and Alfred LLC.








CUSIP NO. 608910-10-5                             PAGE   7   OF   9   PAGES




         (c)  Transactions  in the  securities of the Issuer  reported on herein
which have been effected in the past sixty days by the Reporting  Persons are as
follows (all such transactions were open market acquisitions):


     Date            No. of Shares       Price per Share            Total
     ----            -------------       ---------------            -----

    3/31/97              50,000              8.1250               $406,250.00
    4/1/97              175,300              8.9535             $1,569,548.50
    4/2/97              105,800              9.4317               $997,873.86
    4/2/97              155,000              9.4556             $1,465,618.00
    4/3/97              306,200              9.1205             $2,792.697.10
    4/3/97               12,500              9.1250               $114,062.50
    4/4/97              423,000              9.1288             $3,861,482.40
    4/8/97               17,700              9.6059               $170,024.43
    4/10/97             100,000              10.1250            $1,012,500.00
    4/10/97             150,000              10.0416            $1,506,240.00
    4/10/97              47,200              10.6647              $503,373.84
    4/11/97              52,800              10.4526              $551,897.28
    4/11/97              20,000              10.6250              $212,500.00
 

       (d) Not Applicable.

       (e) Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.  CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS,  UNDERSTANDINGS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT
         TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER

         Not Applicable.

ITEM 7.  MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS

         Exhibit A.  Agreement of Joint Filing








CUSIP NO. 608910-10-5                             PAGE   8   OF   9   PAGES





After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief,  we each
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct. This statement may be executed in multiple counterparts,  each of which
shall  be  deemed  an  original  and  all of  which  shall  constitute  one  (1)
instrument.


                                            /s/ Joel M. Greenblatt
                                            -------------------------
                                            Joel M. Greenblatt


                                            /s/ Daniel L. Nir
                                            -------------------------
                                            Daniel L. Nir


Date: April 14, 1997







CUSIP NO. 608910-10-5                                PAGE   9   OF   9   PAGES





                                    EXHIBIT A

                            AGREEMENT OF JOINT FILING
                         MONEYGRAM PAYMENT SYSTEMS, INC.
                           COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE



         In accordance  with Rule 13D-1(f) under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby confirm the agreement by and among them
to the joint  filing on behalf of each of them of a Statement  on Schedule  13D,
and  any  and all  amendments  thereto,  with  respect  to the  above-referenced
securities and that this Agreement be included as an Exhibit to such filing.

         This  Agreement may be executed in any number of  counterparts  each of
which  shall be  deemed to be an  original  and all of which  together  shall be
deemed to constitute one and the same Agreement.

         WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned hereby execute this Agreement on this
14th day of April, 1997.



                                                     /s/ Daniel L. Nir
                                                     --------------------------
                                                     Daniel L. Nir


                                                     /s/ Joel M. Greenblatt
                                                     --------------------------
                                                     Joel M. Greenblatt






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