-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Kfa4nk9DPqfQWCBoiX4psXI4loGouYhYeZhrhJyLxc6ozQpjF3CPcEuqp2jkDFgF zUJbG4g63LjnGzEO6vzwUw== 0000911420-04-000095.txt : 20040316 0000911420-04-000095.hdr.sgml : 20040316 20040316104704 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000911420-04-000095 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20040316 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: U S LIQUIDS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001041095 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT [4955] IRS NUMBER: 760519797 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-52097 FILM NUMBER: 04671416 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 411 N SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY EAST STREET 2: STE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77060 BUSINESS PHONE: 2812724500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 411 N SAM HOUSTON PARKWAY EAST STREET 2: STE 400 CITY: HOUSTON STATE: TX ZIP: 77060 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE LP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000899083 IRS NUMBER: 133688497 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE PENN PLAZA STREET 2: SUITE 4720 CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10119 BUSINESS PHONE: 2127600814 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ONE PENN PLAZA STREET 2: SUITE 4720 CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10119 SC 13D 1 d949548.txt SCHEDULE 13D UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D (Rule 13d-101) (Amendment No. 1) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(a) US Liquids Inc. ------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share -------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 902974104 --------- (CUSIP Number of Class of Securities) Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. 450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 509 New York, New York 10123 Attention: Mr. Nelson Obus ------------------------------ (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) Copy to: Shahe Sinanian, Esq. Greenberg Traurig, LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 801-9200 March 10, 2004 ---------------- (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 that is the subject of this Schedule 13D and if filing this Schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box [ ] (continued on following pages) (Page 1 of 10 Pages) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 902974104 13D Page 2 of 10 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION No. OF ABOVE PERSON: 13-3688497 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [X] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC (SEE ITEM 3) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION DELAWARE - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 260,000 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY 8. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY -0- (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- EACH REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON 260,000 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- WITH 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 260,000 shares (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.6% (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN (Page 2 of 10 Pages) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 902974104 13D Page 3 of 10 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Wynnefield Small Cap Value Offshore Fund, Ltd. S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION No. OF ABOVE PERSON: Not Applicable - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [X] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC (SEE ITEM 3) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 194,500 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY 8. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY -0- (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- EACH REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON 194,500 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- WITH 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 194,500 shares (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.2% (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO (Page 3 of 10 Pages) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 902974104 13D Page 4 of 10 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P.I S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION No. OF ABOVE PERSON: 13-3953291 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [X] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC (SEE ITEM 3) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 250,500 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY 8. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY -0- (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- EACH REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON 250,500 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- WITH 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 250,500 shares (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.5% (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN (Page 4 of 10 Pages) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 902974104 13D Page 5 of 10 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Wynnefield Capital Management LLC S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION No. OF ABOVE PERSON: Not Applicable - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [X] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS AF (SEE ITEM 3) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION New York - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 510,500 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY 8. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY -0- (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- EACH REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON 510,500 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- WITH 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 510,500 shares (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 3.1% (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON OO (Limited Liability Company) (Page 5 of 10 Pages) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 902974104 13D Page 6 of 10 Pages - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: Wynnefield Capital, Inc. S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION No. OF ABOVE PERSON: N/A - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [X] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS AF (SEE ITEM 3) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Cayman Islands - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 7. SOLE VOTING POWER SHARES 194,500 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY 8. SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED BY -0- (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- EACH REPORTING 9. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER PERSON 194,500 shares (See Item 5) --------------------------------------------------- WITH 10. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 194,500 shares (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 1.2% (See Item 5) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO (Page 6 of 10 Pages) This Amendment No. 1 ("Amendment No. 1") amends the Statement of Beneficial Ownership on Schedule 13D, filed by Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. (the "Partnership"), Wynnefield Partners Small Cap Value, L.P. I (the "Partnership-I"), Wynnefield Small Cap Offshore Fund, Ltd. (the "Fund"), Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC ("WCM") and Wynnefield Capital, Inc. ("WCI" and, collectively with the Partnership, the Partnership-I, the Fund and WCM, the "Wynnefield Group"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on January 12, 2004 (the "Schedule 13D"), with respect to the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of U S Liquids, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal executive offices located at 411 N. Sam Houston Parkway East, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77060-3545. Unless specifically amended hereby, the disclosures set forth in the Schedule 13D shall remain unchanged. ITEM 4. PURPOSES OF TRANSACTION. The response to Item 4 is hereby supplemented and amended by adding thereto the following: On March 10, 2004, the Wynnefield Group sold an aggregate of 365,000 shares of Common Stock on the open market at market price. The sales of Common Stock of March 10, 2004 resulted in the Wynnefield Group beneficially owning less than 5% of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Issuer. ITEM 5. INTERESTS IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER. The response to Item 5 is hereby amended in its entirety by the following: (A) - (C) As of March 10, 2004, the Wynnefield Group beneficially owned in the aggregate 705,000 shares of Common Stock, constituting approximately 4.3 % of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the percentage of shares owned being based upon 16,233,149 shares outstanding on December 10, 2003, as set forth in the Issuer's most recent report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2003 filed with the Commission on January 6, 2004). The following table sets forth certain information with respect to shares of Common Stock directly beneficially owned by the Wynnefield Group members listed: APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE OF NAME SHARES OUTSTANDING SHARES ---- ------ ------------------ Partnership * 260,000 1.6% Partnership-I * 250,500 1.5% Fund ** 194,500 1.2% * WCM has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in these shares of Common Stock. ** WCI has an indirect beneficial ownership interest in these shares of Common Stock. (Page 7 of 10 Pages) WCM is the sole general partner of the Partnership and Partnership-I and, accordingly, may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner (as that term is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the shares of Common Stock that the Partnership and Partnership-I beneficially own. WCM, as the sole general partner of the Partnership and Partnership-I, has the sole power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares of Common Stock that the Partnership and Partnership-I beneficially own. Messrs. Obus and Landes are the co-managing members of WCM and, accordingly, each of Messrs. Obus and Landes may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner (as that term is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the shares of Common Stock that WCM may be deemed to beneficially own. Each of Messrs. Obus and Landes, as a co-managing member of WCM, shares with the other the power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares of Common Stock that WCM may be deemed to beneficially own. WCI is the sole investment manager of the Fund and, accordingly, may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner (as that term is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the shares of Common Stock that the Fund beneficially owns. WCI, as the sole investment manager of the Fund, has the sole power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares of Common Stock that the Fund beneficially owns. Messrs. Obus and Landes are the principal executive officers of WCI and, accordingly, each of Messrs. Obus and Landes may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner (as that term is defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the shares of Common Stock that WCI may be deemed to beneficially own. Each of Messrs. Obus and Landes, as a principal executive officer of WCI, shares with the other the power to direct the voting and disposition of the shares of Common Stock that WCI may be deemed to beneficially own. Beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shown on the cover pages of and set forth elsewhere in this Amendment No. 1 for each member of the Wynnefield Group assumes that they have not formed a group for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) under the Exchange Act, and Rule 13d-5(b)(1) promulgated thereunder. If the members of the Wynnefield Group were deemed to have formed a group for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) and Rule 13d-5(b)(1), the group would be deemed to own beneficially (and may be deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over) 705,000 shares of Common Stock, constituting approximately 4.3% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the percentage of shares owned being based upon 16,233,149 shares outstanding on December 10, 2003, as set forth in the Issuer's most recent report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2003, filed with the Commission on January 6, 2004). The filing of this Amendment No. 1 and any future amendment by the Wynnefield Group, and the inclusion of information herein and therein with respect to Messrs. Obus and Landes, shall not be considered an admission that any of such persons, for the purpose of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, are the beneficial owners of any shares in which such persons do not have a pecuniary interest. To the best knowledge of the Wynnefield Group, except as described in this Amendment No. 1, none of the Wynnefield Group, any person in control (ultimately or otherwise) of the Wynnefield Group, any general partner, executive officer or director thereof, as applicable, beneficially owns any shares of Common Stock, and except as set forth in the table below, there (Page 8 of 10 Pages) have been no transactions in shares of Common Stock affected during the past 60 days, by the Wynnefield Group, any person in control of the Wynnefield Group (ultimately or otherwise), or any general partner, executive officer or director thereof, as applicable; provided, however, certain investment banking affiliates of the Wynnefield Group may beneficially own shares of Common Stock, including shares that may be held in discretionary or advisory accounts with the Wynnefield Group; and the Wynnefield Group, directly or in connection with such discretionary or advisory accounts, may acquire, hold, vote or dispose of Common Stock, including transactions that may have occurred during the past 60 days. The members of the Wynnefield Group listed below have made open market sales of shares of Common Stock during the past 60 days, as follows:
Name Date Number of Shares Price Per Share - ---- ---- ---------------- --------------- Partnership March 10, 2004 130,000 $0.02 Partnership - I March 10, 2004 140,000 $0.02 Fund March 10, 2004 95,000 $0.02 Fund March 8, 2004 130,000 $0.03
(d) No person, other than each of the members of the Wynnefield Group referred to as the direct beneficial owner of the shares of Common Stock set forth in this response to Item 5, has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such shares of Common Stock. (e) The sales of Common Stock on March 10, 2004 resulted in the Wynnefield Group beneficially owning less than 5% of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Issuer. (Page 9 of 10 Pages) SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this Amendment No. 1 is true, complete and correct. Dated: March 15, 2004 WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P. By: Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, General Partner By: /s/ Nelson Obus -------------------------------------------- Nelson Obus, Co-Managing Member WYNNEFIELD PARTNERS SMALL CAP VALUE, L.P. I By: Wynnefield Capital Management, LLC, General Partner By: /s/ Nelson Obus -------------------------------------------- Nelson Obus, Co-Managing Member WYNNEFIELD SMALL CAP VALUE OFFSHORE FUND, LTD. By: Wynnefield Capital, Inc. By: /s/ Nelson Obus -------------------------------------------- Nelson Obus, President WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC By: /s/ Nelson Obus -------------------------------------------- Nelson Obus, Co-Managing Member WYNNEFIELD CAPITAL, INC. By: /s/ Nelson Obus -------------------------------------------- Nelson Obus, President (Page 10 of 10 Pages) -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----