Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 5)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO
RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(a)
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc.
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(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
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(Title of Class of Securities)
318652104
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(CUSIP Number)
Moritz Sell
Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG
Alexanderplatz 2
D-10178 Berlin
Germany
+44.20.7572.6200
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
August 28, 2003
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(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. [ ]
Page 1 of 4 Pages
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. ID NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS WC
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT [ ]
TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Federal Republic of Germany
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NUMBER OF SOLE VOTING POWER 5,374,949
SHARES
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BENEFICIALLY SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED
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BY EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 5,374,949
REPORTING
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PERSON SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 5,374,949
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12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 32.0%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON BK
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This Amendment No. 5 amends and supplements Item 4 of the Statement on
Schedule 13D of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG (the "Bank") with respect to the
shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"). Items not included in this
amendment are not amended and remain as previously reported.
ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION
In Amendment No. 3 to the Bank's Statement on Schedule 13D with respect
to the Fund, the Bank reported that it intended to request exemptive relief from
the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to subsection 17(b) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, from certain prohibitions set forth in
subsection 17(a) of the Investment Company Act, in connection with the Bank's
interest in participating in the proposed in-kind tender offer announced by the
Fund on February 19, 2003. In Amendment No. 4 to the Bank's Statement on
Schedule 13D with respect to the Fund, the Bank reported that it filed a formal
application with the Commission for such relief on May 21, 2003.
The staff of the Commission has advised the Bank that the staff will
not support the Bank's application for exemptive relief. As a consequence of
this development, the Bank has determined to withdraw its request for exemptive
relief.
Except as set forth herein and in the Schedule 13D and amendments
thereto previously filed by the Bank, the Bank has not formulated any plans or
proposals which relate to or would result in any of the transactions described
in paragraphs (a) through (j) of Item 4. As previously reported, the Bank will
review its investment in the Fund from time to time and reserves the right to
take or not take any action it deems to be in its best interest consistent with
its goal of maximizing the return on its investment in the shares of Common
Stock, and with the Bank's intention relating thereto, each as set forth under
Item 4 of the Schedule 13D and amendments thereto previously filed by the Bank,
or to change such intention.
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SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief,
we certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete
and correct.
Date: September 8, 2003
BANKGESELLSCHAFT BERLIN AG
By: /s/ Dirk Kipp
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Name: Dirk Kipp
Title: Managing Director
By: /s/ Moritz Sell
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Name: Moritz Sell
Title: Director
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