Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 8) 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. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $.01 per share -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 318652104 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) Moritz Sell Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin Germany +44.20.7572.6200 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) December 14, 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 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 9 Pages -------------------------------- ------------------------------ CUSIP No.: 318652104 13D Page 2 of 9 Pages -------------------------------- ------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON S.S. OR I.R.S. ID NO. OF ABOVE PERSON Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [ ] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 SOURCE OF FUNDS WC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL [ ] PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Federal Republic of Germany -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF SOLE VOTING POWER 5,184,849 SHARES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BENEFICIALLY SHARED VOTING POWER OWNED -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BY EACH SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 5,184,849 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER WITH -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 5,184,849 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 30.9% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON BK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 of 9 Pages This Amendment No. 8 amends and supplements Item 5 and Annex A 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"). Annex A sets forth the name, address and principal occupation of each director and executive officer of the Bank and the name, address, jurisdiction of incorporation and principal business of each shareholder of the Bank who may be deemed to be in control of the Bank. All of the individuals listed on Annex A are citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany. Items not included in this amendment are not amended and remain as previously reported. ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND Annex A is amended in its entirety as set forth in this Amendment No. 8. ITEM 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION On December 14, 2004, the Bank made a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on Form 144 indicating an intention to sell 242,000 shares of Common Stock, in addition to the sales enumerated in item 5(c) of this Amendment No. 8 as having occurred in November 2004, pursuant to rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. The Bank's intention to make any such further sales is subject to the continued existence of market conditions that the Bank deems favorable for doing so. The Bank may also engage in further sales of its shares of Common Stock pursuant to rule 144 in the future, subject to the rule's limitations on the permitted volume of sales and the manner in which shares may be sold. Separately, representatives of the Bank have engaged in preliminary discussions with representatives of the Fund concerning the possibility that the Fund may be willing to assist the Bank by registering the Bank's remaining shares of Common Stock for sale in a public offering pursuant to the registration provisions of the Securities Act of 1933. Such registered sales, if effected, might be made either at the market price over a period of time, in one or more underwritten public offerings, or by both methods of sale. No agreement to effect such a registration has been reached, and it is anticipated that, prior to undertaking such a registration, it may be necessary for the Bank and the Fund to obtain an exemption from the Commission with respect to otherwise applicable restrictions on affiliated transactions contained in section 17(d) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and rule 17d-1 thereunder. The Bank cannot determine at this time whether it would be necessary to obtain such an exemption, whether an exemption, if requested, would be forthcoming from the Commission or whether the Bank would consider market conditions to be favorable for such sales at the time when it was feasible to effect such a registration. Page 3 of 9 Pages ITEM 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER (a) According to the latest Semi-Annual Report of the Fund filed with the Commission on July 8, 2004, there were 16,777,298 shares of Common Stock outstanding at April 30, 2004. The percentage set forth in this Item 5(a) was derived using such number. The Bank is the beneficial owner of 5,184,849 shares of Common Stock, which constitute approximately 30.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. (b) The Bank has sole power to vote and to dispose of the shares of Common Stock owned by it. (c) During the last sixty days, the Bank has effected the following sales in the shares of Common Stock in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended: Date Number of Shares Price Per Share ---- ---------------- --------------- November 15, 2004 4,000 $11.0225 November 22, 2004 23,000 $11.009 November 23, 2004 20,600 $11.1167 November 24, 2004 20,700 $11.1629 November 26, 2004 26,100 $11.2122 November 29, 2004 59,500 $11.2696 November 30, 2004 6,100 $11.2646 December 14, 2004 30,100 $11.188 (d) No person other than the Bank has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the shares of Common Stock owned by the Bank. (e) Inapplicable. Page 4 of 9 Pages 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: December 15, 2004 BANKGESELLSCHAFT BERLIN AG By: /s/ Dirk Kipp ---------------------------- Name: Dirk Kipp Title: Managing Director By: /s/ Moritz Sell ---------------------------- Name: Moritz Sell Title: Director Page 5 of 9 Pages ANNEX A ------- Unless otherwise indicated, the business address for all individuals listed in this Annex A is Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG, Alexanderplatz 2, D-10178 Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany. MEMBERS OF THE MANAGING BOARD ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Hans-Joerg Vetter Chairman of the Managing Board of Alexanderplatz 2 Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG D-10178 Berlin ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Serge Demoliere Member of the Managing Board of Alexanderplatz 2 Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG D-10178 Berlin ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Uwe Kruschinski Member of the Managing Board of Alexanderplatz 2 Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG D-10178 Berlin ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Dr. Thomas Veit Member of the Managing Board of Alexanderplatz 2 Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- From January 1, 2005 Martin Klaus Mueller Member of the Managing Board of Alexanderplatz 2 Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG D-10178 Berlin ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Alt, Volker Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Recht ---------------------------------- Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Boehmer, Willi Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Finanzen ---------------------------------- Brunnenstrasse 111 D-13355 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Boenke, Frank-Michael General Manager of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG London Branch London Branch 1 Crown Court ---------------------------------- Cheapside GB-London EC2V 6LR ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Brummel, Beate Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Kreditbereich Kapitalmarktgeschaft ---------------------------------- Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- Page 6 of 9 Pages ----------------------------------------- --------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Burmester, Dr. Christian General Manager of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG London Branch London Branch 1 Crown Court ---------------------------------- Cheapside GB-London EC2V 6LR ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Butzer, Arnold Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Vertrieb Immobilienfinanzierung ---------------------------------- Corneliusstr, 7 D-10787 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Ghassemi-Moghadam, Dariush Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Unternehmensentwicklung ---------------------------------- Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Gunther, Steffen Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Geschaftsfeldstab Immobilienfinanzierung ---------------------------------- Corneliusstr, 7 D-10787 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Hirschhaeuser, Dr. Karl-Friedrich Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Risikocontrolling ---------------------------------- Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Kipp, Dirk Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Eigenhandel ---------------------------------- Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- Page 7 of 9 Pages ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Lange, Axel Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Kreditbereich IBAG/IBG ---------------------------------- Hardenbergstr. 20 D-10623 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Mueller, Martin Klaus Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG, Berlin Treasury and General Manager of Alexanderplatz 2 Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG, London D-10178 Berlin Branch and ---------------------------------- London Branch 1 Crown Court, Cheapside GB-London EC2V 6LR ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Papesch, Uwe Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Equities ---------------------------------- Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Ramthun, Helmut Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Compliance ---------------------------------- Brunnenstrasse 111 D-13355 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Reinhardt, Ludwig Managing Director of Zins-/Kreditprodukte Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Alexanderplatz 2 ---------------------------------- D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- Page 8 of 9 Pages ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- NAME AND ADDRESS PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Reutter, Dr. Georg Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Kredit Immobilien BG ---------------------------------- Corneliusstr, 7 D-10787 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Roller, Gerhard Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Internationales Geschaft ---------------------------------- Alexanderplatz 2 D-10178 Berlin ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- Schoelper, Siegfried Managing Director of Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG Controlling ---------------------------------- Brunnenstrasse 111 D-13355 Berlin ----------------------------------------- SHAREHOLDERS WHO MAY BE DEEMED TO CONTROL THE BANK The following shareholders of the Bank may be deemed to control the Bank: The City of Berlin Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale NORD/LB, a bank formed under the laws of Germany, whose principal address is Georgplatz 1, D-30159, Hannover, Germany. 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