UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. 1)
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Shares, no par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
952845105
(CUSIP Number)
Lambros Hajigeorghi
Banasino Investments Limited
Grayoak House
9 Tagmatarchou Pouliou
1101 Ayios Andreas Nicosia, Cyprus
+357 22273860
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
February 25, 2022
(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 is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box: ¨
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. 952845105 |
Page 1 of 8 |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
Banasino Investments Limited | ||
| 2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) ý (b) ¨ | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY
| ||
| 4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
| ||
| 5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) or 2(E)
¨ | ||
| 6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Cyprus | ||
| NUMBER OF | 7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 | |
|
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
|
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
8,119,594 (1) | |
|
OWNED BY
EACH
|
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 | |
|
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
8,119,594 (1) | |
| 11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
8,119,594 (1) | ||
| 12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
¨ | ||
| 13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
7.8% (2) | ||
| 14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
OO | ||
| (1) | This amount consists of common shares of West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd, a British Columbia corporation (the “Issuer”), directly held by Banasino Investments Limited and ECCM Bank PLC. ECCM Bank PLC is a subsidiary of Banasino Investments Limited. Banasino Investments Limited directly holds a 98.25% interest in ECCM Bank PLC, and the remaining 1.75% interest is held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Banasino Investments Limited. Any action by ECCM Bank PLC with respect to the Issuer or the Issuer’s securities held by ECCM Bank PLC, including voting and dispositive decisions, are made by a majority of the directors of ECCM Bank PLC, each of whom is appointed and may be removed by Banasino Investments Limited. Any action by Banasino Investments Limited with respect to the Issuer or the Issuer’s securities directly held by Banasino Investments Limited, including voting and dispositive decisions, are made by a majority of its directors, each of whom is appointed and may be removed by Luda Stiftung, the parent organization of Banasino Investments Limited. |
| (2) | Percentage ownership is based on an aggregate number of outstanding common shares of 103,647,256 as of December 31, 2021 as disclosed in the Issuer’s Form 40-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 15, 2022. |
CUSIP No. 952845105 |
Page 2 of 8 |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
Luda Stiftung | ||
| 2 |
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) ý (b) ¨ | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY
| ||
| 4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
| ||
| 5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) or 2(E)
¨ | ||
| 6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Liechtenstein | ||
| NUMBER OF | 7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 | |
|
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
|
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
8,119,594 (1) | |
|
OWNED BY
EACH
|
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 | |
|
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
8,119,594 (1) | |
| 11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
8,119,594 (1) | ||
| 12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
¨ | ||
| 13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
7.8% (2) | ||
| 14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
OO | ||
| (1) | This amount consists of common shares of the Issuer directly held by Banasino Investments Limited and ECCM Bank PLC, for which Luda Stiftung may be deemed to be a beneficial owner. Banasino Investments Limited and ECCM Bank PLC are wholly-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries, respectively, of Luda Stiftung. Luda Stiftung is governed by three board members. Luda Stiftung has the power to appoint and remove directors of Banasino Investments Limited. Any such appointment or removal decision is made by a majority of the board members of Luda Stiftung. |
| (2) | Percentage ownership is based on an aggregate number of outstanding common shares of 103,647,256 as of December 31, 2021 as disclosed in the Issuer’s Form 40-F filed with the SEC on February 15, 2022. |
CUSIP No. 952845105 |
Page 3 of 8 |
| 1 |
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
ECCM Bank PLC | ||
| 2 |
Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group
(a) ý (b) ¨ | ||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY
| ||
| 4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
| ||
| 5 |
CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) or 2(E)
¨ | ||
| 6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Malta | ||
| NUMBER OF | 7 |
SOLE VOTING POWER
0 | |
|
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
|
8 |
SHARED VOTING POWER
315,975 (1) | |
|
OWNED BY
EACH
|
9 |
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
0 | |
|
REPORTING
PERSON WITH
|
10 |
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
315,975 (1) | |
| 11 |
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
315,975 (1) | ||
| 12 |
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
¨ | ||
| 13 |
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
0.3% (2) | ||
| 14 |
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) (See Instructions)
BK | ||
| (1) | This amount consists of common shares of the Issuer directly held by ECCM Bank PLC. Any action by ECCM Bank PLC with respect to the Issuer or the Issuer’s securities held by ECCM Bank PLC, including voting and dispositive decisions, are made by a majority of the directors of ECCM Bank PLC, each of whom is appointed and may be removed by Banasino Investments Limited, the parent company of ECCM Bank PLC. |
| (2) | Percentage ownership is based on an aggregate number of outstanding common shares of 103,647,256 as of December 31, 2021 as disclosed in the Issuer’s Form 40-F filed with the SEC on February 15, 2022. |
CUSIP No. 952845105 |
Page 4 of 8 |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment No. 1”) amends and supplements the Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by the Reporting Persons on February 10, 2022 (the “Schedule 13D”) relating to shares of common stock, no par value (the “Common Shares”), of the Issuer.
The information reported in the Schedule 13D remains in effect except to the extent that it is amended, restated or superseded by information contained in this Amendment No. 1. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment have the respective meanings set forth in the Schedule 13D.
| ITEM 3. | SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION |
Item 3 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated as follows:
The information set forth in Item 5 of this Amendment No. 1 is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
From April 9, 2021 to February 25, 2022, the Reporting Persons purchased an aggregate of 8,119,594 Common Shares in the open market for approximately CAD $895,888,063.
ECCM Bank PLC purchased 315,975 Common Shares between April 9, 2021 and September 15, 2021, for approximately CAD $29,200,712. The source of these funds was the working capital of ECCM Bank PLC.
Banasino Investments Limited purchased 7,803,619 Common Shares between September 15, 2021, and February 25, 2022, for approximately CAD $866,687,351. The sources of these funds were working capital of Banasino Investments Limited and the following three financing and debt arrangements, each made for the sole purpose of purchasing equity in the Issuer:
| (i) | €41,000,000 borrowed by Banasino Investments Limited under an unsecured €45,000,000 revolving credit facility with Kronoeast Finance Ltd, a Cyprus finance company, bearing an interest rate of 1.3% plus 6M EURIBOR per annum (subject to a 0% floor on 6M EURIBOR) and maturing on September 30, 2023; |
| (ii) | €45,000,000 deposited with Banasino Investments Limited by Kronospan Holdings East Ltd, a Cyprus holding company holding investments in the wood-panel manufacturing industry mainly operating in Russia and Belarus (“Kronospan East”); deposits bear interest at a rate of 0.25% per annum, may be made at Kronospan East’s discretion and may be withdrawn upon 10 days’ prior notice; and |
| (iii) | €389,000,000 deposited with Banasino Investments Limited by Kronospan Holdings PLC, a Cyprus holding company holding investments in the wood-panel manufacturing industry mainly operating in Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia (“Kronospan Holdings”); deposits bear interest at a rate of 0.25% per annum, may be made at Kronospan Holdings’ discretion and may be withdrawn upon 10 days’ prior notice. |
CUSIP No. 952845105 |
Page 5 of 8 |
| ITEM 5. | INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER |
Item 5 of this Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated as follows:
The information set forth in Item 3 and the cover pages of this of this Amendment No. 1 and Items 2, 4 and 6 of the Schedule 13D are hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 5.
(a)-(b) The aggregate number and percentage of Common Shares held by the Reporting Persons to which this Schedule 13D relates is 8,119,594 Common Shares, constituting approximately 7.8% of the currently outstanding Common Shares. The percentage of Common Shares is based on an aggregate number of outstanding common shares of 103,647,256 as of December 31, 2021 as disclosed in the Issuer’s Form 40-F filed with the SEC on February 15, 2022.
| (i) | Banasino Investments Limited |
| (a) | As of February 25, 2022, Banasino Investments Limited may be deemed the beneficial owner of 8,119,594* Common Shares, constituting a percentage of approximately 7.8% of the outstanding Common Shares. |
| (b) | Sole voting power to vote or direct vote: 0 Common Shares |
Shared voting power to vote or direct vote: 8,119,594* Common Shares
Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 0 Common Shares
Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 8,119,594* Common Shares
* Includes 315,975 Common Shares directly held by ECCM Bank PLC.
| (ii) | Luda Stiftung |
| (a) | As of February 25, 2022, Luda Stiftung may be deemed the beneficial owner of 8,119,594* Common Shares, constituting a percentage of approximately 7.8% of the outstanding Common Shares. |
| (b) | Sole voting power to vote or direct vote: 0 Common Shares |
Shared voting power to vote or direct vote: 8,119,594* Common Shares
Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 0 Common Shares
Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 8,119,594* Common Shares
* Includes 7,803,619 Common Shares directly held by Banasino Investments Limited and 315,975 Common Shares directly held by ECCM Bank PLC.
| (iii) | ECCM Bank PLC |
| (a) | As of February 25, 2022, ECCM Bank PLC may be deemed the beneficial owner of 315,975 Common Shares, constituting a percentage of approximately 0.3% of the outstanding Common Shares. |
| (b) | Sole voting power to vote or direct vote: 0 Common Shares |
Shared voting power to vote or direct vote: 315,975 Common Shares
Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 0 Common Shares
Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 315,975 Common Shares
CUSIP No. 952845105 |
Page 6 of 8 |
| (c) | Schedule B, which is incorporated by reference into this Item 5(c), describes all of the transactions in Common Shares or derivatives relating to Common Shares that were effected in the past 60 days by the Reporting Persons. Except as set forth in Schedule B attached hereto, no reportable transactions were effected by any Reporting Person within the last 60 days. |
| (d) | Except as set forth herein, to the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, no other person has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, any Common Shares beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons as described in this Item 5. |
| (e) | Not applicable. |
CUSIP No. 952845105 |
Page 7 of 8 |
SIGNATURE
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.
Date: February 28, 2022
| BANASINO INVESTMENTS LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael Ioannou | |
| Name: | Michael Ioannou | |
| Title: | Director | |
| By: | /s/ Lambros George Hajigeorghi | |
| Name: | Lambros George Hajigeorghi | |
| Title: | Director | |
| LUDA STIFTUNG | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael Kranz | |
| Name: | Michael Kranz | |
| Title: | Attorney-in-Fact | |
| ECCM BANK PLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Patrick J. Galea | |
| Name: | Patrick J. Galea | |
| Title: | Director | |
| By: | /s/ Anthony C. Schembri | |
| Name: | Anthony C. Schembri | |
| Title: | CEO and Managing Director | |
CUSIP No. 952845105 |
Page 8 of 8 |
SCHEDULE B
Transactions in West Fraser Co. Ltd. Stock Within the Past 60 Days
| Name | Trade Date | Buy/Sell/ Exercise | No. of Shares / Quantity | Unit Cost (CAD) | Strike Price | Trade Amount (CAD) | Security | Expiration Date | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/18/2022 | Buy common stock | 109,300 | 121.0697 | - | 13,232,922.25 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/19/2022 | Buy common stock | 40,700 | 120.6919 | - | 4,912,162.28 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/20/2022 | Buy common stock | 100,000 | 119.6371 | - | 11,963,708.50 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/21/2022 | Buy common stock | 150,000 | 113.8523 | - | 17,077,839.30 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/21/2022 | Buy common stock | 50,000 | 112.6458 | - | 5,632,292.00 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/21/2022 | Buy common stock | 25,000 | 111.3046 | - | 2,782,615.65 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/24/2022 | Buy common stock | 200,000 | 110.3608 | - | 22,072,160.00 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/25/2022 | Buy common stock | 327,000 | 112.9586 | - | 36,937,451.41 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/26/2022 | Buy common stock | 73,000 | 114.5297 | - | 8,360,671.39 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/26/2022 | Buy common stock | 300,000 | 115.3133 | - | 34,593,988.80 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/27/2022 | Buy common stock | 214,500 | 116.4179 | - | 24,971,633.76 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/28/2022 | Buy common stock | 271,800 | 116.2389 | - | 31,593,746.07 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 01/31/2022 | Buy common stock | 253,265 | 117.1795 | - | 29,677,462.52 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/01/2022 | Buy common stock | 162,242 | 119.3111 | - | 19,357,274.89 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/02/2022 | Buy common stock | 117,834 | 122.6090 | - | 14,447,513.15 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/04/2022 | Buy common stock | 36,100 | 122.3933 | - | 4,418,398.53 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/07/2022 | Buy common stock | 113,900 | 118.9796 | - | 13,551,776.10 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/07/2022 | Buy common stock | 67,500 | 119.9578 | - | 8,097,154.20 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/08/2022 | Buy common stock | 6,300 | 121.3557 | - | 764,540.97 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/16/2022 | Buy common stock | 55,100 | 122.8333 | - | 6,768,113.62 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/17/2022 | Buy common stock | 94,900 | 123.6927 | - | 11,738,437.80 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/18/2022 | Buy common stock | 104,814 | 123.9367 | - | 12,990,303.16 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/22/2022 | Buy common stock | 45,186 | 123.7806 | - | 5,593,151.82 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/23/2022 | Buy common stock | 150,000 | 121.4771 | - | 18,221,563.20 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/24/2022 | Buy common stock | 200,000 | 117.1131 | - | 23,422,625.40 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||
| Banasino Investments Limited | 02/25/2022 | Buy common stock | 101,500 | 122.7553 | - | 12,459,662.04 | Common Shares | - | ||||||||||||||||||