Sec Form 13G Filing - Forager Fund L.P. filing for EASTERN CO (EML) - 2023-02-14

Insider filing report for Changes in Beneficial Ownership

  • Schedule 13G & 13D forms are used to report a party's ownership of stock which exceeds 5% of a company's total stock issue.
  • Schedule 13G is a shorter version of Schedule 13D with fewer reporting requirements.
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

(Amendment No. 1)*

 

THE EASTERN COMPANY

(Name of Issuer)

 

Common Stock, no par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

276317104

(CUSIP Number)

 

December 31, 2022

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

 

☐    Rule 13d-1(b)

 

☒    Rule 13d-1(c)

 

☐    Rule 13d-1(d)

 

*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 the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required in 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).

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 276317104

Page 2 of 7 Pages

 

1

 

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

 

Forager Fund, LP

2

 

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)

 

(a) ☐    (b) ☐

3

 

SEC USE ONLY

 

4

 

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

Delaware

 

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

5

 

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

363,205

6

 

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

0

7

 

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

363,205

8

 

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

0

 

9

 

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

363,205

10

 

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions)

 

11

 

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

5.8%

12

 

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)

 

PN

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 276317104

Page 3 of 7 Pages

 

1

 

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

 

Forager Capital Management, LLC

2

 

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)

 

(a) ☐    (b) ☐

3

 

SEC USE ONLY

 

4

 

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

Delaware

 

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

5

 

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

464,1411

6

 

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

0

7

 

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

464,141

8

 

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

0

 

9

 

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

464,141

10

 

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions)

 

11

 

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

7.5%

12

 

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)

 

IA

__________________________

1 Consists of (i) 363,205 shares held by Forager Fund, LP and (ii) 100,936 shares held by a separate account managed by the Reporting Person.

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 276317104

Page 4 of 7 Pages

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS 

 

Edward Kissel

2

 

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)

 

(a) ☐    (b) ☐

3

 

SEC USE ONLY

 

4

 

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

USA

 

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

5

 

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

0

6

 

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

464,141 

7

 

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

8

 

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

464,141 

 

9

 

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

464,141

10

 

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions)

 

11

 

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

7.5%

12

 

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)

 

HC; IN

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 276317104

Page 5 of 7 Pages

 

1

 

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

 

Robert MacArthur

2

 

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)

 

(a) ☐    (b) ☐

3

 

SEC USE ONLY

 

4

 

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

USA

 

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

5

 

SOLE VOTING POWER

 

0

6

 

SHARED VOTING POWER

 

464,141

7

 

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

0

8

 

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

464,141

 

9

 

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

464,141

10

 

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions)                                                                             

 

11

 

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

 

7.5%

12

 

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions)

 

HC; IN

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 276317104

Page 6 of 7 Pages

 

ITEM 1(a).

NAME OF ISSUER

 

 

 

The Eastern Company (the “Issuer”)

 

 

ITEM 1(b).

ADDRESS OF ISSUER’S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES

 

 

 

112 Bridge Street

 

Naugatuck, CT 06770

 

 

ITEM 2(a).

NAME OF PERSONS FILING

 

 

 

This joint statement on Schedule 13G is being filed by Forager Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Fund”), Forager Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the Fund (the “General Partner”), Edward Kissel and Robert MacArthur (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”).

 

 

 

The Reporting Persons have entered into a Joint Filing Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4 to this Schedule 13G, pursuant to which they have agreed to file this Schedule 13G jointly in accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

ITEM 2(b).

ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE

 

 

 

The business address of each of the Reporting Persons is 2024 3rd Ave. N, Suite 201, Birmingham, AL 35203.

 

 

ITEM 2(c).

CITIZENSHIP

 

 

 

The Fund is a Delaware limited partnership. The General Partner is a Delaware limited liability company. Each of Messrs. Kissel and MacArthur is a citizen of the United States.

 

 

ITEM 2(d).

TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES

 

 

 

Common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”).

 

 

ITEM 2(e).

CUSIP NUMBER

 

 

 

276317104

 

 

ITEM 3.

Not applicable.

 

 

ITEM 4.

OWNERSHIP

 

 

 

The Reporting Persons, in the aggregate, beneficially own 464,141 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer, representing approximately 7.5% of such class of securities. The beneficial ownership of each Reporting Person is as follows: (i) the Fund beneficially owns 363,205 shares of Common Stock representing approximately 5.8% of the class; and (ii) each of the General Partner and Messrs. Kissel and MacArthur beneficially owns 464,141 shares of Common Stock representing approximately 7.5% of the class. The percentages of beneficial ownership reported herein, and on each Reporting Person’s cover page to this Schedule 13G, are based on a total of 6,215,123 shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding as of November 7, 2022, as reported in the most recent quarterly report of the Issuer on Form 10-Q for its fiscal quarter ended October 1, 2022.

 

 

 

 

CUSIP No. 276317104

Page 7 of 7 Pages

 

 

The Fund has the sole power to vote and dispose of 363,205 shares of Common Stock. The General Partner has the sole power to vote and dispose of 464,141 shares of Common Stock. Each of Messrs. Kissel and MacArthur has the shared power to vote and dispose of 464,141 shares of Common Stock.

 

 

ITEM 5.

OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

ITEM 6.

OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON

 

 

 

Certain funds and accounts to which the Investment Adviser serves as investment adviser have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, Common Stock.

 

 

ITEM 7.

IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY OR CONTROL PERSON

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

ITEM 8.

IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

ITEM 9.

NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP

 

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

ITEM 10.

CERTIFICATION

 

 

 

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under § 240.14a-11.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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 14, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

FORAGER FUND, LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Forager Capital Management, LLC,

 

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

Managing Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORAGER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

Managing Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDWARD KISSEL

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Edward Kissel

 

 

Edward Kissel

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROBERT MACARTHUR

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert MacArthur

 

 

Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

 

Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby agree, as of February 14, 2023, that only one statement containing the information required by Schedule 13G, and each amendment thereto, need be filed with respect to the ownership by each of the undersigned of shares of common stock The Eastern Company, a Delaware corporation, and such statement to which this Joint Filing Agreement is attached as Exhibit 4 is filed on behalf of each of the undersigned.

 

 

FORAGER FUND, LP

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Forager Capital Management, LLC,

 

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

Managing Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORAGER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

Robert MacArthur

 

 

 

Managing Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDWARD KISSEL

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Edward Kissel

 

 

Edward Kissel

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROBERT MACARTHUR

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert MacArthur

 

 

Robert MacArthur