SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
----------------------
SCHEDULE 13G*
(Rule 13d-102)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED
PURSUANT TO 13d-2(b)
AO Smith Corp.
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
831865209
(CUSIP Number)
July 16, 2007
(Date of event which requires filing of this statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule 13G is filed:
[ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
(Page 1 of 10 Pages)
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*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 purposes 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. 831865209 13G Page 2 of 10 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Partners, L.P.
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(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
823,960
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
823,960
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(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
823,960
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(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
3.66%
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(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
PN
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 831865209 13G Page 3 of 10 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Management, L.L.C.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
823,960
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
823,960
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
823,960
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
3.66%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
OO
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 831865209 13G Page 4 of 10 Pages
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
439,401
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
439,401
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
439,401
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
1.95%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
IA
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** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 831865209 13G Page 5 of 10 Pages
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(1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO.
OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
Jeffrey L. Gendell
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP **
(a) [X]
(b) [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) SEC USE ONLY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
United States
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER
-0-
SHARES ______________________________________________________________
BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER
1,263,361
OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________
EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
-0-
REPORTING ______________________________________________________________
PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,263,361
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,263,361
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT
IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ]
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED
BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
5.61%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON **
IN
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!
CUSIP No. 831865209 13G Page 6 of 10 Pages
Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:
The name of the issuer is AO Smith Corp. (the "Company").
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 11270 West Park
Place, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224.
Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:
This statement is filed by:
(i) Tontine Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("TP")
with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by
it;
(ii) Tontine Management, L.L.C., a limited liability company
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware ("TM"),
with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by
TP;
(iii) Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C., a limited liability
company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware
("TOA"), which serves as investment manager to Tontine
Overseas Fund, Ltd., a company organized under the laws of
the Cayman Islands ("TOF"), with respect to the shares of
Common Stock owned by TOF; and
(iv) Jeffrey L. Gendell, a United States citizen ("Mr. Gendell"),
with respect to the shares of Common Stock owned directly by
TP and TOF.
The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the
"Reporting Persons." Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than
the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to
the appropriate party.
Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:
The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is 55
Railroad Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830.
Item 2(c). Citizenship:
See Item 2(a) above.
CUSIP No. 831865209 13G Page 7 of 10 Pages
Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:
Common Stock, no par value (the "Common Stock")
Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 831865209
Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or
(c), check whether the person filing is a:
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act,
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act,
(c) [ ] Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act,
(d) [ ] Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940,
(e) [ ] Investment Adviser in accordance with Rule
13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(E),
(f) [ ] Employee Benefit Plan or Endowment Fund in accordance
with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F),
(g) [ ] Parent Holding Company or control person in accordance
with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G),
(h) [ ] Savings Association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act,
(i) [ ] Church Plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940,
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
Not applicable.
Item 4. Ownership.
A. Tontine Partners, L.P.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 823,960
(b) Percent of class: 3.66% The percentages used herein and
in the rest of Item 4 are calculated based upon the 22,529,131 shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2007, as set forth in the Company's
Schedule 10-Q filed for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007.
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 823,960
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
823,960
CUSIP No. 831865209 13G Page 8 of 10 Pages
B. Tontine Management, L.L.C.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 823,960
(b) Percent of class: 3.66%
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 823,960
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
823,960
C. Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 439,401
(b) Percent of class: 1.95%
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 439,401
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
439,401
D. Jeffrey L. Gendell
(a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,263,361
(b) Percent of class: 5.61%
(c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0-
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 1,263,361
(iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0-
(iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition:
1,263,361
Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
Not applicable.
CUSIP No. 831865209 13G Page 9 of 10 Pages
Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
TM, the general partner of TP, has the power to direct the affairs of TP,
including decisions respecting the disposition of the proceeds from the sale of
the shares. Mr. Gendell is the Managing Member of TM and TOA and in that
capacity directs their operations. TOF as a client of TOA, has the power to
direct the receipt of dividends from or the proceeds of the sale of such shares.
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired
the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
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.
Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following 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.
CUSIP No. 831865209 13G Page 10 of 10 Pages
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, the
undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true,
complete and correct.
DATED: July 26, 2007
/s/ JEFFREY L. GENDELL
----------------------------------------
Jeffrey L. Gendell, individually, and as
managing member of
as managing member of
Tontine Management, L.L.C.,
general partner of
Tontine Partners, L.P., and as
managing member of
Tontine Overseas Associates, L.L.C.