UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
STEPAN COMPANY
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(Name of Issuer)
COM
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(Title of Class of Securities)
858586100
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(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 2007
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[X] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
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).
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
This Schedule 13G is being filed by Nicholas Company, Inc., an
investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. One
or more of Nicholas Company, Inc.'s advisory clients is the legal owner of the
securities covered by this statement. Pursuant to investment advisory
agreements with its advisory clients, Nicholas Company, Inc. has the authority
to direct the investments of its advisory clients and consequently to authorize
the disposition of the Issuer's shares.
This Schedule 13G is also being filed by Nicholas Fund, Inc., an
open-end management investment company registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Nicholas Company, Inc. acts as the investment adviser
to Nicholas Fund, Inc., and as such retains dispositive control of the shares
in which Nicholas Fund, Inc. invests. Nicholas Fund, Inc. retains the
beneficial ownership right to vote shares purchased by Nicholas Company, Inc.
for its account.
This Schedule 13G is also being filed by Albert O. Nicholas. Mr.
Nicholas is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, Director and majority
shareholder of Nicholas Company, Inc. in which capacity he exercises dispositive
power over the securities reported herein by the Nicholas Company, Inc. Mr.
Nicholas, therefore, may be deemed to have indirect beneficial ownership over
such securities. Unless otherwise indicated herein, Mr. Nicholas has no
interest in dividends or proceeds from the sale of such securities, owns no such
securities for his own account and disclaims beneficial ownership of all the
securities reported herein by the Nicholas Company, Inc.
The aggregate number and percentage of the Issuer's securities to
which this Schedule 13G relates is 729,500 representing 7.86% of the Issuer's
outstanding shares. The beneficial ownership reported by Albert O. Nicholas,
Nicholas Company, Inc. and Nicholas Fund, Inc. relates to the same shares of the
Issuer in which each such reporting person has a separate beneficial interest.
As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Nicholas owned no shares of the Issuer
for his own account. He may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 729,500
shares of the Issuer as disclosed in Item 4(c) of the Schedule G.
CUSIP No. 858586100
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Albert O. Nicholas
###-##-####
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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. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Albert O. Nicholas is a United States Citizen
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5. SOLE VOTING POWER: 0
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6. SHARED VOTING POWER: 0
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
REPORTING
PERSON WITH ------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
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9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
Refer to explanation of potential beneficial ownership in the
Introductory Note and Item 4(c) hereof.
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10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES [ ]
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11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
0%
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12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
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CUSIP No. 858586100
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF REPORTING PERSON
Nicholas Company, Inc.
39-1091673
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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. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Nicholas Company, Inc. is a Wisconsin Corporation
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5. SOLE VOTING POWER: 0
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6. SHARED VOTING POWER: 0
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 729,500
REPORTING
PERSON WITH ------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
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9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
729,500
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10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES [ ]
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11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
7.86%
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12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IA
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CUSIP NO. 858586100
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1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF REPORTING PERSON:
Nicholas Fund, Inc., I.D. No. 39-1099162
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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. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
Nicholas Fund, Inc. is a Maryland Corporation
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5. SOLE VOTING POWER: 687,500
NUMBER OF -------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6. SHARED VOTING POWER: 0
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY -------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
REPORTING
PERSON WITH -------------------------------------------------------
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 0
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9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
687,500
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10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
SHARES: [ ]
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11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 7.41%
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12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: IC
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14. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX TO DESIGNATE THE RULE PURSUANT TO
WHICH THIS SCHEDULE IS FILED:
[x] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
Item 1(a) NAME OF ISSUER
Stepan Company
(b) ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
Eden and Winnetka Road, Northfield, IL 60093
Item 2(a) NAME OF PERSONS FILING
Albert O. Nicholas
Nicholas Company, Inc.
Nicholas Fund, Inc.
(b) ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE
700 North Water Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
(c) CITIZENSHIP
Albert O. Nicholas - United States Citizen
Nicholas Company, Inc. - Wisconsin Corporation
Nicholas Fund, Inc. - Maryland Corporation
(d) TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES
COM
(e) CUSIP NUMBER
858586100
Item 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 240.13D-1(B) OR
RULE 240.13D-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) [x] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940;
(e) [x] An investment adviser in accordance with Rule
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
(f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
(g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
Rule 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);
(h) [ ] A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
(i) [ ] A 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 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
Item 4. OWNERSHIP
The percent of the class owned as of December 31 of the year covered by this
statement (2007) exceeds five percent for Nicholas Company, Inc. and
Nicholas Fund, Inc., and the following information is provided as of that date
including an identification of those shares, if any, which there is a right
to acquire:
(a) Amount beneficially owned:
NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC. - 729,500 shares
ALBERT O. NICHOLAS - 0 shares
NICHOLAS FUND, INC. - 687,500
(b) Percent of class:
NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC. - 7.86%
ALBERT O. NICHOLAS - 0%
NICHOLAS FUND, INC. - 7.41%
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote
ALBERT O. NICHOLAS - 0
NICHOLAS FUND, INC. - 687,500
(ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote
0
(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of
NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC. - 729,500
ALBERT O. NICHOLAS - 0
(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the
disposition of
0
Item 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof
the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five
percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].
Item 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
N/A
Item 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING
COMPANY OR CONTROL PERSON
N/A
Item 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICAITON OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP
N/A
Item 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
N/A
Item 10. CERTIFICATION
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course
of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose 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.
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.
February 14, 2008
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Date
/s/ALBERT O. NICHOLAS
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Signature
Albert O. Nicholas, in his Individual
capacity and as Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of Nicholas
Company, Inc.
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Name/Title
AGREEMENT RELATIVE TO THE
FILING OF SCHEDULE 13G
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the 14th day of February, 2008, by and
between NICHOLAS COMPANY, INC., a Wisconsin corporation (an investment adviser
registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940)(the
Adviser"), and ALBERT O. NICHOLAS, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, Director
and majority shareholder of the Adviser (the "Affiliated Person");
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, the Affiliated Person and the Adviser are both persons
required, pursuant to 17 C.F.R.240.13d-1, to file a statement containing the
information required by Schedule G with respect to the following Issuer:
Stepan Company
CUSIP No. 858586100; and
WHEREAS, the Affiliated Person and the Adviser are each individually
eligible to use Schedule G; and
WHEREAS, the Affiliated Person and the Adviser are each responsible
for the timely filing of said Schedule G and any amendments thereto, and for
the completion and accuracy of the information concerning each, but not on
behalf of any other, unless any knows or has reason to know that the
information concerning any other is inaccurate; and
WHEREAS, the Schedule G attached hereto identifies all the persons and
contains the required information with regard to the Affiliated Person and the
Adviser so that it may be filed with the appropriate persons, agencies and
exchanges on behalf of each of them; and
WHEREAS, the Affiliated Person and the Adviser desire to file the
Schedule 13G attached hereto on behalf of each of them.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements and
covenants set forth herein, the parties hereto agree that the Schedule 13G
attached hereto shall be executed by the Affiliated Person, in his individual
capacity and as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Adviser, and filed
with the appropriate persons, agencies and exchanges, on behalf of both of
them.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement
Relative to the Filing of Schedule 13G as of the day, month and year first
above written.
/s/ALBERT O. NICHOLAS
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Albert O. Nicholas, in his individual
capacity and as Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of Nicholas
Company, Inc.