UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
(Rule 13d-101)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
§ 240.13d-2(a)
(Amendment No. 5)1
Fred’s, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Class A Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)
356108100
(CUSIP Number)
HEATH FREEMAN
ALDEN GLOBAL CAPITAL LLC
885 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 888-5500
ANDREW FREEDMAN, ESQ.
OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP
1325 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019
(212) 451-2300
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)
October 22, 2018
(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 ¨.
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
1 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 disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
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).
CUSIP NO. 356108100
| 1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC | |||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||
| NUMBER OF | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
| BENEFICIALLY | - 0 - | ||||||||||||||||||
| OWNED BY | 8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| EACH | |||||||||||||||||||
| REPORTING | 11,375,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| PERSON WITH | 9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| - 0 - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11,375,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11,375,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 30.5% | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| OO | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 |
CUSIP NO. 356108100
| 1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| Alden Global Capital LLC | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| (b) ☐ | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS | ||||||||||||||||||
| AF | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e) | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | ||||||||||||||||||
| Delaware | |||||||||||||||||||
| NUMBER OF | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
| BENEFICIALLY | - 0 - | ||||||||||||||||||
| OWNED BY | 8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| EACH | |||||||||||||||||||
| REPORTING | 11,375,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| PERSON WITH | 9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| - 0 - | |||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11,375,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11,375,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 30.5% | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| IA, OO | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 |
CUSIP NO. 356108100
| 1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| Heath Freeman | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP | (a) ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| (b) ☐ | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | SEC USE ONLY | ||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS | ||||||||||||||||||
| AF | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e) | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | ||||||||||||||||||
| USA | |||||||||||||||||||
| NUMBER OF | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| SHARES | |||||||||||||||||||
| BENEFICIALLY | 231,617* | ||||||||||||||||||
| OWNED BY | 8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| EACH | |||||||||||||||||||
| REPORTING | 11,375,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| PERSON WITH | 9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||||||||
| 231,617* | |||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11,375,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| 11,606,617* | |||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES | ☐ | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 31.2% | |||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||||||||||
| IN | |||||||||||||||||||
* Represents restricted stock units that have not yet vested, which were granted to Mr. Freeman as compensation for his service on the Board of Directors of the Issuer.
| 4 |
CUSIP NO. 356108100
The following constitutes Amendment No. 5 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (the “Amendment No. 5”). This Amendment No. 5 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.
| Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer. |
Item 6 is hereby amended to add the following:
On October 22, 2018, Alden, on behalf of itself and certain of its affiliates, entered into a Purchase Plan (the “Agreement”) with Imperial Capital, LLC for the purpose of establishing a trading plan to effect purchases of Shares of the Issuer in compliance with all applicable laws, including, without limitation, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including, but not limited to, Rule 10b5-1.
Shares purchased pursuant to the Agreement may only be purchased in accordance with trading requirements adopted by Alden, and there can be no assurance as to how many Shares, if any, will be purchased pursuant to the Agreement or at what price any such Shares will be purchased.
A copy of the Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:
| 99.1 | Purchase Plan, dated October 22, 2018. |
| 5 |
CUSIP NO. 356108100
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: October 22, 2018
| Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC | |||
| By: | Alden Global Capital LLC | ||
| Investment Manager | |||
| By: |
/s/ Heath Freeman | ||
| Name: | Heath Freeman | ||
| Title: | President | ||
| Alden Global Capital LLC | |||
| By: |
/s/ Heath Freeman | ||
| Name: | Heath Freeman | ||
| Title: | President | ||
| /s/ Heath Freeman | |||
| Heath Freeman | |||
| 6 |