Pier 1 Imports Inc (PIR): Hedge Fund Alden Global Capital Doubled Its Money In 100 Days

Published on December 20, 2016 at 4:28 pm by Insider Monkey Staff in Hedge Funds

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Financial media loves to publish stories about hedge funds’ failures. We are sick and tired of reading about Valeant Pharmaceuticals Intl Inc (NYSE:VRX) and activist Bill Ackman’s painful losses. We don’t think the financial media pays enough attention to hedge funds’ success stories. At the beginning of September, activist hedge fund Alden Global bought 9.5% of Pier 1 Imports Inc (NYSE:PIR) after the shares dipped. We discussed the stock 2 months ago in an article. Here is how Randall Smith described the investment:

“On September 7, 2016, the Issuer announced that President and CEO Alex W. Smith will step down as President, CEO and a member of the Issuer’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), effective December 31, 2016, and that the Issuer is conducting a search for a new CEO. Also on September 7, 2016, the Issuer announced disappointing preliminary second quarter financial results. Following these developments, the Reporting Persons engaged, and intend to continue to engage, in communications with management and the Board regarding certain matters, including the Issuer’s recent operational performance, shareholder representation on the Board and the CEO search process. The Reporting Persons believe that the Issuer is at a critical juncture and look forward to a constructive dialogue with management and the Board and are hopeful that the Board will voluntarily take appropriate action to address the concerns raised by the Reporting Persons.”

Alden Global bought 6.25 million shares on September 8th at around $4.10 and increased its position to 7.9 million shares by the end of September. Pier 1 Imports Inc (NYSE:PIR) shares trade at $9.49 today. That’s a return of more than 130%. We just wanted to point this out because nobody else will. We suggest you start tracking the moves of Alden Global and pay more attention if it backs up the truck and loads up.

Randall Smith

Alden Global Capital

Today Randall Smith filed an amendment to his original 13D filing. The details can be seen below.

Ownership Summary Table

Name	Shared Voting Power	Shared Dispositive Power	Aggregate Amount Owned Power	Percent of Class
Alden Global Opportunities Master Fund	7,632,034	7,632,034	7,632,034	9.2%
Alden Global Capital	7,632,034	7,632,034	7,632,034	9.2%
Heath Freeman	7,632,034	7,632,034	7,632,034	9.2%

Page 1 of 8 – SEC Filing

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. 4)1

Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

720279108

(CUSIP Number)

STEVE WOLOSKY, ESQ.

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)

December 20, 2016

(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).

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