Filing Details

x

Rule 13d-1(b)

o

Rule 13d-1(c)

o

Rule 13d-1(d)

CUSIP No. 04351G101

13G

Page 2 of 9 Pages

1.

Names of Reporting Persons

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

2.

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

(a)

o

(b)

o

3.

SEC Use Only

4.

Citizenship or Place of Organization:  Japan

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned by
Each
Reporting
Person With

5.

Sole Voting Power

0

6.

Shared Voting Power

17,007,518(1)

7.

Sole Dispositive Power

0

8.

Shared Dispositive Power

17,007,518(1)

9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
17,007,518

10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) o

Not applicable

11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
8.6% (2)

12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
HC

CUSIP No. 04351G101

13G

Page 3 of 9 Pages

1.

Names of Reporting Persons

Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.

2.

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

(a)

o

(b)

o

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

0

6.

Shared Voting Power

17,007,518

7.

Sole Dispositive Power

0

8.

Shared Dispositive Power

17,007,518

9.

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person
17,007,518

10.

Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) o

Not applicable

11.

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)
8.6% (1)

12.

Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)
BD

CUSIP No. 04351G101

13G

Page 4 of 9 Pages

Item 1.

(a)

Name of Issuer:

Ascena Retail Group Inc.  

(b)

Address of Issuers Principal Executive Offices:

933 Macarthur Boulevard

Mahwah ME 07430

Item 2.

(a)

Name of Person(s) Filing:
Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.

(b)

Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
Nomura Holdings, Inc.

1-9-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645, Japan

Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.

Worldwide Plaza

309 West 49th Street

New York, NY 10019

(c)

Citizenship:
Nomura Holdings, Inc.

Japan

Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.

Delaware

(d)

Title of Class of Securities:

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(e)

CUSIP Number:

04351G101

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a)

x

Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

(b)

o

Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(c)

o

Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(d)

o

Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

(e)

o

An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f)

o

An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

CUSIP No. 04351G101

13G

Page 5 of 9 Pages

(g)

x

A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h)

o

A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

(i)

o

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 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

(j)

o

A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);

(k)

o

Group, in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: _____________________

Item 4.

Ownership.

Items 5-11 of the cover page are incorporated by reference

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 o.

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not applicable

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

See Exhibit B

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Not applicable

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not applicable

CUSIP No. 04351G101

13G

Page 6 of 9 Pages

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 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.

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

/s/ Kentaro Okuda

Name: Kentaro Okuda

Title: Senior Managing Director

Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.

/s/ Jonathan Raiff

Name: Jonathan Raiff

Title: Senior Managing Director

CUSIP No. 04351G101

13G

Page 7 of 9 Pages

Exhibit

Exhibit

A

Joint Filing Agreement

B

Subsidiaries

Nomura Holdings, Inc.

/s/ Kentaro Okuda

Name: Kentaro Okuda

Title: Senior Managing Director

Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.

/s/ Jonathan Raiff

Name: Jonathan Raiff

Title: Senior Managing Director

CUSIP No. 04351G101

13G

Page 9 of 9 Pages