Filing Details

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D

Under The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 8)*

 

 

Sears Holdings Corporation

(Name of Issuer)

Common Shares, $.01 par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

812350106

(CUSIP Number)

 

Bruce R. Berkowitz c/o Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C. 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 9th Floor Miami, FL  33137 (305) 358-3000

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

October 14, 2017

(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 ss.240.13D-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box [X].
Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
*   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.

812350106

 

1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C.
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*	(a)	[__]
		(b)	[X]
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	SOURCE OF FUNDS*
	AF
5.	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)		[_]
6.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7.	SOLE VOTING POWER
	0
8.	SHARED VOTING POWER
	17,721,873
9.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
	0
10.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
	25,424,540
11.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	25,424,540
12.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*		[_]
13.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	23.7%
14.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
	IA

 

 

CUSIP No.

812350106

 

1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	Bruce R. Berkowitz
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*	(a)	[__]
		(b)	[X]
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	SOURCE OF FUNDS*
	AF
5.	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)		[_]
6.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	United States of America
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7.	SOLE VOTING POWER
	2,587,632
8.	SHARED VOTING POWER
	17,721,873
9.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
	2,587,632
10.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
	25,424,540
11.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	28,012,172
12.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*		[_]
13.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	26.1%
14.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
	IN, HC

 

 

CUSIP No.

812350106

 

1.	NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
	I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
	Fairholme Funds, Inc.
2.	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*	(a)	[__]
		(b)	[X]
3.	SEC USE ONLY
4.	SOURCE OF FUNDS*
	WC
5.	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)		[_]
6.	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Maryland
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7.	SOLE VOTING POWER
	0
8.	SHARED VOTING POWER
	16,291,673
9.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
	0
10.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
	16,291,673
11.	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	16,291,673
12.	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*		[_]
13.	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	15.2%
14.	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
	IV

 

 

CUSIP No.

812350106

 

Item 1.	Security and Issuer.
	No material changes from the Schedule 13D filed by Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("Fairholme"), Fairholme Funds, Inc. (the "Fund"), a Maryland investment company, and Mr. Bruce R. Berkowitz, a United States citizen (collectively with Fairholme and the Fund, the "Reporting Persons") on March 22, 2016.
Item 2.	Identity and Background.
	(a-c, f) This Schedule 13D/A is being filed jointly by the Reporting Persons.  The principal business address of the Reporting Persons is 4400 Biscayne Boulevard, 9th Floor, Miami, Florida 33137.
	Mr. Berkowitz controls the sole member of Fairholme, an investment management firm that serves as the general partner, managing member and investment adviser to several investment funds, both public and private, including the Fund and separately managed accounts.
	(d) Mr. Berkowitz has not, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
	(e)  None of the Reporting Persons has, during the last five years, been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, Federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
Item 3.	Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.
	No borrowed funds were used to purchase the Shares, other than any borrowed funds used for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business.
Item 4.	Purpose of Transaction.
	The Reporting Persons have acquired their Shares of the Issuer for investment. The Reporting Persons evaluate their investment in the Shares on a continual basis.
	The Reporting Persons reserve the right to be in contact with members of the Issuer's management, the members of the Issuer's Board of Directors, other significant shareholders and others regarding alternatives that the Issuer could employ to increase shareholder value.  In addition, the Reporting Persons will be in contact with members of the Issuer’s management, the members of the Issuer’s Board of Directors, other significant shareholders and others regarding the Reporting Persons’ views on the long-term prospects of the Issuer.  The contact may include proposing or considering any of the actions enumerated in Item 4 of the instructions to Schedule 13D.
	On October 14, 2017, Mr. Berkowitz, a director of the Issuer, notified the Issuer of his decision to step down from the Board of Directors of the Issuer, effective October 31, 2017. Mr. Berkowitz’s decision was not the result of any disagreement with the Issuer on matters related to the Issuer’s operations, policies or practices.
	The Reporting Persons reserve the right to effect transactions that would change the number of shares they may be deemed to beneficially own.

 

Item 5.	Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
	(a-e)  As of the date hereof, Fairholme may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 25,424,540 Shares (23.7%) of the Issuer, based upon the 107,445,403 Shares outstanding as of August 18, 2017, according to the Issuer.  Fairholme has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares, Fairholme has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 17,721,873 Shares, Fairholme has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares and Fairholme has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 25,424,540 Shares to which this filing relates.
	The Fund may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 16,291,673 Shares (15.2%) of the Issuer, based upon the 107,445,403 Shares outstanding as of August 18, 2017, according to the Issuer. The Fund has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares, the Fund has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 16,291,673 Shares, the Fund has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares and the Fund has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 16,291,673 Shares to which this filing relates.  Of the 16,291,673 Shares deemed to be beneficially owned by the Fund, 14,497,773 are owned by The Fairholme Fund and 1,793,900 are owned by The Fairholme Allocation Fund, each a series of the Fund.
	Mr. Berkowitz may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 28,012,172 Shares (26.1%) of the Issuer, based upon the 107,445,403 Shares outstanding as of August 18, 2017, according to the Issuer.  Mr. Berkowitz has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 2,587,632 Shares, Mr. Berkowitz has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 17,721,873 Shares, Mr. Berkowitz has the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 2,587,632 Shares and Mr. Berkowitz has the shared power to dispose or direct the disposition of 25,424,540 Shares to which this filing relates.
	Other than the pro-rata in-kind distributions of Shares by a private investment fund managed by Fairholme to its limited partners as set forth in Exhibit 99.2, there were no other transactions in the Shares during the last 60 days by the Reporting Persons.
	The Reporting Persons specifically disclaim beneficial ownership in the Shares reported herein except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.
Item 6.	Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.
	Not applicable.
Item 7.	Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
Exhibit 99.1	Joint Filing Statement
Exhibit 99.2	A description of the transactions in the Shares that were effected by the Reporting Persons during the last 60 days.

 

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.

	October 17, 2017
	(Date)
	Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C.
	By: /s/ Paul Thomson
	Chief Compliance Officer
	Bruce R. Berkowitz
	By: /s/ Paul Thomson
	(Attorney-in-fact)
	Fairholme Funds, Inc.
	By: /s/ Paul Thomson
	Chief Compliance Officer Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C.

 

Attention:  Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001).

 

LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned constitutes and appoints Paul R. Thomson, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his capacity as the controlling person of the sole member of Fairholme Capital Management, LLC, for the sole purpose of signing on his behalf any and all Regulatory Filings under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any amendments and supplements thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to accomplish the above, as fully as to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, and may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney shall continue effective until revoked by me at any time.

 

 

 

 

Dated this 17th day of October, 2017.

 

Fairholme Capital Management, LLC

 

By: Fairholme Holdings, LLC, Sole Member

 

By: /s/  Bruce R. Berkowitz
Bruce R. Berkowitz, Controlling Person

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

AGREEMENT

The undersigned agree that this Schedule 13D/A dated October 17, 2017 relating to the Common Shares, $.01 par value of Sears Holdings Corporation shall be filed on behalf of the undersigned.

 

Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C.
By: /s/ Paul Thomson
Chief Compliance Officer
Bruce R. Berkowitz
By: /s/ Paul Thomson
(Attorney-in-fact)
Fairholme Funds, Inc.
By: /s/ Paul Thomson
Chief Compliance Officer Fairholme Capital Management, L.L.C.

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES BY ACCOUNTS ADVISED BY FAIRHOLME CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C

Transaction (1)	Date	Shares	Price
In-Kind Distribution (Disposition)	10/12/2017	491,064	$0.00
In-Kind Distribution (Disposition)	10/12/2017	975,204	$0.00
In-Kind Distribution (Acquisition)	10/12/2017	975,204	$0.00
In-Kind Distribution (Disposition)	10/12/2017	946,816	$0.00
In-Kind Distribution (Acquisition)	10/12/2017	946,816	$0.00
In-Kind Distribution (Disposition)	10/12/2017	727,816	$0.00
In-Kind Distribution (Acquisition)	10/12/2017	727,816	$0.00

 

(1) For a description of each transaction, please see the Form 4 filed by the Reporting Persons with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 13, 2017 which is incorporated herein by reference.