Filing Details

Phillip M. Goldberg Foley & Lardner LLP 321 North Clark Street Suite 2800 Chicago, IL  60654-5313 (312) 832-4549

Peter D. Fetzer Foley & Larder LLP 777 East Wisconsin Avenue Suite 3800 Milwaukee, WI  53202-5306 (414) 297-5596

*Includes 21,600 shares of preferred stock that are convertible into 31,834 shares of common stock, at any time, at a conversion price of $16.96.

*Includes 21,600 shares of preferred stock that are convertible into 31,834 shares of common stock, at any time, at a conversion price of $16.96.

Item 1.

Security and Issuer

This amended and restated Schedule 13D (this "Schedule 13D") relates to the common stock, $0.01 par value (the "Common Stock"), of Wheeler Real Estate Investment Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Issuer").  The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 2529 Virginia Beach Blvd., Suite 200, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452.

Item 2.

Identity and Background

(a)

This Schedule 13D is being filed jointly by (1) NS Advisors, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company ("NS Advisors"); and (2) Andrew R. Jones, the managing partner of NS Advisors (collectively, the "Reporting Persons").  The joint filing agreement of the Reporting Persons was attached as Exhibit 99.1 to the initial Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 21, 2017.

(b)	The principal business address of the Reporting Persons is 274 Riverside Avenue, Westport, Connecticut  06880.

(c)

The principal business of NS Advisors is to serve as an investment manager or adviser to various investment partnerships, funds and managed accounts (collectively, the "Clients").  The principal occupation of Mr. Jones is investment management through his ownership and control over the affairs of NS Advisors.  NS Advisors has voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock held by the Clients.

(d)	During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)

During the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons has 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.

(f)	Mr. Jones is a citizen of the United States of America.

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

In aggregate, the Reporting Persons have voting and dispositive power over 593,192 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer, which includes the shares of Common Stock into which the preferred stock is convertible, at an aggregate cost of $6,746,232.

This includes: (1) 548,894 shares of Common Stock held on behalf of the Clients, acquired at an aggregate cost of $6,236,525 using the Clients' available working capital; (2) 21,600 shares of preferred stock that are convertible into 31,834 shares of Common Stock, at any time, at a conversion price of $16.96, acquired at an aggregate cost of $356,418; and (3) 12,464 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Jones through his Individual Retirement Account (IRA) for a total cost of $153,289, acquired using the IRA's available capital.

NS Advisors does not own any Common Stock directly but is deemed to beneficially own Common Stock purchased on behalf of the Clients.  NS Advisors disclaims beneficial ownership of such Common Stock, except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.

From time to time, the Reporting Persons may purchase Common Stock on margin provided by banking institutions or brokerage firms on such firms' usual terms and conditions.  All or part of the shares of Common Stock held by the Reporting Persons may from time to time be pledged with one or more banking institutions or brokerage firms as collateral for loans made by such entities.  Such loans, if any, generally bear interest at a rate based upon the federal funds rate plus a margin.  Such indebtedness, if any, may be refinanced with other banks or broker-dealers.  As of the date of this filing, none of the Reporting Persons have loans secured by Common Stock.

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction

This is the Reporting Persons' initial Schedule 13D filing.  In the aggregate, the Reporting Persons hold 6.8% of the Issuer's Common Stock, based upon the Issuer's outstanding shares (as adjusted to address the convertible preferred stock) as of November 7, 2017.

The Reporting Persons are concerned about the Issuer's current trading price.  It is the Reporting Persons' intent to engage in a dialogue with the management and the board of directors of the Issuer to address these concerns and questions.

Mr. Jones, the managing partner of NS Advisors, sent a letter dated January 26, 2018 to Mr. Jeffrey M. Zwerdling, the Lead Director of the Issuer, addressing concerns related to the performance of the Issuer.  A copy of the letter is attached as Exhibit 99.3 hereto.

Mr. Jones sent a letter dated July 20, 2017 to Mr. Jon S. Wheeler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Issuer, addressing, among other things, ways in which he believes shareholder value may be maximized.  A copy of the letter was attached as Exhibit 99.2 to the initial Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 21, 2017.

Unless otherwise noted in this Schedule 13D, no Reporting Person has any plans or proposals which relate to, or would result in, any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) through (j), inclusive, of the instructions to Item 4 of Schedule 13D.  The Reporting Persons may, at any time and from time to time, review or reconsider their positions and formulate plans or proposals with respect thereto.  The Reporting Persons may make further purchases of shares of Common Stock, although they have no present intention of increasing their aggregate holdings above 9.999% of the Issuer's outstanding Common Stock.  The Reporting Persons may dispose of any or all the shares of Common Stock which they hold.

 

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer

(a) - (b) As of the date of this Schedule 13D, the Reporting Persons held in the aggregate 593,192 shares of Common Stock of the Issuer, which represents 6.8% of the outstanding Common Stock and includes on an as exercised basis the 31,834 shares of Common Stock into which the preferred stock are convertible.

This includes (1) 580,728 shares of Common Stock owned by the Clients, which represents 6.7% of the outstanding Common Stock, and includes on an as exercised basis the 31,834 shares of Common Stock into which the preferred stock are convertible; and (2) 12,464 shares of Common Stock owned by Mr. Jones through his IRA, which represents <0.1% of the outstanding Common Stock.

The percentages used in this Schedule 13D are calculated based upon 8,730,859 outstanding shares (as adjusted to address the convertible preferred stock) of Common Stock as of November 7, 2017.  This amount is based upon the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock reported as of November 7, 2017, in the Issuer's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2017.

Each of the Reporting Persons shares voting and dispositive power over the shares of Common Stock held by the Clients.

Because Mr. Jones is the managing partner of NS Advisors, he is deemed to share the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held by NS Advisors on behalf of the Clients.

Set forth below are all of the transactions in the Common Stock effected by Mr. Jones in his Individual Retirement Account during the past 60 days:

 

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer

NS Advisors is the investment manager on behalf of the Clients.  Each of the Clients has granted NS Advisors the sole and exclusive authority to vote and dispose of the shares of Common Stock held on their behalf pursuant to a management agreement.  NS Advisors is entitled to a fee for managing and advising these Clients, generally based upon a percentage of the Clients' capital.  NS Advisors serves as general partner of various partnerships, including North Star Partners, L.P.  For serving as the general partner of these partnerships, NS Advisors is entitled to an allocation of a portion of net profits, if any, generated by the partnerships.

Other than the foregoing arrangements and relationships, and the Joint Filing Agreement filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the initial Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 21, 2017, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the persons named in Item 2 hereof and between such persons and any person with respect to any securities of the Issuer.

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits

*Previously filed.

 

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated:  January 26, 2018