0000921895-21-001904.txt : 20210728 0000921895-21-001904.hdr.sgml : 20210728 20210728163228 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000921895-21-001904 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20210728 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20210728 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001634117 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940] IRS NUMBER: 460599018 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0502 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-88954 FILM NUMBER: 211122958 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 120 MOUNTAIN VIEW BOULEVARD CITY: BASKING RIDGE STATE: NJ ZIP: 07920 BUSINESS PHONE: 908-991-2665 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 120 MOUNTAIN VIEW BOULEVARD CITY: BASKING RIDGE STATE: NJ ZIP: 07920 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Outerbridge Capital Management LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001781377 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 767 THIRD AVENUE STREET 2: 11TH FLOOR CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10017 BUSINESS PHONE: (347) 493-0351 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 767 THIRD AVENUE STREET 2: 11TH FLOOR CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10017 SC 13D/A 1 sc13da712733002_07282021.htm AMENDMENT NO. 7 TO THE SCHEDULE 13D

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. 7)1

Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

06777U101

(CUSIP Number)

Outerbridge Capital Management, LLC

767 Third Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10017

(347) 493-0350

 

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)

 

July 22, 2021

(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. 06777U101

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Outerbridge Capital Management, LLC  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☒
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF, 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         5,132,753  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          5,132,753  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        5,132,753  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        9.9%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO, IA  

  

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CUSIP No. 06777U101

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Outerbridge Special Opportunities Fund, LP  
  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         5,132,753  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          5,132,753  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        5,132,753  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        9.9%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN  

  

3

CUSIP No. 06777U101

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Outerbridge Special Opportunities GP, LLC  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☒
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF, 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         5,132,753  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          5,132,753  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        5,132,753  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        9.9%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO, HC  

  

4

CUSIP No. 06777U101

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Rory Wallace  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☐
        (b) ☒
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF, 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  
         
        United States of America  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         0  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         5,132,753  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          0  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          5,132,753  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        5,132,753  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        9.9%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        IN, HC  

  

5

CUSIP No. 06777U101

The following constitutes Amendment No. 7 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 7”). This Amendment No. 7 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

Item 4.Purpose of Transaction.

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

On July 22, 2021, Outerbridge entered into a letter agreement (the “Amendment”) with the Issuer, which amends and extends certain provisions set forth under the Cooperation Agreement previously entered into between Outerbridge and the Issuer on June 20, 2020.

Pursuant to the Amendment, among other matters, the Issuer agreed to renominate for election to the Board at the Issuer’s 2021 Annual Meeting each of Mr. Lowell W. Robinson and Mr. Zachary Levenick, each of whom are current members of the Board serving terms set to expire at the Issuer’s 2021 Annual Meeting.

In addition, the Amendment extends Outerbridge’s voting and standstill restrictions contained in the Agreement until that date that is five days prior to the last date pursuant to which stockholder nominations for director elections are permitted pursuant to the Issuer’s bylaws with respect to the Issuer’s 2022 annual meeting of stockholders.

The foregoing description of the Amendment is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

Items 5(a) – (c) are hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

The aggregate percentage of shares of Common Stock reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 51,384,234 shares of Common Stock outstanding, as of June 17, 2021, which is the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2021.

A.Outerbridge Capital
(a)As the investment manager to Outerbridge Special Opportunities, Outerbridge Capital may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 5,132,753 shares owned by Outerbridge Special Opportunities.

Percentage: Approximately 9.9%

(b)1. Sole power to vote or direct vote: 0
2. Shared power to vote or direct vote: 5,132,753
3. Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 0
4. Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 5,132,753

 

(c)Outerbridge Capital has not entered into any transactions in the securities of the Issuer since the filing of Amendment No. 6 to the Schedule 13D.
B.Outerbridge Special Opportunities
(a)As of the close of business on July 27, 2021, Outerbridge Special Opportunities beneficially owned 5,132,753 shares.

Percentage: Approximately 9.9%

6

CUSIP No. 06777U101

(b)1. Sole power to vote or direct vote: 0
2. Shared power to vote or direct vote: 5,132,753
3. Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 0
4. Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 5,132,753

 

(c)Outerbridge Special Opportunities has not entered into any transactions in the securities of the Issuer since the filing of Amendment No. 6 to the Schedule 13D.
C.Outerbridge Special GP
(a)As the general partner of Outerbridge Special Opportunities, Outerbridge Special GP may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 5,132,753 shares owned by Outerbridge Special Opportunities.

Percentage: Approximately 9.9%

(b)1. Sole power to vote or direct vote: 0
2. Shared power to vote or direct vote: 5,132,753
3. Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 0
4. Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 5,132,753

 

(c)Outerbridge Special GP has not entered into any transactions in the securities of the Issuer since the filing of Amendment No. 6 to the Schedule 13D.
D.Rory Wallace
(a)As the managing member of each of Outerbridge Capital and Outerbridge Special GP, Mr. Wallace may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 5,132,753 shares owned by Outerbridge Special Opportunities.

Percentage: Approximately 9.9%

(b)1. Sole power to vote or direct vote: 0
2. Shared power to vote or direct vote: 5,132,753
3. Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: 0
4. Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 5,132,753

 

(c)Mr. Wallace has not entered into any transactions in the securities of the Issuer since the filing of Amendment No. 6 to the Schedule 13D.

The filing of this Schedule 13D shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Persons are, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the beneficial owners of any securities of the Issuer that he or it does not directly own. Each of the Reporting Persons specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein that he or it does not directly own.

7

CUSIP No. 06777U101

Item 6.Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to securities of the Issuer.

Item 6 is hereby amended to add the following:

On July 22, 2021, Outerbridge and the Issuer entered into the Amendment defined and described in Item 4 above and attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

 

Item 7.Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:

99.1       The Letter Agreement, by and among Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. and Outerbridge Capital Management, LLC, Outerbridge Special Opportunities Fund, LP, Outerbridge Special Opportunities GP, LLC and Rory Wallace, dated July 22, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Issuer’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2021).

 

8

CUSIP No. 06777U101

SIGNATURES

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.

Date: July 28, 2021

  OUTERBRIDGE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
   
  By:

/s/ Rory Wallace

    Name: Rory Wallace
    Title: Managing Member

 

 

  OUTERBRIDGE SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND, LP
   
  By: Outerbridge Special Opportunities GP, LLC, its general partner
     
  By: /s/ Rory Wallace
    Name: Rory Wallace
    Title: Managing Member

 

 

  OUTERBRIDGE SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES GP, LLC
   
  By: /s/ Rory Wallace
    Name: Rory Wallace
    Title: Managing Member

 

 

  /s/ Rory Wallace
  RORY WALLACE

9