SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
MITCHELL MARK R

(Last) (First) (Middle)
666 THIRD AVE 26TH FL

(Street)
NEW YORK NY 10017

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CPI CORP [ CPY ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/08/2006
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
CPI Corp. Common Stock 03/08/2006 A 2,028 A $0 4,458 D
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Explanation of Responses:
Remarks:
Awarded under Company's Restricted Stock Plan pursuant to Director's election to receive restricted stock in lieu of cash compensation for 2006 board retainer. Shares granted vest in full on February 3, 2007. Mark Mitchell is a portfolio manager of RCG Ambrose Master Fund, Ltd ("Ambrose"). As such Mr. Mitchell makes day to day investment decisions with respect to the securities held in Ambrose. In addition, Mr. Mitchell trades on behalf of affiliates of Ambrose, including Starboard Value & Opportunity Fund, LLC, Ramius Securities, LLC and Ramius Master Fund, Ltd. Currently, Ambrose, Ramius Securities, Ramius Master Fund, Ltd. and Starboard Value & Opportunity Fund, LLC hold 882,000 shares of CPI Corp. in the aggregate. The Investment Advisor to Ambrose is Ramius Capital Group, LLC. Ramius Securities, LLC is an affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of Ramius Capital Group, LLC. The Investment Advisor to Ramius Master Fund, Ltd. is Ramius Advisors, LLC, another affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of Ramius Capital Group, LLC. The Managing Member of Ramius Capital Group, LLC is C4S & Co., LLC. Mark Mitchell is a limited partner of C4S & Co., LLC. The Managing Member of Starboard Value & Opportunity Fund, LLC is Admiral Advisors, LLC whose sole member is Ramius Capital Group, LLC. Mr. Mitchell does not have investment or voting control over shares held by any of Ambrose, Ramius Securities, Ramius Master Fund or Starboard Value & Opportunity Fund, LLC.
Mark M. Mitchell 03/09/2006
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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