Sec Form 13D Filing - Nierenberg Investment Management Company Inc. filing for Houston Wire & Cable CO (HWCC) - 2019-12-23

Insider filing report for Changes in Beneficial Ownership

  • Schedule 13G & 13D forms are used to report a party's ownership of stock which exceeds 5% of a company's total stock issue.
  • Schedule 13G is a shorter version of Schedule 13D with fewer reporting requirements.
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 4)
 
HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY [HWCC]
(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock
(Title of Class of Securities)

44244K109
(CUSIP Number)

David Nierenberg
The D3 Family Funds
19605 NE 8th Street
Camas, WA  98607
(360) 604-8600

With a copy to:
 
Christopher P. Davis
Kleinberg, Kaplan, Wolff & Cohen, P.C.
551 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10176
(212) 986-6000
 
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

December 23, 2019
(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 ☒.



1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
The D3 Family Fund, L.P.
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
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
 
 
Washington
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
549,838
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
549,838
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
549,838
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
3.4%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
PN
 
 
 
 

2

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
The D3 Family Bulldog Fund, L.P
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
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
 
 
Washington
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
1,061,454
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
1,061,454
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
1,061,454
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
6.5%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
PN
 
 
 
 

3

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
Haredale Ltd.
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
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
 
 
Bahamas
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
32,266
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
32,266
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
32,266
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
Less than 1%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
CO
 
 
 
 

4

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
Nierenberg Investment Management Company, Inc.
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
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
 
 
Washington
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
1,643,558
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
1,643,558
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
1,643,558
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
10.0%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
CO
 
 
 
 

5
1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
 
David Nierenberg
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a)
 
(b)
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
AF
 
 
 
 
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 SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
7
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
1,643,558
 
 
 
 
9
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
0
 
 
 
 
10
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
1,643,558
 
 
 
 
11
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
1,643,558
 
 
 
 
12
CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
 
 
 
 
13
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
 
 
10.0%
 
 
 
 
14
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
IN
 
 
 
 

6

This Amendment No. 4 to Schedule 13D (this “Amendment”) amends the below-indicated items from the Schedule 13D with respect to the shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”) of Houston Wire & Cable Company, (“HWCC” or “the Company”) previously filed by or on behalf of the Reporting Persons (as defined below) (the “Schedule 13D”), by supplementing such Items with the information below.
 
Item 4.
Purpose of Transaction
 
Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

We are frustrated that the gap between HWCC’s market and intrinsic value persists and that it has widened substantially during the past two years.  During 2019, while the stock market has risen broadly, HWCC’s share price has fallen 21%, after dropping 30% in 2018.

The only things which the investing public has witnessed to close that gap are that insiders have acquired a substantial number of shares and the company repurchased 1.4% of shares in the third quarter.  While we are delighted with the frequency and size of the insider buys, those actions have failed to move the dial.  That’s not our verdict; it’s the market’s.
 
Item 5.
Interest in Securities of the Issuer
 
Item 5(a) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
 
(a)          The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 16,399,484 Shares outstanding as of November 1, 2019, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2019.
 
As of the close of business on the date hereof, the Family Fund individually beneficially owned 549,838 Shares, constituting approximately 3.4% of all of the outstanding Shares.
 
As of the close of business on the date hereof, the Bulldog Fund individually beneficially owned 1,061,454 Shares, constituting approximately 6.5% of all of the outstanding Shares.
 
As of the close of business on the date hereof, the Managed Account individually beneficially owned 32,266 Shares, constituting less than 1% of all of the outstanding Shares.
 
By virtue of its relationships with each of the Family Fund, the Bulldog Fund and the Managed Account discussed in further detail in Item 2, NIMCO may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the 1,643,558 Shares, beneficially owned in the aggregate by the Family Fund, the Bulldog Fund and the Managed Account, constituting approximately 10.0% of all of the outstanding Shares.
 
By virtue of his relationship with NIMCO discussed in further detail in Item 2, Mr. Nierenberg may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the 1,643,558 Shares beneficially owned by NIMCO, constituting approximately 10.0% of all of the outstanding Shares.
 

The Reporting Persons, in the aggregate, beneficially own 1,643,558 Shares, constituting approximately 10.0% of the outstanding Shares.
 
Item 5(b) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
 
(b)          The Family Fund, NIMCO and Mr. Nierenberg have shared power (i) to vote or direct the vote of, and (ii) to dispose or direct the disposition of, the 549,838 Shares held by the Family Fund.
 
The Bulldog Fund, NIMCO and Mr. Nierenberg have shared power (i) to vote or direct the vote of, and (ii) to dispose or direct the disposition of, the 1,061,454 Shares held by the Bulldog Fund.
 
The Managed Account, NIMCO and Mr. Nierenberg have shared power (i) to vote or direct the vote of, and (ii) to dispose or direct the disposition of, the 32,266 Shares held by the Managed Account.
 
Item 5(c) is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
 
(c)          There were no open market transactions during the past 60 days
 

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

 
D3 Family Fund, L.P., D3 Family Bulldog Fund, L.P.,
   
 
By:
Nierenberg Investment Management Company, Inc.
   
 
Its:
General Partner
   
December 23, 2019
 
By: /s/ David Nierenberg
 
 
David Nierenberg, President
   
 
Haredale Ltd.
   
 
By:
Nierenberg Investment Management Company, Inc.
   
 
Its:
Investment Manager



December 23, 2019
  By: /s/ David Nierenberg  
 

David Nierenberg, President
   
 
Nierenberg Investment Management Company, Inc.

 

December 23, 2019
  By: /s/ David Nierenberg  
 

David Nierenberg, President
   
December 23, 2019
  /s/ David Nierenberg  
 

David Nierenberg