Sec Form 4 Filing - Alden Global Capital LLC @ FREDS INC - 2018-10-24

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

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, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Alden Global Capital LLC 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol FREDS INC [ FRED] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director X __ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 885 THIRD AVENUE, 34TH FLOOR 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 10/24/2018 (Street) NEW YORK, NY10022 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _____ Form filed by One Reporting Person __ X __ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 Class A Common Stock ( 1 ) 10/24/2018 P 195,000 A $ 2.6382 11,765,000 I By Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC ( 2 ) Class A Common Stock ( 1 ) 10/25/2018 P 195,000 A $ 2.493 11,960,000 I By Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC ( 2 ) Class A Common Stock ( 1 ) 10/26/2018 P 195,000 A $ 2.4985 12,155,000 I By Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC ( 2 )

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 (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 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 (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (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 of Derivative Security: 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

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Alden Global Capital LLC 885 THIRD AVENUE, 34TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY10022 X Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC 885 THIRD AVENUE, 34TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY10022 X Freeman Heath 885 THIRD AVENUE, 34TH FLOOR NEW YORK, NY10022 X Signatures Alden Global Capital LLC, By: /s/ Heath Freeman, President 10/26/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC, By: Alden Global Capital LLC, By: /s/ Heath Freeman, President 10/26/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date /s/ Heath Freeman 10/26/2018 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )This Form 4 is filed jointly by Strategic Investment Opportunities LLC ("Opportunities"), Alden Global Capital LLC ("Alden") and Heath Freeman (collectively, the "Reporting Persons"). Each Reporting Person may be deemed to be a member of a Section 13(d) group that owns more than 10% of the Issuer's outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock ("Common Stock"). Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock reported herein except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed to be an admission that any Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of such shares of Common Stock for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose. ( 2 )Shares of Common Stock owned directly by Opportunities. Alden, as the investment manager of Opportunities, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock owned directly by Opportunities. Mr. Freeman, as President of Alden, may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock owned directly by Opportunities.

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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