UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

___________________________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 10, 2015

FRED'S, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


Commission File Number 001-14565

Tennessee

 

62-0634010

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

4300 New Getwell Road, Memphis, Tennessee  38118

(Address of principal executive offices)

(901) 365-8880
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

Not Applicable
(Former Name or former address, if changed since last report)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS.

On August 10, 2015 Fred’s Inc. reported that, following an investigation by a third-party cyber-security firm, it determined there was unauthorized access to two Company servers through which payment card data is routed. The investigation uncovered malware on the two servers beginning on March 23, 2015, and that malware operated on one server until April 8 and on the other server until April 24.  The malware was designed to search only for "track 2" data –   data from the magnetic stripe of payment cards that contains only the card number, expiration date and verification code.  During this time period, track 2 data was at risk of disclosure; however, the third-party cyber-security firm did not find evidence that track 2 data was removed from the Company’s system.  No other customer information was involved.  The malware has been removed from the Company’s system, and the Company has implemented and is continuing to implement enhanced security measures to prevent similar events from occurring in the future.

At this time, the Company is not able to estimate the costs or a range of costs related to this incident; however, costs related to the incident may have a material adverse effect on the Company.  Costs may include liabilities to payment card networks for reimbursement of payment card fraud and reissuance costs, liabilities from current and future civil litigation, governmental investigations and enforcement proceedings, as well as legal and investigative costs.  The Company has cyber-security risk insurance, which may offset some of these costs.  

The Company’s investigation, cooperation with law enforcements and efforts to further enhance its security measures are ongoing.  The Company does not anticipate further updates with respect to this matter outside of its quarterly financial statements.  

Comments in this Form 8-K that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.  A reader can identify forward-looking statements because they are not limited to historical facts or they use such words as "outlook," "guidance," "may," "should," "could," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "committed," "continue," or "will likely result" and similar expressions that concern the Company's strategy, plans, intentions or beliefs about future occurrences or results.  These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those associated with the Company's announced strategic plan, the ultimate terms of the reworked pharmacy distribution agreement, lease buyouts and the underlying assumptions and projections upon which they are based, as well as risks that intended results may not be achieved or may not occur as quickly as expected; the success of announced acquisition activities and future growth trends in businesses acquired; general economic trends; changes in consumer demand or purchase patterns; delays or interruptions in the flow of merchandise between the Company's distribution centers and its stores or between the Company's suppliers and same; a disruption in the Company's data processing services; cyber-security threats; costs and delays in acquiring or developing new store sites; and the factors listed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly filings on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made.  Fred's undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

FRED'S, INC.

(Registrant)
 
 

Date:

August 10, 2015

By:

/s/

Jerry A. Shore

 

 

Jerry A. Shore

 

Chief Executive Officer