Mike A. James Form 3 FREDS / Mike A. James ownership change

SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

James Mike A.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

4300 NEW GETWELL ROAD

(Street)

MEMPHIS TN 38118

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
06/27/2016

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
FREDS INC [ FRED ]

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
SVP

5. 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 Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Class A Common Stock(1)	12,658(1)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Options on Class A Common Stock(2)	06/27/2017(2)	06/27/2023	Class A Common Stock	62,500(2)	15.44	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Employee granted 11,658 shares of restricted stock which vest 20% per year on the anniversary of the 6/27/16 grant date. Vesting is subject to acceleration based upon achievement of financial performance metrics. In addition, employee separately holds 1000 shares of Fred's stock.

2. Employee granted 62,500 stock options which vest 20% per year on the anniversary of the 6/27/16 grant date. Vesting is subject to acceleration based upon achievement of financial performance metrics.

	Jerry Shore by power of attorney	07/11/2016
	** 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 5 (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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