The following constitutes the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (the “Schedule 13D”).
| Item 1. | Security and Issuer. |
This statement relates to the common stock, no par value (the “Shares”), of Noble Roman’s, Inc. (the “Issuer”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is One Virginia Avenue, Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
| Item 2. | Identity and Background. |
(a) This statement is filed by:
| | (i) | Red Alder Master Fund L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership (the “Fund”), with respect to the Shares directly and beneficially owned by it; |
| | (ii) | Red Alder GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Red Alder GP”), as the general partner of the Fund; and |
| | (iii) | Schuster Tanger, as the managing member of Red Alder GP. |
Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.” Each of the Reporting Persons is party to that certain Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons are hereby filing a joint Schedule 13D.
(b) The address of the principal office of each of Red Alder GP and Mr. Tanger is 80 Broad Street, Suite 2502, New York, New York 10004. The address of the principal office of the Fund is Clifton House, PO Box 1350, Grand Cayman, KY-1-1108.
(c) The principal business of the Fund is serving as a private investment fund formed for the purpose of investing in a portfolio of securities. The principal business of Red Alder GP is providing investment management services, including serving as the general partner of the Fund. Mr. Tanger’s principal occupation is serving as the managing member of Red Alder GP.
(d) No Reporting Person has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).
(e) No Reporting Person has, during the last five years, been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.
(f) Mr. Tanger is a citizen of the United States of America.
| Item 3. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. |
The Shares owned by the Fund were purchased with working capital (which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business) in open market purchases, except as otherwise noted, as set forth in Schedule A, which is incorporated by reference herein. The aggregate purchase price of the 1,061,503 Shares beneficially owned by the Fund is approximately $ 1,813,645, excluding brokerage commissions.
| Item 4. | Purpose of Transaction. |
The Reporting Persons acquired the Shares based on the Reporting Persons’ belief that the Shares, when acquired, were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity. Depending upon overall market conditions, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, and the availability of Shares at prices that would make the purchase or sale of Shares desirable, the Reporting Persons may endeavor to increase or decrease their position in the Issuer through, among other things, the purchase or sale of Shares on the open market or in private transactions or otherwise, on such terms and at such times as the Reporting Persons may deem advisable.
The Reporting Persons believe that the Issuer has repaid outstanding indebtedness in a manner that has created inefficiencies on its balance sheet. In the Reporting Persons’ view, now is opportune time for the Issuer to renegotiate its debt covenants with its lenders to enable the Issuer to return capital to its stockholders through a significant share repurchase.
No Reporting Person has any present plan or proposal which would relate to or result in any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) - (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D except as set forth herein or such as would occur upon or in connection with completion of, or following, any of the actions discussed herein. The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors, including, without limitation, the Issuer’s financial position and investment strategy, the price levels of the Shares, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, engaging in communications with management and the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Issuer, engaging in discussions with stockholders of the Issuer and others about the Issuer and the Reporting Persons’ investment, making proposals to the Issuer concerning changes to the capitalization, ownership structure, board structure (including board composition) or operations of the Issuer, purchasing additional Shares, selling some or all of their Shares, or changing their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 4.
| Item 5. | Interest in Securities of the Issuer. |
(a) The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each Reporting Person is based upon 20,030,087 Shares outstanding as of November 3, 2014, 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 6, 2014.
As of the close of business on December 5, 2014, the Fund beneficially owned 1,061,503 Shares, constituting approximately 5.30% of the outstanding Shares. Red Alder GP, as the general partner of the Fund, and Mr. Tanger, as the managing member of Red Alder GP, may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned by the Fund.
Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to any Shares other than the Shares owned directly by such Reporting Person.
(b) The Fund, Red Alder GP and Mr. Tanger have the sole power to vote or direct the vote of and to dispose or direct the disposition of the 1,061,503 Shares held by the Fund.
(c) The transactions in the Shares on behalf of the Fund during the past sixty days are set forth in Schedule A and are incorporated herein by reference.
(d) No person other than the Reporting Persons is known to have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares.
(e) Not applicable.
| Item 6. | Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer. |
On December 8, 2014, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. The Joint Filing Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 7. | Material to be Filed as Exhibits. |
| | 99.1 | Joint Filing Agreement by and among Red Alder Master Fund L.P., Red Alder GP, LLC and Schuster Tanger, dated December 8, 2014. |
SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: December 8, 2014
| | RED ALDER MASTER FUND L.P. |
| | |
| | By: | Red Alder GP, LLC, its general partner |
| | | |
| | By: | |
| | | Name: | Schuster Tanger |
| | | Title: | Managing Member |
| | RED ALDER GP, LLC |
| | |
| | By: | |
| | | Name: | Schuster Tanger |
| | | Title: | Managing Member |
SCHEDULE A
Transactions in the Shares During the Past Sixty Days
Shares of Common Stock Purchased / (Sold) | Price Per Share($) | Date of Purchase / Sale |
RED ALDER MASTER FUND L.P.
| 3,700 | 1.60 | 10/9/2014 |
| 4,000 | 1.60 | 10/10/2014 |
| 3,700 | 1.60 | 10/13/2014 |
| 23,000 | 1.60 | 10/14/2014 |
| 2,900 | 1.60 | 10/15/2014 |
| 11,852 | 1.60 | 10/16/2014 |
| 2,000 | 1.60 | 10/17/2014 |
| 13,400 | 1.60 | 10/21/2014 |
| 3,400 | 1.60 | 10/22/2014 |
| 700 | 1.60 | 10/23/2014 |
| 1,698 | 1.60 | 10/24/2014 |
| 1,900 | 1.60 | 10/27/2014 |
| 2,500 | 1.60 | 10/28/2014 |
| 1,330 | 1.60 | 10/31/2014 |
| 600 | 1.60 | 11/3/2014 |
| 4,000 | 1.60 | 11/5/2014 |
| 30,670 | 1.60 | 11/7/2014 |
| 20,744 | 1.60 | 11/12/2014 |
| 50,000 | 1.60 | 11/13/2014 |
| 112,037 | 1.60 | 11/14/2014 |
| 61,200 | 1.60 | 11/14/2014 |
| 25,000 | 1.79 | 11/21/2014 |
| 25,000 | 1.81 | 11/24/2014 |
| 25,000 | 1.86 | 11/25/2014 |
| 25,000 | 1.96 | 11/26/2014 |
| 25,000 | 2.09 | 11/28/2014 |
| 25,000 | 1.98 | 12/1/2014 |
| 303 | 2.03 | 12/2/2014 |
| 25,000 | 2.03 | 12/3/2014 |
| 10,000 | 2.08 | 12/4/2014 |
| 25,000 | 2.04 | 12/5/2014 |
