<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>8-K</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">


<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">FORM&nbsp;8-K</FONT></B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT
REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January&nbsp;29, 2019 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="34%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="32%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="32%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">000-51217,</FONT> <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">001-36693</FONT></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">20-1920798</FONT></B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or Other Jurisdiction<BR>of Incorporation)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Commission</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>File Number)</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(IRS Employer<BR>Identification No.)</B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="50%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="49%"></TD></TR>

<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>3333 Beverly Road<BR>Hoffman Estates, Illinois</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>60179</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive offices)</B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Zip code)</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number, Including Area Code:
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(847)&nbsp;286-2500</FONT> </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report) </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check the appropriate box below if the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Form&nbsp;8-K&nbsp;filing</FONT> is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing
obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14a-12</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17
CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.14a-12)</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pre-commencement</FONT> communications pursuant to Rule <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14d-2(b)</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.14d-2(b))</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pre-commencement</FONT> communications pursuant to Rule <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">13e-4(c)</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.13e-4(c))</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this
chapter) or <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Rule&nbsp;12b-2&nbsp;of</FONT> the Securities Exchange Act of <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">1934&nbsp;(&#167;240.12b-2&nbsp;of</FONT> this chapter). </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">&#9744;</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Emerging growth company </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or
revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) of the Exchange Act.&nbsp;&nbsp;&#9744; </P> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<P STYLE="line-height:1.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P>
</DIV></Center>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">


<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">

<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Other Events. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As previously disclosed, on October&nbsp;15, 2018, Sears Holdings Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;) and certain of its subsidiaries (together with the
Company, the &#147;Debtors&#148;) filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the &#147;Chapter 11 Cases&#148;) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the &#147;Bankruptcy
Court&#148;). The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption &#147;In re Sears Holdings Corporation, et al., Case <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">No.&nbsp;18-23538.&#148;</FONT> Documents filed on the docket of and other
information related to the Chapter 11 Cases are available free of charge online at https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/sears. Documents and other information available on such website are not part of this document and shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference in this document. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In connection with the Chapter 11 Cases, on January&nbsp;29, 2019, the Company&#146;s Board of Directors
approved the termination of the Sears Holdings Pension Plan 1 and Sears Holdings Pension Plan 2 (together, the &#147;Plans&#148;), effective March&nbsp;31, 2019, in a &#147;distress termination&#148; of the Plans under Section&nbsp;4041(c) of the
Employee Retirement Income Securities Act of 1974, as amended (&#147;ERISA&#148;). Accordingly, on January&nbsp;29, 2019, the Company and its subsidiaries filed notices of intent to terminate the Plans in a distress termination with the U.S. Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a federal agency which insures certain pension plans (the &#147;PBGC&#148;). If the distress termination is approved by the PBGC, the PBGC would assume sponsorship of the Plans, and all plan assets and liabilities would
be transferred to the PBGC. The PBGC would assume responsibility to pay all future plan benefits, up to ERISA guaranteed limits, which are estimated to cover approximately 99% of all such benefits without reduction. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The PBGC has separately issued a notice of determination for an &#147;involuntary termination&#148; of the Plans under Section&nbsp;4042 ERISA, effective as
of January&nbsp;31, 2019. On February&nbsp;1, 2019, the PBGC filed an action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Case No.
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">1:19-cv-00669)</FONT></FONT> seeking an order of the court to enforce its determination for such involuntary termination. The Company opposes the PBGC&#146;s effort to enforce its
determination to involuntarily terminate the Plans, and intends to continue discussions with the PBGC regarding the appropriate basis for termination of the Plans under ERISA and the effective date of such termination, as well as the treatment and
amount of the PBGC&#146;s claims in the Chapter 11 Cases. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Forward-Looking Statements </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">This Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> may include &#147;forward-looking statements&#148; within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this filing that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes, targets or anticipates will or may occur
in the future are forward-looking statements. The Company&#146;s actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and other factors, which could include the following: the
enforcement of an involuntary termination of the Pension Plans; the failure to obtain approval of that certain Asset Purchase Agreement entered into by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries with Transform Holdco LLC (the &#147;Buyer&#148;), an
affiliate of ESL Investments, Inc., as of January&nbsp;17, 2019 (the &#147;Purchase Agreement&#148;) by the Bankruptcy Court or, if the Purchase Agreement is approved by the Bankruptcy Court, to consummate the transaction therefrom pursuant to which
the Buyer agreed to acquire substantially all of the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">go-forward</FONT> retail footprint and other assets and component businesses of the Company as a going concern, risks and uncertainties relating to the Chapter 11
Cases, including but not limited to, the Company&#146;s ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11 Cases, the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company and on the interests of various constituents,
Bankruptcy Court rulings in the Chapter 11 Cases and the outcome of the Chapter 11 Cases in general, the length of time the Company will operate under the Chapter 11 Cases, risks associated with third-party motions in the Chapter 11 Cases, the
potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company&#146;s liquidity or results of operations and increased legal and other professional costs necessary to execute the Company&#146;s reorganization; the conditions to which the
Company&#146;s <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">debtor-in-possession</FONT></FONT> financing is subject and the risk that these conditions may not be satisfied for various reasons, including for reasons outside of
the Company&#146;s control; the impact of and ability to successfully implement store closures; the Company&#146;s ability to consummate sales of assets and the terms and conditions of any such sales, including the &#147;Go Forward Stores&#148;; the
Company&#146;s ability to implement operational improvement efficiencies; uncertainty associated with evaluating and completing any strategic or financial alternative as well as the Company&#146;s ability to implement and realize any anticipated
benefits associated with any alternative that may be pursued, including the asset sales and wind down of operations; the consequences of the acceleration of our debt obligations; trading price and volatility of the Company&#146;s common stock and
the risks related to the Company&#146;s delisting from Nasdaq and trading on the OTC Pink Market; as well as other risk factors set forth in the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">10-K</FONT> and Quarterly Reports
on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">10-Q</FONT> filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company therefore cautions readers against relying on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to the
Company or persons acting on the Company&#146;s behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. </P>
</DIV></Center>


<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">


<Center><DIV STYLE="width:8.5in" align="left">
 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


<TR>
<TD WIDTH="46%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="45%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="16"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="16" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Dated: February&nbsp;4, 2019</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" STYLE=" BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" STYLE="BORDER-BOTTOM:1px solid #000000">/s/ Robert A. Riecker</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Robert A. Riecker</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Office of the Chief Executive</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</DIV></Center>

</BODY></HTML>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "d701540d8k.htm", "description": "8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 20612}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SEARS HOLDINGS CORP", "cik": "0001310067", "assigned-sic": "5311", "irs-number": "201920798", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0202"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-36693", "film-number": "19564972"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3333 BEVERLY ROAD", "city": "HOFFMAN ESTATES", "state": "IL", "zip": "60179", "phone": "847-286-2500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3333 BEVERLY ROAD", "city": "HOFFMAN ESTATES", "state": "IL", "zip": "60179"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "Sears Holdings CORP", "date-changed": "20041129"}}
8-K
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): January 29, 2019
SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
000-51217,
001-36693
20-1920798
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
60179
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code:
(847) 286-2500
(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))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this
chapter) or
Rule 12b-2 of
the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (§240.12b-2 of
this chapter).
☐
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or
revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐
Item 8.01.
Other Events.
As previously disclosed, on October 15, 2018, Sears Holdings Corporation (the "Company") and certain of its subsidiaries (together with the
Company, the "Debtors") filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the "Chapter 11 Cases") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the "Bankruptcy
Court"). The Chapter 11 Cases are being jointly administered under the caption "In re Sears Holdings Corporation, et al., Case
No. 18-23538."
Documents filed on the docket of and other
information related to the Chapter 11 Cases are available free of charge online at https://restructuring.primeclerk.com/sears. Documents and other information available on such website are not part of this document and shall not be deemed
incorporated by reference in this document.
In connection with the Chapter 11 Cases, on January 29, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors
approved the termination of the Sears Holdings Pension Plan 1 and Sears Holdings Pension Plan 2 (together, the "Plans"), effective March 31, 2019, in a "distress termination" of the Plans under Section 4041(c) of the
Employee Retirement Income Securities Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). Accordingly, on January 29, 2019, the Company and its subsidiaries filed notices of intent to terminate the Plans in a distress termination with the U.S. Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a federal agency which insures certain pension plans (the "PBGC"). If the distress termination is approved by the PBGC, the PBGC would assume sponsorship of the Plans, and all plan assets and liabilities would
be transferred to the PBGC. The PBGC would assume responsibility to pay all future plan benefits, up to ERISA guaranteed limits, which are estimated to cover approximately 99% of all such benefits without reduction.
The PBGC has separately issued a notice of determination for an "involuntary termination" of the Plans under Section 4042 ERISA, effective as
of January 31, 2019. On February 1, 2019, the PBGC filed an action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Case No.
1:19-cv-00669)
seeking an order of the court to enforce its determination for such involuntary termination. The Company opposes the PBGC's effort to enforce its
determination to involuntarily terminate the Plans, and intends to continue discussions with the PBGC regarding the appropriate basis for termination of the Plans under ERISA and the effective date of such termination, as well as the treatment and
amount of the PBGC's claims in the Chapter 11 Cases.
Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form
8-K
may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this filing that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes, targets or anticipates will or may occur
in the future are forward-looking statements. The Company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and other factors, which could include the following: the
enforcement of an involuntary termination of the Pension Plans; the failure to obtain approval of that certain Asset Purchase Agreement entered into by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries with Transform Holdco LLC (the "Buyer"), an
affiliate of ESL Investments, Inc., as of January 17, 2019 (the "Purchase Agreement") by the Bankruptcy Court or, if the Purchase Agreement is approved by the Bankruptcy Court, to consummate the transaction therefrom pursuant to which
the Buyer agreed to acquire substantially all of the
go-forward
retail footprint and other assets and component businesses of the Company as a going concern, risks and uncertainties relating to the Chapter 11
Cases, including but not limited to, the Company's ability to obtain Bankruptcy Court approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11 Cases, the effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company and on the interests of various constituents,
Bankruptcy Court rulings in the Chapter 11 Cases and the outcome of the Chapter 11 Cases in general, the length of time the Company will operate under the Chapter 11 Cases, risks associated with third-party motions in the Chapter 11 Cases, the
potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Company's liquidity or results of operations and increased legal and other professional costs necessary to execute the Company's reorganization; the conditions to which the
Company's
debtor-in-possession
financing is subject and the risk that these conditions may not be satisfied for various reasons, including for reasons outside of
the Company's control; the impact of and ability to successfully implement store closures; the Company's ability to consummate sales of assets and the terms and conditions of any such sales, including the "Go Forward Stores"; the
Company's ability to implement operational improvement efficiencies; uncertainty associated with evaluating and completing any strategic or financial alternative as well as the Company's ability to implement and realize any anticipated
benefits associated with any alternative that may be pursued, including the asset sales and wind down of operations; the consequences of the acceleration of our debt obligations; trading price and volatility of the Company's common stock and
the risks related to the Company's delisting from Nasdaq and trading on the OTC Pink Market; as well as other risk factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K
and Quarterly Reports
on Form
10-Q
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company therefore cautions readers against relying on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements attributable to the
Company or persons acting on the Company's behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and, except as required by law, the Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SIGNATURE
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.
SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Dated: February 4, 2019
By:
/s/ Robert A. Riecker
Robert A. Riecker
Chief Financial Officer and Member of the Office of the Chief Executive