Form SC 13G - Statement of Beneficial Ownership by Certain Investors

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )*

 

Vera Bradley, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, without par value

(Title of Class of Securities)

92335C106

(CUSIP Number)

September 30, 2024

(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

 

☒

Rule 13d-1(b)

☐

Rule 13d-1(c)

☐

Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

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CUSIP No. 92335C106

13G

Page 2 of 9 pages

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	Nomura Holdings, Inc.
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☐
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Japan
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			2,763,459 (1)
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			2,763,459 (1)
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	2,763,459
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐ Not applicable
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	9.8% (2)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	HC

(1)	This represents 2,763,459 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc. (“NGFP”). NGFP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, Inc., which accordingly may be deemed to beneficially own the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by NGFP.

(2)	The percent of class is calculated based on 28,225,770 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of September 4, 2024, as reported in the Issuer’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 3, 2024 filed with the SEC on September 11, 2024.

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1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
	(a)☐
	(b)☐
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		5	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		6	SHARED VOTING POWER
			2,763,459
		7	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		8	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			2,763,459
9	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	2,763,459
10	CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	☐ Not applicable
11	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
	9.8% (3)
12	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	BD

(3)	The percent of class is calculated based on 28,225,770 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of September 4, 2024, as reported in the Issuer’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 3, 2024 filed with the SEC on September 11, 2024.

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Item 1.	(a)	Name of Issuer:
		Vera Bradley, Inc. (the “Issuer”)
	(b)	Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
		12420 Stonebridge Road
		Roanoke, IN 46783

Item 2.	(a)	Name of Person(s) Filing:
		Nomura Holdings, Inc.
		Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.
	(b)	Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
		Nomura Holdings, Inc.
		13-1, Nihonbashi 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-8645, Japan
		Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.
		Worldwide Plaza
		309 West 49th Street
		New York, NY 10019
	(c)	Citizenship:
		Nomura Holdings, Inc.
		Japan
		Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.
		Delaware
	(d)	Title of Class of Securities:
		Common Stock, without par value (“Common Stock”)
	(e)	CUSIP Number:
		92335C106

Item 3.

If this statement is filed pursuant to §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

	(a)	☒	Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).
	(b)	☐	Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
	(c)	☐	Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).
	(d)	☐	Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).
	(e)	☐	An investment adviser in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);
	(f)	☐	An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);
	(g)	☒	A parent holding company or control person in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

	(h)	☐	A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);
	(i)	☐	A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);
	(j)	☐	A non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J);
	(k)	☐	Group, in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K).  If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with § 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ___________________

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CUSIP No. 92335C106

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Item 4.

Ownership.

Items 5-11 of the cover pages are incorporated by reference.

Item 5.

Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting persons have ceased to be the beneficial owners of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following ☐.

Item 6.

Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

Not applicable

Item 7.

Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

See Exhibit B

Item 8.

Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Not applicable

Item 9.

Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not applicable

Item 10.

Certification.

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under § 240.14a-11.

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SIGNATURE

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

EXECUTED as a sealed instrument this 14^th day of November, 2024.

 

	Nomura Holdings, Inc.
	/s/ Samir Patel
	Name:  Samir Patel
	Title:  Managing Director
	Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.
	/s/ Samir Patel
	Name:  Samir Patel
	Title:  Authorized Officer

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Index to Exhibits

        

Exhibit	Exhibit
A	Joint Filing Agreement
B	Subsidiaries

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EXHIBIT A

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the persons or entities named below agree to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of this Schedule 13G with respect to the Securities of the Issuer and further agree that this Joint Filing Agreement be included as an exhibit to this Schedule 13G. In evidence thereof, the undersigned hereby execute this Joint Filing Agreement as of November 14, 2024.

Nomura Holdings, Inc.
/s/ Samir Patel
Name:  Samir Patel
Title:  Managing Director
Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc.
/s/ Samir Patel
Name:  Samir Patel
Title:  Authorized Officer

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EXHIBIT B

SUBSIDIARIES

Nomura Global Financial Products, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nomura Holdings, Inc.

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