SCHEDULE 13G

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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.     )*

 

CIRCUIT CITY STORES, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

 

COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.50 PER SHARE

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

172737108

(CUSIP Number)

 

December 17, 2003

(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)

x Rule 13d-1(c)

¨ Rule 13d-1(d)


*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting 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 (“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).


CUSIP No. 172737108

  13G   Page 2 of 9 Pages

 

1.

  

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

        Highfields Capital Management LP

 

2.

  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

(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     13,009,700

 

  

6.

  

SHARED VOTING POWER     —  0—  

 

  

7.

  

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER     13,009,700

 

  

8.

  

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER     —  0—  

 

9.

  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

        13,009,700

 

10.

  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

(SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨

 

11.

  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

        6.2%

 

12.

  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 

        PN


CUSIP No. 172737108

  13G   Page 3 of 9 Pages

 

1.

  

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

        Highfields GP LLC

 

2.

  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

(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     13,009,700

 

  

6.

  

SHARED VOTING POWER     —  0—  

 

  

7.

  

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER     13,009,700

 

  

8.

  

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER     —  0—  

 

9.

  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

        13,009,700

 

10.

  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

(SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨

 

11.

  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

        6.2%

 

12.

  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 

        OO

 


CUSIP No. 172737108

  13G   Page 4 of 9 Pages

 

1.

  

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

        Jonathon S. Jacobson

 

2.

  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

(a)   ¨

(b)   ¨

 

3.

  

SEC USE ONLY

 

4.

  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

        United States of America

 

NUMBER OF SHARES

BENEFICIALLY OWNED

BY EACH REPORTING

PERSON WITH

 

   5.   

SOLE VOTING POWER     13,009,700

 

  

6.

  

SHARED VOTING POWER     —  0—  

 

  

7.

  

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER     13,009,700

 

  

8.

  

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER     —  0—  

 

9.

  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

        13,009,700

 

10.

  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

(SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨

 

11.

  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

        6.2%

 

12.

  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 

        IN

 


CUSIP No. 172737108

  13G   Page 5 of 9 Pages

 

1.

  

NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

        Richard L. Grubman

 

2.

  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

(a)   ¨

(b)   ¨

 

3.

  

SEC USE ONLY

 

4.

  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

        United States of America

 

NUMBER OF SHARES

BENEFICIALLY OWNED

BY EACH REPORTING

PERSON WITH

 

   5.   

SOLE VOTING POWER     13,009,700

 

  

6.

  

SHARED VOTING POWER     —  0—  

 

  

7.

  

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER     13,009,700

 

  

8.

  

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER     —  0—  

 

9.

  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

        13,009,700

 

10.

  

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

(SEE INSTRUCTIONS)   ¨

 

11.

  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

        6.2%

 

12.

  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

 

        IN


CUSIP No. 172737108   13G   Page 6 of 9 Pages

 

Item 1(a).    Name of Issuer:
     Circuit City Stores, Inc.
Item 1(b).    Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:
     9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23233
Item 2(a).    Name of Person Filing:
     This statement is being filed by the following persons with respect to the shares of Common Stock of the Issuer directly owned by Highfields Capital I LP, Highfields Capital II LP and Highfields Capital Ltd. (collectively, the “Funds”):
     (i)    Highfields Capital Management LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Highfields Capital Management”) and investment manager to each of the Funds,
     (ii)    Highfields GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Highfields GP”) and the General Partner of Highfields Capital Management,
     (iii)    Jonathon S. Jacobson, a Managing Member of Highfields GP, and
     (iv)    Richard L. Grubman, a Managing Member of Highfields GP.
     Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman are sometimes individually referred to herein as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.”
Item 2(b).    Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:
    

Address for Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP,

Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman:

c/o Highfields Capital Management

200 Clarendon Street, 51st Floor

Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Item 2(c).    Citizenship:
    

Highfields Capital Management - Delaware

Highfields GP - Delaware

Jonathon S. Jacobson - United States

Richard L. Grubman - United States

Item 2(d).    Title of Class of Securities:
     Common Stock, par value $0.50 per share
Item 2(e).    CUSIP Number:
     172737108

 


CUSIP No. 172737108

  13G   Page 7 of 9 Pages                    
         

Item 3.

   If this Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 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)   ¨   Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

Item 4.

   Ownership.
     Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer
identified in Item 1.
     For Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman:
     (a)   Amount beneficially owned: 13,009,700 shares of Common Stock
     (b)   Percent of class: 6.2%
     (c)   Number of shares as to which such person has:
         (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 13,009,700
         (ii)   Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: —0—  
         (iii)   Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 13,009,700
         (iv)   Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: —0—  

 


CUSIP No. 172737108

  13G   Page 8 of 9 Pages

 

Item 5.

   Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
     Not applicable.

Item 6.

   Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
     The shares beneficially owned by Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman are beneficially owned by the Funds. Each of Highfields Capital I LP, Highfields Capital II LP and Highfields Capital Ltd. individually own less than 5% of the shares. Highfields Capital Management serves as the investment manager to each of the Funds. Each of Highfields Capital Management, Highfields GP, Mr. Jacobson and Mr. Grubman has the power to direct the dividends from or the proceeds of the sale of the shares owned by the Funds.

Item 7.

   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
     Not applicable.

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 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.


CUSIP No. 172737108

  13G   Page 9 of 9 Pages

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

December 29, 2003


Date

HIGHFIELDS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP

By: Highfields GP LLC, its General Partner

/s/ Kenneth H. Colburn


Signature

Kenneth H. Colburn, Authorized Signatory


Name/Title

HIGHFIELDS GP LLC

/s/ Kenneth H. Colburn


Signature

Kenneth H. Colburn, Authorized Signatory


Name/Title

JONATHON S. JACOBSON

/s/ Kenneth H. Colburn


Signature

Kenneth H. Colburn, Authorized Signatory


Name/Title

RICHARD L. GRUBMAN

/s/ Kenneth H. Colburn


Signature

Kenneth H. Colburn, Authorized Signatory


Name/Title