Unassociated Document

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
SCHEDULE 13G
 
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 9)*
 
WORLD ACCEPTANCE CORP
(Name of Issuer)
 
Common Stock, no par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
 
981419 10 4
(CUSIP Number)
 
December 31, 2008
(Date of Event which Requires filing of this Statement)
 
 
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:
 
o
Rule 13d-1(b)
x
Rule 13d-1(c)
o
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.  981419 10 4
 
1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)
 
Thomas W. Smith
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) o
(b) x
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
4
CITIZEN OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
United States
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
5
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 414,000
 
 
6
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
1,966,741
 
 
7
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 534,550
 
 
8
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
1,966,741
 
 
9
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
2,501,291
 
10
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
Not Applicable
 
11
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
 
15.5%
 
12
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
IN
 


 
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CUSIP No.  981419 10 4

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)
 
Scott J. Vassalluzzo
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP                                   
(a) o
(b) x
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
4
CITIZEN OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
United States
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
5
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 30,000
 
 
 
6
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
1,966,741
 
 
7
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 67,788
 
 
8
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
1,966,741
 
 
9
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
2,034,529
 
10
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
Not Applicable
 
11
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
 
12.6%
 
12
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
IN
 



 
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CUSIP No.  981419 10 4

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)
 
Steven M. Fischer
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP                                   
(a) o
(b) x
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
4
CITIZEN OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
United States
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
5
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 0
 
 
 
6
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
1,866,741
 
 
7
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 0
 
 
8
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
1,866,741
 
 
9
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
1,866,741
 
10
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
Not Applicable
 
11
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
 
11.6%
 
12
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
IN
 



 
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CUSIP No.  981419 10 4

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)
 
Idoya Partners L.P.
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP                                   
(a) o
(b) x
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
4
CITIZEN OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
New York Limited Partnership
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
5
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 0
 
 
6
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 976,917
 
 
7
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 0
 
 
8
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 976,917
 
 
9
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
976,917
 
10
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
Not Applicable
 
11
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
 
6.0%
 
12
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
PN
 




 
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CUSIP No.  981419 10 4

1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (entities only)
 
Prescott Associates L.P.
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP                                   
(a) o
(b) x
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
4
CITIZEN OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
New York Limited Partnership
 
NUMBER OF
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BY EACH
REPORTING
PERSON
WITH
5
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 0
 
 
6
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 839,893
 
 
7
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 0
 
 
8
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 839,893
 
 
9
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
839,893
 
10
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
 
Not Applicable
 
11
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
 
5.2%
 
12
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
 
PN
 
 


 
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ITEM 1.
(a)
Name of Issuer:
 
World Acceptance Corp
 
 
(b)
Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
 
108 Frederick Street
Greenville, SC  29607
 
ITEM 2.
(a)
Name of Person Filing:
 
This Statement is being filed jointly by: (i) Thomas W. Smith, Scott J. Vassalluzzo, and Steven M. Fischer, each of whom is a private investment manager; and (ii) Idoya Partners L.P. (“Idoya Partners”) and Prescott Associates L.P. (“Prescott Associates”), each of which is a New York limited partnership for which Messrs. Smith, Vassalluzzo and Fischer are general partners (the persons and entities in (i) and (ii) are referred to collectively herein as the "Reporting Persons").  The filing of this Statement shall not be deemed to be an admission that the Reporting Persons comprise a “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The Reporting Persons each disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported in this Statement in excess of those shares as to which they have or share voting or investment authority.
 
 
(a)
Address of Principal Business Office:
 
The following is the address of the principal business office of each of the Reporting Persons:
 
323 Railroad Avenue
Greenwich, CT  06830
 
 
(b)
Citizenship:
 
Each of Thomas W. Smith, Scott J. Vassalluzzo and Steven M. Fischer is a United States citizen.  Idoya Partners and Prescott Associates are New York limited partnerships.
 
 
(c)
Title of Class of Securities:
 
Common Stock, no par value
 
 
(d)
CUSIP Number:
 
981419 10 4

 
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ITEM 3.
If this Statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
 
Not applicable.
 
If this Statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), check this box x
 
ITEM 4.
Ownership
 
 
(a)
Thomas W. Smith – 2,501,291 shares; Scott J. Vassalluzzo – 2,034,529 shares; Steven M. Fischer – 1,866,741; Idoya Partners – 976,917 shares; Prescott Associates – 839,893.
 
 
(b)
Thomas W. Smith – 15.5%; Scott J. Vassalluzzo –  12.6%; Steven M. Fischer – 11.6%;  Idoya Partners – 6.0%; Prescott Associates – 5.2%
 
(c)
Mr. Thomas W. Smith has the sole power to vote or to direct the vote of 414,000 shares and the sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 534,550 shares.  Mr. Scott J. Vassalluzzo has the sole power to vote and direct the vote of 30,000 shares and the sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 67,788 shares.  Mr. Steven M. Fischer has the sole power to vote and direct the vote of  and dispose or to direct the disposition of no shares.  Messrs. Smith, Vassalluzzo and Fischer have the shared power to vote or dispose or to direct the vote or the disposal of 1,966,741, 1,966,741 and 1,866,741 shares, respectively. Idoya Partners has the shared power to vote or direct the vote and dispose or to direct the disposition of 976,917 shares and Prescott Associates has the shared power to vote or direct the vote and dispose or to direct the disposition of 839,893 shares. Voting and investment authority over investment accounts established for the benefit of certain family members and friends of Messrs. Smith and Vassalluzzo is subject to each beneficiary’s right, if so provided, to terminate or otherwise direct the disposition of the investment account.
 
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
 
Messrs. Smith, Vassalluzzo and Fischer in the aggregate beneficially own 2,139,079 shares in their capacities as investment managers for certain managed accounts.  The managed accounts have the right to receive dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, the managed accounts’ shares.  Voting and investment authority over managed accounts established for the benefit of certain family members and friends of Messrs. Smith and Vassalluzzo is subject to each beneficiary’s right, if so provided, to terminate or otherwise direct the disposition of the managed account.

 
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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.

 
-9-

 

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.
 
Date:     February 17, 2009

 
/s/ Thomas W. Smith
 
 
Thomas W. Smith
 
     
 
/s/ Scott J. Vassalluzzo
 
 
Scott J. Vassalluzzo
 
     
 
/s/ Steven M. Fischer
 
 
Steven M. Fischer
 
     
 
IDOYA PARTNERS L.P.
 
     
 
/s/ Thomas W. Smith
 
 
By:  Thomas W. Smith
 
 
Its:  General Partner
 
     
 
PRESCOTT ASSOCIATES L.P.
 
     
 
/s/ Thomas W. Smith
 
 
By:  Thomas W. Smith
 
 
Its:  General Partner
 



 
-10-

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT
 
The undersigned agree that the foregoing Amendment No. 9 to the Statement on Schedule 13G, dated February 17, 2009, is being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of each of the undersigned pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k).
 
Dated:  February 17, 2009
 

 
/s/ Thomas W. Smith
 
 
Thomas W. Smith
 
     
 
/s/ Scott J. Vassalluzzo
 
 
Scott J. Vassalluzzo
 
     
 
/s/ Steven M. Fischer
 
 
Steven M. Fischer
 
     
 
IDOYA PARTNERS L.P.
 
     
 
/s/ Thomas W. Smith
 
 
By:  Thomas W. Smith
 
 
Its:  General Partner
 
     
 
PRESCOTT ASSOCIATES L.P.
 
     
 
/s/ Thomas W. Smith
 
 
By:  Thomas W. Smith
 
 
Its:  General Partner
 


 
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