SCHEDULE 13G

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13G

(Rule 13d-102)

 

 

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED

PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2(b)

(Amendment No.     )*

 

 

 

PIER 1 IMPORTS, INC.


(Name of Issuer)

 

COMMON STOCK


(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

720279108


                                (CUSIP Number)                                

 

December 31, 2004


(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

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

 

x Rule 13d-1 (b)

 

¨ 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 disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required on 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.)


CUSIP No. 720279108

  13G   Page 2 of 12 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

            Warren E. Buffett

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  x

(b)  ¨

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

            United States Citizen

   

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

  5    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                NONE


  6    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                8,000,000


  7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                NONE


  8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                8,000,000

  9  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

            8,000,000

   
10  

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

 

            Not Applicable.

  ¨
11  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

            9.31%

   
12  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

            IN, HC

   


CUSIP No. 720279108

  13G   Page 3 of 12 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

            Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  x

(b)  ¨

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

            State of Delaware

   

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

  5    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                NONE


  6    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                8,000,000


  7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                NONE


  8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                8,000,000

  9  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

            8,000,000

   
10  

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

 

            Not applicable.

  ¨
11  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

            9.31%

   
12  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

            HC, CO

   


CUSIP No. 720279108

  13G   Page4 of 12 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

            OBH, Inc.

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  x

(b)  ¨

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

            State of Delaware

   

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

  5    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                NONE


  6    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                8,000,000


  7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                NONE


  8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                8,000,000

  9  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

            8,000,000

   
10  

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

 

            Not applicable.

  ¨
11  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

            9.31%

   
12  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

            HC, CO

   


CUSIP No. 720279108

  13G   Page 5 of 12 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

            National Indemnity Company

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  x

(b)  ¨

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

            State of Nebraska

   

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

  5    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                NONE


  6    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                8,000,000


  7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                NONE


  8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                8,000,000

  9  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

            8,000,000

   
10  

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

 

            Not applicable.

  ¨
11  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

            9.31%

   
12  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

            IC, CO

   


CUSIP No. 720279108

  13G   Page 6 of 12 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

            GEICO Corporation

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  x

(b)  ¨

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

            State of Delaware

   

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

  5    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                NONE


  6    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                8,000,000


  7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                NONE


  8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                8,000,000

  9  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

            8,000,000

   
10  

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

 

            Not applicable.

  ¨
11  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

            9.31%

   
12  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

            HC, CO

   


CUSIP No. 720279108

  13G   Page 7 of 12 Pages

 

  1  

NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS

I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

 

            Government Employees Insurance Company

   
  2  

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*

(a)  x

(b)  ¨

   
  3  

SEC USE ONLY

 

   
  4  

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

 

            State of Maryland

   

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

  5    SOLE VOTING POWER

 

                NONE


  6    SHARED VOTING POWER

 

                8,000,000


  7    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                NONE


  8    SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

 

                8,000,000

  9  

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

 

            8,000,000

   
10  

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

 

            Not applicable.

  ¨
11  

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

 

            9.31%

   
12  

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

 

            IC, CO

   


Page 8 of 12 Pages

 

SCHEDULE 13G

 

Item 1.

 

(a)

  

Name of Issuer

 

Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

         
   

(b)

  

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

 

301 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102

         

Item 2

 

(a).

   Name of Person Filing:          

Item 2

 

(b).

   Address of Principal Business Office:          

Item 2

 

(c).

  

Citizenship:

 

Warren E. Buffett

1440 Kiewit Plaza

Omaha, Nebraska 68131

United States Citizen

 

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

1440 Kiewit Plaza

Omaha, Nebraska 68131

Delaware corporation

 

OBH, Inc.

1440 Kiewit Plaza

Omaha, Nebraska 68131

Delaware corporation

 

National Indemnity Company

3024 Harney Street

Omaha, Nebraska 68131

Nebraska corporation

 

GEICO Corporation

1 Geico Plaza

Washington, D.C. 20076

Delaware corporation

 

Government Employees Insurance Company

1 Geico Plaza

Washington, D.C. 20076

Maryland corporation

         
   

(d)

  

Title of Class of Securities

 

Common Stock

         
   

(e)

  

CUSIP Number

 

720279108

         

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:     
    Warren E. Buffett (an individual who may be deemed to control Berkshire Hathaway Inc.), Berkshire Hathaway Inc., OBH, Inc., and GEICO Corporation are each a Parent Holding Company or Control Person, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G) (Note: See Item 7).          
    National Indemnity Company and Government Employees Insurance Company are each an Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act.          
    The Reporting Persons together are a Group in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).          


Page 9 of 12 Pages

 

Item 4.

   Ownership.          
     If the percent of the class owned, as of December 31 of the year covered by the statement, or as of the last day of any month described in Rule 13d-1(b)(2), if applicable, exceeds five percent, provide the following information as of that date and identify those shares which there is a right to acquire.          
     (a)    Amount beneficially Owned          
          See the Cover Pages for each of the Reporting Persons.          
     (b)    Percent of Class          
          See the Cover Pages for each of the Reporting Persons.          
     (c)    Number of shares as to which such person has:          
          (i)    sole power to vote or to direct the vote          
          (ii)    shared power to vote or to direct the vote          
          (iii)    sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of          
          (iv)    shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of          
     See the Cover Pages for each of the Reporting Persons.          

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.          
     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 A.

Item 8.

   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.          
     See Exhibit A.          

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.          


Page 10 of 12 Pages

 

SIGNATURES

 

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.

 

February 14, 2005


       

February 14, 2005


Date         Date

/s/ Warren E. Buffett


       

/s/ Warren E. Buffett


Signature         Signature

Warren E. Buffett


       

Warren E. Buffett, Chairman of the Board


Name         Name/Title
          Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

February 14, 2005


       

February 14, 2005


Date         Date

/s/ Warren E. Buffett


       

/s/ Warren E. Buffett


Signature         Signature

Warren E. Buffett, Chairman of the Board


       

Warren E. Buffett, Chairman of the Board


Name/Title         Name/Title
OBH, INC.         National Indemnity Company

February 14, 2005


       

February 14, 2005


Date         Date

/s/ Warren E. Buffett


       

/s/ Warren E. Buffett


Signature         Signature

Warren E. Buffett, Chairman of the Board


       

Warren E. Buffett, Chairman of the Board


Name/Title         Name/Title
GEICO Corporation         Government Employees Insurance Company

 

 


SCHEDULE 13G

 

EXHIBIT A

 

RELEVANT SUBSIDIARIES AND MEMBERS OF FILING GROUP

 

PARENT HOLDING COMPANIES OR CONTROL PERSONS:

 

Warren E. Buffett (an individual who may be deemed to control Berkshire Hathaway Inc.)

 

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

 

OBH, Inc.

 

GEICO Corporation

 

INSURANCE COMPANIES AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(a)(19) OF THE ACT:

 

National Indemnity Company

 

Government Employees Insurance Company

 

 


SCHEDULE 13G

 

EXHIBIT B

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-1(k)(1)

 

The undersigned persons agree and consent to the joint filing on their behalf of this Schedule 13G in connection with their beneficial ownership of the Common Stock of Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

 

Dated: February 14, 2005  

/S/ Warren E. Buffett


    Warren E. Buffett
    Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Dated: February 14, 2005  

/S/ Warren E. Buffett


    By:   Warren E. Buffett
    Title:   Chairman of the Board
    OBH, Inc.
Dated: February 14, 2005  

/S/ Warren E. Buffett


    By:   Warren E. Buffett
    Title:   Chairman of the Board
    National Indemnity Company
Dated: February 14, 2005  

/S/ Warren E. Buffett


    By:   Warren E. Buffett
    Title:   Chairman of the Board
    GEICO Corporation
Dated: February 14, 2005  

/S/ Warren E. Buffett


    By:   Warren E. Buffett
    Title:   Chairman of the Board
    Government Employees Insurance Company
Dated: February 14, 2005  

/S/ Warren E. Buffett


    By:   Warren E. Buffett
    Title:   Chairman of the Board