As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 25, 1994
Registration No. ______________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
04-2269444
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2418 Main Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(203) 257-2000
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
1994 MANAGEMENT STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full Title of Plan)
David H. Lissy
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Ames Department Stores, Inc.
2418 Main Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(203) 257-2578
(Name and Address, Including Zip Code,
and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
Copies to:
Jeffrey J. Weinberg, Esq.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10153
(212) 310-8000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities to
be Registered
Amount to be
Registered(1)
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per
Share(2)
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(2)
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
1,700,000 shares
$3.00
$5,100,000
$1,758.62
(1) Plus such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock of the
Registrant as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock
dividends, stock splits or similar transactions in accordance with Rule 416
under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(h) and Rule 457(c) under the Securities
Act of 1933, based upon the closing price of the Registrant's Common Stock
as reported on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation System (NASDAQ) on August 22, 1994.
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1.
The documents containing the information specified in
Part I of this Registration Statement have been sent or given to
employees as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). Such documents are not
required to be and are not filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") either as part of this Registration
Statement or as a prospectus or prospectus supplement pursuant to
Rule 424. These documents and the documents incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of
Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus
that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
Item 2.
Upon written or oral request, any of the documents
incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this
Registration Statement (which documents are incorporated by
reference in this Section 10(a) Prospectus), other documents
required to be delivered to eligible employees pursuant to Rule
428(b) or additional information about the Ames Department
Stores, Inc. 1994 Management Stock Option Plan and its
administrators are available without charge by contacting:
Margaret E. Wyrwas
Vice President, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Ames Department Stores, Inc.
2418 Main Street
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
(203) 257-2659
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents filed with the Commission by
Ames Department Stores, Inc. (the "Company") are incorporated
herein by reference:
(a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended January 29, 1994.
(b) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended April 30, 1994.
The Company's Reports on Form 8-K filed on
February 17, April 6, April 8, April 22, May 12, May 27, June 2,
June 10, June 21 and July 14, 1994.
The Company's Retirement and Savings Plan Annual
Report on Form 11-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993.
(c) The description of the Company's Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on December
11, 1992 with the Commission pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, including an amendment on Form 8 filed on December
29, 1992 that updated such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company with
the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to
be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
Not applicable.
<PAGE>
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Generally, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware permits a corporation to indemnify
certain persons made a party to an action, by reason of the fact
that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or enterprise. In the case of an action by or in the
right of the corporation, no indemnification may be made in
respect of any matter as to which that person was adjudged liable
for negligence or misconduct in the performance of that person's
duty to the corporation unless the Delaware Court of Chancery or
the court in which the action was brought determines that despite
the adjudication of liability that person is fairly and
reasonably entitled to indemnity for proper expenses. To the
extent that any such person has been successful in the defense of
any matter, such person shall be indemnified against expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by him.
Section 3. of Article SIXTH of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides that to the
fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law,
no director shall be personably liable to the Company or any of
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director.
Article VIII of the Company's By-Laws provides that
each director and officer of the Company (and his heirs,
executors and administrators) shall be indemnified by the Company
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which
he may be made a party by reason of his being or having been a
director or officer of the Company (whether or not he is a
director or officer at the time of incurring such expenses),
provided that he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests
of the Company, and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The Company shall not, however, indemnify such
director or officer in respect of any claim, issue or matter as
to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or
suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite
the adjudication of liability but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of
Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
<PAGE>
The Company's By-Laws provide that the respective
rights of indemnification shall not be exclusive of other rights
to which any director or officer may be entitled under any law,
By-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors or pursuant to the direction of any court of competent
jurisdiction or otherwise.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers
or persons controlling the Company as disclosed above, the
Company has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore
unenforceable.
ITEM 7. EXCEPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
4(a) - Ames Department Stores, Inc. 1994 Management
Stock Option Plan.
4(b) - Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company (incorporated
by reference to the Company's Form 8 dated
and filed December 29, 1992).
4(c) - By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by
reference to the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January
29, 1994).
5 - Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
23(a) - Consent of Arthur Andersen & Co.
23(b) - Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges (included
in Exhibit 5).
24 - Power of Attorney (included as part of the
signature pages to this Registration
Statement and incorporated herein by
reference).
<PAGE>
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or
sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
to this Registration Statement;
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of
the Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof)
which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the Registration
Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the Registration
Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration
Statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraph (a)(1)(i) and
(a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to
be included in a post-effective amendment by the
foregoing paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act, each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration
Statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA
FIDE offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-
effective amendment any of the securities being
registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.
<PAGE>
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of
the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
Registration Statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at
that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE
offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising
under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors,
officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted
by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in
the Town of Rocky Hill, State of Connecticut on this twenty-
fourth day of August, 1994.
AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
By: /s/ Joseph R. Ettore
----------------------------------
Name: Joseph R. Ettore
Title: President, Director &
Chief Executive Officer
By: /s/ John F. Burtelow
----------------------------------
Name: John F. Burtelow
Title: Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
By: /s/ William C. Najdecki
----------------------------------
Name: William C. Najdecki
Title: Senior Vice President &
Chief Accounting Officer
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Joseph
R. Ettore and John F. Burtelow acting individually, his true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitu-
tion and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to
be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and
purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Joseph R, Ettore President, Director & August 24, 1994
- ---------------------- Chief Executive Officer
Joseph R. Ettore
/s/ John F. Burtelow Executive Vice President August 24, 1994
- ---------------------- & Chief Financial Officer
John F. Burtelow
/s/William C. Najdecki Senior Vice President- August 24, 1994
- ---------------------- Chief Accounting Officer
William C. Najdecki
/s/ Paul M. Buxbaum Director and Chairman August 24, 1994
- ----------------------
Paul M. Buxbaum
/s/ Francis X. Basile Director August 24, 1994
- ----------------------
Francis X. Basile
/s/ Alan Cohen Director August 24, 1994
- ----------------------
Alan Cohen
/s/ Sidney S. Pearlman Director August 24, 1994
- ----------------------
Sidney S. Pearlman
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
- ----------- ----------- --------
4(a) - Ames Department Stores, Inc. 1994 Management
Stock Option Plan.
4(b) - Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company, as amended
(incorporated by reference to the
Company's Form 8 dated and filed
December 29, 1992).
4(c) - By-Laws of the Company (incorporated by
reference to the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
January 29, 1994).
5 - Opinion of Weil, Gotshal & Manges
23(a) - Consent of Arthur Andersen & Co.
23(b) - Consent of Weil, Gotshal & Manges
(included in Exhibit 5).
24 - Power of Attorney (included as part of
the signature page to this Registration
Statement and incorporated herein by
reference).
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4(a)
AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
1994 MANAGEMENT STOCK OPTION PLAN
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Stock Subject to the Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
3. Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
4. Eligibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
5. Option Price and Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
6. Terms of Options and Limitations on the Right of Exercise . . . . . 5
7. Termination of Employment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
8. Exercise of Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
9. Use of Proceeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
10. Non-Transferability of Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
11. Adjustment of Shares; Effect of Certain Transactions. . . . . . 9
12. Right to Terminate Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
13. Purchase for Investment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
14. Issuance of Stock Certificates; Legends; Payment of
Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
15. Withholding Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
16. Listing of Shares and Related Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
17. Amendment of the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
18. Termination or Suspension of the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
19. Savings Provision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
20. Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
21. Partial Invalidity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
22. Effective Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
<PAGE>
AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
1994 MANAGEMENT STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSES
The 1994 Management Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") was
adopted by the Board of Directors of Ames Department Stores, Inc.
(the "Company") on March 1, 1994 and approved by the Company's
stockholders on June 15, 1994. The Company wishes to provide
certain of its key employees and certain key employees of any
subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company now
existing or hereafter formed or acquired who are responsible for
the continued growth of the Company an opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest in the Company, and thereby create in such
key employees an increased interest in and a greater concern for
the welfare of the Company and its subsidiaries.
The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the
services of persons now holding key positions and also to secure
and retain the services of persons capable of filling such
positions.
The stock options ("Options") offered pursuant to the
Plan are a matter of separate inducement and are not in lieu of
any salary or other compensation for the services of any key
employee.
The Options granted under the Plan are intended to be
either incentive stock options ("Incentive Options") within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), or options that do not meet the require-
ments for Incentive Options ("Non-Qualified Options"). The
Company makes no warranty, however, as to the qualification of
any Option as an Incentive Option.
2. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable for
shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company
("Common Stock"). The total number ofshares of Common Stock of
the Company authorized for issuance upon the exercise of Options
under the Plan (the "Shares") shall not exceed, in the aggregate,
1,700,000 Shares with no individual optionee to receive in excess
of 200,000 Shares upon the exercise of Options granted under the
<PAGE>
Plan, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11 of the
Plan.
Shares available for issuance under the Plan may be
either authorized but unissued Shares, Shares of issued stock
held in the Company's treasury, or both, at the discretion of the
Company. If and to the extent that Options granted under the
<PAGE>
Plan expire or terminate without having been exercised, the
Shares covered by such expired or terminated Options may again be
subject to an Option under the Plan.
Except as provided in Sections 18 and 22 hereof, the
Company may, from time to time during the period beginning on
March 1, 1994 (the "Effective Date") and ending on February 28,
2004 (the "Termination Date"), grant to certain key employees of
the Company, or certain key employees of any subsidiary
corporation or parent corporation of the Company, Incentive
Options and/or Non-Qualified Options under the terms hereinafter
set forth.
As used in the Plan, the term "parent corporation" and
"subsidiary corporation" shall mean a corporation within the
definitions of such terms contained in Sections 424(e) and 424(f)
of the Code, respectively.
3. ADMINISTRATION
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board of
Directors") shall designate from among its members an option
committee, which may also be any other committee of the Board of
Directors (the "Committee"), to administer the Plan. The
Committee shall consist of no fewer than three (3) members of the
Board of Directors, each of whom shall be a "disinterested
person" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule
or regulation) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and an "outside director"
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder. A majority of the members of
the Committee shall constitute a quorum and the act of a majority
of the members of the Committee shall be the act of the
Committee. Any member of the Committee may be removed at any
time either with or without cause by resolution adopted by the
Board of Directors and any vacancy on the Committee at any time
may be filled by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
Any and all powers and functions of the Committee may
be exercised at any time and from time to time by the Board of
Directors or an executive committee of the Board of Directors
(the "Executive Committee"; references below to the Committee
shall be deemed to include references to the Board of Directors
and the Executive Committee, except as the context otherwise
requires); provided, however, that all voting or all of the
members of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, as
the case may be, shall be "disinterested persons" within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule or regulation)
promulgated under the Exchange Act and all of the members of the
Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, as the case may
be, also shall be "outside directors" within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
<PAGE>
Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to
determine the key employees to whom Options shall be granted, the
time when such persons shall be granted Options, the number of
Shares which shall be subject to each Option, the purchase price
of each Share which shall be subject to each Option, the
period(s) during which such Options shall be exercisable (whether
in whole or part), and the other terms and provisions thereof
(which need not be identical). In determining the key employees
to whom Options shall be granted and the number of Shares for
which Options are to be granted to each key employee, the
Committee may give due consideration, among other things, to the
length of service, performance, the amount of earnings and the
responsibilities and duties of such person.
Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the
Committee also shall have the authority to construe the Plan and
the Options granted hereunder, to prescribe, amend and rescind
rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the
terms and provisions of the Options (which need not be identical)
and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for
administering the Plan. The Committee also shall have the
authority to require, in its discretion, as a condition of the
granting of any such Option, that the employee agree (a) not to
sell or otherwise dispose of Shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise of such Option for a period of six (6) months following
the date of the acquisition of such Option and (b) that in the
event of termination of employment of such employee, other than
as a result of dismissal without cause or termination for Good
Reason (as defined in Section 7 herein), such employee will not,
for a period to be fixed at the time of the grant of the Option,
enter into any other employment or participate directly or
indirectly in any other business or enterprise which is
competitive with the business of the Company or any subsidiary
corporation or parent corporation of the Company, or enter into
any employment in which such employee will be called upon to
utilize special knowledge obtained through employment with the
Company or any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation
thereof. Any officer of the Company or any subsidiary corpora-
tion or parent corporation who is subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act (or any
successor provision) shall not be entitled to sell or otherwise
dispose of any Shares acquired upon the exercise of any Option
for a period of six (6) months from the date such Option was
granted.
Any determination of the Committee on the matters
referred to in this Section 3 shall be conclusive.
The Committee may employ such legal or other counsel,
consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the adminis-
tration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion or computation
received from any such counsel, consultant or agent. Expenses
<PAGE>
incurred by the Committee in the engagement of such counsel, con-
sultant or agent shall be paid by the Company or such subsidiary
corporation or parent corporation of the Company whose employees
have benefitted from the Plan, as determined by the Committee.
No member or former member of the Board of Directors, the
Executive Committee or the Committee shall be liable for any
action or determination made in good faith with respect to the
Plan or any Options granted hereunder.
4. ELIGIBILITY
Options may be granted only to salaried key employees
of the Company or any subsidiary corporation or parent corpora-
tion of the Company now existing or hereafter formed or acquired.
The Plan does not create a right in any person to
participate in, or be granted options under, the Plan.
5. OPTION PRICE AND PAYMENT
The price for each Share purchasable under any Option
granted hereunder shall be determined by the Committee in its
good faith judgment, but shall not be less than one hundred
percent (100%) of the "fair market value" (as defined below) per
Share at the date the Option is granted; provided, however, that
in the case of an Incentive Option granted to a key employee who,
at the time such Option is granted, owns shares of the Company or
any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation representing
more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or any subsidiary corporation
or parent corporation, the purchase price for each Share shall be
not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market
value per Share at the date the Option is granted. In determin-
ing the stock ownership of a key employee for any purpose under
the Plan, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall be
applied, and the Committee may rely on representations of fact
made to it by the key employee and believed by it to be true.
For purposes of the Plan, "fair market value," with
respect to any date of determination, means:
(i) if the Shares are listed or admitted to trading on
a national securities exchange in the United States or
reported through the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation System - National Market System
("NASDAQ-NMS"), then the closing sale price on such exchange
or NASDAQ on such date or, if no trading occurred or quota-
tions were available on such date, then on the closest
preceding date on which the Shares were traded or quoted; or
(ii) if not so listed or reported but a regular, active
public market for the Shares exists (as determined in the
sole discretion of the Committee, whose decision shall be
<PAGE>
conclusive and binding), then the average of the closing bid and
ask quotations per Share in the over-the-counter market for such
Shares in the United States on such date or, if no such
quotations are available on such date, then on the closest date
preceding such date. For purposes of the foregoing, a market in
which trading is sporadic and the ask quotations generally exceed
the bid quotations by more than 15% shall not be deemed to be a
"regular, active public market."
If the Committee determines that a regular, active
public market does not exist for the Shares, the Committee shall
determine the fair market value of the Shares in its good faith
judgment based on the total number of shares of Common Stock then
outstanding, taking into account all outstanding options, war-
rants, rights or other securities exercisable or exchangeable
for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock.
Upon the exercise of an Option granted hereunder, the
Company shall cause the purchased Shares to be issued only when
it shall have received the full purchase price therefor in cash;
provided, however, that in lieu of cash, the holder of an Option
may, if the terms of such Option so provide and to the extent
permitted by applicable law, exercise an Option (a) in whole or
in part, by delivering to the Company shares of Common Stock of
the Company (in proper form for transfer and accompanied by all
requisite stock transfer tax stamps or cash in lieu thereof)
owned by such holder having a fair market value equal to the cash
exercise price applicable to that portion of the Option being
exercised, the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock so
delivered to be determined as of the date immediately preceding
the date of exercise, or as otherwise may be required to comply
with or conform to the requirements of any applicable law or
regulations, or (b) in part, by delivering to the Company an
executed promissory note on such terms and conditions as the
Committee shall determine at the time of grant, in its sole
discretion; provided, however, that the principal amount of such
note shall not exceed ninety percent (90%) (or such lesser per-
centage as would be permitted by applicable margin regulations)
of the aggregate purchase price of the Shares then being
purchased pursuant to the exercise of such Option.
6. TERMS OF OPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS ON THE RIGHT OF EXERCISE
Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at
such times, in such amounts and during such period or periods as
the Committee shall determine at the date of the grant of such
Option; provided, however, that an Incentive Option shall not be
exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date
such Option is granted; provided, further, that in the case of an
Incentive Option granted to a person who, at the time such
Incentive Option is granted, owns stock of the Company or any
subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company
representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined
<PAGE>
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any
subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company, such
Incentive Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of
five (5) years from the date such Incentive Option is granted.
The Committee shall have the right to accelerate, in
whole or in part, from time to time, conditionally or
unconditionally, rights to exercise any Option granted hereunder.
To the extent that an Option is not exercised within
the period of exercisability specified therein, it shall expire
as to the then unexercised part.
Except as otherwise provided under the Code, to the
extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock for which
Incentive Options (under all stock option plans of the Company
and of any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the
Company) are exercisable for the first time by an employee during
any calendar year exceeds one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000), such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified
Options. For purposes of this limitation, (a) the fair market
value of stock is determined as of the time the Option is
granted, (b) the limitation will be applied by taking into
account Options in the order in which they were granted, and (c)
Incentive Options granted before 1987 shall not be taken into
account.
In no event shall an Option granted hereunder be exer-
cised for a fraction of a Share or for less than one hundred
(100) Shares (unless the number purchased is the total balance
for which the Option is then exercisable).
A person entitled to receive Shares upon the exercise
of an Option shall not have the rights of a stockholder with
respect to such Shares until the date of issuance of a stock
certificate to him or her for such Shares; provided, however,
that until such stock certificate is issued, any holder of an
Option using previously acquired shares of Common Stock in
payment of an option exercise price shall continue to have the
rights of a stockholder with respect to such previously acquired
shares of Common Stock.
7. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
Upon termination of employment of any key employee with
the Company and all subsidiary corporations and parent corpora-
tions of the Company, any Option previously granted to such
employee, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the
Option shall, to the extent not theretofore exercised, terminate
and become null and void; provided, however, that:
A. if any key employee shall die while in the employ
of such corporation or during either the thirty (30) day or three
<PAGE>
(3) month period, whichever is applicable, specified in clauses
(B), (C) and (D) below, any Option granted hereunder, unless
otherwise specified by the Committee in the Option, shall be
exercisable for any or all of such number of Shares that such
employee is entitled to exercise at the time of death, by the
legal representative of such employee or such person who acquired
such Option by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the death
of such employee, at any time up to and including one (1) year
after the date of death;
B. if the employment of any key employee shall
terminate by reason of such employee's disability (as described
in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), any Option granted hereunder,
unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the Option, shall
be exercisable for any or all of such number of Shares that such
employee is entitled to exercise at the effective date of ter-
mination of employment by reason of disability, at any time up to
and including thirty (30) days after the effective date of such
termination of employment;
C. if the employment of any key employee shall ter-
minate (i) by reason of the employee's retirement (at such age or
upon such conditions as shall be specified by the Committee),
(ii) by the key employee for "good reason" (only if such employee
is party to a written employment agreement with the Company or
any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation which expressly
provides for termination by the key employee for "good reason,"
and such employee validly terminates his or her employment for
"good reason," as such term is defined in the agreement
("Termination For Good Reason")), or (iii) by the employer other
than for cause (as defined below), such Option, unless otherwise
specified by the Committee in the Option, shall be exercisable
for any or all of such number of Shares subject to such Option,
whether or not then exercisable, at any time up to and including
three (3) months after the effective date of such termination of
employment; and
D. if the employment of any key employee shall
terminate by any reason other than as provided for in clauses
(A), (B) or (C) above, such Option, unless otherwise specified by
the Committee in such Option, shall be exercisable for any or all
of such number of Shares that such employee is entitled to exer-
cise at the effective date of termination, at any time up to and
including thirty (30) days after the effective date of such
termination of employment. Any Options previously granted to the
employee and not exercised within such thirty (30) days shall
terminate with respect to any unexercised portion thereof.
None of the events described above shall extend the
period of exercisability of the Option beyond the expiration date
thereof.
<PAGE>
If an Option granted hereunder shall be exercised by
the legal representative of a deceased grantee or by a person who
acquired an Option granted hereunder by bequest or inheritance or
by reason of the death of any employee or former employee, writ-
ten notice of such exercise shall be accompanied by a certified
copy of letters testamentary or equivalent proof of the right of
such legal representative or other person to exercise such
Option.
For purposes of the Plan, the term "for cause" shall
mean (a) with respect to an employee who is a party to a written
employment agreement with, or, alternatively, participates in a
compensation or benefit plan (other than the Plan) of, the
Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the
Company, which agreement or plan contains a definition of "for
cause" or "cause" (or words of like import) for purposes of
termination of employment or services thereunder by the Company
or such subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the
Company, "for cause" or "cause" as defined therein (if an
employee is both party to an employment agreement and partici-
pates in such a plan, the definition contained in such employment
agreement shall control); or (b) in all other cases, as deter-
mined by the Committee or the Board of Directors, in its sole
discretion, (i) the willful commission by an employee of an act
that causes or may cause substantial damage to the Company or a
subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company; (ii)
the commission by an employee of an act of fraud in the perfor-
mance of such employee's duties on behalf of the Company or a
subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the Company;
(iii) conviction of the employee for commission of a felony in
connection with the performance of his duties on behalf of the
Company or a subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the
Company; or (iv) the continuing failure of an employee to perform
the duties of such employee to the Company or a subsidiary cor-
poration or parent corporation of the Company that has not been
cured within 15 days after written notice thereof has been given
to the employee by the Committee.
For purposes of the Plan, an employment relationship
shall be deemed to exist between an individual and a corporation
if, at the time of determination, the individual was an
"employee" of such corporation for purposes of Section 422(a) of
the Code. If an individual is on leave of absence taken with the
consent of the corporation by which such individual was employed,
or is on active military service, and is determined to be an
"employee" for purposes of the exercise of an Option, such indi-
vidual shall not be entitled to exercise such Option during such
period and while the employment is treated as continuing intact
unless such individual shall have obtained the prior written
consent of such corporation, which consent shall be signed by the
chairman of the board of directors, the president, a senior vice-
president or other duly authorized officer of such corporation.
<PAGE>
A termination of employment shall not be deemed to
occur by reason of (i) the transfer of an employee from employ-
ment by the Company to employment by a subsidiary corporation or
a parent corporation of the Company or (ii) the transfer of an
employee from employment by a subsidiary corporation or a parent
corporation of the Company to employment by the Company or by
another subsidiary corporation or parent corporation of the
Company.
8. EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
Subject to the limitations on exercise referred to in
Sections 6 and 7 hereof, Options granted under the Plan shall be
exercised by the optionee as to all or part of the Shares covered
thereby by giving written notice of exercise to the Corporate
Secretary of the Company at the principal business office of the
Company, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased and
specifying a business day not more than ten (10) days from the
date such notice is given for the payment of the purchase price
against delivery of the Shares being purchased. Subject to the
terms of Sections 13, 14 and 15 hereof, the Company shall cause
certificates for the Shares so purchased to be delivered at the
principal business office of the Company, against payment of the
full purchase price, on the date specified in the notice of
exercise.
9. USE OF PROCEEDS
The cash proceeds of the sale of Shares subject to the
Options granted hereunder are to be added to the general funds of
the Company and used for its general corporate purposes as the
Board of Directors shall determine.
10. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS
An Option granted hereunder shall not be transferable,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, other than by will or
the laws of descent and distribution, and any Option granted
hereunder shall be exercisable, during the lifetime of the
holder, only by such holder. Except to the extent provided
above, Options may not be assigned, transferred, pledged,
hypothecated or disposed of in any way (whether by operation of
law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution,
attachment or similar process.
11. ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES; EFFECT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein,
in the event of any change in the Shares subject to the Plan or
to any Option granted under the Plan (through merger, consolida-
tion, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock
split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares,
exchange of shares, or other like change in the capital structure
<PAGE>
of the Company), an adjustment shall be made to each outstanding
Option such that each such Option shall thereafter be exercisable
for such securities, cash and/or other property as would have
been received in respect of the Shares subject to such Option had
such Option been exercised in full immediately prior to such
change, and such an adjustment shall be made successively each
time any such change shall occur. The term "Shares" after any
such change shall refer to the securities, cash and/or property
then receivable upon exercise of an Option. In addition, in the
event of any such change, the Committee shall make any further
adjustment to the maximum number of Shares which may be acquired
under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Options, the maximum
number of Shares for which Options may be granted to any one
employee and the number of Shares and price per Share subject to
outstanding Options as shall be equitable to prevent dilution or
enlargement of rights under such Options, and the determination
of the Committee as to these matters shall be conclusive and
binding on the optionee; provided, however, that (a) each such
adjustment with respect to an Incentive Option shall comply with
the rules of Section 424(a) of the Code (or any successor pro-
vision) and (b) in no event shall any adjustment be made which
would render any Incentive Option granted hereunder other than an
"incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code.
If the terms of an Option so provide, in the event of a
"change in control" of the Company, all such Options shall imme-
diately become exercisable. For purposes of the Plan, a "change
in control" of the Company shall occur if (a) any person or other
entity (other than any of the Company's subsidiaries), including
any person as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act,
becomes the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the
Exchange Act, directly or indirectly, of more than fifty percent
(50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
capital stock of the Company normally entitled to vote for the
election of directors of the Company (the "Voting Stock"), (b)
the Board of Directors approves the sale of all or substantially
all of the property or assets of the Company, (c) the Board of
Directors approves a consolidation or merger of the Company with
another corporation (other than with any of the Company's
subsidiaries), the consummation of which would result in the
stockholders of the Company immediately before the occurrence of
the consolidation or merger owning, in the aggregate, less than
50% of the Voting Stock of the surviving entity, or (d) a change
in the Board of Directors occurs with the result that the members
of the Board of Directors on the date hereof (the "Incumbent
Directors") no longer constitute a majority of such Board of
Directors, provided that any person becoming a director whose
election or nomination for election was supported by a majority
of the Incumbent Directors shall be considered an Incumbent
Director for purposes hereof.
The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine
that, upon the occurrence of a transaction described in the
<PAGE>
preceding paragraph, each Option outstanding hereunder shall
terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the
holder, and such holder shall receive, with respect to each Share
subject to such Option, an amount equal to the excess of the fair
market value of such Shares immediately prior to the occurrence
of such transaction over the exercise price per Share of such
Option; such amount shall be payable in cash, in one or more of
the kinds of property payable in such transaction, or in a
combination thereof, as the Committee in its discretion shall
determine. The provisions contained in the preceding sentence
shall be inapplicable to an Option granted within six (6) months
before the occurrence of a change in control if the holder of
such Option is subject to the reporting requirements of Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act and no exemption from liability under
Section 16(b) is otherwise available to such holder.
12. RIGHT TO TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT
The Plan shall not impose any obligation on the Company
or on any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation thereof to
continue the employment of any holder of an Option and it shall
not impose any obligation on the part of any holder of an Option
to remain in the employ of the Company or of any subsidiary
corporation or parent corporation thereof.
13. PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT
Except as hereinafter provided, the Committee may
require the holder of an Option granted hereunder, as a condition
of exercise of such Option in the event the Shares subject to
such Option are not registered pursuant to an effective registra-
tion statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and applicable state securities laws, to
execute and deliver to the Company a written statement, in form
satisfactory to the Committee, in which such holder (1) repre-
sents and warrants that such holder is purchasing or acquiring
the Shares acquired thereunder for such holder's own account, for
investment only and not with a view to the resale or distribution
thereof in violation of any federal or state securities laws, and
(2) agrees that any subsequent resale or distribution of any of
such Shares shall be made only pursuant to either (i) an effec-
tive registration statement under the Securities Act covering
such Shares and under applicable state securities laws or (ii)
specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, based on
a written opinion of counsel, in form and substance satisfactory
to counsel for the Company, as to the application thereto of any
such exemptions.
Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring the
Company to register Shares subject to any Option under the
Securities Act or any state securities law and, to the extent
<PAGE>
deemed necessary by the Company, Shares issued upon exercise of
an Option may contain a legend to the effect that registration
rights had not been granted with respect to such Shares.
14. ISSUANCE OF STOCK CERTIFICATES; LEGENDS; PAYMENT OF
EXPENSES
Upon any exercise of an Option granted hereunder and
payment of the purchase price therefor, a certificate or certifi-
cates representing the Shares shall be issued by the Company in
the name of the person exercising the Option and shall be
delivered to or upon the order of such person.
The Company may endorse such legend or legends upon the
certificates for Shares issued pursuant to the Plan and may issue
such "stop transfer" instructions to its transfer agent in
respect of such Shares as the Committee, in its sole discretion,
determines to be necessary or appropriate to (a) prevent a
violation of, or to comply with the procedures for an exemption
from, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (b)
implement the provisions of the Plan and any agreement between
the Company and the optionee or grantee with respect to such
Shares or (c) permit the Company to determine the occurrence of a
disqualifying disposition, as described in Section 421(b) of the
Code, of Shares transferred upon exercise of an Incentive Option
granted under the Plan.
The Company shall pay all issue or transfer taxes with
respect to the issuance or transfer of Shares, as well as all
fees and expenses necessarily incurred by the Company in connec-
tion with such issuance or transfer, except fees and expenses
which may be necessitated by the filing or amending of a regis-
tration statement under the Securities Act, which fees and
expenses shall be borne by the recipient of the Shares unless
such registration statement has been filed by the Company for its
own corporate purposes (and the Company so states) in which event
the recipient of the Shares shall bear only such fees and ex-
penses as are attributable solely to the inclusion of the Shares
an optionee receives in the registration statement.
All Shares issued as provided herein shall be fully
paid and nonassessable to the extent permitted by law.
15. WITHHOLDING TAXES
The Company may require an employee exercising a
Non-Qualified Option granted hereunder, or disposing of Shares
acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Option in a
disqualifying disposition (within the meaning of Section 421(b)
of the Code), to reimburse the corporation which employs such
employee for any taxes required by any governmental regulatory
authority to be withheld or otherwise deducted and paid by such
<PAGE>
corporation in respect of the issuance or disposition of such
Shares. In lieu thereof, the corporation which employs such
employee shall have the right to withhold the amount of such
taxes from any other sums due or to become due from such corpo-
ration to the employee upon such terms and conditions as the
Committee shall prescribe. The corporation that employs such
employee may, in its discretion, hold the stock certificate to
which such employee is entitled upon the exercise of an Option as
security for the payment of such withholding tax liability, until
cash sufficient to pay that liability has been accumulated. In
addition, at any time that the Company becomes subject to a
withholding obligation under applicable law with respect to the
exercise of a Non-Qualified Option (the "Tax Date"), except as
set forth below, a holder of a Non-Qualified Option may elect to
satisfy, in whole or in part, the holder's related personal tax
liabilities (an "Election") by (a) directing the Company to
withhold from Shares issuable in the related exercise either a
specified number of Shares or Shares having a specified value (in
each case not in excess of the related personal tax liabilities),
(b) tendering Shares previously issued pursuant to the exercise
of an Option or other shares of the Company's Common Stock owned
by the holder or (c) combining any or all of the foregoing
Elections in any fashion. An Election shall be irrevocable. The
withheld Shares and other shares of Common Stock tendered in
payment shall be valued at their fair market value (as determined
under Section 5) on the Tax Date. The Committee may disapprove
of any Election, suspend or terminate the right to make Elections
or provide that the right to make Elections shall not apply to
particular Shares or exercises. The Committee may impose any
additional conditions or restrictions on the right to make an
Election as it shall deem appropriate. In addition, the Company
shall be authorized, without the prior written consent of the
employee, to effect any such withholding upon exercise of a
Non-Qualified Option by retention of Shares issuable upon such
exercise having a fair market value at the date of exercise (as
determined under Section 5) which is equal to the amount to be
withheld; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
authorized to effect such withholding without the prior written
consent of the employee if such withholding would subject such
employee to liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
The Committee may prescribe such rules as it determines with
respect to employees subject to the reporting requirements of
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act to effect such tax withholding
in compliance with the Rules established by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under Section 16 of the
Exchange Act and the positions of the staff of the Commission
thereunder expressed in no-action letters exempting such tax
withholding from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange
Act.
<PAGE>
16. LISTING OF SHARES AND RELATED MATTERS
If at any time the Committee shall determine that the
listing, registration or qualification of the Shares subject to
such Option on any securities exchange or under any applicable
law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory
authority, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in
connection with, the granting of an Option, or the issuance of
Shares thereunder, such Option may not be exercised in whole or
in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent
or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any
conditions not acceptable to the Committee.
17. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, amend
the Plan, provided that no amendment shall be made, without the
approval of the stockholders of the Company, that will (a)
increase the total number of Shares reserved for Options under
the Plan or increase the total number of Shares any individual
optionee shall be entitled to receive upon the exercise of
Options granted under the Plan (other than an increase resulting
from an adjustment provided for in Section 11 hereof), (b) reduce
the exercise price of any Incentive Option granted hereunder, (c)
modify the provisions of the Plan relating to eligibility, or (d)
materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under
the Plan. The Committee shall be authorized to amend the Plan
and the Options granted thereunder to permit the Incentive
Options granted thereunder to qualify as "incentive stock
options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. The rights and
obligations under any Option granted before amendment of the Plan
or any unexercised portion of such Option shall not be adversely
affected by amendment of the Plan or the Option without the
consent of the holder of such Option.
18. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN
The Board of Directors may at any time suspend or
terminate the Plan. The Plan, unless sooner terminated under
Section 22 or by action of the Board of Directors, shall
terminate at the close of business on the Termination Date.
Options may not be granted while the Plan is suspended or after
it is terminated. Rights and obligations under any Option
granted while the Plan is in effect shall not be altered or
impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except upon
the consent of the person to whom the Option was granted. The
power of the Committee to construe and administer any Options
under Section 3 that are granted prior to the termination or
suspension of the Plan shall continue after such termination or
during such suspension.
<PAGE>
19. SAVINGS PROVISION
With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act, transactions under the Plan are intended to comply
with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor
provision) under the Exchange Act. To the extent any provision
of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it
shall be deemed null and void to the extent permitted by law and
deemed advisable by the Committee.
20. GOVERNING LAW
The Plan, the Options granted hereunder and all related
matters shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York from time to
time obtaining.
21. PARTIAL INVALIDITY
The invalidity or illegality of any provision herein
shall not be deemed to affect the validity of any other
provision.
22. EFFECTIVE DATE
The Plan shall become effective at 5:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the Effective Date; provided, however, that if the
Plan is not approved by a vote of the stockholders of the Company
at an annual meeting or any special meeting within twelve (12)
months after the Effective Date, the Plan and any Options granted
thereunder shall terminate.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 5
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES
A Partnership Including Professional Corporations
767 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10153-0119
(212) 310-8000
Fax: (212) 310-8007
August 24, 1994
Ames Department Stores, Inc.
2418 Main Street
Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Ames Department Stores, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the
preparation and filing of the Registration Statement of the
Company on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Registration Statement"). Terms defined in the Registration
Statement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein with
the meanings as so defined.
In so acting, we have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such
corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments,
and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials
and of officers and representatives of the Company, and have made
such inquiries of such officers and representatives, as we have
deemed relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions
hereinafter set forth.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals, the conformity to original documents of documents
submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to
all questions of fact material to this opinion that have not been
independently established, we have relied upon certificates or
comparable documents of officers and representatives of the
Company.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications
stated herein, we are of the opinion that the 1,700,000 shares of
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the
"Common Stock") to be issued and sold by the Company
<PAGE>
Ames Department Stores, Inc.
August 24, 1994
Page 2
pursuant to the Registration Statement, have been duly authorized
and, when issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration
Statement and the Ames Department Stores, Inc. 1994 Management
Stock Option Plan will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit in
connection with the transactions described above. This opinion
may not be used or relied upon by any other person and may not be
disclosed, quoted, filed with a governmental agency or otherwise
referred to without our prior written consent.
We hereby consent to be named in the Prospectus as the
attorneys who have passed upon the legality of the securities
being offered thereby and to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23(a)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
As Independent Public Accountants, we hereby consent to
the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on
Form S-8 of our report dated April 1, 1994 (except with respect
to the matter discussed in Note 6, as to which the date is April
28, 1994) included in the Ames Department Stores, Inc.
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 1994 and to all
references included in this registration statement.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN & CO.
New York, New York
August 24, 1994
