AMES DEPARTMENT STORES INC
8-K, 1995-08-16
VARIETY STORES
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                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C.  20549


                                 FORM 8-K
                              CURRENT REPORT.


                  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                      Securities Exchange Act of 1934


     Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 16, 1995
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      (August 16, 1995)

                       Ames Department Stores, Inc.                
          ------------------------------------------------------
          (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)

                                  Delaware                       
              ----------------------------------------------
              (State Or Other Jurisdiction Of Incorporation)

                1-5380                                  04-2269444            
    ------------------------              ---------------------------------
    (Commission File Number)              (IRS Employer Identification No.)

    2418 Main Street; Rocky Hill, Connecticut          06067-0801
    -----------------------------------------          ----------
    (Address Of Principal Executive Offices)           (Zip Code)

                               (203) 257-2000                          
           ----------------------------------------------------
           (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

                               Not Applicable                              
       -------------------------------------------------------------
       (Former Name Or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)




                          Exhibit Index on Page 4

                     Page 1 of 7 (Including Exhibits)<PAGE>

Item 5:   OTHER EVENTS


               Beginning on August 16, 1995, the Company will distribute,
          to certain of its banks and other lenders, principal trade vendors
          and factors, summaries of its unaudited financial results for the
          four and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 1995.  These monthly
          and year-to-date results (collectively, the "monthly results") are
          attached hereto as Exhibit 20 and are incorporated by reference
          herein.  

               Sales for the four weeks ended July 29, 1995 were $1.1
          million above the projections contained in the Form 8-K dated
          February 16, 1995 (the "Plan").  EBITDA (as defined in Exhibit 20)
          for the four weeks was $1.9 million better than Plan and $0.8
          million better than last year.  The EBITDA improvement over Plan
          was due to higher-than-planned gross margin and lower-than-
          planned expenses.  Store non-payroll and advertising expenses
          were below Plan in fiscal July.  The gross margin rate was
          favorably impacted by lower-than-planned markdowns.

               Sales for the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 1995 were
          $4.1 million below Plan.  The year-to-date EBITDA was $5.5
          million better than Plan and $8.7 million better than last year.  The
          EBITDA results for the twenty-six weeks reflected the favorable
          impact of lower-than-planned expenses and higher-than-planned
          other income and property gains (a portion of which is due to the
          timing of the sale of a property), partially offset by an unfavorable
          variance in gross margin dollars.  Gross margin was negatively
          impacted by the below Plan sales performance and a lower-than-
          planned gross margin rate.  The gross margin rate was below
          Plan because of higher-than-planned markdowns.

               As of July 29, 1995, merchandise inventories were $6.1
          million above Plan.  Trade payables were $3.5 million above Plan
          primarily due to better-than-planned trade payment terms. 
          Outstanding borrowings under the Company's revolving line of
          credit were $10.9 million below Plan primarily due to lower-than-
          planned capital expenditures and higher-than-planned trade
          payables.

<PAGE>

               The Company is distributing the monthly results to its banks
          and other lenders, principal trade vendors and factors to facilitate
          their credit analyses.  The summary results should not be relied
          upon for any other purpose and should be read in conjunction with
          the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28,
          1995, the Company's Form 10-Q for the first fiscal quarter ended
          April 29, 1995 and the Company's Form 8-K dated February 16,
          1995.  The monthly results are being reported publicly solely
          because they are being distributed to a large number of the
          Company's vendors for purposes of their credit analyses.

               Although the Company has continued to make its monthly
          results public, the Company does not believe it is obligated to
          provide such information indefinitely, other than as required by
          applicable regulations, and the Company may cease making such
          disclosures and updates at any time.  The monthly results were
          not examined, reviewed or compiled by the Company's
          independent public accountants.  Moreover, the Company does
          not believe that it is obligated to update the monthly results to
          reflect subsequent events or developments.  The reported monthly
          results are subject to future adjustments, if any, that could
          materially affect such results.  However, in the opinion of the
          Company, the monthly results contain all adjustments (consisting
          of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair statement of
          the results for the periods presented.  



Item 7:   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
          INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS


          Exhibit:  20     Unaudited Financial Summary Results for the
                           Four and Twenty-Six Weeks Ended July 29, 1995



<PAGE>
<TABLE>

                          INDEX TO EXHIBITS







                                                         
     <C>                      <C>                         <C>
     Exhibit No.              Exhibit                     Page No.
     -----------              -------                     --------


       20          Unaudited Financial Summary Results        6
                   for the Four and Twenty-Six Weeks
                   Ended July 29, 1995.






       </TABLE>











<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                              SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by  
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.  



                                    AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.
                                    ----------------------------
                                         Registrant       



<C>                                <C>
Dated:  August 15, 1995             By:  /s/ Joseph R. Ettore        
                                    -----------------------------------
                                      Joseph R. Ettore
                                      President, Director, and
                                      Chief Executive Officer


Dated:  August 15, 1995             By:  /s/ John F. Burtelow        
                                    ------------------------------------
                                      John F. Burtelow
                                      Executive Vice President,
                                      Chief Financial Officer


Dated:  August 15, 1995             By:  /s/ William C. Najdecki     
                                    ------------------------------------
                                      William C. Najdecki
                                      Senior Vice President,
                                      Finance

</TABLE>



<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                             AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.            Exhibit 20
                                JULY RESULTS VS. PLAN               Page 1 of 2
                                   MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                                      (Unaudited)
                                     (In Millions)
<CAPTION>
                                 July, 1995              Year-to-Date 1995
                                                Last                       Last
                              ActualPlan (a)  Yr (b)   Actual Plan (a)   Yr (b)
<S>                          <C>    <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
INCOME SUMMARY:
Net Sales                    $149.0  $147.9   $143.5   $945.9   $950.0   $927.1

FIFO  Margin     $             37.6    36.4     36.2    248.9    255.3    250.1
      Margin     %             25.2%   24.6%    25.2%    26.3%    26.9%    27.0%

Total Expenses                (41.8)  (42.7)   (42.9)  (267.2)  (274.1)  (278.2)

Other Income/Property Gains     2.0     2.2      3.7     19.7     14.7     20.8
                             ---------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                         (2.2)   (4.1)    (3.0)     1.4     (4.1)    (7.3)

Depreciation and Amort (net)   (0.2)   (0.2)     0.1     (1.2)    (1.1)     1.0
Net Interest Expense           (2.0)   (2.3)    (2.0)   (11.5)   (13.3)   (12.8)
Other Expenses, Incl LIFO         -       -      0.2     (0.1)       -     (3.3)
Non-Recur Gain - Wertheim Set     -       -        -        -        -     12.0
Extra. Item, Net of Tax           -       -        -        -        -     (1.5)
Non-Cash Inc. Tax (Prov.) Ben   1.3     2.0      1.5      3.4      5.6      3.4

                             ---------------------------------------------------
Net Income (Loss)             ($3.1)  ($4.6)   ($3.2)   ($8.0)  ($12.9)   ($8.5)
                             ===================================================


                                                      Balance at end of Period
                                                                         Last  
                                                      Actual  Plan (a)   Yr (b)
                                                     ---------------------------
BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY:
Cash and Cash Equivalents                               $19.8    $24.0    $31.8
Merchandise Inventories, LIFO                           498.3    492.2    484.3
Other Current Assets                                     36.6     40.5     39.2
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Current Assets                              554.7    556.7    555.3
Net Fixed Assets                                         47.8     53.0     30.1
Long-Term Assets                                          4.8      5.2      7.3
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Assets                                     $607.3   $614.9   $592.7
                                                     ===========================

Trade Accounts Payable                                 $126.2   $122.7    $99.6
Short-Term Debt (Revolver)                              114.1    125.0    106.4
Other Current Liabilities                               153.7    151.9    166.5
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Current Liabilities                         394.0    399.6    372.5

Long-Term Debt                                           25.9     36.2     41.7
Other Long-Term Liabilities                              42.8     40.7     50.9

Unfavorable Lease Liability                              22.0     22.0     24.0
Fresh-start Excess Net Assets (Negative Goodwill)        45.6     45.6     51.7

Paid-In-Capital                                          81.0     80.3     73.5
Retained Earnings (Deficit)                              (4.0)    (9.5)   (21.6)
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Stockholders' Equity                         77.0     70.8     51.9
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Liabilities & Equity                       $607.3   $614.9   $592.7
                                                     ===========================

<FN>
  (a) As reported on Form 8-K dated February 16, 1995.
  (b) Certain reclassifications have been made to the fiscal 1994 account
      balances to conform to the current year presentation.

NOTE: EBITDA is earnings (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes,
      LIFO expense, extraordinary or non-recurring items, depreciation and
      amortization and other non-cash charges.

                                    Page 6 of 7
</TABLE>







<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                      AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.               Exhibit 20
                         JULY RESULTS VS. PLAN                  Page 2 of 2
                            MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In Millions)

<CAPTION>

                                           July, 1995          YTD 1995
                                          Actual Plan (a)   Actual Plan (a)
<S>                                     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
CASH FLOW SUMMARY:
Beginning Cash & Cash Equivalents          $23.2    $29.8    $30.4    $15.2

Cash Flow from Operations:
   Net Income (Loss)                        (3.1)    (4.6)    (8.0)   (12.9)
   Non-Cash Income Tax Exp (Ben)            (1.3)    (2.0)    (3.4)    (5.6)
   Other                                     0.4      0.5      2.9      2.9
                                        ------------------------------------
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operations       (4.0)    (6.1)    (8.5)   (15.6)

Changes in Working Capital:
   FIFO Inventory (increase) decrease       (2.5)   (19.9)   (68.1)   (61.2)
   Trade Payables increase (decrease)        8.0     45.2     (4.5)    (1.7)
   All Other                                (5.3)    (5.6)   (16.3)    (6.8)
                                        ------------------------------------
Net Changes in Working Capital               0.2     19.7    (88.9)   (69.7)

Capital Expenditures                        (1.4)    (3.6)   (10.3)   (15.4)

Other:
   ST Borrowings (Payments) - Revolver       2.1    (15.0)   114.1    125.0
   Capital Lease Payments                   (0.3)    (0.3)    (2.1)    (3.3)
   Long-Term Debt Payments                     -     (0.2)   (14.1)   (11.2)
   Financing Fee Payments                      -     (0.3)    (0.8)    (1.0)
                                        ------------------------------------
Total Other                                  1.8    (15.8)    97.1    109.5
                                        ------------------------------------

Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equiv    (3.4)    (5.8)   (10.6)     8.8
                                        ------------------------------------

Ending Cash & Cash Equivalents             $19.8    $24.0    $19.8    $24.0
                                        ====================================
<FN>

(a)As reported on Form 8-K dated February 16, 1995


                                        Page 7 of 7
</TABLE>



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