AMES DEPARTMENT STORES INC
8-K, 1995-04-14
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): April 14, 1995
     -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      (April 14, 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 April 14, 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 nine weeks ended April 1, 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 five weeks ended April 1, 1995 were $2.3
        million above the projections contained in the Form 8-K dated
        February 16, 1995 (the "Plan") primarily due to above plan sales
        performances in toys, home entertainment, seasonal, womens
        apparel and jewelry.  EBITDA (as defined in Exhibit 20) for the
        five weeks was equal to Plan and $.4 million below last year.  An
        unfavorable gross margin rate was offset by lower-than-planned
        expenses and higher-than-planned other income and property gains. 
        The gross margin rate was unfavorably impacted by higher-than-
        planned markdowns.  Expenses were below Plan principally because
        of lower home office expenses.

            The net loss for the five weeks was $4.1 million better than
        the net loss for the comparable period in the prior year
        primarily because of (i) a non-cash charge of $2.0 million in the
        prior year resulting from the accrual for the value of
        unexercised stock appreciation rights ("SARs") and (ii) a non-
        cash income tax benefit of $1.6 million recorded in the current
        year.  The prior year's non-cash charge for SARs was reversed
        later in fiscal 1994.  In the prior year, interim non-cash income
        tax accruals (benefits or expenses) were not recorded until
        subsequent periods.

            Sales for the nine weeks ended April 1, 1995 were $2.5
        million better than the Plan primarily due to higher-than-planned
        sales in womens and mens apparel.  The year-to-date EBITDA was
        lower than the prior year by $.7 million.  It was lower than Plan
        by $.6 million due primarily to a lower-than-planned gross margin
        rate, partially offset by lower expenses and higher other income
        and property gains.  The gross margin rate was below Plan because
        of higher-than-planned markdowns.  Store, field and home office
        expenses were below Plan.

            Cash and cash equivalents as of April 1, 1995, were $66.2
        million less than cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
        comparable period in the prior year.  A year ago, the balance in
        cash and cash equivalents included $54.8 million in restricted
        cash required to cash collateralize the Company's outstanding
        letters of credit under the Company's previous revolving line of
        credit.  This restricted cash was used to retire long-term debt
        in conjunction with the Company's June 1994 working capital
        refinancing. 

            As of April 1, 1995, merchandise inventories were $5.7
        million above Plan.  Trade payables were $42.1 million above Plan
        due primarily to improved payment terms.  Outstanding borrowings
        under the Company's revolving line of credit were $39.9 million
        below Plan due primarily to the above factors.


<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 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
        certified 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 Nine Weeks Ended April 1, 1995.



<PAGE>



                             INDEX TO EXHIBITS







                                                         
      Exhibit No.                Exhibit                        Page No.
      -----------                -------                        --------


       20              Unaudited Financial Summary Results          6
                       for the Four and Nine Weeks Ended 
                       April 1, 1995.


































<PAGE>



                                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       





Dated:  April 13, 1995                   By: /s/ Joseph R. Ettore       
                                         ---------------------------   
                                          Joseph R. Ettore
                                          President, Director, and
                                          Chief Executive Officer





Dated:  April 13, 1995                   By: /s/ William C. Najdecki  
                                         ---------------------------
                                          William C. Najdecki
                                          Senior Vice President,
                                          Chief Accounting Officer














<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                             AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.            Exhibit 20
                              MARCH RESULTS VS. PLAN                Page 1 of 2
                                   MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                                      (Unaudited)
                                     (In Millions)
<CAPTION>
                                  March, 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                    $175.7  $173.4   $178.9   $301.0   $298.5   $300.4

FIFO  Margin     $             44.3    45.8     44.9     73.7     77.4     75.2
      Margin     %             25.2%   26.4%    25.1%    24.5%    25.9%    25.0%

Total Expenses                (51.0)  (51.4)   (51.9)   (91.1)   (93.0)   (93.8)

Other Income/Property Gains     3.5     2.4      4.2      5.3      4.1      7.2
                             ---------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                         (3.2)   (3.2)    (2.8)   (12.1)   (11.5)   (11.4)

Depreciation and Amort (net)   (0.2)   (0.1)     0.2     (0.3)    (0.3)     0.4
Net Interest Expense           (1.8)   (2.3)    (2.1)    (3.2)    (3.8)    (3.9)
Other Expenses, Incl LIFO         -       -     (3.0)    (0.1)       -     (3.3)
Non-Cash Inc. Tax Ben.          1.6     1.7        -      4.7      4.7        -

                             ---------------------------------------------------
Net Income (Loss)              (3.6)   (3.9)    (7.7)  ($11.0)  ($10.9)  ($18.2)
                             ===================================================


                                                      Balance at end of Period
                                                                         Last  
                                                      Actual  Plan (a)   Yr (b)
                                                     ---------------------------
BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY:
Cash and Cash Equivalents                               $26.6    $25.4    $92.8
Merchandise Inventories, LIFO                           495.2    489.5    494.0
Other Current Assets                                     41.4     40.3     35.7
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Current Assets                              563.2    555.2    622.5
Net Fixed Assets                                         42.6     42.7     22.1
Long-Term Assets                                          5.3      5.5      1.7
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Assets                                     $611.1   $603.4   $646.3
                                                     ===========================

Trade Accounts Payable                                 $146.9   $104.8   $119.7
Short-Term Debt (Revolver)                               80.1    120.0     73.6
Other Current Liabilities                               166.9    155.4    236.4
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Current Liabilities                         393.9    380.2    429.7

Long-Term Debt                                           30.1     38.1     43.6
Other Long-Term Liabilities                              43.0     42.1     52.3

Unfavorable Lease Liability                              22.6     22.6     24.7
Fresh-start Excess Net Assets (Negative Goodwill)        47.5     47.6     53.7

Paid-In-Capital                                          81.0     80.3     73.5
Retained Earnings (Deficit)                              (7.0)    (7.5)   (31.2)
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Stockholders' Equity                         74.0     72.8     42.3
                                                     ---------------------------
      Total Liabilities & Equity                       $611.1   $603.4   $646.3
                                                     ===========================

<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
                        MARCH RESULTS VS. PLAN                  Page 2 of 2
                            MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In Millions)

<CAPTION>

                                           March, 1995        YTD 1995
                                          Actual Plan (a)   Actual Plan (a)
<S>                                     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
CASH FLOW SUMMARY:
Beginning Cash & Cash Equivalents          $22.0    $22.7    $30.4    $15.2

Cash Generated from (Used in) Operations:
   Net Income (Loss)                        (3.6)    (3.9)   (11.0)   (10.9)
   Non-Cash Income Tax Exp (Ben)            (1.6)    (1.7)    (4.7)    (4.7)
   Other                                    (0.1)     0.5      0.2      0.9
                                        ------------------------------------
Cash from Operations                        (5.3)    (5.1)   (15.5)   (14.7)

Changes in Working Capital:
   FIFO Inventory (increase) decrease      (33.8)   (10.7)   (65.1)   (58.4)
   Trade Payables increase (decrease)        0.8    (13.5)    16.2    (19.6)
   All Other                                (3.0)    (9.6)    (6.2)    (3.2)
                                        ------------------------------------
Net Changes in Working Capital             (36.0)   (33.8)   (55.1)   (81.2)

Capital Expenditures                        (2.0)    (1.7)    (2.7)    (2.3)

Other:
   Short-Term Borrow.(Pymnts)- Revolver     48.6     45.0     80.1    120.0
   Capital Lease Payments                   (0.3)    (0.3)    (0.7)    (1.9)
   Long-Term Debt Payments                  (0.4)    (1.4)    (9.9)    (9.7)
                                        ------------------------------------
Total Other                                 47.9     43.3     69.5    108.4
                                        ------------------------------------

Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equiv     4.6      2.7     (3.8)    10.2
                                        ------------------------------------

Ending Cash & Cash Equivalents             $26.6    $25.4    $26.6    $25.4
                                        ====================================
<FN>

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


                                        Page 7 of 7
</TABLE>



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