AMES DEPARTMENT STORES INC
8-K, 1997-10-09
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): October 9, 1997 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       (October 9, 1997)
                                                      -----------------

                    Ames Department Stores, Inc.             
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In 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          06067-2598
 -----------------------------------------          -----------
  (Address Of Principal Executive Offices)          (Zip Code)

                           (860) 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>

ITEM 5: OTHER EVENTS
        ------------

            Beginning on October 9, 1997, the Company will distribute, to
        certain of its banks and other lenders, principal trade vendors and
        factors, summaries of its financial results for the five and thirty-five
        weeks ended September 27, 1997.  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 September 27, 1997 were $1.6
        million above the projections contained in the Form 8-K dated
        August 7, 1997 (the "Plan").  EBITDA (as defined in Exhibit 20) was
        $0.8 million better than Plan and $0.4 million better than last year.  

            Sales for the thirty-five weeks ended September 27, 1997 were
        $18.3 million below Plan.  EBITDA was $8.3 million better than Plan
        and $4.7 million better than last year.

            As of September 27, 1997, merchandise inventories were $5.9
        million above Plan.  Trade payables were $22.7 million above Plan
        and borrowings under the Company's revolving line of credit were
        $30.8 million below Plan.

            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 25,
        1997, the Company's Form 8-K dated August 7, 1997 and the
        Company's Form 10-Qs for the fiscal quarters ended April 26, 1997
        and July 26, 1997.  The monthly results are being reported publicly
        because they are being distributed to a large number of the
        Company's vendors for purposes of their credit analyses.

<PAGE>

            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              Financial Summary Results for the Five
                                    and Thirty-five Weeks Ended 
                                    September 27, 1997
<PAGE>


                        INDEX TO EXHIBITS







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


       20        Financial Summary Results for the Five      6
                 and Thirty-five Weeks Ended 
                 September 27, 1997.




<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: October 8, 1997          By:  /s/ Joseph R. Ettore               
                                --------------------------------------------
                                Joseph R. Ettore
                                President, Director, and
                                Chief Executive Officer


Dated: October 8, 1997          By:  /s/ John F. Burtelow               
                                --------------------------------------------
                                John F. Burtelow
                                Executive Vice President,
                                Chief Financial Officer


Dated: October 8, 1997          By:  /s/ Gregory D. Lambert            
                                --------------------------------------------
                                Gregory D. Lambert
                                Senior Vice President,
                                Finance





<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                      AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.               Exhibit 20
                      SEPTEMBER  RESULTS VS. PLAN                 Page 1 of 2
                            MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In Millions)
<CAPTION>
                            September, 1997          Fiscal 1997 Year-to-Date
                      --------------------------  -----------------------------
                                           Last                           Last
                       Actual  Plan (a)     Yr      Actual  Plan (a)      Yr  
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
<S>                   <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
INCOME SUMMARY:
Net Sales              $193.0   $191.4   $189.3   $1,285.3  $1,303.6  $1,280.6

FIFO  Margin     $       52.9     52.0     51.1      358.0     352.3     346.1
      Margin     %       27.4%    27.2%    27.0%      27.9%     27.0%     27.0%

Total Expenses          (51.9)   (51.9)   (50.6)    (360.1)   (362.6)   (352.8)

Other Income              2.8      2.9      2.9       17.8      17.7      17.7
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
EBITDA                    3.8      3.0      3.4       15.7       7.4      11.0

Dep and Amort (net)      (0.8)    (0.8)    (0.5)      (4.9)     (5.1)     (3.3)
Net Interest Expense     (1.3)    (1.9)    (2.1)      (8.0)     (9.6)    (13.3)
Other Income (Expense)      -        -     (0.1)      (0.1)        -       0.2
Non-Cash Income Tax
  (Provision) Benefit    (0.6)    (0.1)    (0.2)      (0.9)      2.5       1.6
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
Net Income (Loss)        $1.1     $0.2     $0.5       $1.8     ($4.8)    ($3.8)
                      ======== ======== ========  ========= ========= =========


                                                     Balance at End of Period
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                                        Last  
                                                   Actual   Plan (a)     Yr   
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY:
Cash and Cash Equivalents                            $18.0     $21.9     $20.5
Merchandise Inventories, LIFO                        540.9     535.0     522.9
Other Current Assets                                  50.3      47.6      50.5
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Current Assets                           609.2     604.5     593.9
Net Fixed Assets                                      79.3      78.8      63.1
Other Long-Term Assets                                 8.0       4.1       4.9
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Assets                                  $696.5    $687.4    $661.9
                                                  ========= ========= =========

Trade Accounts Payable                              $204.2    $181.5    $171.7
Short-Term Debt (Revolver)                           124.2     155.0     144.1
Other Current Liabilities                            160.1     159.2     164.9
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Current Liabilities                      488.5     495.7     480.7

Long-Term Debt                                         9.5       9.3      12.7
Other Long-Term Liabilities                           35.6      31.5      33.1

Unfavorable Lease Liability                           15.8      15.3      17.6
Fresh-start Excess Net Assets (Negative Goodwill)     32.2      32.2      38.3

Paid-In-Capital                                       93.5      88.5      81.0
Retained Earnings (Deficit)                           21.4      14.9      (1.5)
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Stockholders' Equity                     114.9     103.4      79.5
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Liabilities & Equity                    $696.5    $687.4    $661.9
                                                  ========= ========= =========

<FN>
  (a) As reported on Form 8-K dated August 7, 1997.

NOTE: EBITDA is earnings (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes,
      LIFO expense, extraordinary or non-recurring items (including
      certain store closing expenses), depreciation, amortization and other
      non-cash charges and gains or losses on sale of properties.


                               Page 6 of 7
</TABLE>







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

<CAPTION>

                                                   Fiscal 1997 Year-to-Date
                                                   ------------------------
                                                      Actual    Plan (a)
                                                     ---------  ---------
<S>                                                  <C>        <C>
CASH FLOW SUMMARY:
Beginning Cash & Cash Equivalents                       $46.1      $46.1

Cash Flow from Operations:
   Net Income (Loss)                                      1.8       (4.8)
   Non-Cash Income Tax Provision (Benefit)                0.9       (2.5)
   Other                                                  4.7        4.4
                                                     ---------  ---------
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operations                     7.4       (2.9)

Changes in Working Capital:
   FIFO Inventory (Increase) Decrease                  (149.8)    (144.0)
   Trade Payables Increase (Decrease)                    58.5       35.8
   All Other                                            (14.6)     (24.9)
                                                     ---------  ---------
Net Changes in Working Capital                         (105.9)    (133.1)

Capital Expenditures                                    (23.5)     (25.5)

Other:
   Short-Term Borrowings (Payments)- Revolver           124.2      155.0
   Capital Lease Payments                                (2.0)      (1.8)
   Long-Term Debt Payments                              (11.0)     (11.2)
   Store Closing and Other                              (17.3)      (4.7)
                                                     ---------  ---------
Total Other                                              93.9      137.3
                                                     ---------  ---------

Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equivalents          (28.1)     (24.2)
                                                     ---------  ---------

Ending Cash & Cash Equivalents                          $18.0      $21.9
                                                     =========  =========
<FN>

(a) As reported on Form 8-K dated August 7, 1997


                                        Page 7 of 7
</TABLE>



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