AMES DEPARTMENT STORES INC
8-K, 1997-11-06
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): November 6,1997
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  (November 6,1997)
                                                  -----------------

                     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 November 6,1997, the Company will distribute, to
       certain of its banks and other lenders, principal trade vendors and
       factors, summaries of its financial results for the four and thirty-nine
       weeks ended October 25, 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 four weeks ended October 25, 1997 were $2.0 million
       above the projections contained in the Form 8-K dated August 7, 1997
       (the "Plan").  EBITDA (as defined in Exhibit 20) was $0.9 million better
       than Plan and $2.4 million better than last year.  

          Sales for the thirty-nine weeks ended October 25, 1997 were $16.3
       million below Plan.  EBITDA was $9.2 million better than Plan and $7.2
       million better than last year.

          As of October 25, 1997, merchandise inventories were $14.5
       million above Plan.  Trade payables were $7.0 million above Plan and
       borrowings under the Company's revolving line of credit were $17.3
       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 Four
                         and Thirty-nine Weeks Ended October 25, 1997
<PAGE>


                         INDEX TO EXHIBITS







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

    20        Financial Summary Results for the Four                    6
              and Thirty-nine Weeks Ended October 25, 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:  November 5, 1997        By:  /s/ Joseph R. Ettore               
                                ------------------------------
                                  
                                      Joseph R. Ettore
                                      President, Director, and
                                      Chief Executive Officer


Dated:  November 5, 1997        By:  /s/ John F. Burtelow               
                                ------------------------------
                                      John F. Burtelow
                                      Executive Vice President,
                                      Chief Financial Officer


Dated:  November 5, 1997        By:  /s/ Gregory D. Lambert            
                                ------------------------------   
                                      Gregory D. Lambert
                                      Senior Vice President,
                                      Finance





<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                        AMES DEPARTMENT STORES, INC.                Exhibit 20
                        OCTOBER  RESULTS VS. PLAN                   Page 1 of 2
                            MANAGEMENT FORMAT
                               (Unaudited)
                              (In Millions)
<CAPTION>
                             October, 1997          Fiscal 1997 Year-to-Date
                      --------------------------  -----------------------------
                                           Last                           Last
                       Actual  Plan (a)    Year     Actual  Plan (a)      Year  
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
<S>                   <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
INCOME SUMMARY:
Net Sales              $178.4   $176.4   $174.1   $1,463.7  $1,480.0  $1,454.7

FIFO  Margin     $       51.6     49.5     48.7      409.6     401.8     394.8
      Margin     %       28.9%    28.1%    28.0%      28.0%     27.1%     27.1%

Total Expenses          (46.6)   (45.4)   (46.2)    (406.7)   (408.0)   (399.0)

Other Income              2.3      2.3      2.4       20.1      20.0      20.0
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
EBITDA                    7.3      6.4      4.9       23.0      13.8      15.8

Dep and Amort (net)      (1.1)    (0.7)    (0.4)      (5.9)     (5.8)     (3.7)
Net Interest Expense     (1.4)    (1.8)    (2.0)      (9.4)    (11.3)    (15.3)
Other Income (Expense)      -        -        -       (0.1)        -       0.2
Non-Cash Income Tax
   (Provision) Benefit   (1.6)    (1.3)    (0.7)      (2.6)      1.1       0.9
                      -------- -------- --------  --------- --------- ---------
Net Income (Loss)        $3.2     $2.6     $1.8       $5.0     ($2.2)    ($2.1)
                      ======== ======== ========  ========= ========= =========


                                                    Balance at End of Period
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                                        Last  
                                                   Actual   Plan (a)    Year   
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY:
Cash and Cash Equivalents                            $18.7     $24.2     $20.6
Merchandise Inventories, LIFO                        585.2     570.7     558.7
Other Current Assets                                  61.7      54.8      60.7
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Current Assets                           665.6     649.7     640.0
Net Fixed Assets                                      82.4      81.0      63.6
Other Long-Term Assets                                 6.6       4.1       4.8
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Assets                                  $754.6    $734.8    $708.4
                                                  ========= ========= =========

Trade Accounts Payable                              $239.2    $232.2    $218.4
Short-Term Debt (Revolver)                           137.7     155.0     141.5
Other Current Liabilities                            165.9     154.2     166.6
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Current Liabilities                      542.8     541.4     526.5

Long-Term Debt                                         9.3       9.3      12.6
Other Long-Term Liabilities                           35.4      31.3      32.7

Unfavorable Lease Liability                           15.7      15.1      17.4
Fresh-start Excess Net Assets (Negative Goodwill)     31.7      31.7      37.9

Paid-In-Capital                                       95.1      88.5      81.0
Retained Earnings (Deficit)                           24.6      17.5       0.3
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Stockholders' Equity                     119.7     106.0      81.3
                                                  --------- --------- ---------
      Total Liabilities & Equity                    $754.6    $734.8    $708.4
                                                  ========= ========= =========

<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
                         OCTOBER  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)                                      5.0       (2.2)
   Non-Cash Income Tax Provision (Benefit)                2.6       (1.1)
   Other                                                  5.7        5.0
                                                     ---------  ---------
Cash Provided by (Used in) Operations                    13.3        1.7

Changes in Working Capital:
   FIFO Inventory (Increase) Decrease                  (194.2)    (179.6)
   Trade Payables Increase (Decrease)                    93.4       86.4
   All Other                                            (20.0)     (37.9)
                                                     ---------  ---------
Net Changes in Working Capital                         (120.8)    (131.1)

Capital Expenditures                                    (28.0)     (29.0)

Other:
   Short-Term Borrowings (Payments)- Revolver           137.7      155.0
   Capital Lease Payments                                (2.2)      (2.0)
   Long-Term Debt Payments                              (11.2)     (11.2)
   Store Closing and Other                              (16.2)      (5.3)
                                                     ---------  ---------
Total Other                                             108.1      136.5
                                                     ---------  ---------

Increase (Decrease) in Cash & Cash Equivalents          (27.4)     (21.9)
                                                     ---------  ---------

Ending Cash & Cash Equivalents                          $18.7      $24.2
                                                     =========  =========
<FN>

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


                                        Page 7 of 7
</TABLE>



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