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FORM 8-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report: July 15, 1999
Date of earliest event reported: July 14, 1999
THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware I-79 43-1104396
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
611 Olive Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63101
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(314) 342-6300
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Item 5. Other Events.
On July 14, 1999, Standard & Poor's announced that it had
upgraded the ratings of The May Department Stores Company's
("May") long-term corporate credit, senior unsecured debt and
bank loan ratings to single-A-plus from single-A. At the same
time, Standard & Poor's affirmed its single-A-1 ratings for May's
short-term corporate credit and commercial paper. A security
rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities,
inasmuch as it does not comment as to market price or suitability
for a particular investor. Credit ratings may be subject to
revision, suspension, or withdrawal at any time by the assigning
rating organization; and each rating should be evaluated
independently of any other rating.
Based on information from Standard & Poor's Corporation:
An obligation rated "A" is somewhat more susceptible to the
adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic
conditions than obligations in higher rated categories.
However, the obligor's capacity to meet its financial
commitment on the obligation is still strong.
- The rating may be modified by the addition of a plus or
minus sign to show relative standing within the
category.
A short-term obligation rated "A-1" is rated in the highest
category by Standard & Poor's. The obligor's capacity to
meet its financial commitment on the obligation is strong.
Within this category, certain obligations are designated
with a plus sign (+). This indicates that the obligor's
capacity to meet its financial commitment on these
obligations is extremely strong.
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SIGNATURE
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 hereunto duly authorized.
THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY
Dated: July 15, 1999 By: /s/ Richard A. Brickson
Richard A. Brickson
Secretary and Senior Counsel
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