ANNTAYLOR INC
10-Q, 1999-12-14
WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES
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                           UNITED STATES
                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                      WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
|X|   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


       For the quarterly period ended October 30, 1999

                                OR

|_|   TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13 OR 15(d) OF THE
      SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                  Commission file number 1-11980


                       ANNTAYLOR, INC.
                       ---------------
      (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



       Delaware                                51-0297083
       --------                                ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of  (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
incorporation or organization)



142 West 57th Street, New York, NY                10019
- ----------------------------------                -----
(Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)



                          (212) 541-3300
                          --------------
       (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


      Indicate  by check mark  whether  registrant  (1) has filed all
reports  required  to  be  filed  by  Section  13  or  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 during the  preceding 12 months (or
for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was  required to file
such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such filing  requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes |X|   No      .

      Indicate  the  number  of  shares  outstanding  of  each of the
issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

                                            Outstanding as of
           Class                            November 26, 1999
           -----                            -----------------
  Common Stock, $1.00 par value                     1


     The  registrant  meets  the  conditions  set forth in  General  Instruction
H(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore  filing this form with the reduced
disclosure format.

================================================================================


                          INDEX TO FORM 10-Q







                                                                    Page No.
                                                                    --------
   PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

      Item 1.Financial Statements

             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
               for the Quarters and Nine Months Ended October 30,
               1999
               and October 31, 1998.....................................3
             Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at
               October 30, 1999 and January 30, 1999....................4
             Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
               for the Nine Months Ended October 30, 1999 and
               October 31, 1998.........................................5
             Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.......6

      Item 2.Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results
               of Operations................................ ...........8


   PART II.OTHER INFORMATION

      Item 1.Legal Proceedings.........................................13

      Item 6.Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K..........................14


================================================================================
<PAGE> 3

                  PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION



Item 1.    Financial Statements





                          ANNTAYLOR, INC.
          CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    For the Quarters and Nine Months Ended October 30, 1999 and
                         October 31, 1998
                            (unaudited)

                                        Quarters Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                        --------------       -----------------
                                       Oct. 30,  Oct. 31,    Oct. 30,   Oct. 31,
                                        1999     1998         1999      1998
                                        ----     ----         ----      ----

                                              (in thousands)

Net sales..........................   $272,289   $227,535   $787,436   $649,098
Cost of sales .....................    122,414    103,117    380,319    318,412
                                       -------    -------    -------    -------
Gross profit ......................    149,875    124,418    407,117    330,686
Selling, general and
   administrative expenses ....        108,122     91,571    302,890    256,989
Amortization of goodwill ..........      2,760      2,760      8,280      8,280
                                       -------    -------    -------    -------
Operating income ..................     38,993     30,087     95,947     65,417
Interest expense ..................        866      4,718      6,450     13,692
Other expense, net ................        541         73      1,351        310
                                       -------    -------    -------    -------
Income before income taxes and
   extraordinary loss                   37,586     25,296     88,146     51,415
Income tax provision ..............     16,138     11,222     38,570     23,878
                                       -------    -------    -------    -------
Income before extraordinary loss ..     21,448     14,074     49,576     27,537
Extraordinary loss (net of
    income tax benefit
    of $641,000) ..................         --         --        962         --
                                       -------    -------    -------    -------
Net income.........................   $ 21,448   $ 14,074   $ 48,614   $ 27,537
                                      ========   ========   ========   ========





     See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
                              statements.


================================================================================
<PAGE> 4

                         ANNTAYLOR, INC.
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
               October 30, 1999 and January 30, 1999


                                                       October 30, January 30,
                                                           1999       1999
                                                           ----       ----
                                                       (unaudited)
                                                            (in thousands)
                              ASSETS
Current assets
    Cash and cash equivalents ........................   $ 50,467   $ 67,031
    Accounts receivable, net .........................     77,244     71,049
    Merchandise inventories ..........................    165,334    136,748
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets ........     29,673     23,637
                                                         --------   --------
      Total current assets ...........................    322,718    298,465
Property and equipment, net ..........................    171,440    151,785
Goodwill, net ........................................    311,419    319,699
Deferred financing costs, net ........................      5,661      2,627
Other assets .........................................      3,568      2,841
                                                         --------   --------
      Total assets ...................................   $814,806   $775,417
                                                         ========   ========

                  LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
Current liabilities
    Accounts payable .................................   $ 65,672   $ 65,419
    Accrued salaries and bonus .......................     19,537     17,132
    Accrued tenancy ..................................      8,235      8,465
    Accrued expenses .................................     31,626     37,535
    Current portion of long-term debt ................      1,282      1,206
                                                         --------   --------
      Total current liabilities ......................    126,352    129,757
Long-term debt .......................................    114,072    204,576
Other liabilities ....................................     13,341     12,386
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder's equity
    Common stock, $1.00 par value; 1 share authorized;
     1 share issued and outstanding ..................          1          1
    Additional paid-in capital .......................    438,491    354,762
    Retained earnings ................................    122,549     73,935
                                                         --------   --------
         Total stockholder's equity ..................    561,041    428,698
                                                         --------   --------
         Total liabilities and stockholder's equity ..   $814,806   $775,417
                                                         ========   ========


    See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
                            statements.


================================================================================
<PAGE> 5

                       ANNTAYLOR, INC.
       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
  For the Nine Months Ended October 30, 1999 and October 31,
                             1998
                         (unaudited)
                                                          Nine Months Ended
                                                          -----------------
                                                        October 30,  October 31,
                                                            1999        1998
                                                            ----        ----

                                                             (in thousands)
Operating activities:
  Net income..........................................   $ 48,614    $ 27,537
  Adjustments to reconcile net income
    to net cash provided
    by operating activities:
    Extraordinary loss ...............................      1,603        --
    Provision for loss on accounts receivable ........        672       1,086
    Depreciation and amortization ....................     22,882      21,798
    Amortization of goodwill .........................      8,280       8,280
    Non-cash interest ................................      1,982         955
    Amortization of deferred compensation ............      1,151         301
    Deferred income taxes ............................     (2,000)       (218)
    Loss on disposal of property and equipment........      1,217         336
      (Increase) decrease in:
        Receivables ..................................     (6,867)    (10,642)
        Merchandise inventories ......................    (28,586)    (51,292)
        Prepaid expenses and other
           current assets ............................     (5,036)     (2,947)
      Increase (decrease) in:
        Accounts payable .............................        253      19,707
        Accrued expenses .............................     (3,734)     13,133
        Other non-current assets and liabilities, net       1,229         149
                                                          -------     -------
  Net cash provided by operating activities ..........     41,660      28,183
                                                          -------     -------
Investing activities:
  Purchases of property and equipment ................    (43,755)    (30,502)
                                                          -------     -------
  Net cash used by investing activities ..............    (43,755)    (30,502)
                                                          -------     -------
Financing activities:
  Payments on mortgage ...............................       (897)       (832)
  Parent company activity ............................     91,953         659
  Redemption of 8-3/4% Notes .........................   (101,375)        ---
  Payment of deferred financing costs ................     (4,150)     (2,653)
                                                          -------     -------
  Net cash used by financing activities ..............    (14,469)     (2,826)
                                                          -------     -------
Net decrease in cash .................................    (16,564)     (5,145)
Cash, beginning of period ............................     67,031      31,369
                                                          -------     -------
Cash, end of period...................................   % 50,467    $ 26,224
                                                          =======     =======

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
  Cash paid during the period for interest............   %  6,804    $ 11,675
                                                          =======     =======
  Cash paid during the period for income taxes........   % 34,334    $ 23,080
                                                          =======     =======


  See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
                         statements.

================================================================================
<PAGE> 6

                        ANNTAYLOR, INC.
       NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            (unaudited)






1.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     The condensed  consolidated  financial  statements of AnnTaylor,  Inc. (the
"Company")  are  unaudited  but,  in the  opinion  of  management,  contain  all
adjustments (which are of a normal recurring nature) necessary to present fairly
the financial  position,  results of  operations  and cash flows for the periods
presented.  All significant  intercompany  accounts and  transactions  have been
eliminated.

     The results of operations  for the 1999 interim period shown in this report
are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the fiscal year.

     The January 30, 1999 condensed consolidated balance sheet amounts have been
derived from the previously audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company.

     Detailed  footnote  information  is not  included  for the  quarters  ended
October 30,  1999 and October 31,  1998.  The  financial  information  set forth
herein  should  be  read  in  conjunction   with  the  Notes  to  the  Company's
Consolidated  Financial  Statements  contained in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 1999.


2.  LONG-TERM DEBT



     The following summarizes long-term debt outstanding at October 30, 1999:

                                           (in thousands)
       Note Payable to ATSC,
        net of discount of $87,978,000......  $111,094
       Mortgage.............................     4,260
                                               -------
          Total debt ......................    115,354
       Less current portion.................     1,282
                                               -------
          Total long-term debt..............  $114,072
                                              ========

================================================================================
<PAGE> 7
                          ANNTAYLOR, INC.
       NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            (unaudited)


2.  LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)



     To facilitate the securities repurchase program described in Note 3 and the
Company's capital expenditure  program, on September 7, 1999 the Company entered
into an amendment to its senior secured  revolving  credit facility (the "Credit
Facility")  with its bank lending group that  eliminated  the Credit  Facility's
limitation  on annual  capital  expenditures,  replacing  it with a fixed charge
coverage ratio  covenant,  and  specifically  permits the securities  repurchase
program.  Additionally,  the  Company  elected to reduce the  commitment  of the
lenders  under  the  Credit  Facility  by  $25,000,000  to   $125,000,000   from
$150,000,000 effective  September 3, 1999, and the term of the Credit Facility
was extended to June 30, 2001.



3.    SECURITIES REPURCHASE PROGRAM


     During the third quarter of Fiscal 1999, the Board of Directors  authorized
the Company's  participation in the securities  repurchase  program of AnnTaylor
Stores Corporation,  the Company's parent corporation ("ATSC"), under which ATSC
and the Company were  authorized  to purchase up to $40 million of ATSC's common
stock and/or its convertible debentures due 2019 (the "Convertible  Debentures")
through open market purchases and/or in privately negotiated transactions. As of
October 30, 1999,  ATSC  repurchased  700,000  shares of its common stock for an
aggregate purchase price of $26,816,000. During November 1999, ATSC purchased an
additional 332,500 shares of its common stock for an aggregate purchase price of
$13,118,000,   completing  the  securities   repurchase  program.   All  of  the
repurchased  shares became  treasury  shares of ATSC and may be used for general
corporate and other purposes.  No Convertible  Debentures were repurchased under
the program.


================================================================================
<PAGE> 8

TEM 2.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS



RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


                                         Nine Months Ended
                                         -----------------
                                       October 30,  October 31,
                                           1999        1998
                                           ----        ----
Number of Stores:
   Open at beginning of period ......      365         324
   Opened during period .............       44          37
   Expanded during period*  .........        7           6
   Closed during period .............        7           2
   Open at end of period ............      402         359
Type of Stores Open at End of Period:
   Ann Taylor stores ................      318         303
   Ann Taylor Factory Stores ........       11          14
   Ann Taylor Loft stores ...........       73          42

- --------------------
* Expanded  stores are  excluded  from  comparable  store sales for
  the first year following expansion.



NINE MONTHS  ENDED  OCTOBER 30, 1999  COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED
OCTOBER 31, 1998

     The  Company's  net sales in the first  nine  months of 1999  increased  to
$787,436,000  from $649,098,000 in the first nine months of 1998, an increase of
$138,338,000  or 21.3%.  The  increase  is  attributable  to the  opening of new
stores,  the expansion of existing  stores and an increase in  comparable  store
sales of 10.9%.  Management believes that the increase in comparable store sales
was  primarily  attributable  to favorable  customer  reaction to the  Company's
product offerings and merchandise assortment.

     Gross profit as a percentage  of net sales  increased to 51.7% in the first
nine months of 1999 from 50.9% in the first nine months of 1998.  This  increase
in gross margin  primarily  reflects a higher  initial  markup rate,  reflecting
on-going  improvements  achieved by the Company's sourcing  division,  offset in
part by a higher  markdown rate on goods that were sold below full price.  Gross
margin also benefited in the first quarter of 1999 from a greater  percentage of
merchandise being sold at full price compared to the first quarter of 1998.

     Selling, general and administrative expenses represented 38.5% of net sales
in the first nine  months of 1999,  compared  to 39.6% of net sales in the first
nine  months of 1998.  The  decrease  in  selling,  general  and  administrative
expenses as a percentage  of net sales was primarily  attributable  to increased
leverage on
================================================================================
<PAGE> 9

fixed  expenses  resulting from  increased  comparable  store sales and improved
operating   efficiencies,   partially   offset  by  an  increase  in   marketing
expenditures  in support of the Company's  strategic  initiatives to enhance the
Ann Taylor brand.

     As a  result  of  the  foregoing,  the  Company  had  operating  income  of
$95,947,000,  or 12.2% of net sales, in the first nine months of 1999,  compared
to operating  income of  $65,417,000,  or 10.1% of net sales,  in the first nine
months of 1998.  Amortization  of goodwill was  $8,280,000  in each of the first
nine  months  of 1999 and  1998.  Operating  income,  without  giving  effect to
goodwill  amortization,  was  $104,227,000,  or 13.2% of net sales,  in the 1999
period and $73,697,000, or 11.4% of net sales, in the 1998 period.

     Interest  expense  was  $6,450,000  in the  first  nine  months of 1999 and
$13,692,000 in the first nine months of 1998.  The decrease in interest  expense
is  attributable  to the  forgiveness  during the second  quarter of 1999 of the
intercompany  note issued by the Company to ATSC in August 1998,  the redemption
during the second quarter of 1999 of the Company's 8-3/4% Notes due 2000, and to
greater  interest  income  earned on cash on hand,  offset  in part by  interest
expense on the Note  Payable  to ATSC that was  issued in the second  quarter of
1999.

     The income tax provision was $38,570,000,  or 43.8% of income before income
taxes and extraordinary  loss, in the 1999 period,  compared to $23,878,000,  or
46.4% of income before income taxes in the 1998 period. The effective income tax
rate for both periods  differed from the  statutory  rate  primarily  because of
non-deductible goodwill amortization.

     On July 22, 1999, the Company redeemed its outstanding  8-3/4% Notes.  This
resulted  in an  extraordinary  charge to  earnings  in the first nine months of
Fiscal 1999 of $962,000, net of income tax benefit.

     As a result  of the  foregoing  factors,  the  Company  had net  income  of
$48,614,000,  or 6.2% of net sales, for the first nine months of 1999,  compared
to net income of $27,537,000 or 4.2% of net sales,  for the first nine months of
1998.

================================================================================
<PAGE> 10


   YEAR 2000 STATUS

     Many computer  systems use only two digits to identify a year (for example,
"99" is used for the year "1999").  As a result,  these systems may be unable to
process  accurately dates later than December 31, 1999, since they may recognize
"00" as the year  "1900",  instead  of the year  "2000".  This  anomaly is often
referred to as the "Year 2000  compliance"  issue.  Since 1997,  the Company has
been  executing  a plan to  remediate  or replace  affected  systems on a timely
basis.   Equipment  and  other  non-information   technology  systems  that  use
microchips or other embedded technology, such as certain conveyor systems at the
Company's  distribution  center,  are also  covered by the  Company's  Year 2000
compliance project.

     The  Company's  Year 2000  compliance  project  includes  four phases:  (1)
evaluation  of the Company's  owned or leased  systems and equipment to identify
potential Year 2000 compliance issues; (2) remediation or replacement of Company
systems and equipment  determined to be non-compliant (and testing of remediated
systems before  returning them to production);  (3) inquiry  regarding Year 2000
readiness  of material  business  partners  and other third  parties on whom the
Company's business is dependent; and (4) development of contingency plans, where
feasible, to address potential third party non-compliance or failure of material
Company systems.

     The initial phase of the  Company's  Year 2000  compliance  project was the
evaluation of all software,  hardware and equipment owned, leased or licensed by
the Company,  and  identification of those systems and equipment  requiring Year
2000 remediation. This analysis was completed during Fiscal 1998.

     All material  computer  software,  hardware and  equipment in the Company's
sourcing  offices located  outside of the United States,  and U.S. home offices,
distribution  center and retail stores that was not Year 2000 compliant has been
remediated or replaced.

     Over  the  past few  years,  the  Company's  strategic  plan  has  included
significant  investment in and  modernization of many of the Company's  computer
systems. As a result, much of the costs and timing for replacement of certain of
the Company's systems that were not Year 2000 compliant were already anticipated
as part of the Company's planned  information  systems spending and did not need
to be accelerated as a result of the Company's Year 2000 project. The total cost
to the Company specifically  associated with addressing the Year 2000 issue with
respect to its systems and equipment has not been, and is not anticipated to be,
material to the  Company's  financial  position or results of  operations in any
given year. The Company estimates that the total additional cost of managing its
Year 2000 project,  remediating  existing  systems and  replacing  non-compliant
systems,  is approximately $2.4 million,  of which approximately $1.3 million is
being  expensed as incurred  (including  $965,000  expensed in Fiscal 1998,  and

================================================================================
<PAGE> 11


$275,000 in the first nine months of Fiscal  1999),  and $1.1 million  which was
capitalized  (including  $855,000  capitalized in Fiscal 1998 and  approximately
$175,000 in the first nine months of 1999).

     Although the Company believes its Year 2000 compliance efforts with respect
to its systems will be  successful,  any failure or delay could result in actual
costs and timing differing materially from that presently contemplated, and in a
disruption of business.  The Company is developing a contingency  plan to permit
its  primary   operations  to  continue  if  the  Company's   modifications  and
conversions of its systems are not successfully completed on a timely basis, but
the foregoing cost estimates do not take into account any  expenditures  arising
out of a response to any such contingencies that materialize. The Company's cost
estimates  also do not include time or costs that may be incurred as a result of
third parties' failure to become Year 2000 compliant on a timely basis.

     The Company has been communicating  with its business  partners,  including
key  manufacturers,  vendors,  banks and other third  parties  with whom it does
business,  to obtain information regarding their state of readiness with respect
to the Year 2000 issue.  During the first  quarter of fiscal  1999,  the Company
completed  an  initial  assessment  of the Year 2000  readiness  of those  third
parties  whose  services are most  significant  to the Company's  business.  The
Company has continued to monitor the Year 2000 readiness of its key suppliers of
goods and services  throughout  the year.  Failure of third parties to remediate
Year 2000 issues affecting their respective  businesses on a timely basis, or to
implement  contingency plans sufficient to permit uninterrupted  continuation of
their  businesses  in the  event of a failure  of their  systems,  could  have a
material  adverse  effect on the Company's  business and results of  operations.
Potential  interruptions  of such  third  parties'  business  or  service to the
Company  resulting  from Year 2000 issues  will be  addressed  in the  Company's
contingency planning efforts, discussed below.

     The  Company's  Year 2000  compliance  project  includes  development  of a
contingency plan designed to support critical  business  operations in the event
of the  occurrence of systems  failures or the  occurrence of reasonably  likely
worst case  scenarios.  The Company  operates a large number of retail stores in
widely disbursed geographical locations, and Company merchandise is manufactured
by a large number of  suppliers.  The Company  believes  that these factors will
help to mitigate  the adverse  impact of potential  Year 2000  failures by third
party  suppliers or utilities.  The Company  believes  that the most  reasonably
likely  worst case  scenarios  would  involve an  interruption  of the supply of
merchandise to the Company's  stores,  as a result of the delay in completion of
the Company's merchandise orders by manufacturers, or a delay in the delivery of
merchandise  to the Company's  stores due to a disruption of service at ports of
export  or  at  the  U.S.  port  of  import,  or  a  disruption  in  service  by
transportation  providers,  or  a  disruption  in  operation  of  the  Company's
distribution  center.  The  Company  has  developed  contingency  plans  for its

================================================================================
<PAGE> 12


business  functions  and has  analyzed  the plans to ensure  their  adequacy  to
address potential disruption to the extent practicable.

     The  Company  may  not  be  able  to  compensate  adequately  for  business
interruption caused by certain third parties. Potential risks include suspension
or significant  curtailment of service or significant delays by banks, utilities
or common carriers, or at U.S. ports of entry. The Company's business also could
be  materially  adversely  affected by the failure of  governmental  agencies to
address Year 2000 issues  affecting the  Company's  operations.  For example,  a
significant  amount of the Company's  merchandise  is  manufactured  outside the
United  States,  and the  Company  is  dependent  upon the  issuance  by foreign
governmental  agencies of export visas for, and upon the U.S. Customs Service to
process  and permit  entry  into the United  States  of,  such  merchandise.  If
failures  in  government  systems  result  in the  suspension  or delay of these
agencies'  services,  the Company could experience  significant  interruption or
delays in its inventory flow.

     The costs and timing for  management's  completion of Year 2000  compliance
modification and testing processes,  and management's assessment and contingency
planning with respect to reasonably  likely worst case  scenarios,  are based on
management's best judgement and estimates, which were derived utilizing numerous
assumptions of future events,  including the continued  availability  of certain
resources,  the success of third parties' Year 2000 compliance efforts and other
factors.  There can be no assurance that these  assumptions  will be realized or
that actual results will not vary materially.

================================================================================
<PAGE> 13

                   PART II. OTHER INFORMATION



ITEM 1.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     As previously disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal  year ended  January  30,  1999 filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  on March 29, 1999,  ATSC,  the Company,  certain  current and former
officers  and  directors  of  ATSC  and the  Company,  and  Merrill  Lynch & Co.
("Merrill  Lynch") and certain of its affiliates,  are defendants in a purported
class action  lawsuit,  originally  filed on April 26, 1996, by certain  alleged
stockholders  of ATSC in the  United  States  District  Court  for the  Southern
District  of New  York.  (Novak v.  Kasaks,  et al.,  No. 96 CIV 3073  (S.D.N.Y.
1996)).  On November 9, 1998,  the District  Court issued an order  granting the
defendant's  motion to dismiss  the amended  complaint  with  prejudice  for its
failure to plead fraud with  particularity.  On or about  December 15, 1998, the
plaintiffs  filed a notice of appeal to the United  States Court of Appeals for
the Second Circuit, seeking review of the District court's order. Merrill Lynch,
its  affiliates  and the two  directors who  previously  served on the Company's
Board of Directors as  representatives  of certain  affiliates of Merrill Lynch,
have reached a proposed  settlement with the plaintiffs,  which provides,  among
other  things,  for the  establishment  of a  settlement  fund in the  amount of
$3,000,000  plus  interest,  which is subject to court  approval.  The action as
against  these  defendants  has been  remanded  by the Court of  Appeals  to the
District Court for proceedings in connection with that settlement.  The District
Court has  certified  the class only for the purpose of  effecting  the proposed
settlement. The settling parties seek the entry of a contribution bar order that
purportedly  would bar and enjoin any  non-settling  defendant  from  making any
claim for  contribution  against  any of the  settling  defendants  or  released
parties.  A settlement  hearing has been set by the District  Court for December
14, 1999. The appeal as against the remaining defendants, including the Company,
is  pending  before  the  Second  Circuit  Court of  Appeals.  As a result,  any
liability  that may arise from this action cannot be predicted at this time. The
Company  believes  that the amended  complaint  is without  merit and intends to
continue to defend the action vigorously.

================================================================================
<PAGE> 14


ITEM 6.   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K


(a)   Exhibits:

        27      Financial Data Schedule


(b)   Reports on Form 8-K:

        None




================================================================================
<PAGE> 15

                          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.

                                    AnnTaylor, Inc.



Date: December 14, 1999             By: /s/  J. Patrick Spainhour
       ----------------                ---------------------------
                                          J. Patrick Spainhour
                                            Chairman and Chief
                                            Executive Officer




Date:  December 14, 1999            By: /s/  Barry Erdos
       ----------------                ---------------------------
                                             Barry Erdos
                                        Executive Vice President -
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                            and Treasurer


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SUMMARY CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
     THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CONDENSED
     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
     REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000850090
<NAME>                        ANNTAYLOR, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                     1,000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-29-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   OCT-30-1999
<CASH>                                          50,467
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   65,822
<ALLOWANCES>                                       627
<INVENTORY>                                    165,334
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               322,718
<PP&E>                                         302,757
<DEPRECIATION>                                 131,317
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 814,806
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          126,352
<BONDS>                                        111,094
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                             1
<OTHER-SE>                                     561,040
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   814,806
<SALES>                                        787,436
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               787,436
<CGS>                                          380,319
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  380,319
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               312,521
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,450
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 88,146
<INCOME-TAX>                                    38,570
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             49,576
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    962
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    48,614
<EPS-BASIC>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0


</TABLE>


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