CARSON PIRIE SCOTT & CO /IL/
8-K, 1997-11-17
DEPARTMENT STORES
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<PAGE>
                       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 12, 1997


                            CARSON PIRIE SCOTT & CO.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                    Illinois
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


       0-22682                                          37-0175980
Commission File Number                      (IRS Employer Identification No.)



331 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin                 53203
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)


                                 (414) 347-4141
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Registrant's Telephone Number















                                     Page 1

<PAGE>
Item 5.  Other Events.

     On November 12, 1997 Carson Pirie Scott & Co. (the  "registrant")  reported
its third quarter and year to date financial  results in a news release,  a copy
of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Statements and Exhibits.

     (c) Exhibits. The following exhibit is filed as part of this report:

               99.1    News release dated November 13, 1997.


                                  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, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated:  November 17, 1997

                                           CARSON PIRIE SCOTT & CO.



                                           By: /s/ Charles J. Hansen
                                               ---------------------------
                                              Name:   Charles J. Hansen
                                              Title:  Vice President,
                                                      General Counsel,
                                                      and Secretary


























                                     Page 2

<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

            Exhibit
            Number                  Description

             99.1          News release dated November 13, 1997.



















































                                     Page 3
<PAGE>
                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

Investors                                           Media
James L. Stoffel                                    Edward P. Carroll, Jr.
V.P. - Treasurer                                    Executive V.P. Marketing
(414) 278-5769                                      (414) 347-5340

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1997

                CARSON PIRIE SCOTT & CO. THIRD QUARTER OPERATING
                    EARNINGS INCREASE 26% TO $0.39 PER SHARE

Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  November 13, 1997 - Carson Pirie Scott & Co.  (NYSE:CRP)
today reported its third quarter and year to date financial results.  Stanton J.
Bluestone,  Chairman  and Chief  Executive  Officer of Carson Pirie Scott & Co.,
commented:

"I am  pleased  to report  our  tenth  consecutive  quarter  of  improvement  in
operating  earnings per share.  A combination of solid sales growth and diligent
expense control generated the 26% operating EPS gain in the quarter."

"Our top line grew 5.8% in the  quarter  by  virtue of a 4.0%  comparable  store
sales gain and the continued solid  performance  from the new stores the Company
added in 1996.  Sales growth was restrained  during  September and early October
due to unseasonably warm weather.  However,  sales rebounded strongly during the
last three weeks of the quarter with the return to more seasonal temperatures."

"Nearly all  merchandise  categories  contributed to our comparable  store sales
growth.  Feminine  Apparel  continued its brisk sales trend with a 6% comparable
store sales gain in the  quarter and a 10% sales gain in the first nine  months.
In addition,  the Men's apparel area performed well,  particularly in the Better
Sportswear  categories.  Shoes,  Tabletop  and Home  Textiles  also posted above
average sales gains in the quarter."

"Our margin rate  declined  0.8  percentage  points in the quarter due to higher
markdowns  resulting from excess summer  merchandise  and a change in the mix of
merchandise  sold. Our expense rate improved 1.3  percentage  points moving from
30.3% in 1996 to 29.0% in 1997 which more than offset the margin  rate  decline.
The expense rate  improvement  resulted from  productivity  gains throughout the
Company,  the  spreading  of fixed  expenses  across a larger sales base and the
absence of new store preopening charges in the current quarter.  These operating
improvements  resulted in a 15% jump in EBITDA and a 26% operating EPS increase.
Net income for the quarter  improved to $5.4 million  compared to a loss of $1.2
million in the prior year third quarter."

"The third  quarter  results  were a  continuation  of our strong trend in 1997.
Year-to-date  total sales have increased 7.6% while  comparable store sales have
increased 4.4%. These strong sales results combined with diligent  management of
expenses have generated a 20% increase in EBITDA and a 31% increase in operating
EPS."

The Company  also  announced  on October  29,  1997 that it has entered  into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger with Proffitt's,  Inc. (NYSE:PFT) The Company filed
a Form 8-K with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  dated October 29, 1997
and encourages its shareholders to review these materials.

Carson  Pirie  Scott & Co.,  a major  department  store  retailer,  operates  52
traditional  department  stores and 4 furniture  stores:  31 Carson  Pirie Scott
stores in greater  Chicago,  Indiana  and  Minnesota;  13  Bergner's  in central
Illinois; and 12 Boston Stores in Wisconsin.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   CARSON PIRIE SCOTT & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
   Consolidated Statements of Operations
   (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                         Three Months Ended           Nine Months Ended           Trailing Twelve Months
                                     --------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------------
                                     --------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------------
                                      November 1,   November 2,   November 1,    November 2,   November 1,    November 2,
                                         1997          1996           1997          1996           1997           1996
                                     --------------------------- ---------------------------- ------------------------------
   <S>                                  <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>            <C>       
   Net sales                            $281,740      $266,238       $783,639      $727,992     $1,158,472     $1,092,844
   Cost of sales                        (180,467)     (168,565)      (502,490)     (463,770)      (738,799)      (694,435)
   Selling, general and
      administrative expenses            (81,701)      (80,661)      (232,185)     (223,371)      (315,946)      (305,404)
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      EBITDA                              19,572        17,012         48,964        40,851        103,727         93,005
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Depreciation and
      amortization expense                (4,966)       (4,057)       (15,017)      (12,120)       (18,418)       (14,697)
   Other                                      66          (321)           218          (456)           861            (65)
   Nonrecurring items                       (343)            0         (4,505)            0         (4,505)           904
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Income from operations              14,329        12,634         29,660        28,275         81,665         79,147
   Nonrecurring items                     (1,415)      (10,525)        (1,415)        1,540         (1,415)        (5,295)
   Interest expense, net                  (3,929)       (4,072)       (12,247)      (11,207)       (16,950)       (16,203)
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Income (loss) before taxes              8,985        (1,963)        15,998        18,608         63,300         57,649
   Income tax expense                     (3,558)          774         (6,335)       (7,331)       (25,104)       (22,945)
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Net income (loss)                   $5,427       ($1,189)        $9,663       $11,277        $38,196        $34,704
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Shares outstanding (in 000's)          16,447        16,578         16,468        16,720         16,478         16,724
   Net income (loss) per share:
      Operating                            $0.39         $0.31          $0.80         $0.61          $2.53          $2.23
      Primary                              $0.33        ($0.07)         $0.59         $0.67          $2.32          $2.08
      Fully diluted                        $0.33        ($0.07)         $0.58         $0.67          $2.31          $2.07


   Statistics:
      Same-store sales increase             4.0%          3.5%           4.4%          2.6%           3.4%           2.8%
      Gross margin rate                    35.9%         36.7%          35.9%         36.3%          36.2%          36.5%
      SG&A rate                           (29.0%)       (30.3%)        (29.6%)       (30.7%)        (27.3%)        (27.9%)
      EBITDA rate                           6.9%          6.4%           6.2%          5.6%           9.0%           8.5%

   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
The Company provided the following highlights for the third quarter results:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     1997 Third Quarter Results Summary            1996 Third Quarter Results Summary
                                 -------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
                                 -------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
                                    Net                   Net                    Net                    Net
($ in millions, except EPS)        Sales      EBITDA     Income      EPS        Sales      EBITDA      Income      EPS
- ---------------------------
                                 -------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>       <C>  
Operating results (1)<F1>          $281.7     $19.6       $6.5      $0.39       $266.2      $17.0       $5.2      $0.31
Nonrecurring Item:
    County Seat Write-down           -          -          -          -           -           -        ($6.4)    ($0.38)
    Acquisition / legal costs        -          -        ($0.6)    ($0.04)        -           -          -          -
    Write-off of loan fees           -          -        ($0.3)    ($0.01)        -           -          -          -
    Year 2000 costs                  -          -        ($0.2)    ($0.01)        -           -          -          -
                                 -------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
Total Company                      $281.7     $19.6       $5.4      $0.33       $266.2      $17.0      ($1.2)    ($0.07)
                                 ===========================================  =============================================
<FN>
<F1>
(1)  Excludes nonrecurring items.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Sales:  Sales increased 5.8% to $281.7 million in the third quarter of 1997 from
the prior year's sales of $266.2 million.  Sales rose 4.0% on a comparable store
basis.

EBITDA: Earnings before interest,  taxes,  depreciation,  amortization and other
nonrecurring items ("EBITDA")  increased 15% to $19.6 million in 1997 from $17.0
million in 1996. The EBITDA rate for the third quarter  increased  approximately
50 basis points from 6.4% in 1996 to 6.9% in 1997.  The EBITDA rate  improvement
resulted  primarily  from  productivity   gains  throughout  the  Company,   the
leveraging of fixed expenses across a larger sales base and the absence of store
preopening costs in the current quarter.

Depreciation  and  amortization:  The Company's  depreciation  and  amortization
expense  increased  from $4.1 million in 1996 to $5.0 million in 1997.  The $0.9
million  increase  resulted from the higher fixed asset balances created through
the Company's capital  expenditure program and new store openings being added to
an artificially low base due to fresh start accounting.

Interest  Expense:  Interest expense decreased to $3.9 million in 1997 from $4.1
million in 1996 as a result of lower average debt levels during the current year
third quarter.

Earnings per share ("EPS")  results:  Net income  excluding  nonrecurring  items
increased $1.3 million in the quarter  versus the prior year third quarter.  The
improved EBITDA performance was partially offset by higher depreciation charges.
Operating  EPS  improved 26% from $0.31 to $0.39 per share.  On a Total  Company
basis, EPS was $0.33 in 1997. The $0.06 difference versus operating EPS of $0.39
related to Year 2000  computer  system  preparation  costs,  acquisition / legal
costs and the write-off of loan fees.  The  nonrecurring  acquisition  and legal
costs relate to professional fees and expenses incurred by the Company to defend
and ultimately  settle its lawsuit with Elder Beerman.  The Company  reached the
settlement  in the third  quarter,  subject to  bankruptcy  court  approval.  In
addition,  during the third quarter the Company entered into an unsecured credit
facility  with  lower fees and  reduced  covenants.  The  facility  replaced  an
existing credit agreement that was secured by inventory.

Share  Repurchase  Program:  During the third quarter,  the Company  repurchased
150,477  shares of its common  stock for $5.7  million  under a January 1997 $20
million share repurchase  authorization.  The Company repurchased 394,777 shares
of its common  stock for $13.1  million in the first  nine  months of 1997.  The
Company suspended its share repurchase program in conjunction with its announced
merger with Proffitt's, Inc.


<PAGE>
The Company  provided the following  highlights  for its year to date  financial
results:
<TABLE>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                      1997 Year-to-Date Results Summary            1996 Year-to-Date Results Summary
                                  ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
                                  ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
                                     Net                  Net                    Net                    Net
($ in millions, except EPS)         Sales     EBITDA     Income      EPS        Sales      EBITDA      Income      EPS
- ---------------------------
                                  ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>        <C>       <C>  
Operating results (1)<F1>          $783.6     $49.0      $13.2      $0.80       $728.0      $40.9      $10.4      $0.61
Nonrecurring Items:
    Sale of marketable securities     -         -          -          -           -           -         $9.0      $0.54
    Charitable contribution           -         -          -          -           -           -        ($1.5)    ($0.09)
    Write-off of loan fees            -         -        ($0.3)    ($0.01)        -           -        ($0.2)    ($0.01)
    County Seat Write-Down            -         -          -          -           -           -        ($6.4)    ($0.38)
    Acquisition / legal costs         -         -        ($0.6)    ($0.04)        -           -          -          -
    Year 2000 costs                   -         -        ($2.7)    ($0.16)        -           -          -          -
                                  ------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
Total Company                      $783.6     $49.0       $9.7      $0.59       $728.0      $40.9      $11.3      $0.67
                                  ==========================================  =============================================
<FN>
<F1>
(1)  Excludes nonrecurring items.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Sales:  Sales increased 7.6% to $783.6 million in the  year-to-date of 1997 from
the prior year's sales of $728.0 million.  Sales rose 4.4% on a comparable store
basis.

EBITDA: Earnings before interest,  taxes,  depreciation,  amortization and other
nonrecurring items ("EBITDA")  increased 20% to $49.0 million in 1997 from $40.9
million  in  1996.  The  EBITDA  rate  for  the  first  nine  months   increased
approximately 60 basis points from 5.6% in 1996 to 6.2% in 1997. The EBITDA rate
improvement resulted primarily from productivity improvements, the leveraging of
fixed expenses across a substantially larger sales base and the absence of store
preopening costs in the current year.

Depreciation  and  amortization:  The Company's  depreciation  and  amortization
expense  increased from $12.1 million in 1996 to $15.0 million in 1997. The $2.9
million  increase  resulted from the higher fixed asset balances created through
the Company's capital  expenditure program and new store openings being added to
an artificially low base due to fresh start accounting.

Interest Expense: Interest expense increased to $12.2 million in 1997 from $11.2
million in 1996. The increase  occurred  because the 1997 results do not include
$1.0 million of interest income recorded in 1996 on an investment in County Seat
Holdings,  Inc.  County Seat  Holdings,  Inc.  filed for  Chapter 11  bankruptcy
protection in the third  quarter of 1996 and the Company sold its  investment in
the first quarter of fiscal 1997.


<PAGE>

Earnings per share ("EPS")  results:  Net income  excluding  nonrecurring  items
increased  $2.8 million in the current year versus the prior year.  The improved
EBITDA  performance  was partially  offset by higher  depreciation  and interest
charges.  Operating  EPS improved 31% from $0.61 to $0.80 per share.  On a Total
Company basis, EPS was $0.59 in 1997. The $0.21 difference  versus operating EPS
of $0.80 related to Year 2000 computer system preparation costs which included a
$3.1 million pre-tax write-down of the undepreciated  asset value of a mainframe
computer  in  conjunction  with its  lease  termination,  professional  fees and
expenses related to the Elder Beerman lawsuit, and the write-off of loan fees.


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
   CARSON PIRIE SCOTT & CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES
   Consolidated Balance Sheets
   (dollars in thousands)

   =======================================================================================================================
                                                                                      November 1,          November 2,
                        Assets                                                            1997                 1996
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   <S>                                                                           <C>                   <C>               
        Cash and cash equivalents                                                $             20,920  $           20,103
        Receivables, net                                                                      250,835             237,364
        Inventories                                                                           264,813             255,658
        Other current assets                                                                   19,191              20,344
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total current assets                                                                       555,759             533,469
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Property and equipment, net                                                                199,315             167,677
   Net deferred tax assets                                                                     37,201              41,199
   Other assets                                                                                 9,293              11,847
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                 $            801,568  $          754,192
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Current maturities of long-term debt                                     $              2,406  $            2,809
        Current portion of accounts receivable securitization                                  26,700                 -
        Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                                              198,106             202,569
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Total current liabilities                                                                  227,212             205,378
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Other liabilities                                                                           50,007              43,924
   Accounts receivable securitization                                                         125,000             142,788
   Long-term debt, less current maturities                                                     41,196              46,752
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Total liabilities                                                                          443,415             438,842
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Shareholders' equity:
        Common stock and paid-in-capital                                                      166,716             162,108
        Retained earnings                                                                     191,437             153,242
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Total shareholders' equity                                                                 358,153             315,350
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                                 $            801,568  $          754,192
   =======================================================================================================================
   =======================================================================================================================
        Net Debt / Capitalization                                                              32.7%                35.3%
        Net Debt / Capitalization  (excluding A/R Securitization)                               6.0%                 8.5%
   =======================================================================================================================
</TABLE>



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