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): September 8, 1995
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(September 8, 1995)
Ames Department Stores, Inc.
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(Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
Delaware
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(State Or Other Jurisdiction Of Incorporation)
1-5380 04-2269444
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
2418 Main Street; Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067-0801
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(Address Of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(203) 257-2000
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(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
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(Former Name Or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)
Exhibit Index on Page 4
Page 1 of 7 (Including Exhibits)
Item 5: OTHER EVENTS
Beginning on September 8, 1995, the Company will distribute,
to certain of its banks and other lenders, principal trade
vendors and factors, summaries of its unaudited financial results
for the four and thirty weeks ended August 26, 1995. 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 August 26, 1995 were $1.6
million below the projections contained in the Form 8-K dated
August 18, 1995 (the "Plan"). EBITDA (as defined in Exhibit 20)
for the four weeks was $2.6 million below Plan and $1.8 million
below last year. The EBITDA results reflected lower-than-planned
gross margin and lower-than-planned other income and property
gains, partially offset by lower-than-planned expenses. Gross
margin was negatively impacted by the below Plan sales and a
lower-than-planned gross margin rate. The gross margin rate was
below Plan because of higher-than-planned markdowns.
Sales for the thirty weeks ended August 26, 1995 were $5.8
million below Plan. The year-to-date EBITDA was $1.9 million
better than Plan and $5.8 million better than last year. The
EBITDA results for the thirty weeks reflected the favorable impact
of lower-than-planned expenses and higher-than-planned other
income and property gains (a portion of which is due to the timing
of the sale of a property), partially offset by an unfavorable
variance in gross margin dollars. Gross margin was impacted by
the same factors as those cited above for the four week period.
Year-to-date total expenses have been increased and
EBITDA reduced by $1.1 million in cash disbursements related to
the closing and sale of the Clinton, MA distribution center for
which a closing reserve had been established during fiscal 1994.
The year-to-date net income has not been affected by these
disbursements as other income/expense includes an offset of $1.1
million.
As of August 26, 1995, merchandise inventories were $10.4
million above Plan. Trade payables were $19.3 million above
Plan primarily due to better-than-planned trade payment terms.
Outstanding borrowings under the Company's revolving line of
credit were $21.1 million below Plan primarily due to lower-than-
planned capital expenditures and higher-than-planned trade
payables.
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 28,
1995, the Company's Form 10-Q for the first fiscal quarter ended
April 29, 1995, the Company's Form 10-Q for the second fiscal
quarter ended July 29, 1995 and the Company's Form 8-K dated
August 18, 1995. The monthly results are being reported publicly
solely because they are being distributed to a large number of the
Company's vendors for purposes of their credit analyses.
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 Unaudited Financial Summary Results for the Four
and Thirty Weeks Ended August 26, 1995
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No. Exhibit Page No.
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20 Unaudited Financial Summary Results 6
for the Four and Thirty Weeks
Ended August 26, 1995.
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.
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Registrant
Dated: September 7, 1995 By: /s/ Joseph R. Ettore
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Joseph R. Ettore
President, Director, and
Chief Executive Officer
Dated: September 7, 1995 By: /s/ John F. Burtelow
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John F. Burtelow
Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
Dated: September 7, 1995 By: /s/ William C. Najdecki
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William C. Najdecki
Senior Vice President,
Finance