1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 11-K |X| ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, OR |_| TRANSITIONAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ______ to _____. Commission file number 0-02788 THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN ------------------------------------------------------ (Full title of the Plan) THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. 3155 El-Bee Road, Dayton, Ohio 45439 ------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan and the address of its principal executive office) 2 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 1998 and Supplemental Information as of and for the Year Ended December 31, 1998 and Independent Auditors' Report 3 THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAGE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998: Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits 2 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits 3 Notes to Financial Statements 4 - 8 SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998: Line 27(a) - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes 9 Line 27(d) - Schedule of Reportable Transactions 10 4 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT To The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Retirement Savings Plan Committee: We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Retirement Savings Plan (the "Plan") (formerly, The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan) as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1998 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules, listed in the table of contents, are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP May 27, 1999 Dayton, Ohio 5 THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1997 INVESTMENTS, at fair value (Note C): Participant directed: Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Common Stock (Note E) $ 5,048,331 Mutual Funds: American Century Income and Growth Fund 10,882,337 $ 8,458,286 American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Aggressive 1,789,314 1,670,277 American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Conservative 4,709,892 1,334,814 American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Moderate 12,239,786 14,318,035 American Century Value Fund 2,606,011 3,153,004 Benham Stable Asset Fund 1,014,766 482,012 T. Rowe Price Stable Asset Fund 3,169,986 2,469,694 Twentieth Century International Growth Fund 2,615,345 2,195,048 Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 10,110,706 6,883,045 Participant notes receivable 2,487,619 2,635,326 Nonparticipant directed: ESOP Fund: Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (Note E) 13,547,593 Fifth Third Banksafe Trust Money Market Fund 27,596 ------------ ------------ Total investments 56,674,093 57,174,730 Employer contribution 1,077,991 ------------ ------------ Total assets 57,752,084 57,174,730 LIABILITIES - Accrued expenses (7,832) ------------ ------------ NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS $ 57,752,084 $ 57,166,898 ============ ============ See notes to financial statements. - 2 - 6 THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONS (Note D): Investment income: Dividends and interest $ 3,711,656 Net appreciation in fair value of investments 1,995,547 ----------- Total investment income 5,707,203 ----------- Contributions: Employer 1,077,991 Participant 3,483,429 ----------- Total contributions 4,561,420 ----------- Total additions 10,268,623 ----------- DEDUCTIONS (Note D): Benefits paid to participants 9,434,814 Investment and administrative expenses 248,623 =========== Total deductions 9,683,437 =========== NET INCREASE 585,186 NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS - Beginning of year 57,166,898 ----------- NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS - End of year $57,752,084 =========== See notes to financial statements. - 3 - 7 THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A. DESCRIPTION OF PLAN The following brief description of The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Retirement Savings Plan (the "Plan") (formerly, The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Profit Sharing and Stock Ownership Plan) is provided for general information only. Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for more information. GENERAL - The Plan is a defined-contribution plan covering all employees of the Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. (the "Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (The El-Bee Chargit Corp. and The Bee-Gee Shoe Corp.) who have completed at least one year of continuous service, have been credited with 1,000 or more hours of service during that year and are age 18 or older. It is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"). CONTRIBUTIONS - Each year participants are permitted to defer a portion of their compensation, not less than 1% or more than 15% (in 1% increments), subject to other limitations imposed by law. The Company makes matching contributions by determining its level of profitability and comparing it to a pre-determined contribution table. All active employees on the last day of the Plan year are eligible to receive a matching contribution. For each plan year, the Company may make a retirement security contribution not to exceed 3-1/4% of the employee's compensation while they were a participant for the plan year. A participant is eligible to receive a retirement security contribution for the Plan year if they were an active employee on the last day of the Plan year for which the retirement security contribution is made and they completed at least 1,000 hours of service during the Plan year. PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS - Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution and his/her proportionate share of the Company's contribution. Allocations are based on each participant's compensation, as provided in the Plan agreement. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account. VESTING - Participants are immediately vested in their contributions, plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company's matching and discretionary retirement security contribution portion of their account plus actual earnings thereon is based on years of service. A participant is non-vested until reaching five years of service, thereafter, they are fully vested. INVESTMENT OPTIONS - Upon enrollment in the Plan, a participant may direct investment of their 401(k) account balance in the following investment options: American Century Income and Growth Fund - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in common stocks. American Century Strategic Asset Allocation: Aggressive - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in a portfolio of stocks, bonds and money market securities. American Century Strategic Asset Allocation: Conservative - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in a portfolio of stocks, bonds and money market securities. - 4 - 8 American Century Strategic Asset Allocation: Moderate - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in a portfolio of stocks, bonds and money market securities. American Century Value Fund - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in common stocks. Benham Stable Asset Fund - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in fixed income securities. Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. - This fund invests exclusively in the common stock shares, no par value, of the Elder-Beerman Stores. Corp. T. Rowe Price Stable Asset Fund - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in fixed income securities. Twentieth Century International Growth Fund - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in equity securities of foreign markets. Twentieth Century Ultra Fund - The prospectus for this fund indicates that it invests in common stocks. Participants may change their investment options at any time during the plan year. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS - On termination of service due to any reason, a participant may elect to receive either a lump-sum payment directly or a rollover distribution payment into an eligible retirement account. PARTICIPANT LOANS - The Plan allows participants to apply for and obtain loans in an amount defined in the Plan (not less than $500 and limited to 50% of the participant's account balance provided such loans do not exceed $50,000) from the balance of the participant's account. All loans must be repaid within five years. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at a rate determined by the Company from time to time. Payments of principal and interest are credited to the participant's account. B. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF ACCOUNTING - The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting. USE OF ESTIMATES - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. INVESTMENT VALUATION AND INCOME RECOGNITION - The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Shares of registered investment companies are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. The Company stock is valued at its quoted market price. Participant notes receivable are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. - 5 - 9 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES - Certain administrative functions are performed by officers or employees of the Company. No such officer or employee receives compensation from the Plan. A significant amount of the Plan's legal expenses are paid and/or reimbursed by the Plan Sponsor. Administrative expenses for the trustees and other fees are paid directly by the Plan. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS - Benefits are recorded when paid. C. INVESTMENTS Below is a listing of investments representing 5% or more of net assets available for benefits as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. 1998 1997 Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Common Stock $ 5,048,331 $ American Century Income and Growth Fund 10,882,337 8,458,286 American Century Strategic Allocation Fund: Conservative 4,709,892 American Century Strategic Allocation Fund: Moderate 12,239,786 14,318,035 American Century Value Fund 3,153,004 T. Rowe Price Stable Asset Fund 3,169,986 Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 10,110,706 6,883,045 Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock 13,547,593 Other (less than 5%) 10,513,055 10,814,767 ----------- ----------- $56,674,093 $57,174,730 =========== =========== - 6 - 10 D. SUPPLEMENTAL FUND INFORMATION NET APPRECIATION INVESTMENT DIVIDENDS (DEPRECIATION) BENEFITS AND AND IN FAIR VALUE PAID TO ADMINISTRATIVE NET INTEREST OF INVESTMENTS CONTRIBUTIONS PARTICIPANTS EXPENSES TRANSFERS American Century Income and Growth Fund $ 648,951 $ 1,781,010 $ 785,886 $ 1,117,438 $ 35,074 $ 360,716 American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Aggressive 79,382 151,573 194,006 288,744 7,125 (10,055) American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Conservative 284,772 (31,290) 325,241 344,412 13,103 3,153,870 American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Moderate 752,956 904,276 729,150 2,399,981 61,685 (2,002,965) American Century Value Fund 463,942 (289,913) 264,829 415,194 10,175 (560,482) Benham Stable Asset Fund 65,673 181,559 3,190 642,010 Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Stock 38,692 (2,421,658) 10,162 2,700,866 67,289 (3,378,067) Participant directed 1,077,991 Participant notes receivable 209,202 259,206 (97,703) T. Rowe Price Stable Asset Fund 190,509 213,394 543,720 10,689 860,618 Twentieth Century International Growth Fund 59,301 357,874 232,832 279,140 9,336 58,766 Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 918,276 1,543,675 727,929 904,554 30,957 973,292 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------- Total $3,711,656 $1,995,547 $4,561,420 $9,434,814 $248,623 $ - ========== ========== ========== ========== ======== ========== E. VALUATION OF THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. SERIES B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK The Plan's sponsor (The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp.) filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court (the "Bankruptcy Court") for the Southern District of Ohio on October 17, 1995. As a result, The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ("Preferred Stock") held by the Plan had not been valued since the bankruptcy filing. On December 30, 1997, the Plan's sponsor and issuer of The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Series B Convertible Preferred Stock emerged from protection under Chapter 11. The Preferred Stock was then valued at $13,547,593, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, as of December 31, 1997. Under an agreement reached with the Bankruptcy Court the entire 662,474 shares of Preferred Stock held by the Plan at December 31, 1997 was exchanged for 644,680 shares of new common stock of the Plan's Sponsor, valued at $9,360,757, and $4,186,836 in cash during February 1998. - 7 - 11 F. PLAN RESTATEMENT ADOPTED DURING 1998 The Plan was restated effective July 1, 1998. This restatement included changing the Plan name, replacing the ESOP fund with the Elder-Beerman common stock fund and certain policy changes relating to service crediting, distributions and withdrawals. G. INCOME TAX STATUS Prior to restatement, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") issued a favorable determination letter dated November 4, 1996, stating that the Plan, as then amended, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan sponsor intends to file a request with the IRS for a determination letter on the restated Plan adopted July 1, 1998. Plan management believes that the restated Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and, therefore, the Plan is qualified and tax-exempt as of the financial statement date. H. PLAN TERMINATION Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, all vested benefits will be distributed to participants and beneficiaries. I. SUBSEQUENT EVENT Effective January 1, 1999, the plan was amended. This amendment changed the plan name to the Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Financial Partnership Plan, revised the method of calculating the matching contribution, eliminated the Retirement Security Contribution and implemented an Annual Company contribution. * * * * * * - 8 - 12 THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN LINE 27(a) - SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES DECEMBER 31, 1998 - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) IDENTITY OF ISSUE, (c) DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENT, INCLUDING MATURITY BORROWER, LESSOR OR DATE, RATE OF INTEREST, COLLATERAL PAR OR (e) (a) SIMILAR PARTY MATURITY DATE (d) COST FAIR VALUE MUTUAL FUNDS: * American Century Income and Growth Fund, 372,046 shares $ 9,782,579 $10,882,337 * American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Aggressive, 270,698 shares 1,743,005 1,789,314 * American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Conservative, 856,344 shares 4,788,200 4,709,892 * American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Moderate, 1,970,980 shares 12,013,137 12,239,786 * American Century Value Fund, 430,746 shares 3,273,161 2,606,011 Benham Stable Asset Fund, 1,014,766 shares 1,014,766 1,014,766 T. Rowe Price Stable Asset Fund, 3,169,986 shares 3,169,986 3,169,986 Twentieth Century International Growth Fund, 273,001 shares 2,632,407 2,615,345 Twentieth Century Ultra Fund, 302,625 shares 10,028,722 10,110,706 PARTICIPANT NOTES RECEIVABLE Collateralized by participant's account 2,487,619 2,487,619 * Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Common Stock, 436,540 shares 6,338,568 5,048,331 ----------- ----------- TOTAL INVESTMENTS $57,272,150 $56,674,093 =========== =========== * Represents a party-in-interest. - 9 - 13 THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN LINE 27(d) - SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) DESCRIPTION (c) PURCHASE (d) SELLING (g) COST (a) IDENTIFY OF PARTY INVOLVED OF ASSET PRICE PRICE OF ASSET TYPE (i) - SINGLE TRANSACTIONS IN EXCESS OF FIVE PERCENT OF ASSETS *American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Conservative $ 3,043,400 $ $ Benham Stable Asset Fund 3,074,840 Benham Stable Asset Fund 3,087,837 TYPE (iii) - SERIES TRANSACTIONS IN EXCESS OF FIVE PERCENT OF ASSETS *American Century Income and Growth Fund 3,164,232 2,521,192 2,464,470 *American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Conservative 7,358,007 3,951,637 3,972,006 *American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Moderate 2,185,279 5,167,804 5,155,498 *Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Common Stock 10,162 3,036,713 3,029,115 Benham Stable Asset Fund 6,298,788 5,065,730 5,065,730 Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 3,659,614 1,975,626 2,158,921 (h) CURRENT VALUE OF ASSET ON (i) NET (b) DESCRIPTION TRANSACTION GAIN (a) IDENTIFY OF PARTY INVOLVED OF ASSET DATE (LOSS) TYPE (i) - SINGLE TRANSACTIONS IN EXCESS OF FIVE PERCENT OF ASSETS *American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Conservative $ 3,043,400 $ Benham Stable Asset Fund 3,078,840 Benham Stable Asset Fund 3,087,837 TYPE (iii) - SERIES TRANSACTIONS IN EXCESS OF FIVE PERCENT OF ASSETS *American Century Income and Growth Fund 5,685,424 56,722 *American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Conservative 11,309,644 (20,369) *American Century Strategic Asset Allocation Fund: Moderate 7,353,083 12,306 *Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. Common Stock 3,046,875 (7,598) Benham Stable Asset Fund 11,364,518 Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 5,635,240 (183,296) * Represents a party-in-interest. There were no type (ii) or (iv) reportable transactions during the year ended December 31, 1998. Columns (e) and (f) have been omitted because they are not applicable. - 10 - 14 SIGNATURES The Plan. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other person who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. THE ELDER-BEERMAN STORES CORP. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN Date: June 30, 1999 By: /s/ Scott J. Davido ------------------------------ ------------------------------------- Scott J. Davido Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer The Elder-Beerman Stores Corp. 15 FORM 11-K INDEX TO EXHIBITS EXHIBIT NO. PAGE NO. - ----------- -------- 23 Consent of Independent Auditors