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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. )*
Stage Stores, Inc.
---------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Shares of Common stock, par value $.01 per share
------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
85254C305
--------------
(CUSIP Number)
July 22, 2002
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(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[ ] Rule 13d-1(b)
[X] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 2 of 8 Pages
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1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
Charles H. Witmer
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [X]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 1,005,425
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 0
PERSON ------------------------------------------------------------
WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,005,425
------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,005,425
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
5.0%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 3 of 8 Pages
------------------- -----------------
1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
Meryl B. Witmer
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* (a) [ ]
(b) [X]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 1,005,425
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 0
PERSON ------------------------------------------------------------
WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,005,425
------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,005,425
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
5.0%
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 4 of 8 Pages
------------------- -----------------
ITEM 1. NAME OF ISSUER
(a) Name of Issuer:
Stage Stores, Inc.
(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
1201 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77025
ITEM 2. NAME OF PERSON FILING
(a) Name:
Charles H. Witmer
Meryl B. Witmer
(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
237 Park Avenue, Suite 800
New York, New York 10017
(c) Citizenship:
U.S.A.
(d) Title of Class of Securities:
Shares of Common stock, par value $.01 per share
(e) CUSIP Number:
85254C305
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SS. 240.13D-1(B) OR
SS.240.13D-2(B) OR (C), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:
Not Applicable
(a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act.
(b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act.
(c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act.
(d) [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with
ss.240.13(d)-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
(f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with
ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
(g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with
ss.240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G)
(h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 5 of 8 Pages
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(i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP.
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
Charles H. Witmer 1,005,425 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 1,005,425 shares
(b) Percent of Class:
Charles H. Witmer 5.0%
Meryl B. Witmer 5.0%
(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:
(i) sole power to vote of to direct the vote:
Charles H. Witmer 0 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 0 shares
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
Charles H. Witmer 1,005,425 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 1,005,425 shares
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of.
Charles H. Witmer 0 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 0 shares
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
Charles H. Witmer 1,005,425 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 1,005,425 shares
ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS
If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than
five percent of the class of securities, check the following: [ ]
Not Applicable
ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
Not Applicable
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 6 of 8 Pages
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ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE
SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY
Not Applicable
ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBER OF THE GROUP
Not Applicable
ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP
Not Applicable
ITEM 10. CERTIFICATION
The following certification shall be included if the statement is filed
pursuant to ss.240.13d-1(c):
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose
of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a
participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT 1
---------
Joint Filing Agreement dates July 26, 2002 between Charles H. Witmer and
Meryl B. Witmer.
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 7 of 8 Pages
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SIGNATURES
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
Dated: July 26, 2002 By: /s/ Charles H. Witmer*
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Charles H. Witmer
Dated: July 26, 2002 By: /s/ Meryl B. Witmer*
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Meryl B. Witmer
* The reporting persons hereby disclaim beneficial ownership over the shares
reported on this 13G to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 8 of 8 Pages
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EXHIBIT 1
JOINT FILING STATEMENT
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(k)(1)
The undersigned hereby consent and agree to file a joint statement on
Schedule 13G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect
to shares of common stock of Stage Stores, Inc. beneficially owned by them,
together with any or all amendments thereto, when and if appropriate. The
parties hereto further consent and agree to file this Statement Pursuant to Rule
13d-1(k)(1)(iii) as an exhibit to Schedule 13G, thereby incorporating the same
into such Schedule 13G.
Dated: July 26, 2002 By: /s/ Charles H. Witmer
------------------------------------
Charles H. Witmer
Dated: July 26, 2002 By: /s/ Meryl B. Witmer
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Meryl B. Witmer