UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(AMENDMENT NO. 2) *
Stage Stores, Inc.
(Name of Issuer)
Shares of Common stock, par value $.01 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
85254C305
(CUSIP Number)
November 22, 2002
(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
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on 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 9 Pages
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1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
Witmer Asset Management 13-3735486
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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
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4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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5 SOLE VOTING POWER
0
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 952,760
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 0
PERSON ------------------------------------------------------------
WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
952,760
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9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
952,760
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10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* [ ]
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11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
4.9%
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12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
OO
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 3 of 9 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
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4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
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5 SOLE VOTING POWER
9,000
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 955,760
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 9,000
PERSON ------------------------------------------------------------
WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
955,760
------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
981,960
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10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* [ ]
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11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
5.1%
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12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 4 of 9 Pages
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1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
Meryl B. 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
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4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
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5 SOLE VOTING POWER
17,200
NUMBER OF ------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY 955,760
OWNED BY ------------------------------------------------------------
EACH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
REPORTING 17,200
PERSON ------------------------------------------------------------
WITH 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
955,760
------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
981,960
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10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES* [ ]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
5.1%
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12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
IN
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 5 of 9 Pages
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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:
Witmer Asset Management
Charles H. Witmer
Meryl B. Witmer
(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
237 Park Avenue, Suite 800
New York, New York 10017
(c) Citizenship:
Witmer Asset Management is a limited liability company and organized
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Charles H. Witmer and Meryl B. Witmer are United States citizens.
(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:
(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)
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 6 of 9 Pages
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(h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).
(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:
Witmer Asset Management 952,760 shares
Charles H. Witmer 981,960 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 981,960 shares
(b) Percent of Class:
Witmer Asset Management 4.9%
Charles H. Witmer 5.1%
Meryl B. Witmer 5.1%
(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:
(i) sole power to vote of to direct the vote:
Witmer Asset Management 0 shares
Charles H. Witmer 9,000 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 17,200 shares
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
Witmer Asset Management 952,760 shares
Charles H. Witmer 955,760 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 955,760 shares
(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of.
Witmer Asset Management 0 shares
Charles H. Witmer 9,000 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 17,200 shares
(iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
Witmer Asset Management 952,760 shares
Charles H. Witmer 955,760 shares
Meryl B. Witmer 955,760 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: [X]
Witmer Asset Management is no longer the beneficial owner of more than 5%.
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 7 of 9 Pages
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ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
Not Applicable
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 dated November 27, 2002 between
Witmer Asset Management, Charles H. Witmer and Meryl B.
Witmer.
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CUSIP NO. 85254C305 Page 8 of 9 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: November 27, 2002 Witmer Asset Management
/s/ Charles H. Witmer *
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Name: Charles H. Witmer
Title: Member
Dated: November 27, 2002 /s/ Charles H. Witmer *
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Charles H. Witmer
Dated: November 27, 2002 /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 9 of 9 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 Amendment No. 2 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: November 27, 2002 Witmer Asset Management
/s/ Charles H. Witmer
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Name: Charles H. Witmer
Title: Member
Dated: November 27, 2002 /s/ Charles H. Witmer
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Charles H. Witmer
Dated: November 27, 2002 /s/ Meryl B. Witmer
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Meryl B. Witmer