Exhibit 99.(a)(8)


FEDERATED TO ACQUIRE FINGERHUT; ACQUISITION TO STRENGTHEN/COMPLEMENT CATALOG 
AND INTERNET BUSINESSES


     CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 1999--Federated Department Stores, 
Inc. (NYSE:FD) and Fingerhut Companies, Inc. (NYSE:FHT) today jointly 
announced a definitive merger agreement under which Federated will acquire 
Fingerhut, a leading direct marketing company. In the transaction, Fingerhut 
shareholders will receive $25 per share in cash under a tender offer expected 
to commence within a week. The transaction, valued at approximately $1.7 
billion (including net debt of Fingerhut), is subject to regulatory approvals 
and other conditions. The transaction has been approved by the boards of 
directors of both companies.

     Federated said Fingerhut's state-of-the-art infrastructure for catalog 
and Internet order fulfillment, coupled with its prowess in database 
management and direct marketing, provides an excellent platform for further 
growth of Federated's strong retail brands and non-store retailing 
operations--Bloomingdale's By Mail and Macy's By Mail direct mail catalogs 
and the Macys.Com e-commerce website.

     "Joining forces with a company such as Fingerhut allows us to 
capitalize on and leverage our own retailing strengths and infrastructure in 
new, rapidly expanding channels. The acquisition, therefore, will help fuel 
Federated's potential for continued growth," said James M. Zimmerman, 
Federated's chairman and chief executive officer. "This is an excellent 
opportunity for Federated and Fingerhut because our businesses and core 
competencies complement each other so well. One of the reasons we are 
attracted to Fingerhut is its exceptionally strong management team and 
workforce. We regard both as tremendous resources."

     "This is an excellent transaction for our shareholders and a natural fit 
that will benefit both organizations," said Ted Deikel, chairman and chief 
executive officer of Fingerhut. "This relationship will provide Fingerhut 
with the capital to more rapidly expand our e-commerce efforts, as well as 
Fingerhut Business Services, our fulfillment and marketing services 
operation."

     While the near-term financial effects of the acquisition will depend on 
numerous factors, Federated expects the acquisition to be dilutive initially. 
On a longer-term basis, Federated expects that this transaction will 
accelerate its future growth and increase its return on investment.

     The Fingerhut core catalog represents a majority of the company's 
approximately $2 billion annual sales, but the company also operates 
catalogs under the names of Figi's, a food and gift catalog; Arizona Mail 
Order and Bedford Fair, both apparel catalogs; and Popular Club, a  
membership-based general merchandise catalog. In addition to its own 
e-commerce websites, Fingerhut also owns minority equity interests in four 
e-commerce Companies--PC Flowers & Gifts, an on-line provider of flowers, 
gift baskets and gourmet food; The Zone Network, parent company of 
mountainzone.com; FreeShop.com, an online provider of free merchandise and 
links to other e-commerce sites; and Roxy Systems, Inc., an Internet marketer 
of digital communications and entertainment services.

     Beyond catalog and Internet selling, Fingerhut's range of business 
services include telemarketing, direct marketing, information management, 
warehousing, product fulfillment and distribution, order and returns 
processing and customer service. Fingerhut and its subsidiaries employ about 
10,000 people.


    Credit Suisse First Boston and Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue are advising 
Federated on the transaction, and Fingerhut is being advised by Salomon Smith 
Barney and Faegre & Benson.

     Federated, with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of 
the nation's leading department store retailers, with annual sales of more 
than $15.8 billion. Federated currently operates more than 400 department 
stores in 33 states under the names of Bloomingdale's, The Bon Marche, 
Burdines, Goldsmith's, Lazarus, Macy's, Rich's and Stern's. Federated also 
operates direct mail catalog and electronic commerce subsidiaries under the 
names of Bloomingdale's By Mail, Macy's By Mail and Macys.Com.

     Forward-looking statements contained in this release involve risks and 
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those 
contemplated. Factors that could cause such differences include the risks 
associated with retailing generally, transactional effects, integration 
risks and other investment considerations described from time to time by the 
companies in their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     CONTACT:   Federated 
                Carol Sanger       - Media,  513/579 7764
                Susan Robinson     - Investor, 513/579-7780
                                   or
                Fingerhut 
                Lynda Nordeen      - Media, 612/936-5015
                Gerald Knight      - Investor, 612/936-5507

COMED INTERACTIVE/MULTIMEDIA/INTERNET MERGERS/ACQ

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