POPE EVANS &lt;PER> REPURCHASES SHARES

  Pope, Evans and Robbins Inc said it
  has repurchased 780,000 common shares from Putnam Mills Corp
  principals Sidney and Peter Kaplan for 2.25 dlrs per share.
      It said the purchase price will be applied against the
  1,700,000 dlrs Putnam Mills currently owes Pope Evans for
  merchandise.  Pope Evans has about 7.6 mln shares outstanding.
      The company also said it has agreed in principle to acquire
  privately-held Pat Fashions Industries Inc for 18 mln dlrs in
  cash and notes, with financing to come partly from bank
  borrowings, subject to approval by the Pope Evans board and Pat
  shareholders.
      Pat Fashions imports apparel from the Far East and makes
  apparel domestically as well.  In the year ended November 30,
  Pat earned 5,400,000 dlrs pretax on sales of 83.0 mln dlrs.
  

