PAYLESS SHOESOURCE HOLDINGS INC
S-8 POS, 1998-06-03
SHOE STORES
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              AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                On June 3, 1998

                      Registration Statement No. 333-50671

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                         POST EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       to
                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                            PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                Delaware                                 43-1813160
        (State of Incorporation)            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   3231 E. 6th Street, Topeka, Kansas                    66607-2207
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)


              PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC. DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
                              (Full Title of Plan)

                                William J. Rainey
              Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
                            PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.
                               3231 E. 6th Street
                            Topeka, Kansas 66607-2207
                                 (913) 233-5171
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)

                                   Copies to:

                                 Carl W. Struby
                               Lathrop & Gage L.C.
                        2345 Grand Boulevard, Suite 2800
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64108
                                 (816) 460-5834



<PAGE>



Part I

         The Section 10(a) prospectus relating to the Payless  ShoeSource,  Inc.
Deferred  Compensation  Plan,  as amended  (the  "Plan")  is  omitted  from this
Registration  Statement  pursuant to the Note to the  Instructions  to Part I of
Form S-8.

Part II

Information Required in the Registration Statement

         Effective June 1,  1998,  the  Registrant's  predecessor  (also  named
Payless   ShoeSource,   Inc.  and  referred  to  herein  as  the  "Predecessor")
reorganized   its  corporate   structure  into  a  "holding   company"  form  of
organizational  structure by merging (the "Merger") with Payless Merger Corp., a
newly-formed,  wholly-owned  indirect subsidiary of the Predecessor and a direct
subsidiary  of the  Registrant.  Predecessor  was the  surviving  company in the
Merger,  and in the Merger,  each share of common stock of the  Predecessor  was
automatically  converted  into one share of  Common  Stock,  par value  $.01 per
share,  of  Registrant.  As a result of the Merger,  the  Registrant  became the
holding company and the successor issuer to the Predecessor.

         In connection with the Merger,  the Registrant  assumed the obligations
of the  Predecessor  as sponsor of the Plan.  This  post-effective  amendment is
filed  pursuant to Rule 414 under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the
"Securities  Act"),  to reflect the adoption by Registrant of this  Registration
Statement,  as well as the Plan to which it relates, as its own for all purposes
of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         The  following   documents  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

         (a) Annual Report of Payless ShoeSource, Inc. on Form 10-K (File No.
1-11633) for the Fiscal Year ended January 31, 1998, filed pursuant to Section
13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

         (b) All other reports  filed by Payless  ShoeSource,  Inc.  pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 since January 31,
1998.

         (c) The description of the Registrant's Common Stock and related Rights
contained   under  the  captions  "New  Payless  Capital  Stock"  and  "Possible
Anti-takeover  Effect of Certain Provisions of the New Payless Charter,  the New
Payless  Bylaws and the DGCL" at pages  13-17 of the  Registrant's  Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-50577).


                                        2

<PAGE>



         In  addition,  all  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the  Registrant
pursuant to Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14, and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to
the filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates that all securities
offered  have been  sold or which  deregisters  all  securities  then  remaining
unsold,  are incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement and are a
part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement  contained
herein or in a document all or a portion of which is  incorporated  or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for  purposes  of this  Registration  Statement  to the extent  that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies or  supersedes  such
statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,  except
as so modified and amended, to constitute part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

         Deferred Compensation Payment Obligation

         Under the Plan,  the  Registrant  provides  certain key  employees  the
opportunity to defer  specified  portions of their annual bonus until April 1 of
the following fiscal year and defer other  compensation  until a later date, but
generally not before the earlier of the  employee's  retirement,  termination of
employment  or death (or prior  occurrence  of a severe  financial  hardship  as
provided  in the Plan).  Under  certain  circumstances,  such as (i) a Change in
Control (as defined in the Plan) or (ii) if the Committee administering the Plan
determines  acceleration  of payment is in the best interests of the Registrant,
the  participants  and their  beneficiaries,  payment  can be  accelerated.  The
obligation  of the  Registrant  to  distribute  the  compensation  deferred (the
"Deferred  Compensation  Payment Obligation") is an unsecured general obligation
of the Registrant to pay the deferred  compensation  in the future in accordance
with the terms of the Plan,  and ranks pari passu with other  unsecured  general
obligations of the Registrant.

         Participants  choose  from  one of  two  options  for  the  purpose  of
investing  deferred  compensation:  Cash Units or Stock Units.  Participants may
have their deferred  compensation credited in Cash Units or in Stock Units or in
both Cash Units and Stock Units.

         Cash Unit

         Under the Plan, if a participant  elects Cash Units, the  participant's
account  will be  credited  with one  Cash  Unit for  each  dollar  of  deferred
compensation.  Interest in the form of additional  Cash Units is credited to the
participant's  account  each April 1 at a rate of interest  equal to the average
yield on  long-term  U.S.  Government  Bonds for the  preceding  calendar  year.
Deferred  compensation will begin earning interest when the deferral is credited
to the participant's account on the April 1 following the year of deferral.


                                        3

<PAGE>

         Stock Unit

         Under the Plan, if a participant  elects Stock Units, the participant's
account  will be credited  with the number of whole Stock  Units  equivalent  in
value to the  participant's  deferred  compensation.  For converting  dollars to
Stock  Units,  the value of a Stock  Unit is  deemed to be equal to the  average
closing price of the  Registrant's  Common Stock on the New York Stock  Exchange
during the February immediately  preceding the April 1 crediting date. The Stock
Units  are  only  a  bookkeeping  entry  and  not  an  actual  purchase  of  the
Registrant's  Common  Stock.  The value of Stock Units will  fluctuate  based on
changes in the value of Registrant's  Common Stock. To the extent that dividends
are paid on  Registrant's  Common  Stock,  a like  amount  (less any  fractional
shares)  will be added to the  participant's  account  and  reinvested  in Stock
Units.  This right to accrue  earnings (or losses) based on the  fluctuations in
the value of  Registrant's  Common Stock may be deemed to be a "security"  under
the  Securities  Act and,  as such,  is being  registered  on this  Registration
Statement on Form S-8.

          The Committee  administering the Plan may elect in its sole discretion
to make  payments  with  respect to Stock  Units in cash or in the  Registrant's
Common Stock or in both cash and the  Registrant's  Common Stock.  The shares of
Registrant's  Common Stock that may be issued under such  election is also being
registered on this Registration Statement on Form S-8.

         Reallocation of Cash Units or Stock Units

          Subject to Committee  approval,  until  December 31, 1998 and prior to
the year in which such change is to become  effective a participant may elect to
have all or a portion of the  participant's  Cash Units reallocated and credited
to  the  participant's   Stock  Unit  account,  or  all  or  a  portion  or  the
participant's  Stock Units  reallocated and credited to the  participant's  Cash
Unit account.  Any such reallocation shall occur as of the April 1 following the
year in which the participant's election to reallocate was made.

         Distributions

         Distributions will be in cash, except that the Committee  administering
the Plan may, if the participant has elected to invest deferred  compensation in
Stock Units,  elect in its sole discretion to make payments either in cash or in
the Registrant's Common Stock or in both cash and the Registrant's Common Stock.
If a  distribution  is in  stock,  Stock  Units are  converted  to shares of the
Registrant's  Common Stock on a one-to-one  basis. If a distribution is in cash,
the value of a Stock Unit is deemed to be equal to the average  closing price of
the Registrant's Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange during the month of
February next preceding the date of distribution.

         Except with respect to  distributions  of annual bonuses that have been
deferred until April 1 of the following fiscal year, the Committee administering
the Plan has discretion as to whether the  distributions  will be made in a lump
sum payment or payments in annual installments.


                                        4

<PAGE>



         Modification

         The Plan may be amended,  modified or  terminated  by the  Registrant's
Board of  Directors,  except that no change may be made  without the approval of
the shareholders of the  Registrant's  Common Stock (i) in the maximum number of
Stock Units  deliverable  or  allocable  in respect of any fiscal year under the
Plan or (ii) in  certain  provisions  of the  Plan  relating  to the  method  of
determining the number of Stock Units allocable to a Participant.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         William J. Rainey, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the
Registrant, has given an opinion to the Registrant opining as to the validity
of the securities being issued pursuant to the Plan.  Mr. Rainey is eligible to
participate in the Plan.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Registrant's  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  (the  "Charter")
provides  that  it  will  indemnify  any  person  who  was or is a  party  or is
threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding,  whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (including any action or suit by or in
the right of  Registrant)  by  reason  of the fact that such  person is or was a
director,  officer,  employee or agent of Registrant or is or was serving at the
request of  Registrant  as a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of another
corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or other  enterprise,  against
expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts  paid in
settlement  actually and reasonably  incurred by such person in connection  with
such  action,  suite or  proceeding,  but in each case only if and to the extent
permitted under applicable state or federal law. Expenses,  including attorneys'
fees,  incurred  by any  such  person  in  defending  any such  action,  suit or
proceeding  shall be paid or  reimbursed  by  Registrant in advance of the final
disposition  of  such  action,  suit  or  proceeding  upon  receipt  by it of an
undertaking  of such  person to repay such  expenses if it shall  ultimately  be
determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by Registrant.

         The  Charter  further  states  that the  right to  indemnification  and
advancement of expenses  provided  therein shall not be deemed  exclusive of any
other rights to which those  indemnified may be entitled,  and shall continue as
to a person  who has ceased to be a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, and personal  representatives of such a
person.

         Section 145 of the Delaware General  Corporation Law ("DGCL") permits a
corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses  (including
attorneys' fees), judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and
reasonably  incurred by them in connection  with any action,  suit or proceeding
brought by third parties,  if such directors or officers acted in good faith and
in a  manner  they  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to the  best
interests  of the  corporation  and,  with  

                                        5

<PAGE>



respect to any  criminal  action or  proceeding,  had no eason to believe  their
conduct was unlawful.  In a derivative  action,  i.e., one by or in the right of
the  corporation,indemnification  may be made  only for  expenses  actually  and
reasonably  incurred by directors and officers in connection with the defense or
settlement  of an action or suit,  and only with respect to a matter as to which
they shall have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably  believed to
be in or not opposed to the best  interests of the  corporation,  except that no
indemnification  shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to
the  corporation,  unless  and only to the  extent  that the  court in which the
action or suit was brought shall determine upon  application that the defendant,
officers or directors are fairly and  reasonably  entitled to indemnity for such
expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

         As permitted by Section  102(b) (7) of the DGCL,  the Charter  provides
that no director of Registrant  will be liable to Registrant or its  shareowners
for  monetary  damages for breach of  fiduciary  duty as a director,  except for
liability (1) for any breach of the director's  duty of loyalty to Registrant or
its  shareowners;  (2) for acts or omissions  not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law; (3) under Section 174 of
the DGCL; or (4) for any transaction  from which a director  derived an improper
benefit.

         Registrant  has  entered  into  indemnification  agreements  with  each
director  and  certain  executive  officers  of  Registrant.   Generally,   each
indemnification  agreement provides, among other things, (i) for indemnification
to the fullest extent permitted by law against all expenses,  judgments,  fines,
penalties  incurred in connection  with,  and amounts paid in settlement of, any
claim against the indemnified party,  provided it is determined  pursuant to the
agreement that the indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified under the applicable
standard  of conduct  under the DGCL;  (ii) for  advancement  of expenses to the
indemnitee  in connection  with the  indemnitee's  defense of any  threatened or
pending claim,  provided that if it is determined pursuant to the agreement that
the indemnitee  would not be permitted to be indemnified  under  applicable law,
Registrant  shall be entitled to be  reimbursed by the  indemnitee  for all such
amounts  previously  paid;  (iii) for the creation of a trust for the benefit of
the indemnitee in the event of a potential change in control of Registrant which
shall be funded from time to time at the request of the  indemnitee in an amount
sufficient  to  satisfy  Registrant's   indemnification  obligations  under  the
agreement;  and (iv) that no legal  action be brought  and no cause of action be
asserted  by or on  behalf  of  Registrant  against  the  indemnitee  after  the
expiration of the earlier of the applicable  statute of limitations or two years
after the date of  accrual  of such  cause of  action.  Similar  indemnification
agreements  may be entered  into from time to time with  additional  officers of
Registrant.  In  addition,  Registrant  has  purchased a directors  and officers
liability insurance policy.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.


                                        6

<PAGE>



Item 8. Exhibits.

         3.1    Restated    Certificate   of    Incorporation    of   Registrant
                (Incorporated   herein  by   reference   to   Exhibit   3.1  to
                Registrant's    Current    Report  on   Form   8-K   (File   No.
                333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

         3.2    Bylaws  of  Registrant  (Incorporated  herein  by  reference  to
                Exhibit 3.2  to  Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K (File
                No. 333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

         4      Registrant's    Stockholder    Rights    Protection    Agreement
                (Incorporated    herein   by   reference   to   Exhibit   4   to
                Registrant's  Current  Report  on Form 8-K  (File No. 333-50577)
                filed June 3, 1998).

        *5      Opinion of Counsel as to legality of the securities being
                registered hereby.

       *23.1    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

       *23.2    Consent of Counsel (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5
                to this Registration Statement)

       *24      Powers of Attorney

        99      Payless ShoeSource,  Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended
                April 20, 1998  (incorporated  by reference from Exhibit 99.4 of
                Registrant's  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K  filed   (File  No.
                333-50577) June 3, 1998).

*  Filed Herewith

** Previously Filed


Item 9. Undertakings.

         (a)    The Registrant hereby undertakes:

                (1) To file,  during  any  period  in which  offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                            (i)  to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                            (ii) to  reflect  in the  prospectus  any  facts  or
events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,

                                        7

<PAGE>



individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent a fundamental  change in the
information set forth in the Registration Statement;

                            (iii)  to  include  any  material  information  with
respect to the plan of distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the 
Registration  Statement or any material change to such information in the
Registration Statement.

                           Provided, however, that paragraphs 1.(a)(i) and
1.(a)(ii) do not apply if the information  required  to be  included in a 
post-effective  amendment  by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed by the Registrant  pursuant to Section  13 or Section  15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement;

                (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933,  each  post-effective  amendment shall be deemed to be a
new registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                (3) To remove  from  registration  by means of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

          (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (and  where  applicable,  each  filing  of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  Section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934) that is  incorporated  by  reference  in this
Registration  Statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (c)  Insofar as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers, and controlling
persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the  Registrant  has been  advised  that in the  opinion of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for
indemnification  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses  incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the Registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director, officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


                                        8

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

The Registrant.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the  requirements  for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this  Amendment
No. 1 to Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the  undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Topeka,  State of Kansas, on the 2nd
day of June, 1998.

                                         PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.


                                         By:   /s/Ullrich E. Porzig
                                               Name:   Ullrich E. Porzig
                                               Title:  Senior Vice President and
                                                       Chief Financial Officer


Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  this
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:


         Signature                      Title                        Date

/s/Steven J. Douglass*       Director, Chairman of the Board      June 2, 1998
Steven J. Douglass           and Chief Executive Officer
                             (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/Richard A. Jolosky*       Director and President               June 2, 1998
Richard A. Jolosky

/s/Ullrich E. Porzig         Senior Vice President and Chief      June 2, 1998
Ullrich E. Porzig            Financial Officer (Principal
                             Financial Officer)

/s/Ronald A. Cooperman*      Controller                           June 2, 1998
Ronald A. Cooperman

/s/Howard R. Fricke*          Director                            June 2, 1998
Howard R. Fricke

/s/Thomas A. Hays*            Director                            June 2, 1998
Thomas A. Hays


                                        9

<PAGE>


/s/Michael E. Murphy*         Director                            June 2, 1998
Michael E. Murphy

/s/Richard L. Stark           Director                            June 2, 1998
Richard L. Stark

/s/Daniel Boggan, Jr.         Director                            June 2, 1998
Daniel Boggan, Jr.

/s/Mylle B. Mangum            Director                            June 2, 1998
Mylle B. Mangum



By:  /s/Ullrich E. Porzig
     Ullrich E. Porzig
     Attorney-in-Fact

                                       10
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  3.1      Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  of Registrant (Incorporated
           herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Current Report on
           Form 8-K (File No. 333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

  3.2      Bylaws of  Registrant  (Incorporated  herein by  reference to Exhibit
           3.2 to  Registrant's  Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 333-50577)
           filed June 3, 1998).

  4        Registrant's  Stockholder Rights Protection  Agreement  (Incorporated
           herein by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registrant's Current Report on
           Form 8-K (File No. 333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

 *5        Opinion of Counsel as to legality of the securities being registered
           hereby.

*23.1      Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

*23.2      Consent of Counsel (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to
           this Registration Statement).

*24        Powers of Attorney

99         Payless ShoeSource, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended April
           20, 1998 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.4 of Registrant's
           Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 333-50577) filed June 3, 1998).

*  Filed Herewith

** Previously Filed



                                       11




                                   Exhibit 5

                            Payless ShoeSource, Inc.
                              3231 East 6th Street
                                 P.O. Box 1189
                           Topeka, Kansas 66601-1189
                                 (785) 233-5171

William J. Rainey                                             Law Department
Senior Vice President                                         (785) 295-2434 
General Counsel & Secretary                                   (785) 368-7524 FAX

June 2, 1998

Gentlemen:

         I am Senior Vice President and General  Counsel of Payless  ShoeSource,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").  In that capacity, I have acted as
counsel for the Company in connection with the amendments (the  "Amendments") on
Form S-8 (Reg.  Nos.  333-25877  (relating to the Company's 1996 Stock Incentive
Plan (the  "1996  SIP"))  and  333-50671  (relating  to the  Company's  Deferred
Compensation  Plan (the  "Deferred  Plan"),  and together with the 1996 SIP (the
"Plans")),  of shares  of common  stock,  par  value of $.01 per  share,  of the
Company (the "Shares").

         The  Amendments  are being filed to  recognize  the  succession  of the
Company to Payless ShoeSource,  Inc., a Missouri corporation ("PSS") pursuant to
the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of
Merger,  dated as of April 20,  1998 by and among PSS,  the  Company and Payless
Merger Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

         In  connection  with  the  Amendments,  I,  or   attorneys   under   my
supervision,   have  examined  the   originals,   or  certified,   conformed  or
reproduction copies of:

                  (i)      resolutions of the Board of Directors;

                  (ii)     the Amendments;

                  (iii)    the Plans;

                  (iv)     the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
                           of the Company; and

                  (v)      the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.

         I, or attorneys under my supervision, have also made such other factual
and legal  investigations as I have deemed necessary and appropriate in order to
render the opinion hereinafter expressed.  In such examination,  I, or attorneys
under my supervision have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,  the
authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to
original documents of all


<PAGE>


documents submitted to me as certified copies or photocopies.  As to any facts
material to the  opinion  set forth  below  which were not  independently
established or verified,  I, or attorneys under my supervision  have relied upon
state-ments and  representations  of officers and other  representatives  of the
Company and others.

         Based   upon  the   foregoing,   and   subject   to  the   limitations,
qualifications  and assumptions  set forth herein,  I am of the opinion that the
Shares to be issued, sold and delivered under the respective Plans will, when so
issued, sold and delivered pursuant to the provisions of the respective Plan, be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         I hereby  consent to the filing or  incorporation  by reference of this
opinion as an exhibit to the Amendments and to all references to the undersigned
in the Amendments and all further amendments to any of the Amendments.

         The opinion  expressed herein is solely for your benefit and may not be
relied upon in any manner or for any purpose by any other  person or entity.  It
may not be quoted in whole or in part without my prior consent.

                                                     Very truly yours,
                                                     /s/William J. Rainey

<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT 23.1

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         As   independent   public   accountants,   we  hereby  consent  to  the
incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to registration  statement on
Form  S-8  (File  No.   333-50671)  of  our  report  dated  February  20,  1998,
incorporated by reference in the Payless ShoeSource, Inc. Form 10-K for the year
ended  January 31,  1998,  and to all  references  to our firm  included in this
registration statement.


/s/ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
   ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
June 2, 1998




                                   EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,  that the  undersigned  constitutes and
appoints Steven J, Douglass,  Ullrich E. Porzig, and William J. Rainey, and each
or any one of them acting  alone,  as his true and lawful  attorney-in-fact  and
agent, with full power of substitution for him and in his name, place and stead,
in any and all  capacities,  to sign  PostEffective  Amendment No. 1 relating to
Registration  Statement 333-25877  respecting the Payless ShoeSource,  Inc. 1996
Stock Incentive Plan,  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement
333-30371  respecting  the  Payless  ShoeSource,   Inc.  Stock  Ownership  Plan,
Post-Effective  Amendment No. 2 relating to Registration Statement No. 333-28483
respecting  the Payless  ShoeSource,  Inc.  Profit  Sharing Plan and the Payless
ShoeSource,   Inc.  Profit  Sharing  Plan  for  Puerto  Rico   Associates,   and
Post-Effective  Amendment No. 1 relating to Registration Statement No. 333-50671
relating to the Payless ShoeSource, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, and any and
all further post-effective amendments to any such Registration Statement, and to
file the same,  with all  exhibits  thereto and other  documents  in  connection
therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  granting  unto said
attorney-in-fact  and agent full power and  authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises
to perfect and complete such filing(s), as fully to all the intents and purposes
as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact  and agent,  or his  substitute  may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue thereof.

         Dated this 22nd day of May, 1998

                                           /s/ Steven J. Douglass
                                           /s/ Ullrich E. Porzig
                                           /s/ Howard R. Fricke
                                           /s/ Thomas A. Hays
                                           /s/ Michael E. Murphy
                                           /s/ Richard L. Stark
                                           /s/ Daniel Boggan Jr
                                           /s/ Mylle B. Mangum
                                           /s/ Ronald A. Cooperman



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