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Form 11-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Fee Required)
[X] For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997
or
[ ] Transition report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (No Fee Required)
Commission File No. 0-3747
A. Full title of plan and address of the Plan, if different from that of the
issuer named below:
THE CATO CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the
address of its principal executive office:
THE CATO CORPORATION
Human Resources Department
8100 Denmark Road
Charlotte, NC 28273
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THE CATO CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
FORM 11-K
September 30, 1997
Table of Contents
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Page
No.
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Part I - Exhibit Index and Related Exhibits..............................2
Part II - Financial Information
Independent Auditors' Report.........................................3
Statements of Net Assets.............................................4
Statements of Changes in Net Assets..................................5
Notes to Financial Statements....................................6 - 7
Other Information....................................................8
Independent Auditors' Consent........................................9
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THE CATO CORPORATION
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
EXHIBIT INDEX
Form 11-K for the Years Ended
September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995
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Exhibit Description
No. of Exhibit Page
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23.1. Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Auditors........ 9
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[DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP LETTERHEAD]
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Employee Benefit Plan Administrative Committee
The Cato Corporation
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets of The Cato
Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of September 30, 1997 and 1996, and
the related statements of changes in net assets for each of the three years in
the period ended September 30, 1997. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the net assets of The Cato Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan as
of September 30, 1997 and 1996, and the changes in net assets for each of the
three years in the period ended September 30, 1997 in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
/S/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
November 21, 1997
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THE CATO CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS
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September 30,
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1997 1996
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Assets of the Plan $ 0 $ 0
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Liabilities of the Plan $ 0 $ 0
-------- --------
Net Assets $ 0 $ 0
======== ========
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See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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THE CATO CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
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<CAPTION>
Years Ended September 30,
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1997 1996 1995
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<S> <C> <C> <C>
Increases:
Employee Contributions $ 231,238 $ 292,807 $ 417,794
Dividends Reinvested by Participants 17,215 14,058 8,075
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248,453 306,865 425,869
Decreases:
Purchases of The Cato Corporation
Common Stock subsequently
distributed to Plan participants
(47,496, 51,010 and 68,473 shares
for the years ended September 30,
1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively) 232,660 277,488 379,755
Cash Withdrawals 15,793 29,377 46,741
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248,453 306,865 426,496
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Net Decrease 0 0 (627)
Net Assets at Beginning of Year 0 0 627
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Net Assets at End of Year $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
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THE CATO CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended September 30, 1997, 1996 and 1995
NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying financial statements of The Cato Corporation Employee Stock
Purchase Plan ("the Plan") have been prepared on the accrual basis. The Plan's
fiscal year ends on September 30.
Certain reclassifications have been made to the financial statements for prior
fiscal years to conform with classifications used for the year ended September
30, 1997.
NOTE 2 - PLAN DESCRIPTION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT PLAN PROVISIONS
The Board of Directors of The Cato Corporation ("the Company") adopted the Plan
on September 23, 1993 and the Plan was approved by Shareholders of the Company
at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 19, 1994. The Plan became effective
as of November 1, 1993 and will terminate on September 20, 2003, unless extended
by the Board of Directors or terminated sooner by the sale of all Shares offered
under the Plan. Of the 250,000 shares of the Cato Corporation Common Stock
originally reserved under the Plan, 41,493 shares remained available at
September 30, 1997 and 88,989 shares remained available at September 30, 1996.
The purpose of the Plan is to provide eligible employees with an opportunity to
participate in the accumulation and potential appreciation in value of the
Common Stock of The Cato Corporation. Eligible employees are those who are
regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours each week and more than 5 months
each calendar year and are actively employed on the first and last day of the
purchase period. There are two purchase periods in each plan year. The first
period includes the six months ended March 31, and the second period includes
the six months ended September 30. Under the terms of the Plan, all eligible
employees of the Company, through payroll deductions, are allowed to purchase,
on the last day of each of the purchase periods in the plan year specified in
the Plan, shares of Common Stock at a 15% discount from the last reported sale
price of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ National Market System. In addition to
the Common Stock which may be purchased through payroll deductions, Common Stock
discounted 15% may also be purchased by each plan participant by a one-time
election on April 15 of each
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NOTE 2 - PLAN DESCRIPTION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT PLAN PROVISIONS - CONTINUED
year in an amount not to exceed $10,000. The purchase price at which shares will
be sold during each purchase period is 85% of the lower of the fair market value
at (1) the beginning date of a purchase period or (2) ending date of a purchase
period. The purchase price for the one-time election is 85% of the last sale
price on or before the April 15 date as listed on the NASDAQ National Market
System.
Contributions are limited to 10% of compensation for the biannual purchases made
through payroll deductions. The aggregate fair market value of Shares of Common
Stock that may be purchased by any participant during any calendar year may not
exceed $25,000. Pending investment, funds may be held by The Cato Corporation.
In addition to employee contributions, all dividends paid on Common Shares
purchased through the plan are automatically reinvested in additional shares.
A participant may withdraw all or any portion of the full shares held in the
participant's account under the Plan by notifying The Cato Corporation in
writing. A participant may suspend payroll deductions at any time and applicable
payroll deductions will be returned to the participant. No suspended payroll
deductions are permitted within the last 15 days of each purchase period.
The Plan is a stock plan as defined in Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, and is not subject to federal income taxes. Substantial tax
benefits are allowed to participants with respect to the treatment of the stock
purchased within the plan, provided certain holding period requirements are met.
All costs to administer the Plan are paid by the Company.
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: December 16, 1997
The Cato Corporation
By: /s/ Robert M. Sandler
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Robert M. Sandler
Senior Vice President
Controller
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[DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP LETTERHEAD]
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No.
33-69844 of The Cato Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan on Form S-8 of our
report dated November 21, 1997, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 11-K of
The Cato Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the year ended September
30, 1997.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
December 15, 1997
