HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE INC
10-K, 1999-03-29
HARDWARE & PLUMBING & HEATING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K

                Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998       Commission File Number 0-15708

                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.
                           (Exact Name of Registrant)


    TEXAS                                                   74-1381875
(State of incorporation                                  (I.R.S. Employer
   or organization)                                     Identification Number)
                               8300 Tewantin Drive
                              Houston, Texas 77061
                                 (713) 644-1495
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

        Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                     Class A Common Stock, $100.00 par value
                                (Title of Class)

                     Class B Common Stock, $100.00 par value
                                (Title of Class)

                       Preferred Stock, $100.00 par value
                                (Title of Class)

     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  Registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
Registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                    Yes X                No
                                       ---                   ----------

     Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive proxy or information  statements
incorporated  by reference in Part Ill of this Form 10-K or in any  amendment to
this Form 10-K. [X]

     The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the
Registrant  (computed by reference to the price at which the stock was sold) was
$894,000 of February 28, 1999.

     The number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  Registrant's  classes of
common stock as of February 28, 1999,  was 9,030 shares of Class A Common Stock,
$100 par value, and 56,459 shares of Class B Common Stock, $100 par value.

                       Documents Incorporated by Reference

        Document                                      Incorporated as to 
        --------                                      ------------------

Notice and Proxy Statement for the             Part III, Items 10, 11, 12 and 13
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held May 12, 1999



<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                     PART I
Item 1.     Business...........................................................1
Item 2.     Properties.........................................................7
Item 3.     Legal Proceedings..................................................7
Item 4.     Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders................7

                                     PART II
Item 5.     Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
               Stockholder Matters.............................................7
Item 6.     Selected Financial Data............................................8
Item 7.     Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
               and Results of Operations.......................................9
Item 7a.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk........13
Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.......................13
Item 9.     Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
               and Financial Disclosure.......................................35

                                    PART III

Item 10.*   Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant................35
Item 11.*   Executive Compensation............................................35
Item 12.*   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management....35
Item 13.*   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions....................35

                                     PART IV
Item 14.    Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K...35

- ---------------------------------
         * Included in the  Company's  proxy  statement  to be  delivered to the
Company's shareholders within 120 days following the Company's fiscal year end.

     The  statements  contained  in this  Annual  Report on Form  10-K  ("Annual
Report") that are not historical  facts are  forward-looking  statements as that
term is defined in Section 21E of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934,  as
amended,  and  therefore  involve  a number  of risks  and  uncertainties.  Such
forward-looking  statements  may be or may concern,  among other  things,  sales
levels,  the general  condition of retail markets,  levels of costs and margins,
capital   expenditures,   liquidity,   and  competition.   Such  forward-looking
statements  generally  are  accompanied  by  words  such  as  "plan,"  "budget,"
"estimate," "expect," "predict," "anticipate," "projected," "should," "believe,"
or other words that convey the  uncertainty  of future events or outcomes.  Such
forward-looking   information   is  based  upon   management's   current  plans,
expectations,  estimates and assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties  that  could  significantly  affect  current  plans,   anticipated
actions,  the timing of such actions and the Company's  financial  condition and
results of operations.  As a consequence,  actual results may differ  materially
from  expectations,  estimates  or  assumptions  expressed  in or implied by any
forward-looking  statements made by or on behalf of the Company, including those
regarding  the  Company's  financial  results,   levels  of  revenues,   capital
expenditures,  and capital  resource  activities.  Among the factors  that could
cause  actual  results  to differ  materially  are:  fluctuations  of the prices
received  for or demand  for the  Company's  goods,  amounts  of goods  sold for
reduced or no mark-up,  a need for additional labor or transportation  costs for
delivery of goods,  requirements  for capital;  general  economic  conditions or
specific  conditions  in  the  retail  hardware  business;  weather  conditions;
competition; unanticipated events related to the Year 2000; as well as the risks
and  uncertainties   discussed  in  this  Annual  Report,   including,   without
limitation,  the portions  referenced above and the uncertainties set forth from
time to  time  in the  Company's  other  public  reports,  filings,  and  public
statements.



<PAGE>



                                     PART I

Item 1.  Business

General Development of Business

     Handy  Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc.  ("Handy  Hardware" or the  "Company) was
incorporated as a Texas corporation on January 6, 1961. Its principal  executive
offices and warehouse are located at 8300 Tewantin Drive, Houston, Texas 77061.

     Handy Hardware was formed by 13 independent hardware dealers in response to
competitive  pressure from larger  businesses  and chain  discount  stores.  The
purpose of the Company is to provide the warehouse  facilities  and  centralized
purchasing  services  that  allow  participating  independent  hardware  dealers
("Member-Dealers")  to compete more  effectively  in areas of price and service.
Handy Hardware has grown from 13 Member-Dealers and sales of $150,000 in 1961 to
1,024 active  Member-Dealers  and sales of more than  $146,000,000  in 1998. The
Company is owned entirely by its Member-Dealers and former Member-Dealers.

     Handy Hardware is currently  engaged in the sale to its  Member-Dealers  of
products  used in retail  hardware,  lumber and home center stores as well as in
plant  nurseries,  industrial and automotive  stores.  In addition,  the Company
offers advertising and other services to Member-Dealers.  The Company utilizes a
central warehouse and office facility located in Houston, Texas, and maintains a
fleet of 40 trailers owned by the Company and 47 leased power units and trailers
which are used for merchandise  delivery.  The Company offers merchandise to its
Member-Dealers at its cost plus a markup charge,  resulting generally in a lower
price than an independent  dealer can obtain on its own. Member- Dealers may buy
merchandise from any source they desire,  and Member-Dealers are not required to
make any minimum  levels of purchases  from Handy  Hardware.  As of December 31,
1998,  Handy  Hardware's   Member-Dealers  were  located  in  Texas,  Louisiana,
Mississippi,  Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma,  Arkansas, Mexico and Central America.
Information  as to revenues,  operating  profit and  identifiable  assets of the
Company's single industry segment is presented under "Item 6. Selected Financial
Data."

Products and Distribution

     The Company buys merchandise from vendors in quantity lots,  warehouses the
merchandise  and resells it in smaller  lots to its  Member-Dealers.  During the
Company's   fiscal  year  ended   December  31,  1998,   636  of  the  Company's
Member-Dealers  were located in Texas, 190 in Louisiana,  91 in Oklahoma,  60 in
Arkansas, 16 in Alabama, 14 in Mississippi,  10 in Florida, 6 in Mexico and 1 in
Central America. No individual Member-Dealer accounted for more than 2.5% of the
sales of the  Company  during  fiscal  1998.  The loss of a single  customer  or
several customers would not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

     Often   Member-Dealers  may  desire  to  purchase  products  that  are  not
warehoused  by  the  Company.  In  this  instance,  Handy  Hardware  will,  when
requested,  purchase the product from the vendor and have it shipped directly to
the  Member-Dealer.  Direct  shipments  from  the  vendor  to the  Member-Dealer
accounted for  approximately  36% of Company sales during 1998,  33% in 1997 and
32% in 1996, while warehouse  shipments accounted for approximately 64% of total
net sales in 1998, 67% of total net sales in 1997 and 68% in 1996.

     The  Company's   total  sales   include  14  different   major  classes  of
merchandise.  In 1998,  1997 and  1996,  the  Company's  total  sales  and total
warehouse sales were divided among classes of merchandise listed below.



                                        1

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Total Sales(1)              Warehouse Sales
Class of Merchandise                             1998       1997      1996        1998       1997        1996
- --------------------                             ----       ----      ----        ----      -----        ----
<S>                                              <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
Plumbing Supplies                                 17%        17%       18%         20%        20%         20%
General Hardware                                  12         13        14          12         13          13
Paint Sundries                                    11         12        12          14         14          14
Electrical Supplies                               11         12        12          14         14          14
Hand Tools                                         9         10        10           9          9           9
Lawn and Garden Products                           8          8         8          10         10          10
Paint                                              4          4         4           4          4           4
Building Materials                                11          6         5           2          2           2
Power Tools                                        5          5         5           2          2           3
Housewares & Related Supplies                      3          3         3           3          3           3
Fasteners                                          2          2         2           1          1           1
Automotive After Market                            2          2         2           3          2           2
Outdoor Products                                   1          2         1           2          2           1
Miscellaneous                                      4          4         4           4          4           4
                                                  --        ---       ---         ---        ---        ----
                                                 100%       100%      100%        100%       100%        100%
                                                 ===        ===       ===         ===        ===         ===
- -----------
<FN>
     These amounts include direct sales and warehouse sales. Total sales in 1998
generated from sales of store supplies,  catalogs,  office supplies, and special
purchases  from  vendors of goods not part of the  Company's  regular  inventory
represented less than 0.40% of total sales.
</FN>
</TABLE>

     Warehouse  sales  normally  carry a markup of 9%,  excluding  any  purchase
discounts and manufacturer's  rebates. As an incentive to Member-Dealers to make
direct sale  purchases,  since June 1, 1989,  direct sales have been sold at the
Company's cost with no markup,  excluding  purchase discounts and manufacturers'
rebates.  The Company maintains a list of price-sensitive,  high volume items on
which the markup is reduced  from 9 percent to 2 or 4 percent.  This program was
developed  in  order to allow  Handy  Hardware  Member-Dealers  to  become  more
competitive in the markets they serve.  The  price-sensitive  items are reviewed
every six months and additions  and  deletions  are made based on  Member-Dealer
input and as the market dictates.  Because the primary purpose of the Company is
to provide its Member-Dealers  with a low cost buying program,  markups are kept
as low as possible,  although at a level  sufficient to provide adequate capital
to pay the expenses of the Company,  improve the quality of services provided to
the  Member-Dealers  and finance the increased  inventory and warehouse capacity
required to support the growth of the Company.

     Most  Member-Dealers  have a computer terminal at their hardware store that
provides a direct  link to the offices of the  Company.  Each  Member-Dealer  is
assigned a day of the week on which it is to  transmit  its orders  through  the
computer terminal.  Orders placed by Member-Dealers go directly into the Company
computer  where  they  are  compiled  and  processed  on the day  received.  The
appropriate  merchandise is gathered from the warehouse during the day following
receipt of each order and on the next day, the merchandise  leaves the warehouse
for  delivery to the  Member-  Dealer.  Generally,  the  merchandise  arrives at
individual stores on the day that it is shipped from the Company's warehouse.

                                        2

<PAGE>



     In 1998 the Company maintained a 94.8 percent service level (the measure of
the Company's  ability to meet  Member-Dealer  orders out of current stock),  as
compared to service  levels of 95.1  percent and 94.6  percent in 1997 and 1996,
respectively.  No policy  of  inventory  shrinkage  has been  implemented  or is
planned.

Dealer Services and Advertising

     The Company employs a staff of eight full time account  representatives who
visit  Member-Dealers  to advise  them on display  techniques,  record  keeping,
inventory  control,  promotional sales,  advertising  programs and other dealer-
related services available to them by and through the Company.

     The Company has  participated in newspaper  advertising  programs,  and has
assisted in the  preparation and  distribution  of sales  circulars  utilized by
Member-Dealers. The Company has a computerized circular program which allows the
retail dealer to customize  its own unique  advertising  circular  utilizing its
individual  inventory and  targeting its  particular  market.  In addition,  the
system tracks available vendor cooperative funds,  allowing the dealer to deduct
such  cooperative  claims  from the cost of the  circular  program.  The Company
estimates  that   approximately   $889,239  was  expended  in  1998  for  dealer
advertising  activities.  These  advertising  costs  were  completely  offset by
contributory   payments  by   participating   Member-Dealers   and   cooperative
advertising allowances by participating manufacturers.

Suppliers

     The Company  purchases  merchandise  from various  vendors,  depending upon
product  specifications  and  Member-Dealer  requirements.  Approximately  1,400
vendors  supplied  merchandise  to the Company  during 1998.  The Company has no
significant  long-term  contract  with  any  vendor.  Most  of  the  merchandise
purchased by the Company is available  from several  vendors and  manufacturers,
and no  single  vendor  or  manufacturer  accounted  for more  than  2.0% of the
Company's  total  purchases  during  1998.  The  Company  has  not in  the  past
experienced any significant  difficulties in obtaining  merchandise and does not
anticipate any such difficulty in the foreseeable future.

     The Company is a member of PRO Group,  Inc.,  of  Englewood,  Colorado,  an
independent  hardware  merchandising  group. PRO Group,  Inc. is a merchandising
organization with 45 wholesale hardware distributors as members. The size of the
organization generally provides greater buying power than that of any individual
member.  The  Company  became  a  member  of PRO  Group,  Inc.  in order to take
advantage  of this buying  power,  which gives PRO Group,  Inc.  and its members
access to potentially lower prices,  bigger discounts,  extended terms and other
purchasing  advantages.  The  Company  may  participate  at its  option in other
benefits available to PRO Group, Inc. members,  but is under no obligation to do
so and currently does not  participate  in such benefits  because they generally
are already provided by the Company to its Member-Dealers.

     All of the  Company's  products  are  warranted  to  various  levels by the
manufacturers,  whose  warranties  are  passed  on  to  the  Member-Dealers.  In
addition,  the Company maintains  product liability  insurance which the Company
believes is sufficient to meet its needs.

Employees

     As of December 31, 1998, the Company had 261 full-time employees,  of which
47  were in  management  positions  and 214 in  warehouse,  office  or  delivery
operations.  Company  employees are not  represented  by any labor  unions.  The
Company believes its employee  relations are satisfactory and it has experienced
no work stoppage as a result of labor disputes.

Trade Names

     The Company has a trade name,  "Handy Hardware Stores," that it licenses to
Member-Dealers at no additional  charge.  This trade name has been registered in
all the states in which the  Company's  Member-Dealers  are located.  This trade
name is displayed by many of the Member-Dealers on storefronts and inside stores
and is used in advertising  programs  organized by Handy  Hardware.  The Company
believes that this trade name is useful to its operations,  but that the loss of
ability to utilize this trade name would not have a material adverse effect upon
the business of the Company.


                                        3

<PAGE>



Capitalization by Member-Dealers

     In order to become a Handy Hardware Member-Dealer,  an independent hardware
dealer  must enter into a Dealer  Contract  with the  Company.  In  addition,  a
Member-Dealer must enter into a Subscription  Agreement with the Company for the
purchase of 10 shares of Handy Hardware Class A Common Stock, $100 par value per
share  ("Class A Common  Stock"),  with an  additional  agreement  to purchase a
minimum  number  of  shares  of Class B Common  Stock,  $100 par value per share
("Class  B Common  Stock"),  and  Preferred  Stock,  $100 par  value  per  share
("Preferred  Stock"),  as detailed  below.  The Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock are collectively  referred to herein as the "Common Stock." Class B
Common Stock and Preferred Stock are purchased  pursuant to a formula based upon
total purchases of merchandise by the Member-Dealer from the Company. All shares
of the Company's stock have a purchase price of $100 per share.

Purchase of Class A Common Stock

     At the time an independent  hardware dealer becomes a Member-Dealer,  he is
required to  purchase,  in cash,  10 shares of Class A Common  Stock at $100 per
share.

Purchases of Class B Common Stock and Preferred Stock

     General. In approximately March of each fiscal year, the Company calculates
the minimum  desired level of stock ownership for each  Member-Dealer  ("Desired
Stock Ownership"), based on (i) the dollar amount of Class A Common Stock, Class
B Common Stock and Preferred Stock owned by the  Member-Dealer as of December 31
of  the  preceding   fiscal  year  ("Actual  Stock   Ownership")  and  (ii)  the
Member-Dealer's  total  purchases of  merchandise  from the Company  during that
preceding  fiscal  year  ("Total  Purchases"),  as detailed  below.  The minimum
Desired Stock Ownership for a Member-Dealer is $10,000.  If the  Member-Dealer's
Actual Stock Ownership is less than his Desired Stock Ownership, then throughout
the period from April 1 of the current  fiscal year to March 31 of the following
fiscal  year,  the Company  will collect  funds from the  Member-Dealer  for the
purchase of  additional  Class B Common  Stock and  Preferred  Stock  ("Purchase
Funds").  The Purchase  Funds are  recognized  by the Company as Class B Common,
subscribed,  and Preferred  Stock,  subscribed.  Until such time as the Purchase
Funds  are  applied  to  purchase  Class B  Common  and  Preferred  Stock  for a
Member-Dealer,  such Purchase Funds are used by the Company for working  capital
and general corporate purposes.  The period of time for which Purchase Funds are
held by the Company  varies,  depending on the amount of Warehouse  Purchases by
the Member-Dealer. See "--Collection of Purchase Funds."

     Calculation of Desired Stock Ownership.  Each Member-Dealer's Desired Stock
Ownership is calculated as set forth in the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Actual Stock
           Ownership(1)                      Desired Stock Ownership(2)
- --------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>

$1 to $31,249                        $1.00 for every $8.00 of Total Purchases

$31,250 to $56,249                   $1.00 for every $8.00 of Total Purchases from $1 to $250,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $10.00 of Total Purchases over $250,000

$56,250 to $74,999                   $1.00 for every $8.00 of Total Purchases from $1 to $250,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $10.00 of Total Purchases from $250,000 to $500,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $13.33 of Total Purchases over $500,000

$75,000 to $87,499                   $1.00 for every $8.00 of Total Purchases from $1 to $250,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $10.00 of Total Purchases from $250,000 to $500,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $13.33 of Total Purchases from $500,000 to $750,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $20.00 of Total Purchases over $750,000

                                       4

<PAGE>




$87,500 and above                    $1.00 for every $8.00 of Total Purchases from $1 to $250,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $10.00 of Total Purchases from $250,000 to $500,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $13.33 of Total Purchases from $500,000 to $750,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $20.00 of Total Purchases from $750,000 to $1,000,000
                                  +  $1.00 for every $40.00 of Total Purchases over $1,000,000
- -----------
<FN>
(1)  Including  all Class A Common  Stock,  Class B Common  Stock and  Preferred
     Stock owned by the Member-Dealer.
(2)  The minimum Desired Stock ownership  aggregated over all classes of capital
     stock,  is $10,000.  In each case "Total  Purchases" are measured as of the
     end of the immediately preceding fiscal year.
</FN>
</TABLE>
 
         Example.

         In March 1999, the Company  calculates  that as of December 31, 1998, a
         Member-Dealer's  Actual  Stock  Ownership  was  $32,000  and his  Total
         Purchases during 1998 were $300,000. The Member-Dealer's  Desired Stock
         Ownership  will be $36,250  ($1.00 for each $8.00 of the first $250,000
         of Total  Purchases  [$31,250]  plus $1.00 for each  $10.00 of the next
         $50,000  of Total  Purchases  [$5,000]).  Because  the  Member-Dealer's
         Actual Stock  Ownership is less than his Desired Stock  Ownership,  the
         Company will collect Purchase Funds throughout the period from April 1,
         1999 to March 31, 2000 for the  purchase of  additional  Class B Common
         Stock and Preferred Stock.

     Collection of Purchase Funds. Each Member-Dealer  receives from the Company
a semi-monthly statement of the Total Purchases made by the Member-Dealer during
the covered billing period.  Total Purchases include purchases of inventory from
the Company's  warehouse  ("Warehouse  Purchases") and purchases of inventory by
the  Member-Dealer  directly from the manufacturer  which are billed through the
Company.  If the Company has determined  that Purchase Funds are to be collected
from a  Member-Dealer  for a  particular  April 1 to March 31 period,  then each
statement  sent to  that  Member-Dealer  during  that  period  will  contain  an
additional  charge for Purchase Funds, in an amount equal to two percent (2%) of
the Warehouse  Purchases invoiced on the statement.  The Subscription  Agreement
entitles  the Company to collect 2% of Total  Purchases  as Purchase  Funds.  At
present,  however,  the board of  directors  has  determined  to  collect  2% of
Warehouse  Purchases  only. The Company will continue to collect  Purchase Funds
throughout the April 1 to March 31 period, even though the Member-Dealer attains
his Desired Stock Ownership during the course of the period. On a monthly basis,
the Company reviews the amount of unexpended  Purchase Funds then being held for
each  Member-Dealer.  If a  Member-Dealer  has  unexpended  Purchase Funds in an
amount of at least  $2,000,  the Company  applies  $2,000 to the  purchase of 10
shares of Class B Common  Stock and 10  shares  of  Preferred  Stock at $100 per
share.

     Overinvested   Member-Dealers.   If  at  the  end  of  any  fiscal  year  a
Member-Dealer's  Actual Stock Ownership  exceeds his Desired Stock Ownership (an
"Overinvested Member-Dealer"), he will not be required to pay any Purchase Funds
during the following April 1 to March 31 period.  An Overinvested  Member-Dealer
may voluntarily  continue to make  additional  purchases of Class B Common Stock
and Preferred  Stock by paying Purchase Funds to the Company in amounts equal to
2% of Warehouse Purchases.

     Repurchases  from   Overinvested   Member-Dealers.   In  1998  the  Company
repurchased  certain  shares of Class B Common  Stock and  Preferred  Stock from
Overinvested  Member-Dealers whose Actual Stock Ownership exceeded their Desired
Stock  Ownership by $4,000 or more. The amount the Company offered to repurchase
during the year from each Overinvested  Member-Dealer was equal to one-fourth of
the excess amount,  equally  divided  between shares of Class B Common Stock and
Preferred  Stock.  The  repurchases  were made at the full initial sale price of
$100 per share. In 1998, approximately 11% of the shares eligible for repurchase
from Overinvested  Member-Dealers  were submitted for repurchase,  for which the
Company expended $28,400. When the Company began the repurchase program in 1991,
the total  overinvested  amount for all  Member-Dealers  was  $93,600  and as of
December 31, 1998, the total amount was $243,800  (excluding  shares held by the
Texas and Louisiana State Treasury  Unclaimed  Property  Divisions).  The amount
overinvested  varies over time due to repurchases and additional  Member-Dealers
becoming  overinvested  because of  additional  stock  purchases.  Additionally,
because  stock  purchases  are  based  on  each  Member-Dealer's  Desired  Stock
Ownership,  which  fluctuates  depending  on the total  dollar  amount of annual
purchases of merchandise from the Company,

                                        5

<PAGE>



some  Member-Dealers  who  were  overinvested  in  one  year  may no  longer  be
overinvested  in the  following  year  because of an  increase in  purchases  of
merchandise.  Over the eight years of the  repurchase  program,  the Company has
repurchased  a total of  $353,000  of shares  from  Member-Dealers.  The Company
currently  intends,  but  is  not  required,  to  repurchase  from  Overinvested
Member-Dealers  their entire  overinvested  amounts.  The  Company's  ability to
conduct such repurchases, however, will depend upon the Company's future results
of operations, liquidity, capital needs and other financial factors.

Affiliated Member-Dealers

     If one or more individuals who control an existing Member-Dealer open a new
store which will also be a Member-Dealer,  the new  Member-Dealer is required to
make an initial  purchase of 10 shares of Preferred  Stock rather than 10 shares
of Class A Common Stock. In all other respects,  however, the Company will treat
the  new  Member-  Dealer  as  an  entirely  separate  entity  for  purposes  of
determining  required  stock  purchases.  The Company will  calculate a separate
Desired Stock Ownership for the new  Member-Dealer  and will maintain a separate
account for Purchase Funds paid by the new Member-Dealer.

Competition

     The  wholesale  hardware  industry in which the Company  operates is highly
competitive. The Company competes primarily with other dealer-owned wholesalers,
cooperatives  and  independent  wholesalers.  The  business  of the  Company  is
characterized by a small number of national  companies that dominate the market,
and a larger number of regional and local  companies  that compete for a limited
share  of the  market.  The  Company  considers  itself a  regional  competitor.
Competition is based primarily on price,  delivery service,  product performance
and reliability.  The Company's management believes that it competes effectively
in each of these  areas,  and that  proximity  to the  markets  it  serves is of
special importance to its ability to attract business in those regions.

Seasonality

     The Company's quarterly net earnings  traditionally has been subject to two
primary factors.  First and third quarter earnings have been negatively affected
by the  increased  level of direct  sales  (with no markup)  resulting  from the
Company's  semiannual  trade show always  held in the first and third  quarters.
Secondly,  sales during the fourth  quarter have  traditionally  been lower,  as
hardware  sales are slowest  during the winter  months  preceding  ordering  for
significant sales for the spring. However, net earnings has varied substantially
from year to year in the fourth  quarter as a result of corrections to inventory
made at year-end.

     For the past three years traditional  seasonality  trends deviated from the
norm. In 1998, the recognition of increased  revenues  generated from the spring
market ($244,858),  a reimbursement for environmental  cleanup expenses from the
Texas  National  Resource  Conservation  Commission  ($65,822) and the refund of
revalued 1991 property taxes from the Harris County Appraisal District ($36,036)
resulted  in higher than usual first  quarter  net  earnings.  In 1997 and 1996,
purchase  discounts and factory  rebate  credits in the first quarter  increased
$332,512 and $199,335,  respectively.  This timing  difference in the receipt of
such  discounts  and rebates  resulted  in higher  than usual first  quarter net
earnings in those years,  which may become a long-term  change in first  quarter
seasonality.

Environmental Matters

     In 1990, the Company detected soil contamination apparently associated with
the underground petroleum storage systems for its fleet of trucks located at its
warehouse  facility.  The  Company  believes  the  contamination  resulted  from
overfill  and/or  spillage prior to the  installation  of spill  containment and
overfill protection equipment.  The Company has implemented  corrective measures
to mitigate any possible future environmental impact,  including installation of
a  recovery  well,  daily  removal of  contaminants  using a  dual-pump  product
recovery system and in-place closure of two underground storage tanks.

     Pursuant to a remedial action plan submitted to the Texas Natural  Resource
Conservation  Commission  ("TNRCC"),  (formerly the Texas Water  Commission)  in
1992,  the  Company  proposed  vacuum   extraction  of  contaminants,   enhanced
bioremediation  and on-site  remediation of soils  previously  generated  during
subsurface drilling.  At December 31, 1998, the Company had expended $431,738 on
these  measures,  of which the  TNRCC had  reimbursed  $382,521  to the  Company
pursuant  to a  reimbursement  application  submitted  by the  Company  for  all

                                        6

<PAGE>



potentially  allowable  expenses.  Further,  the Company submitted an additional
reimbursement  application  with the TNRCC and anticipates  reimbursement of the
remaining  balance due.  Total expense for 1999 is expected to be  approximately
$50,000. Site closure may be obtained by late 1999.

Item 2.  Properties

     The Company's  warehouse  facility and administrative and marketing offices
are  located on 20 acres of land in  Houston,  Texas.  The  facility  is 317,000
square feet with approximately  297,000 square feet utilized for warehouse space
and the remainder used for offices.  The building is of tilt wall  construction.
The Company also owns 5.2 acres of vacant land adjoining the Company's property,
which is to be used for future expansion.

     Further,  in January 1999, the Company purchased  approximately 30 acres of
land  across the  street  from the  current  warehouse  facility.  The land will
initially be used for additional  employee parking,  additional  outside storage
and the  relocation  of a  retention  pond.  The  total  cost of the 30 acres is
$1,174,774.

     The  Company's  property  has  convenient  access  to  the  major  freeways
necessary  for the  shipment  of products  to and from the  warehouse  facility.
Management  believes  that the current  facility will be sufficient to serve the
needs of the Company for the foreseeable future.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

     In August 1997 a Handy  Hardware  truck struck two passenger  vehicles in a
multi-vehicle  accident in Harris County,  Texas. Three lawsuits have been filed
in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, arising out of the accident,  two
wrongful  death actions by the parents of two women killed in the accident,  and
one case for damages related to disabling injuries to a third person in the same
accident.  All but one of the wrongful  death  actions have been settled  within
insurance limits.  The remaining wrongful death suit is scheduled to go to trial
in March or April 1999.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

     The  Company  did not  submit  any  matter to a vote of  security  holders,
through the  solicitation of proxies or otherwise,  during the fourth quarter of
1998.

                                     PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

     There  is no  established  public  trading  market  for any  class of Handy
Hardware's  capital stock. Upon becoming a Member-Dealer of Handy Hardware,  the
Member-Dealer  enters into a Subscription  Agreement with the Company whereby it
purchases 10 shares of Class A Common Stock or, in certain  cases,  10 shares of
Preferred Stock,  from the Company.  In addition,  the  Member-Dealer  agrees to
purchase a minimum number of shares of Class B Common Stock and Preferred  Stock
pursuant to a formula based upon merchandise purchased by the Member-Dealer from
Handy  Hardware.  See "Item 1.  Business --  Capitalization  by  Member-Dealers"
above.  Holders of Class A Common Stock may not transfer those shares to a third
party  without  first  offering to sell them back to the  Company.  There are no
restrictions  on the transfer of the Company's Class B Common Stock or Preferred
Stock;  however,  all shares of the equity securities of the Company are, to the
best knowledge of the Company,  owned by Member-Dealers or former Member-Dealers
of the Company or affiliates of such Member-Dealers. In the past the Company has
acquired  all the stock that  former  Member-Dealers  have  offered  back to the
Company,  paying  par value in cash for the Class A Common  Stock and  acquiring
Class B Common Stock and  Preferred  Stock at par value on an  installment  sale
basis.  There is no assurance that Handy Hardware will maintain such  practices,
which could be discontinued  without notice at any time. Other than as described
above,  the Company is not aware of the  existence  of a trading  market for any
class of its equity securities.

                                        7

<PAGE>



     Shares of Class A Common  Stock are the only  shares of capital  stock with
voting  rights  and are  entitled  to one vote per  share.  The number of record
holders of each class of the Company's Common Stock at February 28, 1999, was as
follows:

     Description                                             Number of Holders
     -----------                                             -----------------
Class A Common Stock (Voting), $100 par value                        903
Class B Common Stock (Non-Voting), $100 par value                    755

     The Company  has never paid cash  dividends  on either  class of its Common
Stock and does not intend to do so in the  foreseeable  future.  For information
concerning  dividends paid on the Company's  Preferred  Stock, see Items 6 and 8
below.

Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

     The following table provides  selected  financial  information for the five
years ended December 31, 1998, derived from financial  statements that have been
examined  by  independent  public  accountants.  The  table  should  be  read in
conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in Item
8.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Year Ended December 31,
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1998             1997               1996              1995              1994
                                  ------------      ------------       ------------      ------------     ------------
<S>                               <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>              <C>
Operating Income Data:
Total Earnings                    $146,950,160      $128,966,073       $121,416,635      $115,802,817     $109,282,083
Net Sales                          146,009,972       128,112,754        120,698,632       114,885,634      108,766,633
Total Expenses                     145,562,723       126,796,355        119,559,309       114,234,183      108,394,298
Net Earnings from
  Operations after Tax                 893,489         1,408,203          1,206,222         1,016,484          571,710
Preferred Stock Dividends
  Paid                                 682,368           620,812            515,029           401,155          438,654
Net Earnings Per Share of
  Class A and Class B
  Common Stock                    $       3.16      $      12.71       $      12.13      $      11.55     $       2.71
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       December 31,
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       1998             1997               1996              1995              1994
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                               <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>              <C>
Balance Sheet Data:
Current Assets                    $ 26,041,957      $ 24,821,508       $ 22,168,721      $ 18,607,029     $ 21,219,403
Property (Net of
  Accumulated Depreciation)          9,516,835         9,408,768          9,466,577         9,787,350        7,334,774
Other Assets                           483,405           477,010            440,405           386,648          281,151
                                  ------------      ------------       ------------      ------------     ------------
Total Assets                      $ 36,042,197      $ 34,707,286       $ 32,075,703      $ 28,781,027     $ 28,835,328
                                  ============      ============       ============      ============     ============

Current Liabilities               $ 15,894,431      $ 15,705,578       $ 14,131,330      $ 10,835,557     $ 12,090,327
Long Term Liabilities                1,279,968         1,015,855          1,833,508         3,497,845        3,580,174
Stockholders' Equity                18,867,798        17,985,853         16,110,865        14,447,625       13,164,827
                                  ------------      ------------       ------------      ------------     ------------
Total Liabilities and
  Stockholders' Equity            $ 36,042,197      $ 34,707,286       $ 32,075,703      $ 28,781,027     $ 28,835,328
                                  ============      ============       ============      ============     ============
</TABLE>

                                       8

<PAGE>

Item 7.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
         of Operations

Results of Operations

     The Company  maintained its steady growth in 1998 while  continuing to meet
its goal of providing  quality  goods to its  Member-Dealers  at its cost plus a
reasonable mark-up charge. Net sales in 1998 increased 14.0%  ($17,897,218) over
1997 net sales, compared to a 6.1% growth rate ($7,414,122) of net sales in 1997
over 1996.

     Net Sales. Strong economic growth, continuing strength in consumer
confidence  and the  introduction  of a new lumber and building  materials  drop
shipment  program have resulted in much higher rates of sales growth during 1998
than in previous periods, which affected all but one territory. The new building
materials program passes along to Member-Dealers  discounts the Company receives
for early  payment  to  building  material  vendors,  in  addition  to  allowing
Member-Dealers  longer  payment terms than if they were to order such  materials
directly.  These  discounts  in the  traditionally  low margin  area of building
materials have caused a significant  increase in the ordering of these materials
from the Company.  Orders of building  materials  account for  $7,351,267 of the
increase in net sales,  which is approximately  41% of the increase between 1997
and 1998.

         The following table  summarizes the Company's sales during 1996,  1997,
and 1998 by sales territory:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       1998                         1997         1996
                                                     ---------------------------------------       ------       ------
                                                                   % Increase
                                                                      in Sales         % of         % of         % of
                                                                     from Prior        Total        Total        Total
               Sales Territory                           Sales          Year           Sales        Sales        Sales
               ---------------                           -----     ------------        -----        -----        -----
<S>                                                  <C>                 <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Houston Area                                         $ 38,416,259        18%           26.6%        26.2%        26.0%
Victoria, San Antonio, Corpus Christi &                27,130,001        21%           18.8%        18.0%        18.0%
   Rio Grande Valley Area*
North Texas, Dallas & Fort Worth Area                  19,060,997        11%           13.2%        13.8%        14.6%
Austin, Brenham & Central Texas Area                   16,599,855        11%           11.5%        12.0%        11.5%
Southern Louisiana Area                                17,933,575        24%           12.4%        11.7%        11.6%
Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Mississippi,                 11,499,074         5%            8.0%         8.8%         9.1%
   Alabama & Florida Area
Arkansas Area                                           5,004,667        15%            3.5%         3.5%         3.2%
Oklahoma Area                                           8,707,928        16%            6.0%         6.0%         6.0%
                                                    -------------        ---            ----       ------       ------
                                     Totals:         $144,352,356(1)                  100.0%       100.0%       100.0%
                                                    =============                     ======       ======       ======
<FN>
- -------------------------
     *  Includes small volume of sales to Mexican and Central American dealers.
    (1) Total  does  not  include  sales  to  dealers  who  were  no  longer
        Member-Dealers at December 31, 1998.
</FN>
</TABLE>

     Net  Material  Costs and  Rebates.  Net  material  costs  during  1998 were
$130,554,986,  compared to  $113,213,122  in 1997 and  $106,732,258 in 1996. Net
material  costs for 1998  increased  15.3 percent over those costs in 1997,  and
increased  6.1  percent  in 1997  compared  to  1996.  Net  material  costs as a
percentage  of sales were 89.4  percent in 1998 as compared to 88.4  percent for
both 1997 and 1996.  The increase of net material costs as a percentage of sales
in 1998 was the result of an increase in the number of inventory items sold at a
lower gross margin.  Sales with no markup  increased from $42,370,341 in 1997 to
$53,070,157  in 1998. In addition,  net material  costs as a percentage of sales
were negatively  affected by a decrease in factory  rebates,  which are taken by
the  Company as a credit  against  material  costs.  Rebates  for 1998  declined
$92,419 or 2.1  percent  (1998 --  $4,502,311  versus 1997 --  $4,594,730).  The
significant decline in 1998 rebate income was a result of a change in the timing
of the PRO  Hardware  rebates.  In the  second  quarter  of 1997,  PRO  Hardware
decreased  the time period  between  receiving a  manufacturer's  rebate and its
distribution  to the Company,  resulting in an  acceleration  of receipt of both



                                        9

<PAGE>



1996 and 1997 rebates during 1997.  For 1998 and 1997, the PRO Hardware  rebates
were $1,130,439 and $1,385,365, respectively. Further, in order to promote sales
of lumber and building  materials,  the Company passed on to Member-Dealers  its
manufacturer's  purchase  discount,  resulting  in lost income of  approximately
$107,000.

     Payroll Costs.  With  unemployment  at a  three-decade  low, the U.S. labor
market has seldom been  tighter.  The  increase in 1998 payroll  costs  resulted
primarily  from  salary  increases  needed to  attract  or  retain  high-quality
employees.  As a result,  payroll costs during 1998 increased $678,607,  a 10.0%
increase over 1997 levels.  In 1997,  payroll costs increased  $397,107,  a 6.2%
increase over 1996 levels.  Despite this  pressure on wages,  payroll costs as a
percentage  of both total  expenses and net sales  remained  fairly  constant at
5.1%,  5.3% and 5.3% for 1998,  1997 and 1996,  respectively.  The  stability in
payroll  costs  as a  percentage  of  total  expenses  has  been a  result  of a
continuing effort to maintain employee productivity.

     Other Operating  Costs. In 1998,  other operating costs increased  $743,428
(11.0%) over 1997 levels,  while in 1997 these costs  increased  $488,754 (7.8%)
over 1996  levels.  Over 32.3% of the 1998  increase  in other  operating  costs
resulted  from an  increase  in  warehouse  expenses,  while  another 25% of the
increase is the result of delivery cost increases. Other operating costs include
a wide variety of expenses related to the Company. The principal reasons for the
increase in other  operating  costs in 1998 were increases in delivery  expenses
(an increase of $193,046 over 1997 levels) and  warehouse  expenses (an increase
of $243,714  over 1997  levels).  Virtually  all of the  increase  in  warehouse
expense and 42.9% of the increase in delivery  expense can be  attributed  to an
increase in contract labor expense due to the tight labor market. In addition in
1997,  the Company  started  palletizing  orders in response to  Member-Dealers'
request to make it easier to unload  their  merchandise  from our  trucks.  This
resulted in a decline in the optimizing of the space of each trailer and in turn
increased the number of trucks that needed to be leased.  In 1998,  rental truck
expense  increased  $202,207.  These  increases  were  offset to some  extent by
decreases in other miscellaneous operating costs.

Net Earnings

     Net earnings for 1998 decreased  36.6% to $893,489 from $1,408,230 in 1997.
This  decrease  was  primarily  due to the  increase  in  payroll  costs and the
increase in other  operating  costs. In 1998 and 1997, the earnings per share of
common stock were $3.61 and $12.71,  respectively.  The decrease in earnings per
share in 1998 from 1997 is due to the decrease in net  earnings of $514,741,  as
well  as  a  moderate  increase  of  $61,556  in  dividends  paid  to  preferred
stockholders.

     The variation in the Company's earnings per share from year to year results
from the  Company's  attempts to price its  merchandise  in order to deliver the
lowest cost buying program for  Member-Dealers  (who own all of the stock of the
Company),  although  this often  results in lower net  earnings for the Company.
Because  these trends  benefit the  individual  shareholders  of the Company who
purchase its merchandise,  there is no demand from shareholders that the Company
focus greater attention upon earnings per share.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

     In 1998, Handy Hardware  maintained its financial condition and its ability
to  generate  adequate  amounts of cash  while  continuing  to make  significant
investments  in inventory,  warehouse and computer  equipment,  and software and
delivery equipment to better meet the needs of its Member-Dealers.

     The Company's  operating  activities provided net cash of $858,114 in 1998,
$2,171,548 in 1997, and $1,113,103 in 1996. As illustrated by these figures, net
cash provided by the Company's operating  activities may vary substantially from
year to year.  These  variations  result  from  (i) the  timing  of  promotional
activities such as the Company's Spring and Fall trade shows, (ii) payment terms
available to the Company from its suppliers,  (iii) payment terms offered by the
Company to its Member-Dealers, and (iv) the state of the regional economy.

     During 1998 there was a minor decrease of $10,720 in the Company's cash and
cash  equivalents as compared to a decrease of $101,485 in 1997.  Cash flow from
operating  activities  decreased  during  1998  to  $858,114,   as  compared  to
$2,171,548 in 1997. This decrease in cash flow was attributable to a decrease in
net  earnings  of  $514,714  in 1998 plus  changes  in assets  and  liabilities,
principally  the much smaller growth of accounts  payable in 1998 as compared to
1997, offset by smaller changes in inventory and accounts receivable in 1998.

     Inventory  increased by 2,544  stockkeeping units in 1998, which were added
in response to Member-Dealer  demand for more breadth of inventory.  The Company
ended the 1998 year with approximately 34,800 stockkeeping units.


                                       10

<PAGE>



The increase in inventory in 1998, although significant,  was not as large as in
1997 due to the constraints of the availability of warehouse space. In addition,
in 1998 the increase in accounts receivable, although large, was not as great as
in  1997.  This  was  mainly   attributable  to  a  strong  economy  which  gave
Member-Dealers  sufficient  cash flow to pay down their accounts.  Further,  the
1998 modest  increase in accounts  payable is the result of two  factors:  (i) a
less  significant  increase in inventory in 1998 and (ii) the timing of supplier
payment terms.

     Net cash provided by financing activities was $253,248 in 1998, as compared
to net cash used for financing activities of $1,386,331 in 1997. This difference
was principally  attributable to the Company's using  $1,837,424 of cash flow in
1997 to retire the outstanding balance of its bank line of credit.

     In August 1996, Chase Bank of Texas ("the Bank") extended to the company an
unsecured $7.5 million revolving line of credit with an April 30, 1998, maturity
date. In April 1998,  the  commitment was extended to mature in April 2000 at an
interest  rate of prime  minus one and  one-half  percent  (1.5%) or the  London
Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR") plus one and one-quarter percent (1.25%).  The
line was used from time to time for brief periods for working  capital and other
financing needs of the Company.  The average daily outstanding balance under the
line during 1998 was $68,167.  At December 1998 there was no outstanding balance
due on the line of credit.

     The  Company's  ability to generate  cash  sufficient to meet its needs for
funding its activities is highlighted by comparing three key liquidity  measures
- -- working  capital,  current ratio (current assets to current  liabilities) and
long term debt as a percentage of capitalization, as shown below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         December 31,
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                       <C>                       <C>
                                                    1998                     1997                      1996
                                                    ----                     ----                      ----
Working Capital                                 $10,147,526               $9,115,930                $8,037,391
Current Ratio                                    1.64 to 1                 1.58 to 1                 1.57 to 1
Debt as Percentage of Capitalization                6.9%                     5.6%                      11.4%
</TABLE>


     In 1999,  Handy Hardware  expects to further  expand its existing  customer
base in Arkansas and  Oklahoma.  The Company will  finance this  expansion  with
receipts  from  sales  of  stock  to new and  current  Member-Dealers  and  with
increased  revenues  from  sales  to the  new  Member-Dealers  in  Arkansas  and
Oklahoma.  The Company  anticipates  that this  expansion will have a beneficial
effect on its ability to generate cash to meet its funding needs.

Capital Resources

     The Company  invested  $1,113,643 in plant and equipment in 1998.  Over the
past five years the Company's  investments  in plant and equipment have amounted
to more than $6.9 million,  and have provided  Handy  Hardware with the capacity
for growth to meet the increasing demand for merchandise and expanded  services.
Management  intends to continue to invest prudently at levels  commensurate with
the anticipated market expansion and needs of current Member-Dealers.

     During  1998,  approximately  44.9%  ($500,032)  of the  $1,113,643  amount
invested in plant and equipment was used to purchase warehouse equipment,  32.5%
was invested in upgrading  the  Company's  computer  system and used to purchase
order  entry  terminals.  The  remainder  was  used  for  building  improvements
($106,883),  in upgrading  the  Company's  auto fleet  ($98,417) and to purchase
office fixtures and equipment ($46,988).

     The  Company  has  budgeted  approximately   $3,930,000  for  1999  capital
expenditures.  Of this  amount,  $1,143,771  already  has been  spent in 1999 to
purchase 30 acres of land for future  expansion (plus $31,003 spent in 1998). It
is likely that the  remainder  of the  expenses of this  project  will be funded
through   third-party   financing,   including  its  existing  line  of  credit.
Approximately $2,626,000 will be used to decommission and relocate the Company's
current retention pond, construct additional parking and outside storage as well
as  prepare  the site and begin  construction  on an  expansion  to our  current
warehouse  facility.  Approximately  $35,000 has been allocated to upgrading the
Company's  computer  equipment,  which upgrades are either programmed to address
the  Year  2000  or are not  date  sensitive.  Approximately  $25,000  has  been
allocated to upgrading the Company's warehouse equipment. The Company has also


                                       11

<PAGE>



allocated   approximately   $60,000  for  improving  the  automobile  fleet  and
approximately  $40,000 for a printing  press.  The  Company  expects to fund the
budgeted  capital  expenditures   described  herein  from  working  capital  and
utilization of the Company's line of credit.

Year 2000

     The Year 2000 issue relates to the problems  associated  with the inability
of  computer  programs,  computer  hardware  and  other  equipment  to  properly
calculate,  store or use data after  December  31,  1999.  Hardware and software
systems which only use a two-digit  convention  for keeping track of dates would
improperly  interpret  the Year 2000 as the Year  1900.  Errors of this type can
result in system  failures,  miscalculations  and the  disruption of operations,
including,  among other things, a temporary  inability to process  transactions,
send invoices or engage in similar normal  business.  Although the extent of the
problem is not yet known, the ramification of Year 2000 failures are expected to
have a global  impact.  In  response  to the Year 2000  issues,  the Company has
developed a strategic  plan divided into the  following  phases:  assessment  of
in-house  systems  and review of vendor  representations,  in-house  testing and
implementation of remedial actions,  third party  communications and development
of a contingency plan, as needed.

     The first phase of the Company's Year 2000 assessment program began in 1997
at which it out-sourced the upgrade of all accounting software. In addition, the
Company upgraded its midrange hardware platform and midrange software.  To date,
all such  software  has been  upgraded  and  installed,  and the licensor of the
Company's  software  systems has  certified  that such software is programmed to
properly address Year 2000 scenarios.  In addition,  the Company's department of
Management  Information Systems (the "MIS department") is continuing to evaluate
the Company's information and non-information technology systems. This review is
enabling the MIS department to identify  in-house  software and  non-information
technology  or equipment  that is date  sensitive  and should be  forwarded  for
testing.

     After  upgrading the Company's  accounting  software and midrange  hardware
platform,  the Company began  conducting its in-house testing phase. In 1998 all
upgraded  midrange  software,  recently  purchased  software and other operating
systems  identified  for testing were presented to its MIS  department.  The MIS
department completed a portion of the testing phase during the fourth quarter of
1998. The Company did not encounter any material  system  disruption as a result
of the Year 2000 during  testing,  and therefore,  the Company  expects that the
performance of such systems will not be substantially  disrupted when addressing
the Year 2000.

     During the initial review and testing phase, the Company determined to take
certain  actions to reduce the effects of Year 2000 related  disruptions  on the
Company's activities.  Beginning with upgrading the accounting software in 1997,
the Company is continuing to take  preventive  measures to address  issues which
are identified by its MIS department  during testing.  The testing of accounting
and midrange  software is estimated to be completed by the first quarter of 1999
followed by  implementation of any remedial actions during the second quarter of
1999. In addition, testing of warehouse management software is expected to begin
during the second  quarter of 1999,  followed  by  remedial  actions in the same
quarter.  Remedial actions may include upgrading or replacing  software or other
technology before the end of 1999.

     In 1998  the  Company  began a third  phase,  which  consists  of  informal
communications with its Member-Dealers, third party suppliers, service providers
and distributors to evaluate the status of their Year 2000 compliance  programs.
The  Company  has  received  and is relying on Year 2000  readiness  reports and
statements  periodically  issued by third  parties,  such as  telephone  service
carriers,  insurance carriers,  financial services providers and various vendors
of the Company's  software programs.  In addition,  the Company's MIS department
responds to all third party  requests for  information  concerning the status of
the Company's Year 2000 review. All such third party communications are expected
to be  completed  during  the  third  quarter  of 1999.  While  there  can be no
guarantee  that the systems of other  companies on which the Company relies will
be timely converted or that the conversion will be compatible with the Company's
systems,  based on the  representations  received to date,  the Company does not
foresee material  disruptions in the Company's business as a result of Year 2000
issues involving third parties.

                                       12

<PAGE>

     Although the Company cannot predict with certainty all effects of Year 2000
issues,  the Company has developed  contingency plans to the extent necessary to
continue  business  functions  in the event an  unforeseen  material  disruption
occurs. The Company believes that such event, at most, will require employees to
manually complete otherwise automated tasks or calculations,  such as receiving,
filling and  shipping  customer  orders.  The  Company  does not expect that any
additional  training would be required to perform these tasks on a manual basis,
although  performing such tasks may require  additional  time or personnel.  The
Company  has  determined  an  alternate  method  for  Member-Dealers  to forward
purchase  orders via telecopier,  having received  favorable Year 2000 readiness
reports from all third parties involved in providing  telecopier  service to the
Company.  In addition,  the Company is  continuing  to  identify,  to the extent
possible,  other  vendors,  purchasers  or third  party  contractors  to provide
services in order to maintain normal business operations.

     The  Company's   core  business   activities   consist  of  purchasing  and
warehousing hardware inventory which is sold and shipped to Member-Dealers.  The
Company maintains a computer system through which Member-Dealers transmit orders
for goods  directly  to the  Company.  In  addition  Company  software  catalogs
inventory,  receives purchase orders,  performs accounting  functions and tracks
shipping  of  inventory.  Because the  Company's  "mission  critical"  equipment
consists mainly of computer  software and hardware,  the most reasonably  likely
worst case Year 2000 scenario for the Company would involve  either a failure of
operating  systems  to  properly  address  Year 2000  scenarios  or a  prolonged
disruption  of power  sources on which these  systems  rely.  Such events  could
result in a business  interruption  that could  materially  affect the Company's
operations,  liquidity or capital  resources.  The Company is continuing to test
operating  systems to predict and reduce the  effects of Year 2000  disruptions.
However,  no  economically  feasible  contingency  plan has been  developed  for
maintaining  a separate  and  duplicate  secondary  power supply for every major
component  of  the  Company's  core  equipment.  The  Company  is  relying  upon
representations  by these third parties that no material  disruption of services
are anticipated as a result of the Year 2000.

     As of December 31, 1998, the cost for  implementing the Company's Year 2000
program is  $350,000.  The Company will  continue to utilize  both  internal and
external resources to anticipate and address the effects of Year 2000 scenarios.

Item 7a.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

          Not applicable.

Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data



                                       13

<PAGE>

                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                              REPORT OF EXAMINATION

                                DECEMBER 31, 1998


























                                       14


<PAGE>

                  [Clyde D. Thomas & Company, P.C. Letterhead]





                          INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT


Board of Directors and Shareholders
Handy Hardware Wholesale, Inc.
Houston, Texas


We have audited the  accompanying  balance sheets of Handy  Hardware  Wholesale,
Inc., as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related  statements of earnings,
stockholders'  equity,  and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1998. These financial  statements are the  responsibility  of
the Company'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,  the  financial  statements  present  fairly,  in all  material
respects,  the  financial  position of Handy  Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc.,  as of
December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the results of its operations and its cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.


                                          /s/ Clyde D. Thomas & Company, P.C.
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          CLYDE D. THOMAS & COMPANY, P. C.
                                          Certified Public Accountants

February 18, 1999
Pasadena, Texas





                                       15

<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                                 BALANCE SHEETS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                           DECMEBER 31,
                                                                                              ----------------------------------
                                                                                                    1998                 1997       
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
<S>                                                                                           <C>                   <C>

        ASSETS
        ------
CURRENT ASSETS
- --------------
   Cash                                                                                       $  1,113,122          $  1,123,842
   Accounts receivable, net of subscriptions receivable in the                                                  
    amount of $51,735 for 1998 and $43,451 for 1997                                             10,335,445            10,032,045
   Inventory (Note 1)                                                                           14,106,010            13,395,947
   Note receivable (Note 2)                                                                         10,174                 5,394
   Prepaid expenses                                                                                371,322               264,280
   Prepaid income tax                                                                              105,884                     -
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
                                                                                              $ 26,041,957          $ 24,821,508
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
                                          
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
- -----------------------------
   At cost, less accumulated depreciation of
      $4,517,166 (1998) and $4,148,927 (1997) (Note 1)                                        $  9,516,835          $  9,408,768
                                                                                              ------------          ------------

OTHER ASSETS
- ------------
   Notes receivable (Note 2)                                                                  $    130,362          $    120,513
   Deferred compensation funded                                                                    329,084               284,901
   Prepaid expenses                                                                                 23,959                71,596
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
                                                                                              $    483,405          $    477,010
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
          TOTAL ASSETS                                                                        $ 36,042,197          $ 34,707,286
          ------------                                                                        ============          ============ 


                 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                 ------------------------------------  
CURRENT LIABILITIES
- -------------------
   Notes payable - Stock - Current portion (Note 3)                                           $     26,750          $      7,000
   Notes payable - Capital Leases (Note 5)                                                          58,308                52,488
   Accounts payable - Trade                                                                     14,912,983            14,550,157
   Accrued expenses payable                                                                        896,390             1,050,680
   Current income tax payable                                                                            -                45,253
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
                                                                                              $ 15,894,431          $ 15,705,578
                                                                                              ------------          ------------

NONCURRENT LIABILITIES
- ----------------------
   Notes payable - Stock - Noncurrent portion (Note 3)                                        $    521,280          $    223,750
   Notes payable - Capital Leases (Note 5)                                                          66,864               125,172
   Notes payable - Vendor consignment merchandise                                                  114,707               117,196
   Deferred compensation payable                                                                   329,084               284,901
   Deferred income taxes payable (Notes 1 and 4)                                                   248,033               264,836
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
                                                                                              $  1,279,968          $  1,015,855
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
           Total Liabilities                                                                  $ 17,174,399          $ 16,721,433 
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
</TABLE>


                                       16
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                                 BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                           DECMEBER 31,
                                                                                              ---------------------------------- 
                                                                                                  1998                  1997       
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
<S>                                                                                           <C>                   <C>
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 
- --------------------
     Common stock, Class A, authorized 20,000 shares, $100
        par value per share, issued 8,930 and 8,680 shares                                    $    893,000          $    868,000
     Common stock, Class B, authorized 100,000 shares, $100
        par value per share, issued 55,667 and 52,513 shares                                     5,566,700             5,251,300
     Common stock, Class B subscribed, 4,309.98 and
        4,361.35 shares                                                                            430,998               436,135
            Less subscriptions receivable                                                          (25,867)              (21,725)
     Preferred stock,  7% cumulative,  authorized  100,000 
        shares $100 par value per share, issued 58,246.50
        and 55,001.75 shares                                                                     5,824,650             5,500,175
     Preferred stock subscribed, 4,309.98 and 4,361.35 shares                                      430,998               436,135
            Less subscriptions receivable                                                          (25,868)              (21,726)
     Paid in surplus                                                                               339,238               314,731
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
                                                                                              $ 13,433,849          $ 12,763,025   
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
     Retained earnings exclusive of other comprehensive earnings (Note 10)                    $  5,368,885          $          -
     Retained earnings applicable to other comprehensive earnings (Note 10)                         65,064                     -
                                                                                              ------------          ------------
          Total retained earnings                                                             $  5,433,949          $  5,222,828
                                                                                              ------------          ------------

               Total Stockholders' Equity                                                     $ 18,867,798          $ 17,985,853
                                                                                              ------------          ------------

                     TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                               $ 36,042,197          $ 34,707,286
                     ------------------------------------------                               ============         =============
</TABLE>























See accompanying notes.

                                       17

<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                             STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         YEAR ENDED DECMEBER 31,
                                                                       ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            1998                   1997                 1996
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------
<S>                                                                      <C>                   <C>                   <C>
EARNINGS
- --------
     Net sales                                                           $146,009,972          $128,112,754          $120,698,632
     Sundry income                                                            915,430               853,319               718,003
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------
          TOTAL EARNINGS                                                 $146,925,402          $128,966,073          $121,416,635
          --------------                                                 ------------          ------------          ------------

EXPENSES
- --------
     Net material costs                                                  $130,554,986          $113,213,122          $106,732,258
     Payroll costs                                                          7,466,033             6,787,426             6,390,319
     Other operating costs                                                  7,496,431             6,753,003             6,264,249
     Interest expense                                                          45,273                42,804               172,483
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------ 
          TOTAL EXPENSES                                                 $145,562,723          $126,796,355          $119,559,309
          --------------                                                 ------------          ------------          ------------

NET EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
- ----------------------------------------------------                     $  1,362,679          $  2,169,718          $  1,857,326

PROVISION FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX (Note 4)                                     485,530               761,515               651,104
- -----------------------------------------                                ------------          ------------          ------------

NET EARNINGS                                                             $    877,149          $  1,408,203          $  1,206,222
- -------------                                                            ------------          ------------          ------------

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
- ----------------------------
     Unrealized gain on securities (Note 10)                             $     24,758          $          -          $          -
     Provision for federal income tax (Note 4)                                  8,418                     -                     -
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------
          Other comprehensive earnings net of tax                              16,340                     -                     - 
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS                                             $    893,489          $  1,408,230          $  1,206,222
- ----------------------------                                

LESS DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED STOCK                                             682,368               620,812               515,029
- ---------------------------------                                        ------------          ------------          ------------

NET EARNINGS APPLICABLE
   TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS                                                $    211,121          $    787,391          $    691,193
   ----------------------                                                ============          ============          ============

NET EARNINGS PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK
   CLASS A & CLASS B (Note 1)                                            $       3.16          $      12.71          $      12.13
   --------------------------                                            ============          ============          ============
</TABLE>















See accompanying notes.

                                       18

<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                       STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         YEAR ENDED DECMEBER 31,
                                                                       ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            1998                   1997                 1996
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------
<S>                                                                      <C>                   <C>                   <C>
COMMON STOCK, CLASS A $100 PAR VALUE
- ------------------------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                                 $    868,000          $    822,000          $    796,000
   Stock issued                                                                83,000                80,000                65,000
   Stock canceled                                                             (58,000)              (34,000)              (39,000)
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                               $    893,000          $    868,000          $    822,000
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------
COMMON STOCK, CLASS B, $100 PAR VALUE
- -------------------------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                                 $  5,251,300          $  4,773,300          $  4,314,900
   Stock issued                                                               659,000               601,700               591,700
   Stock canceled                                                            (343,600)             (123,700)             (133,300)
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                               $  5,566,700          $  5,251,300          $  4,773,300
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------

COMMON STOCK, CLASS B, SUBSCRIBED
- ---------------------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                                 $    436,135          $    403,651          $    391,535
   Stock subscribed                                                           658,663               627,484               596,416
   Transferred to stock                                                      (663,800)             (595,000)             (584,300)
                                                                         ------------          ------------          -------------
   Balance at December 31,                                               $    430,998          $    436,135          $    403,651
   Less subscription receivable                                               (25,867)              (21,725)              (22,757)
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------
        Total                                                            $    405,131          $    414,410          $    380,894
                                                                         ------------          ------------          ------------
PREFERRED STOCK, 7% CUMULATIVE $100 PAR VALUE
- ---------------------------------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                                 $  5,500,175          $  5,021,375          $  4,563,450
   Stock issued                                                               691,000               619,900               606,300
   Stock canceled                                                            (366,525)             (141,100)             (148,375)
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                               $  5,824,650           $ 5,500,175          $  5,021,375
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------

PREFERRED STOCK, 7% CUMULATIVE SUBSCRIBED
- -----------------------------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                                 $    436,135           $   403,652          $    391,535
   Stock subscribed                                                           658,663               627,483               596,417
   Transferred to stock                                                      (663,800)             (595,000)             (584,300)
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                               $    430,998           $   436,135          $    403,652
   Less subscription receivable                                               (25,868)              (21,726)              (22,758)
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------
        Total                                                             $   405,130           $   414,409          $    380,894
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------
PAID IN CAPITAL SURPLUS
- -----------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                                  $   314,731           $   296,965          $    280,277
   Additions                                                                   24,507                17,766                16,688
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                                $   339,238           $   314,731          $    296,965
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------
TREASURY STOCK, AT COST
   COMMON STOCK, CLASS A, AT COST
- ---------------------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                                  $         -           $         -          $          -
   Stock reacquired                                                           (58,000)              (34,000)              (39,000)
   Stock canceled                                                              58,000                34,000                39,000
   Stock issued                                                                     -                     -                     -
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                                $         -           $         -          $          -
                                                                          -----------           -----------          ------------

                                       19
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                       STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                     PAGE 2

                                                                                         YEAR ENDED DECMEBER 31,
                                                                       ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            1998                   1997                 1996
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------

   COMMON STOCK, CLASS B, AT COST
   ------------------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                               $            -          $          -          $          -
   Stock reacquired                                                          (343,600)             (123,700)             (133,300)
   Stock canceled                                                             343,600               123,700               133,300
   Stock issued                                                                     -                     -                     -
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                             $            -          $          -          $          -
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------

   PREFERRED STOCK, 7% CUMULATIVE AT COST
   --------------------------------------
   Balance at January 1,                                               $            -          $          -          $          -
   Stock reacquired                                                          (366,525)             (141,100)             (148,375)
   Stock canceled                                                             366,525               141,100               148,375
   Stock issued                                                                     -                     -                     -
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                             $            -          $          -          $          -
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------

        TOTAL TREASURY STOCK                                           $            -          $          -          $          -
        --------------------                                           --------------          ------------          ------------

RETAINED EARNINGS
- -----------------
   Balance at January 1                                                $    5,222,828          $  4,435,437          $  3,744,244
   Add:  Net earnings year ending December 31                                 877,149             1,408,203             1,206,222
           Other comprehensive earnings (Note 10)                              16,340                     -                     -
   Deduct:  Cash dividends on Preferred Stock (Note 1)                        682,368               620,812               515,029
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------
   Balance at December 31,                                             $    5,433,949          $  5,222,828          $  4,435,437  
                                                                       --------------          ------------          ------------

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                             $   18,867,798          $ 17,985,853          $ 16,110,865
- --------------------------                                             ==============          ============          ============
</TABLE>


















See accompanying notes.

                                       20

<PAGE>




                                              HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                                                 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                           ------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               1998                1997                  1996
                                                                           -----------          -----------           -----------
<S>                                                                        <C>                  <C>                   <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
- ------------------------------------
   Net earnings                                                            $   893,489          $ 1,408,203           $ 1,206,222
   Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net
      cash provided by operating activities:
          Depreciation                                                       1,005,576              947,004               933,983
          Deferred income tax                                                  (16,803)             (32,937)              (16,637)
          (Gain) Loss on sale of property, plant, and equipment                (10,986)              (3,493)               (1,000)
          Unrealized gain (increase in fair market value of
           securities)                                                         (24,758)                   -                     -
   Changes in assets and liabilities:
      (Increase) Decrease in Accounts Receivable                              (303,400)            (825,868)           (2,641,404)
      (Increase) Decrease in Notes Receivable                                  (14,629)             (20,063)                3,639
      (Increase) Decrease in Deferred
         Compensation Investment                                                     -              (39,791)              (30,726)
      (Increase) Decrease in Inventory                                        (710,063)          (1,974,820)             (966,057)
      (Increase) Decrease in Prepaid Expenses                                 (165,289)              70,665               (23,489)
      Increase (Decrease) in Note Payable for Vendor
          Consignment Merchandise                                               (2,489)              11,352                (2,169)
      Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable                                  362,826            2,617,806             2,412,614
      Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Expenses Payable                         (154,290)              (3,813)              139,660
      Increase (Decrease) in Current Income Tax Payable                        (45,253)             (22,488)               67,741
      Increase (Decrease) in Deferred
         Compensation Payable                                                   44,183               39,791                30,726
                                                                           -----------          -----------          ------------
           Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities            $   858,114          $ 2,171,548           $ 1,113,103
                                                                           -----------          -----------          ------------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
   Capital expenditures for property, plant, and equipment                 $(1,113,643)        $   (896,362)          $  (617,062)
   Investment in deferred compensation funded                                   (9,650)                   -                     -
   Sale of property, plant and equipment                                        10,986               10,660                 4,852
   Reinvested dividends, interest, and capital gains                            (9,775)                   -                     -
                                                                           -----------         ------------          ------------
          Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities            $(1,122,082)        $   (885,702)          $  (612,210)
                                                                           -----------         ------------          ------------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
- ------------------------------------
   Increase (Decrease) in Mortgage Payable                                 $         -         $          -           $(2,823,306)
   Increase (Decrease) in Notes Payable - Line of Credit                             -           (1,837,424)            1,837,424
   Increase (Decrease) in Notes Payable - Lease                                (52,488)             (12,632)              (71,617)
   Increase (Decrease) in Notes Payable - Stock                                317,280               (3,060)               57,000
   (Increase) Decrease in Subscription Receivable                               (8,284)               2,064               (11,199)
   Proceeds from issuance of stock                                           1,447,233            1,384,333             1,303,921
   Purchase of Treasury Stock                                                 (768,125)            (298,800)             (320,675)
   Dividends paid                                                             (682,368)            (620,812)             (515,029)
                                                                           -----------         ------------          ------------
          Net Cash provided by (used for) financing activities             $   253,248         $ (1,386,331)          $  (543,481)
                                                                          ------------         ------------          ------------

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND
   CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                        $   (10,720)        $   (100,485)              (42,588)
   ----------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR                               1,123,842            1,224,327             1,266,915
- ----------------------------------------------                            ------------         ------------          ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR                                  $  1,113,122         $  1,123,842           $ 1,224,327
- ----------------------------------------                                  ============         ============          ============
ADDITIONAL RELATED DISCLOSURES TO THE STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
- -------------------------------------------------------------
   Interest expense paid                                                  $     45,273         $     42,804           $   172,483
   Income tax payments                                                         616,635              724,440               492,922
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes.

                                       21
<PAGE>

                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 1 - ACCOUNTING POLICIES

   Nature of Business
   ------------------
       Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc., (the "Company"),  was incorporated as a
       Texas corporation on January 6, 1961. Its principal executive offices and
       warehouse are located at 8300 Tewantin Drive,  Houston,  Texas 77061. The
       Company   is   owned   entirely   by  its   Member-Dealers   and   Former
       Member-Dealers.

       Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc.,  sells to its  Member-Dealers  products
       primarily  for  retail  hardware,  lumber  and  home  center  stores.  In
       addition,   the  Company  offers   advertising   and  other  services  to
       Member-Dealers.

   Cash
   ----
       For purposes of the statement of cash flows,  Handy  Hardware  Wholesale,
       Inc., the Company, considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased
       with a  maturity  of three  months  or less to be cash  equivalents.  The
       company  maintains a checking  account which, at times,  exceeds the FDIC
       coverage of $100,000 normally extended to such accounts.  At December 31,
       1998, the balance of this account amounted to $1,096,571.

   Inventories
   -----------
       Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market method,  determined
       by the first in,  first out method,  with proper  adjustment  having been
       made for any old or obsolete merchandise.

   Property, Plant, and Equipment
   ------------------------------
       Property,  plant,  and  equipment  are carried at cost.  Depreciation  of
       property  accounts  for  financial  statement  presentation  is  based on
       estimated useful lives and methods as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             LIFE              METHOD OF
                                        ASSET                              IN YEARS          DEPRECIATION
               -------------------------------------------                 --------          ------------
               <S>                                                          <C>           <C>

               Building                                                     30-39         Straight Line
               Furniture and warehouse equipment including
               computer and data processing equipment                        3-7          Straight Line/MACRS
               Transportation equipment                                      3-5          Straight Line
</TABLE>

       Property, plant and equipment consists of:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           DECEMBER 31,             
                                                                             -------------------------------------
                                                                                 1998                     1997      
                                                                             ------------             ------------
              <S>                                                            <C>                      <C>

              Land                                                           $  2,027,797             $  2,027,797
              Buildings & improvements                                          7,859,100                7,752,216
              Furniture, computer, warehouse equipment                          3,721,832                3,341,692
              Transportation equipment                                            425,272                  435,990
                                                                             ------------             ------------
                                                                             $ 14,034,001              $13,557,695
              Less:  Accumulated depreciation                                   4,517,166                4,148,927
                                                                             ------------              -----------
                                                                             $  9,516,835              $ 9,408,768
                                                                             ============              ===========
</TABLE>

      Depreciation  expense for the year ended  December  31,  1998,  amounted
      to $1,005,576 compared with $947,004 for the year ended December 31, 1997.

                                       22
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                      NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 2
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998

NOTE 1 - ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
- ----------------------------------------
Changes in Property,  Plant, and Equipment for the year ended December 31, 1998,
are shown in the following schedule:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     BALANCE             ADDITIONS                           OTHER             BALANCE
                                     1-1-98               AT COST         RETIREMENTS        CHANGES          12-31-98
                                   -----------           ---------        -----------        -------          ----------
<S>                                <C>                 <C>                <C>                <C>             <C>

Land                               $ 2,027,797         $         -        $        -         $    -          $ 2,027,797
Buildings and improvements           7,752,216             106,884                 -              -            7,859,100
Furniture, Computers and
  warehouse equipment                3,341,692             908,343           528,203              -            3,721,832
Transportation equipment               435,990              98,416           109,134              -              425,272
                                   -----------         -----------        ----------         ------          -----------
                                   $13,557,695         $ 1,113,643        $  637,337         $    -          $14,034,001
                                   ===========           =========        ==========         ======          ===========
</TABLE>

Changes in Property,  Plant, and Equipment for the year ended December 31, 1997,
are shown in the following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     BALANCE             ADDITIONS                           OTHER             BALANCE
                                     1-1-97               AT COST         RETIREMENTS        CHANGES          12-31-97
                                   -----------           ---------        -----------        -------          -----------
<S>                                <C>                 <C>               <C>                <C>              <C>
Land                               $ 2,027,797         $         -       $        -         $    -           $ 2,027,797
Buildings and improvements           7,479,697             279,710            7,191              -             7,752,216
Furniture, Computers and
  warehouse equipment                2,875,288             528,004           61,600              -             3,341,692
Transportation equipment               463,853              88,648          116,511              -               435,990
                                   -----------         -----------       ----------         ------           -----------
                                   $12,846,635         $   896,362       $  185,302         $    -           $13,557,695
                                   ===========         ===========        =========         ======           ===========
</TABLE>

Changes in Property,  Plant, and Equipment for the year ended December 31, 1996,
are shown in the following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     BALANCE             ADDITIONS                           OTHER             BALANCE
                                     1-1-96               AT COST        RETIREMENTS        CHANGES           12-31-96
                                   -----------           ---------       -----------        -------           -----------
<S>                                <C>                 <C>             <C>                <C>                <C>
Land                               $ 2,027,797         $       -       $        -         $    -             $ 2,027,797
Buildings and improvements           7,450,391             29,305               -              -               7,479,697
Furniture, Computers and
  warehouse equipment                2,960,102            483,291         568,105              -               2,875,288
Transportation equipment               473,706            104,465         114,318              -                 463,853
                                   -----------         ----------      ----------         ------             -----------
                                   $12,911,996         $  617,061      $  682,423         $    -             $12,846,635
                                   ===========         ==========      ==========         ======             ===========
</TABLE>

                                       23
<PAGE>


                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                      NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 3
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 1 - ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
- ---------------------------------------
Changes in Accumulated  Depreciation for Property,  Plant, and Equipment for the
year ended December 31, 1998, are shown in the following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     BALANCE           ADDITIONS                           OTHER             BALANCE
                                     1-1-98             AT COST        RETIREMENTS        CHANGES           12-31-98
                                     -------           ---------       -----------        -------           --------
<S>                                <C>                 <C>             <C>                <C>              <C>
Land                               $         -         $       -       $        -         $    -           $         -
Buildings and improvements           1,836,818            256,721               -              -             2,093,539
Furniture, Computers and
  warehouse equipment                2,041,174            641,590         528,203              -             2,154,561
Transportation equipment               270,935            107,265         109,134              -               269,066
                                   -----------         ----------      ----------         ------           -----------
                                   $ 4,148,927         $1,005,576      $  637,337         $    -           $ 4,517,166
                                   ===========         ==========      ==========         ======           ===========
</TABLE>

Changes in Accumulated  Depreciation for Property,  Plant, and Equipment for the
year ended December 31, 1997, are shown in the following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     BALANCE           ADDITIONS                           OTHER             BALANCE
                                     1-1-97             AT COST        RETIREMENTS        CHANGES           12-31-97
                                     -------           ---------       -----------        -------           --------  
<S>                                <C>                 <C>             <C>                <C>              <C>
Land                               $         -         $       -       $        -         $    -           $         -
Buildings and improvements           1,602,694            241,315           7,191              -             1,836,818
Furniture, Computers and
  warehouse equipment                1,497,560            605,214          61,600              -             2,041,174
Transportation equipment               279,804            100,475         109,344              -               270,935
                                   -----------         ----------      ----------         ------           -----------
                                   $ 3,380,058         $  947,004      $  178,135         $    -           $ 4,148,927
                                   ===========         ==========      ==========         ======           ===========
</TABLE>

Changes in Accumulated  Depreciation for Property,  Plant, and Equipment for the
year ended December 31, 1996, are shown in the following schedule:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     BALANCE           ADDITIONS                           OTHER             BALANCE
                                     1-1-96             AT COST        RETIREMENTS        CHANGES           12-31-96
                                   ---------           ---------       -----------        -------           --------  
<S>                                <C>                 <C>             <C>                <C>              <C>
Land                               $         -         $       -       $        -         $    -           $         -
Buildings and improvements           1,364,782            237,912               -              -             1,602,694
Furniture, Computers and
  warehouse equipment                1,464,406            601,259         568,105              -             1,497,560
Transportation equipment               295,458             94,812         110,466              -               279,804
                                   -----------         ----------      ----------         ------           -----------
                                   $ 3,124,646         $  933,983      $  678,571         $    -           $ 3,380,058
                                   ===========         ==========      ==========         ======           ===========
</TABLE>

                                       24

<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                      NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 4
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 1 - ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
- ----------------------------------------
   Income Taxes
   ------------
       Deferred income taxes are provided to reflect the tax effect of temporary
       differences between financial statement and federal tax reporting arising
       from the following:

       1. Depreciation  for federal  income tax  purposes is computed  under the
          Straight  Line Method for assets  acquired  prior to December 31, 1986
          and the Modified  Accelerated Cost Recovery System for assets acquired
          after December 31, 1986. For financial statement purposes the Straight
          Line Method and Modified  Accelerated  Cost Recovery  System are being
          used. The following chart indicates the difference in the depreciation
          calculations:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Annual             Tax Depreciation          Total
                                             Tax Depreciation      (over) under Book       Accumulation
                                             Over (Under) Book     Depreciation for       Tax Over Book
                       Year                     Depreciation         Deleted Assets         Depreciation
                       ----                  -----------------     -----------------      ---------------
                     <S>                          <C>                    <C>                  <C>

                     12-31-96                      23,003                (4,582)              1,331,472
                     12-31-97                     (34,032)                  639               1,298,079
                     12-31-98                     (21,873)               (5,322)              1,270,884
</TABLE>

       2. Deferred compensation is accrued as follows:

                     Balance, December 31, 1997                      $  284,901
                     Addition for year ended December 31, 1998           44,183
                                                                     ----------
                     Balance, December 31, 1998                      $  329,084
                                                                     ==========

          The  deferred  compensation  has not  been  deducted  for  income  tax
          purposes.


       3. Internal  Revenue  Code  Section  263A  requires  certain  costs to be
          capitalized for inventory  purposes.  The following schedule shows the
          amount reported on the tax return.

         <TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         DECEMBER 31,
                                             ----------------------------------
                                                 1998                   1997
                                             -----------             -----------
           <S>                               <C>                     <C>
           Book inventory                    $14,106,010             $13,395,947
           Adjustment for 263A Uniform
           Capitalization costs                  292,008                 288,788
                                             -----------             -----------
           Inventory for tax return          $14,398,018             $13,684,735
                                             ===========             ===========
</TABLE>


       The Company  accounts  for any tax  credits as a reduction  of income tax
       expense in the year in which such credits arise.



                                       25
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                      NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 5
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 1 - ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
- ---------------------------------------
   Earnings Per Share of Common Stock
   ----------------------------------
     Earnings per common  share (Class A and Class B Combined)  are based on the
     weighted  average number of shares  outstanding in each period after giving
     effect to stock issued, stock subscribed, dividends on preferred stock, and
     treasury stock as set forth by Accounting  Principles  Board Opinion No. 15
     as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                --------------------------------------------------
                                                                    1998                1997                1996
                                                                -----------          ----------         ----------
             <S>                                                <C>                  <C>                <C>    

             Net Earnings                                       $   893,489          $1,408,203         $1,206,222
             Less:  Dividends on Preferred Stock                    682,368             620,812            515,029
                                                                -----------          ----------         ----------
                                                                $   211,121          $  787,391         $  691,193
             Weighted average shares of common stock
             (Class A and Class B outstanding)                       66,763              61,934             56,984


              Net Earnings (Loss) per share of
              common stock                                             3.16               12.71              12.13
</TABLE>

   Preferred Stock Dividends
   -------------------------
     Cash dividends paid on the Company's outstanding preferred stock (par value
     $100  per  share)  were  13% for  1998,  13% for  1997,  and 12% for  1996,
     pro-rated  for the portion of a twelve  month  period  (ending  January 31)
     during which the preferred  stock was held. The weighted  average number of
     preferred  shares  outstanding  during  each 12  month  period  was used to
     calculate  the per share cash  dividends  on  preferred  stock as reflected
     below.  Cash dividends  have never been paid and are not  anticipated to be
     paid in the  future on either  class of the  Company's  outstanding  common
     stock.

                      SCHEDULE OF PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS

           During the
           Year Ended         Weighted Average                 Per
           December 31       Shares Outstanding               Share
           -----------       ------------------               -----
              1998                 60,531                    $11.27
              1997                 55,929                     11.10
              1996                 51,277                     10.04


Revenue Recognition
- -------------------
     The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
     generally  accepted  accounting  principles.   Accordingly,   revenues  and
     expenses are  accounted for using the accrual  basis of  accounting.  Under
     this method of accounting,  revenues and  receivables  are recognized  when
     merchandise  is  shipped  or  services  are  rendered,   and  expenses  are
     recognized when the liability is incurred.

   Use of Estimates
   ----------------
     The  preparation  of financial  statements  in  conformity  with  generally
     accepted  accounting  principles  requires management to make estimates and
     assumptions   that  affect  certain   reported   amounts  and  disclosures.
     Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.


                                       26
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                      NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 6
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 2 - NOTES RECEIVABLE
- -------------------------
     Notes receivable reflect amounts due to the Company from its Member-Dealers
     under a deferred  payment  agreement and an installment  sales agreement as
     well as amounts due from former Member-Dealers for inventory purchases.

     Under the deferred agreement,  the Company supplies  Member-Dealers with an
     initial  order of General  Electric  Lamps.  The  payment for this order is
     deferred  so  long  as the  Member-Dealer  continues  to  purchase  General
     Electric lamps through the Company.  If a Member-Dealer  ceases to purchase
     lamp inventory or sells or closes his business, then General Electric bills
     the  Company for the  Member-Dealer's  initial  order and the note  becomes
     immediately due and payable in full to the Company.

     Notes receivable are classified as follows:

                                                             December 31,       
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                          1998           1997
                                                     ----------      -----------
                   Current                           $   10,174      $     5,394
                   Nonncurrent                          130,362          120,513
                                                       --------          -------
                   Total                             $  140,536      $   125,907
                                                     ==========      ===========


NOTE 3 - NOTES PAYABLE - STOCK
- ------------------------------
     The five year,  interest  bearing notes payable - stock reflect amounts due
     from the Company to former  Member-Dealers for the Company's  repurchase of
     shares of Company stock owned by these former Member-Dealers.  According to
     the terms of the notes, only interest is paid on the outstanding balance of
     the notes during the first four years. In the fifth year, both interest and
     principal are paid. Interest rates range from 5.75% to 7.0%.

     Notes payable - stock are classified as follows:

                                                             December 31,       
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                          1998           1997  
                                                     ----------      -----------
                   Current                           $   26,750      $     7,000
                   Nonncurrent                          521,280          223,750
                                                     ----------      -----------
                   Total                             $  548,030      $   230,750
                                                     ==========      ===========


     Principal payments applicable to the next five years are as follows:

                                    1999             $   26,750
                                    2000                107,200
                                    2001                 57,000
                                    2002                 32,800
                                    2003                324,280
                                                     -----------
                                                     $  548,030
                                                     ==========

                                       27
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                      NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 7
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 4- INCOME TAXES
- --------------------
     The Company adopted FASB Statement No. 109,  "Accounting for Income Taxes,"
     effective  January 1, 1993.  The  adoption  of this  standard  changed  the
     Company's method of accounting for income taxes from the deferred method to
     the liability method.

     The major  categories  of  deferred  income tax  provisions  are as follows
     (based on FASB 109):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        -------------------------------------------------
                                                                            1998               1997               1996
                                                                        -----------        -----------        -----------
         <S>                                                            <C>                <C>                <C>
         Excess of tax over book depreciation                           $1,270,884         $1,298,079         $1,331,472
         Allowance for bad debts                                            (7,195)            (7,195)            (7,195)
         Inventory - ending inventory adjustment
           for tax recognition of Sec. 263A
                Uniform Capitalization Costs                              (292,008)          (288,788)          (249,239)
         Deferred compensation                                            (242,173)          (223,165)          (199,235)
                                                                        ----------         ----------         ----------
                    Total                                               $  729,508         $  778,931         $  875,803
                    Statutory tax rate                                          34%                34%                34%
                                                                        ----------         ----------         ----------
         Cumulative deferred income tax payable                         $  248,033         $  264,836         $  297,773
                                                                        ==========         ==========         ========== 

         Classified as:
                Current liability                                       $        -         $        -         $        -
                Noncurrent liability                                       248,033            264,836            297,773
                                                                        ----------         ----------         ----------
                                                                        $  248,033         $  264,836         $  297,773
                                                                        ==========         ==========         ==========
</TABLE>

     Reconciliation  of income  taxes on  difference  between tax and  financial
     accounting:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        -------------------------------------------------
                                                                            1998               1997               1996
                                                                        ---------          ----------         ----------
     <S>                                                                <C>                <C>                <C>

     Principal components of income tax expense Federal:
       Current
            Income tax paid                                             $  616,635         $  724,440         $  492,922
            Carryover of prepayment from prior year                              -             24,686            107,078
            Current income tax payable                                           -             45,253             67,741
                                                                        ----------         ----------         ----------
                                                                        $  616,635         $  794,379         $  667,741
            Carryover to subsequent year                                   105,883                  -                  -
                                                                        ----------         ----------         ----------
            Income tax for tax reporting at statutory rate of 34%       $  510,752         $  794,379         $  667,741
       Deferred
            Adjustments for financial reporting:
            Depreciation                                                    (9,246)           (11,354)             6,263
            263A Uniform capitalization costs                               (1,095)           (13,447)           (13,831)

            Other                                                           (6,463)            (8,063)            (9,069)
                                                                        ----------         ----------         ----------
       Provision for federal income tax (U.S.)                          $  493,948         $  761,515         $  651,104
                                                                        ==========         ==========         ==========
</TABLE>

     The  Company is not exempt  from  income  tax  except  for  municipal  bond
     interest earned in an amount of $1,985.


                                       28
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                      NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 8
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 5 - LEASES 
- ---------------
     Operating Leases
     ----------------

     The Company leases certain  trucks and trailers under  long-term  operating
     lease agreements. The leases expire in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.

     The following is a schedule of future  minimum lease payments for operating
     leases as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 for the subsequent five years:

                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                             ------------------------------
                                                 1998               1997
                                             -----------         ----------
           1998                              $        -          $  543,843
           1999                                  636,736            543,843
           2000                                  630,288            537,394
           2001                                  488,372            359,056
           2002                                  272,449            102,192
           2003                                  104,740                  -

     Capital Leases
     --------------
     The Company  leases  equipment  as a capital  lease.  The  following  is an
     analysis of the leased property under capital leases by major class:

                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                             ------------------------------
                                                 1998               1997
                                             -----------         ----------
           Class of Property
             Furniture, computers,
             and warehouse equipment         $  168,316           $  473,164
             Transportation equipment                 -               39,971
                                             ----------           ----------
                                             $  168,316           $  513,135
           Less:  Accumulated depreciation      111,445              369,089
                                             ----------           ----------
                                             $   56,871           $  144,046
                                             ==========           ==========

     The following is a schedule by year of future  minimum  lease  payments for
     capital leases.

                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                             -------------------------------
                                                 1998               1997
                                             -----------         -----------
           1998                              $        -           $   52,488
           1999                                  58,308               58,308
           2000                                  41,383               41,383
           2001                                   7,889                7,889
           2002                                  17,592               17,592
                                             ----------           ----------
              TOTAL                          $  125,172           $  177,660
                                             ==========           ==========


     The lease  payments  are  reflected  in the  Balance  Sheet as current  and
     noncurrent  obligations  under  capital  leases  of  $58,308  and  $66,864,
     respectively. The estimated interest rates range from 4% to 9%.

                                       29
<PAGE>

                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                      NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 9
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 5 - LEASES (CONTINUED) 
- --------------------------
     Rental Expenses
     ---------------
     Rental expenses for the preceding three years are:

                                            1998             $1,251,805
                                            1997              1,041,985
                                            1996                909,912


NOTE 6 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
- -----------------------------------
     None

     The  Company  is owned  entirely  by its  dealers  and former  dealers.  No
     shareholder is the beneficial  owner of more than five percent of any class
     of the Company's voting securities. Substantially all sales are made to the
     Member-Dealers (Owners) of the Company.


NOTE 7 - RETIREMENT PLAN - HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE,  INC. 401(K) PROFIT SHARING
PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     During 1997, the Company  transferred the former Profit Sharing and Savings
     Plan to a  401(K)Profit  Sharing Plan to help employees  achieve  financial
     security  during  their  retirement   years.   Employees  are  eligible  to
     participate in the plan if they have attained age 21 and have completed one
     year of service with the Company. The Plan includes a 401(K) arrangement to
     allow employees to contribute to the Plan a portion of their  compensation,
     known as elective  deferrals.  Each year,  the Company  will make  matching
     contributions  in the amount  determined  by the Board of  Directors at its
     discretion.  The  Board  of  Directors  may  choose  not to  make  matching
     contributions to the Plan for a particular year. During 1998, the employees
     could  contribute up to 6% of their gross annual  compensation  with 50% of
     such contribution matched by the Company. In addition,  the employees could
     contribute  an  additional  9%  with  no  Company  matching   contribution.
     Employees are 100% vested at all times for elective  deferrals in the Plan.
     The Plan  permits the Company to  contribute a  discretionary  amount for a
     plan  year  designated  as  qualified  nonelective  contributions.  Company
     qualified nonelective  contributions are allocated to employees in the same
     proportion that the number of points per employee bears to the total points
     of all  participants.  Employees  receive  one  point  for each  $1,000  of
     compensation and one point for each year of service.  Employees'  interests
     in the value of the  contributions  made to their account  first  partially
     vest after three years of service at 20% and continue to vest an additional
     20%  each  year  until   fully   vested   after  seven  years  of  service.
     Participating employees who reach age 65 are fully vested without regard to
     their number of years of service.  Benefits are paid to eligible  employees
     under  the plan in lump sum upon  retirement,  or at the  direction  of the
     employee,  pursuant  to  the  terms  of an  annuity  plan  selected  by the
     employee. The amount of cost recognized during the years ended December 31,
     is as follows:

                                                  1998       $ 506,812
                                                  1997         599,475
                                                  1996         561,318


                                       30
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                     NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 10
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 8 - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
- -----------------------------
     Terms of Capital Stock
     ----------------------
     The holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share
     held of record on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders.  Holders
     of Class A Common  Stock must be  engaged  in the retail  sale of goods and
     merchandise,  and may not be issued or retain more than ten shares of Class
     A Common  Stock at any time.  The  holders of Class B Common  Stock are not
     entitled to vote on matters  submitted to a vote of shareholders  except as
     specifically provided by Texas law.

     The holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to cumulative  dividends of not
     less than 7 percent  per year nor more than 20 percent  per year of the par
     value ($100.00 per share) of the shares of Preferred Stock, as fixed by the
     Board of Directors. The Preferred Stock has a liquidation value of $100 per
     share.  The holders of Preferred  Stock are not entitled to vote on matters
     submitted  to a vote of  shareholders  except as  specifically  provided by
     Texas  law.  The shares of  Preferred  Stock are not  convertible,  but are
     subject  to  redemption  (at  the  option  of the  Company)  by vote of the
     Company's  Board of  Directors,  in  exchange  for $100 per  share  and all
     accrued unpaid dividends.

     Capitalization
     --------------
     To become a Handy Hardware  Member-Dealer,  an independent  hardware dealer
     must enter into a Subscription  Agreement with the Company for the purchase
     of ten shares of Handy  Hardware  Class A Common Stock,  $100 par value per
     share and for any additional  store, ten shares of Preferred Stock, with an
     additional  agreement  to  purchase  a minimum  number of shares of Class B
     Common Stock,  $100 par value per share and Preferred Stock, $100 par value
     per share.  Class B Common Stock and Preferred Stock are purchased pursuant
     to a formula based upon total purchases of merchandise by the Member-Dealer
     from the Company,  which  determines the "Desired Stock Ownership" for each
     Member-Dealer. The minimum Desired Stock Ownership is $10,000.

     Each  Member-Dealer  receives from the Company a  semimonthly  statement of
     Total  Purchases  made during the covered  billing period and an additional
     charge  ("Purchase  Funds") of 2 percent of warehouse  purchases  until the
     Member-Dealer's  Desired  Stock  Ownership  is attained.  The  Subscription
     Agreement entitles the Company to collect 2 percent of total purchases.  At
     present,  however,  the Board of  Directors  has  determined  to  collect 2
     percent of  warehouse  purchases  only.  On a monthly  basis,  the  Company
     reviews  the  amount  of  unexpended  Purchase  Funds  being  held for each
     Member-Dealer. If a Member-Dealer has unexpended Purchase Funds of at least
     $2,000, the Company applies $2,000 to the purchase of ten shares of Class B
     Common Stock and ten shares of Preferred Stock at $100 per share.

     Transferability
     ---------------
     Holders of Class A Common  Stock may not sell those shares to a third party
     without  first  offering  to sell  them back to the  Company.  There are no
     specific  restrictions  on the transfer of the Company's  Class B Common or
     Preferred Stock.

     Membership Termination
     ----------------------
     Following  written  request,  the  Company  will  present  to the  Board of
     Directors a  Member-Dealer's  desire to have his stock  repurchased and the
     Member-Dealer  Contract  terminated.  According  to the current  procedures
     established  by the  Board of  Directors,  a  Member-Dealer's  stock may be
     repurchased according to either of two options.

                                       31
<PAGE>




                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                     NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 11
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 8 - STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)
- ----------------------------------------
     Option      I - The Member-Dealer's  Class A Common Stock is repurchased at
                 $100 per  share.  Any funds  remaining  in the  Member-Dealer's
                 Purchase  Fund  Account will be returned at the dollar value of
                 such account.  Twenty percent or $3,000,  whichever is greater,
                 of the total  value of the Class B Common and  Preferred  Stock
                 will be repurchased.  The remaining value of the Class B Common
                 and  Preferred  Stock  is  converted  to a  five-year  interest
                 bearing  note.  During the first four years this note only pays
                 interest.  In the fifth year both  interest and  principal  are
                 paid. The interest rate is determined by the Company's Board of
                 Directors at the same time they approve the repurchase.

     Option      II - Same as Option I except  that the  remaining  value of the
                 Class B Common and Preferred Stock is discounted 15 percent and
                 reimbursed to the Member-Dealer.

     Stock  Repurchase
     -----------------
     In 1998 and 1997 the Board  approved  the  continuation  of its  program of
     repurchasing  certain shares from those  shareholders who are over-invested
     in the Company's  capital stock by $4,000 or more.  The amount  repurchased
     was the amount of stock  (based on purchase  price of $100 per share) equal
     to one fourth of the over-invested  amount,  equally divided between shares
     of  Preferred  Stock  and  Class B Common  Stock.  In  connection  with the
     repurchase,  the minimum required investment in the Company's capital stock
     is $10,000. In 1998 and 1997 the Company repurchased 284 and 348 shares for
     $28,400 and $34,800, respectively.


NOTE 9 - LINE OF CREDIT
- -----------------------
     In August 1996, Chase Bank of Texas ("the Bank") extended to the Company an
     unsecured  $7.5  million  revolving  line of credit with an April 30, 1998,
     maturity  date. In April,  1998,  the  commitment was extended to mature in
     April,  2000, at an interest  rate of prime minus one and one-half  percent
     (1.5%)  or the  London  Interbank  Offering  Rate  ("LIBOR")  plus  one and
     one-quarter  percent  (1.25%).  The  line was  used  from  time to time for
     working  capital and other  financing  needs of the  Company.  At December,
     1998, there was no outstanding balance due on the line of credit. Borrowing
     against and payments of the line of credit during the year were as follows.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              BALANCE             BORROWING                             BALANCE      INTEREST         INTEREST
              1-01-98                1998            PAYMENTS          12-31-98        RATE             PAID
              -------            -----------        -----------        --------      ---------        --------
               <S>              <C>                <C>                  <C>           <C>             <C>
               $ -0-            $ 4,320,000        $ 4,320,000          $ -0-         7%/6.25%        $ 4,838
</TABLE>


     Terms of the line of credit require  monthly  payments of accrued  interest
     with the balance, if any, of the loan to be repaid on April 30, 2000.



                                       32

<PAGE>





                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                     NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 12
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 10 - COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
- --------------------------------
   The following  disclosures  include those  required by FASB 115 for financial
   statements beginning after December 15, 1997.

1.     Deferred  compensation  funded in the amount of  $329,084  on the Balance
       Sheet as a  non-current  asset at  December  31,  1998,  includes  equity
       securities  classified as investments available for sale in the amount of
       $279,644 at fair market value. The $279,644  includes $98,581  unrealized
       gain on securities resulting from the increase in fair market value.


2.     Changes in equity securities
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Year Ended
                                                                    December 31, 1998             Cumulative
                                                                    -----------------             ----------
        <S>                                                             <C>                         <C>
        Balance, Beginning                                              $ 238,941                   $       -
        Purchases                                                           6,170                      98,890
        Dividends, interest and capital gains                               9,775                      82,173
        Unrealized gains on securities resulting from increase
            in fair market value                                           24,758                      98,581
                                                                        ---------                   ---------
        Balance, December 31, 1998                                      $ 279,644                   $ 279,644 
                                                                        =========                   =========
</TABLE>

3.     Components of Comprehensive Earnings
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                           Total           Other Comprehensive       Net Earnings Exclusive
                                                       Comprehensive       Earnings - Unrealized             of Other
                                                          Earnings          Gains on Securities      Comprehensive Earnings
                                                       -------------       ---------------------     ----------------------    
        <S>                                            <C>                    <C>                         <C>
        Net Earnings Before Provision for
           Federal Income Tax                          $ 1,387,437            $     24,758                $ 1,362,679
        Provision for Federal Income Tax                   493,948                   8,418                    485,530
                                                       -----------            ------------                -----------
        Net Earnings                                   $   893,489            $     16,340                $   877,149
                                                       ===========            ============                ===========
</TABLE>

4.     Components of Retained Earnings

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Retained Earnings           Retained Earnings
                                                                            Applicable to Other          Exclusive of Other
                                                         Total            Comprehensive Earnings     Comprehensive Earnings
                                                       -----------        ----------------------     ----------------------      
        <S>                                            <C>                    <C>                         <C>

        Balance, January 1, 1998                       $ 5,222,828            $     48,724                $ 5,174,104
        Add:  Net earnings year ended
                 December 31, 1998                         893,489                  16,340                    877,149
        Deduct:  Cash Dividends on
                     Preferred Stock                       682,368                       -                    682,368
                                                       -----------            ------------                -----------
        Balance, December 31, 1998                     $ 5,433,949            $     65,064                $ 5,368,885
                                                       ===========            ============                ===========
</TABLE>
                                       33
<PAGE>





                         HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                     NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PAGE 13
                                DECEMBER 31, 1998



NOTE 11 - SUBSEQUENT EVENT
- --------------------------
     The Company purchased approximately 30 acres of land on January 25, 1999 in
     the amount of  $1,174,264  to be used for  expansion.  This  project may be
     funded through third party financing  including  borrowing on the Company's
     existing line of credit.


NOTE 12 - LITIGATION
- --------------------
     In the opinion of the Company,  at December 31, 1998,  there was no pending
     or threatened litigation that would have a material effect on the financial
     position or results of operations of the Company at December 31, 1998.


NOTE 13 - OTHER DISCLOSURES
- ---------------------------
1.       Costs incurred for advertising are expensed when incurred.

2.       The Company  wholesales  hardware  to its  dealers in Texas,  Oklahoma,
         Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Florida.

3.       The Company is not a party to any legal  proceedings  or  environmental
         clean-up  actions that it believes will have a material  adverse effect
         on its financial position or results of operations.

  
















                                     34
<PAGE>


Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and 
         Financial Disclosure

         Not applicable.


                                    PART III

     Items 10-13 are  incorporated by reference to the Company's Proxy Statement
for its annual  stockholders'  meeting which will be subsequently filed with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  within  120 days  after  the close of the
Company's fiscal year.


                                     PART IV

Item 14.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a)      Documents Filed as Part of this Report

                                                                          Page
         (1)      Financial Statements                                 Reference
                  --------------------                                 ---------

                  Auditor's Report........................................... 15

                  Balance Sheets at December 31,
                    1998 and 1997............................................ 16

                  Statements of Earnings for the
                    years ended December 31,
                    1998, 1997 and 1996 ..................................... 18

                  Statements of Stockholders' Equity
                    for the years ended December 31,
                    1998, 1997 and 1996 ..................................... 19

                  Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
                    December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 ........................ 21

                  Notes to Financial Statements.............................. 22

         (2)      Financial Statement Schedules
                  -----------------------------

                  Schedule  V  has  been  omitted  because  none  of  the  items
                  reflected  thereon  was in excess of 1% of total sales for the
                  periods covered.

                  All other schedules are omitted because the information is not
                  required  or  because  the  information  required  is  in  the
                  financial statements or notes thereto.




                                       35

<PAGE>



         (3)      Exhibits

           Exhibit
           Number
           -------

            3.1     Articles of Incorporation of Handy Hardware Wholesale, Inc.,
                    as amended (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's  Quarterly
                    Report  on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended  September  30,
                    1995, and incorporated herein by reference).

            3.2     Bylaws of Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. (Filed as Exhibit
                    3.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
                    ended  December  31,  1983,  and   incorporated   herein  by
                    reference).

            4.1     Specimen  copy of  certificate  representing  Class A Common
                    Stock (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the  Company's  Annual Report
                    on Form  10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  1983,  and
                    incorporated herein by reference).

            4.2     Specimen  copy of  certificate  representing  Class B Common
                    Stock (Filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the  Company's  Annual Report
                    on Form  10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  1983,  and
                    incorporated herein by reference).

            4.3     Specimen copy of certificate  representing  Preferred  Stock
                    (Filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Annual Report on Form
                    10-K for the year ended December 31, 1983, and  incorporated
                    herein by reference).

            4.4     Form of Subscription to Shares of Handy Hardware  Wholesale,
                    Inc.  for  Class A Common  Stock,  Class B Common  Stock and
                    Preferred  Stock  (Filed  as  Exhibit  4.4 to the  Company's
                    Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31,
                    1991, and incorporated herein by reference).

          *10.1     Employment  Agreement,  as amended,  between Handy  Hardware
                    Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton  (Filed as Exhibit 10.1
                    to the  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K for the year
                    ended  December  31,  1983,  and   incorporated   herein  by
                    reference).

          *10.2     Second  Amendment to the Employment  Agreement,  as amended,
                    between Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton
                    dated July 19, 1985 (Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the  Company's
                    Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31,
                    1985, and incorporated herein by reference).

         *10.3      Third  Amendment to the  Employment  Agreement,  as amended,
                    between Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton
                    dated  December  16,  1988  (Filed  as  Exhibit  10.3 to the
                    Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the year  ended
                    December 31, 1988, and incorporated herein by reference).

         *10.4      Fourth  Amendment to the Employment  Agreement,  as amended,
                    between Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton
                    dated  September  20,  1991  (Filed as  Exhibit  10.4 to the
                    Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the year  ended
                    December 31, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference).

          10.5      Split-Dollar  Agreement  dated November 13, 1991 between the
                    Company  and James D. Tipton  (Filed as Exhibit  10.5 to the
                    Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the year  ended
                    December 31, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference).

          10.6      Form  of  Dealer  Contract  (Alabama,   Arkansas,   Florida,
                    Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas) (Filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the
                    Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the year  ended
                    December 31, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference).



                                       36

<PAGE>



          10.7      Form of Dealer Contract (Mississippi) (Filed as Exhibit 10.7
                    to the  Company's  Annual  Report  on Form 10-K for the year
                    ended  December  31,  1991,  and   incorporated   herein  by
                    reference).

         *10.8      Fifth  Amendment to the  Employment  Agreement,  as amended,
                    between Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton
                    dated  September  7,  1993.  (Filed as  Exhibit  10.8 to the
                    Company's  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the year  ended
                    December 31, 1993, and incorporated herein by reference.)

          10.9      Loan Agreement dated March 30, 1993,  between Texas Commerce
                    Bank,  N.A., and Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc.  (filed as
                    Exhibit I to the  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10- Q
                    for the quarter ended June 30, 1993, and incorporated herein
                    by reference).

         *10.10     Amendment and Restatement of Credit Agreement  between Handy
                    Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and Texas  Commerce  Bank,  N.A.,
                    dated as of April 30,  1996.  (filed as Exhibit  10.2 to the
                    Company's  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q for the  quarter
                    ended  September  30,  1996  and   incorporated   herein  by
                    reference).

         *10.11     Sixth  Amendment to the  Employment  Agreement,  as amended,
                    between Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton
                    dated November 14, 1995.

         *10.12     Seventh Amendment to the Employment  Agreement,  as amended,
                    between Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton
                    dated September 30, 1996.

         *10.13     Eighth  Amendment to the Employment  Agreement,  as amended,
                    between Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton
                    dated December 24, 1997.

       *,->10.14    Ninth  Amendment to the  Employment  Agreement,  as amended,
                    between Handy Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc. and James D. Tipton
                    dated December 31, 1998.

         ->10.15    Second  Amendment to  Amendment  and  Restatement  of Credit
                    Agreement  between  the  Company  and  Chase  Bank of Texas,
                    National Association dated April 30, 1998.

         ->11.1     Statement re computation of per share earnings.

- --------------------------------------
* Management Contract
- ->Filed herewith.

     The  Company  will  furnish  to any  requesting  shareholder  a copy of any
exhibit  upon payment of $.40 per page to cover the expense of  furnishing  such
copies. Requests should be directed to Tina S. Kirbie,  Secretary and Treasurer,
Handy Hardware Wholesale, Inc., 8300 Tewantin Drive, Houston, Texas 77061.

         (b)      Reports on Form 8-K

         The Company  filed no reports on Form 8-K during the three months ended
December 31, 1998.

         (c)      Exhibits

         Listed in Item 14(a)(3) above.

         (d)      Financial Statement Schedules

         Listed in Item 14(a)(2) above.




                                       37

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant,  Handy Hardware Wholesale,  Inc., has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.

                                           HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

                                               /S/ James D. Tipton
                                            -----------------------------------
                                                   JAMES D. TIPTON
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
March 26, 1999

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant,  Handy  Hardware  Wholesale,  Inc., and in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

Signature                         Title                               Date
- ---------                         -----                               ----

/s/ James D. Tipton           President, Chief Executive         March 26, 1999
- -------------------           Officer and Director

/s/ Tina S. Kirbie            Chief Financial and                March 26, 1999
- -------------------           Accounting Officer

/s/ Weldon D. Bailey          Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

/s/ Norman J. Bering, II      Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

/s/ Susie Bracht-Black        Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

/s/ Virgil H. Cox             Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

/s/ Samuel J. Dyson           Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

/s/ Robert L. Eilers          Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

/s/ Richard A. Lubke          Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

/s/ Jimmy T. Pate             Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

/s/ Leroy Wellborn            Director                           March 26, 1999
- -------------------

                                                        38



                                 Exhibit 10.14


                     Ninth Amendment to Employment Agreement

     Reference  is  made  to  an  Employment   Agreement   (hereinafter   called
"Agreement") dated July 9, 1980, between Handy Hardware Wholesale, Inc., a Texas
corporation  (therein and hereinafter  called  "Employer"),  and James D. Tipton
(therein  and  hereinafter  called  "Employee"),  the  First  Amendment  to  the
Agreement,  dated August 18, 1980 (the "First Amendment"),  the Second Amendment
to the  Agreement,  dated  July 18,  1985 (the  "Second  Amendment"),  the Third
Amendment to the Agreement, dated December 6, 1988 (the "Third Amendment"),  the
Fourth  Amendment  to the  Agreement,  dated  September  20,  1991 (the  "Fourth
Amendment"),  the Fifth Amendment to the Agreement, dated September 7, 1993 (the
"Fifth  Amendment"),  the Sixth  Amendment to the Agreement,  dated November 14,
1995 (the "Sixth  Amendment"),  the Seventh  Amendment to Employment  Agreement,
dated September 30, 1996 (the "Seventh  Amendment") and the Eighth  Amendment to
Employment Agreement, dated December 24, 1997 (the "Eighth Amendment").

     At this time, Employer and Employee wish to amend the Agreement,  the First
Amendment,  the Second Amendment, the Third Amendment, the Fourth Amendment, the
Fifth Amendment, Sixth Amendment, the Seventh Amendment and the Eighth Amendment
as herein set forth:

     NOW THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises,  the agreements  herein
contained  and other good and  valuable  considerations,  Employer  and Employee
hereby amend the Agreement, the First Amendment, the Second Amendment, the Third
Amendment,  the Fourth Amendment,  the Fifth Amendment, the Sixth Amendment, the
Seventh Amendment and the Eighth Amendment as follows:

         1.       Paragraph 3.a. is hereby amended to read as follows:

                  "a. The term of employment  by Employer  shall mean the period
         commencing  August 18, 1980, and terminating  December 31, 2000, unless
         sooner   terminated  in  accordance   with  the  terms  and  conditions
         hereinafter set forth, provided,  however, in the event of the death of
         Employee,  the term of employment shall end the 60th day after the date
         of the death of Employee."

     Except as amended above,  the Agreement,  the First  Amendment,  the Second
Amendment,  the Third Amendment,  the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, the
Sixth Amendment, the Seventh Amendment and the Eighth Amendment remain unchanged
and continue in full force and effect.

     This Ninth  Amendment is executed in multiple  counterparts,  each of which
shall have the force and effect of an original, this 31st day of December, 1998.

                                                HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.

  /s/        James D. Tipton                    By:  /s/     Virgil H. Cox
  --------------------------                    --------------------------     
             James D. Tipton                         Chairman of the Board
             EMPLOYEE                                EMPLOYER





                                  EXHIBIT 10.15

                SECOND AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF
                                CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS SECOND  AMENDMENT TO AMENDMENT AND  RESTATEMENT OF CREDIT  AGREEMENT  (this
"Amendment")  dated effective as of April 30, 1998 (the "Effective Date"), is by
and between  HANDY  HARDWARE  WHOLESALE,  INC.  ("Borrower"),  and CHASE BANK OF
TEXAS,  NATIONAL  ASSOCIATION,  formerly  known as Texas  Commerce Bank National
Association,  a national banking association,  whose principal office is located
in Houston, Texas ("Bank").

PRELIMINARY  STATEMENT.  Bank and Borrower  have  entered into an Amendment  and
Restatement of Credit Agreement dated as of April 30, 1996 ("Credit  Agreement")
as amended by a First Amendment to Amendment and Restatement of Credit Agreement
dated as of April 30, 1997. The  "Agreement",  as used in the Credit  Agreement,
shall also  refer to the Credit  Agreement  as  amended by this  Amendment.  All
capitalized  terms defined in the Credit  Agreement  and not  otherwise  defined
herein shall have the same meanings herein as in the Credit Agreement.  Bank and
Borrower  have  agreed to amend the  Credit  Agreement  to the  extent set forth
herein,  and in order to,  among  other  things,  renew,  modify  and extend the
Commitment.

NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises and other good and valuable
consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby  acknowledged by
the parties hereto, Bank and Borrower hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Revolving Credit Note. Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended
by substituting the following for the Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement:

     " Subject to the terms and  conditions  hereof,  Bank  agrees to make loans
     ("Loan" or "Loans") to  Borrower  from time to time before the  Termination
     Date,  not to  exceed  at  any  one  time  outstanding  $7,500,000.00  (the
     "Commitment?).  Borrower has the right to borrow, repay and reborrow.  Each
     Loan  must be at  least  the  minimum  amount  required  in the Note or the
     balance of the Commitment,  whichever is less and each repayment must be at
     least the amount required in the Note or the principal balance of the Note,
     whichever is less. The Loans may only be used for capital  expenditures and
     working  capital.  Chapter 346 of the Texas  Finance Code will not apply to
     this  Agreement,  the Note or any Loan. The Loans will be evidenced by, and
     will bear  interest and be payable as provided in, the  promissory  note of
     Borrower  dated the  Effective  Date  (together  with any and all renewals,
     extensions,   modifications  and  replacements  thereof  and  substitutions
     therefor,  the  "Note"),  which  is  given  in  renewal,  modification  and
     extension  of that  certain  promissory  note dated  April 30,  1997 in the
     original  principal amount of  $7,500,000.00  (including all prior notes of
     which said note represents a renewal,  extension,  modification,  increase,
     substitution,  rearrangement or replacement  thereof,  the "Renewed Note").
     The  parties  hereto  agree  that  there  is as of the  Effective  Date  an
     outstanding  principal balance of $0.00 under the Note leaving a balance as
     of the Effective Date of $7,500,000.00  under the Commitment  available for
     Loans subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.  The "Note" as
     used in the Credit Agreement shall also refer to the "Note" as used in this
     Amendment.  "Termination Date" means the earlier of: (a) April 30, 2000; or
     (b) the date specified by Bank pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof."

Section 2.  Exhibit B of the Credit  Agreement  is hereby  amended by  replacing
prior Exhibit B with the Exhibit B attached hereto and hereby  incorporated into
this Amendment and the Credit Agreement for all purposes.

                                       1

<PAGE>

Section 3. Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Bank that after giving
effect to the execution and delivery of this Amendment:  (a) the representations
and  warranties  set forth in the Credit  Agreement  are true and correct on the
date  hereof as though  made on and as of such date;  and (b) to the best of the
undersigned's knowledge after reasonable  investigation performed in good faith,
no  default  or Event  of  Default  has  occurred  under  the  Agreement  and is
continuing as of the date hereof.

Section 4. This Amendment  shall become  effective as of the Effective Date upon
its execution  and delivery by each of the parties named in the signature  lines
below.

Section 5. Borrower further  acknowledges  that each of the other Loan Documents
is in all other respects ratified and confirmed,  and all of the rights,  powers
and privileges  created  thereby or thereunder are ratified,  extended,  carried
forward and remain in full force and effect  except as the Credit  Agreement  is
amended by this Amendment.

Section 6. This Amendment may be executed in any number of  counterparts  and by
different  parties  hereto  in  separate  counterparts,  each of  which  when so
executed  shall be deemed an  original  and all of which  taken  together  shall
constitute but one and the same agreement.

Section 7. This  Amendment  shall be  included  within the  definition  of "Loan
Documents" as used in the Agreement.

Section 8. THIS AMENDMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND AS APPLICABLE,  THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.

THIS  WRITTEN  AMENDMENT  AND  THE  OTHER  LOAN  DOCUMENTS  CONSTITUTE  A  "LOAN
AGREEMENT" AS DEFINED IN SECTION 26.02(a) OF THE TEXAS BUSINESS & COMMERCE CODE,
AND  REPRESENTS  THE  FINAL  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN  THE  PARTIES  AND  MAY  NOT  BE
CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS
OF THE PARTIES.

     THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have caused this  Amendment to be
executed effective as of the Effective Date.

         BORROWER:                 HANDY HARDWARE WHOLESALE, INC.


                                   By:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Name:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Title:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Address: 8300 Tewantin, Houston,  Texas 77061


             BANK:                 CHASE BANK OF TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                   By:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Name:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Title:
                                      ------------------------------------------

                                   Address:
                                      ------------------------------------------



                                        2

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT 11.1

                        Computation of Per Share Earnings

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 1998              1997                 1996
                                                 ----              ----                 ----
<S>                                         <C>                 <C>                  <C>

Net Earnings                                $  893,489          $1,408,203           $1,206,222
Dividends Paid                                (682,368)           (620,812)            (515,029)
                                            ----------          ----------           ----------
                                            $  211,121          $  787,391           $  691,193
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding             66,763              61,934               56,984
Earnings Per Share of Common Stock          $     3.16          $    12.71           $    12.13
</TABLE>



<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     The schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from the
     filer's  operations  as of December  31,  1998,  and is  qualified  in its
     entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000354053
<NAME>                        Handy Hardware Wholesale, Inc.
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                    DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                          1,113,122
<SECURITIES>                    0
<RECEIVABLES>                   10,352,814
<ALLOWANCES>                    7,195
<INVENTORY>                     14,106,010
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                26,041,957
<PP&E>                          9,516,835
<DEPRECIATION>                  4,517,166
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  36,042,197
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>           15,894,431
<BONDS>                         0
           0
                     6,178,045
<COMMON>                        6,813,096
<OTHER-SE>                      5,773,187
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    36,042,197
<SALES>                         146,009,972
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                146,925,402
<CGS>                           130,554,986
<TOTAL-COSTS>                   130,554,986
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                7,496,431<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>              45,273
<INCOME-PRETAX>                 1,362,679
<INCOME-TAX>                    485,530
<INCOME-CONTINUING>             877,149
<DISCONTINUED>                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                 16,340
<CHANGES>                       0
<NET-INCOME>                    893,489
<EPS-PRIMARY>                   3.16
<EPS-DILUTED>                   3.16
<FN>
<F1>  Does not include payroll costs of $7,466,033.
</FN>
        

</TABLE>


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