OMB APPROVAL
EXPIRES: October 31, 1994
ESTIMATED AVERAGE BURDEN
HOURS PER RESPONSE 14.90
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 13G
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 2 )*
J. Baker, Inc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock**
-------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)
05723210
--------------
(CUSIP NUMBER)
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement.[ ] (A
fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the
class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment
subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less
of such class.) (See Rule 13d-7).
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that
section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act
(however, see the Notes).
-----------------------------
**The amount reflected in Item 9 of the cover pages may include common stock
issuable upon conversion of a 7% convertible bond due 2002 (the "convertible
bond") (CUSIP 057232AA). In the aggregate, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. may
be deemed to beneficially own 218,606 shares of Common Stock and 3,525,000
face amount of a 7% convertible bond.
<PAGE>
Page 2 of 10 Pages
CUSIP NO. 05723210 13G
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
NONE
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
1,459,593
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
NONE
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,459,593
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,459,593
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
10.3%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC, CO
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!
<PAGE>
Page 3 of 10 Pages
CUSIP NO. 05723210 13G
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
NONE
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
1,458,606
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
NONE
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,458,606
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,458,606
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
10.3%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC, CO
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!
<PAGE>
Page 4 of 10 Pages
CUSIP NO. 05723210 13G
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Princeton Services, Inc.
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
NONE
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
1,458,606
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
NONE
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,458,606
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,458,606
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
10.3%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC, CO
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!
<PAGE>
Page 5 of 10 Pages
CUSIP NO. 05723210 13G
1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON
Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.
2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing
(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]
3. SEC USE ONLY
4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5. SOLE VOTING POWER
NONE
6. SHARED VOTING POWER
1,038,943
7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
NONE
8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
1,038,943
9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
1,038,943
10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*
11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
7.4%
12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*
HC, CO
*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!
<PAGE>
Page 6 of 10 Pages
SCHEDULE 13G
ITEM 1 (a) Name of Issuer:
--------------
J. Baker, Inc.
ITEM 1 (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
-----------------------------------------------
55 Turnpike Street
Canton, MA 02021
ITEM 2 (a) Name of Persons Filing:
---------------------
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
Merrill Lynch Group, Inc..
Princeton Services, Inc.
Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.
ITEM 2 (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
-----------------------------------------------------------
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
World Financial Center, North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.
World Financial Center, North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York 10281
Princeton Services, Inc.
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536
Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536
<PAGE>
Page 7 of 10 Pages
ITEM 2 (c) Citizenship:
-----------
See Item 4 of Cover Pages
ITEM 2 (d) Title of Class of Securities:
----------------------------
Common Stock
ITEM 2 (e) CUSIP NUMBER:
05723210
ITEM 3
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML&Co."), Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.
("ML Group"), Princeton Services, Inc. ("PSI") and Merrill Lynch Asset
Management L.P. ("MLAM") are parent holding companies, in accordance with
(S) 240.13d-1(b) (ii) (G).
ITEM 4 Ownership
---------
(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:
See Item 9 of Cover Pages. Pursuant to (S) 240.13d-4, ML&Co., ML Group,
PSI and MLAM (the "Reporting Persons") disclaim beneficial ownership
of the securities of J. Baker, Inc. (the "Company") referred to herein,
and the filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission
that the Reporting Persons are, for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of any
securities of the Company covered by this statement, other than certain
securities of the Company held in MLPF&S proprietary accounts.
(b) Percent of Class:
See Item 11 of Cover Pages
(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
See Item 5 of Cover Pages
(ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
See Item 6 of the Cover Pages
(iii) sole power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of:
See Item 7 of Cover Pages
<PAGE>
Page 8 of 10 Pages
(iv) share power to dispose of or direct the disposition of:
See Item 8 of Cover Pages
ITEM 5 Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
--------------------------------------------
Not Applicable
ITEM 6 Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
---------------------------------------------------------------
PSI acts as the general partner of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.
(d/b/a) Merrill Lynch Asset Management ("MLAM") and Fund Asset Management, L.P.
(d/b/a) Fund Asset Management ("FAM"), each of which are investment advisers
registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and act
as investment advisers to investment companies registered under Section 8 of
the Investment Company Act of 1940. With respect to securities held by those
investment commpanies, several person have the right to receive, or the power
to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of,
such securities. No other person has an interest that relates to more than
5% of the class of securities reported herein.
ITEM 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
---------------------------------------------------------
Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
See Exhibit A
ITEM 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
----------------------------------------------------------
Not Applicable
<PAGE>
Page 9 of 10 Pages
ITEM 9 Notice of Dissolution of Group.
------------------------------
Not Applicable
ITEM 10 Certification
-------------
By signing below each of the undersigned certifies that, to the best of
their knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in
the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do
not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such
securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any
transaction having such purpose or effect.
Signature.
---------
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, each
of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is
true, complete and correct.
Date: August 10, 1995
Merrill Lynch & Co, Inc.
/s/ David L. Dick
----------------------------
Name: David L. Dick
Title: Assistant Secretary
Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.
/s/ David L. Dick
-----------------------------
Name: David L. Dick
Title: Secretary
Princeton Services, Inc.
/s/ David L. Dick
-----------------------------
Name: David L. Dick
Title: Attorney-In-Fact*
Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.
/s/ David L. Dick
-----------------------------
Name: David L. Dick
Title: Attorney-In-Fact*
------------------------------------
* Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated February 10, 1994, included as
an Exhibit to Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
by Merrill Lynch Group, Inc. et. al. on February 14, 1994 with respect to Dial
REIT Inc.
<PAGE>
Page 10 of 10 Pages
EXHIBIT A TO SCHEDULE 13G
-------------------------
ITEM 7 DISCLOSURE RESPECTING SUBSIDIARIES
-----------------------------------------
Three of the persons filing this report, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., a
Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at World Financial
Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York ("ML&Co."), Merrill
Lynch Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business
at World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York
("ML Group"), and Princeton Services, Inc. a Delaware corporation with its
principal place of business at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey,
("PSI") are parent holding companies pursuant to (S)240 13d-1(b) (1) (ii) (G).
The relevant subsidiaries of Merrill Lynch & Co. are Merrill Lynch Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S"), ML Group and PSI, which is the
general partner of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. (d/b/a) Merrill
Lynch Asset Management ("MLAM") and Fund Asset Management, L.P. (d/b/a) Fund
Asset Management ("FAM"). The relevant subsidiary of Merrill Lynch
Group is PSI.
MLPF&S, a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at
250 Vesey Street, New York, New York, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ML&Co.
and a broker-dealer registered pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. MLPF&S holds securities of J. Baker, Inc. (the "Company") through its
proprietary trading accounts.
ML Group, a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of ML&Co., may be deemed to be
the beneficial owner of 10.3% of the common stock of the Company by virtue of
its control of its wholly-owned subsidiary, PSI.
PSI, a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of ML Group, may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 10.3% of the common stock of the Company by virtue of its
being the general partner of MLAM and FAM.
MLAM, a Delaware limited partnership with its principal place of business
at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey, is an investment adviser
registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. MLAM may
be deemed to be the beneficial owner of 7.4% of the common stock of the
Company as a result of acting as investment adviser to several investment
companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
FAM, a Delaware limited partnership with its principal place of business
at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey, is an investment adviser
registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. FAM may
be deemed to be the beneficial owner of less than 5% of the common stock of
the Company as a result of acting as investment adviser to several investment
companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Pursuant to (S)240.13d-4, ML & Co., MLPF&S, ML Group, PSI, MLAM, and FAM
disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities of the Company, and the
filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that any
such entity is, for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owner of any securities of the Company,
other than, in the case of ML&Co. and MLPF&S, securities of the Company held
by MLPF&S in proprietary accounts.
