SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

Commission file number 1-12814

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.
 X  YES      NO

As of May 31, 2000, 15,518,812 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

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COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED APRIL 29, 2000
INDEX

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated balance sheets.

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COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

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COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

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COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

      The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cole National Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including Cole National Group, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

      The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared without audit and certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted, although management believes that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information not misleading. Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2000.

      In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly its financial position as of April 29, 2000 and the results of operations and cash flows for the 13 weeks ended April 29, 2000 and May 1, 1999.

Inventories

      The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared without physical inventories.

Cash Flows

      Net cash flows from operating activities reflect cash (receipts) payments for income taxes and interest of ($61,000) and $6,224,000, respectively, for the 13 weeks ended April 29, 2000, and $234,000 and $5,620,000, respectively, for the 13 weeks ended May 1, 1999.

Earnings Per Share

      Earnings per share for the 13 weeks ended April 29, 2000 and May 1, 1999 have been calculated based on the following weighted average number of common shares and equivalents outstanding:

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Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

      Total other comprehensive income (loss) for the 13 weeks ended April 29, 2000 and May 1, 1999 is as follows (000’s omitted):

(2) Segment Information

      Information on the Company’s reportable segments is as follows (000’s omitted):

(3) Reclassifications

      Certain 1999 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2000 presentation.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

      The following is a discussion of certain factors affecting the Company’s results of operations for the 13 week periods ended April 29, 2000 and May 1, 1999 (the Company’s first quarter) and its liquidity and capital resources. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this filing and the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2000 included in the annual report on Form 10-K.

      Fiscal years end on the Saturday closest to January 31 and are identified according to the calendar year in which they begin. For example, the fiscal year ended January 29, 2000 is referred to as “fiscal 1999.” The current fiscal year, which will end February 3, 2001, is referred to as “fiscal 2000.”

Results of Operations

      The following table sets forth certain operating information for the first quarter fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1999 (dollars in millions):

      The decrease in net revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2000 was primarily attributable to a reduction in the number of locations, including the closing of all optical departments at Montgomery Ward in December 1999, partially

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offset by a consolidated comparable store sales increase of 3.1%. Changes in comparable store sales by business compared to the same period a year ago were:

      At Cole Licensed Brands, total first quarter sales increased despite the closing of the Montgomery Ward departments. The average selling price was nearly even between years, reflecting a small decrease in the average contact lens price, while the number of transactions was up slightly even though there were fewer locations. First quarter sales results for Pearle reflected a decrease in the number of transactions due, in part, to fewer locations. The average selling price was essentially flat between years. The comparable store sales performance at Pearle company-owned stores, although negative, was the best quarter’s comparable store sales performance since the second quarter of fiscal 1998. At Things Remembered, the comparable store sales increase reflected an increase in sales of new merchandise at higher average unit retails and an increase in the number of transactions compared to a year ago.

      The gross profit decrease was primarily attributable to the lower revenue at Cole Vision, partially offset by the revenue increase at Things Remembered. Gross margin at Cole Vision improved 0.9 percentage points in fiscal 2000 compared to the first quarter last year. The primary cause for the improvement was the additional revenue associated with the MetLife vision care business acquired in October 1999. Gross margin at Things Remembered decreased 2.2 percentage points compared to the first quarter last year reflecting the impact of an aggressive merchandise clearance promotion this year.

      The unfavorable leverage in operating expenses was primarily attributable to a 1.6 percentage point increase in payroll costs, a 0.7 percentage point increase from severance costs, a 0.3 percentage point increase in net advertising expenditures and a 0.2 percentage point increase in store occupancy costs. The leverage loss resulted primarily from the decline in comparable store sales at Pearle company-owned stores, a $1.8 million charge for severance costs recorded in connection with a personnel reduction at Cole Vision, and increased expenses associated with the Target Optical expansion. The increase in depreciation and amortization was primarily attributable to amortization of systems development costs related to the Pearle manufacturing and merchandise/inventory management system implemented in the third quarter last year and amortization of restricted stock awarded in January 2000.

      The decrease in income from operations was primarily the result of the decrease in net revenue and the increase in operating expenses and depreciation and amortization.

      Net interest and other expense was virtually flat between years at $6.1 million. An income tax provision was recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1999 using the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rates of 55% and 41%, respectively. The increase in the rate approximates the full year effective rate realized in fiscal 1999.

      Net income decreased to a loss of $1.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2000 from a profit of $3.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 1999. The decrease was due to the decrease in income from operations, offset in part by the higher effective tax rate on the fiscal 2000 first quarter loss.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

      The Company’s primary source of liquidity is funds provided from operations of its operating subsidiaries. In addition, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cole National Group, Inc., and its operating subsidiaries have a working capital line of credit of $75.0 million. By amendment, the working capital commitment has been reduced to $50.0 million for the period January 30, 2000 to June 29, 2000 and certain covenants were modified. There were no working capital borrowings outstanding at any time during the first quarter of fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1999. As of April 29, 2000, availability under the credit facility totaled $40.4 million, after reduction for commitments under outstanding letters of credit.

      Operations for the first quarter provided $4.2 million of cash in fiscal 2000 compared to using $15.3 million in fiscal 1999. The primary reason for the additional $19.5 million in cash provided by operations was a significantly smaller decrease in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities in the first quarter of fiscal 2000 as compared to fiscal 1999.

      Cash used for investing activities included capital additions of $9.1 million and $7.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1999, respectively. The majority of capital expenditures were for store fixtures, equipment and leasehold improvements for new stores and the remodeling of existing stores. Investments in systems development costs totaled $1.8 and $3.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1999, respectively.

      The Company believes that funds provided from operations, along with funds available under the credit facility, will provide adequate sources of liquidity to allow its operating subsidiaries to continue to expand the number of stores and to fund capital expenditures and systems development costs.

Recent Developments and Forward-Looking Information

      In March 2000, the Company launched the reorganization of the operating structure of its optical business. It is believed that the essential ingredient to improved sales and profitability of the Company’s vision segment is the creation of distinct organizations that are dedicated to serving the needs of their respective customers. Pearle and Cole Licensed Brands are being managed as independent business units, each of which has been strengthened by the addition of merchandising, manufacturing, distribution and finance responsibilities.

      While first quarter of fiscal 2000 produced comparable store sales increases, the Company expects improvement in its profitability to lag behind any sustained improvement in sales. The Company expects that expenses associated with improving the Pearle business, as well as the rapid Target Optical expansion, will cause results to be below last year for the second quarter.

      Certain sections of this Form 10-Q, including this Management’s Discussion and Analysis, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those forecast due to a variety of factors that can adversely affect operating results, liquidity and financial condition such as risks associated with the timing and achievement of the continuing restructuring and improvements in the operations of the optical business, the Company’s ability to select, stock and price merchandise attractive to customers, success of systems integration, competition in the optical industry, integration of acquired businesses, economic and weather factors affecting consumer spending, operating factors affecting customer satisfaction, including manufacturing quality of optical and engraved goods, the Company’s relationship with host stores and franchisees, the mix of goods sold, pricing and other competitive factors, and the seasonality of the business. Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting Cole National Corporation. All forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

      The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which could impact its results of operations and financial condition. Foreign exchange risk arises from the Company’s exposure in fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates because the Company’s reporting currency is the United States dollar. Management seeks to minimize the exposure to foreign currency fluctuations through natural internal offsets to the fullest extent possible.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) Exhibits. The following Exhibits are filed herewith and made a part hereof:

      27       Financial Data Schedule

(b) Reports on Form 8-K

      None.

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SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

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COLE NATIONAL CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED APRIL 29, 2000

EXHIBIT INDEX

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