BAKER J INC
10-Q, 1998-06-02
SHOE STORES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
  [ X ]           QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                  THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                  For the quarterly period ended May 2, 1998
                                                 -----------

                                       OR

  [      ]        TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                  SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from
                  __________ to __________


                         Commission file Number 0-14681

                                 J. BAKER, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   Massachusetts                                 04-2866591
(State of Incorporation)              (IRS Employer Identification Number)

                555 Turnpike Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (781) 828-9300
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



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

                                    YES [X] NO [  ]

         13,940,940 shares of common stock were outstanding on May 2, 1998.




<PAGE>


                         J. BAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets
                  May 2, 1998 (unaudited) and January 31, 1998

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                 <C>                   <C>
                                                                                        May 2,             January 31,
        Assets                                                                           1998                 1998
        ------                                                                         --------              -------

Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                                                       $  1,086,156          $  3,995,995
    Accounts receivable:
        Trade, net                                                                    14,924,625             9,576,156
        Other                                                                          1,799,362             9,485,578
                                                                                      -----------          -----------
                                                                                      16,723,987            19,061,734
                                                                                      ----------           -----------

    Merchandise inventories                                                          172,193,582           159,407,002
    Prepaid expenses                                                                   6,940,366             4,418,171
    Deferred income taxes, net                                                         4,900,000             5,230,000
                                                                                      ----------           -----------
             Total current assets                                                    201,844,091           192,112,902
                                                                                     -----------           -----------

Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
    Land and buildings                                                                19,532,487            19,532,487
    Furniture, fixtures and equipment                                                 74,854,627            72,359,381
    Leasehold improvements                                                            25,849,506            24,832,306
                                                                                     -----------           -----------
                                                                                     120,236,620           116,724,174
    Less accumulated depreciation and amortization                                    47,265,260            44,595,098
                                                                                     -----------           -----------
             Net property, plant and equipment                                        72,971,360            72,129,076
                                                                                     -----------           -----------

Deferred income taxes, net                                                            55,254,380            55,950,000
Other assets, at cost, less accumulated amortization                                  11,951,202            14,875,434
                                                                                     -----------           -----------
                                                                                    $342,021,033          $335,067,412
                                                                                     ===========           ===========
        Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
        ------------------------------------

Current liabilities:
    Current portion of long-term debt                                               $  2,073,091          $  2,060,387
    Accounts payable                                                                  48,554,703            52,108,352
    Accrued expenses                                                                  13,540,290            14,176,048
    Income taxes payable                                                                 929,365               979,560
                                                                                    ------------           -----------
             Total current liabilities                                                65,097,449            69,324,347
                                                                                     -----------           -----------

Other liabilities                                                                      4,081,060             4,229,800
Long-term debt, net of current portion                                               126,663,893           114,407,640
Senior subordinated debt                                                                       -             1,490,111
Convertible subordinated debt                                                         70,353,000            70,353,000

Stockholders' equity                                                                  75,825,631            75,262,514
                                                                                     -----------           -----------
                                                                                    $342,021,033          $335,067,412
                                                                                     ===========           ===========
</TABLE>





See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


<PAGE>


                         J. BAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                       Consolidated Statements of Earnings
               For the quarters ended May 2, 1998 and May 3, 1997
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>                      <C>
                                                                            Quarter                   Quarter
                                                                             Ended                     Ended
                                                                           May 2, 1998               May 3, 1997
                                                                           -----------               -----------

Net sales                                                                 $126,636,564              $137,350,261

Cost of sales                                                               68,312,559                75,352,452
                                                                           -----------               -----------

      Gross profit                                                          58,324,005                61,997,809

Selling, administrative and general expenses                                50,782,456                55,694,829

Depreciation and amortization                                                3,098,046                 2,653,393
                                                                            ----------                ----------

      Operating income                                                       4,443,503                 3,649,587

Net interest expense                                                         3,597,160                 3,207,576
                                                                           -----------               -----------

      Earnings before income taxes                                             846,343                   442,011

Income tax expense                                                             330,000                   173,000
                                                                           -----------               -----------

      Net earnings                                                        $    516,343              $    269,011
                                                                           ===========               ===========

Net earnings per common share:
      Basic                                                               $       0.04             $        0.02
                                                                           ===========              ============
      Diluted                                                             $       0.04             $        0.02
                                                                           ===========              ============

Number of shares used to compute net earnings per common share:
      Basic                                                                 13,920,294                13,892,969
                                                                           ===========               ===========
      Diluted                                                               14,064,373                13,931,335
                                                                           ===========               ===========

Dividends declared per share                                              $      0.015             $       0.015
                                                                           ===========              ============
</TABLE>












See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


<PAGE>


                         J. BAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
               For the quarters ended May 2, 1998 and May 3, 1997
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                      <C>                       <C>
                                                                          May 2, 1998                May 3, 1997
                                                                          -----------                -----------
Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net earnings                                                         $    516,343               $    269,011
    Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
      used in operating activities:
       Depreciation and amortization:
           Fixed assets                                                     2,670,162                  2,459,480
           Deferred charges, intangible assets and
             deferred financing costs                                         429,853                    203,588
       Deferred income taxes, net                                           1,025,620                          -
       Grants of performance share awards                                     255,563                          -
       Change in:
           Accounts receivable                                              2,337,747                 (3,889,958)
           Merchandise inventories                                        (12,786,580)               (26,620,927)
           Prepaid expenses                                                (2,393,160)                (2,070,170)
           Accounts payable                                                (3,553,649)                 1,115,605
           Accrued expenses                                                  (635,758)               (12,844,928)
           Income taxes payable/receivable                                    (50,195)                    85,233
           Other liabilities                                                 (110,913)                   143,424
                                                                         ------------                -----------
               Net cash used in operating activities                      (12,294,967)               (41,149,642)
                                                                         ------------                -----------

Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures for:
       Property, plant and equipment                                       (3,512,446)                (2,829,111)
       Other assets                                                          (486,017)                  (148,464)
    Payments received on notes receivable                                           -                    725,000
    Proceeds from sales of footwear businesses                              2,902,335                 58,630,247
                                                                          -----------                 ----------
              Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities          (1,096,128)                56,377,672
                                                                          -----------                -----------

Cash flows from financing activities:
    Repayment of senior debt                                               (1,500,000)                (1,500,000)
    Proceeds from (repayment of) other long-term debt                      12,404,379                (15,100,000)
    Repayment of mortgage payable                                            (135,422)                  (123,808)
    Payment of mortgage escrow, net                                           (78,912)                   (78,912)
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of retirements                      -                     11,856
    Payment of dividends                                                     (208,789)                  (208,398)
                                                                          -----------                 ----------
              Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities          10,481,256                (16,999,262)
                                                                          -----------               ------------

              Net decrease in cash                                         (2,909,839)                (1,771,232)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year                              3,995,995                  3,969,116
                                                                          -----------                -----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                               $  1,086,156               $  2,197,884
                                                                          ===========                ===========

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Cash paid for:
    Interest                                                             $  2,398,464               $  2,032,569
    Income taxes                                                               50,195                     87,767
    Income taxes refunded                                                    (876,349)                         -
                                                                           ==========               ============

Schedule of non-cash financing activity:
    Common stock issued for performance share awards                          255,563                          -
                                                                          ===========               ============
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements


<PAGE>


                        J. BAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                                     NOTES

1] The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements,  in the opinion
of management,  include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the
Company's  financial  position  and results of  operations.  The results for the
interim periods are not  necessarily  indicative of results that may be expected
for the entire fiscal year.

2] In February,  1997, the Financial  Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128 ("SFAS No. 128"),  "Earnings
Per Share"  ("EPS"),  which the  Company  adopted in fiscal  1998.  Basic EPS is
computed by dividing  income  available to common  shareholders  by the weighted
average number of common shares  outstanding  during the period.  Diluted EPS is
computed by dividing  income  available to common  shareholders  by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding, after giving effect to all dilutive
potential common shares, that were outstanding during the period.

      For the quarters  ended May 2, 1998 and May 3, 1997,  the  calculation  of
diluted  earnings per common share  includes the dilutive  effect of outstanding
stock options and warrants. Also included in the calculation of diluted earnings
per common  share is the  dilutive  effect of  performance  share awards for the
quarter ended May 2, 1998.  The common stock  issuable  under the 7% convertible
subordinated  notes due 2002 and the convertible  debentures was not included in
the  calculation  for the quarters ended May 2, 1998 and May 3, 1997 because its
effect would be antidilutive.  All net earnings per common share amounts for all
periods presented have been restated to conform to SFAS No. 128 requirements.

      Net earnings  and shares used to compute net  earnings  per common  share,
basic and diluted, are reconciled below:
<TABLE>
        <S>                                                         <C>                     <C>
                                                                    May 2, 1998             May 3, 1997
                                                                    -----------             -----------

         Net earnings, basic and diluted                             $   516,343            $   269,011
                                                                      ==========             ==========
         Weighted average common shares:

         Basic                                                        13,920,294             13,892,969
             Effect of dilutive securities:
                   Stock options and performance share awards            144,079                 38,366
                                                                     -----------            -----------
         Diluted                                                      14,064,373             13,931,335
                                                                      ==========             ==========
</TABLE>

3] The Company  adopted  Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 130,
"Reporting  Comprehensive Income" ("SFAS No. 130"),  effective February 1, 1998.
SFAS No. 130  requires  that  items  defined  as other  comprehensive  income be
separately classified in the financial  statements.  As the Company has no other
comprehensive  income in the current period,  nor does it have accumulated other
comprehensive income from prior periods,  adoption of SFAS No. 130 has no effect
on the Company's financial statements.

4] In June,  1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards
No. 131,  "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related  Information"
("SFAS  No.  131").  SFAS  No.  131  establishes  new  standards  for  reporting
information about operating segments. Current financial statements are presented
substantially in accordance with SFAS No. 131.

5] In April, 1998, the Accounting  Standards Executive Committee of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued a Statement of Position ("SOP")
98-5 entitled "Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up Activities". The SOP, which is
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1998,  requires entities
to expense as incurred all start-up and pre-opening costs that are not otherwise
capitalizable  as long-lived  assets.  Restatement  of previously  issued annual
financial statements is not permitted by the SOP, and entities are not permitted
to report  the pro  forma  effects  of the  retroactive  application  of the new
accounting standard. The Company believes the adoption of this SOP will not have
a material impact on its financial statements.

6] During the fourth  quarter  of fiscal  1997,  the  Company  restructured  its
footwear operations. In connection with the restructuring, the Company downsized
its Licensed Discount footwear division, and in March, 1997, completed the sales
of its Shoe Corporation of America ("SCOA") and Parade of Shoes divisions.

      On March 5, 1997,  the Company  announced it had sold its SCOA division to
an entity formed by CHB Capital  Partners of Denver,  Colorado along with Dennis
B. Tishkoff, President of SCOA, and certain members of SCOA management. Net cash
proceeds from the  transaction of  approximately  $40.0 million were used to pay
down the Company's bank debt.  Sales in the Company's SCOA division totaled $9.5
million for the quarter ended May 3, 1997.

      On March 10, 1997,  the Company  completed the sale of its Parade of Shoes
division to Payless ShoeSource,  Inc. of Topeka,  Kansas. Net cash proceeds from
the  transaction  of  approximately  $20.0  million  were  used to pay  down the
Company's bank debt.  Sales in the Company's  Parade of Shoes  division  totaled
$8.2 million for the quarter ended May 3, 1997.

7] On May 30, 1997,  the Company  replaced its $145 million  credit  facility by
obtaining two separate revolving credit facilities, both of which are guaranteed
by J. Baker, Inc. One facility, which finances the Company's apparel businesses,
was  a  $100  million  revolving  credit  facility  with  Fleet  National  Bank,
BankBoston,  N.A., The Chase Manhattan Bank, Imperial Bank, USTrust,  Wainwright
Bank & Trust  Company and Bank Polska Kasa  Opieki  S.A.  (the  "Apparel  Credit
Facility").  The Apparel Credit  Facility is secured by all of the capital stock
of The Casual  Male,  Inc.  and three other  subsidiaries  of the  Company.  The
aggregate  commitment  amount under The Apparel Credit Facility was reduced from
$100 million to $90 million on December 31, 1997,  by amendment was increased to
$95 million on April 3, 1998 and will automatically be reduced by $10 million on
each of December 31, 1998 and December  31, 1999.  Borrowings  under the Apparel
Credit Facility bear interest at variable rates and can be in the form of loans,
bankers'  acceptances  and letters of credit.  This facility  expires on May 31,
2000.

      To finance its Licensed Discount footwear business, the Company obtained a
$55 million  revolving  credit  facility,  secured by  substantially  all of the
assets of JBI, Inc. and Morse Shoe,  Inc., with  BankBoston  Retail Finance Inc.
(formerly  known as GBFC,  Inc.) and Fleet National Bank (the  "Footwear  Credit
Facility").  The aggregate  commitment amount under the Footwear Credit Facility
was  reduced by $5  million on June 30,  1997.  Aggregate  borrowings  under the
Footwear Credit Facility are limited to an amount  determined by a formula based
on various percentages of eligible inventory and accounts receivable. Borrowings
under the Footwear Credit Facility bear interest at variable rates and can be in
the form of loans or letters of credit. This facility expires on May 31, 2000.

8] On June 23,  1995,  Bradlees  Stores,  Inc.  ("Bradlees"),  a licensor of the
Company,  filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States  Bankruptcy
Code. At the time of the bankruptcy filing, the Company had outstanding accounts
receivable of  approximately  $1.8 million due from Bradlees.  Under  bankruptcy
law,  Bradlees has the option of  continuing  (assuming)  the  existing  license
agreement with the Company or terminating  (rejecting) that agreement.  On April
13,  1998,  Bradlees  filed  its Joint  Plan of  Reorganization  and  Disclosure
Statement with the United States  Bankruptcy Court for the Southern  District of
New York. If the license  agreement is assumed,  Bradlees must cure all defaults
under the  agreement and the Company will collect in full the  outstanding  past
due receivable.  Although the Company believes that the rejection of the license
agreement or the cessation of Bradlees'  business is not probable,  in the event
that the  agreement is rejected or Bradlees  does not continue in business,  the
Company believes it will have a substantial  claim for damages.  If such a claim
is necessary, the amount realized by the Company relative to the carrying values
of the Company's Bradlees-related assets will be based on the relevant facts and
circumstances. The Company does not expect this filing under the Bankruptcy Code
to have a material adverse effect on future earnings. The Company's sales in the
Bradlees chain for the quarter ended May 2, 1998 were $9.4 million.

9] On September  17, 1997,  the Company  settled a patent  infringement  lawsuit
brought  against the Company and Morse Shoe,  Inc., a subsidiary of the Company,
by  Susan  Maxwell.  Pursuant  to the  settlement  agreement,  both  cases  were
dismissed  with  prejudice  with no  admissions  of  liability  and the  parties
executed a mutual release of all claims. Under the terms of the settlement,  the
Company agreed to make payments to Ms. Maxwell of $4,137,000,  in the aggregate,
over a  three-year  period and in  connection  with the  settlement,  recorded a
one-time charge to earnings of $3.4 million ($2.1 million on an after-tax basis)
during the third quarter of fiscal 1998  reflecting  costs of the settlement not
previously accrued for.


<PAGE>


    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
                                 OF OPERATIONS.

STATEMENTS MADE OR INCORPORATED  INTO THIS QUARTERLY  REPORT INCLUDE A NUMBER OF
FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS  WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS INCLUDE,  WITHOUT LIMITATION,  STATEMENTS CONTAINING
THE WORDS "ANTICIPATES", "BELIEVES", "EXPECTS", "INTENDS", "FUTURE" AND WORDS OF
SIMILAR  IMPORT,  WHICH  EXPRESS  MANAGEMENT'S  BELIEF,  EXPECTATIONS  OR INTENT
REGARDING THE COMPANY'S FUTURE  PERFORMANCE.  THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD
DIFFER  MATERIALLY  FROM  THOSE  SET  FORTH IN THE  FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS.
FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE SUCH  DIFFERENCES  ARE DESCRIBED IN THE SECTION  ENTITLED
"CERTAIN  FACTORS  THAT  MAY  AFFECT  FUTURE  RESULTS"  FOUND ON PAGE 10 OF THIS
QUARTERLY REPORT.

All references herein to fiscal 1999 and 1998 relate to the years ending January
30, 1999 and January 31, 1998, respectively.

Results of Operations

           First Quarter Fiscal 1999 versus First Quarter Fiscal 1998

         The Company's net sales decreased by $10.7 million to $126.7 million in
the first  quarter of fiscal  1999 from $137.4  million in the first  quarter of
fiscal 1998,  primarily due to the  disposition of the Company's SCOA and Parade
of Shoes businesses in March,  1997. Sales in the Company's  apparel  operations
increased by $5.9 million  primarily  due to an increase in the number of Casual
Male Big & Tall stores in operation during the first quarter of fiscal 1999 over
the first quarter of fiscal 1998 and a 5.1% increase in comparable apparel store
sales  (Comparable  apparel  store  sales  increases/decreases  are  based  upon
comparisons  of weekly sales volume in Casual Male Big & Tall stores and Work 'n
Gear  stores  which  were  open in  corresponding  weeks  of the two  comparison
periods).  Excluding  net  sales  in the  Company's  SCOA  and  Parade  of Shoes
businesses  of $17.7  million  for the quarter  ended May 3, 1997,  sales in the
Company's footwear operations increased by $1.1 million, primarily due to a 4.6%
increase in comparable retail footwear store sales  (Comparable  retail footwear
store  sales  increases/decreases  are based upon  comparisons  of weekly  sales
volume in licensed footwear  departments which were open in corresponding  weeks
of the two comparison periods.)

         The  Company's  cost of sales  constituted  53.9% of sales in the first
quarter of fiscal  1999 as  compared  to 54.9% of sales in the first  quarter of
fiscal 1998.  Cost of sales in the  Company's  apparel  operations  was 51.4% of
sales in the first  quarter of fiscal  1999 as compared to 52.7% of sales in the
first  quarter of fiscal 1998.  The decrease in such  percentage  was  primarily
attributable to lower markdowns as a percentage of sales,  partially offset by a
lower initial  markup on merchandise  purchases.  Cost of sales in the Company's
footwear  operations  was 57.3% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal 1999, as
compared to 56.8% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal 1998. Cost of sales in
the Company's Licensed Discount division was 57.3% of sales in the first quarter
of fiscal  1999,  as compared  to 57.9% of sales in the first  quarter of fiscal
1998.  The decrease in such  percentage was primarily  attributable  to a higher
initial markup on merchandise purchases, partially offset by higher markdowns as
a percentage of sales.

         Selling, administrative and general expenses decreased $4.9 million, or
8.8%, to $50.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1999 from $55.7 million in
the first  quarter  of fiscal  1998,  primarily  due to the  disposition  of the
Company's SCOA and Parade of Shoes businesses in March, 1997. As a percentage of
sales,  selling,  administrative and general expenses were 40.1% of sales in the
first quarter of fiscal 1999, as compared to 40.5% of sales in the first quarter
of fiscal 1998.  Selling,  administrative  and general expenses in the Company's
apparel  operations  were 41.7% of sales in the first  quarter of fiscal 1999 as
compared to 41.2% of sales in the first  quarter of fiscal 1998.  This  increase
was primarily due to a higher  corporate  overhead  allocation,  as a portion of
these costs in the first  quarter of fiscal 1998 were  allocated to the divested
SCOA and Parade of Shoes divisions. Selling, administrative and general expenses
in the Company's footwear operations were 38.0% of sales in the first quarter of
fiscal 1999 as compared to 39.9% of sales in the first  quarter of fiscal  1998.
This decrease was primarily due to the increased proportion of Licensed Discount
shoe  department  sales to total  footwear  sales in the first quarter of fiscal
1999 versus the first quarter of fiscal 1998.  The Company's  Licensed  Discount
shoe  division  has lower  selling,  administrative  and  general  expenses as a
percentage  of sales than the  aggregate  selling,  administrative  and  general
expenses  as a  percentage  of sales in the  divested  SCOA and  Parade of Shoes
divisions.

         Depreciation  and  amortization  expense  increased by $445,000 to $3.1
million  in the first  quarter  of fiscal  1999 from $2.7  million  in the first
quarter  of  fiscal  1998,  primarily  due to an  increase  in  depreciable  and
amortizable assets.

         As a result of the above,  the Company's  operating income increased to
$4.4 million in the first  quarter of fiscal 1999 from $3.6 million in the first
quarter of fiscal 1998. As a percentage of sales,  operating  income was 3.5% in
the first  quarter of fiscal 1999 as  compared  to 2.7% in the first  quarter of
fiscal 1998.

         Net interest expense increased by $390,000 to $3.6 million in the first
quarter of fiscal 1999 from $3.2  million in the first  quarter of fiscal  1998,
primarily  due  to a  change  in  the  Company's  method  of  financing  foreign
merchandise  purchases with bank borrowings for the first quarter of fiscal 1999
versus the use of  bankers'  acceptances  in the first  quarter of fiscal  1998,
partially  offset by lower interest rates on bank borrowings and lower levels of
bank  borrowings in the first quarter of fiscal 1999 versus the first quarter of
fiscal 1998.

         Taxes on earnings for the first  quarter of fiscal 1999 were  $330,000,
yielding  an  effective  tax rate of 39.0%,  as compared to taxes on earnings of
$173,000,  yielding  an  effective  tax rate of 39.1%,  in the first  quarter of
fiscal 1998.

     Net  earnings  for the first  quarter  of fiscal  1999  were  $516,000,  as
compared to net  earnings of $269,000 in the first  quarter of fiscal  1998,  an
increase of 91.9%. 

Financial Condition

                       May 2, 1998 versus January 31, 1998

         The  decrease in accounts  receivable  at May 2, 1998 from  January 31,
1998  was  primarily  due to the  receipt  of  litigation  settlement  proceeds,
partially  offset by an increase in trade  receivables due to seasonal  factors,
licensed footwear  department sales in April being higher than licensed footwear
department sales in January.

     The  increase in  merchandise  inventories  at May 2, 1998 from January 31,
1998 was primarily due to a seasonal increase in the average inventory level per
location.

         The  decrease in other assets at May 2, 1998 was  primarily  due to the
receipt of funds held in escrow related to the sales of the footwear businesses.

         The  decrease in accounts  payable at May 2, 1998 from January 31, 1998
was primarily due to an increase in direct import merchandise  purchases,  which
are paid for sooner than domestic merchandise  purchases.  The ratio of accounts
payable to merchandise  inventory was 28.2% at May 2, 1998, as compared to 32.7%
at January 31, 1998 and 35.1% at May 3, 1997.

         The increase in long-term debt, net of current portion,  at May 2, 1998
from January 31, 1998 was primarily due to  additional  bank  borrowings to meet
seasonal working capital needs and to fund capital expenditures.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

         On May 30, 1997, the Company  replaced its $145 million credit facility
by  obtaining  two  separate  revolving  credit  facilities,  both of which  are
guaranteed by J. Baker, Inc. One facility,  which finances the Company's apparel
businesses,  was a $100 million  revolving  credit  facility with Fleet National
Bank,  BankBoston,  N.A., The Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  Imperial  Bank,  USTrust,
Wainwright  Bank & Trust  Company and Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A. (the "Apparel
Credit Facility").  The Apparel Credit Facility is secured by all of the capital
stock of The Casual Male, Inc. and three other subsidiaries of the Company.  The
aggregate  commitment  under the Apparel  Credit  Facility was reduced from $100
million to $90 million on December 31, 1997,  by amendment  was increased to $95
million on April 3, 1998,  and will  automatically  be reduced by $10 million on
each of December 31, 1998 and December  31, 1999.  Borrowings  under the Apparel
Credit Facility bear interest at variable rates and can be in the form of loans,
bankers'  acceptances  and letters of credit.  This facility  expires on May 31,
2000.

         To  finance  its  Licensed  Discount  footwear  business,  the  Company
obtained a $55 million  revolving credit facility,  secured by substantially all
of the assets of JBI, Inc. and Morse Shoe, Inc., with BankBoston  Retail Finance
Inc.  (formerly  known as GBFC,  Inc.) and Fleet  National  Bank (the  "Footwear
Credit Facility").  The aggregate  commitment under the Footwear Credit Facility
was  reduced by $5  million on June 30,  1997.  Aggregate  borrowings  under the
Footwear Credit Facility are limited to an amount  determined by a formula based
on various percentages of eligible inventory and accounts receivable. Borrowings
under the Footwear Credit Facility bear interest at variable rates and can be in
the form of loans or letters of credit. This facility expires on May 31, 2000.

         As of May 2, 1998,  the Company had  aggregate  borrowings  outstanding
under its Apparel  Credit  Facility and its Footwear  Credit  Facility  totaling
$82.8  million  and  $38.9  million,  respectively,   consisting  of  loans  and
obligations under letters of credit.

         Net cash used in operating  activities  for the first quarter of fiscal
1999 was $12.3 million, as compared to net cash used in operating  activities of
$41.1 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1998.  The $28.8 million change was
primarily due to higher  expenditures  for inventory and payments related to the
restructuring  of the  Company's  footwear  operations  in the first  quarter of
fiscal 1998 versus the first quarter of fiscal 1999.

         Net cash used in investing  activities  for the first quarter of fiscal
1999 was $1.1 million, as compared to net cash provided by investing  activities
of $56.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 1998.  The $57.5 million  change
was  primarily due to the receipt of $58.6 million in proceeds from the sales of
the SCOA and Parade of Shoes businesses in the first quarter of fiscal 1998.

         Net cash  provided by  financing  activities  for the first  quarter of
fiscal  1999 was  $10.5  million,  as  compared  to net cash  used in  financing
activities  of $17.0  million  in the first  quarter of fiscal  1998.  The $27.5
million  change was  primarily  due to the  borrowing of $12.4 million under the
Company's  revolving  lines of credit  during the first  quarter of fiscal  1999
versus  the  repayment  of $15.1  million  in bank  borrowings  during the first
quarter of fiscal 1998.

         The  Company   invested  $3.5  million  and  $2.8  million  in  capital
expenditures  during  the  first  quarters  of  fiscal  1999  and  fiscal  1998,
respectively.  The Company's capital expenditures  generally relate to new store
and licensed footwear  department openings and remodeling of existing stores and
departments, coupled with expenditures for general corporate purposes.

         Following  is a table  showing  actual and  planned  store  openings by
division for fiscal 1999:
<TABLE>
         <S>                        <C>                           <C>                            <C>
                                    Actual Openings                  Planned Openings                 Total
                                      First Quarter               Second through Fourth          Actual/Planned
         Division                      Fiscal 1999                 Quarters Fiscal 1999              Openings
         --------                      -----------                 --------------------              --------

         Casual Male                        3                               7                           10
         Work 'n Gear                       1                               0                            1
         Licensed                           7                              21                           28
</TABLE>

         Offsetting  the above actual and planned  store  openings,  the Company
closed 3 Casual Male stores and 9 Licensed Discount footwear  departments during
the first quarter of fiscal 1999.  The Company has plans to close  approximately
an additional 3 Casual Male stores and one Licensed Discount footwear department
during the second through fourth quarters of fiscal 1999.

         The Company believes that amounts  available under its revolving credit
facilities,  along  with  other  potential  sources of funds and cash flows from
operations,  will be sufficient  to meet its operating and capital  requirements
for the foreseeable  future.  From time to time, the Company evaluates potential
acquisition  candidates in pursuit of strategic  initiatives and growth goals in
niche apparel markets.  Financing of potential  acquisitions  will be determined
based  on  the  financial   condition  of  the  Company  at  the  time  of  such
acquisitions,  and may include borrowings under current or new commercial credit
facilities or the issuance of publicly issued or privately placed debt or equity
securities.

Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results

         The Company cautions that any forward-looking  statements (as such term
is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in
this  Form  10-Q  or  made  by  management  of the  Company  involve  risks  and
uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors.  The
following  factors,  among others, in some cases have affected and in the future
could affect the Company's financial  performance and actual results,  and could
cause actual results for fiscal 1999 and beyond to differ  materially from those
expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements: changes in consumer
spending  patterns,   consumer  preferences  and  overall  economic  conditions,
availability of credit,  interest rates,  the impact of competition and pricing,
the  weather,  the  financial  condition  of the  retailers  in whose stores the
Company operates licensed footwear departments, changes in existing or potential
duties,  tariffs  or  quotas,   availability  of  suitable  store  locations  at
appropriate  terms,   ability  to  hire  and  train  associates  and  Year  2000
conversion.



<PAGE>


PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

    (a) The Exhibits in the Exhibit Index are filed as part of this report.

    (b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the  Registrant  during the quarter
for which this report is filed.












































<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES




         Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.






                                         J. BAKER, INC.





                                      By:/s/Alan I. Weinstein
                                      Alan I. Weinstein
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer

Date:    Canton, Massachusetts
         June 2, 1998




                                      By:/s/Philip Rosenberg
                                      Philip Rosenberg
                                      Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
                                      Officer and Treasurer


Date:    Canton, Massachusetts
         June 2, 1998


















<PAGE>



















                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549


                              -------------------


                                    EXHIBITS

                                   Filed with

                          Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q

                                       of

                                 J. BAKER, INC.

                               555 Turnpike Street

                                Canton, MA 02021

                        For the Quarter ended May 2, 1998












<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                       <C>
Exhibit                                                                                                   Page No.



10.  Material Contracts

     (.01)  Fourth Amendment to Employment Agreement between Sherman                                            *
            N. Baker and J. Baker, Inc., dated March 31, 1998, attached.

     (.02)  Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between Alan                                               *
            I. Weinstein and J. Baker, Inc., dated March 31, 1998, attached.


11.  Computation of Net Earnings Per Common Share, attached.                                                    *


27.  Financial Data Schedule                                                                                    **

</TABLE>










*           Included herein
**          This  exhibit  has been  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
            Commission as part of J. Baker, Inc.'s electronic submission of this
            Form 10-Q under EDGAR filing requirements.  It has not been included
            herein.




                                                            EXHIBIT 10.01

                                FOURTH AMENDMENT
                             TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              DATED MARCH 25, 1993


     Reference is made to the Executive  Employment  Agreement dated as of March
25, 1993,  as amended on March 31, 1995,  March 31, 1996 and March 31, 1997 (the
"Agreement")  by and between J. Baker,  Inc.  and Sherman N. Baker.  Pursuant to
paragraph 19 of the Agreement  and in order to further amend certain  provisions
of the Agreement, the Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

         1. Paragraph 3(a) of the Agreement  entitled  "Compensation"  is hereby
amended  by  deleting  the  figure  "$255,150"  in the third  line  thereof  and
inserting in its place the figure "$229,640".

         2.  Paragraph 6 of the  Agreement  is hereby  amended by  deleting  the
phrase  "ending on April 1, 1998" in the fifth line thereof and inserting in its
place the phrase "ending on April 1, 1999".

         3. All other terms of the Agreement shall remain unchanged and continue
in full force and effect.



J. BAKER, INC.




By: /s/ Alan I. Weinstein                                     March 31, 1998
    ----------------------------------------                  --------------
Alan I. Weinstein                                             Date
President and
Chief Executive Officer



/s/ Sherman N. Baker                                          March 31, 1998
- -----------------------------------                           --------------
Sherman N. Baker                                              Date





                                                              EXHIBIT 10.02

                                SECOND AMENDMENT
                             TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                               DATED APRIL 1, 1997



     Reference is made to the Executive  Employment  Agreement dated as of April
1, 1997 as amended on  September  1, 1997 (the  "Agreement")  by and  between J.
Baker, Inc. and Alan I. Weinstein. Pursuant to paragraph 19 of the Agreement and
in order to amend certain  provisions of the Agreement,  the Agreement is hereby
amended as follows:

         1.  Paragraph 6 of the  Agreement  is hereby  amended by  deleting  the
phrase  "ending on April 1, 1999" in the fifth line thereof and inserting in its
place the phrase "ending on April 30, 2000".

         2. All other terms of the Agreement shall remain unchanged and continue
in full force and effect.




J. BAKER, INC.



By: /s/ Sherman N. Baker                                    March 31, 1998
    ------------------------------------------              --------------
Sherman N. Baker                                            Date
Chairman of the Board




/s/ Alan I. Weinstein                                       March 31, 1998
- -----------------------------------                         --------------
Alan I. Weinstein                                           Date






                                   EXHIBIT 11
                         J. BAKER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                  Computation of Net Earnings Per Common Share*
                                   (Unaudited)


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                         <C>                     <C>
                                                                                        Quarter Ended
                                                                                May 2,                  May 3,
                                                                                1998                     1997
                                                                              --------                 -------

Net Earnings Per Common Share:
- -----------------------------

Net earnings, basic and diluted                                             $   516,343             $   269,011
                                                                            ===========              ==========

Weighted average common
    shares outstanding, basic                                                13,920,294              13,892,969
                                                                             ----------              ----------

Effect of dilutive securities:
     Stock options and performance share awards                                 144,079                  38,366
                                                                             ----------             -----------
Weighted average common
    shares outstanding, diluted                                              14,064,373              13,931,335
                                                                             ==========              ==========

Net earnings per common share, basic                                             $0.037                  $0.019
                                                                             ==========              ==========
Net earnings per common share, diluted                                           $0.037                  $0.019
                                                                             ==========              ==========

</TABLE>



* This calculation is submitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(11) of Regulation
S-K.

<TABLE> <S> <C>



<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF J. BAKER, INC. FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MAY 2, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                MAY-2-1998
<CASH>                                       1,086,156
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                               17,306,445
<ALLOWANCES>                                   582,458
<INVENTORY>                                172,193,582
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           201,844,091
<PP&E>                                     120,236,620
<DEPRECIATION>                              47,265,260
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             342,021,033
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       65,097,449
<BONDS>                                    197,016,893
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                     6,970,664
<OTHER-SE>                                  68,854,967
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               342,021,033
<SALES>                                    126,636,564
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           126,636,564
<CGS>                                       68,312,559
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               68,312,559
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           3,597,160
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                846,343
<INCOME-TAX>                                   330,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            516,343
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   516,343
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.04
        

</TABLE>


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