-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: keymaster@town.hall.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFkwCgYEVQgBAQICAgADSwAwSAJBALeWW4xDV4i7+b6+UyPn5RtObb1cJ7VkACDq pKb9/DClgTKIm08lCfoilvi9Wl4SODbR1+1waHhiGmeZO8OdgLUCAwEAAQ== MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, d3mJ2TSJ7gsnZ+z5w6tPyDpaoeqgglg88v21iksKskCovY3rYrd0l2oBfVywe+Ao 97AqwR05EKfJKUiWNVpQNw== 0000950123-94-001732.txt : 19941028 0000950123-94-001732.hdr.sgml : 19941028 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950123-94-001732 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 424B3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19941027 SROS: AMEX FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: HANOVER DIRECT INC /DE// CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000320333 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: 5961 IRS NUMBER: 138053260 STATE OF INCORPORATION: NV FISCAL YEAR END: 1227 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 424B3 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-66394 FILM NUMBER: 94555564 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1500 HARBOR BLVD CITY: WEEHAWKEN STATE: NJ ZIP: 07087 BUSINESS PHONE: 2018653800 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1500 HARBOR BLVD CITY: WEEHAWKEN STATE: NJ ZIP: 07087 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: HORN & HARDART CO /NV/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 424B3 1 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT - HANOVER DIRECT 1 PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) (To Prospectus dated October 27, 1994) Registration No. 33-66394 189,818 Shares HANOVER DIRECT, INC. COMMON STOCK -------------------- This Prospectus Supplement relates to the offering from time to time of up to 189,818 shares (the "Shares") of Common Stock, par value $.66-2/3 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") by Caslon Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "Selling Shareholder"). The Shares were acquired by the Selling Shareholder upon conversion of 78,300 of the 234,900 shares of Series A Convertible Additional Preferred Stock, par value $.01 and stated value $10.00 per share, of the Company (the "Series A Preferred") issued by the Company to the Selling Shareholder on January 21, 1994 in exchange for an installment note in connection with the acquisition by the Company of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the common stock and the preferred stock of Tweeds, Inc. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sales of the Shares by the Selling Shareholder. The Company is paying the expenses for the registration of the Shares. The Selling Shareholder has not advised the Company of any specific plans for the distribution of the Shares, but it is anticipated that the Shares may be sold from time to time in transactions (which may include block transactions) on the American Stock Exchange at the market prices then prevailing. Sales of the Shares may also be made through negotiated transactions or otherwise. The Selling Shareholder and the brokers and dealers through which the sales of the Shares may be made may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning set forth in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and their commissions and discounts and other compensation may be regarded as underwriters' compensation. The period of distribution of the Shares may occur over an extended period of time, but which will not in any event be longer than nine months from the effective date of this Prospectus Supplement. The Selling Shareholder will pay agency or brokerage commissions incurred in the sale of the Shares. See "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER." The Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol HNV. The last reported sales price of the Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange on October 26, 1994 was $4.25 per share. -------------------- THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT IS OCTOBER 27, 1994. 2 THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER The Shares to which this Prospectus Supplement relates are owned by, and are offered for the account of the Selling Shareholder, Caslon Incorporated, a Delaware corporation whose address is 1105 North Market Street, Suite 1300, Wilmington, Delaware 19899. The Selling Shareholder acquired the Shares upon conversion of 78,300 of the 234,900 shares of Series A Preferred issued by the Company to the Selling Shareholder on January 21, 1994 in exchange for an installment note in connection with the acquisition by the Company of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the common stock and the preferred stock of Tweeds, Inc. The Selling Shareholder has indicated that it wishes to be in a position to sell all of the Shares offered hereby. Following completion of this offering, the Selling Shareholder would own no shares of Common Stock but would own 156,600 shares of Series A Preferred. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares offered hereby. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER The Shares offered hereby are being sold by the Selling Shareholder acting as principal for its own account. The Selling Shareholder, directly or through brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents may sell some or all of the Shares. Any broker, dealer, underwriter or agent participating in a transaction involving the Shares may receive a commission from the Selling Shareholder. The broker, dealer or underwriter may agree to sell a specified number of the Shares at a stipulated price per Share and, to the extent that such person is unable to do so acting as an agent for the Selling Shareholder, to purchase as principal any of the Shares remaining unsold at a price per Share required to fulfill the person's commitment to the Selling Shareholder. A broker, dealer or underwriter who acquires the Shares from the Selling Shareholder as a principal for its own account may thereafter resell such Shares from time to time in transactions (which may involve block transactions and which may also involve sales to or through another broker, dealer, underwriter or agent, including transactions of the nature described above) on the American Stock Exchange, in negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale or at negotiated prices. In connection with such resales, the broker, dealer, underwriter or agent may pay commissions to or receive commissions from the purchasers of the Shares. The Selling Shareholder also may sell some or all of the Shares directly to purchasers without the assistance of a broker, dealer, underwriter or agent and without the payment of any commissions. The Company is bearing all of the costs relating to the registration of the Shares. Any commissions, discounts or other fees payable to a broker, dealer, underwriter or agent in connection with the sale of any of the Shares will be borne by the Selling Shareholder or other persons selling the Shares. Any commissions paid or any discounts or concessions allowed to any broker, dealer or underwriter and, if any such broker, dealer or underwriter purchases any of the Shares as principal, any profits received on the resale of such Shares, may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. S-2 3 PROSPECTUS 3,750,000 SHARES HANOVER DIRECT, INC. COMMON STOCK -------------------- This Prospectus relates to the public offering from time to time of up to an aggregate of 3,750,000 shares of common stock, par value $.66-2/3 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Hanover Direct, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), by certain persons who become shareholders of the Company as a result of business combination transactions consummated with the Company subsequent to the effective date of the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus constitutes a part (the "Selling Shareholders"). Approximately 3,109,369 shares of Common Stock have been issued by the Company as a result of such transactions prior to the date hereof. For each offering of Common Stock for which this Prospectus is being delivered, there will be an accompanying Prospectus Supplement (each such Prospectus Supplement, a "Prospectus Supplement") that shall set forth the description of the business combination, certain information concerning the Selling Shareholders, the number of shares of Common Stock being offered and any other specific terms of the offering in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock hereunder. REFERENCE IS MADE TO "RISK FACTORS" WHICH CONTAINS MATERIAL INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SECURITIES BEING OFFERED HEREBY. The Selling Shareholders may sell the Common Stock through underwriters, through dealers, directly to one or more institutional purchasers or through agents or in brokerage transactions through registered or licensed brokers or dealers or in negotiated transactions. The Prospectus Supplement shall set forth the plan of distribution contemplated by any Selling Shareholder. See "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION." The Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol HNV. The last reported sales price of the Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange on October 26, 1994 was $4.25 per share. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this Prospectus is October 27, 1994. 4 NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PERSON. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY TO ANY PERSON OR BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE. -------------------- AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is successor-in-interest to The Horn & Hardart Company, a Nevada corporation ("H&H"), pursuant to a merger effected on September 7, 1993 for purposes of simplifying its corporate structure and changing its state of incorporation from Nevada to Delaware (the "Merger"). H&H filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (together with any amendments thereto, the "Registration Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to its common stock. The Company, as successor-in-interest to H&H, has filed with the Commission a Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement, whereby it adopted the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus constitutes a part as its own. This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain items of which may be contained in schedules and exhibits to the Registration Statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission and to which reference is hereby made for further information with respect to H&H, the Company and the Common Stock. Items of information omitted from this Prospectus but contained in the Registration Statement may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following regional offices of the Commission: 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048, and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60621-2511. Copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission referred to above. In addition, copies of such reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company may also be inspected and copied at the offices of the American Stock Exchange at 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006 on which exchange the Common Stock is listed and traded. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are incorporated herein by reference: (a) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 1994; (b) the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended April 2, 1994 and July 2, 1994; and (c) the Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 17, 1994, March 9, 1994 and October 26, 1994. All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering of the Common Stock shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the respective date of filing of each such document. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed -2- 5 to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or suspended shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference herein, other than certain exhibits to such documents. Requests for such documents should be directed to Michael P. Sherman, Esq., Secretary, Hanover Direct, Inc., 1500 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken, New Jersey 07087. THE COMPANY The Company is a leading direct specialty retailer that publishes a portfolio of branded catalogs offering home furnishings, specialty hardlines and apparel. The Company's catalogs include Domestications, the nation's leading specialty home textile catalog, which has grown rapidly with revenues increasing from approximately $30 million in 1987 to approximately $311 million in 1993; Gump's, the well-known San Francisco retailer and a leading upscale catalog marketer of exclusive gifts; The Company Store, an upscale direct marketer of down comforters and other down and related products for the home; Colonial Garden Kitchens, a leading specialty catalog featuring worksaving and lifestyle enhancing items for the kitchen and home; and Tweeds, the European inspired women's fashion catalog. The Company also has a licensing arrangement with Sears Roebuck and Co. ("Sears") in which it mails several of its catalogs under the names Showplace, Great Kitchens, Right Touch and Beautiful Style to the 23 million customers of the discontinued Sears catalog. During 1993, the Company mailed approximately 322 million catalogs and had total revenues of approximately $643 million. The Company is incorporated in Delaware with its principal executive office at 1500 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken, New Jersey 07087. The Company's telephone number is (201) 863-7300. RISK FACTORS In addition to all the other information contained in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference, prospective purchasers should consider the risk factors set forth below prior to deciding whether to invest in the Common Stock offered hereby. FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS The Company's continued revenue growth and positive net income will depend on its ability to increase catalog sales and to effectively monitor and control costs. There can be no assurance that the Company's future operations will generate net income. Furthermore, future operating results depend upon many factors, including general economic conditions, the ability of the Company to continue to attract and retain customers successfully, the level of competition and its ability to successfully identify, forecast and respond to customer preferences and fashion trends. The Company's Domestications catalog is the nation's leading specialty home textile catalog with revenues of approximately $311 million in 1993, which constitute approximately 48% of the Company's revenues in 1993. A decrease in profitability of Domestications would have a material adverse effect upon the Company's financial position and results of operations. -3- 6 RECENT ACQUISITIONS AND NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS The Company acquired three businesses during 1993: (i) in May, the Company acquired the assets of Gump's, the well known San Francisco retailer and a leading upscale catalog marketer of exclusive gifts; (ii) in August, the Company acquired the assets of The Company Store, an upscale direct marketer of down comforters and other down and related products for the home; and (iii) in September, the Company acquired the stock of Tweeds, the European inspired women's fashion catalog. None of these companies was profitable at the time of its acquisition by the Company. In addition, these acquisitions present relatively new market niches for the Company and the Company must successfully integrate and develop these newly acquired companies. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully integrate or develop these new businesses or improve their profitability. In addition, in January 1994, the Company entered into an agreement (the "Sears Agreement") with Sears to produce specialty catalogs for the 23 million customers of the recently discontinued Sears catalog. The Sears Agreement represents the culmination of successful test marketing by Sears and the Company during 1993. The Sears Agreement contains increasing performance standards which must be met by the Company and which allow Sears to terminate the Sears Agreement upon noncompliance. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to meet such performance standards. COMPUTER SYSTEMS CONVERSION The Company is currently in the process of upgrading its management information systems by implementing new integrated software and migrating from a centralized mainframe to mid-range mini-computers. The Company currently estimates that the total cost to install and implement the new systems, including the cost of dedicated internal personnel, will be approximately $13 to $15 million. The Company brought the new system on-line for two of its catalogs in the third quarter of 1994 (during which time it maintained its existing systems for its other catalogs) and plans to bring the balance of its catalogs on-line in 1995. There can be no assurance that the new systems will be implemented as currently scheduled or that they will achieve the goals established by the Company, in which case the Company's financial position or results of operations may be adversely affected. NEW FULFILLMENT FACILITY The Company owns an interest in the Roanoke, Virginia fulfillment center which services its Tweeds catalog. The Company plans to consolidate additional Apparel Group catalogs into this facility and is in the process of constructing an additional 530,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility on a separate site in Roanoke which, upon its completion, will handle all of Domestications fulfillment needs. The Company estimates that the total cost of this consolidation effort and the construction of the new facility will be approximately $18 million. Although the Company has carefully planned the transition to these facilities in phases, significant delays or serious unanticipated difficulties arising from the transition could adversely effect the Company's financial position or results of operations. FOREIGN SOURCING Approximately 10% of the Company's merchandise is purchased directly from foreign suppliers. Although the Company believes that it has established close relationships with its principal manufacturing sources, the Company's future success will depend in some measure upon its ability to maintain such relationships. The Company's business is subject to the risks generally associated with conducting business abroad, including adverse fluctuations in currency exchange rates (particularly those of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies), changes in import duties or quotas, the imposition of taxes or other -4- 7 charges on imports, disruptions or delays in shipments and transportation, labor disputes and strikes. The occurrence of any one or more of the foregoing could adversely affect the Company's financial position or results of operations. To date, these factors have not caused any material disruption of the Company's operations. Also, the Company conducts business with most of its vendors in United States currency and has not experienced any material difficulties as a result of any foreign, political, economic or social liabilities. INCREASES IN COSTS OF MAILING, PAPER AND PRINTING Postal rate increases and paper and printing costs affect the cost of the Company's order fulfillment and catalog and promotional mailings. In 1993, the Company mailed approximately 322 million catalogs and the aggregate cost of mailing catalogs and other promotional materials, including printing and paper costs, totalled approximately $158 million. The Company has contracted for its paper needs through the end of 1994 and believes its paper costs are competitive at the present time. However, no assurance can be given that the Company will not be subject to a significant increase in paper costs in 1995. The Company anticipates a postal rate increase in 1995. Increases in postal rates or paper and printing costs could have a material negative impact on the Company's financial position and results of operations to the extent that the Company is unable to pass such increase directly on to customers or to offset such increase by raising selling prices or by implementing more efficient printing, mailing, delivery and order fulfillment systems. CONSUMER SPENDING The success of the Company's operations depends upon a number of factors relating to consumer spending, including future economic conditions affecting disposable consumer income such as employment, business conditions, interest rates and taxation. There can be no assurance that weak economic conditions or changes in the retail environment or other economic factors that impact the level of consumer spending would not have a material adverse impact on the Company. COMPETITION The mail order catalog business is highly competitive. The Company's catalogs compete with other mail order catalogs and retail stores, including department stores, specialty stores and discount stores. A number of the Company's competitors have substantially greater financial, distribution and marketing resources than the Company. The recent substantial sales growth in the direct marketing industry has encouraged the entry of many new competitors and an increase in competition from established companies. RELATIONSHIP WITH NAR NAR Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation or its affiliates ("NAR"), currently owns approximately 51% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock. Although pursuant to a stock purchase agreement between the Company and NAR, NAR has agreed to nominate only six of the Company's 11 Directors until 1996, NAR will have the power to elect the entire Board of Directors and, except as otherwise provided by law of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, to approve any action requiring shareholder approval without a shareholders meeting. -5- 8 SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE In the future, NAR will be able to sell shares of Common Stock owned by it in the open market pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or by causing the Company to file a registration statement with respect to such shares. NAR has "piggyback" and demand registration rights as provided in a Registration Rights Agreement between it and H&H, which have been assumed by the Company in the Merger. Sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock in the public market could adversely affect the market price. NAR has advised the Company that it does not currently intend to sell any shares of voting stock of the Company owned by it. RESTRICTIONS ON DIVIDENDS The Company is limited in its ability to pay dividends on the Common Stock by certain covenants contained in debt agreements to which the Company is a party. Under its most restrictive covenants, there are no retained earnings available for payment by the Company of cash dividends on any of the Company's capital stock. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock offered by the Selling Shareholders. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION Selling Shareholders may sell the Common Stock from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be made through underwriters, through dealers, directly to one or more institutional purchasers, or through agents or in brokerage transactions through registered or licensed brokers or dealers or in negotiated transactions. The Prospectus Supplement shall set forth the plan of distribution contemplated by each Selling Shareholder. If underwriters are used, the names of the managing underwriter or underwriters and any other underwriters, and the terms of the transaction, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such offering. Only underwriters named in a Prospectus Supplement will be deemed to be underwriters. Firms not so named will have no direct or indirect participation in the underwriting, if any, although such a firm may participate in the distribution under circumstances entitling it to a dealer's commission. Selling Shareholders also may sell Common Stock to a dealer as principal. In such event, the dealer may then resell such Common Stock to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. The name of the dealer, if any, and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. Common Stock also may be offered through agents designated from time to time. Any such agent will be named, and the terms of any such agency will be set forth, in a Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in such Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will act on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. -6- 9 EXPERTS The consolidated balance sheets of Hanover Direct, Inc. (successor to The Horn & Hardart Company) and subsidiaries as of January 1, 1994 and December 26, 1992, and the related consolidated statements of income (loss), shareholders' (deficit) equity and cash flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended January 1, 1994 and schedules incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen & Co., independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports. Reference is made to said reports, which include an explanatory paragraph with respect to the change in its method of accounting for income taxes as discussed in Notes 1 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements. The consolidated balance sheets of Company Store Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (Debtors-in-Possession) as of August 1, 1992 and July 27, 1991, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' investment (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 1, 1992 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen & Co., independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports. Reference is made to said reports which include an explanatory paragraph that describes Company Store Holdings, Inc.'s filing for bankruptcy and its ability to continue as a going concern, as discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. The financial statements of Tweeds, Inc. as of and for the years ended June 30, 1991 and July 30, 1990 which are incorporated herein by reference, have been so included in reliance upon the report of Deloitte & Touche, independent auditors (of which the report contains explanatory language with respect to the substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern), incorporated herein by reference, given upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The balance sheets of Tweeds, Inc. as of January 31, 1993 and February 2, 1992, and the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the year ended January 31, 1993, and the period from July 1, 1991 to February 2, 1992 incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick, independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The consolidated financial statements of Gump's Inc. at February 27, 1993 and February 29, 1992 and February 23, 1991 and for each of the three years in the period ended February 27, 1993, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young, independent auditors, as set forth in their reports thereon (which contain an explanatory paragraph with respect to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern) appearing elsewhere herein are incorporated by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are included in reliance upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. LEGAL MATTERS The legality of the Common Stock offered hereby has been passed upon for H&H (as predecessor-in-interest to the Company) by Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan, New York, New York. As to certain legal matters with respect to Nevada law, Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan has relied on the opinion of McDonald, Carano, Wilson, McCure, Bergin, Frankovich & Hicks, Reno, Nevada. -7- -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----