U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 12b-25 NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING (Check one) [x] Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB [ ] Form 20-F [ ] Form 11-K [ ] Form 10-Q and Form 10-QSB [ ] Form N-SAR For Period Ended: August 31, 1999 [ ] Transition Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB [ ] Transition Report on Form 20-F [ ] Transition Report on Form 11-K [ ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q and Form 10-QSB [ ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR For the Transition Period Ended: N/A Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has verified any information contained herein. If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify the item(s) to which the notification relates: N/A PART 1--REGISTRANT INFORMATION Full Name of Registrant: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. 1859 Intertech Drive Address of Principal Executive Office (Street and Number) Fenton, Missouri 63026 City, State and Zip Code PART II--RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c) If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate). (a) The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this form could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense; [X] (b) The subject annual, semi-annual report, transition report on Form 10-K, 10-KSB, 20-F, 11-K, or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof will be filed on or before the 15th calendar day following the prescribed due date; or the subject quarterly report or transition report on Form 10-Q, 10-QSB, or portion thereof will be filed on or before the fifth calendar day following the prescribed due date; and (c) The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule 12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable. PART III-NARRATIVE The Form 10-K cannot be filed within the prescribed period without unreasonable effort or expense due to (a) the recent substantial changes in the Company's accounting and finance functions including the resignation of the Company's Chief Financial Officer on October 14, 1999, and the subsequent transition of the Company's new Chief Financial Officer together with the turnover in other executive and staff positions within the Company, and (b) the diversion of resources resulting from the staffing requirements related to the Company's previously announced examination of strategic alternatives. PART IV--OTHER INFORMATION (1) Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this notification Michael Luetkemeyer (314) 349-3500 (Name) (Area Code) (Telephone Number) (2) Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? [x] Yes [ ] No (3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion thereof? [x] Yes [ ] No If so: attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable estimate of the results cannot be made. Explanation of response to Part IV (3): Net Revenues for the year ended August 31, 1999 are estimated to be $165,390,000 or 3.1 percent lower than net revenues of $170,604,000 for the year ended August 31, 1998. The decrease in net revenues from the prior year was driven by lower sales of baseball gloves, radar speed-sensing balls, basketballs and footballs partially offset by an increase in wood bat and apparel sales. Gross margin in 1999 is estimated to be 28.8 percent, down 1.4 margin points from the 1998 gross margin of 30.2 percent. A third quarter charge for a voluntary recall of slow pitch softball aluminum bats, low margin sales of memorabilia baseballs and a fourth quarter write down of remaining radar speed sensing baseball inventory were primarily responsible for the decrease. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for 1999 are estimated to be $46,890,000 (28.4% of net revenues). This is 17.3 percent higher than SG&A expenses of $39,989,000 (23.4% of net revenues) in fiscal 1998. Higher salaries, advertising and promotional costs, professional fees and royalties were primarily responsible for the increase. Interest expense is estimated at $4,699,000 for 1999, compared to $4,218,000 for 1998, an 11.4 percent increase. The effective tax rate is estimated to be (19.0) percent for 1999 compared to 33.7 percent for 1998 due to a valuation allowance recorded in 1999 on the Company's foreign tax credits which expire from 2000 to 2003. Fiscal 1999 Fiscal 1998 $(000) Estimate Actual Net Revenues $165,391 $170,604 Gross Profit 47,671 51,453 Operating Income 781 9,989 Net Income (3,361) 3,660 EPS (0.43) 0.47 Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. (Name of registrant as specified in charter) has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Date: November 29, 1999 By: /s/ Michael Luetkemeyer Name: Michael Luetkemeyer Title: Chief Financial Officer ATTENTION Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).