1 Exhibit 99 FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 TOGETHER WITH REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 2 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS To the Advisory Committee of Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan: We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets of Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related statement of changes in net assets for the year ended December 31, 1997, as listed in the accompanying index. These financial statements and the schedules referred to below are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets of the Plan as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the changes in its net assets for the year ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of assets held for investment purposes (Schedule I) and reportable transactions (Schedule II), as listed in the accompanying index, are presented for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. Cleveland, Ohio, April 30, 1998. 3 FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. ------------------------------ EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN ------------------------------------------ INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ----------------------------- DECEMBER 31, 1997 ----------------- Statement of Net Assets as of December 31, 1997 Statement of Net Assets as of December 31, 1996 Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the Year Ended December 31, 1997 Notes to Financial Statements Schedule I-Item 27a--Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes as of December 31, 1997 Schedule II-Item 27d--Schedule of Reportable Transactions for the Year Ended December 31, 1997 4 FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. ------------------------------ EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN ------------------------------------------ STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS ----------------------- AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 ----------------------- Participant Directed ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fidelity Company Stock Index Magellan EB Magic Intermediate Company Stock Fund Fund Fund Income Fund Stock Fund A Fund B ------------- ------------- ------------- --------------- ------------- ------------- ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ $ $ $ $ 125,088 $ - - - - 41,801 Investments, at market- Corporate stocks - - - - 5,054,181 1,992,482 Key Bank- Victory Stock Index Fund 6,478,627 - - - - - Prism Fidelity Magellan Fund - 4,045,076 - - - - Prism Magic Fund - - 4,225,657 - - - Prism Money Market Fund - - 641,657 - - - Victory Intermediate Income Fund - - - 1,840,669 - - Loan Fund - - - - - - ------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ 6,478,627 4,045,076 4,867,314 1,840,669 5,054,181 1,992,482 Employer contributions receivable - - - - - - Participant contributions receivable 26,486 19,581 15,284 9,691 25,585 5,973 ------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ Total assets 6,505,113 4,064,657 4,882,598 1,850,360 5,204,854 2,040,256 ------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ LIABILITIES: Accrued administrative expenses 3,595 2,471 2,151 1,308 4,465 1,874 ------------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ NET ASSETS $6,501,518 $4,062,186 $4,880,447 $1,849,052 $5,200,389 $2,038,382 ============= ============ ============= ============= ============= ============ Nonparticipant Directed ---------------------------------------------------------- Stock Stock Company Company Ownership Ownership Stock Fund Stock Participant Fund A Fund B A Fund B Loans Total -------------- -------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- -------------- ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,188 $ 3,099 $ $ $ $ 94,364 68,201 4,975 340,716 Investments, at market- Corporate stocks 293,818 272,668 3,812,804 3,250,892 - 14,676,845 Key Bank- Victory Stock Index Fund - - - - - 6,478,627 Prism Fidelity Magellan Fund - - - - - 4,045,076 Prism Magic Fund - - - - - 4,225,657 Prism Money Market Fund - - - - - 641,657 Victory Intermediate Income Fund - - - - - 1,840,669 Loan Fund - - - - 402,844 402,844 ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- -------------- 293,818 272,668 3,812,804 3,250,892 402,844 32,311,375 Employer contributions receivable - - 16,690 16,587 - 33,277 Participant contributions receivable - - - - - 102,600 ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- -------------- Total assets 297,006 275,767 3,923,858 3,335,680 407,819 32,787,968 ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- -------------- LIABILITIES: Accrued administrative expenses - - 3,480 3,057 - 22,401 ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- -------------- NET ASSETS $297,006 $275,767 $3,920,378 $3,332,623 $407,819 $32,765,567 =========== ============ ============ ============= =========== ============== The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this statement. 5 FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. ------------------------------ EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN ------------------------------------------ STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS ----------------------- AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 ----------------------- Participant Directed ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fidelity Intermediate Company Company Stock Index Magellan EB Magic Income Stock Stock Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund A Fund B -------------- ------------ ------------ -------------- ------------ ------------ ASSETS: Investments, at market- Corporate stocks $ - $ - $ - $ - $3,467,393 $1,782,558 Insurance company investment contracts - - 700,000 - - - Key Bank- Prism Fidelity Magellan Fund - 2,830,066 - - - - Victory Stock Index Fund 4,108,003 - - - - - Prism Magic Fund - - 4,170,205 - - - Victory Intermediate Income Fund - - - 1,387,723 - - Loan Fund - - - - - - -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ 4,108,003 2,830,066 4,870,205 1,387,723 3,467,393 1,782,558 Employer contributions receivable - - - - - - Participant contributions receivable 25,371 18,156 14,507 10,625 26,581 4,160 Accrued interest receivable 11 20 29 4 - - -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ Total assets 4,133,385 2,848,242 4,884,741 1,398,352 3,493,974 1,786,718 -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ LIABILITIES: Accrued administrative expenses 3,638 2,547 3,638 1,273 2,351 1,254 -------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ NET ASSETS $ 4,129,747 $ 2,845,695 $ 4,881,103 $ 1,397,079 $3,491,623 $1,785,464 ============== ============= ============= ============= ============= ============ Nonparticipant Directed --------------------------------------------------------- Stock Stock Company Company Ownership Ownership Stock Stock Participant Fund A Fund B Fund A Fund B Loans Total ------------- ------------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------- ASSETS: Investments, at market- Corporate stocks $229,341 $218,796 $2,702,346 $2,353,307 $ - $10,753,741 Insurance company investment contracts - - - - - 700,000 Key Bank- Prism Fidelity Magellan Fund - - - - - 2,830,066 Victory Stock Index Fund - - - - - 4,108,003 Prism Magic Fund - - - - - 4,170,205 Victory Intermediate Income Fund - - - - - 1,387,723 Loan Fund - - - - 209,695 209,695 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ---------- ------------- 229,341 218,796 2,702,346 2,353,307 209,695 24,159,433 Employer contributions receivable - - 16,039 15,160 - 31,199 Participant contributions receivable - - - - 1,612 101,012 Accrued interest receivable - - - - 501 565 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ---------- ------------- Total assets 229,341 218,796 2,718,385 2,368,467 211,808 24,292,209 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ---------- ------------- LIABILITIES: Accrued administrative expenses - - 1,832 1,656 - 18,189 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ---------- ------------- NET ASSETS $229,341 $218,796 $2,716,553 $2,366,811 $211,808 $24,274,020 =========== ============ ============= ============ ========== ============= The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this statement. 6 FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. ------------------------------ EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN ------------------------------------------ STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS ---------------------------------- FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 ------------------------------------ Participant Directed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Fidelity Intermediate Company Company Index Magellan EB Magic Income Stock Stock Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund A Fund B ------------ ------------ ------------ -------------- ----------- ----------- INCREASES: Interest and dividend income $ 450,519 $ 3,558 $ 167,426 $ 94,449 $ 5,996 $ 2,270 Employer contributions - - - - - - Participant contributions 979,546 684,331 434,810 286,815 840,685 162,140 Net realized gains on sale of investments 181,945 77,280 48,484 1,004 54,193 106,028 Net unrealized gains on investments 835,638 677,765 212,000 16,521 1,277,449 419,512 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- 2,447,648 1,442,934 862,720 398,789 2,178,323 689,950 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- DECREASES: Distributions to former participants 335,693 218,080 710,647 84,116 305,590 148,882 Administrative expenses 13,393 8,961 8,474 5,106 25,437 10,834 Other - - - - 1,184 - ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- 349,086 227,041 719,121 89,222 332,211 159,716 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- NET INCREASE FOR THE YEAR 2,098,562 1,215,893 143,599 309,567 1,846,112 530,234 BALANCE, BEGINNING OF YEAR 4,129,747 2,845,695 4,881,103 1,397,079 3,491,623 1,785,464 NET INTERFUND TRANSFERS 273,209 598 (144,255) 142,406 (137,346) (277,316) ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- BALANCE, END OF YEAR $ 6,501,518 $ 4,062,186 $4,880,447 $ 1,849,052 $5,200,389 $2,038,382 ============= ============= ============= ============= ============= =========== Nonparticipant Directed ------------------------------------------------------- Stock Stock Company Company Ownership Ownership Stock Stock Participant Fund A Fund B Fund A Fund B Loans Total ------------ -------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------- INCREASES: Interest and dividend income $ 31 $ 38 $ 4,523 $ 3,704 $ 24,842 $ 757,356 Employer contributions - - 440,052 419,339 - 859,391 Participant contributions 2,875 2,875 - - - 3,394,077 Net realized gains on sale of investments 16,080 14,435 40,882 172,993 - 713,324 Net unrealized gains on investments 69,971 59,352 963,689 684,468 - 5,216,365 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- 88,957 76,700 1,449,146 1,280,504 24,842 10,940,513 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- DECREASES: Distributions to former participants 21,292 19,729 230,533 242,914 19,047 2,336,523 Administrative expenses - - 19,190 17,676 - 109,071 Other - - - 577 1,611 3,372 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- 21,292 19,729 249,723 261,167 20,658 2,448,966 ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- NET INCREASE FOR THE YEAR 67,665 56,971 1,199,423 1,019,337 4,184 8,491,547 BALANCE, BEGINNING OF YEAR 229,341 218,796 2,716,553 211,808 24,274,020 2,366,811 NET INTERFUND TRANSFERS - - 4,402 (53,525) 191,827 - ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- BALANCE, END OF YEAR $ 297,006 $ 275,767 $3,920,378 $3,332,623 $407,819 $32,765,567 =========== ============ ============= ============ =========== ============= The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this statement. 7 FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. ------------------------------ EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN ------------------------------------------ NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ----------------------------- DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 -------------------------- 1. SUMMARY OF PLAN: ---------------- The original Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. Employees' Profit-Sharing Plan was adopted as of September 1, 1974, and has been amended on occasion in order to, among other things, maintain compliance with the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Effective January 1, 1983, the plan was amended, restated and renamed the Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. Employees' Savings and Profit-Sharing Plan (the Plan), which included a payroll-based employee stock ownership feature (PAYSOP). Effective August 2, 1995, the Plan was amended to reflect the recapitalization of the Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. common stock, whereby each existing common share was exchanged for one Class A share and one Class B share. Effective July 1, 1996, the Plan was amended into the form of the Prism Prototype Retirement Plan and Trust. This amendment allowed participants to make investment election changes on a monthly basis in addition to allowing participant loans against their existing accounts, subject to certain limitations. The principal provisions of the Plan are as follows: Eligibility - ----------- All active employees of Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. (the Company) and wholly owned subsidiaries that have adopted the Plan, who have been continuously employed as employees of the Company for a period of one year, have attained the age of 21, have completed at least 1,000 hours of service and are not members of a recognized collective bargaining organization, are eligible to participate in the Plan. Deferred Income Contributions - ----------------------------- Pursuant to a Salary Reduction Agreement permitted under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), plan participants may elect to defer from 1% to 10% of their compensation, subject to an annual limitation under the IRC, and such amounts will be contributed to the Plan by the Company as deferred income contributions. Employer Matching Contributions - ------------------------------- The Company will contribute to the Plan, subject to the forfeiture provision outlined below, an adjustable percentage of the deferred income contributions made by participants, (up to a 4% employee deferred compensation contribution), as well as such additional amounts as the Board of Directors may determine. These contributions are allocated among participants in proportion to the deferred income contributions made on their behalf for such period and credited to their separate accounts. 8 -2- The Company's matching contribution can range from 0% to 100% and can be modified prior to the beginning of a month by the Company. For the 1997 and 1996 plan years, the Company's matching contribution was 50% of the first 4% contributed by the participant. All company matching contributions are in the form of common stock of the Company and are invested in the Company Stock Fund A and Company Stock Fund B. Company contributions are funded only to the extent that they exceed cumulative forfeitures of participants terminated from the Plan. Such forfeitures amounted to approximately $30,000 in 1997. Investment of Employee Contributions - ------------------------------------ Under the Plan, each participant selects the manner in which deferred income contributions to their account are to be invested. Contributions are invested in 5% increments, up to 100%, in any one of the following investment options: a. Victory Stock Index Fund -- Investments are made in a portfolio of stocks attempting to match the Standard & Poor's 500 index with a rate of return that may fluctuate substantially and providing for no guarantee against loss. There are 1,706 participants in this fund. b. Prism Fidelity Magellan Fund -- Investments are made in common stocks of domestic, foreign and multi-national companies believed to have growth potential and providing for no guarantee against loss. There are 1,304 participants in this fund. c. Prism EB Magic Fund -- Investments are made in investment contracts issued by insurance companies and banks providing for stability of principal and attractive rates of interest. There are 1,094 participants in this fund. d. Victory Intermediate Income Fund -- Investments are made in investment-grade debt securities issued by corporations and obligations of the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities dependent upon the prevailing interest rates and providing for a lower risk of loss. There are 1,048 participants in this fund. e. Company Stock Fund A -- Investments are made in Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. Class A common stock and providing for no guarantee against loss. There are 2,291 participants in this fund. f. Company Stock Fund B -- Investments are made in Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. Class B common stock and providing for no guarantee against loss. There are 2,475 participants in this fund. A participant may change his investment election with respect to future contributions and, separately, past contributions on a monthly basis. 9 -3- PAYSOP Contributions - -------------------- Prior to February 1, 1987, the Company made PAYSOP contributions to the Stock Ownership Fund for each year in an amount equal to the tax credit available under Section 44G of the IRC. This tax credit was eliminated by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and, therefore, the Company no longer makes PAYSOP contributions. Distributions of the PAYSOP account balances to terminated participants are made in shares of Company common stock unless otherwise specified by the participant. There are 419 participants with account balances in the PAYSOP A and PAYSOP B Funds. Vesting Requirements - -------------------- Participants' deferred income contributions and the Company's PAYSOP contributions, together with earnings thereon, vest immediately. All other Company contributions, plus earnings thereon, vest over a four-year period based on years of service, as defined by the Plan agreement. A participant's entire interest in the Plan becomes fully vested upon his death while employed, attainment of age 65 or permanent and total disability. Trustee's Fees and Other Expenses - --------------------------------- Costs incident to the purchase and sale of securities, such as brokerage commissions and stock transfer taxes, are paid by the respective funds, unless otherwise paid by the Company. All other costs and expenses incurred in administering the Plan, including fees of the trustee, are paid by the Plan, unless otherwise paid by the Company. During 1997 and 1996, all trustee fees and other administrative expenses were paid by the Plan. Termination - ----------- Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Board of Directors, without further approval of shareholders, has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan, subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts. 2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: -------------------------------- Basis of Accounting - ------------------- The accompanying financial statements are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Valuation of Investments The assets included in the Statements of Net Assets are stated at their market values as of December 31, 1997 and 1996. Schedule I summarizes the Plan's investments held at December 31, 1997. Estimates - --------- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. 10 -4- 3. TAX STATUS: ----------- The Internal Revue Service has determined and informed the Company, by letter dated March 4, 1997, that the Plan is designed in accordance with applicable sections of the IRC. 4. INFORMATION CERTIFIED BY TRUSTEE: --------------------------------- The trustee, Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A., maintains records of investment transactions and participant accounts and determines the valuation of the investment portfolio of each fund. Information with respect to (1) investments included in the Statements of Net Assets and the Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes (Schedule I), (2) all items included in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets, and (3) the Schedule of Reportable Transactions (Schedule II) has been certified by the trustee as being complete and accurate. 5. PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS: ------------------------------- During the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996, there were no prohibited transactions with a party-in-interest, as defined by ERISA. 6. REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS: ------------------------ Schedule II summarizes the Plan's reportable transactions for the year ended December 31, 1997. As defined by ERISA, a reportable transaction is a transaction or series of transactions in one security involving amounts in excess of 5% of the market value of the Plan's net assets as of the beginning of the Plan year. 7. CONFEDERATION LIFE INSURANCE CONTRACTS: --------------------------------------- On August 12, 1994, the Canadian Superintendent of Financial Institutions took control of the Confederation Life Insurance Company (Confederation Life) with the intent of liquidating Confederation Life's assets. As shown in the Statement of Net Assets as of December 31, 1996, the Plan held insurance contracts with a total cost of $700,000. During 1997, the Company agreed to a rehabilitation plan whereby the Plan received the original cost of the contracts held, plus a portion of the interest earned. At December 31, 1997, any funds not withdrawn by terminated participants or transferred to other funds by active participants are invested in the Prism Money Market Fund, as reflected in the Statement of Net Assets as of December 31, 1997. Any funds remaining in the Prism Money Market Fund at December 31, 1998 will be automatically invested in the Prism Magic Fund by the trustee. 11 SCHEDULE I FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. ------------------------------ EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN ------------------------------------------ ITEM 27a--SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES --------------------------------------------------------- AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 ----------------------- EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 34-0720629 ------------------------------------------ PLAN NUMBER: 001 ---------------- Number of Market Description Shares Cost Value - ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- -------------- -------------- Victory Stock Index Fund 346,451 $ 4,637,280 $ 6,478,627 Prism Fidelity Magellan Fund 290,835 3,135,933 4,045,076 Prism Magic Fund 348,295 3,872,529 4,225,657 Prism Money Market Fund 56,380 624,497 641,657 Victory Intermediate Income Fund 191,537 1,816,048 1,840,669 Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. Class A common stock 410,559 4,748,509 9,160,803 Fabri-Centers of America, Inc. Class B common stock 266,630 2,582,800 5,516,042 EB Money Market Fund 335,741 335,741 335,741 *Loan Fund, interest rates varying from 9.25% to 9.5% 402,844 402,844 402,844 --------------- ------------- Total investments $22,156,181 $32,647,116 =============== ============= *Represents a party-in-interest The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this schedule. 12 SCHEDULE II FABRI-CENTERS OF AMERICA, INC. ------------------------------ EMPLOYEES' SAVINGS AND PROFIT-SHARING PLAN ------------------------------------------ ITEM 27d--SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS --------------------------------------------- FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 ------------------------------------ EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 34-0720629 ------------------------------------------ PLAN NUMBER: 001 ---------------- Number of Purchase/Sale Cost of Net Description Transactions Cost Asset Gain ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------- -------------- ----------- ---------- SALES: Employee Benefits Money Market Fund 136 $1,580,631 $1,580,631 $ - Prism Fidelity Magellan Fund 97 515,087 437,806 77,281 Victory Stock Index Fund 90 588,651 406,705 181,946 Prism Magic Fund 86 769,882 724,385 45,497 EB Money Market Fund 218 1,518,606 1,518,606 - PURCHASES: Employee Benefits Money Market Fund 91 1,916,372 1,916,372 - Prism Fidelity Magellan Fund 68 975,050 975,050 - Victory Stock Index Fund 90 1,941,691 1,941,691 - Prism Magic Fund 71 584,998 584,998 - EB Money Market Fund 131 1,120,638 1,120,638 - The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of this schedule.