STARTER HAS FOURTH QUARTER LOSS; CONVERSE'S APEX LIQUIDATION

          New Haven, CT-based Starter Corp. reported a fourth-
     quarter net loss of $3.8M, or $.14/share, which the company
     attributed to lower gross margins arising from reduction of
     inventory (HARTFORD COURANT, 2/13). Starter's fourth-quarter
     operating loss was 25% "wider" than analysts anticipated,
     according to Larry Bauman of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. 
     Starter said it expects sales in the first half of '97 to be
     affected by "softening market conditions," and results "may
     be" below the first half of '96 (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/13).
          APEX LIQUIDATION: Converse stated a U.S. Bankruptcy
     Court has approved the company's liquidation plans under
     Chapter 11 law for its Apex One subsidiary.  The plan calls
     for a payment of $4M to be made by Converse to the Apex
     bankruptcy estate and the "relinquishment" of Converse's
     claims against the estate (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/13).