CONVERSE SEEN AS "CLOSE TO THE BRINK": HOPES FOR FINANCING

          MA-based Converse, releasing "delayed" fourth quarter
     '99 earnings late Monday, revealed that auditors from
     PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) have concluded that Converse
     "is close to the brink" and that PWC has "substantial doubt"
     about the company's ability to continue next year, "given
     ongoing losses and a cash crunch," according to Greg Gatlin
     of the BOSTON HERALD.  But Converse said that it will ask
     PWC to "reissue its opinion once it closes a new financing
     deal that would generate about" $85M in credit for the
     company.  PWC "indicated" that it will "reissue its opinion
     if that deal is completed."  Converse lost $26.2M or $1.50 a
     share in last year's fourth quarter, compared to $15.8M or
     $0.92 a share a year earlier.  Sales fell nearly 23% to
     $43.6M from $56.5M a year earlier (BOSTON HERALD, 4/19).