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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended April 27, 2002 Commission File No. 1-7923


HANDLEMAN COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


MICHIGAN 38-1242806
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)

500 Kirts Boulevard, Troy, Michigan 48084 -4142
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

248-362-4400
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Name of each exchange which registered
- ------------------------------- --------------------------------------
COMMON STOCK $.01 PAR VALUE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

NONE
---------
(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for at least the past 90 days.

YES X NO ___
---

State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the registrant. The aggregate market value shall be computed by reference to the
price at which the stock was sold, or the average bid and asked prices of such
stock, as of a specified date within 60 days prior to the date of filing. The
aggregate market value as of June 21, 2002 was $360,140,000.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date. The number of shares of common
stock outstanding as of June 21, 2002 was 26,493,970.

Item 14(a) 3. on page 38 describes the exhibits filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

Certain sections of the definitive Proxy Statement to be filed for the 2002
Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III.



PART 1

Item 1. BUSINESS

Handleman Company, a Michigan corporation (herein referred to as the "Company"
or "Handleman" or "Registrant"), which has its executive offices in Troy,
Michigan, is the successor to a proprietorship formed in 1934, and to a
partnership formed in 1937.


DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS:
- ------------------------

Handleman Company is comprised of two operating segments: Handleman
Entertainment Resources ("H.E.R.") and North Coast Entertainment ("NCE").

H.E.R. is a category manager and distributor of prerecorded music to mass
merchants in the United States, United Kingdom ("UK"), Canada, Mexico, Brazil
and Argentina. As a category manager, H.E.R. manages a broad assortment of
titles required to optimize sales in retail stores and provides direct-to-store
shipments, marketing of the selections, in-store merchandising and product
exchange.

NCE has two companies in its portfolio. Anchor Bay Entertainment, an independent
home video label, markets a collection of titles that range from horror to
exercise to children's classics. Madacy Entertainment, an independent record
label, markets music and video products with a catalog spanning all genres.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note
1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, "Accounting Policies." Segment
data includes intersegment revenues, as well as a charge allocating all
corporate costs to the operating segments. The Company evaluates performance of
its segments and allocates resources to them based on income before interest,
income taxes and minority interest. See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements for additional information regarding segment activities.

The following table sets forth revenues, and the percentage contribution to
consolidated revenues, for the Company's two business segments for the fiscal
years ended April 27, 2002 ("Fiscal 2002"), April 28, 2001 ("Fiscal 2001") and
April 29, 2000 ("Fiscal 2000"):




Fiscal Years Ended
(dollar amounts in millions)
-----------------------------------------------------------
April 27, 2002 April 28, 2001 April 29, 2000
(52 weeks) (52 weeks) (52 weeks)
----------------- ------------------- ---------------

Handleman Entertainment Resources $ 1,215.3 $ 1,064.0 $ 1,011.3
% of Total 90.9 89.2 88.9

North Coast Entertainment 142.0 142.7 142.0
% of Total 10.6 12.0 12.5

Eliminations, principally NCE sales to H.E.R.,
net of corporate rental income (19.8) (13.7) (15.7)
% of Total (1.5) (1.2) (1.4)
---------- ---------- ----------

TOTAL $ 1,337.5 $ 1,193.0 $ 1,137.6
========== ========== ==========


2



Handleman Entertainment Resources
---------------------------------

As category manager and distributor of pre-recorded music, H.E.R. manages the
selection, acquisition, delivery, display and return of music product for the
Company's retail customers' ("retailers") stores. The following discussion
pertains to these activities of H.E.R. which comprises approximately 91% of the
Company's revenues.

The Company's vendors and customers use the services of H.E.R. for a variety of
reasons:

.. Music is a local, as well as a national and international, business
requiring that products selected for each individual store meet the demand
of consumers who frequent each store.

.. Store service - the Company's field sales force visits retailers' stores to
implement a variety of merchandising responsibilities, including verifying
that product has been placed on display, ensuring that the department is
properly merchandised and that top-hit product is available, setting up
point of purchase displays, reordering product with low inventory levels or
required for local events, and ensuring that new product is displayed on
the new release date.

.. Direct store shipment - the Company bypasses the retailers' distribution
centers and ships "shelf ready" product (i.e., product which includes
sticker pricing, theft deterrent devices and special displayers), directly
to thousands of retail store locations.

.. Numerous small quantity shipments - to tailor each store inventory to
changing consumer demand in each store, the Company must make frequent
shipments of less than case lot quantities to each store.

The Company distributes throughout vast geographic regions and adapts selections
to local tastes via a coordination of national and local purchasing
responsibility, both monitored by inventory control programs. In fiscal 2002,
approximately 88% of H.E.R. revenues were in North America and approximately 12%
of H.E.R. revenues were in the UK.


Vendors
- -------

The Company purchases from many different vendors. The volume of purchases from
individual vendors fluctuates from year to year based upon the salability of
selections being offered by such vendors. Though a small number of major,
financially sound vendors account for a high percentage of purchases, product
must be selected from a variety of additional vendors in order to maintain an
adequate selection for consumers. The Company must closely monitor its inventory
exposure and accounts payable balances with smaller vendors which may not have
the financial resources to honor their return commitments.

Since the public's taste for the products the Company supplies is broad and
varied, H.E.R. is required to maintain sufficient inventories to satisfy diverse
tastes. The Company minimizes the effect of obsolescence through planned
purchasing methods and computerized inventory controls. Since substantially all
vendors from which the Company purchases product offer some level of return
allowances and price protection, the Company's exposure to markdown risk is
limited unless vendors are unable to fulfill their return obligations or
non-salable product purchases exceed vendor return limitations. Vendors offer a
variety of return programs, ranging from 100% returns to zero return allowance.
Other vendors offer incentive and penalty arrangements to restrict returns.
Accordingly, the Company may possess in its inventories non-salable product that
can only be returned to vendors with cost penalties or may be non-returnable
until the Company can comply with the provisions of the vendors' return
policies.

H.E.R. generally does not have distribution contracts with its vendors;
consequently, its relationships with them may be discontinued at any time by
such vendors, or by H.E.R.

3



Customers
- ---------

The customers of H.E.R. utilize its services for a variety of reasons. Products
must be selected from a multitude of vendors offering numerous titles, different
formats (e.g., compact discs, cassettes) and different payment and return
arrangements. In addition, retailers utilize category managers due to the
complexity of managing the numerous SKUs required per department, the
variability of salable items among individual stores of a retailer, the wide
array of programs offered by the multitude of vendors, the "hits" nature of the
business and the high risk of inventory obsolescence. By utilizing H.E.R.,
customers avoid substantially all of the risks inherent in product selection and
the risk of inventory obsolescence.

The Company must anticipate consumer demand for individual titles. In order to
maximize sales, the Company must be able to immediately react to "breakout"
titles, while simultaneously minimizing inventory exposure for artists or titles
which do not sell.

H.E.R. also offers customers a variety of "value-added" services:

Store Service: Sales representatives visit individual retail stores and meet
with store management to discuss upcoming promotions, special merchandising
efforts, department changes, current programs, or breaking releases which will
increase revenues. They also monitor inventory levels, check merchandise
displays and install point-of-purchase advertising materials.

Advertising: H.E.R. supplies point-of-purchase materials and assists customers
in preparing radio, television and print advertisements.

Fixturing: H.E.R. provides specially designed fixtures that emphasize product
visibility and accessibility.

Freight: H.E.R. coordinates delivery of product to each store.

Product Exchange: H.E.R. protects its continuing customers against product
markdowns by offering the privilege of exchanging slower-selling product for
newer product.

The nature of the Company's business lends itself to computerized ordering,
distribution and store inventory management techniques. The Company is able to
tailor the inventories of individual stores to reflect the customer profile of
each store and to adjust inventory levels, product mix and selections according
to seasonal and current selling trends.

Using proprietary processes and systems to forecast consumer demand, Handleman
determines the selections to be offered in its customers' retail stores, and
ships these selections to the stores from one of its distribution centers.
Slow-selling items are removed from the stores by the Company and are recycled
for redistribution to other stores, or for return to the vendors. Returns from
customer stores occur for a variety of reasons, including new releases which did
not achieve their expected sales potential, advertised product to be returned
after the promotion has ended, regularly scheduled realignment pick-ups and
customer directed returns. The Company (for financial reporting purposes)
reduces gross sales and direct product costs for estimated future returns at the
time the merchandise is shipped to customer stores.

During the fiscal year ended April 27, 2002, one customer, Wal-Mart Stores,
Inc., accounted for approximately 49% of the Company's consolidated revenues,
while a second customer, Kmart Corporation, accounted for approximately 30%.
Handleman generally does not have contracts with its customers, and such
relationships may be changed or discontinued at any time by the customers or
Handleman; the discontinuance of, or a significant unfavorable change in, the
relationships with either of the two largest customers would have a materially
adverse effect upon the Company's future sales and earnings.

During the Company's third quarter of fiscal 2002, Kmart Corporation filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As part of this proceeding, the Company was
designated a "critical vendor." This designation allowed the Company to collect
its pre-petition H.E.R. accounts receivable balance. On February 1, 2002, the
Company

4



received a $49.0 million payment from Kmart, representing substantially all
amounts currently due at that time. The Company immediately resumed shipping
product to this customer and believes Kmart's subsequent closing of 283 lower
performing customer stores will negatively impact sales by approximately $35.0
million annually. However, because these stores were under performing, the
effect on the Company's operating income (income before interest, income taxes
and minority interest) will not be material.


Operations
- ----------

H.E.R. distributes products from facilities in North America and the United
Kingdom. Besides economies of scale and through-put considerations in
determining the number of facilities it operates, the Company must also consider
freight costs to and from customers' stores and the importance of timely
delivery of new releases. Due to the nature of the music business, display of
new releases close to authorized "street dates" is an important driver of both
retail sales and customer satisfaction.

H.E.R. utilizes a proprietary inventory management system ("PRISM"). PRISM
automates and integrates the functions of ordering product, receiving,
warehousing, order fulfillment, ticket printing and perpetual inventory
maintenance. PRISM also provides the basis to develop title specific billing to
allow the Company to better serve its customers.

H.E.R. has implemented high-technology automated distribution equipment in
Indianapolis, Indiana; Sparks, Nevada; and Toronto, Canada; as well as
Warrington, United Kingdom, which was automated in fiscal 2002.

Within its facilities, H.E.R. operates return centers, including use of
automated return processing equipment in the United States and Canada, to
expedite the processing of customer returns. In order to minimize inventory
investment, customer returns must be sorted and identified for either
redistribution or return to vendors as expeditiously as possible. An item
returned from one store may be required for shipment to another store.
Therefore, timely recycling prevents purchasing duplicate product for a store
whose order could be filled from returns from other stores.


Other Developments
- ------------------

In fiscal 2002, the Company's Channel of Choice business model and proprietary
systems were implemented in Canada and the UK.

In fiscal 2002, H.E.R. began providing direct-to-store shipment of certain
prerecorded music product to Best Buy Co., Inc., including new store opening
inventories and replenishment of selected product. The Company believes Best Buy
will enhance H.E.R.'s strategic growth plan for increasing sales domestically
through customer diversification.

Handleman Online ("HOL"), the Company's e-commerce investment, was launched in
November 2001 to enhance H.E.R.'s position in music category management. HOL
provides both traditional and online retailers with an array of e-commerce
related products and services, including outsourced inventory management and
fulfillment and web design. During fiscal 2002, HOL began providing the
web-site, maintenance and consumer direct fulfillment for two customers,
JCPenney.com and Kmart.com (formerly branded as bluelight.com).


North Coast Entertainment
-------------------------

NCE, a subsidiary of Handleman Company, includes the Company's proprietary
product operations. NCE is the umbrella company for subsidiaries which acquire
exclusive licensing and distribution rights for home entertainment properties,
including music and video products. Such items are manufactured and then
distributed directly to distributors or retailers. In fiscal 2002, approximately
96% of NCE revenues were in North America. Many NCE products are categorized as
budget, with many retailing for under $10. Such products are designed to provide
high margins to the retailer at prices that generate impulse sales.

5



NCE provides the following opportunities:

.. NCE enables the Company to take a more active, and more profitable, role in
the production of home entertainment products.

.. NCE provides the Company with a wide array of product development and
licensing opportunities for music products. This enables H.E.R. to offer a
broader range of more profitable products to its customers.

.. NCE gives the Company access to new distribution channels, new markets and
new customers. For example, the Company can cross-sell music and video to
new or existing customers through any NCE subsidiary sales organization.

NCE's current portfolio is comprised of the following entities:

.. Anchor Bay Entertainment ("ABE") is an independent home video label. In
addition to acquiring films for home entertainment distribution, ABE
markets a wide variety of products including the children's series, Thomas
the Tank Engine. Thomas has been a part of the ABE portfolio for nearly a
decade. ABE also has a wide array of fitness products including the Crunch
series and most recently, the Yoga for Dummies series based on the
successful For Dummies book franchise. ABE is perhaps most noted for being
a marketer within the horror/science fiction genre and has the rights for
Halloween, Highlander and The Evil Dead series.

.. Madacy Entertainment Group ("Madacy") is an independent recording label
which markets a range of music and video products with a catalog spanning
all genres. Madacy is the largest independently distributed label in North
America for the sixth consecutive year as published by Billboard Magazine.
It provides licensing services and distributes music, video, DVD and
customer entertainment premiums through its offices located in North
America and Europe. Madacy Entertainment Group provides a variety of
marketing services to their clients including custom packaging,
manufacturing of audio, video and DVD, and the development of promotional
campaigns.

NCE management will continue to focus on growing the business through licensing,
acquiring or producing new products, as well as via new markets, new customers,
geographical growth, growth within the home entertainment category and selective
acquisitions and joint ventures.


Other Developments
- ------------------

In fiscal 2002, NCE expanded operations into the United Kingdom by launching
Anchor Bay Entertainment UK, Limited. Similar to Anchor Bay Entertainment in the
United States, the new company licenses, acquires and produces video titles for
home entertainment distribution.

The Company substantially completed the closing of the operations of The itsy
bitsy Entertainment Company ("TibECo"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NCE. TibECo
had incurred substantial operating losses in the past two fiscal years. During
the third quarter of fiscal 2002, assets and liabilities were adjusted to net
realizable value; the Company does not expect any further adjustments to
recorded amounts.


Competition
-----------

Handleman is primarily a category manager of music products. The business of the
Company is highly competitive as to both price and alternative supply
arrangements. Besides competition among the Company's customers, the Company's
customers compete with alternative sources from which consumers could purchase
the same product, such as (1) specialty retail outlets, (2) electronic specialty
stores, (3) record clubs, and (4) internet direct sales, including direct to
home shipment and direct downloading through a consumer's home computer. Also,
new methods of in-home delivery of entertainment software products are

6



continually being introduced. The Company competes directly for sales to its
customers with (1) manufacturers that bypass wholesalers and sell directly to
retailers, (2) independent distributors, and (3) other category managers. In
addition, some large retailers have "vertically integrated" so as to provide
their own category management. Some of these companies, however, also purchase
from independent category managers.

The Company believes that the distribution of home entertainment software will
remain highly competitive. The Company believes that customer service, retailer
performance and continual progress in operational efficiencies are the keys to
growth and profitability in this competitive environment.

* * * * * * * * * *


See Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations for additional information regarding the Company's activities.

The Company's revenues and earnings are of a seasonal nature. Note 8, Quarterly
Financial Summary (unaudited), on page 35 under Item 8, discloses quarterly
results which indicate the seasonality of the Company's business.

The Company has approximately 2,600 employees. As of April 27, 2002, none were
unionized.


Item 2. PROPERTIES


As of April 27, 2002, the Company's H.E.R. segment occupied leased warehouses
located in Indianapolis, Indiana; Reno, Nevada; Toronto, Ontario; Warrington,
United Kingdom and Mexico City, Mexico. H.E.R. also occupies ten leased
satellite sales offices located in the states of Maryland, Michigan, Missouri,
California, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois and New York, as well as the Canadian
provinces of Alberta and Quebec. The vacant Company-owned warehouse in Tampa,
Florida, which has a net book value of approximately $1.9 million, is in the
process of being sold. Sale proceeds are estimated to approximate net book
value.

The Company's NCE unit occupies leased office space in the states of Michigan,
California, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Minnesota, as well as in Canada,
Germany and the United Kingdom.

The Company owns its 130,000 square feet corporate office building located in
Troy, Michigan, of which approximately 31,000 square feet are leased to an
outside lessee.


Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS


There are no pending legal proceedings to which the Registrant or any of its
subsidiaries is a party, other than routine legal matters which are incidental
to the business and for which the outcome would not be material to future
results of operations, financial position and cash flows.


Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS
TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS


Not applicable.

7


PART II

Item 5.
MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON
STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The Company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol of "HDL."

Below is a summary of the market price of the Company's common stock:

Fiscal Years Ended

-----------------------------------------------------
April 27, 2002 April 28, 2001

Quarter Low High Low High
------- -----------------------------------------------------

First $11.15 $17.89 $8.75 $12.88

Second 11.16 16.60 9.81 13.44

Third 10.34 15.30 6.44 10.75

Fourth 9.45 13.26 8.57 11.60



As of June 21, 2002, the Company had 2,887 shareholders of record.

The Company has not declared or paid dividends during the two fiscal years
presented herein.

8



Item 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
HANDLEMAN COMPANY
FIVE-YEAR REVIEW
(amounts in thousands except per share data and ratios)



2002 % 2001 % 2000 % 1999 % 1998 %
---- - ---- - ---- - ---- - ---- -

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:

Revenues $1,337,516 100.0 $1,192,979 100.0 $1,137,605 100.0 $1,058,553 100.0 $1,104,522 100.0
Gross profit, after direct
product costs 297,927 22.3 296,170 24.8 288,776 25.4 266,870 25.2 270,052 24.4
Selling, general & administrative
expenses 243,956 18.2 224,406 18.8 219,625 19.3 211,682 20.0 243,778 22.1
Depreciation and amortization
- included in selling, general &
administrative expenses 24,970 1.9 20,949 1.8 20,109 1.8 20,488 1.9 32,733 3.0
Repositioning and related charges,
and other unusual charges ** -- -- -- 96,362 9.1 13,684 1.2
Interest expense, net 4,183 .3 2,632 .2 3,178 .3 8,088 .8 12,319 1.1
Income (loss) before income
taxes and minority interest 49,788 3.7 69,132 5.8 65,973 5.8 (49,262) * 271 *
Income tax expense (benefit) 13,217 1.0 26,379 2.2 26,255 2.3 (16,449) * 2,800 .3
Net income (loss) 37,118 2.8 42,031 3.5 38,648 3.4 (35,052) * 312 *
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding
--basic 26,656 27,318 29,425 31,568 32,868
--diluted 26,763 27,458 29,692 31,818 32,886

PER SHARE DATA:

Earnings (loss) per share
--basic $ 1.39 $ 1.54 $ 1.31 $ (1.11) $ .01
--diluted 1.39 1.53 1.30 (1.11) .01

BALANCE SHEET DATA:

Merchandise inventories $ 126,145 $ 113,348 $ 100,298 $ 102,589 $ 187,173
Total assets 605,503 590,667 519,683 487,856 613,056
Debt, current 3,571 14,571 14,571 18,571 18,571
Debt, non-current 53,749 53,014 33,986 39,857 114,768
Working capital 194,525 162,867 129,721 152,721 246,916
Shareholders' equity 289,618 253,228 223,282 225,686 273,807

FINANCIAL RATIOS:

Working capital ratio
(Current assets/current
liabilities) 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.7 2.1
Inventory turns
(Direct product costs/
average inventories
throughout year) 6.5 6.8 6.6 5.5 3.9
Debt to total capitalization ratio
(Debt, non-current/debt,
non-current plus
shareholders' equity) 15.7% 17.3% 13.2% 15.0% 29.5%
Return on assets (Net income/
average assets) 6.2% 7.6% 7.7% * *
Return on beginning
shareholders' equity
(Net income/beginning
shareholders' equity) 14.7% 18.8% 17.1% * .1%


* Not meaningful
** Amount for fiscal 1999 is net of $31,000 gain on sale of subsidiary

9



Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company has two business segments: Handleman Entertainment Resources
("H.E.R.") and North Coast Entertainment ("NCE"). H.E.R. consists of music
category management and distribution operations, principally in North America
and the United Kingdom ("UK"). NCE encompasses the Company's proprietary
operations, which include music and video products, as well as licensing
operations. Business segment revenues discussed herein include intercompany
sales which are eliminated in consolidation.

The following table sets forth revenues, and the percentage contribution to
consolidated revenues, for the Company's two business segments for the fiscal
years ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000:



Fiscal Years Ended
(dollar amounts in millions)
---------------------------------------------------------

April 27, 2002 April 28, 2001 April 29, 2000
(52 weeks) (52 weeks) (52 weeks)
--------------- ----------------- -----------------


Handleman Entertainment Resources $ 1,215.3 $ 1,064.0 $ 1,011.3
% of Total 90.9 89.2 88.9

North Coast Entertainment 142.0 142.7 142.0
% of Total 10.6 12.0 12.5

Eliminations, principally NCE sales to H.E.R.,
net of corporate rental income (19.8) (13.7) (15.7)
% of Total (1.5) (1.2) (1.4)
---------- ---------- ----------

TOTAL $ 1,337.5 $ 1,193.0 $ 1,137.6
========== ========== ==========



Critical Accounting Policies
- ----------------------------

The Company's discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of
operations are based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which
have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements
requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The Company continually
evaluates its estimates and assumptions which are based on historical experience
and other various factors that are believed to be reasonable under the
circumstances. The results of these estimates and assumptions form the basis for
making judgements about the carrying values of certain assets and liabilities.
Historically, actual results have not significantly deviated from those
determined using the estimates and assumptions described above.

The Company believes that the following are its critical accounting policies:

Recognition of Revenues and Future Returns - The Company recognizes revenues
based upon the shipment of merchandise to customers. In addition, the Company
reduces gross sales and direct product costs for estimated future returns at the
time the merchandise is shipped. On a quarterly basis, the Company monitors the
estimates for future returns and records adjustments as necessary.

Inventory Valuation - Merchandise inventories are recorded at the lower of cost
(first-in, first-out) or market. The Company accounts for inventories using the
full cost method which includes costs associated with acquiring and preparing
inventory for distribution. The Company records an estimate for slow moving or
obsolete inventory on a regular basis, although the effect of markdowns is
minimized since the Company's

10



vendors offer some level of return allowances and price protection. Adjustments
to these slow moving/obsolete inventory estimates are made on a quarterly basis,
as required.

The Company, principally in its proprietary product business, acquires video and
audio licenses or rights giving it the exclusive privilege to manufacture and
distribute such products. The cost of license advances and acquired rights are
amortized based upon the sales volume method over a period which is the lesser
of the term of the agreement or the products' estimated useful lives. The
effective lives of the licenses and rights tend to range from three to five
years. On a regular basis, the Company performs analyses comparing the carrying
values of its license advances and acquired rights with the expected future
economic benefit of these assets. Based upon such analyses, the Company adjusts,
if necessary, the value of its license advances and acquired rights.

Long-Lived Assets - At each balance sheet date, the Company evaluates the
carrying value and remaining estimated lives of long-lived assets for potential
impairment by considering several factors, including management's plans for
future operations, recent operating results, market trends and other economic
facts relating to the operation to which the assets apply. Recoverability of
these assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of such assets
to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the
assets. If such assets were deemed to be impaired as a result of this
measurement, the impairment that would be recognized is measured by the amount
by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets
as determined on a discounted basis.


Comparison of Fiscal 2002 with Fiscal 2001
- ------------------------------------------

For the fiscal year ended April 27, 2002 ("fiscal 2002"), revenues increased 13%
to $1.34 billion from $1.19 billion for the year ended April 28, 2001 ("fiscal
2001"). Net income for fiscal 2002 was $37.1 million or $1.39 per diluted share,
compared to net income of $42.0 million or $1.53 per diluted share for fiscal
2001.

H.E.R. revenues increased 15% to $1.22 billion for fiscal 2002 from $1.06
billion for fiscal 2001. Handleman UK Limited accounted for approximately 59% of
the revenue increase, due to the commencement in February 2001 of category
management, distribution and service to a new customer within the UK.
Substantially all of the remaining increase was due to higher sales volume in
the United States and Canada.

NCE revenues were $142.0 million for fiscal 2002 compared to $142.7 million for
fiscal 2001. Lower revenues at Madacy Entertainment and The itsy bitsy
Entertainment Company ("TibECo") of $8.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively,
were partially offset by increased revenues at Anchor Bay Entertainment, Inc.
and Anchor Bay Entertainment UK, Limited of $6.6 million and $4.0 million,
respectively.

Consolidated direct product costs as a percentage of revenues was 77.7% for the
year ended April 27, 2002, compared to 75.2% for the prior year. This increase
in direct product costs as a percentage of revenues was primarily due to the
Company's UK operation, which accounted for approximately 68% of the increase.
The UK operation, which represented a higher proportion of sales in fiscal 2002,
received lower supplier discounts than the Company received from suppliers in
its North American operations. The Company is developing programs with key
suppliers in the UK to improve supplier terms. Substantially all of the
remaining increase in direct product costs as a percentage of revenues was due
to higher product costs at the Madacy Entertainment business unit of NCE, which
experienced the impact of inventory liquidation initiatives, as well as lower
budget music sales which normally carry lower product costs as a percentage of
revenues.

Consolidated selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses for fiscal
2002 were $244.0 million or 18.2% of revenues, compared to $224.4 million or
18.8% of revenues for fiscal 2001. H.E.R. SG&A expenses increased $15.3 million,
or 9%, due to the increase in H.E.R. revenues; however, as a percentage of
revenues, SG&A expenses at H.E.R. declined year over year. The remaining
increase in

11



SG&A expenses was primarily due to higher expenses at TibECo, resulting from the
adjustment of certain assets and liabilities to net realizable value. The
Company does not expect any further adjustments to recorded amounts at TibECo.
The Company has substantially completed the closing of TibECo and the
liquidation of its assets. The Company expects this closing process to be
completed during fiscal 2003.

Consolidated income before interest, income taxes and minority interest
("operating income") for fiscal 2002 decreased to $54.0 million from $71.8
million for fiscal 2001. H.E.R. operating income of $65.2 million approximated
fiscal 2001 operating income of $66.1 million. NCE incurred an operating loss
for fiscal 2002 of $12.3 million, compared to operating income of $4.3 million
for fiscal 2001. This decrease at NCE was mainly due to operating losses at
Madacy Entertainment, which for the first time since being acquired by Handleman
Company in fiscal 1995, incurred an operating loss. The Company is focused on
restoring Madacy Entertainment revenues, direct product costs and SG&A expenses
to historic levels. The Company expects Madacy Entertainment to return to
profitability in fiscal 2003.

Interest expense, net was $4.2 million for fiscal 2002, compared to $2.6 million
for fiscal 2001. This increase in interest expense, net was attributable to
higher borrowing levels against the Company's revolving credit facility
necessary to support working capital requirements.

Minority interest recognized in the statement of income represents the minority
shareholders' portion of the income or loss for less than wholly-owned
subsidiaries. Minority interest income was $.5 million for fiscal 2002, compared
to minority interest expense of $.7 million for fiscal 2001.

The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2002 of 26.5% was lower than the fiscal
2001 tax rate of 38.2%. This decrease in the tax rate was primarily due to tax
benefits recognized in fiscal 2002 related to TibECo prior year operating losses
and, to a lesser extent, certain tax planning initiatives.

Accounts receivable, net was $274.5 million at April 27, 2002, compared to
$265.3 million at April 28, 2001. This increase was due to the higher sales
level in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002, compared to the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2001.

Merchandise inventories was $126.1 million at April 27, 2002, compared to $113.3
million at April 28, 2001. This increase was mainly due to higher inventory
requirements to support the Company's growing business in the UK and new
customer requirements in the United States.

Property and equipment, net was $67.7 million at April 27, 2002, compared to
$56.9 million at April 28, 2001. This increase was due to the purchase of new
store fixtures for certain customers and investments in computer software.

Other assets, net was $94.5 million at April 27, 2002, compared to $101.8
million at April 28, 2001. This reduction was principally due to a decrease in
license advances and acquired rights.

Debt, current portion was $3.6 million at April 27, 2002, compared to $14.6
million at April 28, 2001. This decrease was due to a payment made in November
2001 related to the Company's senior note agreement.

The reduction in accrued and other liabilities to $39.1 million at April 27,
2002 from $44.8 million at April 28, 2001 was predominately due to decreases in
income taxes payable and accrued royalties.

During fiscal 2002, the Company repurchased 456,700 shares of its common stock
at a cost of $5.4 million, leaving 26,471,743 shares outstanding at April 27,
2002. Under the current authorization, which was approved by the Board of
Directors in December 2000 and has no expiration date, the Company can
repurchase in fiscal year 2003, or later, approximately 1,600,000 additional
shares.

12



In fiscal 2002, H.E.R. began providing direct-to-store shipment of certain
prerecorded music product to Best Buy Co., Inc., including new store opening
inventories and replenishment of selected product. The Company believes Best Buy
will enhance H.E.R.'s strategic growth plan for increasing sales domestically
through customer diversification.

During the Company's third quarter of fiscal 2002, Kmart Corporation, a key
customer of the Company, filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. As part of this
proceeding, the Company was designated a "critical vendor." This designation
allowed the Company to collect its pre-petition H.E.R. accounts receivable
balance. On February 1, 2002, the Company received a $49.0 million payment from
the key customer, representing substantially all amounts currently due at that
time. The Company immediately resumed shipping product to this customer and
believes the customer's subsequent closing of 283 lower performing stores will
negatively impact sales by approximately $35.0 million annually. However,
because these stores were under performing, the effect on the Company's
operating income will not be material.

In fiscal 2003, the Company expects revenues to increase in the mid-single digit
range. This growth rate is dependent upon several factors including the timing
and specifics of the Company's key customer Chapter 11 restructuring and the
customer's ability to revive store sales, the popularity of new music releases,
and the health of both the economy and the retail sector. Direct product costs,
as a percentage of revenues, is expected to be comparable to that in fiscal
2002, while SG&A expenses are forecasted to continue to improve slightly. The
Company expects a more normalized tax rate in the 37-39% range for fiscal 2003.
The Company expects net income to increase in-line with, or slightly above, the
revenue growth rate.


Comparison of Fiscal 2001 with Fiscal 2000
- ------------------------------------------

For the fiscal year ended April 28, 2001, revenues increased 5% to $1.19 billion
from $1.14 billion for the fiscal year ended April 29, 2000 ("fiscal 2000"). Net
income for fiscal 2001 was $42.0 million or $1.53 per diluted share, compared to
net income of $38.6 million or $1.30 per diluted share for fiscal 2000.

H.E.R. revenues increased 5% to $1.06 billion for fiscal 2001 from $1.01 billion
for fiscal 2000. Over 60% of the increase in revenues was attributable to
H.E.R.'s United Kingdom operations where the Company gained the ASDA chain as a
new customer in February 2001, and substantially all of the remaining increase
was attributable to improved sales in the United States throughout the year.

NCE revenues for fiscal 2001 were $142.7 million, essentially the same as $142.0
million for fiscal 2000. Increased revenues of approximately $12.5 million in
the Anchor Bay Entertainment unit were offset by declines at the Madacy
Entertainment and The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company operating units.

Consolidated direct product costs as a percentage of revenues was 75.2% for the
year ended April 28, 2001, compared to 74.6% for the year ended April 29, 2000.
The slight increase was due to higher costs as a percentage of revenues within
the NCE segment.

Consolidated selling, general and administrative expenses for fiscal 2001 were
$224.4 million or 18.8% of revenues, compared to $219.6 million or 19.3% of
revenues for fiscal 2000. SG&A expenses at NCE approximated prior year levels,
whereas H.E.R. expenses increased due to the increase in H.E.R. revenues;
however, as a percentage of revenues, SG&A expenses at H.E.R. declined year over
year.

Consolidated income before interest, income taxes and minority interest for
fiscal 2001 increased to $71.8 million from $69.2 million for fiscal 2000.
H.E.R. operating income rose 21% to $66.1 million in fiscal 2001 from $54.8
million in fiscal 2000. This increase in H.E.R. operating income was primarily
attributable to North American operations. NCE operating income was $4.3 million
in fiscal 2001, compared with $14.2 million in fiscal 2000. This decrease was
due to a higher operating loss at TibECo, as well as reduced operating income at
Madacy Entertainment.

Interest expense, net was $2.6 million for fiscal 2001, compared to $3.2 million
for fiscal 2000. The decrease in interest expense, net was attributable to lower
borrowing levels.

13



Minority interest recognized in the statement of income represents the minority
shareholders' portion of the income or loss for less than wholly-owned
subsidiaries. Minority interest expense was $.7 million for fiscal 2001,
compared to $1.1 million for fiscal 2000.

The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2001 of 38.2% was lower than the fiscal
2000 tax rate of 39.8%. This decrease in the rate from fiscal 2000 was primarily
due to tax benefits resulting from tax planning initiatives. The effective rate
for fiscal 2001 was higher than expected due to higher losses at TibECo where no
tax benefit on these losses was recognized because TibECo was an unconsolidated
subsidiary for income tax purposes for fiscal 2001.

Accounts receivable, net was $265.3 million at April 28, 2001, compared to
$234.0 million at April 29, 2000. This increase was due to the higher sales
level in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, compared to the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2000.

Other assets, net was $101.8 million at April 28, 2001, compared to $90.0
million at April 29, 2000. This increase was primarily attributable to the cost
of license advances and acquired rights.

The increase in other current liabilities to $44.8 million at April 28, 2001
from $31.2 million at April 29, 2000 was chiefly due to increases in accrued
royalties and the timing of income tax payments.

Debt, non-current was $53.0 million at April 28, 2001, compared to $34.0 million
at April 29, 2000. This change was caused by additional borrowings under the
Company's revolving line of credit and the inclusion of the Handleman UK
revolving line of credit borrowings.

During fiscal 2001, the Company repurchased 1,230,880 shares of its common stock
at a cost of $12.1 million, leaving 26,540,000 shares outstanding as of April
28, 2001.


Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------

Working capital at April 27, 2002 was $194.5 million, compared to $162.9 million
at April 28, 2001. The working capital ratio was 1.8 to 1 at April 27, 2002,
compared to 1.6 to 1 at April 28, 2001.

Property and equipment, net consists primarily of display fixtures, computer
hardware and software, warehouse equipment and facilities. The Company also
acquires or licenses video and music products which it markets. Purchases of
these assets are expected to be funded primarily by cash flow from operations.

On August 8, 2001, the Company replaced its $150.0 million revolving credit
facility with an unsecured $170.0 million revolving credit agreement, arranged
with a consortium of banks. This new agreement expires in August 2004. The
balance outstanding under this credit agreement as of April 27, 2002 was $46.6
million. The Company also had $10.7 million outstanding as of April 27, 2002
under a senior note agreement with a group of insurance companies, of which $3.6
million matures in fiscal 2003. See Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements for additional information regarding the revolving credit facility
and the senior notes, including scheduled maturities.

The borrowing base under the new revolving credit agreement is limited to the
lesser of (a) $170.0 million, or (b) 80% of the net accounts receivable balances
plus 100% of the cash balances of the domestic companies.

In fiscal 2002, a subsidiary entered into a (pound)2.0 million credit facility
(approximately $2.9 million U.S.) with a certain bank. As of April 27, 2002, no
amounts were outstanding. The Company has guaranteed repayment of amounts
borrowed under this facility.

Net cash provided from operating activities included in the Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows increased to $49.1 million for fiscal 2002 from $43.9
million for fiscal 2001.

14



Net cash used by investing activities was $50.3 million for fiscal 2002,
compared to net cash used by investing activities of $44.7 million for fiscal
2001. Additions to property and equipment increased to $31.5 million for fiscal
2002, compared to $26.5 million for fiscal 2001. This increase was due to the
purchase of store fixtures for a certain customer and the investment in computer
software. License advances and acquired rights were $18.9 million for fiscal
2002, compared to $23.0 million for fiscal 2001.

Net cash used by financing activities was $12.2 million for fiscal 2002,
compared to $6.9 million provided from financing activities for fiscal 2001.
This change was principally due to lower borrowings under the Company's
revolving credit agreement in fiscal 2002.

Management believes that the credit agreement and the senior note agreement,
will provide sufficient amounts to fund day-to-day operations and higher peak
seasonal demands.

The following table summarizes the Company's contractual cash obligations and
commitments as of April 27, 2002, along with their expected effect on its
liquidity and cash flows in future periods (in thousands of dollars):



Contractual Cash Obligations and Commitments

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Due by Period
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 1 - 3 4 - 5 After
Total 1 Year Years Years 5 Years
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long-term debt $ 57,320 $ 3,571 $53,749 -- --
Other long-term obligations 4,460 1,487 2,973 -- --
Operating leases 33,653 8,618 14,470 2,210 8,355
Outstanding letters of credit 4,650 4,650 -- -- --
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total contractual cash
obligations and commitments $100,083 $18,326 $71,192 $2,210 $8,355
===============================================================================


The Company has no significant investments that are accounted for under the
equity method in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. Investments that are accounted for under the equity
method have no liabilities associated with them that would be considered
material to the Company.


New Accounting Pronouncements
- -----------------------------

In fiscal 2003, the Company will adopt Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards ("SFAS") No. 142, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets," which was approved
by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in 2001. SFAS No. 142 changes the
accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives from
an amortization approach to a non-amortization (impairment) approach. SFAS No.
142 requires amortization of goodwill recorded in connection with previous
business combinations to cease upon adoption of the Statement. The Company will
adopt SFAS No. 142 in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The Company analyzed the
impact SFAS No. 142 will have on its consolidated financial position and results
of operations and determined that no adjustment to the carrying value of
goodwill will be required upon adoption of this statement. The Company will
perform impairment analyses for goodwill and other intangible assets with
indefinite lives on an annual basis going forward. Adoption of SFAS No. 142 will
result in an increase in net income of approximately $1.1 million in fiscal
2003.

In 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 144,
"Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." SFAS No. 144
supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and
for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of," and the accounting and reporting
provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, "Reporting the Results of Operations for a
Disposal of a Segment of Business." SFAS No. 144 requires the recognition of an
impairment loss only if the carrying amount of long-

15



lived assets is not recoverable from its undiscounted cash flow and measures an
impairment loss as the difference between the carrying amount and fair value of
the assets. Goodwill is excluded from the scope of this Statement. SFAS No. 144
requires that a long-lived asset to be abandoned, exchanged for a similar
productive asset or distributed to owners in a spin-off, be considered held and
used until it is disposed. This Statement requires that the accounting model for
long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale, be used for all previously held and
used, or newly acquired long-lived assets. Discontinued operations are no longer
measured on a net realizable value basis, and future operating losses are no
longer recognized before they occur. SFAS No. 144 broadens the presentation of
discontinued operations in the income statement to include a component of an
entity (rather than a segment of a business). A component of an entity comprises
operations and cash flows that can be clearly distinguished, operationally and
for financial reporting purposes, from the rest of the entity. This Statement
becomes effective for the Company on April 28, 2002, and the Company does not
believe SFAS No. 144 will have a significant effect on its operating results.


Other Information
- -----------------

The Company's financial statements have reported amounts based on historical
costs which represent dollars of varying purchasing power and do not measure the
effects of inflation. If the financial statements had been restated for
inflation, net income would have been lower because depreciation expense would
have to be increased to reflect the most current costs.

Inflation within the economies in which the Company does business has not had a
material effect on the Company's results of operations.


* * * * * * * * * *


This document contains forward-looking statements which are not historical facts
and involve risk and uncertainties. Actual results, events and performance could
differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements,
including, without limitation, conditions in the music industry, the effect of
the Company's key customer Chapter 11 proceedings, the ability to enter into
profitable agreements with customers in the new businesses outlined in the
Company's strategic growth plan, securing funding or providing sufficient cash
required to build and grow the new businesses, customer requirements,
continuation of satisfactory relationships with existing customers and
suppliers, effects of electronic commerce, relationships with the Company's
lenders, pricing and competitive pressures, the occurrence of catastrophic
events or acts of terrorism, certain global and regional economic conditions,
and other factors discussed in this Form 10-K and those detailed from time to
time in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to
reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document.

16



Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The following financial statements and supplementary data are filed as a part of
this report:

Report of Independent Accountants

Consolidated Balance Sheet at April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000

Consolidated Statement of Income - Years Ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001
and April 29, 2000

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity - Years Ended April 27, 2002,
April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - Years Ended April 27, 2002, April 28,
2001 and April 29, 2000

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

17



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Handleman Company:


In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity, and of cash flows
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
Handleman Company and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of April 27, 2002,
April 28, 2001, and April 29, 2000, and the results of their operations and
their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended April 27,
2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial
statement schedule listed in Item 14(a)2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K
presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein
when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.
These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the
responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted
our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America, which 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, assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Detroit, Michigan
June 4, 2002

18


HANDLEMAN COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
YEARS ENDED APRIL 27, 2002, APRIL 28, 2001 AND APRIL 29, 2000
(amounts in thousands except share data)
----------------------------------------



ASSETS 2002 2001 2000
- ------ ---- ---- ----

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 20,254 $ 33,628 $ 27,510
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $14,067
in 2002, $16,336 in 2001 and $17,383 in 2000
for gross profit impact of estimated future returns 274,490 265,280 234,005
Merchandise inventories 126,145 113,348 100,298
Other current assets 22,441 19,720 16,036
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total current assets 443,330 431,976 377,849
Property and equipment, net 67,707 56,887 51,852
Other assets, net 94,466 101,804 89,982
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total assets $ 605,503 $ 590,667 $ 519,683
============== ============== ==============

LIABILITIES
- -----------

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 206,180 $ 209,766 $ 202,339
Debt, current portion 3,571 14,571 14,571
Accrued and other liabilities 39,054 44,772 31,218
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total current liabilities 248,805 269,109 248,128
Debt, non-current 53,749 53,014 33,986
Other liabilities 13,331 15,316 14,287

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
- --------------------

Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000,000
shares authorized; none issued -- -- --
Common stock, $.01 par value; 60,000,000
shares authorized: 26,472,000, 26,540,000 and
27,691,000 shares issued in 2002, 2001 and 2000,
respectively 265 265 277
Foreign currency translation adjustment (7,005) (7,479) (6,449)
Unearned compensation (1,708) (63) (443)
Retained earnings 298,066 260,505 229,897
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total shareholders' equity 289,618 253,228 223,282
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 605,503 $ 590,667 $ 519,683
============== ============== ==============



The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
statements.

19



HANDLEMAN COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
YEARS ENDED APRIL 27, 2002, APRIL 28, 2001 AND APRIL 29, 2000
(amounts in thousands except per share data)
--------------------------------------------



2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Revenues $ 1,337,516 $ 1,192,979 $ 1,137,605

Costs and expenses:

Direct product costs 1,039,589 896,809 848,829
Selling, general and administrative expenses 243,956 224,406 219,625
Interest expense, net 4,183 2,632 3,178
-------------- -------------- --------------
Income before income taxes
and minority interest 49,788 69,132 65,973

Income tax expense (13,217) (26,379) (26,255)

Minority interest 547 (722) (1,070)
-------------- -------------- --------------

Net income $ 37,118 $ 42,031 $ 38,648
============== ============== ==============

Net income per share
Basic $ 1.39 $ 1.54 $ 1.31
============== ============== ==============
Diluted $ 1.39 $ 1.53 $ 1.30
============== ============== ==============

Weighted average number of shares
outstanding during the year
Basic 26,656 27,318 29,425
============== ============== ==============
Diluted 26,763 27,458 29,692
============== ============== ==============


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
statements.

20



HANDLEMAN COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
YEARS ENDED APRIL 27, 2002, APRIL 28, 2001 AND APRIL 29, 2000
(amounts in thousands)
----------------------




Common Stock Foreign Total
-------------------- Currency Unearned Share-
Shares Paid-In Translation Compen- Retained holders'
Issued Amount Capital Adjustment sation Earnings Equity
-------- ---------- --------- ------------ --------- ---------- ----------

May 1, 1999 31,049 $ 310 $ 6,828 $ (5,220) $ (1,557) $225,325 $225,686


Net income 38,648 38,648
Adjustment for foreign
currency translation (1,229) (1,229)
--------
Comprehensive income, net of tax 37,419
--------
Common stock issuances, net of forfeitures,
in connection with employee benefit plans 181 2 1,559 1,114 (515) 2,160
Common stock repurchased (3,539) (35) (8,387) (33,561) (41,983)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

April 29, 2000 27,691 277 -- (6,449) (443) 229,897 223,282


Net income 42,031 42,031
Adjustment for foreign
currency translation (1,030) (1,030)
--------
Comprehensive income, net of tax 41,001
--------
Common stock issuances, net of forfeitures,
in connection with employee benefit plans 80 380 620 1,000
Common stock repurchased (1,231) (12) (12,043) (12,055)
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

April 28, 2001 26,540 265 -- (7,479) (63) 260,505 253,228


Net income 37,118 37,118
Adjustment for foreign
currency translation 474 474
--------
Comprehensive income, net of tax 37,592
--------
Common stock issuances, net of forfeitures,
in connection with employee benefit plans 389 4 (1,645) 4,687 3,046
Common stock repurchased (457) (4) (5,401) (5,405)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 1,157 1,157
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

April 27, 2002 26,472 $ 265 $ -- $ (7,005) $ (1,708) $298,066 $289,618
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
statements.

21



HANDLEMAN COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED APRIL 27, 2002, APRIL 28, 2001 AND APRIL 29, 2000
(amounts in thousands)
----------------------



2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 37,118 $ 42,031 $ 38,648
----------- ----------- -----------
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided from operating activities:
Depreciation 19,487 16,004 15,962
Amortization of acquisition costs 4,086 4,945 4,147
Recoupment of license advances 17,888 12,992 10,793
Loss on disposal of property and equipment 1,093 844 1,008
Adjustment of subsidiary assets and liabilities
to net realizable value 5,693 -- --
Deferred income taxes (4,693) (3,914) 1,466
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options 1,157 -- --
Increase in accounts receivable (9,455) (31,275) (8,424)
(Increase) decrease in merchandise inventories (13,003) (13,050) 5,817
(Increase) decrease in other operating assets 2,302 (6,694) 4,216
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable (3,586) 7,427 36,113
Increase (decrease) in other operating liabilities (8,995) 14,583 (2,270)
----------- ----------- -----------
Total adjustments 11,974 1,862 68,828
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided from operating activities 49,092 43,893 107,476
----------- ----------- -----------

Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment (31,486) (26,503) (20,335)
Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment 85 4,750 361
License advances and acquired rights (18,915) (22,965) (30,042)
Cash investment in Lifetime Entertainment Limited -- -- (6,432)
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash used by investing activities (50,316) (44,718) (56,448)
----------- ----------- -----------

Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuances of debt 4,481,168 1,262,171 1,363,621
Repayments of debt (4,491,433) (1,243,143) (1,373,492)
Repurchase of common stock (5,405) (12,055) (41,983)
Other changes in shareholders' equity, net 3,520 (30) 931
----------- ----------- -----------
Net cash provided from (used by) financing activities (12,150) 6,943 (50,923)
----------- ----------- -----------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (13,374) 6,118 105
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 33,628 27,510 27,405
----------- ----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 20,254 $ 33,628 $ 27,510
=========== =========== ===========


The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
statements.

22



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
_________________

1. Accounting Policies:

Business

The Company is comprised of two business segments. Handleman Entertainment
Resources ("H.E.R.") is a category manager and distributor of prerecorded
music to mass merchants, principally in North America and the United
Kingdom ("UK"). North Coast Entertainment ("NCE") is responsible for the
Company's proprietary operations, which include music and video products,
as well as licensing operations.

Fiscal Year

The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to April 30. Fiscal
years 2002, 2001 and 2000 consisted of 52 weeks.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and all subsidiaries where the Company has voting control. All intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Minority interest
recognized in the statement of income represents the minority shareholders'
portion of the income (loss) for less than wholly-owned subsidiaries. The
minority interest share of the net assets of these subsidiaries of
$2,829,000, $4,187,000 and $5,000,000 as of April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001
and April 29, 2000, respectively, is included in other liabilities in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The Company does not have any
material equity investments other than in companies in which they have
voting control.

Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities, 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.

Foreign Currency Translation

The Company utilizes the policies outlined in Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation," to
convert the balance sheet and operations of its foreign subsidiaries to
United States dollars. Net transaction gains (losses) included in the
statement of income were $157,000, $(123,000) and $383,000 for the years
ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000, respectively.

Recognition of Revenue and Future Returns

Revenues are recognized upon shipment of the merchandise. The Company
reduces gross sales and direct product costs for estimated future returns
at the time the merchandise is sold.

23



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
_________________

Inventory Valuation

Merchandise inventories are recorded at the lower of cost (first-in,
first-out method) or market. The Company accounts for inventories using the
full cost method which includes costs associated with acquiring and
preparing inventory for distribution. Costs associated with acquiring and
preparing inventory for distribution of $10,888,000, $11,086,000 and
$11,178,000 were incurred during the years ended April 27, 2002, April 28,
2001 and April 29, 2000, respectively. Merchandise inventories as of April
27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000 included $883,000, $855,000 and
$843,000, respectively, of such costs.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Upon retirement or disposal,
the asset cost and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the
respective accounts and the resulting gain or loss is included in the
consolidated statement of income for the period. Repair costs are charged
to expense as incurred.

Depreciation

Depreciation is computed using primarily the straight-line method based on
the following estimated useful lives:

Display fixtures 5 years
Computer hardware and software 3-5 years
Equipment, furniture and other 3-10 years
Buildings and improvements 10-40 years

License Advances and Acquired Rights

The Company, principally in its proprietary product business, acquires
video and audio licenses or rights giving it the exclusive privilege to
manufacture and distribute such products. The cost of license advances and
acquired rights are included in other assets in the consolidated balance
sheet and are amortized based upon the sales volume method over a period
which is the lesser of the term of the agreement or the products' estimated
useful lives. The effective lives of the licenses and rights tend to range
from three to five years. As of April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April
29, 2000, licenses and acquired rights, net of amortization, amounted to
$67,198,000, $74,181,000 and $61,390,000, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets consist primarily of the excess of consideration paid
over the estimated fair values of net assets of businesses acquired. Such
amounts included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of
April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000 are $13,958,000,
$19,719,000 and $24,575,000, which are net of amortization of $21,212,000,
$15,756,000 and $10,900,000, respectively. These assets were being
amortized using the straight-line method over periods ranging from four to
15 years.

In fiscal 2003, the Company will adopt SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and
Intangible Assets," which was approved by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board effective in 2001. SFAS No. 142 changes the accounting for
goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives from an
amortization approach to a non-amortization (impairment) approach. SFAS No.
142 requires amortization of goodwill recorded in connection with previous
business combinations to cease upon adoption of the Statement. The Company
will adopt SFAS No. 142 in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The Company
analyzed the impact SFAS No. 142 will have on its consolidated financial
position and results of operations and determined that no adjustment to the
carrying

24



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
_________________

value of goodwill will be required upon adoption of this statement. The
Company will perform impairment analyses for goodwill and other intangible
assets with indefinite lives on an annual basis going forward. Adoption of
SFAS No. 142 will result in an increase in net income of approximately
$1,100,000 in fiscal 2003.

Long-Lived Assets

In 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 144,
"Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." SFAS No.
144 supersedes SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived
Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of," and the accounting and
reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, "Reporting the Results of
Operations for a Disposal of a Segment of Business." SFAS No. 144 requires
the recognition of an impairment loss only if the carrying amount of
long-lived assets is not recoverable from its undiscounted cash flow and
measures an impairment loss as the difference between the carrying amount
and fair value of the assets. Goodwill is excluded from the scope of this
Statement. SFAS No. 144 requires that a long-lived asset to be abandoned,
exchanged for a similar productive asset or distributed to owners in a
spin-off, be considered held and used until it is disposed. This statement
requires that the accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of
by sale, be used for all previously held and used, or newly acquired
long-lived assets. Discontinued operations are no longer measured on a net
realizable value basis, and future operating losses are no longer
recognized before they occur. SFAS No. 144 broadens the presentation of
discontinued operations in the income statement to include a component of
an entity (rather than a segment of a business). A component of an entity
comprises operations and cash flows that can be clearly distinguished,
operationally and for financial reporting purposes, from the rest of the
entity. This Statement becomes effective for the Company on April 28, 2002
and the Company does not believe SFAS No. 144 will have a significant
effect on its operating results.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a
maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Financial Instruments

The Company has evaluated the fair value of those assets and liabilities
identified as financial instruments under SFAS No. 107, "Disclosures about
Fair Value of Financial Instruments." The Company estimates that fair
values generally approximated carrying values at April 27, 2002, April 28,
2001 and April 29, 2000. Fair values have been determined through
information obtained from market sources and management estimates.

Earnings Per Share

For computing diluted earnings per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share," additional weighted average shares attributable to
outstanding stock options were 107,000, 140,000 and 267,000 for the years
ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000, respectively.

Reclassifications

The fiscal year 2001 and 2000 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows have
been conformed to the presentation adopted in fiscal year 2002.

25



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
_________________

2. Segment Information:

The Company has determined, using the management approach, that it operates
in two business segments: Handleman Entertainment Resources provides
category management and distribution services of music products to select
mass merchants; and North Coast Entertainment encompasses the Company's
proprietary activities, which include music and video products, as well as
licensing operations.

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in
Note 1, "Accounting Policies." Segment data includes intersegment revenues,
as well as a charge allocating all corporate costs to the operating
segments. The Company evaluates performance of its segments and allocates
resources to them based on income before interest, income taxes and
minority interest ("segment income").

The tables below present information about reported segments for the years
ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000 (in thousands of
dollars):

Fiscal 2002: H.E.R. NCE Total
------ --- -----

Revenues, external customers $1,215,322 $121,783 $1,337,105
Intersegment revenues -- 20,221 20,221
Segment income 65,221 (12,334) 52,887
Total assets 513,964 164,620 678,584
Capital expenditures 29,086 2,400 31,486


Fiscal 2001: H.E.R. NCE Total
------ --- -----

Revenues, external customers $1,064,003 $128,887 $1,192,890
Intersegment revenues -- 13,840 13,840
Segment income 66,123 4,271 70,394
Total assets 498,109 186,084 684,193
Capital expenditures 22,011 4,492 26,503


Fiscal 2000: H.E.R. NCE Total
------ --- -----

Revenues, external customers $1,011,323 $126,282 $1,137,605
Intersegment revenues -- 15,716 15,716
Segment income 54,811 14,182 68,993
Total assets 425,743 175,468 601,211
Capital expenditures 14,016 6,319 20,335

26



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
_________________

A reconciliation of total segment revenues to consolidated revenues, total
segment income to consolidated income before income taxes and minority interest,
and total segment assets to consolidated assets for the years ended April 27,
2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000 is as follows (in thousands of dollars):



2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Revenues
- --------

Total segment revenues $ 1,357,326 $ 1,206,730 $ 1,153,321
Corporate rental income 411 89 --
Elimination of intersegment revenues (20,221) (13,840) (15,716)
----------- ----------- -----------
Consolidated revenues $ 1,337,516 $ 1,192,979 $ 1,137,605
=========== =========== ===========

Income Before Income Taxes and Minority Interest
- ------------------------------------------------

Total segment income for reportable segments $ 52,887 $ 70,394 $ 68,993
Interest income 991 1,844 2,195
Interest expense (5,174) (4,476) (5,373)
Unallocated corporate income 1,084 1,370 158
----------- ----------- -----------
Consolidated income before income taxes and
minority interest $ 49,788 $ 69,132 $ 65,973
=========== =========== ===========

Assets
- ------

Total segment assets $ 678,584 $ 684,193 $ 601,211
Elimination of intercompany receivables
and payables (73,081) (93,526) (81,528)
----------- ----------- -----------
Consolidated assets $ 605,503 $ 590,667 $ 519,683
=========== =========== ===========


27



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
____________

Revenue and long-lived asset information by geographic area, which is based upon
the country in which the legal subsidiary is domiciled, as of and for the years
ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000 are as follows (in
thousands of dollars):

Revenues
--------------------------------------------

2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

United States $1,077,399 $1,030,120 $ 997,238
United Kingdom 149,169 57,319 21,609
Canada 91,517 85,712 92,200
Other foreign 19,431 19,828 26,558
---------- ---------- ----------
$1,337,516 $1,192,979 $1,137,605
========== ========== ==========

Long-Lived Assets
------------------------------------------

2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

United States $142,437 $143,248 $130,248
United Kingdom 5,942 3,628 884
Canada 3,553 3,866 4,012
Other foreign 4,616 5,374 6,172
-------- -------- --------
$156,548 $156,116 $141,316
======== ======== ========

For the years ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000, one
customer accounted for approximately 49 percent, 44 percent and 42 percent of
the Company's revenues, respectively, and a second customer accounted for
approximately 30 percent, 35 percent and 35 percent of the Company's revenues,
respectively. Approximately 99 percent, 98 percent and 98 percent of the
combined revenues for these two customers are included in the H.E.R. segment for
the years ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000, respectively.
Collectively, these customers accounted for approximately 70 percent, 74 percent
and 63 percent of accounts receivable at April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and
April 29, 2000, respectively.

28



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
__________________

3. Pension Plan:

The Company has two principal retirement plans which cover substantially all
full-time U.S. employees. The benefit obligation, plan assets, funded
status, net periodic benefit cost and the amount which is recorded in the
Company's consolidated balance sheet at April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and
April 29, 2000 for these plans are as follows (in thousands of dollars):



2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year $ 33,474 $ 24,684 $ 26,553
Service cost 1,421 1,148 1,206
Interest cost 2,527 2,159 1,820
Amendments 1,591 1,263 --
Actuarial (gain)/loss 366 5,229 (3,555)
Benefits paid (1,013) (1,009) (1,340)
-------- -------- --------
Benefit obligation at end of year $ 38,366 $ 33,474 $ 24,684
======== ======== ========
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year $ 20,430 $ 20,174 $ 20,373
Actual return on plan assets 800 113 1,385
Net realized gain (loss) on the sale of assets (643) 1,117 1,295
Unrealized depreciation (403) (1,125) (1,556)
Company contribution 2,970 1,160 17
Benefits paid (1,013) (1,009) (1,340)
-------- -------- --------
Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 22,141 $ 20,430 $ 20,174
======== ======== ========

Funded status at end of year $(16,225) $(13,044) $ (4,510)
Unrecognized net (gain)/loss from past experience
different from that assumed 8,152 5,834 (982)
Unrecognized net gain from excess funding (133) (252) (371)
Unrecognized prior service cost 2,883 1,705 644
-------- -------- --------
Accrued benefit cost included in other
liabilities $ (5,323) $ (5,757) $ (5,219)
======== ======== ========


Assumptions used in determining the actuarial present value of the projected
benefit obligation included a weighted average discount rate of 7.25 % for
2002, 7.25% for 2001 and 7.75% for 2000, and a rate of increase in future
compensation levels of 5% for all years. Components of net periodic benefit
cost are as follows (in thousands of dollars):



2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Service cost $ 1,421 $ 1,148 $ 1,206
Interest cost 2,527 2,159 1,820
Expected return on plan assets (1,874) (1,744) (1,696)
Amortization of unrecognized transition
asset, prior service cost and actuarial gain 627 135 (16)
------- ------- -------
Net periodic benefit cost $ 2,701 $ 1,698 $ 1,314
======= ======= =======


The expected long-term rate of return on assets was 8.5% for all years. Plan
assets are invested in various pooled investment funds and mutual funds
maintained by the Plan trustee, as well as Handleman Company common stock
valued at $906,000 at April 27, 2002, $835,000 at April 28, 2001 and
$888,000 at April 29, 2000.

29



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

___________________


4. Debt:

In fiscal 2002, the Company replaced its $150,000,000 revolving credit
facility with an unsecured $170,000,000 revolving credit agreement with a
consortium of banks, which is scheduled to expire in August 2004. At April
27, 2002, borrowings available under the credit agreement were
$118,744,000, after $4,650,000 of outstanding letters of credit and
borrowings of $46,606,000 outstanding at that date. The Company may elect
to pay interest under a variety of formulae tied principally to either
prime or "LIBOR." As of April 27, 2002, the interest rate was 3.1%. The
weighted average amount of borrowings outstanding under the credit
agreements were $73,020,000, $5,430,000 and $6,694,000 for the years ended
April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000, respectively. The
increase in borrowings outstanding in fiscal 2002 was due to increased
working capital requirements. The weighted average interest rate under the
credit agreements was 3.73% for the year ended April 27, 2002, 6.85% for
the year ended April 28, 2001 and 6.74% for the year ended April 29, 2000.

The borrowing base under the new revolving credit agreement is limited to
the lesser of (a) $170,000,000, or (b) 80% of the net accounts receivable
balances plus 100% of the cash balances of the domestic companies.

In fiscal 1995, the Company entered into a $100,000,000 senior note
agreement, as amended, with a group of insurance companies. The remaining
note bears an interest rate of 8.84%. Scheduled maturities for the senior
note agreement as of April 27, 2002 are as follows (in thousands of
dollars):

2003 $ 3,571
2004 3,571
2005 3,572
-------
$10,714
=======

In fiscal 2002, a subsidiary entered into a (pound)2,000,000 credit
facility (approximately $2,915,000 U.S.) with a certain bank. As of April
27, 2002, the interest rate was 5% and no amounts were outstanding. The
Company has guaranteed repayment of amounts borrowed under this facility.

The senior note and the credit agreements contain certain restrictions and
covenants, relating to, among others, minimum debt service ratio, maximum
leverage ratio and minimum consolidated tangible net worth. As of April 27,
2002, the Company was in compliance with these various provisions.

Interest expense for the years ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and
April 29, 2000 was $5,174,000, $4,476,000 and $5,373,000, respectively.
Interest paid for the years ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April
29, 2000 was $5,366,000, $4,462,000 and $5,039,000, respectively.

30



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

__________________

5. Income Taxes:

The domestic and foreign components of income before income taxes and
minority interest for the years ended April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and
April 29, 2000 are as follows (in thousands of dollars):

2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Domestic $ 57,940 $ 73,389 $ 63,372
Foreign (8,162) (4,257) 2,601
-------- -------- --------
Income before income
taxes and minority interest $ 49,778 $ 69,132 $ 65,973
======== ======== ========


Provisions for income taxes for the years ended April 27, 2002, April 28,
2001 and April 29, 2000 consist of the following (in thousands of dollars):


2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----
Currently payable:
Federal $ 14,923 $ 24,528 $ 19,749
Foreign 2,602 1,985 2,195
State and other 385 3,780 2,845

Deferred, net:
Federal (1,335) (1,145) 1,545
Foreign (4,347) (2,758) (209)
State and other 989 (11) 130
-------- -------- --------
$ 13,217 $ 26,379 $ 26,255
======== ======== ========

The following table provides a reconciliation of the Company's federal
statutory income tax to the resulting income tax (in thousands of dollars):


2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Federal statutory income tax $ 17,424 $ 24,197 $ 23,092
State and local income taxes 696 2,273 1,940
Effect of foreign operations (1,986) (5,344) 1,076
Effect of domestic subsidiary not
consolidated for tax purposes (4,389) 4,485 --
Other 1,472 768 147
-------- -------- --------
Resulting income tax $ 13,217 $ 26,379 $ 26,255
======== ======== ========

31



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
_________________

Items that gave rise to significant portions of the deferred tax accounts at
April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000 are as follows (in thousands
of dollars):



April 27, 2002 April 28, 2001 April 29, 2000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred Deferred Tax Deferred Deferred Tax Deferred Deferred Tax
Tax Assets Liabilities Tax Assets Liabilities Tax Assets Liabilities
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allowances $ 12,531 $ 5,279 $ 14,146 $ 5,202 $ 13,585 $ 6,618
Carryforward losses 13,127 -- 14,594 -- 10,600 --
Employee benefits 5,887 682 4,795 56 2,251 95
Property and equipment 732 6,581 1,163 5,666 2,802 6,075
Inventory 127 701 178 538 271 374
Other 6,565 520 3,710 347 1,531 83
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

38,969 13,763 38,586 11,809 31,040 13,245
Valuation allowance (6,200) -- (11,600) -- (8,600) --
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------

Net $ 32,769 $ 13,763 $ 26,986 $ 11,809 $ 22,440 $ 13,245
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========


The Company has net operating and capital loss carryforwards for tax purposes
of approximately $40,000,000, which expire at various times from 2004 through
2020. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that
some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The
Company has valuation allowances recognized related to approximately
$17,000,000 of its loss carryforwards.

The Company has foreign tax credit carryforwards of approximately $5,400,000,
which are included in "Other" in the deferred tax accounts summary above at
April 27, 2002, and will expire in 2007.

Income taxes paid in fiscal years 2002, 2001 and 2000 were approximately
$19,042,000, $26,867,000 and $26,311,000, respectively.

6. Property and Equipment:

Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands of dollars):

2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Land $ 1,233 $ 1,233 $ 3,078
Buildings and improvements 14,681 14,621 17,126
Display fixtures 38,030 34,627 52,362
Computer hardware and software 51,465 39,083 24,290
Equipment, furniture and other 32,042 29,219 25,392
-------- -------- --------
137,451 118,783 122,248

Less accumulated depreciation 69,744 61,896 70,396
-------- -------- --------
$ 67,707 $ 56,887 $ 51,852
======== ======== ========

32



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
__________________

7. Stock Plans:

During fiscal 2002, the Company's shareholders approved the adoption of the
Handleman Company 2001 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "Plan"), which
authorizes the granting of stock options, performance shares and restricted
stock. The Company's 1998 Performance Incentive Plan was terminated
concurrent with the approval of the 2001 Stock Option and Incentive Plan,
except as to then outstanding awards under the 1998 Plan.

The maximum number of shares of stock which may be issued under the 2001
Stock Option and Incentive Plan is 1,600,000 shares. In fiscal 2002, the
Company issued 200,900 performance shares of its common stock under the
Plan. These performance shares will be distributed to the participants if
certain fixed performance criteria are satisfied by May 1, 2004. After
deducting restricted stock, options and performance shares issued or
granted under the Plan since adoption in September 2001, 1,399,100 shares
of the Company's stock are available for use under the Plan as of April 27,
2002.

During fiscal 2002, the remaining shares of previously issued restricted
stock vested with recipients. Compensation expense recorded in fiscal years
2002, 2001 and 2000 related to the restricted stock awards was $93,000,
$448,000 and $579,000, respectively. Compensation expense recorded in
fiscal 2002 related to the performance shares issued under the Plan was
$840,000.

Information with respect to options outstanding under the previous and
current stock option plans, which have various terms and vesting periods as
approved by the Compensation and Stock Option Committee of the Board of
Directors, for the years ended April 29, 2000, April 28, 2001 and April 27,
2002, is set forth below. Options were granted during such years at no less
than fair market value at the date of grant.

Number Weighted
of Shares Average Price
------------ ---------------

Balance as of May 1, 1999 1,162,638 $10.53

Granted 450,200 11.30
Terminated (88,597) 16.42
Exercised (117,214) 8.89
---------- ------

Balance as of April 29, 2000 1,407,027 10.55

Granted 499,594 10.31
Terminated (171,899) 12.39
Exercised (55,069) 6.96
---------- ------

Balance as of April 28, 2001 1,679,653 10.42

Granted 406,080 15.20
Terminated (106,338) 11.59
Exercised (576,616) 9.59
---------- ------

Balance as of April 27, 2002 1,402,779 $12.16
========== ======

Number of shares exercisable
as of April 27, 2002 677,154 $10.88
========== ======

33



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued
_________________

The exercise price range of outstanding options as of April 27, 2002, April 28,
2001 and April 29, 2000 was $6.53 - $15.75, $6.00 - $16.75 and $6.00 - $15.87,
respectively. Approximately 90% of outstanding options as of April 27, 2002 had
exercise prices of $10.00 per share or more, and approximately 39% of the
outstanding options as of April 27, 2002 had exercise prices of $12.25 per share
or more. The average remaining exercise period for shares exercisable at April
27, 2002 was five years.

The Company applies the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," in determining stock option
compensation expense. The following table presents the proforma effects on the
Company's net income and earnings per share in fiscal years 2002, 2001 and 2000
had stock option compensation expense been determined pursuant to the
methodology of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,"
including amortization to expense the estimated fair value of the granted
options over the options' vesting periods (amounts in thousands except per share
data):

2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Net income:
As reported $37,118 $42,031 $38,648
Proforma 35,798 41,189 37,901
Earnings per share:
As reported - basic $ 1.39 $ 1.54 $ 1.31
- diluted 1.39 1.53 1.30
Proforma - basic 1.34 1.51 1.29
- diluted 1.34 1.50 1.28

The fair value of each option grant was estimated as of the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following weighted average
assumptions for fiscal years 2002, 2001 and 2000:

2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----

Expected life (in years) 5.0 5.0 5.0
Risk free interest rate 4.92% 6.25% 5.84%
Volatility 43.55% 42.60% 42.17%
Dividend yield -- -- --


The weighted average estimated fair value of stock options granted during fiscal
years 2002, 2001 and 2000 was $7.02, $4.80 and $5.16, respectively.

In fiscal 2002, the Company's shareholders approved the adoption of the
Handleman Company 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Plan provides for the
grant to eligible employees of the right to purchase common stock of the
Company, through payroll deductions, at a price equal to 85% of the lesser of
the fair market value of the stock on (a) the first day of an offering period,
or (b) the last day of the period. Under the terms of the Plan, eligible
employees may elect to have up to 10% of their regular base earnings withheld to
purchase Company stock, with a maximum not to exceed $25,000 for each calendar
year. The Company has reserved 700,000 shares of common stock for issuance under
this employee stock purchase plan. As of April 27, 2002 the Company has $86,000
of employee withholdings, included in accrued and other liabilities in the
balance sheet, to be used to purchase Company stock. As of April 27, 2002, 4,701
shares have been issued to employees under the Company's employee stock purchase
plan.

34



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, continued

__________________

8. Quarterly Financial Summary (unaudited):
(amounts in thousands except per share data)



For the Three Months Ended
-----------------------------------------------
July 28, Oct. 27, Jan. 31, April 27,
Fiscal Year 2002 2001 2001 2002 2002
---------------- -------- -------- -------- ---------

Revenues $261,115 $355,223 $389,903 $331,275
Income before income taxes
and minority interest 5,571 24,587 3,278 16,352
Net income 2,038 15,745 7,193/(a)/ 12,142/(a)/
Net income per share - basic .08 .59 .27 .46
- diluted .08 .58 .27 .45


July 29, Oct. 28, Jan. 31, April 28,
Fiscal Year 2001 2000 2000 2001 2001
---------------- -------- -------- -------- ---------

Revenues $231,435 $297,593 $348,974 $314,977
Income before income taxes
and minority interest 2,983 23,609 23,284 19,256
Net income 1,742 14,142 16,256 9,891/(b)/
Net income per share - basic and diluted .06 .51 .60 .37


(a) The low effective tax rate in the third and fourth quarter of fiscal
2002 resulted from tax benefits recognized primarily related to prior
period losses at certain subsidiary companies for which no tax
benefit was recorded in such prior quarters.

(b) The high effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001
resulted from losses at a certain subsidiary where no tax benefit on
these losses was recognized because the subsidiary was unconsolidated
for tax purposes in fiscal 2001.


Item 9.

DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

Not applicable

35



PART III

Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Item 10, with the exception of the following information regarding executive
officers of the Registrant required by Item 10, is contained in the Handleman
Company definitive Proxy Statement for its 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
to be filed on or before August 23, 2002 and such information is incorporated
herein by reference. All officers serve at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Name and Age Office and Year First Elected
- ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------

Stephen Strome 57 (1) Chairman of the Board (2001), Chief
Executive Officer (1991) and Director (1989)
Peter J. Cline 55 (2) President (2001), Director (2001) and Chief
Operating Officer (2000)
Thomas C. Braum, Jr. 47 (3) Senior Vice President, and Chief Financial
Officer(2001)
Gerardo I. Lopez 42 (4) Senior Vice President/President Handleman
Entertainment Resources (2001)
Stephen Nadelberg 61 (5) Senior Vice President/President of North Coast
Entertainment (1997)
Samuel Milicia 60 (6) Senior Vice President/Music Purchasing,
Handleman Entertainment Resources (1998)
Donald M. Genotti 44 (7) Vice President, Corporate Controller (2001)


1. Stephen Strome was named Chairman of the Board on January 12, 2001.
Mr. Strome has served as Chief Executive Officer since May 1991. Prior
to his appointment as Chairman, Mr. Strome served as President since
March 1990.

2. Peter J. Cline was named President on January 12, 2001. Mr. Cline has
served as Chief Operating Officer since May 2000, and as Executive
Vice President/President of Handleman Entertainment Resources since
joining the Company in April 1994.

3. Thomas C. Braum, Jr. was named Senior Vice President, and Chief
Financial Officer on July 12, 2001. Previously Mr. Braum served as
Corporate Controller since June 1988. In February 1992, Mr. Braum was
elected Vice President.

4. Gerardo I. Lopez was named Senior Vice President/President Handleman
Entertainment Resources on November 1, 2001. He served as Senior Vice
President/General Manager of Customer Teams and Consumer Marketing
since joining the Company in May 2000. Prior to joining the Company,
Mr. Lopez was President of the International Division and Senior Vice
President/General Manager of Southwest Brands of International Home
Foods from 1997 until 2000, and held various positions with Frito Lay
from 1991 through 1997, most recently as Vice President of the St.
Louis/Tulsa market.

5. Stephen Nadelberg has served as Senior Vice President/President of
North Coast Entertainment since joining the Company in February 1997.

6. Samuel Milicia has served as Senior Vice President/Music Purchasing,
Handleman Entertainment Resources since January 1998. Mr. Milicia
served as Vice President/Operations for Handleman Entertainment
Resources since 1990 and was elected to Senior Vice President in April
1996.

7. Donald M. Genotti was named Vice President, Corporate Controller on
July 14, 2001. Previously, Mr. Genotti served as Assistant Corporate
Controller since March 1997.

36



Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Information required by this item is contained in the Handleman Company
definitive Proxy Statement for its 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be
filed on or before August 23, 2002 and such information is incorporated herein
by reference.


Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The following table provides information as of April 27, 2002, with respect to
compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which
equity securities of Handleman Company are authorized for issuance, aggregated
as follows:



- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equity Compensation Plan Information

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plan category Number of securities to Weighted-average Number of securities
be issued upon exercise price of remaining available for
exercise of outstanding outstanding options, future issuance under
options, warrants and warrants and rights equity compensation
rights plans (excluding
securities reflected in
COLUMN A)


--------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------
COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C
- ---------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------

Equity compensation
plans approved by
security holders 1,603,679 (1) $12.16 (1) 2,382,191

- ---------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------
Equity compensation
plans not approved by
security holders Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable

- ---------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------

Total 1,603,679 $12.16 2,382,191

- ---------------------- --------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------


(1) Column A includes rights to 200,900 performance shares of Handleman Company
common stock which would be distributed to the participants if certain
fixed performance criteria are satisfied by May 1, 2004. The performance
shares were excluded in determining the weighted average exercise price in
Column B.

Other information required by this item is contained in the Handleman Company
definitive Proxy Statement for its 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be
filed on or before August 23, 2002 and such information is incorporated herein
by reference.


Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Information required by this item is contained in the Handleman Company
definitive Proxy Statement for its 2002 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be
filed on or before August 23, 2002 and such information is incorporated herein
by reference.

37



PART IV


Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a) 1. The following financial statements and supplementary data are filed
as a part of this report under Item 8.:

Report of Independent Accountants

Consolidated Balance Sheet at April 27, 2002, April 28, 2001 and
April 29, 2000

Consolidated Statement of Income--Years Ended April 27, 2002, April
28, 2001 and April 29, 2000

Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity--Years Ended April 27,
2002, April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows--Years Ended April 27, 2002,
April 28, 2001 and April 29, 2000

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2. Financial Statement Schedules

II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
All other schedules for Handleman Company have been omitted since the
required information is not present or not present in an amount
sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the
information required is included in the financial statements or the
notes thereto.

3. Exhibits as required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

S-K Item 601 (3)

The Registrant's Restated Articles of Incorporation dated June 30,
1989 were filed with the Form 10-K dated May 1, 1993, and are
incorporated herein by reference. The Registrant's Bylaws adopted
March 7, 1990, as amended June 16, 1993, December 6, 1995 and January
12, 2001, were filed with the Form 10-K dated April 28, 2001 and are
incorporated herein by reference.

S-K Item 601 (10)

The Registrant's 1983 Stock Option Plan was filed with the Commission
in Form S-8 dated January 18, 1985, File No. 2-95421. The first
amendment to the 1983 Stock Option Plan, adopted on March 11, 1987,
was filed with the Commission with the Form 10-K for the year ended
May 2, 1987.

The Registrant's 1992 Performance Incentive Plan was filed with the
Commission in Form S-8, dated March 5, 1993, File No. 33-59100.

The Registrant's 1998 Stock Option and Incentive Plan was filed with
the Commission in Form S-8, dated December 21, 1998, File No.
333-69389.

The Registrant's 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan was filed with the
Commission in Form S-8, dated November 1, 2001, File No. 333-72622.

38



The Registrant's 2001 Stock Option and Incentive Plan was filed with the
Commission in Form S-8 dated November 1, 2001, File No. 333-72624.

The advisory agreement with David Handleman was filed with the Form 10-K
for the year ended April 28, 1990.

The Note Agreement dated as of November 1, 1994 was filed with the Form
10-K for the year ended April 28, 1995.

The Credit Agreement among Handleman Company, the Banks named therein and
Standard Federal Bank, as Agent, dated August 8, 2001 is filed herein as
Exhibit A.

The change in control agreements dated March 17, 1997 and October 30 and
31, 1997 between Handleman Company and certain executive officers of the
Company were filed with the Form 10-K for the year ended May 3, 1997 and
Form 10-K for the year ended May 2, 1998, respectively.

S-K Item 601 (21) - Subsidiaries of the Registrant:

ABE R2 Communications, Inc., a California Corporation
ABE R2 Video, LP, a California Limited Partnership
American Sterling Corp., a Delaware Corporation
Anchor Bay Entertainment, GmbH, a German Limited Liability Company
Anchor Bay Entertainment, Inc., a Michigan Corporation
Anchor Bay Entertainment UK Limited, a United Kingdom Corporation
Anchor Bay International, Limited, a Private Limited (U.K.) Corporation
A teeny weeny Production Company, a Delaware Corporation
Bosco Music, Inc., a Michigan Corporation
Digital Entertainment Limited
Eloise Productions Inc., a Delaware Corporation
Global Entertainment Utility, LLC, a Michigan Limited Liability Company
Handleman Canada, Inc., a Canadian Corporation
Handleman Category Management Company, a Michigan Corporation
Handleman Company of Canada, Limited, an Ontario Corporation
Handleman de Argentina, S.R.L.
Handleman de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
Handleman do Brasil Commercial Ltda.
Handleman Distribution Company, a Michigan Corporation
Handleman Entertainment Resources, L.L.C., a Michigan LLC
Handleman Online, Inc., a Michigan Corporation
Handleman Ontario Ltd., a British Virgin Islands Corporation
Handleman Real Estate, LLC, a Michigan LLC
Handleman UK Limited, a United Kingdom Corporation
Hanley Advertising Company, a Michigan Corporation
HCCL , LP, a Canadian Limited Partnership
HGV Video Productions, Inc., an Ontario Corporation
HOORAY! Inc., a New York Corporation
Lifetime Entertainment Limited, a United Kingdom Corporation
Lifetime Holding, Inc., a Michigan Corporation
Madacy Enterprises USA, Inc., a Delaware Corporation
Madacy Entertainment Group, Inc., a Michigan Corporation

39



Madacy Entertainment Group, Ltd., a Canadian Corporation
Madacy Entertainment (U.K.) Limited, a United Kingdom Corporation
Madacy Music Publishing, Inc., a Canadian Corporation
Maryart Marketing, Inc., a Canadian Corporation
Mediaphon, GmbH, a German Limited Liability Company
mFinity, LLC, a Michigan Limited Liability Company
North Coast Entertainment, Inc., a Michigan Corporation
North Coast Entertainment, Ltd., a Canadian Corporation
Oasis Merchandisers Limited, a United Kingdom Corporation
Rackjobbing Services, S.A. de C.V.
Sellthrough Entertainment, Inc., a Michigan Corporation
The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company, a Delaware Corporation
The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company (Canada) Ltd., a Canadian
Corporation
The itsy bitsy Entertainment Holding Company, a Michigan Corporation
The itsy bitsy Melody Company, Inc., a New York Corporation
The itsy bitsy Music Publishing Company, Inc., a New York Corporation
TibECo Productions, Inc., a New York Corporation
Tycoon Entertainment Group, S.A. de C.V.

S-K Item 601 (23) - Consent of Independent Accountants: Filed with this
report.

(b) No reports on Form 8-K have been filed during the last quarter of the
period covered by this report.

Note: Exhibits, if any, attached to this report will be furnished to requesting
security holders upon payment of a reasonable fee to reimburse the
Registrant for expenses incurred by Registrant in furnishing such
Exhibits.

40



CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
of Handleman Company and subsidiaries on Form S-3 (File No. 33-42018) and
Form S-8 (File Nos. 2-95421, 33-59100, 33-16637, 33-69030, 333-69389,
333-60205, 333-72622 and 333-72624) of our report dated June 4, 2002 on our
audits of the consolidated financial statements and financial statement
schedule of Handleman Company and subsidiaries as of April 27, 2002, April
28, 2001, and April 29, 2000, and for the years then ended, which report is
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Detroit, Michigan
July 16, 2002

41



SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
YEARS ENDED APRIL 29, 2000, APRIL 28, 2001 AND APRIL 27, 2002



COLUMN A COLUMN B COLUMN C COLUMN D COLUMN E
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------

Deductions:
Balance at Additions: Adjustments
Beginning Charged to of, or Charge Balance at
Description of Period Expense to, Reserve End of Period
----------- --------- ------- ----------- -------------

Year ended April 29, 2000:

Accounts receivable, allowance
for gross profit impact of
estimated future returns $13,760,000 $ 6,750,000 $ 3,127,000 $17,383,000
=========== =========== =========== ===========

Other assets, collectability
allowance for receivables
from bankrupt customers $ 5,947,000 $ 1,515,000 $ 476,000 $ 6,986,000
=========== =========== =========== ===========

Year ended April 28, 2001:

Accounts receivable, allowance
for gross profit impact of
estimated future returns $17,383,000 $ 9,788,000 $10,835,000 $16,336,000
=========== =========== =========== ===========

Other assets, collectability
allowance for receivables
from bankrupt customers $ 6,986,000 $ 895,000 $ 2,510,000 $ 5,371,000
=========== =========== =========== ===========

Year ended April 27, 2002:

Accounts receivable, allowance
for gross profit impact of
estimated future returns $16,336,000 $ 3,487,000 $ 5,756,000 $14,067,000
=========== =========== =========== ===========

Other assets, collectability
allowance for receivables
from bankrupt customers $ 5,371,000 $ 1,749,000 $ 203,000 $ 6,917,000
=========== =========== =========== ===========


42



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.



HANDLEMAN COMPANY


DATE: July 18, 2002 BY: /s/ Stephen Strome
-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------
Stephen Strome, Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.




/s/ Peter J. Cline /s/ Thomas C. Braum, Jr.
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Peter J. Cline, President, Thomas C. Braum, Jr., Senior Vice President,
Chief Operating Officer and Director and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

July 18, 2002 July 18, 2002
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
DATE DATE


/s/ Donald M. Genotti /s/ David Handleman
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Donald M. Genotti, Vice President, David Handleman, Director
Corporate Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)

July 18, 2002 July 18, 2002
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
DATE DATE


/s/ John M. Barth /s/ Elizabeth A. Chappel
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
John M. Barth, Director Elizabeth A. Chappell, Director

July 18, 2002 July 18, 2002
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
DATE DATE


/s/ Richard H. Cummings /s/ James B. Nicholson
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Richard H. Cummings, Director James B. Nicholson, Director

July 18, 2002 July 18, 2002
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
DATE DATE


/s/ Sandra E. Peterson /s/ Lloyd E. Reuss
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Sandra E. Peterson, Director Lloyd E. Reuss, Director

July 18, 2002 July 18, 2002
- -------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
DATE Date


43