SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 The Cato Corporation -------------------- (Name of Issuer) Class A Common Stock, par value $.033 per share ----------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 1429205106 ---------- (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2001 ----------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX TO DESIGNATE THE RULE PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS SCHEDULE IS FILED: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [ ] Rule 13d-1(c) [X] Rule 13d-1(d)
CUSIP No.: 1429205106 1. Name of Reporting Persons/IRS Identification No. of Above Persons (Entities Only): Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (a) [ ] (b) [ ] 3. SEC Use Only ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization United States ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of 5. Sole Voting Power Shares Owned 6,014,672 Shares Class A Common Stock By Each Reporting 6. Shared Voting Power Person With: 0 7. Sole Dispositive Power 6,014,672 Shares Class A Common Stock 8. Shared Dispositive Power 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 6,014,672 shares of Class A Common Stock ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares Not Applicable ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 26.4% of Class A Common Stock. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. Type of Reporting Person IN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 1 (A) Name of Issuer: The Cato Corporation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (B) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 8100 Denmark Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28273-5975 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM 2 (A) Name of Person Filing: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (B) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence: 8100 Denmark Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28273-5975 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (C) Citizenship: United States ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Title of Class of Securities: Class A Common stock, par value $.033 per share ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (E) CUSIP Number: 1429205106 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13D-1(B), OR 13D-2(B) OR (C), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A: Not Applicable ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 6,014,672 shares Class A Common Stock.* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) Percent of Class: 26.4% of Class A Common Stock. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote 6,014,672 shares Class A Common Stock.* ------------------------------------------------------------- (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote 0 ------------------------------------------------------------- (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 6,014,672 shares Class A Common Stock.* ------------------------------------------------------------- (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of 0 ------------------------------------------------------------- 4
*As of December 31, 2001, the number of shares includes 2,436,297 shares of Class A Common Stock and 3,230,109 shares of Class B Common Stock of the Issuer (which shares are convertible at any time on one-for-one basis into shares of Class A Common Stock) held by the Cato Family Investments Limited Partnership (the "Partnership"). The general partners of the Partnership are the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Revocable Trust, dated January 2, 1991, as amended (the "Trust") and WayGroup LLC ("WayGroup"). Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ("Mr. Cato"), as Trustee of the Trust and Manager of WayGroup, controls the voting and disposition of the Class A and Class B Common Stock held by the Partnership. The number of shares beneficially owned by Mr. Cato at December 31, 2001 also includes: (a) 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held by WHC Investments, LLC ("WHC Investments"); (b) 66,666 shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Trust; (c) presently exercisable options held by Mr. Cato to purchase 150,000 shares of Class B Common Stock of the Issuer (which shares are convertible at any time on a one-for-one basis into a like number of shares of Class A Common Stock); (d) 50,000 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Foundation, Inc., (the "Foundation"); (e) 20,600 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by Wayland Company, LLC ("Wayland"); and (f) 11,000 shares of Class A Common Stock owned by Mr. Cato's wife, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Cato controls the voting and disposition of the Class A Common Stock held by WHC Investments, the Trust, the Foundation and Wayland. ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS. Not Applicable. ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON. None. ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY. Not Applicable. ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. Not Applicable. ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP. Not Applicable. 5
SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. March 14, 2002 ------------------------------------------- Date /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ------------------------------------------- Name: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. CATO FAMILY INVESTMENTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP By its General Partners: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Revocable Trust, dated January 2, 1991, as amended By: /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ------------------------------- Name: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Title: Trustee WAYGROUP, LLC By: /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ------------------------------- Name: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Title: Manager WAYLAND H. CATO, JR. REVOCABLE TRUST, dated January 2, 1991, as amended By: /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ------------------------------- Name: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Title: Trustee 6
WHC INVESTMENTS, LLC By: /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ------------------------------- Name: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Title: Manager WAYLAND H. CATO, JR. FOUNDATION, INC. By: /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ------------------------------- Name: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Title: President WAYLAND COMPANY, LLC By: /s/ Wayland H. Cato, Jr. ------------------------------- Name: Wayland H. Cato, Jr. Title: Manager 7