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THE UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q



ýx

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended November 2, 2002May 3, 2003

OR

o¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 0-18632


THE WET SEAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


DELAWARE

 

33-0415940

(State of Incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


26972 Burbank
Foothill Ranch, California




92610

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

(949) 583-9029

(Registrant'sRegistrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


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 the past 90 days.

Yes  ýx    No  o¨

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant'sregistrant’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, at December 16, 2002June 5, 2003 were 24,732,94724,983,524 and 4,804,2494,604,249, respectively. There were no shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding at December 16, 2002.June 5, 2003.





THE WET SEAL, INC.

FORM 10-Q

Index

PART I.

  

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

   

Item 1.


Financial Statements



Item 1.


  

Financial Statements

Consolidated condensed balance sheets (unaudited) as of November 2, 2002May 3, 2003 and February 2, 20021, 2003


  

3-4


 
  

Consolidated condensed statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss)(unaudited) for the quarterquarters ended May 3, 2003 and nine months ended November 2,May 4, 2002 and November 3, 2001


  

5


 
  

Consolidated condensed statements of cash flows (unaudited) for the ninethree months ended November 2,May 3, 2003 and May 4, 2002 and November 3, 2001


  

6


 
  

Notes to consolidated condensed financial Statementsstatements (unaudited)


  

7-10

7-12


Item 2.


  

Management's

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations


  

11-17

13-22


Item 3.


  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk


  

17

22


Item 4.


  

Controls and Procedures


  

17

22-24


PART II.



OTHER INFORMATION


  

18

25-26




SIGNATURE PAGE


19

 

  

SIGNATURE PAGE

27

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT SECTION 302(a) CERTIFICATIONS


  

20-21

28-31




EXHIBIT 10.1


22-23

 

  

EXHIBIT 99.110.1


  

24-27

 
  

SARBANES-OXLEY ACT SECTION 906 CERTIFICATIONS

EXHIBIT 10.2


  

28

EXHIBIT 99.1

EXHIBIT 99.2

EXHIBIT 99.3

2



THE WET SEAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS)

 
 November 2,
2002

 February 2,
2002

 
ASSETS       

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 Cash and cash equivalents $8,529 $34,345 
 Short-term investments  43,868  67,523 
 Other receivables  8,817  4,830 
 Merchandise inventories  48,116  32,020 
 Prepaid expenses  14,751  11,018 
 Deferred taxes  2,500  2,500 
  
 
 
  Total current assets  126,581  152,236 
  
 
 
EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS:       
 Leasehold improvements  129,803  117,284 
 Furniture, fixtures and equipment  85,710  66,880 
 Leasehold rights  2,411  2,848 
  
 
 
   217,924  187,012 
 Less accumulated depreciation  (103,914) (93,304)
  
 
 
  Net equipment and leasehold improvements  114,010  93,708 
  
 
 
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS  40,963  30,433 
OTHER ASSETS:       
 Deferred taxes and other assets  13,423  13,017 
 Goodwill  6,323  6,323 
  
 
 
  Total other assets  19,746  19,340 
  
 
 
TOTAL ASSETS $301,300 $295,717 
  
 
 

   

May 3,

2003


   

February 1,

2003


 

ASSETS

          

CURRENT ASSETS:

          

Cash and cash equivalents

  

$

11,986

 

  

$

21,969

 

Short-term investments

  

 

49,336

 

  

 

39,237

 

Income tax receivable

  

 

8,354

 

  

 

11,561

 

Other receivables

  

 

3,515

 

  

 

3,906

 

Merchandise inventories

  

 

35,128

 

  

 

31,967

 

Prepaid expenses

  

 

14,170

 

  

 

11,992

 

Deferred tax assets

  

 

2,472

 

  

 

2,472

 

   


  


Total current assets

  

 

124,961

 

  

 

123,104

 

   


  


EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS:

          

Leasehold improvements

  

 

132,840

 

  

 

127,792

 

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

  

 

88,617

 

  

 

86,062

 

Leasehold rights

  

 

2,350

 

  

 

2,350

 

   


  


   

 

223,807

 

  

 

216,204

 

Less accumulated depreciation

  

 

(111,550

)

  

 

(106,423

)

   


  


Net equipment and leasehold improvements

  

 

112,257

 

  

 

109,781

 

   


  


LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

  

 

31,855

 

  

 

33,639

 

OTHER ASSETS:

          

Deferred taxes and other assets

  

 

11,611

 

  

 

11,778

 

Goodwill

  

 

6,323

 

  

 

6,323

 

   


  


Total other assets

  

 

17,934

 

  

 

18,101

 

   


  


TOTAL ASSETS

  

$

287,007

 

  

$

284,625

 

   


  


See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statementsstatements.

3



THE WET SEAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

 
 November 2,
2002

 February 2,
2002

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY       

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 Accounts payable $55,692 $51,890 
 Accrued liabilities  18,171  19,321 
 Income taxes payable    3,834 
  
 
 
  Total current liabilities  73,863  75,045 
  
 
 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:       
 Deferred rent  8,727  8,624 
 Other long-term liabilities  5,012  4,438 
  
 
 
  Total long-term liabilities  13,739  13,062 
  
 
 
  Total liabilities  87,602  88,107 
  
 
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES       

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding     
 Common Stock, Class A, $.10 par value, authorized 60,000,000 shares; 27,804,047 and 28,268,456 shares issued and outstanding at November 2, 2002 and February 2, 2002, respectively  2,780  2,827 
 Common Stock, Class B Convertible, $.10 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares; 4,804,250 shares issued and outstanding at November 2, 2002 and February 2, 2002  480  480 
 Paid-in capital  75,816  79,568 
 Retained earnings  154,971  145,084 
 Treasury stock, 3,077,100 shares at cost  (20,349) (20,349)
  
 
 
  Total stockholders' equity  213,698  207,610 
  
 
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $301,300 $295,717 
  
 
 

   

May 3,

2003


  

February 1,

2003


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

        

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

        

Accounts payable

  

$

13,575

  

$

13,827

Accounts payable—merchandise

  

 

32,448

  

 

22,248

Accrued liabilities

  

 

23,651

  

 

22,520

   

  

Total current liabilities

  

 

69,674

  

 

58,595

   

  

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

        

Deferred rent

  

 

9,684

  

 

9,315

Other long-term liabilities

  

 

5,482

  

 

5,392

   

  

Total long-term liabilities

  

 

15,166

  

 

14,707

   

  

Total liabilities

  

 

84,840

  

 

73,302

   

  

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

        

Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued and outstanding

  

 

—  

  

 

—  

Common Stock, Class A, $.10 par value, authorized 60,000,000 shares; 24,945,980 and 24,836,386 shares issued and outstanding at May 3, 2003 and February 1, 2003, respectively

  

 

2,495

  

 

2,484

Common Stock, Class B Convertible, $.10 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares; 4,604,249 and 4,804,249 shares issued and outstanding at May 3, 2003 and February 1, 2003, respectively

  

 

460

  

 

480

Paid-in capital

  

 

58,402

  

 

59,036

Retained earnings

  

 

140,810

  

 

149,323

   

  

Total stockholders’ equity

  

 

202,167

  

 

211,323

   

  

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  

$

287,007

  

$

284,625

   

  

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statementsstatements.

4



THE WET SEAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

 
 Quarter Ended
 Nine Months Ended
 
 November 2,
2002

 November 3,
2001

 November 2,
2002

 November 3,
2001

SALES $144,538 $146,888 $447,316 $420,381

COST OF SALES (including buying, distribution and occupancy costs)

 

 

104,785

 

 

99,645

 

 

310,213

 

 

291,394
  
 
 
 

GROSS MARGIN

 

 

39,753

 

 

47,243

 

 

137,103

 

 

128,987

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

 

 

44,439

 

 

37,719

 

 

123,874

 

 

107,616
  
 
 
 

OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME

 

 

(4,686

)

 

9,524

 

 

13,229

 

 

21,371

INTEREST INCOME, NET

 

 

688

 

 

1,229

 

 

2,591

 

 

4,027
  
 
 
 

(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

 

(3,998

)

 

10,753

 

 

15,820

 

 

25,398

(BENEFIT) PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

 

(1,499

)

 

3,936

 

 

5,933

 

 

9,648
  
 
 
 

NET (LOSS) INCOME

 

$

(2,499

)

$

6,817

 

$

9,887

 

$

15,750
  
 
 
 

COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

 

$

(2,499

)

$

6,817

 

$

9,887

 

$

15,750
  
 
 
 

NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE, BASIC

 

$

(0.08

)

$

0.23

 

$

0.33

 

$

0.53
  
 
 
 

NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE, DILUTED

 

$

(0.08

)

$

0.22

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.52
  
 
 
 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING, BASIC

 

 

30,147,834

 

 

29,685,702

 

 

30,206,909

 

 

29,497,643
  
 
 
 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING, DILUTED

 

 

30,147,834

 

 

30,434,408

 

 

31,344,273

 

 

30,362,909
  
 
 
 

   

Quarter Ended


   

May 3,
2003


   

May 4,
2002


SALES

  

$

123,615

 

  

$

156,620

COST OF SALES (including buying, merchandise planning,
distribution and occupancy costs)

  

 

98,890

 

  

 

104,076

   


  

GROSS MARGIN

  

 

24,725

 

  

 

52,544

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

  

 

38,223

 

  

 

39,592

   


  

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

  

 

(13,498

)

  

 

12,952

INTEREST INCOME, NET

  

 

401

 

  

 

1,000

   


  

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES

  

 

(13,097

)

  

 

13,952

PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES

  

 

(4,584

)

  

 

5,232

   


  

NET INCOME (LOSS)

  

$

(8,513

)

  

$

8,720

   


  

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

  

$

(8,513

)

  

$

8,720

   


  

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE, BASIC

  

$

(0.29

)

  

$

0.29

   


  

NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE, DILUTED

  

$

(0.29

)

  

$

0.28

   


  

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING, BASIC

  

 

29,575,162

 

  

 

30,121,793

   


  

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING, DILUTED

  

 

29,575,162

 

  

 

31,594,562

   


  

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statementsstatements.

5



THE WET SEAL, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(IN THOUSANDS)

 
 Nine Months Ended
 
 
 November 2,
2002

 November 3,
2001

 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:       
 Net income $9,887 $15,750 
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:       
  Depreciation and amortization  16,207  15,713 
  Loss on disposal of equipment and leasehold improvements  587  437 
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:       
   Other receivables  (3,987) (3,529)
   Merchandise inventories  (16,096) (10,415)
   Prepaid expenses  (3,733) (47)
   Other assets  (406) (373)
   Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  2,652  16,488 
   Income taxes payable  (3,834) (4,637)
   Deferred rent  103  (279)
   Other long-term liabilities  574  536 
  
 
 
  Net cash provided by operating activities  1,954  29,644 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:       
 Investment in equipment and leasehold improvements  (36,237) (29,903)
 Acquisition of store leases and store assets    (3,550)
 Investment in marketable securities  (52,982) (71,022)
 Proceeds from sale of marketable securities  65,248  69,640 
  
 
 
  Net cash used in investing activities  (23,971) (34,835)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:       
 Repurchase of stock  (8,215)  
 Proceeds from issuance of stock  4,416  7,104 
  
 
 
  Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities  (3,799) 7,104 
  
 
 
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  (25,816) 1,913 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period  34,345  30,122 
  
 
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $8,529 $32,035 
  
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:       
 Cash paid during the period for:       
  Interest—credit facility $15 $ 
  Income taxes, net $12,900 $14,254 

   Three Months Ended

 
   

May 3,

2003


  May 4,
2002


 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

         

Net income (loss)

  $(8,513) $8,720 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

         

Depreciation and amortization

   6,695   5,172 

Loss (gain) on disposal of equipment and leasehold improvements

   166   (29)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

         

Income tax receivable

   3,207   —   

Other receivables

   391   967 

Merchandise inventories

   (3,161)  766 

Prepaid expenses

   (2,178)  (1,179)

Other assets

   167   —   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   11,079   (4,832)

Income taxes payable

   —     (2,314)

Deferred rent

   369   (27)

Other long-term liabilities

   90   191 
   


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

   8,312   7,435 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

         

Investment in equipment and leasehold improvements

   (8,836)  (20,680)

Investment in marketable securities

   (13,491)  (1,500)

Proceeds from sale of marketable securities

   4,675   27,353 
   


 


Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

   (17,652)  5,173 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

         

Purchase of treasury stock

   (854)  —   

Proceeds from issuance of stock

   211   1,763 
   


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   (643)  1,763 
   


 


NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

   (9,983)  14,371 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period

   21,969   34,345 
   


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,end of period

  $11,986  $48,716 
   


 


SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

         

Cash paid during the period for:

         

Interest—credit facility

  $22  $7 

Income taxes, net

   —    $7,535 

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statementstatements.

6



THE WET SEAL, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1—Basis of Presentation:Presentation and significant accounting policies:

 

Basis of Presentation

The information set forth in these consolidated condensed financial statements is unaudited. These statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information, the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. Certain reclassifications have been made to 2002 financial statements to conform with the 2003 presentation.

 

In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results of operations for the quarter and nine months ended November 2, 2002May 3, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending February 1, 2003January 31, 2004 (fiscal 2002)2003). For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report of The Wet Seal, Inc. (the "Company"“Company”) for the year ended February 2,1, 2003.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. The adoption of SFAS No. 143 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In July 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” which addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under Issue 94-3, a liability for an exit cost as defined in EITF 94-3 was recognized at the date of an

entity’s commitment to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 146 for exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002.

In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 45, “Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees and Indebtedness of Others,” an interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57 and 107, and rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34, “Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosures to be made by the guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also requires that a guarantor recognize, at the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. The initial recognition and measurement provisions of this interpretation are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002 while the provisions of the disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The adoption of this interpretation did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” an interpretation of ARB No. 51. FIN No. 46 requires that variable interest entities be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the variable interest entity’s activities or is entitled to receive a majority of the entity’s residual returns or both. FIN No. 46 also requires disclosures about variable interest entities that companies are not required to consolidate but in which a company has a significant variable interest. The consolidation requirements of FIN No. 46 will apply immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. The consolidation requirements will apply to entities established prior to January 31, 2003 in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The disclosure requirements will apply in all financial statements issued after January 31, 2003. The Company believes the adoption of FIN No. 46 will have no impact on its results of operations or financial position, as the Company has no interests in variable interest entities.

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity,” which establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. SFAS No. 150 requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope, which may have previously been reported as equity, as a liability (or an asset

in some circumstances). This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 150 will have a significant impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” This statement provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this Statement amends the disclosure requirement of Statement 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. SFAS 148 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002. The Company determined not to adopt the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, but did adopt the additional disclosure requirements of SFAS 148 in fiscal 2002.

Stock Based Compensation

The Company continues to account for its stock-based awards using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and its related interpretations. Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized in the consolidated financial statements for employee incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options.

SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” requires the disclosure of pro forma net income and earnings per share had the Company adopted the fair value method as of the beginning of fiscal 1995. Under SFAS No. 123, the fair value of stock-based awards to employees is calculated through the use of option-pricing models, even though such models were developed to estimate the fair value of freely tradable, fully transferable options without vesting restrictions, which significantly differ from the Company’s stock-option awards. These models also require subjective assumptions, including future stock price volatility and expected time to exercise, which greatly affect the calculated values.

The Company’s calculations were made using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

   

Quarter Ended


 
   

May 3, 2003


   

May 4, 2002


 

Dividend Yield

  

0.00

%

  

0.00

%

Expected Stock Volatility

  

70.51

%

  

70.85

%

Risk-Free Interest Rate

  

2.90

%

  

3.02

%

Expected Life of Option following vesting (in months)

  

60

 

  

60

 

The Company’s calculations are based on a valuation approach and forfeitures are recognized as they occur. If the computed fair values of the stock option awards had been amortized to expense over the vesting period of the awards, net income (loss) (in thousands) and earnings (loss) per share would have been changed to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

   

Quarter Ended


   

May 3, 2003


   

May 4, 2002


Net Income (loss):

         

As reported

  

$

(8,513

)

  

$

8,720

Pro forma

  

$

(10,131

)

  

$

6,974

Net Income (loss) Per Share, Basic:

         

As reported

  

$

(0.29

)

  

$

0.29

Pro forma

  

$

(0.34

)

  

$

0.23

Net Income (loss) Per Share, Diluted:

         

As reported

  

$

(0.29

)

  

$

0.28

Pro forma

  

$

(0.34

)

  

$

0.23

The impact of outstanding nonvested stock options granted prior to 1995 has been excluded from the pro forma calculation; accordingly, the above pro forma adjustments are not indicative of future period pro forma adjustments, when the calculation will apply to all applicable stock options.

NOTE 2—Revolving Credit Arrangement:

 

Under aan amended secured revolving line-of-credit arrangement with a major financial institution,Bank of America, N.A., the Company may borrow up to a maximum of $50$50.0 million on a revolving basis through JanuaryJuly 1, 2004. The cash borrowings under the arrangement bear interest at the bank'sbank’s prime rate or, at the Company'sCompany’s option, LIBOR plus 1.5%.

 

The credit arrangement imposes quarterly and annual financial covenants requiring usthe Company to maintain certain financial ratios and achieve certain levels of income.ratios. In addition, the credit arrangement requires that the bank approve the payment of dividends and restricts the level of capital expenditures. At November 2, 2002,May 3, 2003, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. Thecovenants and the Company had no borrowings outstanding under the credit arrangement at November 2, 2002.arrangement. There were $14.7$12.0 million in open letters of credit related to imported inventory orders as well as standby letters of that date.credit totaling $0.9 million as of May 3, 2003.

NOTE 3—Net Income (Loss) Per Share:

 

Net income (loss) per share, basic, is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of Class A and Class B common stock outstanding for the period.

 

Net income (loss) per share, diluted, is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of Class A and Class B common stock and potentially dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding for the period. Stock options were not included in the computation of diluted net income and loss per share for the quarter ended November 2, 2002May 3, 2003, because to do so would have been antidilutive.

7



A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used in basic and diluted net income (loss) per share is as follows:

(In thousands, except
share data)

 Quarter Ended
November 2, 2002

 Quarter Ended
November 3, 2001

 Nine months Ended
November 3, 2002

 Nine months Ended
November 2, 2001

Net(loss)income $(2,499)$6,817 $9,887 $15,750
  
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares:            
Basic  30,147,834  29,685,702  30,206,909  29,497,643
Effect of dilutive securities-stock options    748,706  1,137,364  865,266
  
 
 
 
Diluted  30,147,834  30,434,408  31,344,273  30,362,909
  
 
 
 
Net(loss)income per share: Basic $(0.08)$0.23 $0.33 $0.53
Effect of dilutive securities-stock options    0.01  0.01  0.01
  
 
 
 
Diluted $(0.08)$0.22 $0.32 $0.52
  
 
 
 

 The Company affected a three-for-two stock split on May 9, 2002 on both the Class A and Class B common stock. Earnings per share and share outstanding amounts have been restated to give retroactive effect to the stock split in this report.

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

  Quarter
Ended
May 3, 2003


  

Quarter Ended

May 4, 2002


Net income (loss)

  $(8,513) $8,720
   


 

Weighted average number of common shares

        

Basic

   29,575,162   30,121,793

Effect of dilutive securities—stock options

   —     1,472,769
   


 

Diluted

   29,575,162   31,594,562
   


 

Net income (loss) per share

        

Basic

  $(0.29) $0.29

Effect of dilutive securities—stock options

   —     0.01
   


 

Diluted

  $(0.29) $0.28
   


 

NOTE 4—Treasury Stock:

 In September 1998,

On October 1, 2002, the Company'sCompany’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 20% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Class A common stock. As of November 2, 2002, 3,077,100 shares (split adjusted) had been repurchased under this plan at a cost of $20.3 million. Such repurchased shares are reflected as Treasury Stock in the Company's consolidated condensed balance sheets.

        On October 1, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 5.4 million5,400,000 of the outstanding common stock of the Company'sCompany’s Class A commonCommon shares. This amount includes the remaining shares previously authorized for repurchase by the Company'sCompany’s Board of Directors. All shares repurchased under this plan will be retired as authorized by the Company'sCompany’s Board of Directors. During Octoberfiscal 2002, the Company repurchased 947,400 shares for $8.2 million and immediately retired thethese shares.

NOTE 5—Statements 141, 142, 143, 144 and 146

        In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141, "Business Combinations," and SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." SFAS No. 141 requires business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted An additional 124,500 shares were repurchased for using the purchase method of accounting, and broadens the criteria for recording intangible assets apart from goodwill. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives will no longer be amortized but will be tested at least annually for impairment.

8



The goodwill test for impairment consists of a two-step process that begins with an estimation of the fair value of the reporting unit. The first step of the test is a screen for potential impairment and the second step measures the amount of impairment, if any. SFAS No. 142 requires an entity to complete$0.9 million in the first stepquarter of the transitional goodwill impairment test within nine monthsfiscal 2003 and these shares were immediately retired. As of adopting the Statement. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on FebruaryMay 3, 2002. Upon completion of the first step of the test, the Company determined that2003, there was no impairment of goodwill.

        The following table provides the Company's net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share had the non-amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142 been adopted for all periods presented:

(In thousands, except share data)

 Quarter Ended
November 2, 2002

 Quarter Ended
November 3, 2001

 Nine months Ended
November 3, 2001

 Nine months Ended
November 2, 2002

 
Net(loss)income: $(2,499)$6,817 $9,887 $15,750 
Add back: Goodwill amortization    98    295 
Related income tax effect    (36)   (112)
  
 
 
 
 
Adjusted net (loss)income $(2,499)$6,879 $9,887 $15,933 
  
 
 
 
 
Net(loss)income per share:             
Basic $(0.08)$0.23 $0.33 $0.53 
 Add back: Goodwill amortization, net of related income tax effect         
  
 
 
 
 
Adjusted basic net (loss)income per common share $(0.08)$0.23 $0.33 $0.53 
  
 
 
 
 
Diluted $(0.08)$0.22 $0.32 $0.52 
 Add back: Goodwill amortization, net of related income tax effect         
  
 
 
 
 
Adjusted diluted net (loss) income per common share $(0.08)$0.22 $0.32 $0.52 
  
 
 
 
 

        Amortization of goodwill for the full fiscal year 2001 was $394,000 before income taxes.

        In November 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143 "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations," which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. We do not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 143 will have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

        In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144 "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment of long-lived assets and for long-lived assets to be disposed of either by sale or other than by sale. SFAS No. 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The adoption of SFAS No. 144 did not have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

9



        In July 2002, the FASB issued SFAS 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities," which addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 94-3, "Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)." SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under Issue 94-3, a liability for an exit cost as defined in EITF 94-3 was recognized at the date of an entity's commitment to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. We will adopt the provisions of SFAS 146 for exit or disposal activitieswere 4,328,100 shares remaining that are initiated after December 31, 2002.authorized for repurchase.

10


Item 2—Management'sManagement’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Introduction

 Management's

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated condensed financial statements and the notes thereto.

 

We are one of the largest national mall-based specialty retailers focusing primarily on young women'swomen’s apparel and accessories, and currently operate 622624 retail stores in 4647 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Of the 622624 stores, 457467 are Wet Seal stores, and 3123 are Contempo Casuals stores, 100103 are Arden B. stores and 3431 are Zutopia stores.

 

As of November 2, 2002,May 3, 2003, we operated 610621 stores compared to 568579 stores as of November 3, 2001,May 4, 2002, the end of the thirdfirst quarter of fiscal 2001.2002. We opened 7775 stores and closed 3533 stores during the period from NovemberMay 4, 2002 to May 3, 2001 to November 2, 2002.2003.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 We prepared our

Our consolidated condensed financial statements were prepared in accordanceconformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the appropriate application of certain accounting policies, some of which require us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and their impact on amounts reported in our financial statements. Since future events and their impact cannot be determined with absolute certainty, the actual results will inevitably differ from our estimates.

 We believe the application of our accounting policies, and the estimates inherently required therein, are reasonable.

Our accounting policies are generally straightforward, but inventory valuation requires more significant management judgments and estimates are reevaluated on an ongoing basis, and adjustments are made when facts and circumstances dictate a change is warranted. Our accounting policies and those deemed critical accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements and in Management's Discussion and Analysis, respectively, included in our Annual Report for the year ended February 2, 2002.

Current Trends and Outlookestimates.

 Sales in the third quarter were weak in all three divisions. Due to weak sales in all divisions, markdowns in October were higher than originally expected, as we continued to clear fall inventory and leave room for fresh receipts. The resulting pressure on gross margin as well as weak sales led to an operating loss for the quarter. We believe that a shift from a very strong fashion trend in the first and second quarters to an unclear fashion direction in the third quarter has made for a more difficult retail environment.

        We believe that we are taking the steps necessary to shift our product offering at the Wet Seal stores to feature a broader age range assortment, at the Arden B stores to reflect the shift toward a simpler, cleaner key fashion item assortment, and at Zutopia to capitalize on the strongest categories. However, there can be no assurance that these efforts will result in higher sales or increased gross margins. If sales trends experienced in the third quarter continue in the fourth quarter, we can expect lower sales and gross margins than achieved in the fourth quarter of last year.

11



        The holiday catalog that is now in-home is performing better than we had most recently anticipated, although the results continue to fail to meet our initial expectations and therefore we continue to assess our catalog plans for next year. In addition to reviewing the profitability of our "direct to customer" business, we continue to review our expense structure. Within certain departments we have recently reduced staffing levels and do not plan on increasing either the staffing at our home office next year or the salaries of those employees for the balance of this year.

        Interest income will likely be lower for the fourth quarter than it was last year, a result of lower cash and investment balances and the reduction in the market interest rates earned on our cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investments.

        We anticipate opening approximately 12 new stores and closing approximately 16 stores in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002. We have been successful in leveraging our occupancy costs by opening appropriately sized stores with better than average sales per square foot, and by closing under-performing stores. In a press release dated February 28, 2002, we stated that the average new store will be approximately 3,300 square feet and each will require an investment of approximately $300,000. Although there can be no assurance, we believe we can achieve average sales of $300 per square foot in these stores.

        During fiscal 2003 we anticipate opening approximately 75 new locations, consisting of 15 to 20 Arden B. locations, 3 to 10 Zutopia locations with the remainder of the openings being Wet Seal locations. We expect about 35% of the new locations to open in the spring season and the remainder to open before Thanksgiving. Total capital expenditures anticipated for Fiscal 2003 will be approximately $45 million. This capital expenditure estimate includes the anticipated costs of renovating 55 stores whose leases have expired but that we expect to renew.

Inventory Valuation

Merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first in, first out) or market. Cost is calculated using the retail inventory method. The retail inventory method is used to estimate the ending inventory at cost by employing a cost to retail (selling price) ratio. The ending inventory is first determined at selling price and then converted to cost. Purchases, sales, net markdowns (less mark-

ups), charity, discounts and estimated shrink are considered in arriving at the cost to retail ratio. Inventories include items that have been marked down to management'smanagement’s best estimate of their fair market value. Management'sManagement’s decision to mark down merchandise is based on maintaining the freshness of our product offering. Markdowns are taken regularly to affecteffect the rapid sale of slow moving inventory and to make room for new merchandise arriving daily atto the stores.

To the extent that management’s estimates differ from actual sales results, are lower than management's estimates, additional markdowns may be required whichthat could reduce bothour gross margin, operating income and operating income.the carrying value of inventories. Our success is largely dependent upon our ability to anticipate the changing fashion tastes of our customers and to respond to those changing tastes in a timely manner. If we fail to anticipate, identify or react appropriately to changing styles, trends or brand preferences of our customers, we may experience lower sales, excess inventories and more frequent and extensive markdowns, which would adversely affect our operating results.

We believe the application of our accounting policies, and the estimates inherently required therein, are reasonable. Our accounting policies and estimates are reevaluated on an ongoing basis, and adjustments are made when facts and circumstances dictate a change. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements and in Management’s Discussion and Analysis, respectively, included in our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2003.

Current Trends and Outlook

Results for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 reflected a continuation of negative comparable store sales. Despite this, we were encouraged by the month-to-month improvement in our comparable store sales trend during the quarter and by a good Easter holiday week in the third month of the quarter. However, we have been disappointed by lower sales in late April and May than our progress through the first half of April had led us to anticipate.

We continue to work through many challenges following a difficult year, and believe we have made significant progress in our efforts to reposition our merchandise. We have researched our core customers and received valuable feedback from focus groups. Based upon our analysis of this information, our team has been working diligently to develop merchandise with an exciting new fashion direction that will focus on our core customers’ needs. Although our sales have not rebounded as quickly or as strongly as we had initially expected, we are looking forward to the back-to-school season when we believe our new product offerings will reconnect us with our “core” customer. In addition, we believe that strides have been made to ensure merchandise is received on a more consistent and timely basis.

We will continue our efforts to reduce costs, given the disappointing sales and bottom line results of the first quarter. We currently are making operating changes that should result in substantial savings, such as switching product shipments from air freight to ground freight. Other cost saving strategies are being developed and implemented to reduce selling, general and administrative expenses and buying costs.

During fiscal 2003, we anticipate opening a total of 35 new locations. We opened 20 new stores in the first quarter, and expect to open 15 more stores, divided between Wet Seal and Arden B. locations. In addition to the 5 stores closed during the first quarter, we expect to close another 9 stores during the remainder of the year. Total capital expenditures are expected to be less than $17.5 million for the fiscal year, well below the level spent in the prior two years.

Results of Operations

The quarter ended November 2, 2002 asMay 3, 2003 compared to the quarter ended November 3, 2001.May 4, 2002.

 

Sales for the quarter ended November 2, 2002May 3, 2003 were $144.5$123.6 million, compared to sales for the prior year first quarter ended November 3, 2001 of $146.9$156.6 million, a decrease of $2.4$33.0 million or 1.6%21.0%. The decrease in

12



sales was due primarily to thea comparable store sales decline of 9.6%25.5% for the quarter ended November 2, 2002.May 3, 2003, offset partially by an increase in the number of stores. In the same quarter ended November 3, 2001a year ago comparable store sales had increased 4.4%8.2%. ComparableThe sales pace during the first quarter of this year reflects a continuation of the challenges faced through year-end in needing to more closely correlate our inventory and fashions with our customers’ tastes. Many changes are underway with the merchandise assortment and marketing strategies, which we expect will be completed before the upcoming back to school season. We believe some improvement has already occurred, as evidenced by the month-to-month comparable store sales are defined asimprovement during the quarter. We also believe a portion of the April sales improvement reflects some benefit from a later Easter holiday this year, in stores that were open throughout the preceding 14 month period.addition to our merchants’ ongoing efforts to improve assortments.

 

Cost of sales (including buying, merchandise planning, distribution and occupancy costs) was $104.8$98.9 million for the quarter ended November 2, 2002May 3, 2003 compared to $99.6$104.1 million for the same quarter last year ended November 3, 2001, an increaseMay 4, 2002, a decrease of $5.2 million or 5.2%4.9%. As a percentagepercent of sales, cost of sales was 72.5%80.0% for the first quarter ended November 2, 2002May 3, 2003 compared to 67.8%66.5% for the same quarter ended November 3, 2001,last year, an increase of 4.7%13.5%. The increase inmost significant impact on the cost of sales as a percentagepercent of sales was primarily due toin the first quarter this year stems from the sales-driven loss of leverage onfor occupancy, expense and warehouse and buying costs dueand

merchandise planning costs compared to the decrease in sales. A portionprior year first quarter. In addition, cost of the change was alsosales as a percent of sales rose this year due to an increase in markdowns, a slight decrease in initial markup, and an increase in the quarter ended November 2, 2002shrink reserve. The increased markdowns resulted from lower than anticipated sales. We have also repositioned our pricing on selected items, which contributed to a slightly lower initial markup, with the intent to reduce the need for later markdowns on those items. Buying costs also increased in orderdollar terms over last year, reflecting the addition of key merchants to assuretheir respective staffs at both the Wet Seal and Zutopia divisions. Distribution center costs dropped in dollar terms and remained flat as a clean conversionpercentage of inventorysales, reflecting gains in preparation forefficiency over the holiday season.prior year.

 

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $44.4$38.2 million for the quarter ended November 2, 2002May 3, 2003, compared to $37.7$39.6 million for the same quarter last year, a decrease of $1.4 million. The $1.4 million decrease reflects less advertising expenditures, lower merchandise delivery costs, and reductions of store payroll costs. These reductions were partially offset by the investments made since the first quarter of last year to upgrade the level of field support. The savings over last year also reflect the CEO vacancy and the elimination of a number of other executive-level administrative positions. As a percentage of sales, SG&A expenses were 30.9% for the quarter ended May 3, 2003, compared to 25.3% for the quarter ended May 4, 2002, an increase of 5.6%. This increase in SG&A expenses as a percent of sales reflects the loss of leverage due to the comparable store sales decline.

Interest income, net, was $0.4 million for the quarter ended NovemberMay 3, 2001, an increase of $6.7 million. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses was 30.7% for the quarter ended November 2, 20022003, compared to 25.7% for the quarter ended November 3, 2001, an increase of 5.0%. The increase as a percentage of sales was related to the loss of leverage, caused by the comparable store sales decline, for store wages and general and administrative costs, combined with a recent investment in field management to improve the customers' experience in our stores. The increase was also due to the implementation of a "Back to School' catalog this year which was not in place in the prior year. In addition, advertising costs increased in the quarter ended November 2, 2002 due to both the catalog as well as for general media coverage compared to the quarter ended November 3, 2001.

        Interest income, net, was $0.7$1.0 million for the quarter ended November 2,May 4, 2002, compared to $1.2 million for the quarter ended November 3, 2001, a decrease of $0.5$0.6 million. This decrease was due primarily to a reduction in market interest rates on the invested balance. In addition, the total balance available for investment dropped $17 millionbalances, as well as to a drop in the last month ofinvested balances compared to the quarter ended November 2, 2002, resulting from $8.2 million paid for share repurchases and an increasesame period in net owned inventory.the prior year.

 

The income tax provision reflected a $1.5$4.6 million benefit for the quarter ended November 2, 2002 comparedMay 3, 2003, with an effective tax rate of 35.0%. This compares to a $3.9$5.2 million charge for the quarter ended November 3, 2001. The effective income tax rate for the quarter ended November 2,May 4, 2002, was 37.5% compared to 36.6% for the quarter ended November 3, 2001. The lowerwith an effective rate of 37.5%. The year-over-year drop in the quarter ended November 3, 2001 reflected a drop from previous quarters, leading to an effective tax rate for allreflects an expectation that tax exempt interest income and charitable deductions of fiscal 2001inventory will be a higher proportion of 37.5%.full year net income than similar expectations at the end of the first quarter last year.

Based on the factors noted above, we had athe net loss of $2.5 million for the quarter ended November 2, 2002May 3, 2003 was $8.5 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, compared to net income of $6.8$8.7 million or $0.28 per diluted share for the quarter ended November 3, 2001,May 4, 2002, a decrease of $9.3$17.2 million. This equates to a net loss of 1.7% of sales for the quarter ended November 2, 2002 compared to net income of 4.6% of sales for the quarter ended November 3, 2001.

13


Results of Operations

The nine months ended November 2, 2002 as compared to the nine months ended November 3, 2001.

        Sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 were $447.3 million compared to sales for the nine months ended November 3, 2001 of $420.4 million, an increase of $26.9 million or 6.4%. The dollar increase in sales was due to the net increase of 42 stores; 610 stores were open and operating at the end of the first nine months of fiscal 2001 compared to 568 stores at the end of the first nine months of fiscal 2002. Comparable store sales decreased 0.2% for the first nine months of fiscal 2002. This compares to a comparable store sales increase of 3.8% for the first nine months of fiscal 2001.

        Cost of sales, including buying, distribution and occupancy costs, were $310.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 compared to $291.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2001, an increase of $18.8 million or 6.5%. This increase reflects the sales increase of 6.4% over the same period. Cost of sales was 69.3% of sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2002, identical to the 69.3% of sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2001.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses were $123.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 compared to $107.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2001, an increase of $16.3 million or 15.1%. The dollar increase in selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to the increase in the number of stores and in total sales, driving store payroll and volume-related costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 27.7% of sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2002, 2.1% above the 25.6% of sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2001. This percentage increase was primarily caused by investments made this year in store staffing and general and administrative staff, as well as higher advertising costs and investment in the catalog program.

        Interest income, net, was $2.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 compared to $4.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2001, a decrease of $1.4 million. As with the quarter ended November 2, 2002, this year-to-date decrease was due primarily to a reduction in market interest rates.

        The income tax provision was $5.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 compared to $9.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2001. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2002 was 37.5% compared to 38.0% in the first nine months of fiscal 2001. The decrease in the effective tax rate largely reflects an increase in income generated from states with lower effective tax rates.

        Based on the factors noted above, net income was $9.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 compared to $15.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2001, a decrease of $5.9 million or 37.3%. As a percentage of sales, the net loss was 6.9% in the quarter ended May 3, 2003, compared to net income was 2.2% inas a percentage of sales of 5.6% for the first nine months of fiscal 2002 compared to 3.7% in the first nine months of fiscal 2001.quarter ended May 4, 2002.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Working capital at May 3, 2003, was $55.3 million compared to $64.5 at February 1, 2003, a decrease of $9.2 million. This decrease in working capital was primarily due to an increase in merchandise payables and a reduction in income tax receivable, offset by an increase in merchandise inventories and prepaid expenses.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2002quarter ended May 3, 2003, was $1.9$8.3 million, compared to $29.6$7.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2001.quarter ended May 4, 2002. This is a $0.9 million increase despite a $17.2 million decrease in net cash provided by operating activities is dueearnings compared to the amount of owned inventory (inventory net of payables) being $9 million higher at November 2, 2002 than at November 3, 2001. Additionally, the first nine months of fiscal 2002 operating cash flows have also been negatively impacted by an increase in prepaid catalog, insurance, and holiday gift bags and boxes.

        Working capital at November 2, 2002 was $52.7 million compared to $77.2 million at February 2, 2002, a decrease of $24.5 million. This decrease in working capital was due to a number of factors, including a shift of $10.5 million out of short-term investments into long-term investments. In addition, capital improvements were $2.8 million higher in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 compared to the

14



same periodquarter of the prior year and there were $8.2ended May 4, 2002. An increase in merchandise payables conserved nearly $10 million of treasury stock purchases in cash compared to the first nine monthsquarter ended May 4, 2002. This increase was due to the timing of fiscal 2002.

        Duringprocessing merchandise checks. We also received nearly $8 million in income tax refunds during the quarter ended May 3, 2003 versus income tax payables totaling $7.5 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2002 the Company invested $36.2 million in equipment and leasehold improvements, compared to $33.5 million in the same periodquarter of the prior year.

The $36.2cash and investment balance of $93.2 million investedon May 3, 2003 was $1.6 million less than it was at February 1, 2003. The decline in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 was for 58 new stores already opened,cash and includes approximately $4.5 million for construction in progress for another 12 new stores scheduled to open ininvestment balance reflects the fourth quarter and upgrades and renovations in progress. In the same period of the prior year, there was $33.5 million in capital expenditures for 32 new store openings and the acquisition of 18 Zutopia stores. We currently estimate that the capital expenditures for the remainder of fiscal 2002 will be approximately $9 million. These planned expenditures relate primarily to completing the new store and remodel construction already underway or expected to start in Januaryloss for the first wavequarter of next year'sthis year, expenditures of $8.8 million for capital improvements, and $0.9 million to repurchase the company’s stock. These outflows of cash were offset by the income tax refund received during the quarter and the increase in merchandise payables.

During the quarter ended May 3, 2003, capital improvements totaled $8.8 million, compared to $20.7 million during the quarter ended May 4, 2002. The investment of $8.8 million reflects costs for the 20 new stores.stores and 13 store remodels completed, as well as remodels and new stores under construction for second quarter openings.

 On October 1, 2002,

In September 1998, the Company'sCompany’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 5.4 million20% of the outstanding shares of our Class A common stock. From this authorized plan, 3,077,100 shares (split adjusted) were repurchased at a cost of $20.3 million. These repurchased shares were reflected as Treasury Stock in our consolidated balance sheets, until they were retired on December 2,

2002, as authorized by the Company'sBoard of Directors. On October 1, 2002, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 5,400,000 shares of our outstanding Class A common stock. This amount includesincluded the remaining shares previously authorized for repurchase by the Company's Board of Directors. As of November 2, 2002, 3,077,100 shares (split adjusted) that were repurchased under the previous plan at a cost of $20.3 million were reflected as Treasury Stock in the Company's consolidated condensed balance sheets. During Octoberfiscal 2002, the Company repurchased 947,400 shares under the new repurchase plan for $8.2 million. Thesemillion and immediately retired these shares. An additional 124,500 shares were repurchased shares underfor $0.9 million in the new planfirst quarter of fiscal 2003 and these shares were immediately retired as authorized by the Company's Boardretired. As of Directors. There are approximately 4.5 millionMay 3, 2003, there were 4,328,100 shares remaining that are authorized for future repurchases under the October 1, 2002 authorization. As of the date of this report, all treasury shares have been retired.repurchase.

 

We have a revolving line-of-credit arrangement with Bank of America, N.A. in an aggregate principal amount of $50 million, maturing on JanuaryJuly 1, 2004. At November 2, 2002,May 3, 2003, there were no outstanding borrowings under the credit arrangement and therearrangement. There were $14.7$12.0 million in open letters of credit related to imported inventory orders.orders as well as standby letters of credit totaling $0.9 million. As of November 2, 2002,May 3, 2003, we were in compliance with all financial covenants of the credit arrangement.

We invest our excess funds in short-term investment grade money market funds, investment grade municipal and commercial paper and U.S. Treasury and Agency obligations. TheAssets listed as long-term marketable securitiesinvestments on our balance sheet consist of high credit quality municipal and corporate bonds. bonds with maturities extending no further than three years out.

We believe that our working capital and cash flows from operating activities will be sufficient to meet our operating and capital requirements in the foreseeable future.

 Our principal contractual obligations consist of minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable leases, including our corporate office and warehouse facility lease. At November 2, 2002, our contractual obligations under these leases were as follows (in thousands):

 
 Payments Due By Period
Contractual Obligations
 Total
 Less Than 1 Year
 1-3 Years
 4-5 Years
 After 5 Years
Operating leases $493,000 $71,300 $191,800 $106,500 $123,400

        Our principal commercial commitments consist of open letters of credit, related to imported inventory orders, against our revolving line-of-credit arrangement. At November 2, 2002, our contractual commercial commitments under these letters of credit arrangements were as follows (in thousands):

 
 Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period
Other Commercial Commitments
 Total Amounts
Committed

 Less Than 1 Year
 1-3 Years
 4-5 Years
 Over 5 Years
Lines of credit $14,700 $14,700   

15


Seasonality and Quarterly Operating ResultsInflation

 

Our business is seasonal byin nature with the Christmas season, (beginningbeginning the week of Thanksgiving and ending the first Saturday after Christmas)Christmas, and the back-to-school season, (beginningbeginning the last week of July and ending the first week of September)September, historically accounting for the largesta large percentage of sales volume. In ourFor the past three fiscal years, ended February 2, 2002, the Christmas and back-to-school seasons together accounted for an average of approximately 30% of our annual sales, after adjusting for sales increases related to new stores. We do not believe that inflation has had a material effect on the results of operations during the past three years. However, there can be no assurancewe cannot assure you that our business will not be affected by inflation in the future.

Commitments and Contingencies

Our principal contractual obligations consist of minimum annual rental commitments under non-cancelable leases for our stores, our corporate office, warehouse facility, automobiles, computer equipment and copiers. At May 3, 2003, our contractual obligations under these leases were as follows (in thousands):

Contractual
Obligations


  

Payments Due By Period


  

Total


  

Less Than 
1 Year


  

1–3 Years


  

4–5 Years


  

After
5 Years


Operating leases

  

$

466,700

  

$

71,700

  

$

188,200

  

$

100,000

  

$

106,800

Our principal commercial commitments consist of open letters of credit, related primarily to imported inventory orders, secured by our revolving line-of-credit arrangement. At May 3, 2003, our contractual commercial commitments under these letters of credit arrangements were as follows (in thousands):

Other
Commercial
Commitments


  

Total

Amounts Committed


  

Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period


    

Less Than 1 Year


  

1-3 Years


  

4-5 Years


  

Over 
5 Years


Lines of credit

  

$

12,900

  

$

12,900

  

—  

  

—  

  

—  

We do not maintain any long-term or exclusive commitments or arrangements to purchase merchandise from any single supplier.

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosure

 

Certain sections of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the preceding "Management's“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," may contain various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which represent our expectations or beliefs concerning future events.

 

Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects"“believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects” or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance, ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future actions, which may be provided by our management, are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and

projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about our company, economic and market factors and the industry in which we do business, among other things. These statements are not guaranties of future performance and we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Actual events and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements due to a number of factors. Factors that could cause our actual performance, future results and actions to differ materially from any future-lookingforward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Exhibit 99.1 attached to this report and noted elsewhere in this report.We strongly urge you to review and consider the risk factors set forth in Exhibit 99.1.

New Accounting Pronouncements

 In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," which, among other things, establishes new standards for goodwill acquired in a business combination, eliminates the amortization of goodwill and requires the carrying value of goodwill and identifiable intangibles to be evaluated for impairment on, at least, an annual basis. Identifiable intangible assets with a determinable useful life will continue to be amortized over that period. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142 on February 3, 2002. Net income for the quarter and year-to-date ended November 3, 2001 would have been increased by $62,000 and $183,000 respectively had goodwill amortization been discontinued effective February 4, 2001. Net income per common share for the quarter and year-to-date ended November 3, 2001, after adjusting for the impact of discontinued goodwill amortization, would not have changed. Upon completion of the first step of the impairment test, the Company determined that there was no impairment of goodwill at that time.

In November 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143 "Accounting“Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations," which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 is effective for fiscal years

16



beginning after June 15, 2002. We do not believe theThe adoption of SFAS No. 143 will have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

        In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144 "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", which addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment of long-lived assets and for long-lived assets to be disposed of either by sale or other than by sale. SFAS No. 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. The adoption of SFAS No. 144 did not have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

In July 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting“Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities," which addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 94-3, "Liability“Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)." SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under Issue 94-3, a liability for an exit cost as defined in EITF 94-3 was recognized at the date of an entity'sentity’s commitment to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. We will adoptadopted the provisions of SFAS 146 for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002.

In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees and Indebtedness of Others,” an interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57 and 107, and rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34, “Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” FIN 45 elaborates on the disclosures to be made by the guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also requires that a guarantor recognize, at

the inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. The initial recognition and measurement provisions of this interpretation are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The provisions of the disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements of interim or annual periods ending after December 15, 2002. The adoption of such interpretation did not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position.

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” This statement provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this Statement amends the disclosure requirement of Statement 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. SFAS 148 is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2002. We have determined not to adopt the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation, but did adopt the additional disclosure requirements of SFAS 148 in fiscal 2002.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” an interpretation of ARB No. 51. FIN No. 46 requires that variable interest entities be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the variable interest entity’s activities or is entitled to receive a majority of the entity’s residual returns or both. FIN No. 46 also requires disclosures about variable interest entities that companies are not required to consolidate but in which a company has a significant variable interest. The consolidation requirements of FIN No. 46 will apply immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. The consolidation requirements will apply to entities established prior to January 31, 2003 in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The disclosure requirements will apply in all financial statements issued after January 31, 2003. We believe the adoption of FIN No. 46 will have no impact on our results of operations or financial position, as we have no interests in variable interest entities.

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity,” which establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. SFAS No. 150 requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope, which may have previously been reported as equity, as a liability (or an asset

in some circumstances). This statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 150 will have a significant impact on its results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Item 3—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

To the extent that we borrow under our credit facility, we would be exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rates. At November 2, 2002May 3, 2003, no borrowings were outstanding under our credit facility. We are not a party to any derivative financial instruments. Additionally,However, we are exposed to market risk related to changes in interest rate riskrates on the short-term investment of excess cash in short-termour investment grade interest-bearing securities. If there are changes in interest rates, those changes would affect the investment income we earn on those investments.

 We have certain investments that generate interest income. These investments have carrying values that are subject to interest rate changes that could impact our earnings to the extent that we did not hold the investments to maturity.

Item 4—Controls and Procedures

 As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), within the 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design

Disclosure Controls and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer along with the Company's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company's Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer along with the Company's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company'sInternal Controls

Our disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There have been no significant changes(as defined in the Company's internal controls, or in other factors, which could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date the Company carried out its evaluation.

Rule 13a-14(c) under Exchange Act) (“Disclosure controls and proceduresControls”) are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensurewith the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in Companyour reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, such as this quarterly report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission'sSEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and proceduresControls are also designed to ensurewith the objective of ensuring that this information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Company'sour interim Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Internal controls and procedures for financial reporting (“Internal Controls”) are designed with the objective of providing reasonable assurance that:

17


our transactions are properly authorized;

assets are safeguarded against unauthorized or improper use; and

transactions are properly recorded and reported.

These controls and procedures are designed to enable the preparation of our financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls

Our management, including our interim Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our Disclosure Controls or Internal Controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs.

Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by management override of the control. Moreover, the design of any system of controls is also based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events.

Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations, we believe that our Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls provide reasonable assurances that the objectives of our control system are met.

Quarterly evaluation of the Company’s Disclosure Controls and Internal Controls

Within the 90-day period prior to the filing of this quarterly report, an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our interim Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our Disclosure Controls. Based upon that evaluation, our interim Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded, subject to the limitations noted above, that:

the design and operation of our Disclosure Controls were effective to ensure that material information related to our company which is required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms; and

our Internal Controls are effective to provide reasonable assurance that our financial statements are fairly presented in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

No significant changes were made to our Internal Controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.


PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1—Legal Proceedings.

 

We are not party to any material legal proceedings. We anticipate that we will be subject to litigation (and arbitration) in the ordinary course of business.

Item 2—Changes in Securities.Not Applicable

 Not Applicable

Item 3—Defaults Upon Senior Securities.Not Applicable

 Not Applicable

Item 4—Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 Not Applicable

We held our most recent Annual Meeting on May 29, 2003. Following is a brief description of the proposal voted upon at the meeting and the tabulation of the voting therefore:

Proposal—Election of Directors.

Nominee


  

Number of Votes


  

For


  

Withheld


    

Broker

Non-Votes


1. George H. Benter, Jr.

  

32,659,871

  

630,284

    

0

2. Barry J. Entous

  

32,659,871

  

630,284

    

0

3. Stephen Gross

  

32,956,505

  

333,650

    

0

4. Walter F. Loeb

  

32,956,505

  

333,650

    

0

5. Wilfred Posluns

  

32,659,871

  

630,284

    

0

6. Alan Siegel

  

32,659,871

  

630,284

    

0

7. Irving Teitelbaum

  

27,456,654

  

5,833,501

    

0

lItemItem 5—Other Information.

 Not Applicable

On May 29, 2003, we issued a press release to announce the appointment of Peter D. Whitford as the Company’s new chief executive officer, effective June 30, 2003. A copy of his employment agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2.

Item 6(a)—Exhibits.

    10.1
    Employment agreement, dated September 19, 2002 between the Company and William B. Langsdorf

    99.1
    Factors Affecting Future Financial Results.

10.1

Audit Committee Charter

10.2

Employment Agreement, dated May 29, 2003 between the Company and Peter D. Whitford

99.1

Factors Affecting Future Financial Results.

99.2

Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 906 Certification

99.3

Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 906 Certification

Item 6(b)—Reports on Form 8-K.8-K.

 

On October 4, 2002,February 7, 2003, we filed a current report on Form 8-K reporting that we hadissued a press release announcing the departure of Kathy Bronstein, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of our Company. On the same date we filed a subsequent current report on Form 8-K reporting that we issued a press release reporting net sales for the four week period ended February 1, 2003.

On March 7, 2003, we filed a current report on Form 8-K reporting that we issued a press release reporting net sales for the four-week period ended March 1, 2003. We also announced that we planned to release final earnings results for fiscal 2002 on March 20, 2003 at 9:00 am PST.

On March 26, 2003, we filed a current report on Form 8-K reporting that we issued a press release to announce thatearnings for the Company's Boardfourth quarter and fiscal 2002 as well as expectations regarding earnings for the first quarter of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 5.4 million shares of the Company's Class A Stock. In addition, the Companyfiscal 2003. We also announced expected comparable store sales trends for the third quarterMarch and April of fiscal 2002 and also announced expected earnings for the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2002.2003.

18



SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

    

The Wet Seal, Inc.

(Registrant)


Date: June 5, 2003


 

December 16, 2002


 

By:

/s/ KATHY BRONSTEIN      IRVING TEITELBAUM


Kathy Bronstein
Vice

Irving Teitelbaum

Chairman of the Board and

Interim Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)


Date: June 5, 2003


 

December 16, 2002


 

By:

/s/ WILLIAM B. LANGSDORF


William B. Langsdorf

Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer (Principal

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

19



SARBANES-OXLEY ACT SECTION 302(a) CERTIFICATIONS

I, Kathy Bronstein,Irving Teitelbaum, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Wet Seal, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4. The registrant'sregistrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant'sregistrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"“Evaluation Date”); and

 

c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5. The registrant'sregistrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant'sregistrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant'sregistrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant'sregistrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant'sregistrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant'sregistrant’s internal controls; and

 

6. The registrant'sregistrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: December 16, 2002June 5, 2003

 By:

/s/ KATHY BRONSTEIN      IRVING TEITELBAUM


Kathy Bronstein
Vice

Irving Teitelbaum

Chairman of the Board and Interim Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

20


I, William B. Langsdorf, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Wet Seal, Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4. The registrant'sregistrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

 

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant'sregistrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"“Evaluation Date”); and

 

c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5. The registrant'sregistrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant'sregistrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant'sregistrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant'sregistrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant'sregistrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant'sregistrant’s internal controls; and

6. The registrant'sregistrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: December 16, 2002June 5, 2003

 By:

/s/ WILLIAM B. LANGSDORF


William B. Langsdorf

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)



QuickLinks

THE WET SEAL, INC. FORM 10-Q Index
THE WET SEAL, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS)
THE WET SEAL, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
THE WET SEAL, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
THE WET SEAL, INC. CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS)
THE WET SEAL, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
SIGNATURES
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT SECTION 302(a) CERTIFICATIONS

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