SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
[X] Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended January 30, 1999 or
[ ] Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from ___________ to ___________
Commission File No. 0-23671
WEINER'S STORES, INC.
(exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 76-0355003
(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
6005 Westview Drive, Houston, TX 77055
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (713) 688-1331
Securities registered pursuant to Securities registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Act: None Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.01 par value
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 [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [x]
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity
of the registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of April 1, 1999
was $6,928,811.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents
and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan
confirmed by a court. Yes [X] No [ ]
As of April 29, 1999, there were 18,476,830 shares of Weiner's Stores,
Inc. common stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.
Documents incorporated by reference:
1. Portions of the Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year
ended January 30, 1999 are incorporated by reference into Part II - Items 6, 7
and 8.
2. Portions of the Company's definitive proxy statement relating to the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 10, 1999 as filed with the
Commission are incorporated by reference into Part III - Items 10, 11, 12 and
13.
<PAGE>
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Weiner's Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
incorporated in December 1991, is a neighborhood family retailer of primarily
branded apparel, shoes, related accessories and domestic products for
value-conscious customers. The Company operates 132 stores located in Texas and
Louisiana and employs approximately 3,500 full- and part-time employees.
References herein to "Weiner's Stores, Inc." or the "Company" are to Weiner's
Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiary, unless the context otherwise
indicates.
The majority of the Company's stores are in strip shopping centers and
free standing structures. The current store prototype is approximately 25,000
square feet, with approximately 20,000 square feet for selling space and with
the remaining space for office, receiving and layaway storage. The current
stores range in total size from approximately 17,000 square feet to 53,000
square feet.
On April 12, 1995 (the "Commencement Date"), the Company commenced its
case (Case No. 95-417(PJW)) (the "Chapter 11 Case") under chapter 11 ("Chapter
11") of title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") before the
United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Bankruptcy
Court"). The Company operated its business and managed its properties as a
debtor in possession in bankruptcy until August 26, 1997, the effective date of
the Company's Amended Plan of Reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy
Code, dated June 24, 1997, as amended (the "Plan"), which was confirmed by order
of the Bankruptcy Court on August 13, 1997.
RETAILING STRATEGY
The Company's retailing strategy is to focus closely on its unique
markets and on the buying habits of its largely ethnic customer base. The
strategy is intended to enhance the Company's ability to compete effectively
with off-price retailers, specialty stores, discount stores and department
stores. The Company believes its position as a local neighborhood retailer
enables it to understand the needs of its shoppers, focus on the distinct
priorities and tastes of its primarily ethnic customer base, provide more
complete assortments than off-price retailers and specialty stores, sell major
branded merchandise that is not available to discount stores and provide more
convenient locations and offer better pricing than department stores.
MERCHANDISING
The Company's merchandising strategy is to focus closely on its markets
and on the desires and preferences of its largely ethnic customer base. This
strategy was undertaken after a review of the markets that the Company serves,
including the demographics and income levels of its customers. The Company
recognizes that one of its competitive strengths relative to many discounters is
the availability of several key brands such as Nike(R), Reebok(R), K-Swiss(R),
Adidas(R), Levi's(R), Lee(R) and Sag Harbor(R). Much of the in-store and overall
marketing strategies focus on such brands. Management expects to continue to
invest appropriate resources and priority to strengthen these relationships and
add incremental products from these vendors. Additionally, the Company has
identified several other brands that would enhance the merchandise assortment
and is developing action plans to address appropriate vendors. The Company has
also identified several merchandise departments and classifications that have
previously been nonexistent at the Company's stores or insufficiently funded or
spaced. The Company is defining classifications and/or items, identifying
vendors, creating space allocations and developing pricing strategies to
properly address these businesses.
PRICING
The Company offers substantially the same merchandise assortments and
prices Company-wide. The Company prices its merchandise to be perceived as a
good value at fair prices. The pricing structure must reflect the environment in
which the stores and the customers are located. Sales prices of merchandise must
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be sharp and extremely competitive with respect to national mass merchandise
discounters and better than the department stores.
PURCHASING AND DISTRIBUTION
The Company purchases merchandise from many top brand name companies,
primarily through domestic sources. The Company has focused on merchandise
categories and product lines to enable the Company to work with fewer vendors
than do most mall-based retailers. The Company has established relationships
with many of its vendors to plan promotions, review marketing strategies,
exchange information through electronic data interchange, manage stock levels
and develop quick response inventory replenishment systems.
At January 30, 1999, the Company employed one vice president/general
merchandising manager, three divisional merchandising managers, 13 buyers and
three assistant buyers.
During fiscal 1998, the Company purchased merchandise from
approximately 640 vendors, of which two of the major vendors accounted for
approximately 10.1% and 8.8% of total Company purchases of goods sold. The
Company's 20 largest vendors accounted for approximately 51.2% of total Company
purchases during fiscal 1998. The Company believes that its relationship with
its vendors is strong. The Company's business is driven by brand names, and the
loss of the use of a brand name could have a material adverse effect on its
business.
All of the Company's purchases are shipped to the Company's centralized
distribution center in Houston, Texas. At the distribution center, which is
designed to handle up to approximately 200 stores, merchandise is received,
counted and sorted for distribution to the Company's stores. A planning and
allocation staff determines the quantities to be shipped to each store based on
the store's needs and merchandise profile. After the merchandise is picked and
packed, it is shipped to the stores at regular intervals via a commercial
transportation service.
STORE OPERATIONS
As of January 30, 1999, the Company operated 132 stores in Texas and
Louisiana. The Company's stores range in total size from approximately 17,000
square feet to 53,000 square feet and average approximately 25,000 square feet.
The majority of the Company's stores are located in strip shopping centers or
are free standing. As all of the Company's stores have been and are currently
located in Texas and Louisiana, during the last three fiscal years the Company
has received no revenues from external customers attributable to foreign
countries except for certain revenues received from customers visiting the
Company's stores from foreign countries, the amount of which revenues it is
impracticable for the Company to determine and which is immaterial to the
Company's sales. All of the Company's long-lived assets are currently located in
the United States.
Each store is staffed by a store manager and/or one to two co-managers,
one to two assistant managers and/or one to two floor managers, and several
sales associates. Store managers report to district supervisors, who in turn
report to the Company's vice president of stores.
The Company periodically reviews its store base and determines whether
particular stores need to be improved or closed. The Company generally closes a
store at the end of its lease term when the operating profit generated by the
store is insufficient to make a contribution to fixed corporate overhead. Stores
are closed prior to their lease expiration when they are unprofitable and/or
have, in the Company's opinion, limited potential for improvement and the
Company has reached a satisfactory agreement with the landlord for closing the
location. The Company closed three stores in fiscal year 1998, seven stores in
fiscal year 1997 and eight stores in fiscal year 1996.
During fiscal 1998, the Company opened seven new stores. The average
capital cost to construct a new store is approximately $268,000 plus inventory
requirements of approximately $450,000 per store (of which approximately 30% is
currently financed by vendor accounts payable).
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The Company expects to open approximately six new stores and remodel
two stores in fiscal 1999. The Company believes that there are adequate real
estate opportunities to open additional stores in the markets it currently
serves and to enter new markets in its overall trade areas. These capital
expenditures are expected to be funded with cash generated by operations and
borrowings under the Company's revolving credit agreement.
ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION
All advertising and promotion decisions are made by the Company's
central merchandising and advertising staff. Key advertising and promotional
programs include:
o Improving the quality of media with more thematic and ethnic
presentations, illustration of products with greater impact and color
assortment, and specialized merchandise classifications;
o Coordinating with buyers to maximize return, ensure an in-stock
position on ad items, and evaluate pricing programs;
o Moving the mix of media to more focused print programs;
o Targeting print mailings in a more efficient manner and focusing on
the ethnicity of different markets;
o Upgrading in-store signage;
o Adding excitement to the promotional campaign; and
o Establishing promotional programs that highlight the branded
merchandise available and the value pricing being offered to the
consumers while also generating an exciting shopping experience for
the consumer.
The Company has laid out marketing strategies that target its
demographic strengths relative to its customer base. These demographic strengths
include: the ethnic make-up of its customers, value conscious women shoppers
with more than one child in the household, fashion oriented young adult males
with strong demand for identification with branded products, and the Company's
neighborhood presence.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The Company uses an integrated merchandising package which includes
modules for accounts payable, general ledger, planning, allocation, merchandise
analysis, stores and the distribution center. The accounts payable and the
general ledger package was installed in fall 1996. In spring 1997, the
allocations module was installed and in early fall 1997, the planning module was
installed. The merchandise analysis and store sales modules and the distribution
center module were installed in early 1998. The Company operates its own
in-house computer facility.
The complete implementation of this system has generated benefits in
the following areas: a more defined merchandise reporting system with
incremental classification, improved open-to-buy reporting, better information
with regard to markdowns, price line reporting, vendor analysis reporting,
open-to-ship reporting for improved allocation and auto-allocation capabilities
and marketing profitability analysis. As a result of this system's installation,
the Company is in a position to install upgraded point-of-sale systems and
hardware at the store level in the future.
The Company scans merchandise price tickets at the point-of-sale and
point-of-sale registers automatically determine the correct price through a
price look-up capability. The registers also capture financial, credit and
statistical information and provide reports on sales by department and class for
financial reporting purposes and weekly reports on sales by style, color and
size for use by the Company's buyers and management. The merchandise planners
and allocators use this information on a regular basis to evaluate and adjust
each store's merchandise mix.
The Company continues to review its information systems needs.
Currently, the Company is upgrading and updating some of its merchandising
systems to client server based technology. As a result of these changes, the
Company should be able to access information more quickly, retain statistical
information for longer periods of time and enhance reporting capabilities.
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EMPLOYEES
As of January 30, 1999, the Company had approximately 3,500 full- and
part-time employees. The Company has a significant number of part-time store
employees and, as is typical in the retail industry, experiences high turnover
in its retail sales personnel. However, the Company has not experienced
significant difficulty in hiring qualified personnel. Of such total work force,
approximately 400 employees are employed in the Company's corporate offices and
distribution center.
METHOD OF PAYMENT
Approximately 90.0% of the Company's net sales are made by cash or
check, and 10.0% by national credit cards. Under the related credit card
agreements, the Company receives daily payments on amounts charged on those
cards. Such a payment is not subject to recovery by such companies unless the
charge in question involved the invalid use of such card. The Company does not
have its own credit card program, but does offer a layaway program that is
approximately 10.7% of the Company's revenues. Layaways are recognized as
revenue at the point-of-sale and as a receivable on the balance sheet. The
Company generally requires a refundable deposit on layaway sales. As customers
pay on their layaways, the payment reduces the receivable.
SEASONALITY
The Company's business is seasonal with approximately 43.0% of the
Company's annual sales being generated during the back-to-school selling season
in July and August and the Christmas selling season of November and December. In
addition, the Company's performance, like that of many other retailers, is
sensitive to the overall U.S. economy and economic cycles and related economic
conditions that influence consumer trends and spending patterns.
COMPETITION
The retail industry is intensely competitive. The Company is in
competition with numerous retail outlets in the geographic areas in which it
operates, including general merchandise stores, off-price stores, large national
discount chains and department stores. Many of the retailers with which the
Company competes have greater financial resources than the Company and may have
various other financial or other competitive advantages over the Company.
TRADEMARKS AND SERVICE MARKS
The mark "Weiner's" and other marks using the Company's distinctive
logos are federally registered service marks of the Company, and the Company
considers these marks and the accompanying goodwill and customer recognition to
be valuable to its business. The Company has registrations for other trademarks
and service marks routinely used in the Company's marketing, advertising and
promotions. Such registrations can be kept in force in perpetuity through
continued use of the marks and timely applications for renewal.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company leases all of its 132 stores in operation as of March 31,
1999, of which 110 stores are located in Texas and 22 stores are located in
Louisiana. Most leases are long-term net leases (i.e., lease contracts without a
purchase option) which expire on varying dates through 2009. Most of the store
leases include renewal options for an additional 5 to 15 years and require the
Company to pay taxes, insurance and certain common area maintenance costs in
addition to specified minimum rent. Most of the leases also require the payment
of contingent rent based upon a specified percentage of sales in excess of a
base amount.
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The following table sets forth, as of January 30, 1999, the number of
store leases that will expire in each of the indicated calendar years (excluding
renewal options):
Number of Number of Leases
Calendar Year Leases Expiring with Renewal Options
--------------------- ------------------ ------------------------
1999 12 8
2000 25 23
2001 19 17
2002 16 16
2003 21 17
Thereafter 39 34
------------------ ------------------------
Total 132 115
================== ========================
Most of the Company's stores are either free standing structures or
anchors in strip shopping centers. The Company opened 11 new stores and closed
10 stores in the last two fiscal years. The Company enters into and terminates
leases from time to time in the ordinary course of business as new stores are
opened and stores are closed. See "Business - General" and " - Store
Operations."
The Company owns its distribution center/headquarters facility in
Houston, Texas which contains approximately 376,000 square feet and is located
on approximately 8.2 acres of land. Such real property is subject to an
encumbrance created by the Deed of Trust, Assignment of Rents, Security
Agreement and Financing Statement entered into by the Company in connection with
its revolving credit agreement.
The Company considers its stores and its distribution
center/headquarters facility to be suitable and adequate for its operations for
the foreseeable future.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is party to ordinary routine litigation, arbitrations and
proceedings incidental to its business, the dispositions of which are not
expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's business or
financial condition.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS
MARKET INFORMATION
As of August 17, 1998, the Company's Common Stock began trading on the
Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board Service ("OTC") under the symbol "WEIR." There
was previously no established public trading market for the Common Stock. The
following table sets forth, for each full quarterly period in fiscal year 1998
since trading on the OTC began, the high and low sales price per share of the
Company's Common Stock as reported on the OTC.
1998 High Low
---- ---- ---
3rd Quarter $1.500 $0.250
(from August 17, 1998)
4th Quarter 0.281 0.125
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The last reported sale price per share of Common Stock as reported on
the OTC on April 1, 1999 was $0.375. As of April 1, 1999, there were 518 holders
of record of the Common Stock. This number does not include stockholders for
whom shares are held in a "nominee" or "street" name.
DIVIDENDS
The Company did not declare or pay any cash dividends with respect to
the Common Stock during 1996, 1997 or 1998. The Company presently does not
intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms
of the Company's revolving credit agreement prohibit payment of cash dividends
on the Common Stock. The payment of cash dividends, if any, will be made only
from assets legally available for that purpose, and will depend on the Company's
financial condition, results of operations, current and anticipated capital
requirements, restrictions under then existing debt instruments and other
factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Incorporated by reference to the information contained in the Company's
Annual Report to Stockholders for fiscal year 1998, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to
this Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the caption "Selected Financial Data"
(included on page 5).
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Incorporated by reference to the information contained in the Company's
Annual Report to Stockholders for fiscal year 1998, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to
this Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the caption "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" (included on pages 6
- - 12).
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Incorporated by reference to the information contained in the Company's
Annual Report to Stockholders for fiscal year 1998, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to
this Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the captions "Weiner's Stores, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets" (included on page 13), "Weiner's Stores, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations" (included on page 14), "Weiner's Stores,
Inc. Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Deficiency)"
(included on page 14), "Weiner's Stores, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash
Flows" (included on page 15), "Weiner's Stores, Inc. Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements" (included on pages 16 - 22) and "Independent Auditors'
Reports" (included on page 23).
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Reference is made to the information responsive to the Items comprising
this Part III that is contained in the Company's definitive proxy statement for
its 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules and Exhibits
(1) The following financial statements filed as a part of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K are incorporated by reference to the applicable
portions of the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for fiscal year
1998, filed as Exhibit 13.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See
"Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
o Independent Auditors' Reports
o Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 30, 1999 and January
31, 1998
o Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended January
30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and January 25, 1997
o Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
(Deficiency) for the Years Ended January 30, 1999, January 31,
1998 and January 25, 1997
o Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended January
30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and January 25, 1997
o Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
No schedules have been included herein because the information
required to be submitted has been included in the Consolidated
Financial Statements or the notes thereto, or the required information
is inapplicable.
(3) Exhibits
See the Exhibit Index for a list of those exhibits filed
herewith, which includes and identifies management contracts and
compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as exhibits to
this Form 10-K by Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company filed a
report on Form 8-K on December 31, 1998 to report that the Company's
Board of Directors had extended the employment contract of Herbert R.
Douglas, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, for two
additional years.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
WEINER'S STORES, INC.
April 30, 1999 By: /s/ Raymond J. Miller
-------------- ---------------------------------------
(Date) Raymond J. Miller
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities indicated on April 30, 1999.
SIGNATURE TITLE
/s/ Herbert R. Douglas* President and Chief Executive Officer
- ------------------------------ (Principal Executive Officer) and Chairman
Herbert R. Douglas of the Board of Directors
/s/ Raymond J. Miller Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
- ------------------------------ Secretary
Raymond J. Miller (Principal Financial Officer) and Director
/s/ Michael S. Marcus* Controller and Treasurer (Principal
- ------------------------------ Accounting Officer)
Michael S. Marcus
/s/ Randall L. Lambert* Director
- ------------------------------
Randall L. Lambert
/s/ Gasper Mir* Director
- ------------------------------
Gasper Mir
/s/ F. Hall Webb* Director
- ------------------------------
F. Hall Webb
/s/ Melvyn L. Wolff* Director
- ------------------------------
Melvyn L. Wolff
*By: /s/ Raymond J. Miller
-------------------------
Raymond J. Miller
Attorney-in-Fact
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's
registration statement on Form 10 filed April 14, 1998)
3.2 Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's registration statement on Form 10
filed April 14, 1998)
10.1 Transportation Agreement between the Company and Roadrunner
Moving & Storage, Inc., dated February 11, 1998 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company's registration
statement on Form 10 filed April 14, 1998)
10.2 Second Amendment, dated as of August 29, 1998, to the Revolving
Credit Agreement, dated August 26, 1997, among the Company, the
lenders party thereto and The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc.,
as Agent, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1
to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended October 31, 1998)
10.3+ Employment Agreement, dated as of February 1, 1999, between the
Company and Herbert R. Douglas (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
December 31, 1998)
13.1* Annual Report to Stockholders of the Company for fiscal year
1998
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 21.1 to the Company's registration statement on Form 10
filed April 14, 1998)
23.1* Consent of Independent Auditors
24.1* Powers of Attorney
27.1* Financial Data Schedule
- -----------------------------------------
* Filed herewith
+ Management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements
10
Exhibit 13.1
WEINER'S(R) STORES, INC.
-----------------------------------------
Picture of merchandise that Weiner's
sells - blue jean shorts, towels, shirts
and tennis shoes.
-----------------------------------------
Annual
Report
1998
<PAGE>
CONTENTS
Letter to Stockholders 1
Selected Financial Data 5
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations 6
Financial Statements 13
Market and Dividend Information
and Related Stockholder Matters 24
Directors and Officers
and Stockholder Information 25
<PAGE>
Fellow Stockholders:
Fiscal 1998 was very disappointing for Weiner's Stores, Inc. The year began with
the implementation of a fully integrated merchandising system. The change over
in systems hampered merchandise flow, negatively impacting sales in the first
quarter. The second quarter, while contributing positive sales growth, was not
profitable as we were affected by the first signs of the national downturn in
Levi's(R) jeans and branded athletic shoes. This downturn continued into our
third quarter and was exacerbated by unrelenting weather conditions which
included unseasonably high temperatures, floods and hurricanes. Forty-two store
days were lost due to floods and hurricanes. This combination of events in the
third quarter made it the most unprofitable quarter of the year.
The Company took steps to bolster the sales slide. Our buyers made opportunistic
purchases to promote impulse buying from our customers. We aggressively managed
inventory to reduce our markdown risk. We tested Bed and Bath shops in ten
stores starting in July, and after positive results, we quickly opened 25 more
in October. In addition, we placed selected Bed and Bath items throughout the
Company in time for the Holiday sales season. Bed and Bath added approximately
$2,700,000 in sales during the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter sales results were
good due to increased promotional velocity. We were very aggressive in obtaining
greater market share, which cost us gross margin dollars.
Total sales for fiscal 1998 were $260,908,000 compared to $263,637,000 in fiscal
1997. Fiscal 1998 contained 52 weeks compared to 53 weeks in fiscal 1997.
Comparable store sales for the year declined 1.9% on a 52-week comparable basis.
Merchandise margin as a percentage of sales increased slightly, 0.8%. Income
before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and reorganization charges,
impairment of assets and extraordinary gain was $100,000 for fiscal 1998
compared to $2,005,000 in fiscal 1997 and a loss of $434,000 in fiscal 1996.
The Company experienced a net loss of $4,992,000 in fiscal 1998 compared to net
income of $12,656,000 in fiscal 1997 and a $17,220,000 net loss in fiscal 1996.
The financial results for fiscal 1997 and 1996 were impacted by a variety of
bankruptcy related items. There were no charges for bankruptcy related items in
fiscal 1998. Included in fiscal 1997 is an extraordinary gain of $18,683,000
resulting from the discharge of debt, a charge of $1,519,000 resulting from the
"fresh start" accounting adjustment of the Company's assets and liabilities, and
reorganization expense of $2,406,000. Unusual items and bankruptcy related items
in fiscal 1996 included a charge of $3,044,000 for impairment of assets and
reorganization expense of $10,742,000.
During fiscal 1998, the Company opened seven new stores and closed three stores.
Total capital expenditures for the year were $4,380,000, the majority of which
was used for new store construction and remodels or relocations of existing
stores. Our plans for 1999 are to open four to eight new stores, to relocate or
remodel two stores and to continue to enhance our systems technology. Capital
expenditures are estimated to be $5,000,000.
We have developed a new, exciting marketing program backed by a multi-media
advertising campaign. We are creating excitement in the stores with a new
signing program as well as an all-inclusive sales promotion package including
circulars, TV, radio, and billboards. Also included are TV and radio spots and
in-store signing in Spanish to reach a very important growing segment of our
customer base. Our marketing programs include "The Big Deal," which highlights
everyday low pricing on select basic commodity items, "Bargain Alley" with
off-price items and close-out designer merchandise offered at deep discounts and
"Dare to Compare," which shows the value being offered in our stores on
well-known name brand merchandise as compared to our competitors.
With the disappointment of fiscal 1998 behind us, we look forward to the
challenges ahead. Our focus is on making Weiner's Stores the preferred
neighborhood store. We will continue to refine our merchandising formats to
react to our customers' needs for value priced name brand merchandise. We will
seek opportunities in the market that allow us to have new merchandise offerings
such as Bed and Bath, which is expected to give us additional sales of $5
million during 1999. With the continued support of our associates, stockholders
and vendors, we look forward to a more successful 1999.
- ---------------------------------
Picture of Herbert R.
Douglas - Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive
Officer
- ---------------------------------
/s/ Herbert R. Douglas
Herbert R. Douglas
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
March 17, 1999
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-------------
Weiner's Logo
-------------
WEINER'S
The Weiner's of today serves a growing ethnic and urban market with quality,
well-established brand name clothing, shoes, accessories and, recently added,
home furnishings. One of the Company's major strengths is its practice of
positioning stores in urban locations, matching our principal demographics. We
choose locations in neighborhood shopping centers near major food chains to make
our customers' shopping experience more convenient.
- ----------------------------------------
Picture of "The Big Deal (We've Lowered
Our Prices)" sign in Weiner's Junior
Sportswear Department
- ----------------------------------------
NEW DEVELOPMENTS
Many changes have been implemented for 1999 that we expect will aid in boosting
the Company's performance for the year:
o A new major marketing strategy has been developed.
o Stronger merchandise efforts are in place to support the new marketing
strategy.
o A larger portion of the advertising budget has been dedicated to
promotional programs that target our core customer base.
o A new home furnishings department will be in place in approximately 100
stores. This new department will sell domestics, bed and bath items and
other related products.
o A wider variety of products and brand names have been added to provide our
customers with a broader selection, including such names as Ladies'
Nike(R), Chaps(R), Sag Harbor(R), MUDD(R), Cannon(R), Dan River(R),
Westpoint Stevens(R) and LEI(R), as well as toys, games, and small
electronics.
o We will increase our amount of off-price closeout merchandise to provide
our customers with more value.
o Major emphasis has been given to reduce prices even further to better cater
to our budget-conscious customers.
These new developments and changes are set and in motion for 1999 in an effort
to improve the Company's market share.
- --------------------------------------
Picture of "Bargain Alley
(Good Stuff.... Cheap Prices)" signs
in a Weiner's store
- --------------------------------------
2
<PAGE>
- -----------------------
Weiner's Logo continued
- -----------------------
MARKETING
Weiner's 1999 marketing campaign is centered around three major merchandising
programs, all of which are marketed with dramatic, fresh and energetic
presentation:
o The Big Deal (We've Lowered Our Prices) This program features our top
quality clothing at everyday prices well below those of comparable items
sold elsewhere.
o Bargain Alley (Good Stuff...Cheap Prices) This program supports our buyers'
off-price special purchase merchandise that is sold at extremely low
prices.
o Dare to Compare (Top Brands at Lower Prices) This program features
well-known brand name clothing, such as Bugle Boy(R), Levi's(R), Reebok(R)
and others, priced more aggressively than the rest of the marketplace.
These prices are significantly lower than those at most department stores.
- ------------------------------------
Picture of "Dare to Compare" sign
with Bugle Boy(R) slacks in
Weiner's
- ------------------------------------
This year, a multi-media campaign has been added to support these new programs,
which are presented to our customers with a new slogan, "Weiner's: Because
Everybody Loves a Bargain." This aggressive marketing and merchandising
campaign, with its focused television and radio broadcast program, billboards
and new in-store signage programs, all presented in both English and Spanish,
will more effectively cater to our target customer.
These programs have been designed to help the Company be more competitive in the
marketplace and truly support the economics of our customer base.
- -----------------------------
Picture of Home Furnishings
Department at Weiner's
- -----------------------------
GROWTH
For 1999, future store growth will begin with two new stores in the Jackson,
Mississippi market in late Spring, 1999. We are also planning to add several
other new locations during the year in local neighborhood strip centers that
will support our strategy to increase our urban presence.
Key markets that have performed well for the Company, such as Dallas and San
Antonio, are being studied and reviewed for possible expansion.
3
<PAGE>
LOCATIONS
Weiner's Stores, Inc. is a Houston, Texas based neighborhood family retailer of
branded products for value conscious customers, operating 132 stores located
primarily in strip shopping centers in Texas and Louisiana, and employs
approximately 3,500 full- and part-time employees.
- -----------------------------------------------
Map of states we do business in -
Texas, Louisiana
Also included is a map of Mississippi
where we plan to do business in.
- -----------------------------------------------
TEXAS Border Market Port Lavaca
Houston Market Brownsville Victoria-2
Alvin Del Rio Wharton
Baytown Eagle Pass
Channelview Edinburg Dallas Market
Conroe Harlingen Dallas-5
Deer Park Laredo Ft. Worth
Dickinson McAllen-2
Galveston Mission LOUISIANA
Houston-29 Weslaco Louisiana-Other
Humble Market
Missouri City Austin Market Alexandria
Pasadena-2 Austin-5 Baton Rouge-3
Pearland Round Rock Covington
Rosenberg San Marcos Gonzales
Spring Hammond
Stafford San Antonio Houma
Texas City Market Lafayette North
Tomball San Antonio-7 Lake Charles
Seguin La Place
Northeast Market Universal City Monroe
Bellmead New Iberia
Brenham Corpus Christi Opelousas
Bryan Market Shreveport-2
Cleveland Alice
Crockett Corpus Christi-3 New Orleans Market
Jasper Portland Chalmette
Killeen Gretna
Longview Golden Triangle Marrero
Lufkin Market New Orleans-3
Marshall Beaumont-2
Nacogdoches Pinehurst * FUTURE LOCATIONS
Temple Port Arthur MISSISSIPPI
Texarkana Clinton
Waco Southwest Market Jackson
Angleton
Bay City
Beeville
Clute
El Campo
4
<PAGE>
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Successor Company Predecessor Company
---------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year Twenty-Three Thirty Fiscal Year Ended (a)
Ended Weeks Ended Weeks Ended --------------------------------------------
January 30, January 31, August 25, January 25, January 27, January 28,
1999 (a) 1998 1997 (b) 1997 1996 1995 (c)
-------- ---- -------- ---- ----- --------
(Dollars in thousands, except per share and per square foot data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Net sales $ 260,908 $ 103,322 $ 160,315 $ 263,666 $ 260,712 $ 307,992
Operating (loss) income (3,979) (5,734) 1,250 (17,864) (25,847) (19,104)
Net (loss) income (4,992) (5,885) 18,541 (17,220) (25,605) (19,664)
Net (loss) income per share
of common stock (d) $ (0.26) $ (0.31) $ 185.41 $ (172.20) $ (256.05) $ (196.64)
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Working capital $ 34,781 $ 41,249 $ 43,434 $ 54,728 $ 64,926 $ (2,686)
Total assets 83,317 80,739 99,241 91,285 103,242 94,106
Long-term debt 4,000 5,000 - - - -
SELECTED OPERATING DATA:
Comparable store net sales
(decrease) increase (1.9)% (0.1)% (e) 6.7% (11.9)% (0.4)%
Number of stores
Beginning of period 128 134 131 139 158 155
Opened 7 1 3 - - 4
Closed 3 7 - 8 19 1
End of period 132 128 134 131 139 158
Total sales square feet at
end of period (000's) 2,644 2,602 (e) 2,652 2,810 3,247
Average net sales per store $ 2,007 $2,036 (e) $1,953 $1,756 $1,968
Average net sales per square
foot $ 99 $100 (e) $ 97 $ 86 $ 96
</TABLE>
(a) Fiscal year 1998, which contained 52 weeks, and fiscal year 1997, which
contained 53 weeks, both ended on the Saturday closest to January 31st
(i.e., January 30, 1999 and January 31, 1998, respectively). Fiscal years
1996 and 1995 each contained 52 weeks and ended January 25, 1997 and January
27, 1996, respectively. Fiscal year 1994 was a thirteen-month period that
ended on January 28, 1995.
(b) Net income for the thirty weeks ended August 25, 1997 includes $1,519,000 in
"fresh start" expense and $18,683,000 in extraordinary gain related to debt
discharge.
(c) As of January 1, 1994, the Company changed its fiscal year from a calendar
year to a 52- or 53-week fiscal year. As a result of this change, the
financial information for the period ended January 28, 1995 (fiscal 1994)
includes the results of the calendar year ended December 31, 1994 and the
results from the month of January 1995, a period of 13 months. The Company
has not restated the results of operations on a comparative 52-week basis.
(d) Net loss per share of common stock for fiscal year 1998 is based on a
weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding of 18,869,208.
Net loss per share of common stock for the twenty-three weeks ended January
31, 1998 (Successor Company) is based on a weighted average number of shares
of common stock outstanding of 19,000,000. Net income (loss) per share of
common stock for the thirty weeks ended August 25, 1997 (Predecessor
Company) and for fiscal years ended January 25, 1997, January 27, 1996 and
January 28, 1995 is based on a weighted average number of shares of common
stock outstanding of 100,000. Earnings per share for the Predecessor Company
is not comparable due to the Company's reorganization.
(e) Amount presented is for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998.
5
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
The financial results of Weiner's Stores, Inc. (the "Company") have changed
significantly over the past four years, principally as a result of its filing
for reorganization under Chapter 11 ("Chapter 11") of Title 11 of the United
States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") on April 12, 1995, and the Company's
subsequent emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization on August 26, 1997 (the
"Effective Date").
The Company's net loss for the 52-week fiscal year ended January 30, 1999
("1998") was $4,992,000 compared to a net income of $12,656,000 for the 53-week
fiscal year ended January 31, 1998 ("1997") and a net loss of $17,220,000 for
the 52-week fiscal year ended January 25, 1997 ("1996"). An extraordinary gain
for debt discharge of $18,683,000 favorably impacted the results in 1997.
Comparable 52-week store sales decreased 1.9% for 1998. In 1997, comparable
53-week store sales were virtually flat. The Company had an operating loss as a
percentage of sales of 1.5% in 1998, 1.7% in 1997 and 6.7% in 1996.
In August 1998, the Company entered into the second amendment (the "Second
Amendment") to its revolving credit agreement, dated as of the Effective Date
(as amended, the "Revolving Credit Agreement"), which provides a $40,000,000
working capital facility including a sub-facility of $15,000,000 for letters of
credit. The Second Amendment, among other things, provided for a slight upward
adjustment in applicable interest rates, and adjusted the financial covenant
relating to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
("EBITDA"), as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the
Revolving Credit Agreement are restricted for the sole use of funding working
capital requirements in the ordinary course of business and for other general
corporate purposes. Under the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement, capital
expenditures are limited to $7,000,000 in fiscal year 1999 and to $5,000,000 in
the period commencing January 30, 2000 and ending August 31, 2000, the
expiration date of the Revolving Credit Agreement.
The Company emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization on the Effective Date. The
Company incurred reorganization expenses of $2,406,000 and $10,742,000 in 1997
and 1996, respectively. These charges included, over such two-year period,
approximately $4,800,000 in relation to the closing of unprofitable stores and a
warehouse facility, $5,200,000 in professional fees, $1,700,000 of system and
store reorganization costs, $800,000 of administrative reorganization costs, and
approximately $600,000 of other reorganization costs.
On the Effective Date, the Company restructured its capitalization in accordance
with the Company's Amended Plan of Reorganization under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy Code, dated June 24, 1997, as amended (the "Plan"), which was
confirmed by order of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
Delaware (the "Bankruptcy Court") on August 13, 1997. The application of "fresh
start" reporting provisions of Statement of Position 90-7, "Financial Reporting
by Entities in Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code" ("SOP 90-7") as of the
Effective Date included adjustments to certain assets, which resulted in a
$1,519,000 one-time charge to expense. Further, the Company recognized
reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets
("Excess Reorganization Value") of $4,411,000. This Excess Reorganization Value
is being amortized by the straight-line method over 15 years. Also on the
Effective Date, the value of the cash and securities distributed by the Company
in settlement of the claims resulted in an extraordinary gain of $18,683,000.
In 1996, the Company wrote off $3,044,000 of impaired assets as a result of
management's decision to replace the Company's point-of-sale equipment at a
future date, the effect of which was to significantly reduce the estimated
useful lives of such point-of-sale equipment and associated hardware and
software.
"FRESH START" REPORTING
As a result of "fresh start" reporting under SOP 90-7, the financial information
for the fiscal year ended January 30, 1999 is not comparable to the information
for the twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998, the thirty weeks ended August
25, 1997 or the fiscal year ended January 25, 1997. However, except as described
below, the Company believes that the impact of the "fresh start" reporting
adjustments, while material, is identifiable, and that combining the
twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998 with the thirty weeks ended August 25,
1997 provides a useful basis for comparison to the current and prior periods.
Therefore, the following discussion assumes the periods in fiscal 1997 are
combined.
6
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth income statement data for 1998, 1997 and 1996
expressed as a percentage of sales:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997* 1996
---- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of goods sold 67.0% 67.8% 68.0%
------- ------- -------
Gross margin 33.0% 32.2% 32.0%
Selling, administrative and other operating costs 34.5% 33.0% 33.6%
Reorganization expense 0.0% 0.9% 4.0%
Impairment of assets 0.0% 0.0% 1.1%
------- ------- -------
Operating loss -1.5% -1.7% -6.7%
Interest (expense) income, net -0.4% 0.0% 0.2%
"Fresh start" adjustments 0.0% -0.6% 0.0%
------- ------- -------
Loss before extraordinary gain -1.9% -2.3% -6.5%
Extraordinary gain 0.0% 7.1% 0.0%
------- ------- -------
Net (loss) income -1.9% 4.8% -6.5%
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
*Reflects the combining of the twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998
(Successor Company) and the thirty weeks ended August 25, 1997 (Predecessor
Company).
1998 COMPARED TO 1997
Net sales decreased to $260,908,000 in 1998 from $263,637,000 in 1997. The sales
decrease was primarily attributable to the number of weeks in 1998 (52 weeks)
compared to 1997 (53 weeks), offset by the opening of seven new stores in 1998.
Comparable store sales on a 52-week comparable basis decreased 1.9%. The
decrease is primarily attributable to the decline in Levi's(R) jeans sales,
offset by the introduction of domestics in the fourth quarter of 1998.
Cost of goods sold decreased $3,908,000 to $174,750,000 in 1998 from
$178,658,000 in 1997. As a percentage of sales, cost of goods sold decreased to
67.0% in 1998 from 67.8% in 1997. Gross margin increased $1,179,000 to
$86,158,000 in 1998 from $84,979,000 in 1997. Gross margin as a percentage of
sales increased to 33.0% in 1998 compared to 32.2% in 1997. This increase in
gross margin is primarily due to an increase in initial markup and a decrease in
merchandise shrinkage, offset by an increase in markdowns as a percentage of
sales.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3,080,000 to $90,137,000
in 1998 from $87,057,000 in 1997. This increase is primarily due to increased
payroll costs due to federally mandated minimum wage increases, promotional
advertising and rent expense. Selling, general and administrative expenses, as a
percentage of sales, increased to 34.5% in 1998 from 33.0% in 1997 due primarily
to the decline in sales.
Fiscal 1997 included $2,406,000 of reorganization expense. There has been no
reorganization expense since August 26, 1997 when the Company emerged from
Chapter 11 reorganization.
Operating loss decreased to $3,979,000 in 1998 from $4,484,000 in 1997. Had the
Company not incurred the reorganization expense referred to above, operating
loss would have been $2,078,000 in 1997.
The Company recorded interest expense of $1,013,000 in 1998 compared to $201,000
in 1997. During its bankruptcy proceedings, the Company discontinued accruing
interest on substantially all of its prepetition debt. Interest expense has
increased due to the increase in borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement
since the Company's emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization on August 26, 1997.
Interest income during 1998 was approximately zero compared to $177,000 during
1997. This decline in interest income is primarily due to the reduction in cash
available for investment in 1998 as compared to 1997.
The Company recorded $1,519,000 in "fresh start" expense in relation to its
emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization in August 1997.
The Company provides United States federal income taxes based on its estimated
annual effective tax rate for the fiscal year. No income tax provision was
recorded in either 1998 or 1997. The recognition of income tax benefits is
affected by limitations on the Company's ability to utilize net operating loss
("NOL") carryforwards.
Extraordinary gain of $18,683,000 related to debt discharged in the Company's
emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization was recognized in August 1997.
7
<PAGE>
The Company's net loss for 1998 was $4,992,000 compared to a net income of
$12,656,000 for 1997. The Company adopted "fresh start" accounting upon its
emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization. Earnings per share for prior periods
is based on the Predecessor Company shares then outstanding; such information is
not comparable due to the Company's reorganization.
1997 COMPARED TO 1996
Net sales decreased slightly to $263,637,000 in 1997 from $263,666,000 in 1996.
Fiscal year 1997 was a period of 53 weeks compared to a period of 52 weeks in
fiscal year 1996. This decrease in sales was primarily attributable to the
closing of 15 stores over the previous two years and the slight decline in
comparable store sales of .01% on a 53-week comparable basis, offset by the
opening of four new stores in 1997.
Cost of goods sold decreased $506,000 to $178,658,000 in 1997 from $179,164,000
in 1996. As a percentage of sales, cost of goods sold decreased to 67.8% in 1997
from 68.0% in 1996. Gross margin increased $477,000 to $84,979,000 in 1997 from
$84,502,000 in 1996. Gross margin, as a percentage of sales, increased to 32.2%
in 1997 from 32.0% in 1996. The improvement is primarily attributable to an
improvement in initial markup.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1,523,000 to $87,057,000
in 1997 from $88,580,000 in 1996. This reduction is primarily attributable to
the closing of 15 stores over the previous two years, offset by the opening of
four new stores in 1997. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and
administrative expenses decreased to 33.0% in 1997 from 33.6% in 1996.
Reorganization expense decreased $8,336,000 to $2,406,000 in 1997 from
$10,742,000 in 1996. This decrease is a result of the Company's emergence from
Chapter 11 reorganization on August 26, 1997. Reorganization expense in 1997 was
primarily professional fees.
The Company recorded net interest expense of $24,000 in 1997 compared to net
interest income of $596,000 in 1996. The decline is primarily due to the
reduction in cash available for investment in 1997 as compared to 1996, lowering
interest income significantly. During its bankruptcy proceedings, the Company
discontinued accruing interest on substantially all of its prepetition debt.
Interest expense increased as a result of the Company's emergence from Chapter
11 reorganization on August 26, 1997.
The Company recorded $1,519,000 in "fresh start" expense in relation to its
emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization in 1997. Related "fresh start"
adjustments of $15,905,000 were credited to retained earnings in 1997 to
eliminate the Company's cumulative deficit as of the Effective Date.
The Company recorded no current or deferred income tax benefit in 1997. In 1996,
a deferred tax benefit of $48,000 was recorded. The recognition of income tax
benefits in both periods has been affected by limitations on the Company's
ability to utilize NOL carryforwards.
Extraordinary gain of $18,683,000 related to debt discharged in the Company's
emergence from Chapter 11 reorganization was recognized in August 1997.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash from Operations and Working Capital
The Company's primary sources of liquidity have been cash flow from operations
and borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
For the three fiscal years ended January 30, 1999, net cash flow from operations
was as follows ($ in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997* 1996
---- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net (loss) income $ (4,992) $ 12,656 $ (17,220)
Depreciation and amortization 4,079 4,083 3,644
Other non-cash charges 125 (14,771) 14,067
Changes in current assets and liabilities 5,372 (15,377) (4,897)
-------- -------- ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities$ 4,584 $(13,409) $ (4,406)
========= ======== =========
</TABLE>
* Reflects the combining of the twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998
(Successor Company) and the thirty weeks ended August 25, 1997 (Predecessor
Company).
The increase in cash provided by operating activities in 1998 reflects an
increase in vendor credit since the Company's emergence from Chapter 11
reorganization, offset by increased inventory. In 1997, the increase in cash
used in operating activities from 1996 reflects the Company's emergence from
Chapter 11 reorganization and the cash payment of certain claims.
8
<PAGE>
The Company's working capital, current ratio and ratio of sales to average
working capital at the end of the three fiscal years ended January 30, 1999 were
as follows ($ in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Working capital $ 34,781 $ 41,249 $ 54,728
Current ratio 2.3 3.4 3.4
Ratio of sales to average working capital 6.9 5.5 4.4
</TABLE>
The Company funds inventory purchases through cash flows from operations, from
borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement and through favorable payment
terms the Company has established with its vendors.
Revolving Credit Agreement
The Company's Revolving Credit Agreement provides a $40,000,000 working capital
facility, including a $15,000,000 sub-facility for the issuance of letters of
credit. The Revolving Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the
Company's assets. The Revolving Credit Agreement provides that proceeds may be
used solely to fund working capital in the ordinary course of business and for
other general corporate purposes. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit
Agreement bear interest at the reference rate thereunder plus 0.5% or, at the
option of the Company, the Eurodollar Rate thereunder plus 2.5%. Under the terms
of the Revolving Credit Agreement, capital expenditures are limited to
$7,000,000 in fiscal year 1999. The Revolving Credit Agreement further
stipulates certain borrowing limitations based on the Company's inventory levels
and requires that the Company comply with certain financial covenants. The
Revolving Credit Agreement expires on August 31, 2000. As of January 30, 1999,
the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants under the Revolving
Credit Agreement.
At January 30, 1999, the Company had approximately $20,168,000 of availability
under the working capital facility, after considering borrowings and outstanding
letters of credit. At January 30, 1999, the outstanding letters of credit
thereunder were approximately $5,051,000.
As a result of the Company's financial performance since emerging from
bankruptcy, the Company entered into the Second Amendment, dated August 29,
1998, which provided for, among other things, a slight upward adjustment to the
applicable interest rates and an adjustment to the financial covenant relating
to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA"),
as defined.
The Company believes that the financial covenants established in the Second
Amendment will be achieved based upon the Company's current and anticipated
performance. Based upon management's 1999 operating plan and availability under
the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company believes that there is adequate
liquidity to fund the Company's operations during fiscal year 1999. However,
material shortfalls or variances from anticipated performance could require the
Company to seek a further amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement or
alternative sources of financing or to limit capital expenditures.
Capital Expenditures
The Company's capital expenditures were approximately $4,380,000 in 1998,
$6,823,000 in 1997 and $3,957,000 in 1996. The majority of capital expenditures
were for fixtures, equipment and leasehold improvements for new, relocated and
remodeled stores and the upgrade of the management information systems. The
Company opened seven new stores in 1998, four new stores in 1997 and no new
stores in 1996. Underperforming stores are closed upon lease termination, or
earlier if possible. The Company closed three underperforming stores in 1998,
seven underperforming stores in 1997 and eight underperforming stores in 1996.
The Company's capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $5,000,000
in fiscal 1999 for the opening of new stores, remodeling of existing stores and
management information system enhancements. The Company expects to fund these
capital expenditures from cash generated by operations and borrowings under the
Revolving Credit Agreement.
IMPACT OF INFLATION
In recent years, the impact of inflation on the Company's results of operations
has been insignificant. As operating expenses have increased, the Company has
been unable, due to competitive pressure, to recover these increases in costs by
increasing prices over time. Future results of the Company will depend on, among
other things, the competitive environment, the prevailing economic climate and
the ability of the Company to adapt to these conditions.
9
<PAGE>
SEASONALITY
The Company's business is seasonal with approximately 43% of the Company's
annual sales being generated during the back-to-school selling season in July
and August and the Christmas selling season of November and December. In
addition, the Company's performance, like that of many other retailers, is
sensitive to the overall U.S. economy and economic cycles and related economic
conditions that influence consumer trends and spending patterns.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
The Accounting Standards Executive Committee has issued Statement of Position
98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities" ("SOP 98-5"). Among other
things, SOP 98-5 requires that the costs of start-up activities be expensed as
incurred. SOP 98-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1998. The Company has adopted SOP 98-5 beginning January 31, 1999 (fiscal year
1999). Prior to adoption of SOP 98-5, the Company expensed the costs associated
with the opening of new stores in the fiscal year in which the store was opened.
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities" ("FAS 133"). The Company believes that FAS 133 will have
no impact on its financial statements.
YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE
The Year 2000 issue is primarily the result of computer programs being written
using two digits rather than four to define the applicable year. Certain
information technology systems and their associated software and certain
equipment that utilizes embedded logic chips to control aspects of its operation
may recognize "00" as a year other than the year 2000. Some systems and embedded
chip equipment owned or used by the Company and third parties that do business
with the Company may contain two-digit programming to define a year. The Year
2000 issue could result, at the Company and elsewhere, in system failures or
miscalculations causing disruptions of operations, including, among other
things, a temporary inability to process transactions or to engage in other
normal business activities.
The Company's State of Readiness
In the ordinary course of business, the Company initiated plans to replace or
enhance its core business systems in fiscal 1996-1999 with systems which would
be Year 2000 compliant. During fiscal 1997, the Company established an oversight
committee (the "Committee"), consisting of individuals from each of its
functional areas, to review all of the Company's computer systems and programs,
as well as to make inquiries with respect to the computer systems of the third
parties upon whose data or functionality the Company relies in any material
respect, and to assess their ability to process transactions in the year 2000.
The Committee meets regularly to review the progress of the Company's Year 2000
compliance initiative. The goal of the Committee is to achieve a transition for
the Company into the year 2000 that is free of any material interruptions. The
Company has divided its Year 2000 efforts into five phases: (i) identification
and inventorying of systems, including embedded chip equipment with potential
Year 2000 problems; (ii) assessment of the scope of Year 2000 issues for, and
assigning priorities, to each item based on its importance to the Company's
operations; (iii) remediation of Year 2000 issues in accordance with assigned
priorities by correction, upgrade, replacement, or retirement; (iv) testing for
a validation of Year 2000 compliance; and (v) developing contingency plans to
address the most reasonably likely worst case scenario for the Company's Year
2000 issues. Because the Company uses a variety of systems, internally developed
and third party provided software and embedded chip equipment, depending upon
business function and location, various aspects of the Company's Year 2000
efforts are in different phases and are proceeding in parallel.
The Company's operations are also dependent upon the Year 2000
readiness of third parties who do business with the Company. In particular, the
Company's systems interact with commercial electronic transaction processing
systems to handle customer credit card purchases and other point of sale
transactions, and the Company is dependent on third party suppliers of such
infrastructure elements as, but not limited to, telephone service, electric
power, gas, water, banking facilities, merchandise purchases, deliveries,
federal, state and other governmental agencies, and other services. The Company
has identified and has initiated formal communications with key third parties
and suppliers and with significant merchandise vendors to determine the extent
to which such parties have resolved their own Year 2000 issues. Although the
Company is continuing to make such inquiries of third party providers and to
10
<PAGE>
seek responses thereto, and the Company has not been put on notice that any
known third party problem will not be resolved, the Company has limited
information and no assurance of additional information concerning the Year 2000
readiness of third parties. Consequently, the resulting risks to the Company's
business are very difficult to assess. Where commercially reasonable to do so,
the Company intends to assess its risks with respect to failure by third parties
to be Year 2000 compliant and to seek to mitigate those risks. The Company
believes that there are certain third party providers with respect to which
there is no reasonable method to mitigate such risks.
Costs
The total cost associated with becoming Year 2000 compliant is not expected to
be material to the Company's financial position. The Company expects such costs
in the aggregate to be approximately $50,000 exclusive of system additions,
upgrades or replacements incurred in the ordinary course of business and
assuming no necessity to implement contingency plans. Costs through January 30,
1999 have been approximately $20,000. The remaining compliance costs are
expected to be incurred within the next 12 months.
Risks
The Company intends and expects to implement the changes that it determines to
be necessary to address the Year 2000 issue for systems and embedded chip
equipment used within the Company. The Company presently believes that, with
modifications to its existing software, conversions to new software, and
appropriate remediation of embedded chip equipment, the Year 2000 issue is not
reasonably likely to pose significant operational problems for the Company's
systems and embedded chip equipment as so modified and converted. However, if
unforeseen difficulties arise or such modifications, conversions and
replacements are not completed on a timely basis, or if the Company's vendors'
or suppliers' systems are not Year 2000 compliant, the Year 2000 issue may have
a material, adverse impact on the results of operations and financial condition
of the Company.
The Company is presently unable to accurately assess the likelihood that the
Company will experience significant operational problems due to unresolved Year
2000 problems of third parties who do business with the Company. There can be no
assurance that such other entities will achieve timely Year 2000 compliance; if
they do not, Year 2000 problems could have a material, adverse impact on the
Company's operations. Similarly, there can be no assurance that the Company can
timely mitigate its risks related to suppliers' failure to resolve its Year 2000
issues. If such mitigation is not achievable, Year 2000 problems could have a
material, adverse impact on the Company's operations.
The Company estimates that it will achieve Year 2000 compliance by the end of
August 1999. The Company's estimates of such date and the costs of achieving
Year 2000 compliance are based on management's best estimates, which were
derived using numerous assumptions about future events including the continued
availability of certain resources, third party modification plans and other
factors. However, there can be no assurance that these estimates will be
achieved, and actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
Specific factors that might cause such material differences include, but are not
limited to, the availability and cost of personnel trained in Year 2000
remediation work, the ability to locate and correct all relevant computer codes
and to do so on a timely basis, the success achieved by the Company's suppliers
in reaching Year 2000 readiness, the timely availability of necessary
replacement items and similar uncertainties, many of which are beyond the
Company's control.
Contingency Plans
The Company is in the process of developing Year 2000 contingency plans to
address its most critical operational areas at the Company level. By the close
of the second quarter of fiscal 1999, the Company expects to more completely
define these issues, quantify their potential impact and complete the
development of such contingency plans. However, the necessity, timing and cost
of any contingency plans must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may vary
considerably, and testing results and external business partner responses may
require changes in or additions to such plans. Furthermore, there may be no
practical alternative course of action available to the Company for some issues.
The Company's statements of its expectations regarding the Year 2000 problem,
including as to the current status, date of completion and costs of its Year
2000 compliance programs, are forward-looking statements. These statements are
management's best estimates based on information currently available. Therefore,
they are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, including those
described above, which could cause actual results to differ and which may have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial position, results
of operations or capital or liquidity needs.
11
<PAGE>
FOREIGN OPERATIONS
As all of the Company's stores have been and are currently located in Texas and
Louisiana, during the last three fiscal years the Company has received no
revenues from external customers attributable to foreign countries except for
certain revenues received from customers visiting the Company's stores from
foreign countries, the amount of which revenues it is impracticable for the
Company to determine and which is immaterial to the Company's sales. All of the
Company's long-lived assets are currently located in the United States.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate,"
"believe," "expect," "plan," "intend," "seek," "estimate," "project," "will,"
"could," "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These statements include, among others, information regarding future
operations, future capital expenditures and future net cash flow. Such
statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and
financial performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including, without
limitation, general economic and business conditions, changes in foreign,
political, social and economic conditions, regulatory initiatives and compliance
with governmental regulations, the ability of the Company and its competitors to
predict fashion trends and customer preferences and achieve further market
penetration and additional customers, consumer apparel buying patterns, adverse
weather conditions, inventory risks due to shifts in market demand, Year 2000
issues, and various other matters, many of which are beyond the Company's
control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should
underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially
and adversely from those anticipated, believed, estimated or otherwise
indicated. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this
Annual Report are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no
assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by the Company
will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the
expected consequences to or effect on the Company or its business or operations.
The Company does not undertake and expressly disclaims any obligation to
publicly update or revise any such forward-looking statements even if experience
or future changes make it clear that the projected results expressed or implied
therein will not be realized.
12
<PAGE>
WEINER'S STORES, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
January 30, January 31,
1999 1998
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash $ 2,849,000 $ 3,574,000
Receivables, net 1,252,000 1,592,000
Merchandise inventories, net 54,243,000 49,881,000
Prepaid expenses and other assets 2,380,000 3,138,000
--------------- ---------------
Total current assets 60,724,000 58,185,000
--------------- ---------------
Property and Equipment:
Land 258,000 258,000
Building - distribution center and office facility 1,996,000 1,967,000
Furniture, fixtures and leasehold improvements 20,728,000 17,756,000
-------------- --------------
Total 22,982,000 19,981,000
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (4,296,000) (1,628,000)
--------------- ---------------
Total property and equipment, net 18,686,000 18,353,000
-------------- --------------
Excess Reorganization Value, less accumulated amortization of
$504,000 and $210,000, respectively 3,907,000 4,201,000
-------------- --------------
$ 83,317,000 $ 80,739,000
=============== ===============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Trade accounts payable $ 16,967,000 $ 9,303,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 8,976,000 7,633,000
-------------- --------------
Total current liabilities 25,943,000 16,936,000
-------------- --------------
Other Liabilities 397,000 834,000
Long-Term Debt 4,000,000 5,000,000
-------------- --------------
Commitments and Contingencies - -
Stockholders' Equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized,
19,000,000 shares issued 190,000 190,000
Additional paid-in capital 63,664,000 63,664,000
Accumulated deficit (10,877,000) (5,885,000)
Treasury stock, at cost, 523,170 and 0 shares, respectively - -
-------------- --------------
Total stockholders' equity 52,977,000 57,969,000
-------------- --------------
$ 83,317,000 $ 80,739,000
=============== ===============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
13
<PAGE>
WEINER'S STORES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Successor Company Predecessor Company
----------------- -------------------
Year Twenty-Three Weeks Thirty Weeks Year
Ended Ended Ended Ended
January 30, 1999 January 31, 1998 August 25, 1997 January 25, 1997
---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales $ 260,908,000 $ 103,322,000 $ 160,315,000 $ 263,666,000
Cost of goods sold 174,750,000 72,308,000 106,350,000 179,164,000
------------- ------------- ------------- -----------
Gross margin 86,158,000 31,014,000 53,965,000 84,502,000
Selling, administrative and other operating costs 90,137,000 36,748,000 50,309,000 88,580,000
Reorganization expense - - 2,406,000 10,742,000
Impairment of assets - - - 3,044,000
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Operating (loss) income (3,979,000) (5,734,000) 1,250,000 (17,864,000)
Interest expense (1,013,000) (161,000) (40,000) (45,000)
Interest income - 10,000 167,000 641,000
"Fresh start" adjustments - - (1,519,000) -
------------- ------------- -------------- ------------
Loss before income taxes and extraordinary gain (4,992,000) (5,885,000) (142,000) (17,268,000)
Deferred income tax benefit - - - 48,000
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Loss before extraordinary gain (4,992,000) (5,885,000) (142,000) (17,220,000)
Extraordinary gain - - 18,683,000 -
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net (loss) income $ (4,992,000) $ (5,885,000) $ 18,541,000 $ (17,220,000)
============== =============== ============== ===============
Earnings per share of common stock:
Loss before extraordinary gain $ (0.26) $ (0.31) $ (1.42) $ (172.20)
Extraordinary gain - - 186.83 -
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net (loss) income per share of common stock $ (0.26) $ (0.31) $ 185.41 $ (172.20)
============== =============== ============== ===============
Weighted average number of shares of
common stock outstanding 18,869,208 19,000,000 100,000 100,000
============= ============= ============= =============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
WEINER'S STORES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(DEFICIENCY)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Common Additional Accumulated Treasury
Stock Paid-In Capital Deficit Stock Total
----- --------------- ------- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Predecessor Company:
Balances at January 28, 1996 $ 10,000,000 $ - $(17,226,000) $ - $ (7,226,000)
Net loss - - (17,220,000) - (17,220,000)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----------- -------------
Balances at January 25, 1997 10,000,000 - (34,446,000) - (24,446,000)
Net income for the thirty weeks ended August
25, 1997 - - 18,541,000 - 18,541,000
Cancellation of stock of Predecessor Company (10,000,000) - 15,905,000 - 5,905,000
Issuance of Successor Company common stock 190,000 63,664,000 - - 63,854,000
------------ ------------ ----------- ----------- ------------
Successor Company:
Balances at August 26, 1997 190,000 63,664,000 - - 63,854,000
Net loss for the twenty-three weeks ended
January 31, 1998 - - (5,885,000) - (5,885,000)
------------ ------------ ----------- ----------- ------------
Balances at January 31, 1998 190,000 63,664,000 (5,885,000) - 57,969,000
Treasury stock of 523,170 shares revested on
November 1, 1998 - - - - -
Net loss - - (4,992,000) - (4,992,000)
------------ ------------ ------------ ----------- -------------
Balances at January 30, 1999 $ 190,000 $ 63,664,000 $(10,877,000) $ - $ 52,977,000
============ ============ ============= =========== ============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
14
<PAGE>
WEINER'S STORES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Successor Company Predecessor Company
----------------- -------------------
Year Twenty-Three Weeks Thirty Weeks Year
Ended Ended Ended Ended
January 30, 1999 January 31, 1998 August 25, 1997 January 25, 1997
---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income $ (4,992,000) $ (5,885,000) $ 18,541,000 $ (17,220,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)
income to net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 4,079,000 1,842,000 2,241,000 3,644,000
Reorganization expense - - 2,406,000 10,742,000
"Fresh start" adjustments - - 1,519,000 -
Extraordinary gain - - (18,683,000) -
Impairment of assets - - - 3,044,000
Loss on disposition of assets 4,000 35,000 - 329,000
Change in deferred taxes (53,000) - - (48,000)
Change in other 174,000 (48,000) - -
Net change in current assets and liabilities 5,372,000 (10,059,000) (5,318,000) (4,897,000)
Total adjustments 9,576,000 (8,230,000) (17,835,000) 12,814,000
------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities 4,584,000 (14,115,000) 706,000 (4,406,000)
------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures (4,380,000) (3,010,000) (3,813,000) (3,957,000)
Proceeds on disposition of assets 71,000 26,000 61,000 8,000
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Net cash used in investing activities (4,309,000) (2,984,000) (3,752,000) (3,949,000)
------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Net (payments) borrowings under revolving
credit facility (1,000,000) 5,000,000 - -
------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing
activities (1,000,000) 5,000,000 - -
------------- -------------- -------------- --------------
Net Decrease in Cash (725,000) (12,099,000) (3,046,000) (8,355,000)
Cash, beginning of period 3,574,000 15,673,000 18,719,000 27,074,000
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Cash, end of period $ 2,849,000 $ 3,574,000 $ 15,673,000 $ 18,719,000
============= ============= ============= =============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
15
<PAGE>
WEINER'S STORES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1 ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Weiner's Stores, Inc. ("WSI" or the "Company") operates, as of January 30, 1999,
132 retail stores in Texas and Louisiana. As more fully described in Notes 7 and
8, the Company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 26, 1997 and adopted
"fresh start" reporting as set forth in the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants Statement of Position 90-7, "Financial Reporting by Entities
in Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code" ("SOP 90-7"). The consolidated
financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned
subsidiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been
eliminated.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and
the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
Fiscal Year
The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest January 31 of the
following calendar year. Fiscal year 1998 contains 52 weeks, fiscal year 1997
contains 53 weeks and fiscal year 1996 contains 52 weeks.
Cash
Cash includes temporary investments in short-term securities with original
maturities of three months or less.
Merchandise Inventories
Merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of cost (applied on a first-in,
first-out basis using the retail inventory method) or market. Trade and purchase
discounts are recorded as a reduction in inventory cost in the period in which
the merchandise is received. Certain general and administrative costs associated
with both the buying and the distribution of merchandise from the distribution
center to the stores are included in inventory. These costs were approximately
$2,400,000 at January 30, 1999 and at January 31, 1998.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment were restated at approximate fair market value at August
26, 1997. Additions subsequent to August 26, 1997 are recorded at cost.
Depreciation is provided using the 150% declining-balance method on the
distribution center and office facility based on an average life of 28 years.
Equipment is depreciated using the straight-line method based on an average
useful life of ten years. Store fixtures and leasehold improvements are
amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of their estimated
useful life of ten years or the term of the lease. Expenditures for maintenance
and repairs are charged to operations as incurred, while renewals and
betterments are capitalized. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment upon
occurrence of events or changes in circumstances that indicate that the carrying
value of these long-lived assets may not be recoverable, as measured by
comparing the assets' net book value to the estimated future cash flows
generated by their use. Impaired assets which are held for use are recorded at
the lesser of their carrying value or fair value.
Excess Reorganization Value
Excess reorganization value represents the adjustment of the Company's balance
sheet for reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to identifiable
assets. Excess reorganization value is being amortized over 15 years. The
Company reviews, at least annually, whether events or circumstances have
occurred that may impact the recoverability of excess reorganization value. If
this review indicates that this intangible asset will not be recoverable, as
determined based on the undiscounted cash flow over the remaining amortization
periods, the carrying value is reduced by the estimated shortfall of the
discounted cash flows.
Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes reflect the future tax consequences attributable to
temporary differences between the Company's assets and liabilities for financial
reporting and income tax purposes, using income tax rates in effect during the
periods presented. The effect of a change in existing income tax rates is
recognized in the income tax provision in the period that includes the enactment
date.
Earnings per Share of Common Stock
Earnings per share of common stock is computed as net (loss) income divided by
the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the
period. There is no difference between basic and dilutive earnings per share, as
the inclusion of options to purchase 945,500 shares of common stock would have
had an anti-dilutive effect. Earnings per share for prior periods is based on
16
<PAGE>
the Predecessor Company shares then outstanding; such information is not
comparable due to the Company's reorganization.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company's financial instruments include cash, receivables, trade accounts
payable and long-term debt. The fair values of cash, receivables and trade
accounts payable approximate recorded amounts as a result of their short-term
nature. The fair value of long-term debt approximates its recorded amount due to
the floating interest rate.
Advertising
The Company expenses advertising costs when the event advertised occurs.
Advertising expense, included in selling, administrative and other operating
costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, was $13,415,000
for fiscal 1998, $5,436,000 for the twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998
(Successor Company), $7,166,000 for the thirty weeks ended August 25, 1997
(Predecessor Company) and $12,702,000 in fiscal 1996.
Revenue Recognition Policy
The Company recognizes revenue at the point of sale. The Company has a layaway
program that in fiscal year 1998 accounted for approximately 10.7% of the
Company's revenues. Layaways are recognized as revenue at the point of sale and
as a receivable on the balance sheet. The Company generally requires a
refundable deposit on layaway sales. As customers pay on their layaways, the
payment reduces the receivable.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Accounting Standards Executive Committee has issued Statement of Position
98-5, "Reporting on the Costs of Start-up Activities" ("SOP 98-5"). Among other
things, SOP 98-5 requires that the costs of start-up activities be expensed as
incurred. SOP 98-5 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1998. The Company has adopted SOP 98-5 beginning January 31, 1999 (fiscal 1999).
Prior to the adoption of SOP 98-5, the Company expensed the costs associated
with the opening of new stores in the fiscal year in which the store was opened.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to current year
presentation.
2 LONG-TERM DEBT
As a result of the Company's financial performance since emerging from
bankruptcy, the Company entered into the second amendment, dated August 29, 1998
(the "Second Amendment"), to its revolving credit agreement dated as of August
26, 1997 (as amended, the "Revolving Credit Agreement"), which provided for,
among other things, a slight upward adjustment to the applicable interest rates
and an adjustment to the financial covenant relating to earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA"), as defined.
The Company believes that the financial covenants established in the Second
Amendment will be achieved based upon the Company's current and anticipated
performance. Based upon management's 1999 operating plan and availability under
the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company believes that there is adequate
liquidity to fund the Company's operations during fiscal year 1999. However,
material shortfalls or variances from anticipated performance could require the
Company to seek a further amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement or
alternative sources of financing or to limit capital expenditures.
The Company's Revolving Credit Agreement provides a $40,000,000 working capital
facility, including a $15,000,000 sub-facility for the issuance of letters of
credit. The Revolving Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the
Company's assets. The Revolving Credit Agreement provides that proceeds may be
used solely to fund working capital in the ordinary course of business and for
other general corporate purposes. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit
Agreement bear interest at the reference rate thereunder plus 0.5% or, at the
option of the Company, the Eurodollar Rate thereunder plus 2.5% and are due
August 31, 2000. The Company's blended interest rate was 8.02% at January 30,
1999. The working capital facility may also be used to fund letters of credit.
At January 30, 1999, the Company had approximately $20,168,000 available under
its working capital facility, after considering outstanding letters of credit of
approximately $5,051,000 and borrowings of $4,000,000. The Company's peak
borrowings under the working capital facility during fiscal year 1998, including
outstanding letters of credit, were approximately $19,216,000 in November 1998.
The Company may prepay amounts outstanding under the working capital facility
without penalty.
The Revolving Credit Agreement requires that the Company maintain certain
financial covenants and stipulates certain borrowing limitations based on the
Company's inventory levels. The Revolving Credit Agreement also restricts future
liens and indebtedness, sales of assets and dividend payments. Capital
expenditures are restricted to $7,000,000 in fiscal year 1999 and to $5,000,000
for the period commencing January 30, 2000 and ending August 31, 2000. As of
January 30, 1999, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants under
the Revolving Credit Agreement.
17
<PAGE>
Cash interest paid was approximately $925,000 during fiscal year 1998, $153,000
during the twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998 (Successor Company),
$33,000 during the thirty weeks ended August 25, 1997 (Predecessor Company)
and $44,000 during fiscal 1996.
3 ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consisted of the following:
January 30, January 31,
1999 1998
Payroll and related benefits $ 1,916,000 $ 1,661,000
Taxes other than income taxes 1,563,000 1,613,000
Rent and other related costs 2,264,000 2,123,000
Other 3,233,000 2,236,000
------------- ------------
Total $ 8,976,000 $ 7,633,000
============= ============
4 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The net change in current assets and liabilities reflected in the consolidated
statements of cash flows was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Successor Company Predecessor Company
----------------- -------------------
Year Twenty-Three Weeks Thirty Weeks Year
Ended Ended Ended Ended
January 30, 1999 January 31, 1998 August 25, 1997 January 25, 1997
---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Increase (decrease) in cash:
Receivables $ 95,000 $ 2,799,000 $ (1,960,000) $ 1,728,000
Merchandise inventories (4,297,000) 5,489,000 (2,453,000) (3,514,000)
Prepaid expenses and other
assets 757,000 (792,000) (241,000) 1,238,000
Accounts payable 7,671,000 (10,625,000) 10,256,000 (870,000)
Accrued expenses 1,146,000 (6,930,000) (10,920,000) (3,479,000)
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
$ 5,372,000 $ (10,059,000) $ (5,318,000) $ (4,897,000)
============= ============= ============= =============
</TABLE>
5 LEASES
The Company leases store locations under operating lease agreements, which
expire at varying dates through 2009. Most of the store leases include renewal
options for an additional 5 to 15 years, and require the Company to pay taxes,
insurance and certain common area maintenance costs in addition to specified
minimum rents. Most of the store leases also require the payment of contingent
rent based upon specified percentages of sales in excess of a base amount.
In fiscal year 1996, the Company paid $377,000 to related parties in minimum and
contingent rents. The Successor Company has no related parties.
Total rent expense for all operating leases was as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Successor Company Predecessor Company
----------------- -------------------
Year Twenty-Three Weeks Thirty Weeks Year
Ended Ended Ended Ended
January 30, 1999 January 31, 1998 August 25, 1997 January 25, 1997
---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Minimum rentals $ 10,186,000 $ 3,950,000 $ 5,426,000 $ 9,994,000
Contingent rentals 427,000 67,000 419,000 492,000
------------- ------------ ------------- ------------
Total $ 10,613,000 $ 4,017,000 $ 5,845,000 $ 10,486,000
============= ============ ============= ============
</TABLE>
At January 30, 1999, future minimum rental payments under all noncancelable
operating leases with initial or remaining lease terms of one year or more were
as follows:
Fiscal Year
-----------
1999 $ 10,326,000
2000 9,166,000
2001 7,262,000
2002 5,785,000
2003 4,177,000
Thereafter 7,768,000
-------------
Total $ 44,484,000
=============
18
<PAGE>
6 INCOME TAXES
A reconciliation of the Company's effective tax rate with the statutory federal
income tax rate is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Successor Company Predecessor Company
----------------- -------------------
Year Twenty-Three Weeks Thirty Weeks Year
Ended Ended Ended Ended
January 30, 1999 January 31, 1998 August 25, 1997 January 25, 1997
---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Expense (benefit) at statutory rate (34.0) % (34.0) % 34.0 % (34.0) %
Operating losses not providing
current benefit 34.0 34.0 - 33.7
Operating loss carryforwards - - (34.0) -
------------- ------------- ------------- --------------
Effective rate - - - (0.3) %
============= ============= ============= ==============
</TABLE>
Deferred tax assets and liabilities and the related valuation allowance were as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
January 30, January 31,
1999 1998
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax liabilities - depreciation and other $ 958,000 $ 450,000
----------- -----------
Deferred tax assets:
Operating loss carryforwards 13,961,000 12,740,000
Targeted jobs credit carryforward 779,000 779,000
Accrued expenses and other 1,158,000 863,000
----------- -----------
15,898,000 14,382,000
Valuation allowance (15,337,000) (14,382,000)
------------ ------------
Deferred income taxes, net $ 397,000 $ 450,000
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
The valuation allowance reduces deferred tax assets to the amount that the
Company believes is most likely to be realized. The Company has determined that
a $15,337,000 valuation allowance at January 30, 1999 is necessary to reduce the
deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized.
The $955,000 increase in the valuation allowance in the current year is the
result of current year net operating losses which may not be realized. At
January 30, 1999, the Company had federal income tax net operating loss ("NOL")
carryforwards of approximately $41,062,000. The NOL and targeted jobs credit
carryforwards expire in various years through 2013.
The amount of the NOL carryforwards and certain other tax attributes available
to the Company as of the Effective Date (see Note 7) were reduced substantially,
to approximately $31,000,000 as a result of the discharge and cancellation of
various prepetition liabilities under the Plan (see Note 7). Tax attributes
remaining after the application of cancellation of indebtedness rules are
subject to limitation-on-utilization rules. The federal tax code imposes
limitations on the utilization of tax attributes, such as NOL carryforwards,
after certain changes in the ownership of a loss company. The Company is a loss
company. The income tax benefit, if any, resulting from any future realization
of the NOL carryforwards existing as of the Effective Date will be credited to
Excess Reorganization Value (see Note 8) and then to additional paid-in-capital.
7 PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
On April 12, 1995 (the "Petition Date"), the Company filed a petition for
reorganization under Chapter 11 ("Chapter 11") of the Federal Bankruptcy Code
(the "Bankruptcy Code"). Subsequent to the Petition Date, the Company operated
as a debtor-in-possession under the supervision of the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the District of Delaware (the "Court"). As of the Petition Date,
actions to collect prepetition indebtedness were stayed and other contractual
obligations could not be enforced against the Company. In addition, under the
Bankruptcy Code, the Company could reject leases and executory contracts.
Parties affected by the rejections could file claims with the Court in
accordance with the reorganization process. Substantially all liabilities as of
the Petition Date were subject to settlement under a plan of reorganization that
was to be voted on by the creditors and approved by the Court.
As a result of extensive negotiations, the Company reached a compromise
agreement with representatives of all of its major creditor constituencies, as
well as the Predecessor Company's common stockholders. This compromise agreement
was then incorporated into and became the Amended Plan of Reorganization under
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code dated June 24, 1997, as amended (the "Plan").
On August 13, 1997, the Court commenced a hearing that resulted in the entering
of a court order confirming the Plan, which became effective August 26, 1997
(the "Effective Date").
19
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the Plan, all outstanding shares of common stock and any options,
warrants or other agreements requiring the issuance of any such stock were
extinguished. The Plan was designed to repay all priority creditors in full on
the Effective Date or thereafter as provided in the Plan and to repay secured
creditors in full over time with interest. Allowed unsecured claims totaling
approximately $85,200,000 were cancelled in exchange for $5,000,000 of cash and
18,600,000 shares of newly issued common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
reorganized company. An additional 400,000 shares of the newly issued common
stock were issued to senior management. Consequently, a total of 19,000,000
shares of newly issued common stock of the Successor Company were issued under
the Plan. In addition, the Plan authorized the issuance of options to purchase
up to 1,000,000 shares of newly issued common stock of the Successor Company for
purposes of providing incentives intended to retain and motivate highly
competent persons as key employees of the Company.
In connection with the Chapter 11 proceedings, the Company incurred
reorganization expenses as follows ($ in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Predecessor Company
-------------------
Thirty Weeks Year
Ended Ended
August 25, 1997 January 25, 1997
--------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Professional fees $ 1,894 $ 3,258
Store/warehouse closings 336 4,438
System and store reorganization costs 468 1,289
Administrative reorganization costs 818 8
Adjustment of liabilities subject to settlement (1,040) 1,500
Miscellaneous reorganization costs (70) 249
----------------- ----------------
Total $ 2,406 $ 10,742
================ ================
</TABLE>
8 "FRESH START" REPORTING
In accounting for the effects of the reorganization, the Company has adopted the
"fresh start" reporting provisions of Statement of Position 90-7, "Financial
Reporting by Entities in Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code" ("SOP 90-7"),
and reflected the effects of such adoption in the financial statements for the
twenty-three weeks from inception (August 26, 1997) to January 31, 1998. SOP
90-7 was applicable because the pre-reorganization stockholders received less
than 50% of the Successor Company's newly issued common stock and the enterprise
value of the assets of the Successor Company was less than the total of all
prepetition liabilities.
In adopting "fresh start" reporting, the Company was required to determine its
enterprise value, which represented the fair value of the entity before
considering its liabilities. The Company's enterprise value was determined with
the assistance of its financial advisor to be within a range that centered
around a point of estimate of $75,000,000. The enterprise value of the Company
was determined by consideration of several factors and reliance on various
valuation methods, including discounted future cash flows, market comparables
and price/earnings ratios.
The adjustments that reflected the adoption of "fresh start" reporting,
including the adjustments to record assets and liabilities at their fair market
values, were reflected in the financial statements as of August 25, 1997 as
"fresh start" adjustments. In addition, the Successor Company's opening balance
sheet was further adjusted to eliminate existing equity and to reflect the
aforementioned $75,000,000 enterprise value, which included the establishment of
$4,411,000 of reorganization value in excess of amounts allocable to
identifiable assets ("Excess Reorganization Value"). The Excess Reorganization
Value is being amortized using the straight-line method over a 15-year useful
life which is based on the average remaining life of the Company's operating
leases.
9 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
The Company sponsors the Weiner's Stores, Inc. 401(k) Plan, a defined
contribution plan. This plan allows participants to defer up to 15% of their
income. Company contributions are at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
No contributions were made by the Company in the fiscal years currently being
reported.
The Company also sponsors the Weiner's Stores, Inc. Employees' Profit Sharing
Plan. Contributions to the profit sharing plan are at the discretion of the
Board of Directors and are limited to the amount deductible under the current
applicable tax codes. The Company contributed $5,000 per year for each of the
three fiscal years ended January 30, 1999. On December 2, 1998, the Board of
Directors of the Company resolved that it was in the best interest of the
Company to terminate the profit sharing plan. The Company is in the process of
complying with this resolution.
The Company's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Stock Plan") is accounted for
using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related
interpretations, under which no compensation cost has been recognized. Had
compensation cost for this plan been determined consistent with the
20
<PAGE>
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting
for Stock Based Compensation," there would have been no changes to the Company's
reported net loss per share of common stock of $0.26 as of January 30, 1999 and
$0.31 as of the twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998 (Successor Company).
The weighted average fair value of options granted was estimated to be zero on
the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the
assumptions that the risk-free interest rate was 4.5%, price volatility was
0.001% and the expected term of the options was 2.5 years and no dividends were
expected.
The effect on fiscal 1998 and fiscal 1997 pro forma net income and net income
per share of common stock of expensing the estimated fair value of stock options
is not necessarily representative of the effect on reported earnings in future
years due to the vesting period of stock options and the potential for issuance
of additional stock options in future years.
Under the Stock Plan, a committee of the Board of Directors may grant options to
key employees to purchase common stock at not less than the fair market value at
the date of the grant. These options shall be exercisable at such time or times
and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Board of
Directors, provided that no stock option shall be exercisable later than 10
years after the date it is granted. Further, the Stock Plan allows that the
Board of Directors may grant stock awards consisting of common stock issued or
transferred to participants as additional compensation with or without other
payments to the Company. On the Effective Date of the Plan, stock awards of
400,000 shares were granted. The Stock Plan allows the Board of Directors to
grant options and awards up to the plan limit of 1,400,000 shares. If not
exercised, these options revert back to the Stock Plan and can be reissued as
new options. The number of options available to be granted under the Stock Plan
as of January 30, 1999 was 54,500.
A summary of options granted under the Stock Plan at January 30, 1999 is
presented below:
Weighted Average
Option Shares Exercise Price
------------- --------------
Outstanding, January 25, 1997 - $ -
Granted 900,000 1.15
Forfeited (1,500) 1.15
-------------- -------------
Outstanding, January 31, 1998 898,500 $ 1.15
-------------- -------------
Exercisable, January 31, 1998 83,333 $ 1.15
============== =============
Weighted Average
Option Shares Exercise Price
------------- --------------
Outstanding, January 31, 1998 898,500 $ 1.15
Granted 51,500 1.00
Forfeited (4,500) 1.15
-------------- -------------
Outstanding, January 30, 1999 945,500 $ 1.14
-------------- -------------
Exercisable, January 30, 1999 534,366 $ 1.15
============== =============
The Company has employment agreements with each of its three most senior
officers, which prescribe a minimum base salary and severance payments if the
executives are terminated for any reason other than cause, or in the case of the
chief executive officer, if he resigns for good reason. Further, the Company has
entered into agreements with key employees in an effort to retain continuity for
a meaningful period of time. In addition, the Company, with respect to certain
of its officers and key employees and without altering their employment-at-will
status, has provided for a separation payment equal to six to twelve months base
salary in the event of termination for any reason other than cause. If all
officers and key employees, including the three most senior officers, were
terminated, the Company's estimated maximum aggregate severance payment
obligations would be approximately $1,946,000.
10 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
At both January 30, 1999 and January 31, 1998, 50,000,000 shares of common
stock, $0.01 par value per share, were authorized and 19,000,000 shares were
issued. The Company had 18,476,830 and 19,000,000 shares outstanding at January
30, 1999 and January 31, 1998, respectively. On November 1, 1998, the Company
acquired 523,170 treasury shares, at a cost of zero, as a result of unclaimed
distributions as described in the Plan, which called for unclaimed distributions
to be revested in the Company. At January 31, 1998, there were no shares held in
treasury.
11 IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS
As a result of management's decision to replace the store point-of-sale
equipment with more advanced equipment in the future, an impairment expense of
$3,044,000 was recorded in fiscal 1996. The Company recorded no impairments in
fiscal 1998 or fiscal 1997.
21
<PAGE>
12 QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Year Ended January 30, 1999
----------------------------------
First Second Third Fourth Total
----- ------ ----- ------ -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales $ 61,579 $68,548 $ 60,585 $ 70,196 $260,908
Gross profit 22,791 22,485 20,601 20,281 86,158
Operating income (loss) 781 (331) (2,400) (2,029) (3,979)
Net income (loss) $ 604 $ (596) $(2,709) $ (2,291) $ (4,992)
Weighted average number of shares of
common stock outstanding 19,000 19,000 19,000 18,476 18,869
Earnings (loss) per share (a) $ 0.03 $ (0.03) $ (0.14) $ (0.13) $ (0.26)
</TABLE>
(a) The sum of the four quarterly earnings per share amounts does not agree
with the earnings per share as calculated for the full year due to the fact
that the full year calculation uses a weighted average number of shares
based on the sum of the four quarterly weighted average numbers of shares
divided by four quarters.
13 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
There are various suits and claims against the Company that have arisen in the
normal course of business. The total liability on these matters cannot be
determined with certainty. However, in the opinion of management, the ultimate
liability, to the extent not otherwise provided for, will not materially impact
the financial statements of the Company.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR
FINANCIAL REPORTING
Weiner's Stores, Inc.'s management is responsible for the fair presentation of
the consolidated financial statements and the related financial data presented
in this Annual Report. The statements were prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and include amounts determined by management's
estimates and judgments, based on currently available information, which it
believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
The Company maintains a system of internal controls that management believes
provides reasonable assurance that the financial statements are reliably
prepared, assets are properly accounted for and safeguarded, and transactions
are properly recorded and authorized. The concept of reasonable assurance
implies that the cost of controls should not exceed their benefits, recognizing
that limitations exist within any system.
The Board of Directors oversees management's administration of the Company's
financial and accounting policies and practices and the preparation of the
financial statements. The Audit Committee, which consists of three
non-management directors, meets regularly with management and the independent
auditors to review their activities. The independent auditors have direct access
to the Audit Committee and meet regularly with the Audit Committee, with and
without management representatives present.
/s/ Raymond J. Miller
Raymond J. Miller
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
22
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORTS
Board of Directors and Stockholders of Weiner's Stores, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Weiner's Stores,
Inc. (Company) as of January 30, 1999, and the related consolidated statements
of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the year then ended.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Weiner's Stores,
Inc. at January 30,1999, and the consolidated results of its operations and its
cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Houston, Texas
March 17, 1999
Board of Directors and Stockholders of Weiner's Stores, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Weiner's Stores,
Inc. and subsidiary as of January 31, 1998, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, changes in stockholders' equity (deficiency) and of
cash flows for the twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998 (Successor Company
operations), the thirty weeks ended August 25, 1997, and the year ended January
25, 1997 (Predecessor Company operations). These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
As discussed in Notes 1 and 7 to the consolidated financial statements, on
August 13, 1997 the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming the plan of
reorganization of Weiner's Stores, Inc., which became effective after the close
of business on August 25, 1997. Accordingly, the accompanying financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with AICPA Statement of Position
90-7, "Financial Reporting for Entities in Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy
Code" for the Successor Company as a new entity with assets, liabilities, and a
capital structure having carrying values not comparable with prior periods as
described in Note 8.
In our opinion, the Successor Company consolidated financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Weiner's Stores,
Inc. and subsidiary as of January 31, 1998, and the results of its operations
and its cash flows for the twenty-three weeks ended January 31, 1998 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Further, in our
opinion, the Predecessor Company financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the results of the Predecessor Company's
operations and its cash flows for the thirty weeks ended August 25, 1997 and the
year ended January 25, 1997 in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Houston, Texas
March 19, 1998
23
<PAGE>
MARKET AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
MARKET PRICE INFORMATION
As of August 17, 1998, the Company's Common Stock began trading on the
Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board Service ("OTC") under the symbol "WEIR." There
was previously no established public trading market for the Common Stock. The
following table sets forth, for each full quarterly period in fiscal year 1998
since trading on the OTC began, the high and low sales price per share of the
Company's Common Stock as reported on the OTC.
1998 High Low
---- ---- ---
3rd Quarter $1.500 $0.250
(from August 17, 1998)
4th Quarter 0.281 0.125
The last reported sale price per share of Common Stock as reported on the OTC on
April 1, 1999 was $0.375. As of April 1, 1999, there were 518 holders of record
of the Common Stock. This number does not include stockholders for whom shares
are held in a "nominee" or "street" name.
The Company did not declare or pay any cash dividends with respect to the Common
Stock during fiscal 1998, fiscal 1997 or fiscal 1996. The terms of the Revolving
Credit Agreement prohibit payment of cash dividends on the Common Stock.
FORM 10-K
A COPY OF FORM 10-K FILED BY THE COMPANY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 30, 1999 MAY BE OBTAINED BY
STOCKHOLDERS WITHOUT CHARGE (EXCEPT EXHIBITS) UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO RAYMOND J.
MILLER, VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, AT THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF
THE COMPANY.
24
<PAGE>
DIRECTORS
Herbert R. Douglas
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
Raymond J. Miller
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
Randall L. Lambert
Senior Managing Director, Chanin Kirkland Messina LLC; Director,
Today's Man Inc.
Gasper Mir
President, Mir-Fox & Rodriguez, P.C.
F. Hall Webb
Senior Vice President, Chase Bank of Texas
Melvyn L. Wolff
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Star Furniture Company
OTHER CORPORATE OFFICERS
Jerome L. Feller
Vice President, General Merchandise Manager
James L. Berens
Vice President, Stores
Joseph J. Kassa
Vice President, Marketing, Sales Promotion and Real Estate
Michael S. Marcus
Controller and Treasurer
STOCKHOLDER INFORMATION
Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at 8:30 a.m. local time on
Thursday, June 10, 1999 at the executive offices of the Company, 6005 Westview
Drive, Houston, Texas.
Executive Offices Legal Counsel
6005 Westview Drive Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Houston, Texas 77055 700 Louisiana, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
Independent Auditors Transfer Agent and Registrar
Ernst & Young LLP American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1221 McKinney, Suite 2400 40 Wall Street
Houston, Texas 77010 New York, New York 10005
In Memorium
Merwin (Hank) F. Kaminstein, Chairman of Brookstone Company and a Director of
Weiner's Stores, Inc., died of cancer on December 21, 1998 in Boston,
Massachusetts. Hank is survived by his wife, Janet, six children, four
grandchildren and a sister.
Hank spent his entire career in retail. He was cherished by the market
community, his co-workers and his competitors for his true leadership and strong
retail ability.
Weiner's will miss him professionally and, most importantly, personally, for his
warm personality and his friendship.
25
<PAGE>
Weiner's (R)
Because Everybody Loves A Bargain!
6005 Westview Drive, Houston, Texas 77055
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Weiner's Stores, Inc. of our report dated March 17, 1999, included in the
1998 Annual Report to Stockholders of Weiner's Stores, Inc.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
April 27, 1999
Houston, Texas
EXHIBIT 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Herbert R. Douglas hereby designates and appoints Raymond J. Miller as
his attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution
(the "Attorney-in-Fact"), for him and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to execute the annual report on Form 10-K (the "Annual
Report") to be filed by Weiner's Stores, Inc. with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and any amendment(s) to the Annual Report, which
amendment(s) may make such changes in the Annual Report as the
Attorney-in-Fact deems appropriate, and to file the Annual Report and each
such amendment to the Annual Report together with all exhibits thereto and
any and all documents in connection therewith.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Herbert R. Douglas President and Chief Executive April 13, 1999
- --------------------------- Officer and Chairman of the
Herbert R. Douglas Board of Directors
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Raymond J. Miller hereby designates and appoints Herbert R. Douglas as
his attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and resubstitution
(the "Attorney-in-Fact"), for him and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to execute the annual report on Form 10-K (the "Annual
Report") to be filed by Weiner's Stores, Inc. with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and any amendment(s) to the Annual Report, which
amendment(s) may make such changes in the Annual Report as the
Attorney-in-Fact deems appropriate, and to file the Annual Report and each
such amendment to the Annual Report together with all exhibits thereto and
any and all documents in connection therewith.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Raymond J. Miller Vice President, Chief Financial April 13, 1999
- ------------------------- Officer, Secretary and Director
Raymond J. Miller
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Michael S. Marcus hereby designates and appoints Herbert R. Douglas and
Raymond J. Miller and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone) as his attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute the annual report on Form
10-K (the "Annual Report") to be filed by Weiner's Stores, Inc. with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any amendment(s) to the Annual
Report, which amendment(s) may make such changes in the Annual Report as
either Attorney-in-Fact deems appropriate, and to file the Annual Report
and each such amendment to the Annual Report together with all exhibits
thereto and any and all documents in connection therewith.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Michael S. Marcus Controller and Treasurer April 13, 1999
- ----------------------------
Michael S. Marcus
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Randall L. Lambert hereby designates and appoints Herbert R. Douglas
and Raymond J. Miller and each of them (with full power to each of them to
act alone) as his attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute the annual report on Form
10-K (the "Annual Report") to be filed by Weiner's Stores, Inc. with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any amendment(s) to the Annual
Report, which amendment(s) may make such changes in the Annual Report as
either Attorney-in-Fact deems appropriate, and to file the Annual Report
and each such amendment to the Annual Report together with all exhibits
thereto and any and all documents in connection therewith.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Randall L. Lambert Director April 16, 1999
- ------------------------------
Randall L. Lambert
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Gasper Mir hereby designates and appoints Herbert R. Douglas and
Raymond J. Miller and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone) as his attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute the annual report on Form
10-K (the "Annual Report") to be filed by Weiner's Stores, Inc. with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any amendment(s) to the Annual
Report, which amendment(s) may make such changes in the Annual Report as
either Attorney-in-Fact deems appropriate, and to file the Annual Report
and each such amendment to the Annual Report together with all exhibits
thereto and any and all documents in connection therewith.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Gasper Mir Director April 13, 1999
- ------------------------------
Gasper Mir
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
F. Hall Webb hereby designates and appoints Herbert R. Douglas and
Raymond J. Miller and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone) as his attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute the annual report on Form
10-K (the "Annual Report") to be filed by Weiner's Stores, Inc. with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any amendment(s) to the Annual
Report, which amendment(s) may make such changes in the Annual Report as
either Attorney-in-Fact deems appropriate, and to file the Annual Report
and each such amendment to the Annual Report together with all exhibits
thereto and any and all documents in connection therewith.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ F. Hall Webb Director April 13, 1999
- ----------------------------
F. Hall Webb
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Melvyn L. Wolff hereby designates and appoints Herbert R. Douglas and
Raymond J. Miller and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone) as his attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution (the "Attorneys-in-Fact"), for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to execute the annual report on Form
10-K (the "Annual Report") to be filed by Weiner's Stores, Inc. with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any amendment(s) to the Annual
Report, which amendment(s) may make such changes in the Annual Report as
either Attorney-in-Fact deems appropriate, and to file the Annual Report
and each such amendment to the Annual Report together with all exhibits
thereto and any and all documents in connection therewith.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Melvyn L. Wolff Director April 23, 1999
- -----------------------------
Melvyn L. Wolff
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
EXHIBIT 27.1
Financial Data Schedule
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Company's financial statements incorporated by reference in the accompanying
Annual Report on Form 10-K and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> JAN-30-1999
<CASH> 2,849
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 1,252
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 54,243
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 60,724
<PP&E> 22,982
<DEPRECIATION> (4,296)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 83,317
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 25,943
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 190
<OTHER-SE> 52,977
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 83,317
<SALES> 260,908
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 260,908
<CGS> 174,750
<TOTAL-COSTS> 174,750
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 90,137
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,013
<INCOME-PRETAX> (4,992)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (4,992)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (4,992)
<EPS-PRIMARY> (0.26)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.26)
</TABLE>
