-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, B1SGU1vJcIjxUNPKMH4eWkQnMOPr78WWFqFHzDEItya3QwYoMjxWY4DtomkoUHm3 DvjOcpyjNRjTC5bE444T4A== 0000902664-98-000274.txt : 19980925 0000902664-98-000274.hdr.sgml : 19980925 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000902664-98-000274 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13G PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19980924 SROS: NASD GROUP MEMBERS: LONE BALSAM, L.P. GROUP MEMBERS: LONE PINE ASSOCIATES LLC GROUP MEMBERS: LONE PINE CAPITAL LLC GROUP MEMBERS: LONE SEQUOIA, L.P. GROUP MEMBERS: LONE SPRUCE, L.P. GROUP MEMBERS: STEPHEN F. MANDEL, JR. SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WET SEAL INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000863456 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621] IRS NUMBER: 330415940 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0131 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13G SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-41525 FILM NUMBER: 98714314 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 26972 BURBANK CITY: FOOTHILL RANCH STATE: CA ZIP: 92610 BUSINESS PHONE: 7145839029 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 26972 BURBANK CITY: FOOTHILL RANCH STATE: CA ZIP: 92610 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LONE PINE CAPITAL LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001061165 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [] FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13G BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO GREENWICH PLZ CITY: GREENWICH STATE: CT ZIP: 06830 BUSINESS PHONE: 2036181400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: TWO GREENWICH PLZ CITY: GREENWICH STATE: CT ZIP: 06830 SC 13G 1 SECURITIES & EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ______________________ SCHEDULE 13G* (Rule 13d-102) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c) AND (d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO 13d-2(b) The Wet Seal, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Class A Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 961840105 (CUSIP Number) September 15, 1998 (Date of event which requires filing of this statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule 13G is filed: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [X] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) (Page 1 of 12 Pages) ________________ *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes) CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 2 of 12 Pages ____________________________________________________________________________ (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Lone Spruce, L.P. _____________________________________________________________________________ (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________________ (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware _____________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ______________________________________________________________ BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 16,325 OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________ EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ______________________________________________________________ PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 16,325 _____________________________________________________________________________ (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 16,325 _____________________________________________________________________________ (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0.2% _____________________________________________________________________________ (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** PN _____________________________________________________________________________ ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 3 of 12 Pages ____________________________________________________________________________ (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Lone Balsam, L.P. _____________________________________________________________________________ (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________________ (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware _____________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ______________________________________________________________ BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 42,195 OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________ EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ______________________________________________________________ PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 42,195 _____________________________________________________________________________ (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 42,195 _____________________________________________________________________________ (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0.4% _____________________________________________________________________________ (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** PN _____________________________________________________________________________ ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 4 of 12 Pages ____________________________________________________________________________ (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Lone Sequoia, L.P. _____________________________________________________________________________ (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________________ (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware _____________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ______________________________________________________________ BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 42,195 OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________ EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ______________________________________________________________ PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 42,195 _____________________________________________________________________________ (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 42,195 _____________________________________________________________________________ (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0.4% _____________________________________________________________________________ (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** PN _____________________________________________________________________________ ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 5 of 12 Pages ____________________________________________________________________________ (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Lone Pine Associates LLC _____________________________________________________________________________ (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________________ (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware _____________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ______________________________________________________________ BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 100,715 OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________ EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ______________________________________________________________ PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 100,715 _____________________________________________________________________________ (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 100,715 _____________________________________________________________________________ (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 0.9% _____________________________________________________________________________ (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** OO _____________________________________________________________________________ ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 6 of 12 Pages ____________________________________________________________________________ (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Lone Pine Capital LLC _____________________________________________________________________________ (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________________ (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware _____________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ______________________________________________________________ BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 454,485 OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________ EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ______________________________________________________________ PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 454,485 _____________________________________________________________________________ (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 454,485 _____________________________________________________________________________ (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 4.3% _____________________________________________________________________________ (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IA _____________________________________________________________________________ ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 7 of 12 Pages ____________________________________________________________________________ (1) NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. _____________________________________________________________________________ (2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP ** (a) [X] (b) [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (3) SEC USE ONLY _____________________________________________________________________________ (4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States _____________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER OF (5) SOLE VOTING POWER -0- SHARES ______________________________________________________________ BENEFICIALLY (6) SHARED VOTING POWER 555,200 OWNED BY ___________________________________________________________ EACH (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER -0- REPORTING ______________________________________________________________ PERSON WITH (8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 555,200 _____________________________________________________________________________ (9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 555,200 _____________________________________________________________________________ (10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES ** [ ] _____________________________________________________________________________ (11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.2% _____________________________________________________________________________ (12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON ** IN _____________________________________________________________________________ ** SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT! CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 8 of 12 Pages Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: The name of the issuer is The Wet Seal, Inc. (the "Company"). Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: The Company's principal executive offices are located at 26972 Burbank, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610. Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing: This statement is filed by: (i) Lone Spruce, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Lone Spruce"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock (defined in Item 2(d) below) directly owned by it; (ii) Lone Balsam, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Lone Balsam"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by it; (iii) Lone Sequoia, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Lone Sequoia"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by it; (iv) Lone Pine Associates LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Lone Pine"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by Lone Spruce, Lone Balsam and Lone Sequoia; (v) Lone Pine Capital LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Lone Pine Capital"), which serves as investment manager to Lone Cypress, Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company ("Lone Cypress"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by Lone Cypress; and (vi) Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. ("Mr. Mandel"), with respect to the shares of Common Stock directly owned by each of Lone Spruce, Lone Balsam, Lone Sequoia and Lone Cypress. The foregoing persons are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the "Reporting Persons". Any disclosures herein with respect to persons other than the Reporting Persons are made on information and belief after making inquiry to the appropriate party. Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence: The address of the business office of each of the Reporting Persons is Two Greenwich Plaza, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 9 of 12 Pages Item 2(c). Citizenship: Lone Spruce, Lone Balsam and Lone Sequoia are limited partnerships organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Lone Pine Associates LLC and Lone Pine Capital LLC are limited liability companies organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Mr. Mandel is a United States citizen. Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: Class A Common Stock, $0.10 par value (the "Common Stock") Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: 961840105 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act, (b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act, (c) [ ] Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act, (d) [ ] Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, (e) [ ] Investment Adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(E), (f) [ ] Employee Benefit Plan or Endowment Fund in accordance with 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(F), (g) [ ] Parent Holding Company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1 (b)(1)(ii)(G), (h) [ ] Savings Association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, (i) [ ] Church Plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Not applicable. CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 10 of 12 Pages Item 4. Ownership. A. Lone Spruce, L.P. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 16,325 (b) Percent of class: 0.2% The percentages used herein and in the rest of Item 4 are calculated based upon the 10,676,578 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of September 4, 1998 as reported in the Company's Form 10-Q for the period ending August 1, 1998. (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 16,325 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 16,325 B. Lone Balsam, L.P. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 42,195 (b) Percent of class: 0.4% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 42,195 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 42,195 C. Lone Sequoia, L.P. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 42,195 (b) Percent of class: 0.4% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 42,195 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 42,195 D. Lone Pine Associates LLC (a) Amount beneficially owned: 100,715 (b) Percent of class: 0.9% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 100,715 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 100,715 C. Lone Pine Capital LLC (a) Amount beneficially owned: 454,485 (b) Percent of class: 4.3% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 454,485 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 454,485 D. Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 555,200 (b) Percent of class: 5.2% (c)(i) Sole power to vote or direct the vote: -0- (ii) Shared power to vote or direct the vote: 555,200 (iii) Sole power to dispose or direct the disposition: -0- (iv) Shared power to dispose or direct the disposition: 555,200 CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 11 of 12 Pages Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. Not applicable. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Lone Pine, the general partner of Lone Spruce, Lone Sequoia and Lone Balsam, has the power to direct the affairs of Lone Spruce, Lone Sequoia and Lone Balsam, including decisions respecting the disposition of the proceeds from the sale of shares. Mr. Mandel is the Managing Member of Lone Pine and of Lone Pine Capital, and in that capacity directs their operations. Lone Cypress, a client of Lone Pine Capital, has the power to direct the receipt of dividends from or the proceeds of the sale of shares. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. See Item 2. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Item 10. Certification. Each of the Reporting Persons hereby makes the following certification: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. CUSIP No. 961840105 13G Page 12 of 12 Pages SIGNATURES After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, the undersigned certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. DATED: September 24, 1998 LONE SPRUCE, L.P. By: Lone Pine Associates LLC, General Partner By: /s/ Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Managing Member LONE BALSAM, L.P. By: Lone Pine Associates LLC, General Partner By: /s/ Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Managing Member LONE SEQUOIA, L.P. By: Lone Pine Associates LLC, General Partner By: /s/ Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Managing Member LONE PINE ASSOCIATES LLC, By: /s/ Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Managing Member LONE PINE CAPITAL LLC, By: /s/ Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. Managing Member STEPHEN F. MANDEL, JR. /s/ Stephen F. Mandel, Jr. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----