EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING SALES FOR THE MONTH AND QUARTER ENDED OCTOBER 30, 2004 Press Release Announcing Sales for the Month and Quarter ended October 30, 2004

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

LOGO

 

LIMITED BRANDS, INC. REPORTS OCTOBER 2004 SALES

 

Columbus, Ohio (November 4, 2004) — Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD) reported a comparable store sales increase of 14% for the four weeks ended October 30, 2004 compared to the four weeks ended November 1, 2003. Net sales were $633.8 million compared to sales of $556.6 million last year.

 

The Company reported a comparable store sales increase of 1% for the third quarter ended October 30, 2004. Net sales for the third quarter were $1.891 billion, an increase of 2% compared to sales of $1.847 billion last year. Comparable store sales increased 6% for the year-to-date period and net sales were $6.080 billion compared to sales of $5.703 billion last year.

 

To hear further commentary provided on Limited Brands’ prerecorded October sales message, call 1-800-337-6551, followed by the passcode LTD (583), or log onto www.Limitedbrands.com for an audio replay.

 

ABOUT LIMITED BRANDS:

 

Limited Brands, through Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Express, Limited Stores, White Barn Candle Co. and Henri Bendel, presently operates 3,835 specialty stores. Victoria’s Secret products are also available through the catalogue and www.VictoriasSecret.com.

 

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: All forward-looking statements made by the Company in this press release or the October sales call involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, the Company’s future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect the Company’s financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results for 2004 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this press release or the October sales call or otherwise made by management: changes in consumer spending patterns, consumer preferences and overall economic conditions; the potential impact of national and international security concerns on the retail environment, including any possible military action, terrorist attacks or other hostilities; our ability to service our debt, any debt we draw down under our credit facilities, and other any debt we incur, and the restrictions the agreements related to such debt impose upon us; our ability to implement our strategic and operational initiatives; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in weather patterns; political stability; postal rate increases and charges; paper and printing costs; risks associated with the seasonality of the retail industry; risks related to consumer acceptance of the Company’s products and the ability to develop new merchandise; the ability to retain, hire and train key personnel; risks associated with the possible inability of the Company’s manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; risks associated with relying on foreign sources of production; risks associated with the possible lack of availability of suitable store locations on appropriate terms and other factors that may be described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking information provided in this press release or the October sales call is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.


ADDITIONAL LEGAL INFORMATION:

 

This press release and the October sales call are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Limited Brands’ common stock. The tender offer is being made only pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and the related materials that Limited Brands distributed to shareholders on October 7, 2004. Stockholders should read the Offer to Purchase and the related materials carefully because they contain important information. Stockholders can obtain a free copy of the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, the Offer to Purchase and other documents that Limited Brands filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission at the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of these documents, without charge, from D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the tender offer, toll free at 888-628-8208.

 

# # #

 

For further information, please contact:

Tom Katzenmeyer

SVP, Investor, Media and Community Relations

Limited Brands, Inc.

614-415-7076

www.Limitedbrands.com

 

For further information regarding the self-tender offer,

please contact:

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

888-628-8208


 

LIMITED BRANDS

October 2004

 

Comparable Store Sales Increase (Decrease):

 

     October
2004


   

October

2003


    Third
Quarter 2004


    Third
Quarter 2003


    Year-to-Date
2004


   

Year-to-Date

2003


 

Victoria’s Secret Stores

   16 %   4 %   13 %   5 %   11 %   4 %

Bath & Body Works

   11 %   3 %   9 %   3 %   13 %   2 %

Express

   16 %   (10 )%   (12 )%   (2 )%   (3 )%   (1 )%

Limited Stores

   5 %   (7 )%   (13 )%   0 %   (5 )%   (3 )%

Total Apparel

   13 %   (9 )%   (13 )%   (2 )%   (4 )%   (1 )%

Limited Brands

   14 %   (2 )%   1 %   2 %   6 %   1 %

 

Total Sales (Millions):

 

     Third
Quarter 2004


   Third
Quarter 2003


   Year-to-date
2004


  

Year-to-date

2003


Victoria’s Secret Stores

   $ 632.0    $ 556.6    $ 2,007.0    $ 1,787.4

Victoria’s Secret Direct

     198.1      176.8      755.0      666.6
    

  

  

  

Total Victoria’s Secret

   $ 830.1    $ 733.4    $ 2,762.0    $ 2,454.0

Bath & Body Works

   $ 350.0    $ 320.3    $ 1,162.3    $ 1,035.0

Express

   $ 449.5    $ 503.7    $ 1,374.4    $ 1,431.0

Limited Stores

     134.9      159.5      402.5      436.7
    

  

  

  

Total Apparel

   $ 584.4    $ 663.2    $ 1,776.9    $ 1,867.7

Total Other

   $ 126.4    $ 129.9    $ 378.7    $ 346.5
    

  

  

  

Limited Brands

   $ 1,890.9    $ 1,846.8    $ 6,079.9    $ 5,703.2
    

  

  

  


 

Total Stores:

 

    

Stores

Operating

at 1/31/04


   Year-to-date

   

Express

Integration

(see note)


   

Stores

Operating

at 10/30/04


        Opened

   Closed

     

Victoria’s Secret Stores

   1,009    10    (18 )   —       1,001

Bath & Body Works

   1,604    8    (30 )   —       1,582

Express Women

   562    1    (8 )   (67 )   488

Express Men’s

   290    —      (43 )   (1 )   246

Express Dual Gender

   104    12    —       68     184
    
  
  

 

 

Total Express

   956    13    (51 )   —       918

Limited Stores

   341    —      (9 )   —       332
    
  
  

 

 

Total Apparel

   1,297    13    (60 )   —       1,250

Henri Bendel

   1    1    —       —       2
    
  
  

 

 

Total Limited Brands

   3,911    32    (108 )   —       3,835
    
  
  

 

 

 

Note: “Express Integration” represents conversion of Express Women and/or Express Men stores to Express dual gender stores.