Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2011

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of Business

Limited Brands, Inc. ("the Company") operates in the highly competitive specialty retail business. The Company is a specialty retailer of women's intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care products and accessories. The Company sells its merchandise through specialty retail stores in the United States ("U.S.") and Canada, which are primarily mall-based, and through its websites, catalogue and other channels. The Company currently operates the following retail brands:

• Victoria's Secret

• Victoria's Secret Pink

• La Senza

• Bath & Body Works

• C. O. Bigelow

• The White Barn Candle Company

• Henri Bendel

Fiscal Year

The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31. As used herein, "first quarter of 2011" and "first quarter of 2010" refers to the thirteen week periods ending April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010, respectively.

Basis of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The Company accounts for investments in unconsolidated entities where it exercises significant influence, but does not have control, using the equity method. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company recognizes its share of the investee net income or loss. Losses are only recognized to the extent the Company has positive carrying value related to the investee. Carrying values are only reduced below zero if the Company has an obligation to provide funding to the investee. The Company's share of net income or loss of unconsolidated entities from which the Company purchases merchandise or merchandise components is included in Costs of Goods Sold, Buying and Occupancy on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company's share of net income or loss of all other unconsolidated entities is included in Other Income on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company's equity investments are required to be tested for impairment when it is determined there may be an other than temporary loss in value.

Express

2010

Through May 12, 2010, the Company had a 25% ownership interest in Express and accounted for this investment under the equity method of accounting. On May 13, 2010, Express completed an initial public offering ("IPO"). Additionally, the Company sold a portion of its shares of common stock in Express in conjunction with the IPO. As a result, the Company's ownership interest was diluted from 25% to 18%. The Company eliminated in consolidation 25% of gross merchandise sourcing revenue to Express through May 12, 2010 and eliminated 18% from May 13, 2010 through the end of the second quarter of 2010.

Based on the Company's reduced ownership in Express, the resulting loss of contractual rights and the resignation of the Company's seats on Express' Board of Directors in August 2010, the Company concluded that it was no longer appropriate to account for its investment in Express using the equity method of accounting. Thus, at the beginning of the third quarter of 2010, the Company commenced accounting for its investment in Express using the cost method of accounting. As a result of the accounting change, the Company ceased recording equity income (loss) from Express in Other Income on the Consolidated Statement of Income and the Company also began recognizing 100% of gross merchandise sourcing revenue to Express.

2011

In April 2011, the Company sold a portion of its remaining shares of common stock in Express in an Express secondary offering, which reduced the Company's ownership in Express to 8%. In April 2011, the Company also formally renounced its rights to its Express Board of Directors' seat. As a result, the Company commenced accounting for its investment in Express using the available-for-sale method of accounting in the first quarter of 2011. Under the available-for-sale method of accounting, the fair market value of the Company's investment in Express is marked-to-market at the end of each period based on the closing price of publicly traded Express shares. The related unrealized gain is included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Realized gains are recognized upon the disposition of the shares.

Limited Stores

Through June 9, 2010, the Company had a 25% ownership interest in Limited Stores. The Company accounted for this investment under the equity method of accounting and eliminated in consolidation 25% of gross merchandise sourcing revenue to Limited Stores equal to the Company's ownership percentage. On June 10, 2010, the Company divested its remaining 25% ownership percentage in Limited Stores and resigned its seat on Limited Stores' Board of Directors. Beginning June 10, 2010, the Company ceased recording equity income (loss) from Limited Stores and also began recognizing 100% of gross merchandise sourcing revenue to Limited Stores.

Interim Financial Statements

The Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the quarter ended April 30, 2011 and May 1, 2010 are unaudited and are presented pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto contained in the Company's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods.

Seasonality of Business

Due to seasonal variations in the retail industry, the results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents with various major financial institutions. Currently, the Company's investment portfolio is comprised of U.S. and Canadian government obligations and AAA-rated money market funds, bank time deposits and highly rated commercial paper.

The Company monitors the relative credit standing of financial institutions and other entities with whom the Company transacts and limits the amount of credit exposure with any one entity. The Company also monitors the creditworthiness of entities to which the Company grants credit terms in the normal course of business and counterparties to derivative instruments.