COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Limited Brands, Inc.
(NYSE: LTD) reported comparable store sales for the five weeks ended February 3, 2007 increased 11% compared to the five weeks ended
February 4, 2006. The Company reported net sales of $1.060 billion for the five-week period ended February 3, 2007 compared
to sales of $813.4 million for the four-week period ended January 28, 2006. Last year's sales include $30.4 million related
to an adjustment for gift card breakage at Bath & Body Works and Express. Excluding the fifth week in January this year
and the gift card breakage adjustment from last year, the sales increase from the
comparable four-week period last year
was 14%.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020520/CLM001LOGO )
Comparable store sales for the fourteen weeks ended February 3, 2007 increased 8% compared to the
fourteen weeks ended February 4, 2006. Net sales were $4.025 billion for the fourteen weeks ended February 3, 2007 compared
to $3.542 billion (including $30.4 million related to the previously mentioned gift card breakage adjustment) for the
thirteen weeks ended January 28, 2006. Excluding the fourteenth week this year and the gift card breakage adjustment from
last year, the sales increase from the comparable thirteen-week period last year was 10%.
The Company reported a comparable stores sales increase of 7% for the fifty-three weeks ended February
3, 2007, compared to the fifty-three weeks ended February 4, 2006. Net sales were $10.671 billion for the fifty-three weeks
ended February 3, 2007 compared to $9.699 billion (including $30.4 million related to the previously mentioned gift card breakage
adjustment) for the fifty-two weeks ended January 28, 2006. Excluding sales from the fifty- third week this year and the gift
card breakage adjustment from last year, net sales increased 9% from the comparable fifty-two week period last
year.
To hear further commentary provided on Limited Brands' prerecorded January sales message, call 1-800-337-6551,
followed by the passcode LTD (583), or log onto http://www.Limitedbrands.com for an audio replay. Limited Brands' fourth quarter earnings will be released after the close of the market on February 28,
2007 and the live conference call will take place at
9:00 a.m. ET on March 1, 2007.
ABOUT LIMITED BRANDS:
Limited Brands, through Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, C.O.
Bigelow, Express, Limited
Stores, La Senza, White Barn Candle Co., Henri Bendel and Diva London, presently operates 3,798 specialty stores. Victoria's
Secret products are also available through the catalogue and http://www.VictoriasSecret.com. Bath & Body Works products are also available through the catalogue and http://www.BathandBodyWorks.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM
ACT OF 1995: The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this press release or the January sales call or made by the Company or management
of the Company involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which
are beyond our 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," "planned," "potential" 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 to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking
statements included in this press release or the January sales call or otherwise made by the Company or management: risks
associated with general economic conditions, consumer confidence and consumer spending patterns; the potential impact of national
and international security concerns on the retail environment, including any possible military action, terrorist attacks or
other hostilities; risks associated with the seasonality of the Company's business; risks associated with severe weather and
changes in weather patterns; risks associated with the highly competitive nature of the retail industry generally and the
segments
in which we operate particularly; risks related to consumer
acceptance of the Company's products and the Company's ability
to keep up with fashion trends, develop new merchandise, launch new product lines successfully, offer products at the appropriate
price points and enhance the Company's brand image; risks associated with the Company's ability to retain, hire and train
key personnel and management; risks associated with the possible inability of the Company's manufacturers to deliver products
in a timely manner or meet quality standards; risks associated with the Company's reliance on foreign sources of production,
including risks related to the disruption of imports by labor disputes, risks related to political instability, risks associated
with legal and regulatory matters, risks related to duties, taxes, other charges and quotas on imports, risks
related to
local business practices, potential delays or disruptions in
shipping and related pricing impacts and political issues
and risks related to currency and exchange rates; risks associated with the dependence on a high volume of mall traffic and
the possible lack of availability of suitable store locations on appropriate terms; risks associated with increases in the
costs of mailing, paper and printing; risks associated with our ability to service any debt we incur from time to time as
well as the requirements the agreements related to such debt impose upon us; risks associated with the Company's reliance
on information technology, including risks related to the mplementation of new information technology systems and risks
related to utilizing third parties to provide information technology services; risks associated with natural disasters, risks
related
to proposed or future acquisitions, including risks associated with
consummating the acquisition and risks associated
with rising energy costs.
The Company is not under any obligation and does not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to
any of the
forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the January sales call to reflect circumstances
existing after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future even ts
make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.
LIMITED BRANDS
JANUARY 2007