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8-K - 8-K - Bath & Body Works, Inc.october2017salesrelease.htm


Exhibit 99.1

lbrandsa01aa17.jpg
L BRANDS REPORTS OCTOBER 2017 SALES;
UPDATES THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS GUIDANCE
AND REITERATES 2017 EARNINGS GUIDANCE

Columbus, Ohio (Nov. 1, 2017) - L Brands, Inc. (NYSE: LB) reported net sales of $794.1 million for the four weeks ended Oct. 28, 2017, an increase of 5 percent, compared to net sales of $756.7 million for the four weeks ended Oct. 29, 2016. Comparable sales increased 2 percent for the four weeks ended Oct. 28, 2017. For October, the exit of the swim and apparel categories had a negative impact of about 1 percentage point and 2 percentage points to total company and Victoria’s Secret comparable sales, respectively.

The company reported net sales of $2.618 billion for the 13 weeks ended Oct. 28, 2017, an increase of 1 percent, compared to net sales of $2.581 billion for the 13 weeks ended Oct. 29, 2016. Comparable sales decreased 1 percent for the 13 weeks ended Oct. 28, 2017. For the 13 weeks ended Oct. 28, 2017, the exit of the swim and apparel categories had a negative impact of about 2 percentage points and 2 percentage points to total company and Victoria’s Secret comparable sales, respectively.

The company reported net sales of $7.809 billion for the 39 weeks ended Oct. 28, 2017, a decrease of 3 percent, compared to net sales of $8.085 billion for the 39 weeks ended Oct. 29, 2016. Comparable sales decreased 6 percent for the 39 weeks ended Oct. 28, 2017. For the 39 weeks ended Oct. 28, 2017, the exit of the swim and apparel categories had a negative impact of about 5 percentage points and 7 percentage points to total company and Victoria’s Secret comparable sales, respectively.

The company expects third quarter earnings per share to be at the high end of its previous guidance of $0.25 to $0.30, and reiterates its previous full-year 2017 earnings guidance of $3.00 to $3.20 per share. The company will conduct its third quarter earnings call at 9 a.m. Eastern on Nov. 16.

To hear further commentary provided on L Brands’ prerecorded October sales message, call 1-866-639-7583, or log onto www.LB.com for an audio replay.

ABOUT L BRANDS:
L Brands, through Victoria’s Secret, PINK, Bath & Body Works, La Senza and Henri Bendel, is an international company. The company operates 3,087 company-owned specialty stores in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Greater China, and its brands are sold in more than 800 additional franchised locations worldwide. The company’s products are also available online at www.VictoriasSecret.com, www.BathandBodyWorks.com, www.HenriBendel.com and www.LaSenza.com.









VICTORIA'S SECRET / BATH & BODY WORKS / PINK / LA SENZA / HENRI BENDEL
Three Limited Parkway Columbus, OH 43230 www.LB.com




Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
We caution 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 October sales call or made by our company or our management involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our 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 any similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Risks associated with the following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our 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 October sales call or otherwise made by our company or our management:

general economic conditions, consumer confidence, consumer spending patterns and market disruptions including severe weather conditions, natural disasters, health hazards, terrorist activities, financial crises, political crises or other major events, or the prospect of these events;
the seasonality of our business;
the dependence on mall traffic and the availability of suitable store locations on appropriate terms;
our ability to grow through new store openings and existing store remodels and expansions;
our ability to successfully expand internationally and related risks;
our independent franchise, license and wholesale partners;
our direct channel businesses;
our ability to protect our reputation and our brand images;
our ability to attract customers with marketing, advertising and promotional programs;
our ability to protect our trade names, trademarks and patents;
the highly competitive nature of the retail industry and the segments in which we operate;
consumer acceptance of our products and our ability to manage the life cycle of our brands, keep up with fashion trends, develop new merchandise and launch new product lines successfully;
our ability to source, distribute and sell goods and materials on a global basis, including risks related to:
political instability, significant health hazards, environmental hazards or natural disasters;
duties, taxes and other charges;
legal and regulatory matters;
volatility in currency exchange rates;
local business practices and political issues;
potential delays or disruptions in shipping and transportation and related pricing impacts;
disruption due to labor disputes; and
changing expectations regarding product safety due to new legislation;
our geographic concentration of supplier and distribution facilities in central Ohio;
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
stock price volatility;
our ability to pay dividends and related effects;
our ability to maintain our credit rating;
our ability to service or refinance our debt;
our ability to retain key personnel;
our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified associates and manage labor-related costs;


VICTORIA'S SECRET / BATH & BODY WORKS / PINK / LA SENZA / HENRI BENDEL
Three Limited Parkway Columbus, OH 43230 www.LB.com




the ability of our manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner, meet quality standards and comply with applicable laws and regulations;
fluctuations in product input costs;
our ability to adequately protect our assets from loss and theft;
fluctuations in energy costs;
increases in the costs of mailing, paper and printing;
claims arising from our self-insurance;
our ability to implement and maintain information technology systems and to protect associated data;
our ability to maintain the security of customer, associate, supplier or company information;
our ability to comply with regulatory requirements;
legal and compliance matters; and
tax, trade and other regulatory matters.

We are not under any obligation and do 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 October sales call to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized. Additional information regarding these and other factors can be found in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
For further information, please contact:    
L Brands:
 
 
Investor Relations
 
Media Relations
Amie Preston
 
Tammy Roberts Myers
(614) 415-6704
 
(614) 415-7072
apreston@lb.com
 
communications@lb.com

VICTORIA'S SECRET / BATH & BODY WORKS / PINK / LA SENZA / HENRI BENDEL
Three Limited Parkway Columbus, OH 43230 www.LB.com




L BRANDS
OCTOBER 2017

Comparable Sales Increase (Decrease) (Stores and Direct):
 
Oct.
 
Oct.
 
Third Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Year-
to-
Date
 
Year-
to-
Date
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Victoria's Secret1
1%
 
(2%)
 
(4%)
 
(1%)
 
(11%)
 
1%
Bath & Body Works1
5%
 
6%
 
4%
 
7%
 
4%
 
6%
L Brands2
2%
 
1%
 
(1%)
 
2%
 
(6%)
 
3%

1 - Results include company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada and direct sales.
2 - Results include company-owned stores in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Greater China and direct sales.

Comparable Sales Increase (Decrease) (Stores Only):
 
Oct.
 
Oct.
 
Third Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Year-
to-
Date
 
Year-
to-
Date
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Victoria's Secret1
(4%)
 
(1%)
 
(5%)
 
(2%)
 
(9%)
 
—%
Bath & Body Works1
2%
 
4%
 
1%
 
5%
 
1%
 
4%
L Brands2
(2%)
 
1%
 
(3%)
 
—%
 
(6%)
 
1%

1 - Results include company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada.
2 - Results include company-owned stores in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Greater China.

Total Sales (Millions):
 
Third Quarter
 
Third Quarter
 
Year-
to-
Date
 
Year-
to-
Date
 
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
Victoria's Secret1
$
1,243.0

 
$
1,285.9

 
$
3,840.6

 
$
4,136.2

Victoria's Secret Direct
295.9

 
298.2

 
877.7

 
1,056.1

  Total Victoria's Secret
$
1,538.9

 
$
1,584.1

 
$
4,718.3

 
$
5,192.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bath & Body Works1
$
703.1

 
$
681.6

 
$
2,044.6

 
$
1,977.4

Bath & Body Works Direct
112.7

 
88.6

 
309.6

 
254.4

  Total Bath & Body Works
$
815.8

 
$
770.2

 
$
2,354.2

 
$
2,231.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
VS & BBW International2
$
114.9

 
$
103.7

 
$
332.1

 
$
298.7

Other
$
148.2

 
$
123.0

 
$
404.7

 
$
361.7

L Brands
$
2,617.8

 
$
2,581.0

 
$
7,809.3

 
$
8,084.5


1 - Results include company-owned stores in the U.S. and Canada.
2 - Results include retail sales from company-owned stores outside of the U.S. and Canada, royalties associated with
franchised stores and wholesale sales.

VICTORIA'S SECRET / BATH & BODY WORKS / PINK / LA SENZA / HENRI BENDEL
Three Limited Parkway Columbus, OH 43230 www.LB.com






Total Company-Owned Stores:
 
Stores
 
Stores
 
Operating
Operating
 
at 1/28/17
Opened
Closed
at 10/28/17
Victoria's Secret U.S.
998

3

(8
)
993

PINK U.S.
133

7

(1
)
139

Victoria's Secret Canada
37

2


39

PINK Canada
9


(2
)
7

   Total Victoria's Secret
1,177

12

(11
)
1,178

 
 
 
 
 
Bath & Body Works U.S.
1,591

25

(14
)
1,602

Bath & Body Works Canada
102



102

   Total Bath & Body Works
1,693

25

(14
)
1,704

 
 
 
 
 
Victoria's Secret U.K.
15

1


16

PINK U.K.
3

1


4

Victoria's Secret Beauty and Accessories
31

1

(3
)
29

Victoria's Secret China

2


2

   Total VS & BBW International
49

5

(3
)
51

 
 
 
 
 
Henri Bendel
29


(1
)
28

La Senza U.S.
4

1


5

La Senza Canada
122

1

(2
)
121

Total L Brands Stores
3,074

44

(31
)
3,087


Total Noncompany-Owned Stores:
 
Stores
 
 
Stores
 
Operating
 
 
Operating
 
at 1/28/17
Opened
Closed
at 10/28/17
Victoria's Secret Beauty & Accessories - Travel Retail
152

13

(11
)
154

Bath & Body Works - Travel Retail
8

2


10

Victoria's Secret Beauty & Accessories
239

16

(11
)
244

Victoria's Secret
23

7


30

PINK
5



5

Bath & Body Works
151

16

(1
)
166

La Senza
203

4

(13
)
194

Total
781

58

(36
)
803



VICTORIA'S SECRET / BATH & BODY WORKS / PINK / LA SENZA / HENRI BENDEL
Three Limited Parkway Columbus, OH 43230 www.LB.com