COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- L Brands, Inc. (NYSE: LB) today reported first quarter earnings results.

Adjusted earnings per share for the first quarter ended May 2, 2015, which exclude a $78.1 million ($0.23 per share) pre-tax gain on the sale of the company's remaining interest in the third-party apparel sourcing business, increased 15 percent to $0.61 compared to $0.53 for the quarter ended May 3, 2014. First quarter operating income increased 11 percent to $371.8 million compared to $336.1 million last year, and adjusted net income was $181.5 million compared to $157.0 million last year.

Including the gain from the sale of the sourcing business mentioned above, reported first quarter earnings per share were $0.84 compared to $0.53 last year, and net income was $250.5 million compared to $157.0 million last year.

Net sales of $2.512 billion for the first quarter ended May 2, 2015, increased 5 percent compared to sales of $2.391 billion for the quarter ended May 3, 2014. Comparable store sales for the first quarter ended May 2, 2015, increased 5 percent.

At the conclusion of this press release is a reconciliation of reported to adjusted results, including a description of the significant item.

2015 Outlook
The company increased its guidance for 2015 full-year adjusted earnings per share to $3.50 to $3.70 from $3.45 to $3.65 previously, and issued guidance for second quarter earnings per share between $0.60 and $0.65.

Earnings Call and Additional Information
L Brands will conduct its first quarter earnings call at 9:15 a.m. Eastern on May 21. To listen, call 1-866-363-4673 (international dial-in number: 1-973-200-3978). For an audio replay, call 1-855-859-2056 (conference ID 33156271) (international replay number: 1-404-537-3406 (conference ID 33156271)) or log onto www.LB.com. Additional first quarter financial information is also available at www.LB.com.

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 2,966 company-owned specialty stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and its brands are sold in more than 600 additional noncompany-owned locations worldwide. The company's products are also available online at www.VictoriasSecret.com, www.BathandBodyWorks.com, www.HenriBendel.com and www.LaSenza.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

L Brands, Inc. 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 first quarter earnings call 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 first quarter earnings call:


    --  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 a high volume of 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 into global markets and related
        risks;
    --  our relationships with independent franchise, license and wholesale
        partners;
    --  our direct channel businesses;
    --  our failure to protect our reputation and our brand images;
    --  our failure to protect our trade names, trademarks and patents;
    --  the highly competitive nature of the retail industry generally and the
        segments in which we operate particularly;
    --  consumer acceptance of our products and our ability to 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;
        --  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;
    --  fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
    --  stock price volatility;
    --  our failure 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 employees and
        manage labor-related costs;
    --  the inability of our manufacturers to deliver products in a timely
        manner and meet quality standards;
    --  fluctuations in product input costs;
    --  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 failure to maintain the security of customer, associate, supplier or
        company information;
    --  our failure to comply with regulatory requirements;
    --  tax matters; and
    --  legal and compliance 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 first quarter earnings call to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this press release or the first quarter earnings call 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 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

L BRANDS
FIRST QUARTER 2015

Comparable Store Sales Increase (Decrease):







                          First        First

                         Quarter      Quarter

                                 2015         2014
                                 ----         ----


    Victoria's Secret(1)           5%          2%

    Bath & Body Works(1)           4%          2%

    L Brands                       5%          2%

    Victoria's Secret

    Direct Sales                 (6%)          0%



    (1) - Results include
     company-owned stores in
     the United States and
     Canada.

Total Sales (Millions):



                                 First           First

                                Quarter         Quarter

                                           2015             2014
                                           ----             ----


    Victoria's Secret Stores(1)        $1,345.6         $1,245.3

    Victoria's Secret Direct              338.3            358.3
                                          -----            -----

      Total Victoria's Secret          $1,683.9         $1,603.6

    Bath & Body Works Stores(1)          $554.0           $530.2

    Bath & Body Works Direct               59.3             51.4
                                           ----             ----

      Total Bath & Body Works            $613.3           $581.6

    VS & BBW International(2)             $91.5            $71.0

    Other(3)                             $123.2           $135.0
                                         ------           ------

    L Brands                           $2,511.9         $2,391.2
                                       ========         ========



    (1) - Results include
     company-owned stores in
     the United States and
     Canada.

    (2) - Results include retail
     sales from company-owned
     stores outside of the
     United States and Canada
          and royalty and wholesale
           sales associated with
           partner-operated stores.

    (3) - Results include La
     Senza, Henri Bendel and
     Mast external sales.

Total Company-Owned Stores:



                    Stores                         Stores

                   Operating         Operating

                          at 1/31/15  Opened        Closed       at 5/2/15
                          ----------  ------       ------        ---------


     Victoria's
     Secret
     U.S.                        983             2           (1)         984

    PINK U.S.                    115             5             -         120

     Victoria's
     Secret
     Canada                       31             1             -          32

    PINK
     Canada                       10             -            -          10

       Total
        Victoria's
        Secret                 1,139             8           (1)       1,146


    Bath &
     Body
     Works
     U.S.                      1,558             3           (2)       1,559

    Bath &
     Body
     Works
     Canada                       88             1             -          89

       Total
        Bath &
        Body
        Works                  1,646             4           (2)       1,648


     Victoria's
     Secret
     U.K.                          8             -            -           8

    PINK U.K.                      2             -            -           2

    Henri
     Bendel                       29             -            -          29

    La Senza
     Canada                      145             -         (12)         133

    Total L
     Brands
     Stores                    2,969            12          (15)       2,966
                               =====           ===           ===        =====

Total Noncompany-Owned Stores:



                       Stores                         Stores

                      Operating         Operating

                             at 1/31/15  Opened        Closed      at 5/2/15
                             ----------  ------       ------       ---------


    Victoria's Secret
     Beauty &
     Accessories                    290            15          (1)         304

    Victoria's Secret                13             1            -          14

    PINK                              1             -           -           1

    Bath & Body Works                80            13          (2)          91

    La Senza                        266             -         (8)         258
                                    ---           ---         ---          ---

    Total                           650            29         (11)         668
                                    ===           ===          ===          ===


                    L BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

           THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MAY 2, 2015 AND MAY 3, 2014

                              (Unaudited)

                (In thousands except per share amounts)


                                                   2015             2014
                                                   ----             ----

    Net Sales                                $2,511,939       $2,391,230

    Costs of Goods Sold, Buying and
     Occupancy                              (1,455,980)     (1,409,138)
                                             ----------       ----------

    Gross Profit                              1,055,959          982,092

    General, Administrative and Store
     Operating Expenses                       (684,116)       (645,981)

    Operating Income                            371,843          336,111

    Interest Expense                           (79,948)        (84,323)

    Other Income                                 77,694            3,654


    Income Before Income Taxes                  369,589          255,442

    Provision for Income Taxes                  119,123           98,460
                                                -------           ------


    Net Income                                 $250,466         $156,982
                                               ========         ========


    Net Income Per Diluted Share                  $0.84            $0.53
                                                  =====            =====


    Weighted Average Shares Outstanding         299,143          297,324
                                                =======          =======


                                                                                        L BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                                                                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                                               THIRTEEN WEEKS ENDED MAY 2, 2015 AND MAY 3, 2014

                                                                                                  (Unaudited)

                                                                                    (In thousands except per share amounts)


                                                                                                   2015                                              2014
                                                                                                   ----                                              ----


                                                                     Reported                                             Adjustments                     Adjusted               Reported
                                                                     --------                                             -----------                     --------               --------

    Net Sales                                                                      $2,511,939                                 $                    -                 $2,511,939              $2,391,230

    Costs of Goods Sold, Buying & Occupancy                                       (1,455,980)                                                     -                (1,455,980)            (1,409,138)
                                                                                   ----------                                                    ---                 ----------              ----------

    Gross Profit                                                                    1,055,959                                                      -                  1,055,959                 982,092

    General, Administrative and Store Operating Expenses                            (684,116)                                                                        (684,116)              (645,981)

    Operating Income                                                                  371,843                                                      -                    371,843                 336,111

    Interest Expense                                                                 (79,948)                                                     -                   (79,948)               (84,323)

    Other Income                                                                       77,694                                               (78,057)                      (363)                  3,654


    Income Before Income Taxes                                                        369,589                                               (78,057)                    291,532                 255,442

    Provision for Income Taxes                                                        119,123                                                (9,079)                    110,044                  98,460
                                                                                      -------                                                 ------                     -------                  ------



    Net Income                                                                       $250,466                                              $(68,978)                   $181,488                $156,982
                                                                                     ========                                               ========                    ========                ========


    Net Income Per Diluted Share                                                        $0.84                                                                             $0.61                   $0.53
                                                                                        =====                                                                             =====                   =====


    Weighted Average Shares Outstanding                                               299,143                                                                           299,143                 297,324
                                                                                      =======                                                                           =======                 =======



                                                         See Notes to Consolidated Statements of Income and Reconciliation of Adjusted Results
                                                                                      for additional information.

L BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED RESULTS
(Unaudited)

The "Adjusted Results" provided in the attached unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income and Reconciliation of Adjusted Results are non-GAAP financial measures and reflect the following:

Fiscal 2015

In the first quarter of 2015, adjusted results exclude the following:


    --  A $78.1 million pre-tax gain ($69.0 million net of tax) included in
        other income, related to the sale of our remaining interest in the
        third-party apparel sourcing business.

Fiscal 2014

In the first quarter of 2014, there were no adjustments to results.

The Unaudited Adjusted Consolidated Statements of Income should not be construed as an alternative to the reported results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Further, the Company's definition of adjusted income information may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies. While it is not possible to predict future results, management believes the adjusted information is useful for the assessment of the ongoing operations of the Company. The Unaudited Adjusted Consolidated Statements of Income should be read in conjunction with the Company's historical financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K.

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SOURCE L Brands, Inc.