=============================================================================== SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 25, 2002 Limited Brands, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 1-8344 31-1029810 (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) Three Limited Parkway Columbus, OH 43216 (Address of Principal Executive (Zip Code) Offices) (614) 415-7000 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) Not Applicable (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) ===============================================================================Item 5. Other Events. On November 25, 2002, Limited Brands, Inc. (the "Company") entered into a terms agreement (the "Terms Agreement") with J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. as representatives of the underwriters named therein for the sale of $300 million in 6-1/8% notes due December 1, 2012 (the "Notes"). The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture dated March 15, 1988 between the Company and The Bank of New York. The Company is filing this Current Report on Form 8-K so as to file with the Commission certain items that are to be incorporated by reference into its Registration Statement (File Nos. 33-53366 and 333-101458) and its Prospectus Supplement, dated November 25, 2002, pertaining to the sale of the Notes. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (c) Exhibits Exhibit No. 1.1 Terms Agreement dated as of November 25, 2002 by and among Limited Brands, Inc., JP Morgan Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters 4.1 Form of Note for the 6-1/8% Notes due December 1, 2012
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Limited Brands, Inc. Date: December 4, 2002 By /s/ Timothy J. Faber ---------------- --------------------------------- Name: Timothy J. Faber Title: Vice President of Treasury
EXHiBIT 1.1 LIMITED BRANDS, INC. TERMS AGREEMENT November 25, 2002 Limited Brands, Inc. Three Limited Parkway Columbus, Ohio 43230 Ladies and Gentlemen: We (the "Representatives") understand that Limited Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the "Underwriters") the principal amount of its debt securities (the "Securities"), if any, identified in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwritten Securities"). All the provisions contained in the document constituting Annex A hereto entitled "Limited Brands, Inc. Debt Securities -- Underwriting Agreement Provisions" are incorporated herein in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Terms defined in such document are used herein as therein defined. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein or incorporated by reference herein, the Underwriters offer to purchase, severally and not jointly, at the respective purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto, the principal amount of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II hereto. If the firm or firms identified as Underwriters include only the firm or firms identified as the Representatives, then the terms Underwriters and Representatives shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms. 1Please accept this offer on November 25, 2002 by signing a copy of this Terms Agreement in the space set forth below and returning the signed copy to us. Very truly yours, J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. By /s/Rod Aronson ------------------------------------ Name: Rod Aronson Title: Vice President SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC. By /s/J. Maurice Lopez ------------------------------------ Name: J. Maurice Lopez Title: Director Each acting severally and on behalf of itself and the several Underwriters named on Schedule II hereto Accepted: November 25, 2002 LIMITED BRANDS, INC. By /s/V. Ann Hailey ----------------------------- Name: V. Ann Hailey Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 2 (Signature Page - Terms Agreement)
SCHEDULE I TO TERMS AGREEMENT Description of Debt Securities: Title: 6 1/8 % Notes due 2012 Principal amount (including currency or composite currency): $300,000,000 Interest Rate: 6.125% Purchase Price: 98.923% Offering Price: 99.573% Interest Payment Dates: June 1 and December 1, commencing June 1, 2003 Optional Redemption: Make Whole at Treasury + 30 bps Sinking Fund Provisions: None Delivery Date: December 3, 2002 3
SCHEDULE II TO TERMS AGREEMENT Principal Amount of Underwritten Securities Underwriter to be Purchased) ----------- ---------------- $120,000,000 J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. 120,000,000 Fleet Securities, Inc. 15,000,000 HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. 15,000,000 BNY Capital Markets, Inc. 12,000,000 Wachovia Securities, Inc. 12,000,000 Banc One Capital Markets, Inc. 6,000,000 ------------ Total $300,000,000 ============ 4
ANNEX A TERMS AGREEMENT LIMITED BRANDS, INC. Debt Securities UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT PROVISIONS 1. Introductory. 1.1. Offerings of Securities. The Company proposes to issue and sell certain of its debt securities, issuable under an indenture dated as of March 15, 1988 (the "Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"), identified in the Terms Agreement (as hereinafter defined) (such debt securities being sometimes referred to herein as the "Underwritten Securities"). 1.2. Terms Agreement. The terms with respect to the purchase of the Underwritten Securities from the Company by the several Underwriters listed in the terms agreement, dated November 25, 2002, entered into between the Representatives, on behalf of such Underwriters, and the Company (the "Terms Agreement"), to which these Underwriting Agreement Provisions constitute Annex A, are set forth in the Terms Agreement, which together with the provisions hereof incorporated therein by reference, is sometimes herein referred to as this "Agreement." Terms defined in the Terms Agreement are used herein as therein defined. 2. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each Underwriter that: 2.1. Registration Statement. A registration statement (the "Initial Registration Statement") on Form S-3 (File No. 333-53366) with respect to the Securities has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), and the rules and regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, has been filed with the Commission and has become effective. The Company has filed or will promptly file a registration statement increasing the size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act, which became or will become effective upon filing. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been issued and, to the Company's knowledge, no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. As used in this 1
Agreement (i) "Registration Statement" means the initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, including all exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated therein by reference; (ii) "Basic Prospectus" means the prospectus and all documents incorporated therein by reference included in the Initial Registration Statement; and (iii) "Prospectus" means the Basic Prospectus, together with any amendments or supplements thereto and, in each case, all documents incorporated therein by reference specifically relating to the Underwritten Securities, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations. 2.2. Compliance with Applicable Law. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply, and (in the case of any amendment or supplement to any such document, or any material incorporated by reference in any such document filed with the Commission after the date as of which this representation is being made) will comply at all times during the period specified in subsection 7.3 hereof, with the provisions of the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Indenture, including any amendments and supplements thereto, pursuant to which the Underwritten Securities will be issued will conform with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not, and (in the case of any amendment or supplement to any such document, or any material incorporated by reference in any such document filed with the Commission after the date as of which this representation is being made) will not at any time during the period specified in subsection 7.3 hereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company makes no representation or warranty as to (a) that part of the Registration Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act (Form T-1) of the Trustee or (b) information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein. 2.3. Compliance with Reporting Requirements. The Company is subject to and in full compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. 2.4. Stabilization or Manipulation of Price. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Underwritten Securities. 2
2.5. Duly Incorporated and Validly Existing; Power and Authority. Each of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Act) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. There are no Significant Subsidiaries of the Company as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Act that are not listed on Exhibit A attached hereto. 2.6. Capital Stock. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and each Significant Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens, encumbrances, charges, restrictions upon voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party, except for any such security interests, claims, liens, encumbrances, charges and restrictions that would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. 2.7. Prospectus Summary Statements. The statements in the Prospectus under the headings "Use of Proceeds" and "Description of the Notes" fairly summarize the matters therein described. 2.8. Authorization, Execution and Delivery. This Terms Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid, binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity); the Underwritten Securities have been duly authorized, and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity). 3
2.9. No Conflicts. Neither the execution and delivery of the Indenture or the Terms Agreement, the issue and sale of the Underwritten Securities, nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries; (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, except, in each case, for conflicts, breaches, violations and liens that would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of its or their properties except, in each case, for conflicts, breaches, violations and liens that would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. 2.10. Financial Statements. The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). 2.11. Forward-looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith. 2.12. No Material Adverse Change. Since the dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business, management or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) none of the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) there has not been any material decrease in the capital stock or material increase in the long-term debt of the Company, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by 4
the Company on any class of their respective capital stock other than quarterly cash dividends consistent with past practice. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Representatives in connection with the offering of the Underwritten Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter. 3. Purchase of the Underwritten Securities. 3.1. Effect of Terms Agreement. The obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Company to sell, the Underwritten Securities is evidenced by the Terms Agreement. The Terms Agreement specifies the firm or firms which will be the Underwriters; the principal amount of the Underwritten Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter, the purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters for the Underwritten Securities, the public offering price of the Underwritten Securities, the Underwriters' compensation therefor and any terms of the Underwritten Securities not already specified in the Indenture. 3.2. Obligation to Purchase Several, Not Joint. It is understood that, in making this Agreement, the Underwriters are contracting severally and not jointly, and that their several agreements to purchase the Underwritten Securities on the basis of the agreements and representations herein contained shall be several and not joint and shall apply only to the respective principal amounts of the Underwritten Securities to be purchased by them as provided herein. 4. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any Underwritten Securities except upon payment for all Underwritten Securities to be purchased pursuant to this Agreement as hereinafter provided. 5. Default in Performance by Underwriter. 5.1. Obligations of Non-Defaulting Underwriters. If any Underwriter defaults in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally to purchase the Underwritten Securities which the defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Underwritten Securities set forth in the applicable column in Schedule II to the Terms Agreement to be purchased by each remaining non-defaulting Underwriter set forth in such column bears to the aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Securities set forth in such column to be purchased by all the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters; provided that the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase any Underwritten Securities that constitute Underwritten Securities if the aggregate principal amount of such 5
Underwritten Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of such Underwritten Securities. If the foregoing maximum is exceeded, the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters, or other underwriters satisfactory to the Representatives, shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to purchase, in such proportion as may be agreed upon among them, all the Underwritten Securities. 5.2. Termination of Agreement. If the remaining non-defaulting Underwriters or other underwriters satisfactory to the Representatives do not elect pursuant to the last sentence of subsection 5.1 to purchase the aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase that exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of such Underwritten Securities, this Agreement with respect to such Underwritten Securities shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. 5.3. Liability of Defaulting Underwriter. Nothing contained in this Section 5 shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company and any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default. If other underwriters are obligated or agree to purchase the Underwritten Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the Representatives or the Company may postpone the Delivery Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that the Underwriters shall determine may be necessary in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement. 6. Delivery and Payment. 6.1. Date and Time of Delivery. Delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities shall be made at such location as may be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (as set forth in Schedule I to the Terms Agreement) at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the fifth business day following the date of the Terms Agreement, or at such other time and date as shall be agreed upon, or as provided in Section 5.3. This date and time are sometimes referred to as the "Delivery Date". 6.2. Payment. On the Delivery Date, the Company shall deliver the Underwritten Securities to the Representatives for the account of each Underwriter against payment to or upon the order of the Company of the purchase price by wire transfer payable in same-day funds, to the account specified by the Company. 6.3. Form. Delivery of the Underwritten Securities shall be made either at such location as either of the Representatives shall reasonably designate at least one business day in advance of the Delivery Date or through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company. Certificates for the Underwritten Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as either of the Representatives may request not less than two business days in advance of the Delivery Date. The Company agrees to have 6
the Underwritten Securities available for inspection, checking and packaging by the Representatives in New York, New York, not later than 1:00 PM on the business day prior to the Delivery Date. 7. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company further agrees: 7.1. Registration Statement; Prospectus. To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and to prepare and file the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement in each case within the time periods required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations. To furnish promptly to the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and a copy of each amendment thereto (in each case together with all exhibits filed therewith) filed prior to the date of the Terms Agreement or relating to or covering the Underwritten Securities, and a copy of the Prospectus filed with the Commission. 7.2. Other Documents. To deliver promptly to the Representatives, without charge, such number of the following documents as the Representatives may request: (a) conformed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits), (b) the Prospectus and (c) any documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, and the Company authorizes the Underwriters and all dealers to whom any Underwritten Securities may be offered or sold by the Underwriters to use such documents in connection with the sale of the Underwritten Securities in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. 7.3. Supplemental Information. During such period following the date of the Terms Agreement as, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, a prospectus is required by law to be delivered, the Company will furnish copies of (a) any amendment to the Registration Statement; (b) the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (c) any document incorporated by reference in any of the foregoing or any amendment or supplement to any such incorporated document to the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters prior to filing any of such items with the Commission and will not file any such item to which the Representatives shall reasonably object; provided that, despite any such objection but after consultation with the Representatives, including the furnishing to the Representatives of drafts thereof, the Company may file any report or statement which in the written opinion of its counsel it is required to file pursuant to the Exchange Act The Company will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Underwritten Securities. 7.4. Duty to Notify of Certain Events. To advise the Representatives promptly (a) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating 7
to or covering the Underwritten Securities becomes effective, (b) of any request or proposed request by the Commission for an amendment or supplement (insofar as the amendment or supplement relates to or covers the Underwritten Securities) to the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, to the Prospectus, to any document incorporated by reference in any of the foregoing or for any additional information relating to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (insofar as such information relates to or covers the Underwritten Securities), (c) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any order directed to the Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or the initiation of any stop order proceeding or of any challenge to the accuracy or adequacy of any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, and (d) of receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Underwritten Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose. If at any time during the period referred to in Section 7.3 above that the Prospectus relating to the Underwritten Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, the Company (i) will notify the Representatives of any such event, (ii) promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 7.3, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment or supplement which will effect such compliance and (iii) will supply any supplemented or amended prospectus to the several Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters without charge in such quantities as they may reasonably request. 7.5. Stop Orders; Action Required. If, during the period referred to in Section 7.3 above, the Commission shall issue a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement during a time the Prospectus relating to the Underwritten Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, to make every reasonable effort to obtain the lifting of that order at the earliest possible time. 7.6. Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, or in accordance with Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations, to make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement (which need not be audited) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 thereunder. 7.7. Further Assurances. Arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Underwritten Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate and pay all expenses (including reasonable 8
fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with such qualification, to maintain such qualifications in effect during the period referred to in Section 7.3 above and to arrange for the determination of the legality of the Underwritten Securities for purchase by institutional investors; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not so qualified at the date of the Terms Agreement or to take any action which would subject it to general or unlimited service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Underwritten Securities, or to the imposition of any taxes based on, or measured by, all or any part of the income of the Company in any jurisdiction where it is not at such date so subject. The Company will promptly advise the Representatives of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Underwritten Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. 7.8. Failure to Perform. If the sale of the Underwritten Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 10 hereof is not satisfied or because of any termination pursuant to Section 9 hereof or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, to reimburse the Underwriters severally through either of the Representatives upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters) that shall have been reasonably incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Underwritten Securities. 7.9. No Announcements. The Company will not, for the period of time following the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto (the "Execution Time") until the Delivery Date, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Underwritten Securities). 8. Indemnification. 8.1. Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors and officers of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, and any action in respect thereof, to which they or any of them may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or 9
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or arises out of, or is based upon, the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and shall reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission (a) made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein or (b) contained in that part of the Registration Statement constituting the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act (Form T-1) of the Trustee; provided further, that the Company will not be liable for the amount of any settlement of any claim made without its consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to and not in limitation or duplication of any liability or right which the Company may otherwise have to an Underwriter or any person who controls an Underwriter. 8.2. Indemnification by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter as set forth in subsection 8.1 above, but only with reference to written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. The foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to and not in limitation or duplication of any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have to the Company or any of its directors, officers or controlling persons. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding the delivery of the Underwritten Securities and, under the heading "Underwriting" on page S-12 of the Prospectus, paragraph 7 and paragraph 9, constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters for inclusion in the Prospectus (or in any amendment or supplement thereto). 8.3. Notice of Claim or Action. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection 8.1 or 8.2 above of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the 10
commencement of that action, but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under Sections 8.1 and 8.2 above unless such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of one such separate counsel (in addition to local counsel) for such indemnified party if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. 8.4. Contribution. In the event that the indemnity provided in Sections 8.1 or 8.2 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively "Losses") to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Underwritten Securities; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement among the Underwriters relating to the offering of the 11
Underwritten Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to the Underwritten Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total purchase discounts and commissions in each case set forth on the cover of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each officer and director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph. 9. Termination of Underwriter Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives, in their absolute discretion, by notice given to and received by the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Securities, if, during the period beginning on the date of the Terms Agreement to and including the Delivery Date, (i) trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such Exchange; (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities; or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or acts of terrorism or declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere the effect of which on the 12
financial markets of the United States and Europe is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Underwritten Securities as contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). 10. Additional Conditions to the Respective Obligations of the Underwriters. 10.1. Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. The respective obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement with respect to the Underwritten Securities are subject to the accuracy, on the date of the Terms Agreement and on the Delivery Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions applicable to the Underwritten Securities: 10.1.1. At or before the Delivery Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any order directed to any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus shall have been issued and remain in effect and no proceeding for that purpose shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Representatives, threatened by the Commission. 10.1.2. The Company shall have requested and caused its General Counsel, Samuel P. Fried, Esq., to furnish to the Representatives his opinion, dated the Delivery Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that: (a) each of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except, in each case, to the extent that the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) other than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject where there is a material risk that such proceeding will be determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries and which, 13
if so determined, individually or in the aggregate, is expected to have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as a whole, and to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others; (c) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (d) no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental authority or agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein or in the Indenture, except such as will be obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under the blue sky or securities laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and sale of the Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained; (e) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the issue and sale of the Securities, nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or asset of the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries; (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its respective property is subject, except, in each case, for conflicts, breaches, violations and liens that would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree known to such counsel applicable to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company, any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, except, in each case, for conflicts, breaches, violations and liens that would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and 14
(f) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Underwritten Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act without taking account of any exemption arising out of the number of holders of the Company's securities. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, the Delaware General Corporations Law, the State of Ohio or the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent it deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom it believes to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent it deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. In addition, such counsel shall advise by letter, based on such counsel's participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus (but without independent check or verification of the contents thereof except as specified therein), that such counsel has no reason to believe that the Registration Statement (except the financial statements and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need express no view), at the Execution Time or on the Delivery Date, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or that the Prospectus (except as aforesaid), at the Execution Time and on the Delivery Date, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. 10.1.3. The Company shall have requested and caused Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Representatives its opinion, dated the Delivery Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that: (a) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; (b) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally 15
from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity); the Underwritten Securities have been duly and validly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters under this Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture (subject, as to the enforcement of remedies, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and to general principles of equity); and the statements set forth under the heading "Description of the Notes" in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the Securities and the Indenture, provide a fair summary of such provisions; (c) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (d) no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental authority or agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein or in the Indenture, except such as will be obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under the blue sky or securities laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and sale of the Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated in this Agreement and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been obtained; (e) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Underwritten Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as defined in the Investment Company Act without taking account of any exemption arising out of the number of holders of the Company's securities; and (f) The Registration Statement is effective under the Act, any required filing of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order with respect thereto has been issued, or proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or threatened, by the Commission. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may (A) rely as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, the State of New York or the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent it 16
deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom it believes to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; and (B) rely, as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. In addition, such counsel shall advise by letter, based on such counsel's participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (but without independent check or verification of the contents thereof except as specified therein), that: (i) The Registration Statement, as of its effective date, and the Prospectus, as of the date of the supplement to the Basic Prospectus (in each case, except for the documents incorporated by reference therein, the financial statements and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need express no view) appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; and (ii) such counsel has no reason to believe that the Registration Statement (except the financial statements and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel need express no view), at the Execution Time or on the Delivery Date, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or that the Prospectus (except as aforesaid), at the Execution Time and on the Delivery Date, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. 10.1.4. At the Delivery Date, the Company shall have requested and caused PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to furnish to the Representatives a letter, dated as of the Delivery Date in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder and containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" with respect to the consolidated financial statements of the Company and certain financial information contained in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement (including information incorporated in each such Prospectus and the Registration Statement by reference) and substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit B hereto. 17
10.1.5. The Representatives shall have received, on the Delivery Date, from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Delivery Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Underwritten Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. 10.1.6. The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives, on the Delivery Date, a certificate of the Company, signed by the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, or the Vice President-Treasury, Mergers and Acquisitions or any other officer reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, dated the Delivery Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement and that: (i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Delivery Date with the same effect as if made on the Delivery Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Delivery Date; (ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and remains in effect and no proceedings for that purpose are pending or, to the knowledge of each such person, threatened by the Commission, and no order directed to any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus has been issued and remains in effect or, to the knowledge of each such person, is threatened to be issued by the Commission; and (iii) Since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus. 10.2. The Underwritten Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company. 10.3. Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any 18
decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or any notice that the Company's debt securities is under surveillance or review. 10.4. The Indenture shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, the Underwritten Securities shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee. 10.5. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body which would, as of the Delivery Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Underwritten Securities; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Delivery Date which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Underwritten Securities. 10.6. Prior to the Delivery Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request. If any of the conditions specified in this Section 10 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions, letters and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be cancelled at, or at any time prior to, the Delivery Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing. The documents required to be delivered by this Section 10 will be delivered at the office of counsel for the Underwriters, at One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004, on the Delivery Date. 11. Survival of Representations and Indemnification. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of subsection 7.8 and Section 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement. 12. Payment of Expenses. (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay 19
or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Underwritten Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Act of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing the Terms Agreement and the Underwritten Securities; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company's counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Underwritten Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Underwritten Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties); and (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of any offering by, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 7.8 and 8.1 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Underwritten Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make. 13. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the Salomon Smith Barney General Counsel (fax no.: (212) 816-7912) and confirmed to the General Counsel, Salomon Smith Barney at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013 Attention: General Counsel, and to the JP Morgan General Counsel (fax no.: (212) 270-7473) and confirmed to the General Counsel, JP Morgan at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: General Counsel; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Sam Fried, Esq., General Counsel of Limited Brands (fax no.: (614) 415-7188), and confirmed to Sam Fried, Esq., General Counsel of Limited Brands, Inc. at Three Limited Parkway, P.O. Box 16000, Columbus, Ohio 43216, Attention of the Legal Department. 14. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. 15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. 16. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in 20
accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York. 21
EXHIBIT 4.1 GLOBAL SECURITY NO. 1 Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, 55 Water Street, New York, New York (the "Depositary"), to Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of CEDE & CO. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary (and any payment is made to CEDE & CO. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, CEDE & CO., has an interest herein. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive registered form, this Debt Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Registered CUSIP 532716AH0 Number 1 Principal Amount Represented: $300,000,000 $300,000,000 LIMITED BRANDS, INC. 6 1/8% NOTES DUE 2012 Limited Brands, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum of THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($300,000,000), and to pay interest thereon, as provided below. This Global Security is one of a duly authorized issue of debt securities of the Company (the "Debt Securities"), issued or to be issued in one or more series under an indenture, dated as of March 15, 1988 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, astrustee (the "Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture, all indentures supplemental thereto and all terms of a particular series of Debt Securities established pursuant to Section 301 of the Indenture reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Debt Securities and the terms upon which the Debt Securities are, or are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Global Security is the only global certificate issued on the date hereof which, represents all of the outstanding Notes of the series designated as the 6-1/8% Notes due 2012 of the Company, limited in aggregate principal amount to $300,000,000 (herein called the "Notes"). The Notes shall mature on December 1, 2012 and shall bear interest at the rate of 6.125% per annum from December 3, 2002, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, payable semiannually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing June 1, 2003, and at Maturity, until said principal sum is paid or duly provided for in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Global Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest payment, which shall be the May 15 or November 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date, notwithstanding any subsequent transfers between such Regular Record Date and such Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that interest payable at Maturity will be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date by virtue of his having been such Holder, and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Global Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Company, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of the Notes not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Global Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee in The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that, at the option of the Company, payment of interest hereon may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time on or after December 3, 2002, at a redemption price equal to the 2
greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest, discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points, plus with respect to either (1) or (2) accrued interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the Redemption Date. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the selection of the Notes to be redeemed shall be made by the Trustee in the manner set forth in the Indenture. Notice of redemption shall be mailed, in the manner provided in the Indenture, to the relevant Holders at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days prior to the applicable Redemption Date. "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent to a maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date). "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such notes. "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations. "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that the Company appoints. "Reference Treasury Dealers" means (1) J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer, and (2) at the Company's option, additional primary U.S. Government securities dealers ("Primary Treasury Dealers") selected by the Company. "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing 3
to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third business day preceding such redemption date. Interest payments in respect of this Debt Security will include interest accrued to but excluding the Interest Payment Date and will be computed and paid on the basis of a 360 day year of twelve 30-day months. Any payment required to be made in respect of this Global Security at any Place of Payment on a date that is not a Business Day need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such date, and no additional interest shall accrue as a result of such delayed payment. If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all the Notes may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of Holders of the Debt Securities at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all the Debt Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Global Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Global Security and of any Debt Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Global Security. Holders of Debt Securities may not enforce their rights pursuant to the Indenture or the Debt Securities except as provided in the Indenture. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Global Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Global Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. No service charge shall be imposed on the Holder hereof for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a 4
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment of this Global Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the person in whose name this Global Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Global Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or interest on this Global Security or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture or any Indenture supplemental thereto, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liabilities being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released. All terms in this Global Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. 5
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Global Security to be duly executed under its corporate seal. By: ----------------------------------- Title: Attest: -------------------------------- DATED: December 3, 2002 TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This is one of the Debt Securities issued under the within mentioned Indenture. THE BANK OF NEW YORK as Trustee By: ------------------------------- Authorized Signatory 6