SEC Filing | Bath & Body Works, Inc.

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Form 10-Q for Limited Brands, Inc.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended August 2, 2003

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 1-8344

LIMITED BRANDS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

31-1029810

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

Three Limited Parkway, P.O. Box 16000,

Columbus, Ohio

(Address of principal executive offices)

43216

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (614) 415-7000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes x No ¨

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, $.50 Par Value		Outstanding at August 29, 2003
		517,985,273 Shares

LIMITED BRANDS, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page No.
Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

Consolidated Statements of Income Thirteen and Twenty-six Weeks Ended August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002		4

Consolidated Balance Sheets August 2, 2003, February 1, 2003 and August 3, 2002		5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Twenty-six Weeks Ended August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002		6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements		7

Independent Accountants’ Review Report		14

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition		15

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		29

Item 4. Controls and Procedures		29

Part II. Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings		30

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		31

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K		32

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE

SECURITIES LITIGATION ACT OF 1995

The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Report”) or otherwise made by the Company or management of the Company involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, the Company’s future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect the Company’s financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results for 2003 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this Report or otherwise made by the Company or management: changes in consumer spending patterns, consumer preferences and overall economic conditions; the potential impact of national and international security concerns on the retail environment, including any possible military action, terrorist attacks or other hostilities; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in weather patterns; political stability; postal rate increases and charges; paper and printing costs; risks associated with the seasonality of the retail industry; risks related to consumer acceptance of the Company’s products and the ability to develop new merchandise; the ability to retain, hire and train key personnel; risks associated with the possible inability of the Company’s manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; risks associated with relying on foreign sources of production including the impact in Asia and elsewhere of the recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome; and risks associated with the possible lack of availability of suitable store locations on appropriate terms. Investors should read Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for a more detailed discussion of these and other factors. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

LIMITED BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Thousands except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Twenty-six Weeks Ended
	August 2, 2003			August 3, 2002			August 2, 2003			August 3, 2002
Net sales	$	2,014,106		$	1,912,416		$	3,856,403		$	3,711,123
Costs of goods sold, buying and occupancy		(1,311,882	)		(1,239,448	)		(2,542,116	)		(2,416,494	)

Gross income		702,224			672,968			1,314,287			1,294,629
General, administrative and store operating expenses		(531,857	)		(534,295	)		(1,034,869	)		(1,027,813	)
Special item		—			—			—			(33,808	)

Operating income		170,367			138,673			279,418			233,008
Interest expense		(11,425	)		(6,155	)		(38,395	)		(15,385	)
Interest income		8,107			6,378			17,341			13,940
Other income (loss)		910			(2,135	)		(7,561	)		(2,611	)
Minority interest		—			—			—			(6,063	)
Gain on investee’s stock		—			—			79,686			—

Income from continuing operations before income taxes		167,959			136,761			330,489			222,889
Provision for income taxes		66,000			55,000			131,000			97,000

Net income from continuing operations		101,959			81,761			199,489			125,889
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		—			1,486			—			7,216

Net income	$	101,959		$	83,247		$	199,489		$	133,105

Income per basic share:
Continuing operations	$	0.20		$	0.16		$	0.38		$	0.25
Discontinued operations		—			—			—			0.01

Net income per basic share	$	0.20		$	0.16		$	0.38		$	0.27

Income per diluted share:
Continuing operations	$	0.19		$	0.15		$	0.38		$	0.25
Discontinued operations		—			—			—			0.01

Net income per diluted share	$	0.19		$	0.16		$	0.38		$	0.26

Dividends per share	$	0.10		$	0.075		$	0.20		$	0.15

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIMITED BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Thousands)

	August 2, 2003			February 1, 2003		August 3, 2002
	(Unaudited)					(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and equivalents	$	2,239,727		$	2,261,518	$	1,311,539
Accounts receivable		105,689			150,693		81,467
Inventories		1,074,861			966,436		1,090,290
Other		219,505			227,680		233,074

Total current assets		3,639,782			3,606,327		2,716,370
Property and equipment, net		1,469,075			1,490,847		1,574,717
Goodwill		1,310,868			1,310,868		1,315,372
Trade names and other intangible assets, net		443,934			447,245		451,886
Other assets		316,563			390,516		441,791

Total assets	$	7,180,222		$	7,245,803	$	6,500,136


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	489,910		$	456,274	$	515,769
Accrued expenses		550,808			607,104		630,613
Income taxes		70,922			195,734		29,718

Total current liabilities		1,111,640			1,259,112		1,176,100
Deferred income taxes		110,102			124,862		98,249
Long-term debt		648,144			546,820		248,032
Other long-term liabilities		434,975			455,071		442,555
Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock		261,683			261,548		261,098
Paid-in capital		1,687,405			1,692,662		1,656,809
Retained earnings		3,003,289			2,905,728		2,617,293

		4,952,377			4,859,938		4,535,200
Less: treasury stock, at average cost		(77,016	)		—		—

Total shareholders’ equity		4,875,361			4,859,938		4,535,200

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	7,180,222		$	7,245,803	$	6,500,136

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIMITED BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Twenty-six Weeks Ended
	August 2, 2003			August 3, 2002
Operating activities:
Net income	$	199,489		$	133,105
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		141,502			140,264
Gain on sale of investee’s stock		(79,686	)		—
Special item		—			33,808
Debt extinguishment costs		5,548			—
Amortization of deferred compensation		13,597			17,223
Deferred income taxes		(15,304	)		(16,000	)
Loss on sale of joint ventures		6,921			—
Minority interest, net of dividends paid		—			600
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		45,004			(1,928	)
Inventories		(108,425	)		(124,221	)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(13,331	)		136,581
Income taxes payable		(124,436	)		(227,507	)
Other assets and liabilities		16,332			12,451

Net cash provided by operating activities		87,211			104,376

Investing activities:
Capital expenditures		(146,803	)		(141,464	)
Proceeds from sale of investee’s stock		130,673			—
Proceeds from sale of joint ventures		8,000			—
Net (expenditures) proceeds related to Easton investment		(3,298	)		2,134
Other investing activities		732			37,511

Net cash used for investing activities		(10,696	)		(101,819	)

Financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt		(250,000	)		(150,000	)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		350,000			—
Dividends paid		(104,478	)		(71,563	)
Repurchase of common stock		(98,491	)		—
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and other		4,663			35,766

Net cash used for financing activities		(98,306	)		(185,797	)

Net decrease in cash and equivalents		(21,791	)		(183,240	)
Cash and equivalents, beginning of year		2,261,518			1,494,779

Cash and equivalents, end of period	$	2,239,727		$	1,311,539

In 2002, non-cash investing and financing activities included the issuance of 88.9 million shares of Limited Brands common stock valued at $1.6 billion in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of Intimate Brands, Inc. Class A common stock.

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIMITED BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. Basis of Presentation

Limited Brands, Inc. (the “Company” or “Limited Brands”) sells women’s and men’s apparel, women’s intimate apparel and personal care products under various trade names through its specialty retail stores and direct response (catalog and e-commerce) businesses.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries including Intimate Brands, Inc. (“IBI” or “Intimate Brands”), an 84% owned subsidiary through March 21, 2002 and wholly-owned thereafter. On March 21, 2002, the Company completed a tax-free tender offer and merger, which resulted in the acquisition of the IBI minority interest (“IBI recombination”). The operating results of Lerner New York (“Lerner”) are reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented through November 27, 2002 when it was sold to a third party (see Note 4). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Investments in unconsolidated entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but does not have control are accounted for using the equity method. The Company’s share of the net income or loss of unconsolidated entities from which the Company purchases merchandise or merchandise components is included in cost of goods sold. The Company’s share of the net income or loss of all other unconsolidated entities is included in other income (loss) which amounted to $0.6 million and ($1.3) million for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003 and ($2.6) million and ($3.7) million for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 3, 2002, respectively.

In the first quarter of 2003, Mast Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, sold its interest in certain joint ventures for $8.0 million in cash and $5.1 million in preferred notes (net of a $1.9 million fair value discount) resulting in a loss of $6.9 million which is included in other income (loss).

The consolidated financial statements as of and for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002 are unaudited and are presented pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Accordingly, these consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (which are of a normal recurring nature) necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods.

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

The consolidated financial statements as of and for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended August 2, 2003 included herein have been reviewed by the independent public accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP and the report of such firm follows the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Ernst & Young LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for its report on the consolidated financial statements because that report is not a report within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

2. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company reports stock-based compensation through the disclosure-only requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure-an Amendment to FASB No. 123.” Compensation expense for options is measured using the intrinsic value method in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB No. 25”). Under APB No. 25, because the exercise price of the Company’s employee stock options is generally equal to the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is recognized.

SFAS No. 123 establishes an alternative method of expense recognition for stock-based compensation awards based on fair values. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Twenty-six Weeks Ended
(millions except per share amounts)	August 2, 2003			August 3, 2002			August 2, 2003			August 3, 2002
Net income, as reported	$	101,959		$	83,247		$	199,489		$	133,105
Add: Stock compensation cost recorded, net of tax		2,779			10,148			7,842			39,706
Deduct: Stock compensation cost calculated under SFAS No. 123, net of tax		(10,238	)		(12,315	)		(20,245	)		(24,193	)

Pro forma net income	$	94,500		$	81,080		$	187,086		$	148,618

Earnings per basic share, as reported	$	0.20		$	0.16		$	0.38		$	0.27
Earnings per basic share, pro forma	$	0.18		$	0.16		$	0.36		$	0.30
Earnings per diluted share, as reported	$	0.19		$	0.16		$	0.38		$	0.26
Earnings per diluted share, pro forma	$	0.18		$	0.15		$	0.36		$	0.29

The above stock compensation cost recorded by the Company in 2003 and 2002 primarily relates to compensation expense resulting from the exchange of both vested and unvested IBI stock awards in connection with the IBI recombination. Stock compensation expense related to the IBI recombination was recognized in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 00-23, “Issues Related to the Accounting for Stock Compensation under APB Opinion No. 25 and FASB Interpretation No. 44.”

3. Shareholders’ Equity and Earnings Per Share

At August 2, 2003, one billion shares of $0.50 par value common stock were authorized, 523.8 million were issued and 518.5 million were outstanding. At February 1, 2003, 523.5 million shares were issued and outstanding and at August 3, 2002, 522.3 million shares were issued and outstanding. Ten million shares of $1.00 par value preferred stock were authorized, none of which were issued. In January 2003, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the repurchase of $150 million of the Company’s common stock. During the twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003, the Company repurchased approximately 6.8 million shares of its common stock for $98.5 million at an average price per share of $14.57 under that authorization.

Earnings per basic share is computed based on the weighted average number of outstanding common shares. Earnings per diluted share includes the weighted average effect of dilutive options and restricted stock on the weighted average shares outstanding.

Weighted average common shares outstanding (thousands):

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Twenty-six Weeks Ended
	August 2, 2003		August 3, 2002		August 2, 2003		August 3, 2002
Common shares issued	523,849		522,299		523,719		499,477
Treasury shares	(3,713	)	(787	)	(2,274	)	(1,628	)

Basic shares	520,136		521,512		521,445		497,849
Dilutive effect of stock options and restricted shares	6,212		15,331		5,245		14,135

Diluted shares	526,348		536,843		526,690		511,984

The quarterly computation of earnings per diluted share excludes options to purchase 20.3 million and 1.9 million shares of common stock at August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002 and the year-to-date computation of earnings per diluted share excludes options to purchase 22.8 million and 4.4 million shares for 2003 and 2002, because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares during the period.

4. Discontinued Operations

In the fourth quarter of 2002, the Company sold one of its apparel businesses, Lerner New York, to an investor group led by the business unit’s President and Chief Executive Officer and affiliates of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company received $79 million in cash, a $75 million subordinated note and warrants for approximately 15% of the common equity of the new company. A $26 million fair value discount was recorded on the subordinated note, which will be accreted to income over the term of the note. The subordinated note bears interest at 10% to be accrued and added to the principal balance of the note. The subordinated note and related accrued interest are due on November 26, 2009. During the first quarter of 2003, the Company received approximately $38 million in additional cash consideration based on Lerner’s net working capital at closing.

The transaction resulted in an after-tax loss of approximately $4 million in the fourth quarter of 2002, which reflects transaction costs and a $12 million liability for the estimated fair value of the Company’s lease guarantees. The Company’s financial statements reflect Lerner’s operating results (including the transaction loss) as a discontinued operation for all periods presented in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”.

The Company will continue to provide certain corporate services to Lerner under service agreements which expire at various dates through 2007.

5. Special Item

In connection with the IBI recombination, vested IBI stock options and restricted stock were exchanged for Limited Brands stock awards with substantially similar terms. In accordance with EITF No. 00-23, “Issues Related to the Accounting for Stock Compensation under APB Opinion No. 25 and FASB Interpretation No. 44,” the exchange was accounted for as a modification of a stock-based compensation arrangement. As a result, the Company recorded a pretax, non-cash special charge of $33.8 million in the first quarter of 2002.

6. Gain on Investee’s Stock

During the first quarter of 2003, the Company recognized a pretax gain of $79.7 million resulting from the sale of approximately one-half of its ownership in Alliance Data Systems Corp. (“ADS”) in a secondary offering. ADS is a provider of electronic transaction services, credit services and loyalty and database marketing services. Prior to the sale, the Company’s ownership interest in ADS was approximately 20%. As of August 2, 2003, the Company owns approximately 7.5 million shares of ADS common stock, representing approximately a 10% ownership interest. The Company will continue to account for its investment in ADS using the equity method as the Company has the right to nominate two Company designees for election to ADS’s Board of Directors and the Company continues to be a significant shareholder and the largest client of ADS.

7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The Company adopted SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” in the first quarter of 2002. Under SFAS 142, goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are no longer amortized, but must be tested for impairment annually (or in interim periods if events indicate possible impairment). Other intangible assets will continue to be amortized over their useful lives.

Intangible assets, not subject to amortization, represent trade names that were recorded in connection with the IBI recombination and were $411.0 million as of August 2, 2003, February 1, 2003 and August 3, 2002.

Intellectual property assets and other intangibles, subject to amortization, were as follows (in thousands):

	August 2, 2003			February 1, 2003			August 3, 2002
Gross carrying amount	$	54,300		$	54,300		$	54,300
Accumulated amortization		(21,366	)		(18,055	)		(13,414	)

Intellectual property assets and other intangibles, net	$	32,934		$	36,245		$	40,886

The estimated annual amortization expense for intangibles is $8.0 million each year through 2006 at which time intangible assets will be fully amortized.

There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the thirteen or twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003.

8. Inventories

The fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries is comprised of two principal selling seasons: spring (the first and second quarters) and fall (the third and fourth quarters). Inventories are principally valued at the lower of average cost or market, on a weighted average cost basis, using the retail method. Inventory valuation at the end of the first and third quarters reflects adjustments for estimated inventory markdowns for the total selling season.

9. Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consisted of (thousands):

	August 2, 2003			February 1, 2003			August 3, 2002
Property and equipment, at cost	$	3,687,500		$	3,630,426		$	3,904,003
Accumulated depreciation and amortization		(2,218,425	)		(2,139,579	)		(2,329,286	)

Property and equipment, net	$	1,469,075		$	1,490,847		$	1,574,717

10. Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is based on the current estimate of the annual effective tax rate and, for the twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002, also reflects the nondeductible expense related to the exchange of vested IBI incentive stock options. Income taxes paid during the twenty-six weeks August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002 approximated $270.9 million and $339.2 million. Income taxes payable included net current deferred tax liabilities of $55.4 million at August 2, 2003, $55.7 million at February 1, 2003 and $6.8 million at August 3, 2002.

The Company’s effective tax rate has historically reflected and continues to reflect a provision related to the undistributed earnings of foreign affiliates. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has assessed the Company for additional taxes and interest for the years 1992 to 1998 relating to the undistributed earnings of foreign affiliates. On September 7, 1999, the United States Tax Court sustained the position of the IRS with respect to the 1992 year. In connection with an appeal of the Tax Court judgment, in 1999 the Company made a $112 million payment of taxes and interest for the years 1992 to 1998 that reduced deferred tax liabilities.

On March 29, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in favor of the Company, reversing the previous Tax Court judgment relating to the 1992 year. This ruling will also apply to years 1993 and 1994. However, the amount of any payment the Company may receive related to the 1992 through 1994 years has not been finalized and the Company is pursuing additional actions to obtain any refunds related to the 1995 through 1998 years.

11. Long-Term Debt

Unsecured long-term debt consisted of (thousands):

	August 2, 2003		February 1, 2003		August 3, 2002
6¹/8% $300 million Notes due December 2012, less unamortized discount	$	298,805	$	298,740		—
6.95% $350 million Debentures due March 2033, less unamortized discount		349,339		—		—
7¹/2% $250 million Debentures due March 2023, less unamortized discount		—		248,080	$	248,032

	$	648,144	$	546,820	$	248,032

On February 13, 2003, the Company issued $350 million of 6.95% debentures due March 1, 2033 under a 144A private placement. In connection with a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Company exchanged $349.5 million of the privately held securities for $349.5 million of securities registered with the SEC with identical terms through a non-taxable exchange offer. The $0.5 million of securities that were not exchanged remain outstanding as privately held securities.

On March 28, 2003, the Company redeemed its 7½% debentures due 2023 at a redemption price equal to 103.16% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest through the call date. The early redemption of these securities resulted in a pretax charge of $13.4 million, comprised of the call premium and the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees and discounts. This charge was included in interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the first quarter of 2003.

The Company currently has a $1.25 billion unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Facility”). The Facility is comprised of a $500 million 364-day agreement and a $750 million 5-year agreement. Borrowings outstanding under the Facility, if any, are due June 25, 2004 and July 13, 2006, respectively. The Facility has several borrowing and interest rate options. Fees payable under the Facility are based on the Company’s long-term credit ratings, and are currently 0.1% (for the 364-day agreement) and 0.125% (for the 5-year agreement) of the committed amount per year.

The Facility requires the Company to maintain certain specified fixed charge and debt to capital ratios. The Company was in compliance with these requirements at August 2, 2003.

The Facility supports the Company’s commercial paper and letter of credit programs, which are used from time to time to fund working capital and other general corporate requirements. The Company did not issue commercial paper or draw on the Facility during the first or second quarters of 2003. In addition, no commercial paper or amounts under the Facility were outstanding at August 2, 2003.

Interest paid during the twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002 was $34.9 million and $17.4 million, respectively.

12. Guarantees

In connection with the disposition of certain subsidiaries, the Company has remaining guarantees of approximately $574 million related to lease payments of Abercrombie & Fitch, Limited Too, Galyan’s, Lane Bryant and Lerner under the current terms of noncancelable leases expiring at various dates through 2018, unless extended or renewed. These guarantees include minimum rent and additional payments covering taxes, common area costs and certain other expenses and relate only to leases that commenced prior to the disposition of the subsidiaries. In certain instances, the Company’s guarantee may remain in effect if the term of a lease is extended. Except as discussed below, the Company believes the likelihood of material liability being triggered under these guarantees, with respect to existing and extended leases, is remote.

In conjunction with the sale of Lerner, the Company recognized a liability of $12 million representing the estimated fair value of the Company’s obligation as guarantor in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections” effective for guarantees issued after May 15, 2002.

Also, in connection with the Company’s investment in Easton Town Center, LLC (“ETC”), the Company has guaranteed $25 million of ETC’s $210 million secured bank loan.

Additionally, the Company has issued a $30 million standby letter of credit, on which the City of Columbus, Ohio (the “City”) can draw solely to pay principal and interest on public bonds issued by the City for infrastructure development at Easton. The Company does not currently anticipate that the City will be required to draw funds under the letter of credit.

13. Segment Information

The Victoria’s Secret segment derives its revenues from sales of women’s intimate and other apparel, personal care products and accessories marketed under the Victoria’s Secret brand name. Victoria’s Secret merchandise is sold through its stores and direct response (catalog and e-commerce) businesses. The Bath & Body Works segment derives its revenues from the sale of personal care products and accessories and home fragrance products marketed under the Bath & Body Works and White Barn Candle Company brand names. The Apparel segment derives its revenues from sales of women’s and men’s apparel through Express and Limited Stores.

Segment information as of and for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002 follows (in thousands):

2003	Victoria’s Secret		Bath & Body Works		Apparel			Other(a)			Reconciling Items			Total
Thirteen weeks:
Net sales	$	929,312	$	393,303	$	588,921		$	390,018		$	(287,448	)(b)	$	2,014,106
Operating income (loss)		174,945		52,222		(2,836	)		(53,964	)		—			170,367
Twenty-six weeks:
Net sales	$	1,720,572	$	714,657	$	1,204,534		$	750,610		$	(533,970	)(b)	$	3,856,403
Operating income (loss)		285,888		68,704		11,634			(86,808	)		—			279,418
Total assets		2,032,691		1,457,277		735,096			2,955,158			—			7,180,222

2002	Victoria’s Secret		Bath & Body Works		Apparel		Other(a)			Reconciling Items			Total
Thirteen weeks:
Net sales	$	864,455	$	374,287	$	591,111	$	364,193		$	(281,630	)(b)	$	1,912,416
Operating income (loss)		144,926		31,373		3,316		(40,942	)		—			138,673
Twenty-six weeks:
Net sales	$	1,626,497	$	694,564	$	1,229,080	$	685,573		$	(524,591	)(b)	$	3,711,123
Operating income (loss)		245,390		59,030		37,708		(75,312	)		(33,808	)(c)		233,008
Total assets		1,930,893		1,489,267		724,276		2,355,700			—			6,500,136

(a)

Includes Corporate (including non-core real estate and equity investments), Mast and Henri Bendel. In 2002, total assets included Lerner.

(b)

Represents the elimination of Mast sales to the Victoria’s Secret and Apparel segments.

(c)

Represents a non-cash charge for the exchange of vested stock awards related to the IBI recombination.

14. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” This interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Instruments,” establishes standards for determining under what circumstances a variable interest entity should be consolidated with its primary beneficiary. FIN 46 applies immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. For variable interest entities acquired before February 1, 2003, this interpretation is effective in the third quarter of 2003. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of adopting FIN 46, but does not anticipate that the adoption will have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Independent Accountants’ Review Report

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

of Limited Brands, Inc.:

We have reviewed the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Limited Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of August 2, 2003, the consolidated statements of income for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended August 2, 2003 and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the twenty-six week period ended August 2, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. The consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of August 3, 2002, the consolidated statements of income for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended August 3, 2002 and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the twenty-six week period ended August 3, 2002 were reviewed by other accountants whose report dated August 22, 2002 stated that they were not aware of any material modifications that should be made to those statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, which will be performed for the full year with the objective of expressing an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying consolidated financial statements at August 2, 2003, and for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods then ended for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

The consolidated balance sheet of Limited Brands, Inc. as of February 1, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein) were audited by other accountants, and in their report dated February 27, 2003, they expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. Based on our review and reliance upon the report of other auditors, the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of February 1, 2003, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Columbus, Ohio

August 19, 2003

Item 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net sales for the second quarter of 2003 increased 5% to $2.014 billion from $1.912 billion for the second quarter of 2002. Comparable store sales increased 3% for the quarter. Operating income increased to $170.4 million from $138.7 million in 2002, net income increased 23% to $102.0 million from $83.2 million in 2002 and diluted earnings per share increased to $0.19 from $0.16 in 2002.

Net sales for the twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003 increased 4% to $3.856 billion from $3.711 billion in 2002. Comparable store sales increased 1% in the first half of 2003. Operating income increased to $279.4 million from $233.0 million in 2002. Net income increased 50% to $199.5 million from $133.1 million in 2002, and diluted earnings per share increased to $0.38 from $0.26 in 2002.

There were a number of items that impact the comparability of the Company’s reported results. See “Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited),” the “Special Item,” “Gain on Investee’s Stock” and “Adjusted Data” sections for a discussion of these items and the impact on 2003 and 2002 earnings.

Financial Summary

The following summarized financial and statistical data compares reported results for the thirteen week and twenty-six week periods ended August 2, 2003 and August 3, 2002:

	Second Quarter								Year-to-Date
	2003			2002			Change		2003			2002			Change
Net Sales (millions):
Victoria’s Secret Stores	$	669		$	615		9	%	$	1,231		$	1,151		7	%
Victoria’s Secret Direct		260			249		4	%		489			475		3	%

Total Victoria’s Secret	$	929		$	864		8	%	$	1,720		$	1,626		6	%

Bath & Body Works	$	393		$	374		5	%	$	715		$	695		3	%

Express	$	455		$	449		1	%	$	927		$	932		(1	%)
Limited Stores		134			142		(6	%)		277			297		(7	%)

Total apparel businesses	$	589		$	591		0	%	$	1,204		$	1,229		(2	%)

Other (a)	$	103		$	83		24	%	$	217		$	161		35	%

Total net sales	$	2,014		$	1,912		5	%	$	3,856		$	3,711		4	%

Segment Operating Income (millions):
Victoria’s Secret	$	175		$	145		21	%	$	286		$	245		17	%
Bath & Body Works		52			31		68	%		69			59		17	%
Apparel		(3	)		3		(200	%)		11			38		(71	%)
Other (a)		(54	)		(40	)	(35	%)		(87	)		(75	)	(16	%)

Sub-total	$	170		$	139		22	%	$	279		$	267		4	%
Special item (b)		—			—		—			—			(34	)	N/M

Total operating income	$	170		$	139		22	%	$	279		$	233		20	%

N/M – not meaningful

(a)

Other includes Corporate, Mast third party sales and Henri Bendel.

(b)

Represents a non-cash charge for the exchange of vested stock awards related to the IBI recombination.

	Second Quarter				Year-to-Date
	2003		2002		2003		2002
Comparable Store Sales (a):
Victoria’s Secret	6	%	5	%	4	%	6	%

Bath & Body Works	4	%	(2	%)	1	%	(5	%)

Express	1	%	5	%	(1	%)	6	%
Limited Stores	(4	%)	13	%	(4	%)	11	%

Total apparel businesses	0	%	7	%	(1	%)	7	%

Henri Bendel	7	%	3	%	2	%	2	%

Total comparable store sales increase	3	%	4	%	1	%	4	%

	Second Quarter						Year-to-Date
	2003		2002		Change		2003		2002		Change
Segment Store Data:
Retail sales per average selling square foot:
Victoria’s Secret	$	144	$	136	6	%	$	264	$	256	3	%
Bath & Body Works	$	111	$	107	4	%	$	201	$	199	1	%
Apparel	$	75	$	73	3	%	$	152	$	149	2	%
Retail sales per average store (thousands):
Victoria’s Secret	$	663	$	611	9	%	$	1,217	$	1,145	6	%
Bath & Body Works	$	242	$	230	5	%	$	438	$	428	2	%
Apparel	$	435	$	412	6	%	$	885	$	851	4	%
Average store size at end of quarter (selling square feet):
Victoria’s Secret		4,629		4,497	3	%
Bath & Body Works		2,188		2,152	2	%
Apparel		5,801		5,717	1	%
Selling square feet at end of quarter (thousands):
Victoria’s Secret		4,666		4,537	3	%
Bath & Body Works		3,551		3,505	1	%
Apparel		7,773		8,078	(4	%)

(a)

A store is typically included in the calculation of comparable store sales when it has been open 12 months or more and it has not had a change in selling square footage of 20% or more. Additionally, stores of a given brand are excluded if total selling square footage for the brand in the mall changes by 20% or more through the opening or closing of a second store.

Number of Stores:

	Second Quarter				Year-to-Date
	2003		2002		2003		2002
Victoria’s Secret
Beginning of period	1,011		1,006		1,014		1,002
Opened	1		9		2		15
Closed	(4	)	(6	)	(8	)	(8	)

End of period	1,008		1,009		1,008		1,009

Bath & Body Works
Beginning of period	1,630		1,625		1,639		1,615
Opened	1		11		2		26
Closed	(8	)	(7	)	(18	)	(12	)

End of period	1,623		1,629		1,623		1,629

Apparel
Beginning of period	1,369		1,454		1,382		1,474
Opened	1		3		1		5
Closed	(30	)	(44	)	(43	)	(66	)

End of period	1,340		1,413		1,340		1,413

	Number of Stores				Selling Sq. Ft. (thousands)
	August 2, 2003	August 3, 2002	Change		August 2, 2003	August 3, 2002	Change
Victoria’s Secret	1,008	1,009	(1	)	4,666	4,537	129
Bath & Body Works	1,623	1,629	(6	)	3,551	3,505	46
Express Women’s	602	644	(42	)	3,730	4,032	(302	)
Express Men’s	326	386	(60	)	1,320	1,565	(245	)
Express Dual Gender	65	23	42		597	270	327

Total Express	993	1,053	(60	)	5,647	5,867	(220	)
Limited Stores	347	360	(13	)	2,126	2,211	(85	)

Total apparel	1,340	1,413	(73	)	7,773	8,078	(305	)

Henri Bendel	1	1	—		35	35	—

Total stores and selling sq. ft.	3,972	4,052	(80	)	16,025	16,155	(130	)

Net Sales

Net sales for the second quarter of 2003 increased 5% to $2.014 billion from $1.912 billion for the second quarter of 2002. The increase in sales was driven by Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works and Mast. Apparel net sales were about flat for the quarter.

At Victoria’s Secret, net sales for the second quarter of 2003 increased 7% to $929.3 million from $864.5 million in 2002. The net sales increase was primarily driven by an increase in comparable store sales of 6% or $32.7 million and the net increase in sales associated with new, closed and non-comparable remodeled stores of $21.0 million. The increase in comparable store sales resulted from improved performance in the bra, panty and beauty categories as well as a successful semi-annual sale. Net sales at Victoria’s Secret Direct increased 4% or $11.1 million driven by sales increases in panty, sleepwear and accessory categories.

At Bath & Body Works, net sales for the second quarter of 2003 increased 5% to $393.3 million from $374.3 million for the second quarter of 2002. The net sales increase was driven by an increase in comparable store sales of 4% or $13.4 million and an increase in sales associated with new, closed and non-comparable remodeled stores of $5.6 million. The increase in comparable store sales was primarily driven by incremental direct mail promotional campaigns and a successful semi-annual sale. Growth in the True Blue Spa product line and home fragrance category also drove the increase in sales. The core bath products line was flat to last year, an improvement in trend over the past two quarters.

The net sales increase at Mast was primarily driven by sales to Lerner, which became a third party customer upon its disposition in November 2002.

At the apparel businesses, net sales of $588.9 million for the second quarter of 2003 were about flat to last year’s net sales of $591.1 million. Comparable store sales were flat for the quarter. A slight increase in sales at Express was more than offset by declines at Limited Stores. Comparable store sales at Express increased 1% or $3.4 million driven primarily by the men’s business, where growth in knit tops, denim and woven shirts was partially offset by declines in shorts. Comparable stores sales at Limited Stores decreased 4% or $4.6 million, as growth in jackets and wear to work pants was more than offset by declines in casual pants and tops.

Year-to-date net sales increased 4% to $3.856 billion from $3.711 billion in 2002. The increase in sales was driven by Victoria’s Secret, Mast and Bath & Body Works. Declines at the apparel businesses partially offset these gains.

At Victoria’s Secret, net sales for the first half of 2003 increased 6% to $1.720 billion from $1.626 billion in the first half of 2002. The increase was driven by the net increase in sales associated with new, closed and non-comparable remodeled stores of $41.0 million and an increase in comparable store sales of 4% or $38.3 million, driven primarily by the factors described above. Net sales at Victoria’s Secret Direct increased 3% or $14.8 million driven by sales increases in panty, sleepwear and accessory categories throughout the first half of 2003.

At Bath & Body Works, net sales for the first half of 2003 increased 3% to $714.7 million from $694.6 million in the first half of 2002. The increase was driven by the net increase in sales associated with new, closed and non-comparable remodeled stores of $12.4 million and an increase in comparable store sales of 1% or $7.7 million, driven by the factors described above.

At the apparel businesses, net sales for the first half of 2003 decreased 2% to $1.204 billion from $1.229 billion in the first half of 2002. The decline resulted primarily from a decrease in comparable store sales of 1% or $16.3 million and the net decrease in sales associated with closed, new and non-comparable remodeled stores of $8.2 million. The decrease in comparable store sales was primarily driven by Limited Stores, where comparable store sales decreased 4% or $11.9 million in the first half of 2003 driven by declines in sweaters and casual pants that more than offset growth in jackets and wear to work pants. Comparable store sales at Express decreased 1% or $4.4 million as the improvement in the men’s business described above was more than offset by declines in sweaters and woven pants in the women’s business.

The net sales increase at Mast was primarily driven by sales to Lerner, which became a third party customer upon its disposition in November 2002.

Gross Income

For the second quarter of 2003, the gross income rate (expressed as a percentage of net sales) decreased to 34.9% from 35.2% for the same period in 2002. The slight decrease in the gross income rate was principally the result of a decrease in merchandise margin rates at the apparel businesses, partially offset by leverage on buying and occupancy costs.

The gross income rate at Victoria’s Secret was up slightly for the quarter. The significant increase in the gross income rate at Bath & Body Works was the result of an increase in the merchandise margin rate and a decrease in the buying and occupancy expense rate. The increase in the merchandise margin rate was due to fewer markdowns in 2003 as higher markdowns were recorded in 2002 resulting from the exit of Imagine fragrance, Beautiful by Nature cosmetics and certain candles. The decrease in the buying and occupancy expense rate primarily resulted from the ability to achieve leverage on a comparable store sales increase of 4%.

The decline in the gross income rate at the apparel businesses was primarily due to a decrease in the merchandise margin rate driven by higher promotional activity and markdowns to clear Spring merchandise.

The year-to-date gross income rate decreased to 34.1% from 34.9% in 2002. In addition to the factors described above, the decrease in the gross income rate was also driven by a decline at Mast, primarily due to a decrease in income from joint ventures which have been sold in the last twelve months.

General, Administrative and Store Operating Expenses

For the second quarter of 2003, the general, administrative and store operating expense rate (expressed as a percentage of net sales) decreased to 26.4% from 27.9% last year. The rate improvement was driven by expense leverage on store selling costs and a decrease in incentive compensation.

The year-to-date general, administrative and store operating expense rate decreased to 26.8% from 27.7% in 2002 primarily due to the factors described above.

Special Item

In connection with the IBI recombination in March of 2002, vested IBI stock options and restricted stock were exchanged for Limited Brands stock awards with substantially similar terms. In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 00-23, “Issues Related to the Accounting for Stock Compensation under APB Opinion No. 25 and FASB Interpretation No. 44,” the exchange was accounted for as a modification of a stock-based compensation arrangement. As a result, the Company recorded a pretax, non-cash special charge of $33.8 million in the first quarter of 2002.

Operating Income

The operating income rate in the second quarter of 2003 (expressed as a percentage of net sales) increased to 8.5% compared to 7.3% in 2002. The increase was primarily the result of the 1.5% decrease in the general, administrative and store operating expense rate, partially offset by a 0.3% decrease in the gross income rate.

The year-to-date operating income rate increased to 7.2% from 6.3% in 2002. Excluding the special item in 2002, the operating income rate was flat to last year as a decline in the gross income rate was offset by an improvement in the general, administrative and store operating expense rate.

Interest Expense

	Second Quarter						Year-to-Date
	2003			2002			2003			2002
Average borrowings (millions)	$	650.0		$	266.5		$	732.6		$	333.2
Average effective interest rate		6.51	%		7.56	%		6.69	%		7.58	%

The Company incurred $11.4 million in interest expense for the second quarter of 2003 compared to $6.2 million for the same period in 2002. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to an increase in average daily borrowings, partially offset by a decrease in average borrowing rates.

Year-to-date interest expense increased to $38.4 million in 2003 from $15.4 million in 2002. The increase was primarily due to costs of $13 million associated with the retirement of the Company’s $250 million 7 ½% notes due in 2023, which included the payment of a call premium and the write-off of unamortized discounts and fees. An increase in average daily borrowings, partially offset by a decrease in average borrowing rates, also contributed to the increase.

Other Non-operating Items

For the second quarter of 2003, interest income increased to $8.1 million from $6.4 million in 2002. Year-to-date interest income increased to $17.3 million from $13.9 million in 2002. These increases were primarily driven by an increase in average invested cash balances, partially offset by a decrease in average effective interest rates.

For the second quarter of 2003, other income (loss) was $0.9 million compared to ($2.1) million for the second quarter of 2002. The other income (loss) in both periods is primarily driven by the results of the Company’s unconsolidated entities. Year-to-date other income (loss) was ($7.6) million compared to ($2.6) million in 2002. The increased loss in 2003 was driven by a $6.9 million loss on the sale of certain Mast joint ventures.

Gains on Investee’s Stock

Adjusted Data

The adjusted income information provides non-GAAP financial measures and gives effect to the significant transactions and events that impact the comparability of the Company’s results in 2003 and 2002. The following table adjusts net income for such transactions and events (as described below) to determine the adjusted results, and reconciles the adjusted results to net income reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The gain on investee’s stock in 2003 resulted from a transaction that does not relate to the performance of the Company’s core business. The IBI recombination and sale of Lerner are transactions that occurred in prior periods and, therefore, affect the comparability of current period results and also do not relate to the core performance of the Company’s business.

Management believes that the adjusted results provide useful information as to the Company’s underlying business performance and assessment of ongoing operations. The adjusted income information 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.

Reconciliation of Adjusted Income Information (thousands except per share amounts):

	Thirteen Weeks Ended
	August 2, 2003			August 3, 2002
	Reported			Reported			Adjustments			Adjusted
Net sales	$	2,014,106		$	1,912,416			—		$	1,912,416

Gross income		702,224			672,968			—			672,968

General, administrative and store operating expenses		(531,857	)		(534,295	)		—			(534,295	)

Operating income		170,367			138,673			—			138,673
Interest expense		(11,425	)		(6,155	)		—			(6,155	)
Interest income		8,107			6,378			1,875	(A)		8,253
Other income (loss)		910			(2,135	)		—			(2,135	)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes		167,959			136,761			1,875			138,636
Provision for income taxes		66,000			55,000			—			55,000

Net income from continuing operations		101,959			81,761			1,875			83,636
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		—			1,486			(1,486	)(A)		—

Net income	$	101,959		$	83,247		$	389		$	83,636

Income per diluted share:
Continuing operations	$	0.19		$	0.15					$	0.16
Discontinued operations		—			—						—

Net income per diluted share	$	0.19		$	0.16					$	0.16

Weighted average shares outstanding		526,348			536,843						536,843

See Notes to Reconciliation of Adjusted Income Information on next page.

	Twenty-six Weeks Ended
	August 2, 2003									August 3, 2002
	Reported			Adjustments			Adjusted			Reported			Adjustments			Adjusted
Net sales	$	3,856,403			—		$	3,856,403		$	3,711,123			—		$	3,711,123

Gross income		1,314,287			—			1,314,287			1,294,629			—			1,294,629

General, administrative and store operating expenses		(1,034,869	)		—			(1,034,869	)		(1,027,813	)		—			(1,027,813	)
Special item		—			—			—			(33,808	)	$	33,808	(C)		—

Operating income		279,418			—			279,418			233,008			33,808			266,816
Interest expense		(38,395	)		—			(38,395	)		(15,385	)		—			(15,385	)
Interest income		17,341			—			17,341			13,940			3,750	(A)		17,690
Other loss		(7,561	)		—			(7,561	)		(2,611	)		—			(2,611	)
Minority interest		—			—			—			(6,063	)		6,063	(B)		—
Gain on investee’s stock		79,686		$	(79,686	)(D)		—			—			—			—

Income from continuing operations before income tax		330,489			(79,686	)		250,803			222,889			43,621			266,510
Provision for income taxes		131,000			(32,000	)		99,000			97,000			9,000			106,000

Net income from continuing operations		199,489			(47,686	)		151,803			125,889			34,621			160,510
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax		—			—			—			7,216			(7,216	)(A)		—

Net income	$	199,489		$	(47,686	)	$	151,803		$	133,105		$	27,405		$	160,510

Income per diluted share:
Continuing operations	$	0.38					$	0.29		$	0.25					$	0.30
Discontinued operations		—						—			0.01						—

Net income per diluted share	$	0.38					$	0.29		$	0.26					$	0.30

Weighted average shares outstanding		526,690			—			526,690			511,984			23,636	(B)		535,620

Notes to Reconciliation of Adjusted Income Information:

(A)

Excluded business:

As a result of its sale on November 27, 2002, Lerner’s results have been reflected in discontinued operations and were excluded in determining adjusted results for 2002 (see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). In addition, the adjusted results reflect the addition of interest income, which would have been earned on the $75 million note received from Lerner in connection with the sale.

(B)

Offer and merger:

On March 21, 2002, the Company completed a tender offer and merger that resulted in the acquisition of the IBI minority interest. The adjusted results:

—

Eliminate the minority interest in earnings of Intimate Brands, Inc.; and

—

Increase total weighted average Class A common stock outstanding, using the exchange rate of 1.1 share of Limited Brands common stock for each share of IBI Class A common stock.

(C)

Special item (see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements):

The 2002 adjusted results exclude a $33.8 million non-cash charge for vested stock awards related to the IBI recombination.

(D)

Gain on investee’s stock (see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements):

The 2003 adjusted results exclude a $79.7 million pre-tax, non-operating gain resulting from the sale of approximately one-half of the Company’s investment in Alliance Data Systems Corporation.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash provided by operating activities and funds available from commercial paper backed by bank credit agreements provide the resources to support current operations, projected growth, seasonal funding requirements and capital expenditures. Changes in consumer spending patterns, consumer preferences and overall economic conditions could impact the availability of future operating cash flows.

A summary of the Company’s working capital position and capitalization follows (millions):

	August 2, 2003		February 1, 2003		August 3, 2002
Working capital	$	2,528	$	2,347	$	1,540

Capitalization:
Long-term debt	$	648	$	547	$	248
Shareholders’ equity		4,875		4,860		4,535

Total capitalization	$	5,523	$	5,407	$	4,783

Additional amounts available under credit agreements	$	1,250	$	1,250	$	1,250

The Company’s operations are seasonal in nature, leading to significant fluctuations in certain asset and liability accounts between fiscal year-end and subsequent interim periods. Consequently, the Company believes the most meaningful analysis of operating cash flows is one that compares the current interim period changes to the prior interim period changes.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $87.2 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003 versus $104.4 million provided by operating activities for the same period in 2002. The primary differences in cash provided by operating activities between the first half of 2003 and 2002 were due to a decrease in net income, excluding the gain on sale of investee’s stock in 2003, working capital and income taxes. The cash used for income taxes was higher in 2002 versus the same period in 2003 due to increased pretax income in 2001 which includes the gain from the sale of Lane Bryant, and the timing of payments.

In 2003, investing activities primarily included $146.8 million in capital expenditures, partially offset by cash inflows of $130.7 million from the sale of approximately one-half of the Company’s investment in ADS. Investing activities in 2002 primarily included capital expenditures of $141.5 million and cash inflows primarily resulting from the collection of a long-term note receivable.

Financing activities in 2003 consisted of the issuance of $350 million in long-term debt substantially offset by the redemption of $250 million in debentures, quarterly dividend payments of $0.10 per share or $104.5 million and the repurchase of 6.8 million shares of common stock for $98.5 million. Financing activities in 2002 included the repayment of $150 million in long-term debt and quarterly dividend payments of $0.075 per share or $71.6 million, partially offset by proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

On May 22, 2003, the Company filed a shelf registration statement, under which up to $500 million of debt securities, common and preferred stock, and other securities may be issued.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures amounted to $146.8 million for the twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003 compared to $141.5 million for the same period in 2002. The Company anticipates capital spending to be $310 million or less in 2003, the majority of which will be for the remodeling of and improvements to existing stores and for new stores. Remaining capital expenditures are primarily related to information technology and distribution center projects. The Company expects that 2003 capital expenditures will be funded principally by net cash provided by operating activities.

Impact of Inflation

The Company’s results of operations and financial condition are presented based on historical cost. While it is difficult to accurately measure the impact of inflation due to the imprecise nature of the estimates required, the Company believes the effects of inflation, if any, on the results of operations and financial condition have been minor.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, as well as the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to inventories, long-lived assets, and contingencies. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Management believes the following assumptions and estimates are most significant to reporting our results of operations and financial position.

•

Inventories—Inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market, on a weighted average cost basis, using the retail method. The Company records a charge to cost of goods sold for all inventory on hand when a permanent retail price reduction is reflected in its stores. In addition, management makes estimates and judgments regarding, among other things, initial markup, markdowns, future demand and market conditions, all of which significantly impact the ending inventory valuation. Inventory valuation at the end of the first and third quarters reflects adjustments for estimated inventory markdowns for the spring (the first and second quarters) and fall (the third and fourth quarters) selling seasons. If actual future demand or market conditions are different than those projected by management, future period merchandise margin rates may be unfavorably or favorably affected. Other significant estimates related to inventory include shrink and obsolete and excess inventory which are also based on historical results and management’s operating projections.

•

Valuation of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill—Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Trademarks are reviewed for impairment annually by comparing the fair value to the carrying value. Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment by comparing each reporting unit’s carrying value to its fair value. Factors used in the valuation of long-lived assets, trademarks and goodwill include, but are not limited to, management’s plans for future operations, brand initiatives, recent operating results and projected cash flows. If future economic conditions are different than those projected by management, additional impairment charges may be required.

•

Claims and Contingencies—The Company is subject to various claims and contingencies related to lawsuits, income taxes, insurance and other matters arising out of the normal course of business. The Company’s determination of the treatment of claims and contingencies in the financial statements is based on management’s view of the expected outcome of the applicable claim or contingency. The Company consults with legal counsel on matters related to litigation and seeks input from other experts both within and outside the Company with respect to matters in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues a liability if the likelihood of an adverse outcome is probable and the amount is estimable. If the likelihood of an adverse outcome is only reasonably possible (as opposed to probable), or if an estimate is not determinable, disclosure of a material claim or contingency is made in the notes to the financial statements.

•

Revenue Recognition—While the Company’s recognition of revenue does not involve significant judgment, revenue recognition represents an important accounting policy of the Company. The Company recognizes revenue upon customer receipt of the merchandise and provides a reserve for projected merchandise returns based on prior experience.

Item 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The market risk of the Company’s financial instruments as of August 2, 2003 has not significantly changed since February 1, 2003. Information regarding the Company’s financial instruments and market risk as of February 1, 2003 is disclosed in the Company’s 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Explanation of disclosure controls and procedures. Our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”), have concluded that as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective and designed to ensure that material information relating to us and our consolidated subsidiaries would be made known to them by others within those entities.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred in the second quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is a defendant in a variety of lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of business.

In May and June 1999, purported shareholders of the Company filed three derivative actions in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, naming as defendants the members of the Company’s board of directors and the Company, as nominal defendant. The actions thereafter were consolidated. The operative complaint generally alleged that the rescission of the Contingent Stock Redemption Agreement previously entered into by the Company with Leslie H. Wexner and The Wexner Children’s Trust (the “Contingent Stock Redemption Agreement”) constituted a waste of corporate assets and a breach of the board members’ fiduciary duties, and that the issuer tender offer completed on June 3, 1999 was a “wasteful transaction in its own right.” On February 16, 2000, plaintiffs filed a first amended consolidated derivative complaint (the “amended complaint”), which made allegations similar to the first complaint but added allegations apparently intended to show that certain directors were not disinterested in those decisions. Defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint on April 14, 2000 and oral argument was heard on March 28, 2001. On March 27, 2002, the Court granted the motion in part and denied the motion in part. On May 10, 2002, the Company’s board of directors appointed a special litigation committee composed of directors Donald B. Shackelford and Raymond Zimmerman and granted that committee the authority to investigate the claims asserted in the amended complaint and to determine the Company’s response to them. On October 31, 2002, the special litigation committee filed a motion on behalf of the Company to dismiss the action on the basis that pursuit of the claims was not in the best interests of the Company. The individual defendants also filed motions to dismiss on the basis of the Company’s motion. The motions in this matter are still pending before the Court.

Although it is not possible to predict with certainty the eventual outcome of any litigation, in the opinion of management, the foregoing proceedings are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Item 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

The Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 19, 2003. The matters voted upon and the results of the voting were as follows:

E. Gordon Gee, James L. Heskett, Allan R. Tessler and Abigail S. Wexner were elected to the Board of Directors for a term of three years. Of the 467,740,849 shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, the number of shares voted for and the number of shares as to which authority to vote in the election was withheld were as follows, with respect to each of the nominees:

Name	Shares Voted For Election	Shares as to Which Voting Authority Withheld
E. Gordon Gee	462,945,062	4,795,729
James L. Heskett	463,325,930	4,414,861
Allan R. Tessler	448,225,931	19,514,860
Abigail S. Wexner	463,208,614	4,532,177

In addition, directors whose term of office continued after the Annual Meeting were: Eugene M. Freedman, V. Ann Hailey, Donna James, David T. Kollat, Leonard A. Schlesinger, Donald B. Shackelford, Leslie H. Wexner and Raymond Zimmerman.

The shareholders were asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the 2003 Stock Award and Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Associate Directors. Of the 467,740,849 shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, 456,361,420 shares were voted for the proposal, 6,258,918 shares were voted against the proposal, and 5,119,955 shares abstained from voting with respect to the proposal.

Item 6.

EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)

Exhibits.

4.		364-day revolving credit agreement dated as of June 27, 2003 among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank and the lenders listed therein

10.		Employment agreement dated July 31, 2003, by and between Limited Brands, Inc. and Leonard A. Schlesinger

15.		Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information to Securities and Exchange Commission re: Incorporation of Report of Independent Accountants.

31.1		Section 302 Certification of CEO

31.2		Section 302 Certification of CFO

32.		Section 906 Certification

(b)

Reports on Form 8-K.

Form 8-K dated May 19, 2003: The Company issued a press release setting forth its first quarter 2003 earnings.

SIGNATURE

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 thereunto duly authorized.

LIMITED BRANDS, INC. (Registrant)

By:		/s/ V. ANN HAILEY
		V. Ann Hailey Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer*

Date: September 12, 2003

*Ms. Hailey is the principal financial officer and has been duly authorized to sign on behalf of the Registrant.

Exhibit 4 ================================================================================ US$500,000,000 364-DAY REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of June 27, 2003 among LIMITED BRANDS, INC., The Lenders Party Hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Administrative Agent ------------------------- BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and CITICORP USA, INC. as Co-Syndication Agents and HSBC BANK USA and FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Co-Documentation Agents and J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as Joint Advisors, Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners ================================================================================

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ---- ARTICLE I Definitions SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms....................................................1 SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings..........................15 SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally.................................................15 SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP..........................................16 ARTICLE II The Credits SECTION 2.01. Commitments.....................................................16 SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings............................................16 SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings...............................17 SECTION 2.04. Competitive Bid Procedure.......................................18 SECTION 2.05. Funding of Borrowings...........................................20 SECTION 2.06. Interest Elections..............................................20 SECTION 2.07. Termination, Reduction and Increase of Commitments..............21 SECTION 2.08. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Indebtedness....................23 SECTION 2.09. Prepayment of Loans.............................................24 SECTION 2.10. Fees............................................................24 SECTION 2.11. Interest........................................................25 SECTION 2.12. Alternate Rate of Interest......................................26 SECTION 2.13. Increased Costs.................................................27 SECTION 2.14. Break Funding Payments..........................................28 SECTION 2.15. Taxes...........................................................29 SECTION 2.16. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.....30 SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders..................31 SECTION 2.18. Term-Out Option.................................................33 ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties SECTION 3.01. Corporate Existence and Power...................................33 SECTION 3.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention......33 SECTION 3.03. Binding Effect..................................................33 SECTION 3.04. Financial Information...........................................33 SECTION 3.05. Litigation and Environmental Matters............................34 i

SECTION 3.06. Subsidiaries....................................................34 SECTION 3.07. Not an Investment Company.......................................35 SECTION 3.08. ERISA...........................................................35 SECTION 3.09. Taxes...........................................................35 SECTION 3.10. Disclosure......................................................35 ARTICLE IV Conditions SECTION 4.01. Effective Date..................................................35 SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event...............................................37 ARTICLE V Covenants SECTION 5.01. Information.....................................................37 SECTION 5.02. Maintenance of Properties.......................................38 SECTION 5.03. Maintenance of Insurance........................................39 SECTION 5.04. Preservation of Corporate Existence.............................39 SECTION 5.05. Inspection of Property, Books and Records.......................39 SECTION 5.06. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.....................................39 SECTION 5.07. Debt to Capital Ratio...........................................40 SECTION 5.08. Limitations on Liens............................................40 SECTION 5.09. Compliance with Laws............................................40 SECTION 5.10. Limitations on Subsidiary Indebtedness..........................41 SECTION 5.11. Transactions with Affiliates....................................41 SECTION 5.12. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.....................41 SECTION 5.13. Use of Proceeds.................................................42 ARTICLE VI Events of Default and Remedies SECTION 6.01. Events of Default...............................................42 SECTION 6.02. Remedies........................................................45 SECTION 6.03. Notice of Default...............................................45 ARTICLE VII The Administrative Agent ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous ii

SECTION 8.01. Notices.........................................................48 SECTION 8.02. Waivers; Amendments.............................................48 SECTION 8.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver..............................49 SECTION 8.04. Successors and Assigns..........................................50 SECTION 8.05. Survival........................................................52 SECTION 8.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness........................53 SECTION 8.07. Severability....................................................53 SECTION 8.08. Right of Setoff.................................................53 SECTION 8.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process......53 SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL............................................54 SECTION 8.11. Headings........................................................54 SECTION 8.12. Confidentiality.................................................54 SECTION 8.13. Interest Rate Limitation........................................55 SECTION 8.14. Waiver Under Existing Credit Agreement..........................56 SECTION 8.15. Collateral......................................................56 SCHEDULES: Schedule 2.01 -- Commitments Schedule 3.05 -- Disclosed Matters Schedule 5.08 -- Existing Liens EXHIBITS: - --------- Exhibit A -- Form of Assignment and Acceptance Exhibit B-1 -- Form of Opinion of General Counsel Exhibit B-2 -- Form of Opinion of Borrower's Counsel iii

364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of June 27, 2003 among LIMITED BRANDS, INC., the LENDERS party hereto, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Administrative Agent, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. and CITICORP USA, INC., as Co-Syndication Agents. The parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I Definitions ----------- SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below: "ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate. "Administrative Agent" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder. "Administrative Questionnaire" means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent. "Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. "Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day or (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively. "Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender's Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments. "Applicable Rate" means, for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Revolving Loan or any ABR Revolving Loan, or with respect to the facility fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption "Eurodollar Spread", "ABR Spread" or "Facility Fee Rate", as the case may be, based upon the ratings by Moody's and S&P, respectively, applicable on such date to the

2 Index Debt (and Usage, in the case of the "Eurodollar Spread" and "ABR Spread"), provided that the rates per annum set forth below under the caption "Eurodollar Spread" shall increase by 0.25% per annum after the Termination Date: Eurodollar Spread ABR Spread ---------------------------- --------------------------- Index Debt Ratings: Usage * 50% Usage **** 50% Usage * 50% Usage **** 50% Facility Fee Rate - ------------------- ----------------- Category 1 0.190% 0.315% 0.00% 0.125% 0.060% ---------- A/A2 Category 2 0.305% 0.430% 0.00% 0.125% 0.070% ---------- A-/A3 Category 3 0.400% 0.525% 0.00% 0.125% 0.100% ---------- BBB+/Baa1 Category 4 0.500% 0.625% 0.00% 0.125% 0.125% ---------- BBB/Baa2 Category 5 0.700% 0.825% 0.00% 0.125% 0.175% ---------- *** BBB-/Baa3 * denotes less than *** denotes less than or equal to **** denotes more than or equal to For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if either Moody's or S&P shall not have in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition) the Applicable Rate shall be determined on the basis of the rating agency that does then have a rating for the Index Debt in effect, (b) if neither Moody's nor S&P has in effect a rating for the Index Debt (other than by reason of the circumstances referred to in the last sentence of this definition) then the Index Debt shall be deemed to be rated in Category 5, (c) the Index Debt shall be deemed to be rated in Category 5 at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (d) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody's or S&P for the Index Debt are not in the same Category, then the Applicable Rate will be determined by reference to the Category next above that of the lower of the two ratings and (e) if the ratings established or deemed to have been established by Moody's and S&P for the Index Debt shall be changed (other than as a result of a change in the rating system of Moody's or S&P), such change shall be effective as of the date on which it is first announced by the applicable rating agency. Each change in an Applicable Rate shall apply during the period commencing on the effective date of such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. If the rating system of Moody's or S&P shall change, or if either such rating agency shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt obligations, the Borrower and the Lenders shall negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed rating system, or the unavailability of ratings from such rating agency and, pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, each Applicable Rate shall be determined by reference to the rating most recently in effect prior to such change or cessation. For purposes of the foregoing, "Usage" for any day during any period will be (i) the sum of (x) the aggregate Competitive Loans and Revolving Loans and (y) the aggregate "Competitive Loans" and "Revolving Loans" under and as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement, as a percentage of (ii) the aggregate Commitments and the aggregate "Commitments" under and as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement; provided that if any Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure (or an

3 outstanding term loan pursuant to Section 2.18) when its Commitment terminates, then Usage will be deemed to be greater than 50% during any period that the sum of (A) the aggregate Competitive Loans, Revolving Loans and term loans outstanding pursuant to Section 2.18 and (B) the aggregate "Competitive Loans" and "Revolving Loans" under and as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement are equal to or in excess of 50% of the sum of the aggregate Commitments immediately before termination of the Commitments on the Termination Date and the aggregate "Commitments" under and as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement. "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 8.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent. "Availability Period" means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding (or, if the Borrower shall have elected to convert Revolving Loans into a term loan on the Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.18, including) the earlier of the Termination Date and the date of termination of the Commitments. "Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America. "Borrower" means Limited Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation. "Borrowing" means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type made converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect or (b) a Competitive Loan or group of Competitive Loans of the same Type made on the same date and as to which a single Interest Period is in effect. "Borrowing Request" means a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03. "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market. "Capital" means, at any time of determination, the sum of Consolidated Debt plus Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. "Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

4 "Change in Control" means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on July 13, 2001) other than the Permitted Holders of shares representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower or (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated. "Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after (i) with respect to any Revolving Loan or the Commitments, the date of this Agreement or (ii) with respect to any Competitive Loan, the date of the related Competitive Bid, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after (i) with respect to any Revolving Loan or the Commitments, the date of this Agreement or (ii) with respect to any Competitive Loan, the date of the related Competitive Bid, or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.13(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender's holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after (i) with respect to any Revolving Loan or the Commitments, the date of this Agreement or (ii) with respect to any Competitive Loan, the date of the related Competitive Bid. "Class", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Competitive Loans. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. "Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Revolving Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.07 and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 8.04. The initial amount of each Lender's Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders' Commitments is $500,000,000. "Competitive Bid" means an offer by a Lender to make a Competitive Loan in accordance with Section 2.04. "Competitive Bid Rate" means, with respect to any Competitive Bid, the Margin or the Fixed Rate, as applicable, offered by the Lender making such Competitive Bid.

5 "Competitive Bid Request" means a request by the Borrower for Competitive Bids in accordance with Section 2.04. "Competitive Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04. "Consolidated Debt" means, at any date of determination, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the total Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries at such date, (b) an amount equal to six times the fixed minimum store rent commitments (less related sublease income) of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for the then current Fiscal Year, as reflected in the footnotes to the most recent audited financial statements of the Borrower, and (c) an amount equal to six times the fixed minimum store rent commitments (less related sublease income) for the then current Fiscal Year of any Person other than the Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary to the extent Guaranteed or assumed by the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that, for the purposes of calculating the fixed minimum store rent commitments referred to in clause (b) or (c) above, if on or prior to the applicable date of determination an acquisition or disposition outside of the ordinary course of business has occurred that has the effect of increasing or decreasing any such fixed minimum store rent commitments, then such fixed minimum store rent commitments shall be determined on a pro forma basis to give effect to such acquisition or disposition as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred immediately prior to the commencement of the then current Fiscal Year. "Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum of (i) consolidated interest expense for such period, (ii) consolidated income tax expense for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period and (iv) any extraordinary or nonrecurring charges for such period, and minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, any extraordinary or nonrecurring gains for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated EBITDAR" means, for any period, Consolidated EBITDA for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted in the determination of such Consolidated EBITDA, consolidated fixed minimum store rental expense for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that, if on or prior to the applicable date of determination of Consolidated EBITDAR, an acquisition or disposition outside of the ordinary course of business has occurred that has the effect of increasing or decreasing Consolidated EBITDAR, then Consolidated EBITDAR shall be determined on a pro forma basis to give effect to such acquisition or disposition as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred immediately prior to the commencement of the period for which Consolidated EBITDAR is to be determined. "Consolidated Fixed Charges" means, for any period, the sum of (a) consolidated interest expense, both expensed and capitalized (including the interest component in respect of Capital Lease Obligations), of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, plus (b) consolidated fixed minimum store rental expense of the Borrower and the

6 Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that, if on or prior to the applicable date of determination of Consolidated Fixed Charges, an acquisition or disposition outside of the ordinary course of business has occurred that has the effect of increasing or decreasing Consolidated Fixed Charges, then Consolidated Fixed Charges shall be determined on a pro forma basis to give effect to such acquisition or disposition as if such acquisition or disposition had occurred immediately prior to the commencement of the period for which Consolidated Fixed Charges is to be determined. "Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the net income or loss of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary), the accounts of which are, or are required to be, consolidated with those of the Borrower in the Borrower's periodic reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. "Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means, at any date of determination (a) the aggregate amount of all common stock, preferred stock (except preferred stock having sinking fund payments or other similar payments (but not dividends) which are due prior to the Maturity Date), additional paid-in capital and retained earnings (or deficit) less (b) the aggregate amount of (i) all goodwill, licenses, patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade names, service marks, experimental or organizational expenses and other similar intangibles and unamortized debt discount and expense to the extent any of the foregoing arise on or after July 6, 2001 and (ii) all investments, loans and advances by the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary in or to any Unrestricted Subsidiary, all determined with respect to the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. "Control" means, with respect to a specified Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have correlative meanings. "Default" means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default. "Disclosed Matters" means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.05. "dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States of America. "Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02).

7 "Environmental Laws" means all applicable laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources or the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material. "Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing. "Equity Interests" means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person. "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time. "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code. "Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBO Rate. "Event of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VI. "Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, (b) income, franchise or similar taxes imposed by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located or which are imposed by reason of any present or former connection between such Lender and the jurisdiction imposing such taxes, other than solely as a result of this Agreement or any Loan or transaction contemplated thereby, (c) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction described in clause (a) or (b) above and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.17(b)), any withholding tax that (i) is in effect

8 and would apply to amounts payable to such Foreign Lender under applicable law at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, under applicable law at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to any withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.15(a), or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure to comply with Section 2.15(e). "Federal Funds Effective Rate" means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it. "Financial Officer" means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower. "Fiscal Year" means the fiscal year of the Borrower which shall commence on the Sunday following the Saturday on or nearest (whether following or preceding) January 31 of one calendar year and end on the Saturday on or nearest (whether following or preceding) January 31 of the following calendar year. "Five-Year Credit Agreement" means the Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of July 13, 2001 among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as "Administrative Agent" under and as defined in the Five-Year Credit Agreement. "Fixed Rate" means, with respect to any Competitive Loan (other than a Eurodollar Competitive Loan), the fixed rate of interest per annum specified by the Lender making such Competitive Loan in its related Competitive Bid. "Fixed Rate Loan" means a Competitive Loan bearing interest at a Fixed Rate. "Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction. "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. "Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity

9 exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government. "Guarantee" of or by any Person (the "guarantor") means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. "Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes in each case which are regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law. "Hedging Agreement" means any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or commodity price hedging arrangement. "Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property (other than inventory) or services (excluding accruals and trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business), (d) all Indebtedness of others secured by any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (e) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (f) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and (g) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances. "Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes. "Index Debt" means senior, unsecured, long-term indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower that is not guaranteed by any other Person or subject to any other credit enhancement.

10 "Information Memorandum" means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated June, 2003 relating to the Borrower and the Transactions. "Interest Election Request" means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.06. "Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months' duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months' duration after the first day of such Interest Period and (c) with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than 90 days' duration (unless otherwise specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request), each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of 90 days' duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and any other dates that are specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request as Interest Payment Dates with respect to such Borrowing. "Interest Period" means (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on (i) the date that is one or two weeks thereafter or (ii) the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, in each case as the Borrower may elect and (b) with respect to any Fixed Rate Borrowing, the period (which shall not be less than seven days or more than 180 days) commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the date specified in the applicable Competitive Bid Request; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of an integral number of months only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of an integral number of months that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) any Interest Period that would otherwise end after the Maturity Date will end on the Maturity Date. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing. "Lenders" means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.

11 "LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Market Service (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the "LIBO Rate" with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset. "Loans" means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. "Margin" means, with respect to any Competitive Loan bearing interest at a rate based on the LIBO Rate, the marginal rate of interest, if any, to be added to or subtracted from the LIBO Rate to determine the rate of interest applicable to such Loan, as specified by the Lender making such Loan in its related Competitive Bid. "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, financial position or results of operations of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under this Agreement. "Material Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $75,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the "principal amount" of the obligations of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Consolidated Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time. "Maturity Date" means the Termination Date or, if the Borrower exercises its option under Section 2.18, the first anniversary of the Termination Date.

12 "Minority Interest Disposition" means a sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (including the issuer thereof) of up to 20% of the Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Borrower. "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. "Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA. "Other Taxes" means any and all present or future recording, stamp, documentary, excise, property or similar taxes, charges or levies imposed by the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement. "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions. "Permitted Encumbrances" means: (a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due; (b) carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's, repairmen's and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and security obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days; (c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations; (d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business; (e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (j) of Section 6.01; and (f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that the term "Permitted Encumbrances" shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness. "Permitted Holders" means Leslie H. Wexner, all descendants of any of his grandparents, any spouse or former spouse of any of the foregoing, any descendant of

13 any such spouse or former spouse, the estate of any of the foregoing, any trust for the benefit, in whole or in part, of one or more of the foregoing and any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity Controlled by one or more of the foregoing. "Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity. "Plan" means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an "employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA. "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective. "Register" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04. "Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates. "Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at such time; provided that, for purposes of declaring the Loans to be due and payable pursuant to Article VI, and for all purposes after the Loans become due and payable pursuant to Article VI or the Commitments expire or terminate, the outstanding Competitive Loans of the Lenders shall be included in their respective Revolving Credit Exposures in determining the Required Lenders. "Revolving Credit Exposure" means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of such Lender's Revolving Loans at such time. "Revolving Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.03. "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services. "Statutory Reserve Percentage" means for any day the percentage (expressed as a decimal) that is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the Board, for determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "Eurocurrency Liabilities" in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed

14 pursuant to such Regulation D. The Statutory Reserve Percentage shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage. "subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person (the "parent") at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent's consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent. "Subsidiary" means any subsidiary of the Borrower. "Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority. "Termination Date" means June 25, 2004, subject to extension pursuant to Section 2.07(d). "Transactions" means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof. "Type", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate, the Alternate Base Rate or a Fixed Rate. "Unfunded Liabilities" means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if any) by which (a) the present value of all benefits under such Plan exceeds (b) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only (i) to the extent that such excess represents a potential liability of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA or (ii) with respect to a Plan which is a Multiemployer Plan as described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to the extent of the Unfunded Liabilities of such Plan allocable to the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate under Section 4212 of ERISA. "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in a written notice sent at any time after July 13, 2001 by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent which is engaged (a) primarily in the business of making or discounting loans, making advances, extending credit or providing financial accommodation to, or purchasing the obligations of, others; (b) primarily in the business of insuring property against loss and subject to regulation as an insurance company by any Governmental Authority; (c) exclusively in the business of owning or leasing, and operating, aircraft and/or trucks; (d) primarily in the ownership, management, leasing or

15 operation of real estate, other than parcels of real estate with respect to which 51% or more of the rentable space is used by the Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary in the normal course of business; or (e) primarily as a carrier transporting goods in both intrastate and interstate commerce, provided that (i) the Borrower may by notice to the Administrative Agent change the designation of any Subsidiary described in subparagraphs (a) through (e) above, but may do so only once during the term of this Agreement, (ii) the designation of a Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary more than 30 days after the creation or acquisition of such Subsidiary where such Subsidiary was not specifically so designated within such 30 days shall be deemed to be the only permitted change in designation and (iii) immediately after the Borrower designates any Subsidiary whether now owned or hereafter acquired or created as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or changes the designation of a Subsidiary from an Unrestricted Subsidiary to a Consolidated Subsidiary, the Borrower and all Consolidated Subsidiaries would be in compliance with all of the provisions of this Agreement. "Value" means, when used in Section 6.01(e) with respect to investments in and advances to a Consolidated Subsidiary, the book value thereof immediately before the relevant event or events referred to in Section 6.01(e) occurred with respect to such Consolidated Subsidiary. "Withdrawal Liability" means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA. SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving Loan") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Loan") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Loan"). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving Borrowing") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Borrowing") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing"). SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words "include", "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation". The word "will" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall". Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder", and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words "asset" and "property" shall be construed

16 to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after [July 13, 2001] in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith. ARTICLE II The Credits ----------- SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that (after giving effect to the making of such Revolving Loans and any concurrent repayment of Loans) will not result in (a) such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lender's Commitment or (b) the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans exceeding the total Commitments. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans. SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Revolving Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Revolving Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. Each Competitive Loan shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments and Competitive Bids of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender's failure to make Loans as required. (b) Subject to Section 2.12, (i) each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith, and (ii) each Competitive Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of Eurodollar Loans or Fixed Rate Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that

17 any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. (c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $20,000,000. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $20,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of the total Commitments. Each Competitive Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $20,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Class may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of 12 Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding. SECTION 2.03. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing and (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02: (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing; (ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day; (iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period"; and (v) the location and number of the Borrower's account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.05. If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

18 SECTION 2.04. Competitive Bid Procedure. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, from time to time during the Availability Period the Borrower may request Competitive Bids and may (but shall not have any obligation to) accept Competitive Bids and borrow Competitive Loans; provided that the sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans at any time (after giving effect to the borrowing of such Competitive Loans and any concurrent repayment of Loans) shall not exceed the total Commitments. To request Competitive Bids, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone, (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, four Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing and (b) in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that the Borrower may submit up to (but not more than) five Competitive Bid Requests on the same day, but a Competitive Bid Request shall not be made within three Business Days after the date of any previous Competitive Bid Request, unless any and all such previous Competitive Bid Requests shall have been withdrawn or all Competitive Bids received in response thereto rejected. Each such telephonic Competitive Bid Request shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Competitive Bid Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Competitive Bid Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02: (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing; (ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day; (iii) whether such Borrowing is to be a Eurodollar Borrowing or a Fixed Rate Borrowing; (iv) the Interest Period to be applicable to such Borrowing, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period"; and (v) the location and number of the Borrower's account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.05. Promptly following receipt of a Competitive Bid Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of the details thereof by telecopy, inviting the Lenders to submit Competitive Bids. (b) Each Lender may (but shall not have any obligation to) make one or more Competitive Bids to the Borrower in response to a Competitive Bid Request. Each Competitive Bid by a Lender must be in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and must be received by the Administrative Agent by telecopy, (x) in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Borrowing, not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the proposed date of such Competitive Borrowing and (y) in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of such Competitive Borrowing. Competitive Bids that do not conform

19 substantially to the form approved by the Administrative Agent may be rejected by the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall notify the applicable Lender as promptly as practicable. Each Competitive Bid shall specify (i) the principal amount (which shall be a minimum of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and which may equal the entire principal amount of the Competitive Borrowing requested by the Borrower) of the Competitive Loan or Loans that the Lender is willing to make, (ii) the Competitive Bid Rate or Rates at which the Lender is prepared to make such Loan or Loans (expressed as a percentage rate per annum in the form of a decimal to no more than four decimal places) and (iii) the Interest Period applicable to each such Loan and the last day thereof. (c) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower by telecopy of the Competitive Bid Rate and the principal amount specified in each Competitive Bid and the identity of the Lender that shall have made such Competitive Bid. (d) Subject only to the provisions of this paragraph, the Borrower may accept or reject any Competitive Bid. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone, confirmed by telecopy in a form approved by the Administrative Agent, whether and to what extent it has decided to accept or reject each Competitive Bid, (x) in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Competitive Borrowing and (y) in the case of a Fixed Rate Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, on the proposed date of the Competitive Borrowing; provided that (i) the failure of the Borrower to give such notice shall be deemed to be a rejection of each Competitive Bid, (ii) the Borrower shall not accept a Competitive Bid made at a particular Competitive Bid Rate if the Borrower rejects a Competitive Bid made at a lower Competitive Bid Rate, (iii) the aggregate amount of the Competitive Bids accepted by the Borrower shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the requested Competitive Borrowing specified in the related Competitive Bid Request, (iv) to the extent necessary to comply with clause (iii) above, the Borrower may accept Competitive Bids at the same Competitive Bid Rate in part, which acceptance, in the case of multiple Competitive Bids at such Competitive Bid Rate, shall be made pro rata in accordance with the amount of each such Competitive Bid, and (v) except pursuant to clause (iv) above, no Competitive Bid shall be accepted for a Competitive Loan unless such Competitive Loan is in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and an integral multiple of $1,000,000; provided further that if a Competitive Loan must be in an amount less than $5,000,000 because of the provisions of clause (iv) above, such Competitive Loan may be for a minimum of $1,000,000 or any integral multiple thereof, and in calculating the pro rata allocation of acceptances of portions of multiple Competitive Bids at a particular Competitive Bid Rate pursuant to clause (iv) the amounts shall be rounded to integral multiples of $1,000,000 in a manner determined by the Borrower. A notice given by the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph shall be irrevocable. (e) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each bidding Lender by telecopy whether or not its Competitive Bid has been accepted (and, if so, the amount and Competitive Bid Rate so accepted), and each successful bidder will thereupon

20 become bound, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to make the Competitive Loan in respect of which its Competitive Bid has been accepted. (f) If the Administrative Agent shall elect to submit a Competitive Bid in its capacity as a Lender, it shall submit such Competitive Bid directly to the Borrower at least one quarter of an hour earlier than the time by which the other Lenders are required to submit their Competitive Bids to the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. SECTION 2.05. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request or Competitive Bid Request. (b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the greater of the interest rate applicable to the Loans of the other Lenders included in the applicable Borrowing and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent to equal its cost of funds for funding such amount. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing. SECTION 2.06. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans

21 comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to Competitive Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued. (b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. (c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02: (i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing); (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day; (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period". If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. (d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing. (e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. SECTION 2.07. Termination, Reduction and Increase of Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Termination Date, subject to the Borrower's option to extend the Termination Date pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section.

22 (b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.09, the sum of the Revolving Credit Exposures plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Competitive Loans would exceed the total Commitments. (c) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments. (d) The Borrower may, by notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders) given not less than 45 days and not more than 60 days prior to the Termination Date at any time in effect, request that the Lenders extend the Termination Date for an additional period of not more than 364 days as specified in such notice; provided that the Borrower may exercise such option no more than a total of three times. Each Lender shall, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent given not earlier that the 30th day and not later than the 25th day prior to the Termination Date then in effect, advise the Borrower whether or not it agrees to such extension on the terms set forth in such notice. Any Lender that has not so advised the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such day shall be deemed to have declined to agree to such extension. If the Borrower shall have requested and Lenders representing more than 50% of the aggregate Commitments shall have agreed to an extension of the Termination Date, then the Termination Date shall be extended for the additional period and on the terms specified in the Borrower's notice. The decision to agree or withhold agreement to any extension of the Termination Date hereunder shall be at the sole discretion of each Lender. The Commitments of any Lender that has declined to agree to any requested extension of the Termination Date (a "Non-Extending Lender") shall terminate on the Termination Date in effect prior to giving effect to any such extension (the "Existing Termination Date"), and the principal amount of any outstanding Loans accepted by such Lender, together with any accrued interest thereon, and any accrued fees and other amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender hereunder, shall be due and payable on the Existing Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the Borrower shall have the right, pursuant to Section 2.17(b), to replace a Non-Extending Lender with a Lender or other financial institution that will agree to an extension of the Termination Date.

23 (e) The Borrower may, by written notice to the Administrative Agent, executed by the Borrower and one or more financial institutions (any such financial institution referred to in this Section being called an "Increasing Lender"), which may include any Lender, cause Commitments of the Increasing Lenders to become effective (or, in the case of an Increasing Lender that is an existing Lender, cause its Commitment to be increased, as the case may be) in an amount for each Increasing Lender set forth in such notice, provided, that (i) the aggregate amount of all new Commitments and increases in existing Commitments pursuant to this paragraph during the term of this Agreement shall not exceed $150,000,000, (ii) each Increasing Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and (iii) each Increasing Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall become a party to this Agreement by completing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a duly executed accession agreement in a form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower. New Commitments and increases in Commitments pursuant to this Section shall become effective on the date specified in the applicable notices delivered pursuant to this Section. Following any extension of a new Commitment or increase of a Lender's Commitment pursuant to this paragraph, any Revolving Loans outstanding prior to the effectiveness of such increase or extension shall continue outstanding until the ends of the respective Interests Periods applicable thereto, and shall then be repaid or refinanced with new Revolving Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01. Following any increase in the Commitments pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower will use its reasonable best effort to ensure that, to the extent there are outstanding Revolving Loans, each Lender's outstanding Revolving Loans will be in accordance with such Lender's pro rata portion of the Commitments. SECTION 2.08. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Indebtedness. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender that shall have made any Competitive Loan the then unpaid principal amount of each Competitive Loan of such Lender on the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such Loan. (b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder. (c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender's share thereof. (d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the

24 obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. (e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 8.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns). SECTION 2.09. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section; provided that the Borrower shall not have the right to prepay any Competitive Loan without the prior consent of the Lender thereof. (b) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment and (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.07, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.07. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.11. SECTION 2.10. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the Commitment of such Lender (whether used or unused) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided that, if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure (or an outstanding term loan pursuant to Section 2.18) after its Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to accrue on the daily amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure (or outstanding

25 term loan) from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit Exposure (or the date on which such term loan is repaid in full). Accrued facility fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the Maturity Date, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof; provided that any facility fees accruing after the Maturity Date shall be payable on demand. All facility fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). (b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. (c) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, and in the case of facility fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances. SECTION 2.11. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate. (b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Loan, at the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate, or (ii) in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Loan, at the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus (or minus, as applicable) the Margin applicable to such Loan. (c) Each Fixed Rate Loan shall bear interest at the Fixed Rate applicable to such Loan. (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section. (e) (i) For so long as any Lender maintains reserves against "Eurocurrency liabilities" (or any other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Revolving Loans is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any Lender to United States residents), and as a result the cost to such Lender (or its lending office for Eurodollar Revolving Loans) of making or maintaining its Eurodollar Revolving Loans is increased, then such Lender may require the Borrower

26 to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on any Eurodollar Revolving Loan of such Lender, additional interest on such Eurodollar Revolving Loan for the Interest Period of such Eurodollar Revolving Loan at a rate per annum up to but not exceeding the excess of (A)(x) the applicable LIBO Rate divided by (y) one minus the Statutory Reserve Percentage over (B) the rate specified in the preceding clause (x). (ii) Any Lender wishing to require payment of additional interest (x) shall so notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, in which case such additional interest on the Eurodollar Revolving Loans of such Lender shall be payable to such Lender at the place indicated in such notice with respect to each Interest Period commencing at least three Business Days after the giving of such notice and (y) shall furnish to the Borrower at least five Business Days prior to each date on which interest is payable on the Eurodollar Revolving Loans an officer's certificate setting forth the amount to which such Lender is then entitled under this Section (which shall be consistent with such Lender's good faith estimate of the level at which the related reserves are maintained by it). Each such certificate shall be accompanied by such information as the Borrower may reasonably request as to the computation set forth therein. (f) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the Commitments; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion. (g) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error. SECTION 2.12. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing: (a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or

27 (b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders (or, in the case of a Eurodollar Competitive Loan, the Lender that is required to make such Loan) that the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period; then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter, but not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the first day of such Interest Period, and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then, unless the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent by 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing that it elects not to borrow on such date, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing and (iii) any request by the Borrower for a Eurodollar Competitive Borrowing shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice do not affect all the Lenders, then requests by the Borrower for Eurodollar Competitive Borrowings may be made to Lenders that are not affected thereby. SECTION 2.13. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall: (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Statutory Reserve Percentage); or (ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender (other than an imposition or change in Taxes, Other Taxes or Excluded Taxes, or any Change in Law relating to capital requirements or the rate of return on capital, with respect to which Section 2.15 and paragraph (b) of this Section, respectively, shall apply); and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining, or reduce the amount receivable by any Lender with respect to, any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered. (b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's capital or on the capital of such Lender's holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender's holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender's policies and the policies of such Lender's

28 holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender's holding company for any such reduction suffered. (c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 days after receipt thereof. (d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender's right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender's intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof. (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a Lender shall not be entitled to compensation pursuant to this Section in respect of any Competitive Loan if the Change in Law that would otherwise entitle it to such compensation shall have been publicly announced prior to submission of the Competitive Bid pursuant to which such Loan was made. SECTION 2.14. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Revolving Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.09(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith), (d) the failure to borrow any Competitive Loan after accepting the Competitive Bid to make such Loan, or (e) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan or Fixed Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.17, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event which, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such Lender (or an existing or prospective participant in a related Loan) incurred, including any loss incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, but excluding loss of margin for the period after any such payment. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 15 days after receipt thereof.

29 SECTION 2.15. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. (b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. (c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender within 15 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided, that the Borrower shall not be obligated to make payment to such Lender or Administrative Agent for penalties, interest or expenses attributable to the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Lender or Administrative Agent. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. (d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. (e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate, provided that such Foreign Lender has received written notice from the Borrower advising it of the availability of such exemption or reduction and containing all applicable documentation.

30 (f) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person. SECTION 2.16. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Section 2.13, 2.14 or 2.15, or otherwise) on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim, and the Borrower agrees to instruct its bank which will be transmitting such funds with respect to such payments not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date when due. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 8.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars. (b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied towards payment of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, interest and fees then due to such parties. (c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be

31 shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. (d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. (e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.05(b) or 2.16(d) then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender's obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid. SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13 or additional interest under Section 2.11(e), or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.13, 2.11(e) or 2.15, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs

32 and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment. (b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13 or additional interest under Section 2.11(e), or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, or if any Lender fails to agree to an extension of the Termination Date as provided in Section 2.07(d), then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 8.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (other than any outstanding Competitive Loans held by it) to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans (other than Competitive Loans), accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.13, additional interest under Section 2.11(e) or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.15, such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply. (c) In connection with any proposed amendment, modification or waiver of or with respect to any provision of this Agreement (a "Proposed Change") requiring the consent of all Lenders, if the consent of the Required Lenders to such Proposed Change is obtained, but the consent to such Proposed Change of other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained as described in this Section 2.17(c) being referred to as a "Non-Consenting Lender"), then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to each Non-Consenting Lender and the Administrative Agent, require each Non-Consenting Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 8.04) all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement (other than any outstanding Competitive Loans held by it) to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (ii) such Non-Consenting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans (other than Competitive Loans), accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) the Borrower shall not be permitted to require any

33 Non-Consenting Lender to make any such assignment unless all Non-Consenting Lenders are required to make such assignments and, as a result thereof, the Proposed Change will become effective. SECTION 2.18. Term-Out Option. The Borrower may, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and upon 60 days' prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, convert Revolving Loans outstanding on the Termination Date into a term loan that will mature on the first anniversary of the Termination Date; provided that all Commitments will terminate on the Termination Date, and additional Borrowings will not be permitted after the Termination Date. This Section shall not apply to Competitive Loans. After the Termination Date, any term loans outstanding as a result of the exercise by the Borrower of its rights under this Section shall continue to constitute Revolving Loans for purposes of this Agreement. ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties ------------------------------ The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that: SECTION 3.01. Corporate Existence and Power. The Borrower is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all corporate power and authority required to carry on its business as now conducted. SECTION 3.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the Transactions are within the Borrower's corporate power, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official (other than the filing of reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission) and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Borrower or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Borrower. SECTION 3.03. Binding Effect. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. SECTION 3.04. Financial Information. (a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows as of and for (i)the Fiscal Year ended February 1, 2003, reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. and set forth in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for such Fiscal Year, a copy of which has been

34 delivered to each of the Lenders, and (ii) the fiscal quarter ending May 3, 2003, certified by a Financial Officer, in each case fairly present, in conformity with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such Fiscal Year or portion of such Fiscal Year, as applicable. (b) From May 3, 2003 to the Effective Date, there has been no material adverse change in the business, financial position or results of operations of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole. SECTION 3.05. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) There is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting, the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official in which there is, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower (which shall be conclusive), a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision which could materially adversely affect the business, consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement. (b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably expected in the good faith judgment of the Borrower (which shall be conclusive) to materially adversely affect the business, financial position or results of operations of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries considered as a whole, neither the Borrower nor any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability. (c) Since July 13, 2001, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate in the good faith judgment of the Borrower (which shall be conclusive), has resulted in a material adverse effect on the business, financial position or results of operations of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries considered as a whole. SECTION 3.06. Subsidiaries. Each of the Consolidated Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and, to the extent applicable, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and has all corporate power and authority required to carry on its business as now conducted except to the extent that the failure of any such Consolidated Subsidiary to be so incorporated, existing or in good standing or to have such power and authority is not reasonably expected by the Borrower to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position or results of operations of the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries considered as a whole.

35 SECTION 3.07. Not an Investment Company. The Borrower is not an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. SECTION 3.08. ERISA. The Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates (a) have fulfilled their material obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan, (b) are in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and (c) have not incurred any liability in excess of $75,000,000 to the PBGC or a Plan under Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA; provided, that this sentence shall not apply to (i) any ERISA Affiliate as described in Section 414(m) of the Code (other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary) or any Plan maintained by such an ERISA Affiliate or (ii) any Multiemployer Plan. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have made all material payments to Multiemployer Plans which they have been required to make under the related collective bargaining agreement or applicable law. SECTION 3.09. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns which, in the opinion of the Borrower, are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except for assessments which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Borrower, adequate. SECTION 3.10. Disclosure. The Information Memorandum, the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(i) and (ii), the registration statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(vi) (in each case in the form in which such registration statements were declared effective, as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto) and the reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a)(vi), do not, taken as a whole and in each case as of the date thereof, contain any material misstatement of 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; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time. ARTICLE IV Conditions ---------- SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02):

36 (a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement. (b) The Administrative Agent shall have received a written opinion (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of each of (i) Samuel P. Fried, Esq., General Counsel of the Borrower, and (ii) Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibits B-1 and B-2, respectively, and covering such other matters relating to the Borrower, this Agreement or the Transactions as the Required Lenders shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions. (c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel. (d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02. (e) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder. (f) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it of the termination of lending commitments under, and the payment of all amounts outstanding under, the $500,000,000 364-Day Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of June 28, 2002 among the Borrower, the banks party thereto and JP Morgan Chase Bank, as administrative agent for such banks. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 8.02) at or

37 prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 11, 2003 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time). SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing. (b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section. ARTICLE V Covenants --------- The Borrower agrees that, so long as any Lender has any Commitment hereunder or any amount payable hereunder remains unpaid: SECTION 5.01. Information. (a) The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders: (i) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, the Annual Report of the Borrower on Form 10-K for such Fiscal Year, containing financial statements reported on in a manner acceptable to the Securities and Exchange Commission by PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P. or other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing selected by the Borrower; (ii) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each Fiscal Year, a copy of the Borrower's report on Form 10-Q for such quarter with the financial statements therein contained to be certified (subject to normal year end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, generally accepted accounting principles (except footnotes) and consistency, by a Financial Officer; (iii) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer (1) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 5.06 and 5.07 on the date of such financial statements and (2) stating whether, to the best

38 knowledge of such Financial Officer, any Default exists on the date of such certificate and, if any Default then exists, setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto; (iv) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clause (a) above, a statement of the firm of independent public accountants which reported on such statements whether anything has come to their attention to cause them to believe that any Default existed on the date of such statements (insofar as such pertains to accounting matters); (v) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the stockholders of the Borrower generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed; (vi) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than the exhibits, thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their equivalents) which the Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; (vii) within four Business Days of any executive officer of the Borrower or any Financial Officer obtaining knowledge of any condition or event recognized by such officer to be a Default, a certificate of a Financial Officer setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto; (viii) if and when any executive officer of the Borrower or any Financial Officer obtains knowledge that any ERISA Affiliate (1) has given or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any "reportable event" (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC, (2) has received notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA, a copy of such notice or (3) has received notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of such notice; and (ix) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial position or business of the Borrower and Subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent, at the request of any Lender, may reasonably request. (b) Certificates delivered pursuant to this Section shall be signed manually or shall be copies of a manually signed certificate. SECTION 5.02. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each Consolidated Subsidiary to, maintain and keep in good condition, repair and working order all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business and supply such properties with all necessary equipment and make all necessary repairs, renewals,

39 replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Borrower may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Borrower, desirable in the conduct of the business of the Borrower or such Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be, and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Lenders. SECTION 5.03. Maintenance of Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each Consolidated Subsidiary to, insure and keep insured, with reputable insurance companies, so much of its properties and such of its liabilities for bodily injury or property damage, to such an extent and against such risks (including fire), as companies engaged in similar businesses customarily insure properties and liabilities of a similar character; or, in lieu thereof, the Borrower will maintain, or cause each Consolidated Subsidiary to maintain, a system or systems of self-insurance which will be in accord with the customary practices of companies engaged in similar businesses in maintaining such systems. SECTION 5.04. Preservation of Corporate Existence. The Borrower shall preserve and maintain its corporate existence, rights, franchises and privileges in the State of Delaware or in any other State of the United States which it shall select as its jurisdiction of incorporation, and qualify and remain qualified as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary, except such jurisdictions, if any, where the failure to preserve and maintain its corporate existence, rights, franchises and privileges, or qualify or remain qualified will not have a material adverse effect on the business or property of the Borrower. SECTION 5.05. Inspection of Property, Books and Records. The Borrower will, and will cause each Consolidated Subsidiary to, make and keep books, records and accounts in which transactions are recorded as necessary to (a) permit preparation of the Borrower's consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and (b) otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 13(b)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as in effect from time to time. At any reasonable time during normal business hours and from time to time, the Borrower will permit the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders or any agents or representatives thereof at their expense (to the extent not in violation of applicable law) to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Borrower and any Consolidated Subsidiaries and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and any Consolidated Subsidiaries with any of their respective officers or directors. Any information obtained pursuant to this Section or Section 5.01(a)(i) shall be subject to Section 8.12. SECTION 5.06. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio of Consolidated EBITDAR to Consolidated Fixed Charges for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters to be less than 1.75 to 1.00.

40 SECTION 5.07. Debt to Capital Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio of Consolidated Debt to Capital to exceed 0.825 to 1. SECTION 5.08. Limitations on Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Consolidated Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except: (a) Permitted Encumbrances; (b) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary existing on July 13, 2001 and set forth in Schedule 5.08; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secured on July 13, 2001 and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; (c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary after July 13, 2001 prior to the time such Person becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; (d) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary; provided that (i) with respect to a Consolidated Subsidiary, such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by Section 5.10, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary; and (e) other Liens securing obligations in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding 15% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. SECTION 5.09. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each Consolidated Subsidiary to, comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of governmental authorities

41 (including ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder), except to the extent that (a) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (b) the failure to so comply would not result in any material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole. SECTION 5.10. Limitations on Subsidiary Indebtedness. The Borrower will not permit any Consolidated Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness except: (a) Indebtedness of any Consolidated Subsidiary which is, or the direct or indirect parent of which is, acquired by the Borrower or any other Consolidated Subsidiary after July 13, 2001, which Indebtedness is in existence at the time such Consolidated Subsidiary (or parent) is so acquired; provided such Indebtedness was not created at the request or with the consent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and such Indebtedness may not be extended other than pursuant to the terms thereof as in existence at the time such Consolidated Subsidiary (or parent) was acquired; and (b) other Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount for all Consolidated Subsidiaries not exceeding 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. SECTION 5.11. Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Consolidated Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm's-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) any transaction determined by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Borrower's board of directors to be fair to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (c) transactions between or among the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate and (d) any transaction with respect to which neither the fair market value of the related property or assets, nor the consideration therefor, exceeds $5,000,000. SECTION 5.12. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. The Borrower will not (a) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person, (b) liquidate or dissolve or (c) sell, lease or otherwise transfer all or any substantial part of the assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other Person; provided that the Borrower may merge with another Person if (i) the corporation surviving the merger is the Borrower or a corporation organized under the laws of a State of the United States into which the Borrower desires to merge for the purpose of becoming incorporated in such State (in which case such corporation shall assume all of the Borrower's obligations under this Agreement by an agreement satisfactory to the Required Lenders (and the Required Lenders shall not unreasonably withhold their consent to the form of such agreement) and shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and

42 the Lenders such legal opinions and other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to evidence the due authorization, validity and binding effect thereof) and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and provided further that the foregoing shall not be construed to prohibit any Minority Interest Disposition or any other sale, lease or other transfer of assets (including by means of dividends, share repurchases or recapitalizations) that does not involve all or any substantial part of the assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole. SECTION 5.13. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for general corporate purposes. ARTICLE VI Events of Default and Remedies ------------------------------ SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. Any of the following shall be an "Event of Default": (a) The Borrower shall fail to make any payment of principal of or interest on any Loan when due or to pay any fees or other amounts payable hereunder when due, and such failure remains unremedied for three Business Days after the Borrower's actual receipt of notice of such failure from the Administrative Agent at the request of any Lender; (b) Any statement of fact or representation made or deemed to be made by the Borrower in this Agreement or by the Borrower or any of its officers in any certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made, and, if the consequences of such representation or statement being incorrect shall be susceptible of remedy in all material respects, such consequences shall not be remedied in all material respects within 30 days after any executive officer of the Borrower or any Financial Officer first becomes aware of or is advised that such representation or statement was incorrect in a material respect; (c) The Borrower shall fail to comply with any of the provisions of Sections 5.06 or 5.07 and, if the consequences of such failure shall be susceptible of remedy in all material respects, such consequences shall not be remedied in all material respects within 20 days after any executive officer of the Borrower or any Financial Officer first becomes aware or is advised of such failure to comply; (d) (i) The Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall fail to pay principal of or interest on any Material Indebtedness and the longer of any periods within which the Borrower or such Consolidated Subsidiary shall be allowed to cure such nonpayment shall have elapsed, or 10 days shall have passed since such failure, in either case without curing such nonpayment or (ii) any event or condition shall occur which enables the holder of any Material Indebtedness or

43 any Person acting on such holder's behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof, and the longer of any periods within which the Borrower or such Consolidated Subsidiary shall be allowed to cure such condition or event shall have elapsed, or 10 days shall have passed since the occurrence of such event or condition, in either case without curing such event or condition, provided no Default under this clause (d) shall be deemed to occur if (1) at the time the relevant event or condition described in this clause (d) occurs, the Borrower's Index Debt is rated (A) Baa3 or better by Moody's and BBB- or better by S&P, if both Moody's and S&P shall have in effect a rating for the Borrower's Index Debt, or (B) Baa3 or better by Moody's or BBB- or better by S&P, if both Moody's and S&P shall not have in effect a rating for the Borrower's Index Debt, (2) the Borrower's Index Debt does not cease to have the ratings described in clause (1) above for reasons attributable to the relevant event or condition described in this clause (d), and (3) all Material Indebtedness that is affected by any event or condition described in this clause (d) is either (A) owed by a Consolidated Subsidiary not incorporated under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Canada or any province thereof, or (B) permitted under clause (a) of Section 5.10; (e) The Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall (i) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, (ii) apply for or consent (by admission of material allegations of a petition or otherwise) to the appointment of a receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary or any substantial part of the properties of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary or authorize such application or consent, or proceedings seeking such appointment shall be commenced without such authorization, consent or application against the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary and continue undismissed for 30 days (or if such dismissal of such unauthorized proceedings cannot reasonably be obtained within such 30 day period, the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall fail either to proceed with due diligence to seek to obtain dismissal within such 30 day period or to obtain dismissal within 60 days), (iii) authorize or file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, suffer an order for relief under any federal bankruptcy law, or apply for or consent (by admission of material allegations of a petition or otherwise) to the application of any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, insolvency, dissolution, liquidation or other similar law of any jurisdiction, or authorize such application or consent, or proceedings to such end shall be instituted against the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary without such authorization, application or consent which are not vacated within 30 days from the date thereof (or if such vacation cannot reasonably be obtained within such 30 day period, the Borrower shall fail either to proceed with due diligence to seek to obtain vacation within such 30 day period or to obtain vacation within 60 days), (iv) permit or suffer all or any substantial part of its properties to be sequestered, attached, or subjected to a Lien (other than a Lien expressly permitted by the exception to Section 5.08) through any legal proceeding or distraint which is not vacated within 30 days from the date thereof (or if such vacation cannot reasonably be obtained within such 30 day period, the Borrower shall fail either to proceed with due diligence to seek to obtain vacation within such 30 day period or to obtain vacation within 60

44 days), (v) generally not pay its debts as such debts become due or admit in writing its inability to do so, or (vi) conceal, remove, or permit to be concealed or removed, any material part of its property, with intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors or any of them; provided, however, that the foregoing events will not constitute an Event of Default if such events occur with respect to any Subsidiary which is: (1) a Consolidated Subsidiary not incorporated under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Canada or any province thereof and not engaged in the retail business, if the aggregate Value of the Borrower's and all Consolidated Subsidiaries' investments in and advances to such Consolidated Subsidiary and all such other Consolidated Subsidiaries to which these tests are being applied within a period of 18 months ending on the date of determination, does not exceed $75,000,000, or (2) a Consolidated Subsidiary incorporated under the laws of any State of the United States, the District of Columbia or Canada or any province thereof and not engaged in the retail business, if (A) at the time the relevant event or condition described in this clause (e) occurs, the Borrower's Index Debt is rated (x) Baa3 or better by Moody's and BBB- or better by S&P, if both Moody's and S&P shall have in effect a rating for the Borrower's Index Debt, or (y) Baa3 or better by Moody's or BBB- or better by S&P, if both Moody's and S&P shall not have in effect a rating for the Index Debt, (B) the Borrower's Index Debt does not cease to have the rankings described in clause (A) above for reasons attributable to the relevant event or condition described in this clause (e) and (C) the aggregate Value of the Borrower's and all Consolidated Subsidiaries' investments and advances to such Consolidated Subsidiary and all other such Consolidated Subsidiaries to which these tests are being applied within a period of 18 months ending on the date of determination, does not exceed $37,500,000; (f) The Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of $25,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded Liabilities in excess of $75,000,000 (collectively a "Material Plan") shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any Material Plan or a proceeding shall be instituted by a fiduciary of any Material Plan against the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to enforce Section 515 or 4219(c)(5) of ERISA and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed within 30 days thereafter; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; (g) The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe in any material respect any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (including without limitation Section 5.01) on its part to be performed or observed and any such failure remains unremedied for 30 days after the Borrower shall have

45 received written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent at the request of any Lender; (h) a Change in Control shall occur; or (i) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $75,000,000, exclusive of amounts covered by third party insurance, shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Consolidated Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment; provided that in calculating the amounts covered by third party insurance, amounts covered by third party insurance shall not include amounts for which the third party insurer has denied liability. SECTION 6.02. Remedies. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Administrative Agent shall (a) if requested by the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower terminate the Commitments and they shall thereupon terminate, and (b) if requested by Lenders holding more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans, by notice to the Borrower declare the Loans (together with accrued interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder) to be, and the Loans (together with accrued interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder) shall thereupon become, immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; provided that in the case of any of the bankruptcy Events of Default specified in Section 6.01(e) with respect to the Borrower, without any notice to the Borrower or any other act by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, the Commitments shall thereupon terminate and the Loans (together with accrued interest thereon and all other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder) shall become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower. SECTION 6.03. Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall give notice to the Borrower under Section 6.01(a) or 6.01(g) promptly upon being requested to do so by any Lender and shall thereupon notify all the Lenders thereof. ARTICLE VII The Administrative Agent ------------------------ Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

46 The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 8.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 8.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

47 The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 8.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder. The Joint Advisors, Joint Lead Arrangers, Joint Bookrunners, Co-Syndication Agents and Co-Documentation Agents (each as identified on the cover page of this Agreement), in their capacities as such, shall have no rights, powers, duties, liabilities, fiduciary relationships or obligations under this Agreement or any of the other documents related hereto.

48 ARTICLE VIII Miscellaneous ------------- SECTION 8.01. Notices. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone, all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows: (a) if to the Borrower, to it at Three Limited Parkway, P.O. Box 16000, Columbus, Ohio 43216, Attention of Assistant Treasurer (Telecopy No. (614) 415-7060); (b) if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, Loan and Agency Services Group, 1111 Fannin Street, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention of Anjelica Luong (Telecopy No. (713) 750-2782), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, 270 Park Avenue, New York 10017, Attention of Ruby Tulloch (Telecopy No. (212) 270-7594); (c) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire. Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt. SECTION 8.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time. (b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such

49 agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.16(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, or (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of this Agreement may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower, the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent if (i) by the terms of such agreement the Commitment of each Lender not consenting to the amendment provided for therein shall terminate upon the effectiveness of such amendment and (ii) at the time such amendment becomes effective, each Lender not consenting thereto receives payment in full of the principal of and interest accrued on each Loan made by it and all other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement. SECTION 8.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of a single counsel for Administrative Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of this Agreement or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) if an Event of Default occurs, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement. (b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an "Indemnitee") against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding, whether or not such Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto, which may be incurred by any Indemnitee, relating to or arising out of any actual or proposed use of proceeds of Loans hereunder for the purpose of acquiring equity securities of any Person; provided, that no Indemnitee shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder (i) with respect to the acquisition of equity securities of

50 a wholly-owned Subsidiary, or of a Person who prior to such acquisition did not conduct any business, or (ii) for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. (c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent such Lender's Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount; provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such. (d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that the foregoing waiver shall not apply to special, indirect or consequential damages (but shall apply to punitive damages) attributable to the failure of a Lender to fund Loans, when required to do so hereunder, promptly after the receipt of notice of such failure. (e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor. SECTION 8.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement. (b) Any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that (i) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent must give their prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), (ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $10,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative

51 Agent otherwise consent, (iii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, except that this clause (iii) shall not apply to rights in respect of outstanding Competitive Loans, (iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and (v) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire; and provided further that any consent of the Borrower otherwise required under this paragraph shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 8.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section. (c) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. (d) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee's completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph. (e) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a

52 "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in clause (i), (ii) (iii) or (iv) of the first proviso to Section 8.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 8.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.16(c) as though it were a Lender. (f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.13 or 2.15 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.15(e) as though it were a Lender. (g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto. SECTION 8.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and

53 unpaid so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 8.03 and Article VII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans and the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof. SECTION 8.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. SECTION 8.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. SECTION 8.08. Right of Setoff. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations then due of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have. SECTION 8.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York. (b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement

54 of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction. (c) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. (d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION. SECTION 8.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement. SECTION 8.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates' directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the

55 confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, "Information" means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (and any employee, representative or other agent of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, such Administrative Agent's or Lender's, as the case may be, tax treatment and the tax structure of the transactions contemplated hereby relating to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. However, no disclosure of any information relating to such tax treatment or tax structure may be made to the extent nondisclosure is reasonably necessary in order to comply with applicable securities laws. SECTION 8.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the "Charges"), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

56 SECTION 8.14. Waiver Under Existing Credit Agreement. By their execution hereof, the undersigned Lenders that are also parties to the Credit Agreement dated as of June 28, 2002, among the Borrower, the banks party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as agent for such banks, which Lenders constitute, in the aggregate, "Required Lenders" thereunder, and as defined therein, hereby waive the provisions of such Credit Agreement that would otherwise require advance notice for the termination of commitments thereunder or the prepayment of loans thereunder; provided that the foregoing waiver shall apply only to the termination of all commitments under such Credit Agreement and repayment of all loans outstanding thereunder, in each case in connection with the effectiveness of this Agreement. SECTION 8.15. Collateral. Each of the Lenders represents to the Administrative Agent and each of the other Lenders that it in good faith is not relying upon any "margin stock" (as defined in Regulation U of the Board) as collateral in the extension or maintenance of the credit provided for in this Agreement. In addition, the Borrower will not use or permit any proceeds of the Loans to be used in any manner which would violate or cause any Lender to be in violation of Regulation U of the Board.

57 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written. LIMITED BRANDS, INC., by /s/ Lisa Klinger --------------------------------------------- Name: Lisa Klinger Title: Assistant Treasurer - Cash & Banking JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, individually and as Administrative Agent, By /s/ Teri Streusand --------------------------------------------- Name: Teri Streusand Title: Vice President

58 SIGNATURE PAGE TO 364-DAY COMPETITIVE ADVANCE AND REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JUNE 27, 2003, AMONG THE LIMITED BRANDS, INC., THE BANKS PARTY THERETO, AND JPMORGAN CHASE BANK AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., by /s/ Amy Krovocheck ---------------------------------- Name: Amy Krovocheck Title: Vice President CITICORP USA, INC., by /s/ Marc Merlino ---------------------------------- Name: Marc Merlino Title: Vice President FLEET NATIONAL BANK, By /s/ Judith C. E. Kelly ---------------------------------- Name: Judith C. E. Kelly Title: Managing Director HSBC BANK USA, By /s/ Cynthia M. Niesen ---------------------------------- Name: Cynthia M. Niesen Title: First Vice President THE BANK OF NEW YORK, By /s/ David C. Judge ---------------------------------- Name: David C. Judge Title: Senior Vice President

59 WACHOVIA BANK, National Association, By /s/ Thomas M. Harper ---------------------------------- Name: Thomas M. Harper Title: Senior Vice President BANK ONE, NA (Main Office Chicago) By /s/ Vincent R. Henchek ---------------------------------- Name: Vincent R. Henchek Title: Director PNC BANK, National Association, By /s/ Jeffrey L. Stein ---------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey L. Stein Title: Vice President STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, By /s/ Alan Babcock ---------------------------------- Name: Alan Babcock Title: Senior Vice President By /s/ Robert Reddington ---------------------------------- Name: Robert Reddington Title: AVP/Credit Documentation Standard Chartered Banking KEY BANK, National Association, By /s/ David J. Wechter, VP ---------------------------------- Name: David J. Wechter Title: Vice President

60 MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD., By /s/ Greg Botshon ---------------------------------- Name: Greg Botshon Title: Vice President NATIONAL CITY BANK, By /s/ Joseph L. Kwasny ---------------------------------- Name: Joseph L. Kwasny Title: Vice President HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, By /s/ John M. Luehmann ---------------------------------- Name: John M. Luehmann Title: Vice President WELLS FARGO BANK, National Association, By /s/ Steven M. Buehler ---------------------------------- Name: Steven M. Buehler Title: Vice President By /s/ Melissa Nachman ---------------------------------- Name: Melissa Nachman Title: Vice President FIFTH THIRD BANK, Central Ohio, By /s/ Kim Dennis ---------------------------------- Name: Kim Dennis Title: Assistant Vice President

61 BANCA DI ROMA, Chicago Branch, By /s/ James Semonchik ---------------------------------- Name: James Semonchik Title: Vice President By /s/ Enrico Verdoscia ---------------------------------- Name: Enrico Verdoscia Title: Senior Vice President THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, By /s/ Christopher L. McKean ---------------------------------- Name: Christopher L. McKean Title: Second Vice President BANCA NAZIONALE DEL LAVORA S.P.A., New York Branch, By /s/ Francesco Di Mario ---------------------------------- Name: Francesco Di Mario Title: Vice President By /s/ Leonardo Valentini ---------------------------------- Name: Leonardo Valentini Title: First Vice President U.S. BANK, National Association, By /s/ Robert H. Friend ---------------------------------- Name: Robert H. Friend Title: Vice President

Exhibit 10 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of July 31, 2003 ("Commencement Date") by and between Limited Brands, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Leonard A. Schlesinger (the "Executive") (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the parties"). WHEREAS, the Executive has been employed as the Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer and is experienced in various phases of the Company's business and possesses an intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of the Company and its policies, procedures, methods and personnel; WHEREAS, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to secure the services and employment of the Executive, and the Executive is willing to render such services on the terms and conditions set forth herein. WHEREAS, this Agreement supersedes in its entirety the Employment Agreement that the parties entered into as of October 1, 1999 (the "Prior Agreement"); provided, however, that nothing in this Employment Agreement shall cancel or modify any previous grant of stock options or restrictive stock which was previously granted to the Executive or any rights to repurchase shares represented by such grants, including any grant that the Executive received as a Director of the Board of Directors of the Company. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective agreements of the parties contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows: 1. Term. Executive shall be employed by the Company for the period commencing on the Commencement Date and, subject to earlier termination as provided herein, ending on February 6, 2009 (the "Employment Term"). On February 6, 2009 and each February 6 thereafter, the Employment Term shall automatically be extended for one additional year unless not later than ninety (90) days prior to such date the Company or Executive shall have given written notice of its or his intention not so to extend the Employment Term. 2. Employment. (a) Position. The Executive shall be employed as the Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the Company or such other position of greater status and responsibility as may be determined by the Company. The Executive shall perform the duties, undertake the responsibilities and exercise the authority customarily performed, undertaken and exercised by persons employed in a similar executive capacity for the Company. The Executive shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of Limited Brands, Inc. (b) Obligations. The Executive agrees to devote his full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the Company. The foregoing, however, shall not preclude the Executive from serving on corporate, civic or charitable boards or committees or managing personal investments, so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of the Executive's responsibilities hereunder as determined by the Board. 3. Base Salary. The Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid to the Executive an annual base salary at the rate of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) less applicable withholdings.

This base salary will be subject to annual review and may be increased from time to time by the Board considering factors such as the Executive's responsibilities, compensation of similar executives within the Company and in other companies, performance of the Executive, and other pertinent factors (hereinafter referred to as the "Base Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company's customary practices applicable to its executives. 4. Equity Compensation. Effective March 14, 2003, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors granted to Executive options to acquire 250,000 shares of the Company's common stock and 200,000 restricted shares and 200,000 restrictive stock units of the Company's common stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's Stock Option and Performance Incentive Plan ("SOPIP") the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the grant to Executive, during each year of the Employment Term, of additional options to acquire 125,000 shares of the Company's common stock on the first business day of such fiscal year. The annual grant of options may be modified consistent with changes to annual grants to other senior executives under the SOPIP. If the annual grant of options is modified the Company agrees to provide the Executive with comparable compensation as the Compensation Committee in good faith may determine. 5. Employee Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in all employee benefit plans, practices, and programs maintained by the Company and made available to senior executives generally and as may be in effect from time to time. The Executive's participation in such plans, practices and programs shall be on the same basis and terms as are applicable to senior executives of the Company generally. 6. Bonus. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the Company's applicable incentive compensation plan with a target level opportunity of One Hundred Thirty Percent (130%) of the Executive's Base Salary on such terms and conditions as may be determined from time to time by the Board. In addition, the Company has paid Executive a promotion bonus of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), less applicable withholdings, on or before June 1, 2003. 7. Other Benefits. (a) Life Insurance. (1) During the term of the Agreement, the Company shall maintain life insurance coverage on the life of the Executive in the amount of $5,000,000 under the same terms as provided to other senior executives, the proceeds of which shall be payable to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the Executive. The Executive agrees to undergo any reasonable physical examination and other procedures as may be necessary to maintain such policy. Further, the policy shall be assignable to the Executive, at his discretion, to the extent allowed pursuant to the terms and conditions of the policy. -2-

(2) During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to maintain a "key person" term life insurance policy on the life of the Executive, the proceeds of which shall be payable to the Company or its designees. The Executive agrees to undergo any reasonable physical examination and other procedures as may be necessary to maintain such policy. (b) Expenses. Subject to applicable Company policies, the Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement of all documented expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder or for promoting, pursuing or otherwise furthering the business or interests of the Company. (c) Office and Facilities. The Executive shall be provided with appropriate offices and with such secretarial and other support facilities as are commensurate with the Executive's status with the Company and adequate for the performance of his duties hereunder. 8. Paid Time Off. The Executive shall be entitled to annual paid time off in accordance with the policies periodically established for similarly situated executives of the Company. 9. Termination. The Executive's employment hereunder is subject to the following terms and conditions: (a) Disability. The Company shall be entitled to terminate the Executive's employment after having established the Executive's total and permanent Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means a physical or mental infirmity which impairs the Executive's ability to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement for a period of at least six (6) months in any 12 month calendar period as determined in accordance with the Company's Long-Term Disability Plan. (b) Cause. The Company shall be entitled to terminate the Executive's employment for "Cause" without any written notice prior to a Notice of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean that the Executive (1) willfully failed to perform his duties with the Company (other than a failure resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness); or (2) has plead "guilty" or "no contest" to or has been convicted of an act which is defined as a felony under federal or state law; or (3) engaged in willful misconduct in bad faith which could reasonably be expected to materially harm the Company's business or its reputation. The Executive shall be given written notice by the Board of termination for Cause, stating in detail the particular act or acts or failure or failures to act that constitute the grounds on which the proposed termination for Cause is based. The Executive shall be entitled to a hearing before the Board or a committee thereof established for such purpose and to be accompanied by his counsel. Such hearing shall be held within thirty (30) days after notice to the Company by the Executive, provided he requests such hearing within thirty (30) days of the written notice from the Board of the termination for Cause. This provision shall not abrogate Executive's right to arbitration as provided for in Section 16 hereof. (c) Termination by the Executive for Good Reason. The Executive may terminate employment hereunder for "Good Reason" by delivering to the Company (1) a Preliminary Notice of Good Reason (as defined below), and (2) not earlier than thirty (30) days -3-

from the delivery of such Preliminary Notice, a Notice of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means (i) the failure to continue the Executive as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer or in another capacity contemplated by Section 2 hereof; (ii) the assignment to the Executive of any duties materially inconsistent, or the failure to assign to the Executive duties materially consistent with, the Executive's positions, duties, authority, responsibilities and reporting requirements as set forth in Section 2 hereof; (iii) a reduction in or a material delay in payment of any of the Executive's total cash and equity compensation and benefits from those required to be provided in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; (iv) the Company, the Board or any person controlling the Company requires the Executive to be based outside the United States; or (v) the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption in writing of its obligation to perform this Agreement by any successor to all or substantially all of the assets of the Company within fifteen (15) days after a merger, consolidation, sale or similar transaction; provided, however, that "Good Reason" shall not include (A) acts not taken in bad faith which are cured by the Company in all respects not later than thirty (30) days from the date of receipt by the Company of a written notice from the Executive identifying in reasonable detail the act or acts constituting "Good Reason" (a "Preliminary Notice of Good Reason") or (B) acts taken by the Company by reason of the Executive's physical or mental infirmity which impairs the Executive's ability to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement. A Preliminary Notice of Good Reason shall not, by itself, constitute a Notice of Termination. (d) Notice of Termination. Any purported termination by the Company for Cause or for Good Reason by the Executive shall be communicated by a written Notice of Termination to the other fifteen (15) days prior to the Termination Date (as defined below). For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so indicated. Any termination by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive without Good Reason shall be communicated by a written Notice of Termination to the other party thirty (30) days prior to the termination date. However, the Company may elect to pay the Executive in lieu of thirty (30) days written notice. For purposes of this Agreement, no such purported termination of employment by the Company for Cause, or by the Executive for Good Reason shall be effective without such Notice of Termination. (e) Termination Date, Etc. "Termination Date" shall mean in the case of the Executive's death, the date of death, or in all other cases, the date specified in the Notice of Termination; provided, however, that if the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company due to Disability, the date specified in the Notice of Termination shall be at least thirty (30) days from the date the Notice of Termination is given to the Executive. 10. Compensation Upon Certain Terminations by the Company not Following a Change in Control. (a) If during the Employment, Term, whether or not following a Change in Control (as defined below), the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company for Cause or by reason of the Executive's death or if the Executive resigns without Good Reason or gives written notice not to extend the term of this Agreement, the Company's sole obligations hereunder shall be to pay the Executive the following amounts earned hereunder but not paid as of the Termination Date: (i) Base Salary, (ii) reimbursement for any and all monies advanced or expenses incurred pursuant to Section 7(b) through the Termination Date, and (iii) any earned compensation which the Executive had previously deferred (including any interest earned or -4-

credited thereon) (collectively, "Accrued Compensation"), provided however, that if the Executive gives written notice not to extend the Employment Term pursuant to Section 1, the Company shall continue to pay the premiums provided for in Section 7(a)(1) through the end of the calendar year in which the Executive's termination occurs. The Executive's entitlement to any other benefits shall be determined in accordance with the Company's employee benefit plans then in effect. (b) If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, in each case other than during the 24-month period immediately following a Change in Control, then except to the extent set forth in Section 10(g) the Company's sole obligations hereunder shall be as follows: (i) the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Compensation; (ii) the Company shall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary for a period of one (1) year following the Termination Date; (iii) in consideration of the Executive signing a General Release the Company shall (A) pay the Executive any incentive compensation under Section 6 that the Executive would have received if he had remained employed with the Company for a period of one (1) year after the Termination Date; and (B) pay the Executive his Base Salary for one additional year after payments have ended under Section 10(b)(ii); (iv) the Company shall continue to pay the premiums provided for in Section 7(a)(1) hereof through the end of the calendar year in which such termination occurs; and - (v) in the event Executive becomes entitled to any payments under Section 10(g) the Company's obligations to Executive under Section 10 shall thereafter be determined solely under Section 10(g). (c) If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company by reason of the Executive's Disability, the Company's sole obligations hereunder shall be as follows: (i) the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Compensation; (ii) the Company shall continue to pay the Executive 100% of the Base Salary for the first twelve months following the Termination Date, 80% of the Base Salary for the second twelve months following the Termination Date, and 60% of the Base Salary for the third twelve months following the Termination Date; provided, however, that such Base Salary shall be reduced by the amount of any benefits the Executive receives by reason of his Disability under the Company's relevant disability plan or plans; (iii) if the Executive is disabled beyond thirty-six (36) months, the Company shall continue to pay the Executive 60% of Base Salary, up to a maximum payment of $250,000 per year, for the period of the Executive's Disability, as defined in the Company's relevant disability plans; provided, however, that such payments shall be reduced by the amount -5-

of any benefits the Executive receives by reason of his Disability under the Company's relevant disability plan or plans; and (iv) the Company shall continue to pay the premiums provided for in Section 7(a)(1) hereof through the end of the calendar year in which such termination occurs. (d) If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the Company's written notice to the Executive of its decision not to extend the Employment Term pursuant to Section 1 hereof, the Company's sole obligation hereunder shall be as follows: (i) the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Compensation; (ii) the Company shall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary for a period of one (1) year following the expiration of such term; (iii) in consideration of the Executive signing a General Release the Company shall (A) pay the Executive any incentive compensation under Section 6 that the Executive would have received if he had remained employed with the Company for a period of one (1) year after the Termination Date; and (B) pay the Executive his Base Salary for one additional year after payments have ended under Section 10(d)(ii); and (iv) the Company shall continue to pay the premiums provided for in Section 7(a)(1) hereof through the end of the calendar year in which such termination occurs. (e) For up to eighteen (18) months during the period the Executive is receiving salary continuation pursuant to Section 10(b)(ii), 10(c)(ii) or 10(d)(ii) hereof, the Company shall, at its expense, provide to the Executive and the Executive's beneficiaries medical and dental benefits substantially similar in the aggregate to the those provided to the Executive immediately prior to the date of the Executive's termination of employment; provided, however, that the Company's obligation to provide such benefits shall cease upon the expiration of Executive's rights to continue such medical and dental benefits under COBRA. (f) Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 10 by seeking other employment or otherwise and no such payment or benefit shall be eliminated, offset or reduced by the amount of any compensation provided to the Executive in any subsequent employment, except as provided in Sections 10(e) or 10(f) hereof. (g) In the event that (x) the Company enters into a binding agreement that, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control, (y) Executive's employment is terminated under the circumstances set forth in Section 10(b) and (z) a Change in Control of the Company actually occurs pursuant to the terms of such agreement (or any successor agreement thereto) involving one or more of the other parties to such agreement, then the Company's sole obligations hereunder shall be as follows: (i) the Company shall pay to Executive a lump sum payment in cash no later than 10 business days after the Change in Control an amount equal to the sum of (A) and (B), where (A) is the difference between (x) the Severance Amount (as defined in Section 13(a)(ii)) and (y) the sum of the payments made to Executive prior to the Change in Control -6-

pursuant to Section 10(b)(ii), and (B) is the difference between (x) the Bonus Amount (as defined in the Section 13(a)(iii)) and (y) the payments, if any, made to Executive prior to the Change in Control pursuant to Section 10(b)(iii)(A); (ii) the Company shall reimburse Executive for any documented legal fees and expenses to the extent set forth in Section 13(iv); (iii) the Company shall pay such premiums as are required by Section 13(a)(v)(A) to the extent not previously paid pursuant to Section 10(b)(iv) and shall make available to Executive and Executive's beneficiaries medical and dental benefits to the extent provided in Section 13(a)(v)(B); and (iv) each of the Company and Executive shall have and be subject to the rights, duties and obligations set forth in Sections 12(c) and (d). (h) In the event that (i) the Company becomes a party to a binding agreement relating to one or more transactions that, if consummated, would constitute a Change in Control, (ii) prior to such consummation the Company terminates Executive's employment under circumstances set forth in Section 10(b) and (iii) such consummation occurs after the first anniversary of such termination (collectively, a "Covered Termination"), then the Company shall pay to Executive upon such consummation an amount in cash, less applicable withholdings, equal to the product of (x) times (y), where (x) is the amount by which the per share fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of the Change in Control (the "CC Value") exceeds such fair market value on such first anniversary and (y) equals the number of unvested Options forfeited by Executive on such first anniversary. In addition, in the event of a Covered Termination the Company shall pay to Executive upon such consummation an amount in cash, less applicable withholdings, equal to the product of the CC Value times the number of restricted shares of Company common stock forfeited by Executive on such first anniversary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Executive's employment is terminated under the circumstances set forth in Section 10(b) and it is reasonably demonstrated that such termination was at the request of a third party who had taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or otherwise arose in anticipation of a Change in Control, then the provisions of this Section 10(g) and 10(h) shall apply to such termination. 11. Employee Covenants. (a) For the purposes of this Section 11, the term "Company" shall include Limited Brands, Inc. and all subsidiaries. (b) Confidentiality. The Executive shall not, during the term of this Agreement and thereafter, make any Unauthorized Disclosure. For purposes of this Agreement, "Unauthorized Disclosure" shall mean use by the Executive or disclosure by the Executive, without the prior written consent of the Chairman, to any person other than an employee of the Company or a person to whom disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance by the Executive of duties as an executive of the Company or as may be legally required, of any confidential information relating to the business or prospects of the Company (including, but not limited to, any information and materials pertaining to any Intellectual Property as defined below; provided, however, that such term shall not include the -7-

use or disclosure by the Executive, without consent, of any publicly available information (other than information available as a result of disclosure by the Executive in violation of this Section 11(b)). This confidentiality covenant has no temporal, geographical or territorial restriction. (c) Non-Competition. During the Non-Competition Period described below, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, own, manage, operate, join, control, be employed by, consult with or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of, or be connected with (as a stockholder, partner, or otherwise), any business, individual, partner, firm, corporation, or other entity that competes, directly or indirectly, with the Company, or any of its products; provided, however, that the "beneficial ownership" by the Executive after termination of employment with the Company, either individually or as a member of a "group," as such terms are used in Rule 13d of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), of not more than two percent (2%) of the voting stock of any publicly held corporation shall not be a violation of Section 11 of this Agreement. The "Non-Competition Period" means the period the Executive is employed by the Company plus one (1) year from the Executive's last day of employment with the Company. (d) Non-Solicitation. During the No-Raid Period described below, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit, induce or attempt to influence any employee to leave the employment of the Company, nor assist anyone else in doing so. Further, during the No-Raid Period, the Executive shall not, either directly or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with another party, interfere with or harm, or attempt to interfere with or harm, the relationship of the Company, with any person who at any time was an employee, customer or supplier of the Company, or otherwise had a business relationship with the Company. The "No-Raid Period" means the period the Executive is employed by the Company plus one (1) year from the Executive's last day of employment with the Company. (e) Intellectual Property. The Executive agrees that all inventions, designs and ideas conceived, produced, created, or reduced to practice, either solely or jointly with others, during his employment with the Company including those developed on his own time, which relates to or is useful in the Company's business ("Intellectual Property") shall be owned solely by the Company. The Executive understands that whether in preliminary or final form, such Intellectual Property includes, for example, all ideas, inventions, discoveries, designs, innovations, improvements, trade secrets, and other intellectual property. All Intellectual Property is either work made for hire for the Company within the meaning of the United States Copyright Act, or, if such Intellectual Property is determined not to be work made for hire, then the Executive irrevocably assigns all rights, titles and interests in and to the Intellectual Property to the Company, including all copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks. The Executive agrees that he will, without any additional consideration, execute all documents and take all other actions needed to convey his complete ownership of the Intellectual Property to the Company so that the Company may own and protect such Intellectual Property and obtain patent, copyright and trademark registrations for it. The Executive also agrees that the Company may alter or modify the Intellectual Property at the Company's sole discretion, and the Executive waives all rights to claim or disclaim authorship. The Executive represents and warrants that any Intellectual Property that he assigns to the Company, except as otherwise disclosed in writing at the time of assignment, will be his sole, exclusive, original work. The Executive also represents that he has -8-

not previously invented any Intellectual Property or has advised the Company in writing of any prior inventions or ideas. (f) Remedies. The Executive agrees that any breach of the terms of this Section 11 would result in irreparable injury and damage to the Company for which the Company would have no adequate remedy at law; the Executive therefore also agrees that in the event of said breach or any threat of breach, the Company shall be entitled to an immediate injunction and restraining order to prevent, such breach and/or threatened breach and/or continued breach by the Executive and/or any and all persons and/or entities acting for and/or with the Executive, without having to prove damages, and to all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, in addition to any other remedies to which the Company may be entitled at law or in equity. The terms of this paragraph shall not prevent the Company from pursuing any other available remedies for any breach or threatened breach hereof, including but not limited to the recovery of damages from the Executive. The Executive and the Company further agree that the provisions of the covenants not to compete and solicit are reasonable and that the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the inclusion of such covenants herein. Should a court determine, however, that any provision of the covenants is unreasonable, either in period of time, geographical area, or otherwise, the parties hereto agree that the covenant should be interpreted and enforced to the maximum extent which such court deems reasonable. (g) The provisions of this Section 11 shall survive any termination of the Executive's employment with the Company, and the existence of any claim or cause of action by the Executive against the Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Company of the covenants and agreements of this Section 11; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not, in and of itself, preclude the Executive from defending herself against the enforceability of the covenants and agreements of this Section 11. 12. Change in Control. (a) For purposes of this Section 12, "Company" shall mean Limited Brands, Inc., a Delaware Corporation. (b) For purposes of this Agreement "Change in Control" means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the first to occur of any of the following events: (i) Any Person (other than an Excluded Person) becomes, together with all "affiliates" and "associates" (each as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, "beneficial owner" (as defined under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities representing 33% or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Stock then outstanding, unless such Person becomes "beneficial owner" of 33% or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Stock then outstanding solely as a result of an acquisition of Voting Stock by the Company which, by reducing the Voting Stock outstanding, increases the proportionate Voting Stock beneficially owned by such Person (together with all "affiliates" and "associates" of such Person) to 33% or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Stock then outstanding; provided, that if a Person shall become the "beneficial owner" of 33% or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Stock then outstanding by reason of such Voting Stock acquisition by the Company and shall thereafter become the "beneficial owner" of any additional Voting Stock which causes the proportionate voting power of Voting Stock beneficially owned by such Person -9-

to increase to 33% or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Stock then outstanding, such Person shall, upon becoming the "beneficial owner" of such additional Voting Stock, be deemed to have become the "beneficial owner" of 33% or more of the combined voting power of the Voting Stock then outstanding other than solely as a result of such Voting Stock acquisition by the Company; (ii) During any period of 24 consecutive months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board (and any new Director, whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was so approved), cease for any reason to constitute a majority of Directors then constituting the Board; (iii) A reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company is consummated, in each case, unless, immediately following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (ii) no Person (but excluding for this purpose any Excluded Person and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; (iv) The consummation of (i) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than to any corporation with respect to which, immediately following such sale or other disposition, (A) more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such sale or other disposition of assets, (B) no Person (but excluding for this purpose any Excluded Person and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of the voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation or the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of such corporation were members of the Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company; or -10-

(v) A change in the Chief Executive Officer of Limited Brands, Inc. to whom Executive reports, unless Executive is named such Chief Executive Officer. (vi) The occurrence of any transaction or event that the Board, in its sole discretion, designates a "Change in Control". Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a "Change in Control" be deemed to have occurred (i) as a result of the formation of a Holding Company, or (ii) with respect to Executive, if Executive is part of a "group," within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act as in effect on the Effective Date, which consummates the Change in Control transaction. In addition, for purposes of the definition of "Change in Control" a Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be the "beneficial owner" of, or to "beneficially own," any securities acquired through such Person's participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of forty days after the date of such acquisition. Excluded Person shall mean (i) the Company; (ii) any of the Company's Subsidiaries; (iii) any Holding Company; (iv) any employee benefit plan of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a Holding Company; or (v) any Person organized, appointed or established by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or a Holding Company for or pursuant to the terms of any plan described in clause (iv) "Person" shall mean any individual composition, partnership, limited liability company, associations, trust or other entity or organization. "Holding Company" shall mean an entity that becomes a holding company for the Company or its businesses as a part of any reorganization, merger, consolidation or other transaction, provided that the outstanding shares of common stock of such entity and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is, immediately after such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other transaction, beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other transaction in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation or other transaction, of such outstanding Voting Stock. "Voting Stock" means securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of members of the Company's Board of Directors. (c) Gross-Up Payment. In the event it shall be determined that any payment or distribution of any type to or for the benefit of the Executive, by the Company, any of its affiliates, any Person who acquires ownership or effective control of the Company or ownership of a substantial portion of the Company's assets (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the regulations thereunder) or any affiliate of such Person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (the "Total Payments"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and penalties, are collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax, imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Total Payments. For purposes of the foregoing determination, the Executive's tax rate will be deemed to be the highest statutory marginal state and federal tax rate (on a combined basis) then in effect. -11-

(d) All determinations as to whether any of the Total Payments are "parachute payments" (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), whether a Gross-Up Payment is required, the amount of such Gross-Up Payment and any amounts relevant to the last sentence of Subsection 12(a), shall be made by an independent accounting firm selected by the Company from among the largest six accounting firms in the United States (the "Accounting Firm"). The Accounting Firm shall provide its determination (the "Determination"), together with detailed supporting calculations regarding the amount of any Gross-Up Payment and any other relevant matter, both to the Company and the Executive within five (5) days of the Termination Date, if applicable, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company or the Executive (if the Executive reasonably believes that any of the Total Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax). Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. As a result of uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that the Company should have made Gross-Up Payments ("Underpayment"), or that Gross-Up Payments will have been made by the Company which should not have been made ("Overpayments"). In either such event, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment or Overpayment that has occurred. In the case of an Underpayment, the amount of such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive. In the case of an Overpayment, the Executive shall, at the direction and expense of the Company, take such steps as are reasonably necessary (including the filing of returns and claims for refund), follow reasonable instructions from, and procedures established by, the Company, and otherwise reasonably cooperate with the Company to correct such Overpayment. 13. Compensation Upon Certain Terminations During the 24-Month Period Following a Change in Control a) If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, in each case during the 24 month-consecutive month period immediately following a Change in Control, the Company's sole obligations hereunder subject to the Executive's execution of a General Release, shall be as follows: (i) the Company shall pay the Executive the Accrued Compensation; (ii) the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum payment in cash no later than ten business days after the termination date an amount equal to two times Executive's Base Salary (the "Severance Amount"); (iii) the Company shall pay the Executive a lump sum payment in cash no later than ten (10) business days after the date of termination an amount equal to the sum of the last four (4) bonus payments the Executive received under the Company's incentive compensation plan described in Section 6 and an pro-rata amount equal to the number of days the Executive was employed during the season (the "Bonus Amount"); (iv) the Company shall reimburse the Executive for all documented legal fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the Executive in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this section; and (v) the Company (A) shall pay the premiums provided for in Section 7(a)(1) hereof through the end of the calendar year in which such termination occurs, and (B) -12-

shall provide the Executive and Executive's beneficiaries medical and dental benefits substantially similar to those which the Executive was receiving immediately prior to the date of termination for a period of eighteen (18) months after the termination date; provided however, that the Company's obligation with respect to the foregoing medical and dental benefits shall cease upon the expiration of Executive's rights to continue such medical and dental benefits under COBRA. b) Except as provided in Section 13(a)(v)(B), the Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 13 by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in this Section 13 be reduced by an compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company, or otherwise. 14. Employee Representation. The Executive expressly represents and warrants to the Company that the Executive is not a party to any contract or agreement and is not otherwise obligated in any way, and is not subject to any rules or regulations, whether governmentally imposed or otherwise, which will or may restrict in any way the Executive's ability to fully perform the Executive's duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. 15. Successors and Assigns. (a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns, and the Company shall require any successor or assign to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession or assignment had taken place. The term "the Company" as used herein shall include any such successors and assigns to the Company's business and/or assets. The term "successors and assigns" as used herein shall mean a corporation or other entity acquiring or otherwise succeeding to, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all the assets and business of the Company (including this Agreement) whether by operation of law or otherwise. (b) Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest hereunder shall be assignable or transferable by the Executive, the Executive's beneficiaries or legal representatives, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal personal representative. 16. Arbitration. Except with respect to the remedies set forth in Section 11(f) hereof, any controversy or claim between the Company or any of its affiliates and the Executive arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its termination, shall be settled and determined by binding arbitration. The American Arbitration Association, under its Commercial Arbitration Rules shall administer the binding arbitration. The arbitration shall take place in Columbus, Ohio. The Arbitrator shall have no authority to award punitive damages against the Company or the Executive. The Arbitrator shall have no authority to add to, alter, amend or refuse to enforce any portion of the disputed agreements. The Company and the Executive each waive any right to a jury trial or to a petition for stay in any action or proceeding of any kind arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its termination. The Company shall pay the costs of such arbitration; provided that each party shall be responsible for such parties legal and other fees and costs incurred in connection with such arbitration. -13-

17. Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement (including the Notice of Termination) shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or upon receipt if overnight delivery service or facsimile is used, addressed as follows: To the Executive: Leonard A. Schlesinger 12 Edge of Woods New Albany, Ohio 43054 To the Company: Limited Brands, Inc. 3 Limited Parkway Columbus, Ohio 43230 Attn: Secretary 18. Settlement of Claims. The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the Company may have against the Executive or others. 19. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreement or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not expressly set forth in this Agreement. 20. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof. 21. Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. 22. Entire Agreement. This Agreement including all of its recitals constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, understandings and arrangements, oral or written, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by its duly authorized officer and the Executive has executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. LIMITED BRANDS, INC. By: /s/ Leslie H. Wexner --------------------------- Name: Leslie H. Wexner /s/ Leonard A. Schlesinger ------------------------------- Leonard A. Schlesinger -15-

EXHIBIT 15 ---------- August 19, 2003 To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Limited Brands, Inc. Columbus, Ohio Limited Brands, Inc.: We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement Form S-3 No. 333-104633 and Forms S-8 (Nos. 33-44041, 33-18533, 33-49871, 333-04927 and 333-04941) of Limited Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries of our report dated August 19, 2003 relating to the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of Limited Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries that are included in its Form 10-Q for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 2, 2003. Very truly yours, /s/ Ernst & Young LLP Columbus, Ohio

Exhibit 31.1 ------------ Section 302 Certification I, Leslie H. Wexner, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Limited Brands, Inc.; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) [Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238 and 34-47986] (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. /s/ LESLIE H. WEXNER ---------------------------------------- Leslie H. Wexner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Date: September 12, 2003

Exhibit 31.2 ------------ Section 302 Certification I, V. Ann Hailey, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Limited Brands, Inc.; 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) [Paragraph omitted pursuant to SEC Release Nos. 33-8238 and 34-47986] (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting. /s/ V. ANN HAILEY ---------------------------------------- V. Ann Hailey Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Date: September 12, 2003

Exhibit 32 ---------- Section 906 Certification The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "Report") for the purpose of complying with Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code. Leslie H. Wexner, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and V. Ann Hailey, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of Limited Brands, Inc., each certifies that, to the best of his or her knowledge: 1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and 2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Limited Brands, Inc. /s/ LESLIE H. WEXNER ---------------------------------------- Leslie H. Wexner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer /s/ V. ANN HAILEY ---------------------------------------- V. Ann Hailey Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Date: September 12, 2003