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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT  

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): July 1, 2021 (June 29, 2021)

 

L Brands, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

1-8344 31-1029810
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
   

Three Limited Parkway

Columbus, OH

43230
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

(614) 415-7000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
         
Common Stock, $0.50 Par Value   LB   The New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

On June 29, 2021, L Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the commencement of, and on June 30, 2021 announced the upsized pricing of, a private offering of $600 million aggregate principal amount of 4.625% senior notes due 2029 (the “Senior Notes Offering”) by its subsidiary, Victoria’s Secret & Co. The Notes are being offered for sale to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in an offering exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. Victoria's Secret & Co. is the recently formed holding company for the Company’s Victoria's Secret business, which the Company intends to separate into an independent, public company as previously announced.

 

On June 30, 2021, the Company also announced that the previously announced syndication by Victoria’s Secret of term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $400 million (the “Term Loan Facility”) has allocated with an initial interest rate of LIBOR (with a LIBOR floor of 0.50%) plus 3.25%. The Term Loan Facility will have an original issue discount of 1.00%.

 

Copies of the press releases announcing (i) the commencement of the Senior Notes Offering and (ii) the pricing of the Senior Notes Offering and Term Loan Facility are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Neither this Current Report on Form 8-K or the press releases attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2 constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Any offers of the securities will be made only by means of a private offering memorandum.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated June 29, 2021 entitled “L Brands Announces Proposed $500 Million Offering of Senior Notes Due 2029 by its Spin-Off Subsidiary, Victoria’s Secret & Co.”
   
Exhibit 99.2 Press Release dated June 30, 2021 entitled “L Brands Announces Pricing of Upsized $600 Million Offering of 4.625% Senior Notes Due 2029 and $400 Million Term Loan Credit Facility by its Spin-Off Subsidiary, Victoria’s Secret & Co.”
   

Exhibit 104 

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    L Brands, Inc.
     
     
Date: July 1, 2021 By: /s/ STUART B. BURGDOERFER
    Stuart B. Burgdoerfer
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

L BRANDS ANNOUNCES PROPOSED $500 MILLION OFFERING OF SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029 BY ITS SPIN-OFF SUBSIDIARY, VICTORIA’S SECRET & CO.

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 29, 2021) — L Brands, Inc. (“L Brands”) (NYSE: LB) announced today that its subsidiary, Victoria’s Secret & Co. (“Victoria’s Secret”), is offering to sell $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) in a private placement offering to eligible purchasers, subject to market and other conditions. Victoria’s Secret is a recently formed company, which L Brands intends to separate from its current business by means of a spin-off to its shareholders (the “Separation”).

 

Upon the completion of the Separation, Victoria’s Secret intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes, after deducting discounts and commissions to the initial purchasers of the Notes and estimated offering expenses, to fund a portion of a cash payment to L Brands. Pending completion of the Separation, proceeds from the offering of the Notes will be deposited into escrow for the benefit of the holders of the Notes.

 

The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations. Upon issuance, the Notes will not be guaranteed.  However, from and after the date on which the proceeds of the offering are released from escrow, the Notes will be guaranteed by each of Victoria’s Secret’s existing and future wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries that (i) guarantees its senior credit facilities, (ii) is a borrower under its ABL Facility or (iii) guarantees or incurs any other material debt.

 

The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes may be resold by the initial purchasers pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a sale of, the Notes or any other securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. In addition, this press release is not an offer to purchase or a notice of redemption with regard to any securities. The offering is made only by, and pursuant to, the terms set forth in the related offering memorandum. The offering is not being made to persons in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.

 

ABOUT L BRANDS:

 

L Brands, through its Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret and PINK brands, is an international company. L Brands operates 2,681 company-operated specialty stores in the United States, Canada and Greater China, in more than 700 franchised locations worldwide and through its websites worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT VICTORIA’S SECRET & CO:

 

Victoria’s Secret is the world’s largest specialty retailer offering a wide assortment of modern, fashion-inspired collections including signature bras, panties, lingerie, casual sleepwear and athleisure, as well as award-winning prestige fragrances and body care. With nearly 1,400 retail stores worldwide and a predominately female workforce of more than 25,000, Victoria’s Secret boasts the largest team of specialty trained bra fit experts worldwide. Victoria’s Secret is committed to inspiring women around the world with products and experiences that uplift and champion them and their journey while creating lifelong relationships and advocating for positive change. 

 

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

 


We caution that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this press release or made by our Company or our management involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “planned,” “potential” and any similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Risks associated with the following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this press release or otherwise made by our Company or our management:

 

• the spin-off may not be consummated within the anticipated time period or at all;

 

• disruption to our business in connection with the proposed spin-off and that we could lose revenue as a result of such disruption;

 

• the spin-off may not be tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

• a loss of synergies from separating the businesses that could negatively impact the balance sheet, profit margins or earnings of both businesses or that the companies resulting from the spin-off do not realize all of the expected benefits of the spin-off;

 

• the combined value of the common stock of the two publicly-traded companies will not be equal to or greater than the value of our common stock had the spin-off not occurred;

 

• Victoria’s Secret has no history of operating as an independent company, and its historical combined and unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily representative of the results that it would have achieved as an independent, publicly traded company and may not be a reliable indicator of our future results;

 

• general economic conditions, consumer confidence, consumer spending patterns and market disruptions including pandemics or significant health hazards, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorist activities, financial crises, political crises or other major events, or the prospect of these events;

 

• the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations;

 

• the seasonality of our business;

 

• divestitures or other dispositions, including a spin-off of Victoria’s Secret and related operations and contingent liabilities from businesses that we have divested;

 

• difficulties arising from turnover in company leadership or other key positions;

 

• our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified associates and manage labor-related costs;

 

• the dependence on mall traffic and the availability of suitable store locations on appropriate terms;

 

• our ability to grow through new store openings and existing store remodels and expansions;

 

• our ability to successfully operate and expand internationally and related risks;

 

• our independent franchise, license and wholesale partners;

 

• our direct channel businesses;

 

• our ability to protect our reputation and our brand images;

 

• our ability to attract customers with marketing, advertising and promotional programs;

 

• our ability to maintain, enforce and protect our trade names, trademarks and patents;

 

• the highly competitive nature of the retail industry and the segments in which we operate;

 

• consumer acceptance of our products and our ability to manage the life cycle of our brands, keep up with fashion trends, develop new merchandise and launch new product lines successfully;

 

• our ability to source, distribute and sell goods and materials on a global basis, including risks related to:

 

◦ political instability, environmental hazards or natural disasters;

 

◦ significant health hazards or pandemics, which could result in closed factories, reduced workforces, scarcity of raw materials, and scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in infected areas;

 

 

 

 

◦ duties, taxes and other charges;

 

◦ legal and regulatory matters;

 

◦ volatility in currency exchange rates;

 

◦ local business practices and political issues;

 

◦ potential delays or disruptions in shipping and transportation and related pricing impacts;

 

◦ disruption due to labor disputes; and

 

◦ changing expectations regarding product safety due to new legislation;

 

• our geographic concentration of vendor and distribution facilities in central Ohio;

 

• fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

• the ability of our vendors to deliver products in a timely manner, meet quality standards and comply with applicable laws and regulations;

 

• fluctuations in product input costs;

 

• our ability to adequately protect our assets from loss and theft;

 

• fluctuations in energy costs;

 

• increases in the costs of mailing, paper, printing or other order fulfillment logistics;

 

• claims arising from our self-insurance;

 

• our and our third-party service providers' ability to implement and maintain information technology systems and to protect associated data;

 

• our ability to maintain the security of customer, associate, third-party and company information;

 

• stock price volatility;

 

• our ability to pay dividends and related effects;

 

• shareholder activism matters;

 

• our ability to maintain our credit rating;

 

• our ability to service or refinance our debt and maintain compliance with our restrictive covenants;

 

• our ability to comply with laws, regulations and technology platform rules or other obligations related to data privacy and security;

 

• our ability to comply with regulatory requirements;

 

• legal and compliance matters; and

 

• tax, trade and other regulatory matters.

 

We are not under any obligation and do not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

L Brands:  
Investor Relations Media Relations
Amie Preston Brooke Wilson
(614) 415-6704 (614) 415-6042
apreston@lb.com communications@lb.com

 

 

  

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

 

 

L BRANDS ANNOUNCES PRICING OF UPSIZED $600 MILLION OFFERING OF 4.625% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029 AND $400 MILLION TERM LOAN CREDIT FACILITY BY ITS SPIN-OFF SUBSIDIARY, VICTORIA’S SECRET & CO.

 

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 30, 2021) – L Brands, Inc. (“L Brands”) (NYSE: LB) announced today that the previously announced offering by its subsidiary, Victoria’s Secret & Co. (“Victoria’s Secret”), of $500 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) was upsized to an aggregate principal amount of $600 million and priced with a coupon of 4.625% in a private placement offering to eligible purchasers. The initial offering price of the Notes to investors will be 100% of their principal amount. Additionally, L Brands announced today that the previously announced syndication by Victoria’s Secret of term loans in an aggregate principal amount $400 million (the “Term Loan Facility”) has allocated with an initial margin of LIBOR (with a LIBOR floor of 0.50%) plus 3.25%. The Term Loan Facility will have an original issue discount of 1.00%. The offering of the Notes is expected to close on July 15, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. The Term Loan Facility is expected to close at or about the time of the Separation (as defined below). Victoria’s Secret is a recently formed company, which L Brands intends to separate from its current business by means of a spin-off to its shareholders (the “Separation”).

 

Prior to the completion of the Separation, Victoria’s Secret intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes and the initial borrowing under the Term Loan Facility, after deducting discounts and commissions to the initial purchasers of the Notes and estimated offering expenses, to fund a portion of a cash payment to L Brands. Pending completion of the Separation, proceeds from the offering of the Notes will be deposited into escrow for the benefit of the holders of the Notes.

 

The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations. Upon issuance, the Notes will not be guaranteed. However, from and after the date on which the proceeds of the offering are released from escrow, the Notes will be guaranteed by each of Victoria’s Secret’s existing and future wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries that (i) guarantees its senior credit facilities, (ii) is a borrower under its ABL Facility or (iii) guarantees or incurs any other material debt.

 

The loans under the Term Loan Facility will be senior secured obligations of Victoria’s Secret guaranteed by all of Victoria’s Secret’s existing and future material wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries, subject to customary exceptions to be set forth in the documentation for the Term Loan Facility.

  

 

 

The Notes are not being registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes may be resold by the initial purchasers pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

This press release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities or any loans or commitments in respect of the Term Loan Facility and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a sale of, the Notes or any other securities or any loans or commitments in respect of the Term Loan Facility in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. The offering in respect of the Notes is made only by, and pursuant to, the terms set forth in the related offering memorandum. The offering in respect of the Notes is not being made to persons in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.

 

ABOUT L BRANDS:

 

L Brands, through its Bath & Body Works, Victoria’s Secret and PINK brands, is an international company. L Brands operates 2,681 company-operated specialty stores in the United States, Canada and Greater China, in more than 700 franchised locations worldwide and through its websites worldwide.

 

ABOUT VICTORIA’S SECRET & CO:

 

Victoria’s Secret is the world’s largest specialty retailer offering a wide assortment of modern, fashion-inspired collections including signature bras, panties, lingerie, casual sleepwear and athleisure, as well as award-winning prestige fragrances and body care. With nearly 1,400 retail stores worldwide and a predominately female workforce of more than 25,000, Victoria’s Secret boasts the largest team of specialty trained bra fit experts worldwide. Victoria’s Secret is committed to inspiring women around the world with products and experiences that uplift and champion them and their journey while creating lifelong relationships and advocating for positive change. 

 

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

 

We caution that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this press release or made by our Company or our management involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Words such as “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “planned,” “potential” and any similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Risks associated with the following factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our financial performance and actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this press release or otherwise made by our Company or our management:

 

• the spin-off may not be consummated within the anticipated time period or at all;

 

• disruption to our business in connection with the proposed spin-off and that we could lose revenue as a result of such disruption;

 

• the spin-off may not be tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

• a loss of synergies from separating the businesses that could negatively impact the balance sheet, profit margins or earnings of both businesses or that the companies resulting from the spin-off do not realize all of the expected benefits of the spin-off;

 

• the combined value of the common stock of the two publicly-traded companies will not be equal to or greater than the value of our common stock had the spin-off not occurred;

 

 

 

• Victoria’s Secret has no history of operating as an independent company, and its historical combined and unaudited pro forma financial information is not necessarily representative of the results that it would have achieved as an independent, publicly traded company and may not be a reliable indicator of our future results;

 

• general economic conditions, consumer confidence, consumer spending patterns and market disruptions including pandemics or significant health hazards, severe weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorist activities, financial crises, political crises or other major events, or the prospect of these events;

 

• the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic has had and is expected to continue to have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations;

 

• the seasonality of our business;

 

• divestitures or other dispositions, including a spin-off of Victoria’s Secret and related operations and contingent liabilities from businesses that we have divested;

 

• difficulties arising from turnover in company leadership or other key positions;

 

• our ability to attract, develop and retain qualified associates and manage labor-related costs;

 

• the dependence on mall traffic and the availability of suitable store locations on appropriate terms;

 

• our ability to grow through new store openings and existing store remodels and expansions;

 

• our ability to successfully operate and expand internationally and related risks;

 

• our independent franchise, license and wholesale partners;

 

• our direct channel businesses;

 

• our ability to protect our reputation and our brand images;

 

• our ability to attract customers with marketing, advertising and promotional programs;

 

• our ability to maintain, enforce and protect our trade names, trademarks and patents;

 

• the highly competitive nature of the retail industry and the segments in which we operate;

 

• consumer acceptance of our products and our ability to manage the life cycle of our brands, keep up with fashion trends, develop new merchandise and launch new product lines successfully;

 

• our ability to source, distribute and sell goods and materials on a global basis, including risks related to:

 

◦ political instability, environmental hazards or natural disasters;

 

◦ significant health hazards or pandemics, which could result in closed factories, reduced workforces, scarcity of raw materials, and scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in infected areas;

 

◦ duties, taxes and other charges;

 

◦ legal and regulatory matters;

 

◦ volatility in currency exchange rates;

 

◦ local business practices and political issues;

 

◦ potential delays or disruptions in shipping and transportation and related pricing impacts;

 

◦ disruption due to labor disputes; and

 

◦ changing expectations regarding product safety due to new legislation;

 

• our geographic concentration of vendor and distribution facilities in central Ohio;

 

• fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

• the ability of our vendors to deliver products in a timely manner, meet quality standards and comply with applicable laws and regulations;

 

• fluctuations in product input costs;

 

• our ability to adequately protect our assets from loss and theft;

 

• fluctuations in energy costs;

 

• increases in the costs of mailing, paper, printing or other order fulfillment logistics;

 

• claims arising from our self-insurance;

 

• our and our third-party service providers' ability to implement and maintain information technology systems and to protect associated data;

 

 

 

 

• our ability to maintain the security of customer, associate, third-party and company information;

 

• stock price volatility;

  

• our ability to pay dividends and related effects;

 

• shareholder activism matters;

 

• our ability to maintain our credit rating;

 

• our ability to service or refinance our debt and maintain compliance with our restrictive covenants;

  

• our ability to comply with laws, regulations and technology platform rules or other obligations related to data privacy and security;

 

• our ability to comply with regulatory requirements;

 

• legal and compliance matters; and

 

• tax, trade and other regulatory matters.

 

We are not under any obligation and do not intend to make publicly available any update or other revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect circumstances existing after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

L Brands:  
Investor Relations Media Relations
Amie Preston Brooke Wilson
(614) 415-6704 (614) 415-6042
apreston@lb.com communications@lb.com