NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:
ANF) today reported net sales of $203.4 million for the four-week period ended
October 31, 2009 a 5% decrease from net sales of $215.0 million for the
four-week period ended November 1, 2008. October comparable store sales
decreased 15%. Total Company direct-to-consumer net merchandise sales
increased 24% to $22.0 million.
Quarter-to-date, the Company reported a net sales decrease of 15% to $765.5
million from $896.3 million last year. Comparable store sales decreased 22%
for the quarter-to-date period. Quarter-to-date, total Company
direct-to-consumer net sales increased 11% to $63.9 million.
Year-to-date, the Company reported a net sales decrease of 20% to $2.026
billion from $2.542 billion last year. Comparable store sales decreased 27%
for the year-to-date period. Year-to-date, total Company direct-to-consumer
net merchandise sales decreased 8% to $161.6 million.
October 2009 Developments
-- Total Company net sales decreased 5%
-- Total Company comparable store sales decreased 15%
-- Total Company direct-to-consumer net merchandise sales increased 24%
-- Abercrombie & Fitch comparable store sales decreased 8%
-- abercrombie comparable store sales decreased 17%
-- Hollister Co. comparable store sales decreased 21%
-- RUEHL comparable store sales decreased 23%
At month end, the Company operated 347 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 209
abercrombie stores, 509 Hollister Co. stores, 27 RUEHL stores and 16 Gilly
Hicks stores in the United States. The Company also operated three
Abercrombie & Fitch stores, three abercrombie stores and six Hollister Co.
stores in Canada, one Abercrombie & Fitch store and seven Hollister Co. stores
in the United Kingdom, and one Abercrombie & Fitch store and one abercrombie
store in Italy. The Company operates e-commerce websites at
www.abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com, www.hollisterco.com,
www.RUEHL.com and www.gillyhicks.com.
To hear the Abercrombie & Fitch pre-recorded October sales message, please
dial (800) 395-0662, or internationally, dial (402) 220-1262.
The company will release its third quarter results on Friday, November 13,
2009, prior to the open of the market and hold a conference call at 8:30 AM
Eastern Time. To listen to the conference call, dial (888) 637-7707 and ask
for the Abercrombie & Fitch Quarterly Call or go to www.abercrombie.com. The
international call-in number is (913) 312-0405. This call will be recorded and
made available by dialing the replay number (888) 203-1112 or the
international number (719) 457-0820 followed by the conference ID number
7444736 or through www.abercrombie.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF
1995
A&F cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in this Press
Release or made by management of A&F involve risks and uncertainties and are
subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be
beyond the Company's control. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan,"
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," and similar expressions may
identify forward-looking statements. The following factors, in addition to
those included in the disclosure under the heading " FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS" in "ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS" of A&F's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009, in some cases have
affected and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance
and could cause actual results for the 2009 fiscal year and beyond to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking
statements included in this Press Release or otherwise made by management:
current financial crisis and general economic conditions; changes in consumer
spending patterns and consumer preferences; the effects of political and
economic events and conditions domestically and in foreign jurisdictions in
which the Company operates, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism
or war; the impact of competition and pricing; changes in weather patterns;
postal rate increases and changes; paper and printing costs; market price of
key raw materials; ability to source product from its global supplier base;
political stability; currency and exchange risks and changes in existing or
potential duties, tariffs or quotas; availability of suitable store locations
at appropriate terms; ability to develop new merchandise; ability to hire,
train and retain associates; estimates of expenses which the Company may incur
in connection with the closure of the RUEHL stores and related
direct-to-consumer operations; and the outcome of pending litigation. Future
economic and industry trends that could potentially impact revenue and
profitability are difficult to predict. Therefore, there can be no assurance
that the forward-looking statements included in this Press Release will prove
to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties in the
forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information
should not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any other
person, that the objectives of the Company will be achieved. The
forward-looking statements herein are based on information presently available
to the management of the Company. Except as may be required by applicable
law, the Company assumes no obligation 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.
SOURCE Abercrombie & Fitch
Eric Cerny, Manager, Investor Relations, +1-614-283-6385
