Abercrombie & Fitch 2009 Annual Report Download - page 2

PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
GENERAL.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (“A&F”), a company incorporated in Delaware in 1996, through its subsid-
iaries (collectively, A&F and its subsidiaries are referred to as “Abercrombie & Fitch” or the “Company”), is a
specialty retailer that operates stores and direct-to-consumer operations selling casual sportswear apparel,
including knit and woven shirts, graphic t-shirts, fleece, jeans and woven pants, shorts, sweaters, outerwear,
personal care products and accessories for men, women and kids under the Abercrombie & Fitch,
abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. In addition, the Company operates stores and direct-to-consumer
operations offering bras, underwear, personal care products, sleepwear and at-home products for women
under the Gilly Hicks brand. As of January 30, 2010, the Company operated 1,096 stores in North America,
Europe and Asia.
On June 16, 2009, A&F’s Board of Directors approved the closure of the Company’s 29 RUEHL branded
stores and related direct-to-consumer operations. The determination to take this action was based on a
comprehensive review and evaluation of the performance of the RUEHL branded stores and related
direct-to-consumer operations, as well as the related real estate portfolio. The Company completed the
closure of the RUEHL branded stores and related direct-to-consumer operations during the fourth quarter of
Fiscal 2009. Accordingly, the results of operations of RUEHL are reflected in Net Loss from Discontinued
Operations on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for all periods
presented.
The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31, typically resulting in a fifty-two
week year, but occasionally giving rise to an additional week, resulting in a fifty-three week year. Fiscal years
are designated in the consolidated financial statements and notes by the calendar year in which the fiscal year
commences. All references herein to “Fiscal 2009” represent the results of the 52-week fiscal year ended
January 30, 2010; to “Fiscal 2008” represent the results of the 52-week fiscal year ended January 31, 2009;
and to “Fiscal 2007” represent the results of the 52-week fiscal year ended February 2, 2008. In addition, all
references herein to “Fiscal 2010” represent the 52-week fiscal year that will end on January 29, 2011.
A&F makes available free of charge on its website, www.abercrombie.com, under “Investors, SEC
Filings”, its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and
amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as well as A&F’s definitive annual meeting proxy materials
filed pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after A&F electronically
files such material with, or furnishes it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The SEC
maintains a website that contains electronic filings at www.sec.gov. In addition, the public may read and copy
any materials A&F files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.
The Company has included its website addresses throughout this filing as textual references only. The
information contained within these websites is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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