For this case, please refer to Appendix 1 for additional financial data for these three companies. 1. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (52-week fiscal year ended January 29, 2011; 52-week fiscal year ended January 30, 2010) "Abercrombie & Fitch Co (A&F), a company incorporated in Delaware in 1996, through its subsidiaries (collectively, A&F and its subsidiaries are referred to as Abercrombie & Fitch or the Company), is a specialty retailer that operates stores and directto-consumer operations." Source:Abercrombie &Fitch 2010 10-K 2. Limited Brands, Inc. (52-week fiscal year ended January 29, 2011; 52-week fiscal year ended January 30, 2010) "We operate in the highly competitive specialty retail business. Founded in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, we have evolved from an apparel-based specialty retailer to an approximately $10 billion segment leader focused on womens intimate and other apparel, beauty and personal care product categories that make customers feel sexy, sophisticated and forever young" Source: Limited Brands 2010 10-K 3. Gap, Inc. (52-week fiscal year ended January 29, 2011; 52-week fiscal year ended January 30, 2010) "The Gap, Inc. (the Company, we, and our) was incorporated in the State of California in July 1969 and was reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in May 1988. We are a global specialty retailer offering apparel, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, children, and babies under the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, and Athleta brands." Source: Gap Inc 2010 10-K Required a. For each of the three companies, calculate the following ratios for the year 2010 and 2011: (note : assume the years data as given is the average) (i) current ratio (ii) acid test ratio (iii) net profit margin (iv) accounts receivable turnover (v) accounts receivable turnover in days (vi) inventory turnover (vii) inventory turnover in days (viii) return on assets (ix) total asset turnover (x) return on investment (xi) return on total equity (xii) degree of financial leverage (xiii) diluted earnings per share (xiv) price/earnings ratio (market price AF 2011 $78.25, 2010 $48.36; LB 2011 $40.35, 2010 $28.92; Gap 2011 $25.71, 2010 $19.20) (xv) percentage of earnings retained (xvi) dividend payout (xvii) dividend yield (xviii) book value per share (xix) market price per share

b. Comment on each of the ratios in (a) for all three companies with respect to its liquidity, leverage, profitability and cash flow. [ marks]

c. How would you rank these companies in terms of liquidity, leverage, profitability and cash flow? [ marks] d. Comment on the cash flow items in the Cash Flow Statement with respect to (i) operating activities; (ii) investing activities; (iii) financing activities. [ marks] e. What are the possible explanations for A&F, Limited Brands and GAP to purchase a number of shares of their common stock? [ marks] f. For Limited Brands, there was a payment of $4.60 of dividends per share in 2011 but the dividends paid out in 2011 ($1,144m) is lower than that paid out in 2010 ($1,488m). What is the explanation for this drop in the total dividends paid out?

APPENDIX ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Thousands, except share and per share amounts) Net Sales Cost of Goods Sold GROSS PROFIT Stores and Distribution Expense Marketing, General and Administrative Expense Other Operating Expense (Income), Net OPERATING INCOME Interest Expense (Income), Net INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES Tax Expense from Continuing Operations NET INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, Net of Tax NET INCOME NET INCOME PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS: 2011 $4,158,058 1,639 188 2,518,870 1,888,248 437,120 2010 $3,468,777 1,256,596 2,212,181 1,589,501 400,804 (10,056 231,932 3,362 228,570 47 190,030 3,57Z 186,453 S 126862 127,658 150,283 BASIC DILUTED 46 1.42 1.67 NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS BASIC DILUTED NET INCOME PER SHARE: BASIC DILUTED 0.01 47 43 WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: BASIC DILUTED 86,848 88,061 89.851 DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) $(8,655) Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Gains (Losses) on Marketable Securities, net of taxes of taxes of $(5,526), $ 3,399 $366 and $(4,826) for Fiscal 2011, and Fiscal 2010 9,409 (622) Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments, net of taxes Of $(1,216, $188 and $265 for Fiscal 2011, and Fiscal 2010 12.217 12,971 $ 140,629 Other Comprehensive Income S2.457 $152,740 COMPREHENSIVE INCOME