Restructuring

6 Months Ended

Aug. 01, 2020

Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]

Restructuring

Restructuring

The Company remains committed to establishing Bath & Body Works as a pure-play public company and is taking the necessary steps to prepare Victoria's Secret to operate as a separate standalone company. Management of the Company is actively engaged in implementing a comprehensive profit improvement plan that will better position the Company to evaluate the next steps for the separation of the Victoria's Secret business. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company completed its comprehensive review of its home office organizations in order to achieve meaningful reductions in overhead expenses and decentralize significant shared functions and services to support the creation of standalone companies. This resulted in a reduction of the home office headcount by approximately 15%, or about 850 associates. Pre-tax severance and related costs associated with these reductions, totaling $81 million, are included in General, Administrative and Store Operating Expenses in the 2020 Consolidated Statements of Loss. Costs of $26 million and $5 million are recorded within the Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works segments, respectively, while the remaining $50 million is recorded within Other. As of August 1, 2020, a liability of $79 million related to these costs is included in Accrued Expenses and Other on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Victoria's Secret U.K.

The Company is actively working to reduce operating losses in the Victoria's Secret U.K. business. The Company entered into "Light Administration" in June to restructure store lease agreements and explore the sale of the business to a joint venture or franchise partner. The Company subsequently signed a non-binding term sheet with a major fashion retailer and is in an exclusive period of negotiation.