Exhibit 99

LEVI                                1155 Battery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
STRAUSS
   & Co.
  NEWS

For Immediate Release                            Investor Contact: Eileen VanEss
                                                                  (415) 501-2477

                                                     Media Contact: Linda Butler
                                                                  (415) 501-6070

                    Levi Strauss & Co. to Pursue $350 Million
                        Private Placement of Senior Notes


SAN FRANCISCO  (September 29, 2000) - Levi Strauss & Co. today announced that it
is pursuing  through a private  placement the issuance of $350 million of senior
notes due 2007. The purpose of the offering is to reduce  commitments  under our
bank credit facilities.  Net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay a
portion of the  outstanding  debt under  these bank  facilities  and for general
corporate purposes.

The senior  notes will rank equally with all of the  company's  other  unsecured
senior indebtedness.

The senior notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may
not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.




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