On August 2, 2021, L Brands completed a tax-free spin-off of its Victoria’s Secret business (including Victoria’s Secret Lingerie, PINK, and Victoria’s Secret Beauty) into an independent public company called Victoria’s Secret & Co. (NYSE: VSCO). The remaining entity was renamed Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE: BBWI), and the L Brands name was retired. Bath & Body Works, Inc. is considered the legal successor.
Historical brands/companies associated with L Brands (formerly Limited Brands / The Limited)At its peak and over time, L Brands (or its predecessors) owned or operated:
- Victoria’s Secret and PINK (spun off in 2021 as Victoria’s Secret & Co.)
- Bath & Body Works (plus related names like White Barn, C.O. Bigelow; retained by the successor company)
- The Limited (majority sold 2007; remaining stake later sold)
- Express (majority stake sold 2007)
- Abercrombie & Fitch (acquired 1988; spun off 1996)
- Lane Bryant (acquired 1982; later sold)
- Henri Bendel (closed 2019)
- La Senza (sold ~2018–2019)
- Others that were spun off, sold, or discontinued earlier: Lerner New York / New York & Company, Limited Too (later Justice), Structure, Galyan’s, Aura Science, etc.
Today, the main consumer-facing brands that came from L Brands operate as two separate public companies: Victoria’s Secret & Co. and Bath & Body Works, Inc.
