Disclaimer 3 In addition to historical information, this document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which ascena and ANN operate and beliefs of and assumptions made by ascena management and ANN management, involve uncertainties that could significantly affect the financial results of ascena or ANN or the combined company. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the transaction involving ascena and ANN, including future financial and operating results, the combined company’s plans, objectives, ratings, expectations and intentions. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders, integrating ascena and ANN, providing stockholders with a more attractive currency, and the expected timetable for completing the proposed transaction — are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. For example, these forward-looking statements could be affected by factors including, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to consummate the merger and the timing of the closing of the merger; the ability to successfully integrate our operations and employees; the ability to realize anticipated benefits and synergies of the transaction; the potential impact of the announcement of the transaction or consummation of the transaction on relationships, including with employees, credit rating agencies, customers and competitors; the ability to retain key personnel; the ability to achieve performance targets; changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates; negative rating agency actions; and those additional risks and factors discussed in reports filed with the SEC by ascena and ANN from time to time, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in their respective most recently filed reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q. Neither ascena nor ANN undertakes any duty to update any forward-looking statements contained herein. The ascena financial information included herein has been adjusted to exclude certain one-time items such as acquisition-related, integration and restructuring expenses, accelerated depreciation of fixed assets and costs related to inventory purchase accounting adjustments arising from the acquisition of Charming Shoppes, Inc. ascena believes that all such expenses are not indicative of ascena’s underlying operating performance. In addition, this presentation makes reference to the financial performance measure of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted for the previously mentioned items (“Adjusted EBITDA”). ascena considers Adjusted EBITDA to be useful to investors because it believes that it is an important indicator of ascena’s operational strength. Reference is made to ascena’s Current Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 25, 2015 and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 26, 2014 for a full discussion on the use of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of adjusted, non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. |