Ann Taylor Announces March 2007 Sales Results

    NEW YORK, April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AnnTaylor Stores
 Corporation (NYSE:   ANN) today announced its sales results for the month of
 March 2007. For the five-week period ended April 7, 2007, net sales
 increased 14.8% to $243.9 million, compared with net sales of $212.5
 million for the five-week period ended April 1, 2006. By division, net
 sales for Ann Taylor were up 8.5% to $91.1 million in March 2007, compared
 with net sales of $84.0 million in March 2006. For Ann Taylor LOFT, net
 sales increased 11.1% to $116.9 million in March 2007, compared with net
 sales of $105.1 million in March 2006.
     Comparable store sales for the March 2007 period increased 6.1%, versus
 a comparable store sales gain of 0.8% in the March 2006 period. By
 division, comparable store sales increased 8.9% for Ann Taylor in the 2007
 period, compared with an increase of 5.7% the prior year. For Ann Taylor
 LOFT, comparable store sales increased 0.4% in March 2007, compared with a
 decrease of 2.6% the prior year.
     Commenting on the March sales results, Ann Taylor President & Chief
 Executive Officer Kay Krill stated, "March was a good month for the
 Company. Our results were helped by the warm weather in the beginning of
 the month and benefited somewhat by the earlier timing of Easter this year.
 Our Ann Taylor division continued to offer compelling, brand-appropriate
 product that resonated with our clients, with dresses, suits, woven and
 knit tops and accessories especially strong. As a result, the division was
 again successful in driving higher full-price selling throughout the month.
 Our LOFT division posted somewhat stronger March results than we had
 expected, driven by dresses, knit tops, casual separates and shoes, with
 fashion silhouettes in sweaters and pants still challenging. We expect to
 see gradual improvement in LOFT's product offering over the course of the
 next several months."
     The Company indicated that it expects its April performance to be
 somewhat negatively impacted by the timing shift of Easter, which benefited
 the month of April last year versus the month of March this year.
     About Ann Taylor
     Ann Taylor is one of the country's leading women's specialty retailers,
 operating 869 stores in 46 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto
 Rico, and Online Stores at www.anntaylor.com and www.anntaylorLOFT.com as
 of February 3, 2007.
                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
     Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements
 made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
 Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements may use the
 words "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "project", "may", "believe"
 and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements also include
 representations of the expectations or beliefs of the Company concerning
 future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including:
     -- the Company's ability to predict accurately client fashion preferences;
     -- competitive influences and decline in the demand for merchandise
        offered by the Company;
     -- the Company's ability to successfully execute brand extensions and new
        concepts;
     -- effectiveness of the Company's brand awareness and marketing programs;
     -- the Company's ability to secure and protect trademarks and other
        intellectual property rights in the United States and/or foreign
        countries;
     -- general economic conditions, including the impact of higher fuel and
        energy prices, interest rates, a downturn in the retail industry or
        changes in levels of store traffic;
     -- fluctuation in the Company's level of sales and earnings growth;
     -- the Company's ability to locate new store sites or negotiate favorable
        lease terms for additional stores or for the lease renewal or expansion
        of existing stores;
     -- risks associated with the performance and operations of the Company's
        Internet operations;
     -- a significant change in the regulatory environment applicable to the
        Company's business;
     -- risks associated with the possible inability of the Company,
        particularly through its sourcing and logistics functions, to operate
        within production and delivery constraints and the Company's dependence
        on a single distribution facility;
     -- the uncertainties of sourcing associated with the current quota
        environment, including changes in sourcing patterns resulting from the
        elimination of quota on apparel products and the re-imposition of
        quotas in certain categories, and other possible trade law or import
        restrictions;
     -- financial or political instability in any of the countries in which the
        Company's goods are manufactured;
     -- the potential impact of natural disasters and public health concerns,
        particularly on the Company's foreign sourcing offices and
        manufacturing operations of the Company's vendors;
     -- acts of war or terrorism in the United States or worldwide;
     -- work stoppages, slowdowns or strikes;
     -- the Company's ability to hire, retain and train key personnel;
     -- the Company's ability to successfully upgrade and maintain its
        information systems, including adequate system security controls;
     -- the Company's ability to continue operations in accordance with its
        business continuity plan in the event of an interruption; and
     -- the impact of the Company's Ann Taylor Factory business strategy.
     Further description of these risks and uncertainties and other
 important factors are set forth in the Company's latest Annual Report on
 Form 10-K, including but not limited to Item 1A - Risk Factors and Item 7 -
 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
 Operations therein, and in the Company's other filings with the SEC.
 Although these forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current
 expectations concerning future events, actual results may differ materially
 from current expectations or historical results. The Company does not
 assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
 statements at any time for any reason.
 
 

SOURCE Ann Taylor