May Department Stores Company
Industry: Retail (Department & Discount)

May Department Stores Company May Department Stores Company operates six regional department store divisions nationwide under 11 long-standing trade names. Each department store division holds a market position in its region.

Business Summary
The May Department Stores Company (May) operates seven department store divisions under 12 trade names in the United States. The seven department store divisions are Lord & Taylor, Marshall Field's, Filene's and Kaufmann's, Robinsons-May and Meier & Frank, Hecht's and Strawbridge's, Foley's, Famous-Barr, L.S. Ayres, and The Jones Store. During the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005 (fiscal 2004), May operated 491 department stores in 39 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, the Company has a Bridal Group, which is comprised of David's Bridal, Inc., After Hours Formalwear, Inc. and Priscilla of Boston, Inc. In fiscal 2004, the Bridal Group operated 239 David's Bridal stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico, 449 After Hours Formalwear stores in 31 states and 11 Priscilla of Boston stores in nine states. May also indirectly wholly owns May Merchandising Company (MMC) and wholly owns May Department Stores International, Inc. (MDSI).

Financial Summary
The May Department Stores Company operates regional department store companies nationwide with a total of 443 department stores in 37 states and the District of Columbia. For the 26 weeks ended 7/30/05, revenues increased 15% to $6.82B. Net income applicable to Common decreased 47% to $93M. Revenues benefitted from an increase in same-store sales. Net income was offset by an increase in interest expenses.