The May Department Stores Company Announces Purchase of Gingiss Formalwear

The May Department Stores Company Announces Purchase of Gingiss Formalwear 


ST. LOUIS, Dec. 29  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The May Department Stores Company 
today announced the purchase of certain assets of the Gingiss Group in a cash
transaction.  May is acquiring 125 company-owned Gingiss Formalwear and Gary's
Tux Shop stores and two Gingiss Group service centers located in Addison, Ill.,
and Van Nuys, Calif.

Gingiss is a leading national tuxedo rental and sales retailer, based in
Addison, Ill.  May will operate the Gingiss and Gary's Tux stores as part of its
Bridal Group, which includes David's Bridal, Priscilla of Boston and After Hours
Formalwear.

"We are pleased that Gingiss is joining our growing national network of Bridal
Group businesses and will help contribute to May's pursuit of younger
customers," said Gene Kahn, May's chairman and chief executive officer. "May's
bridal business has great synergy.  The links between our Bridal Group
businesses and our department stores' wedding registries are critical to our
strategy of attracting young-adult customers to our department stores and
especially to our home stores."

Robert Huth, head of May's Bridal Group and president and chief executive
officer of David's Bridal, said, "We continue to make strategic acquisitions
that expand our national presence.  Acquiring Gingiss further enhances our
ability to serve engaged couples by creating a premier chain of tuxedo stores
which will complement David's Bridal."

During 2003, May acquired 225 tuxedo stores, including 125 Gingiss Formalwear
and Gary's Tux Shop stores, 25 Modern Tuxedo stores, and 64 Desmonds Formalwear
stores.  In addition, May's Bridal Group has opened 30 David's Bridal stores and
nine After Hours Formalwear stores to date this year.

The May Department Stores Company now will operate 448 department stores under
the names of Lord & Taylor, Famous-Barr, Filene's, Foley's, Hecht's, Kaufmann's,
L.S. Ayres, Meier & Frank, Robinsons-May, Strawbridge's, and The Jones Store, as
well as 210 David's Bridal stores, 462 After Hours Formalwear stores, and 10
Priscilla of Boston stores.  May operates in 46 states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 

DATASOURCE: May Department Stores Company



CONTACT:  Sharon Bateman of May Department Stores Company,

[phone] 

Copyright