The May Department Stores Company Credits $53 Million to 52,000 Associates Nationwide in Profit Sharing Plan; Matches 91% of Eli

The May Department Stores Company Credits $53 Million to 52,000 Associates
Nationwide in Profit Sharing Plan; Matches 91% of Eligible Associate
Contributions 


ST. LOUIS, March 10  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The May Department Stores Company
, one of the country's leading department store retailers, today announced it is
crediting $53 million through its Profit Sharing Plan to the 52,000 associates
who participate in the plan nationwide.

The effective matching rate is 91% of associates' $57 million in matchable
contributions for 2003.  May associates contributed a total of $94 million to
the plan in 2003.

"We are genuinely pleased to provide such a substantial profit sharing match for
our associates," said Gene Kahn, chairman and chief executive officer. "Their
accomplishments during 2003 were remarkable, and we are excited to acknowledge
their efforts, enthusiasm, and professionalism with this sizable matching
contribution to their profit sharing accounts."

The effective matching rate is determined by the earnings performance of the
company and the price of May stock.  For 2003, May associate accounts in the
Profit Sharing Plan are being credited with company stock valued at 91 cents for
every dollar of personal contributions up to 5 percentof pay.

The Profit Sharing Plan is an important part of May's overall retirement
program.  It provides an opportunity for associates to share in the company's
earnings and offers several investment options for their contributions.  The
company has offered a Profit Sharing Plan for 35 consecutive years.  In
addition, May's Retirement Plan features a company-paid pension benefit which,
along with Social Security, provides a basic level of financial security during
retirement.

The May Department Stores Company currently operates 442 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,460 After Hours Formalwear stores, and 10
Priscilla of Boston stores in its Bridal Group.  May operates in 46 states, the
District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

For more information, contact Sharon Bateman at 314-342-6494. 

DATASOURCE: The May Department Stores Company



CONTACT:  Sharon Bateman for The May Department Stores Company,

[phone]

Copyright