OTHER NEWS - April 9, 1996

Home Depot to Add Stores: The Atlanta-based retailer plans to open 29 stores in the Northeast, 25 in the Southeast, 14 in the West, 17 in the Midwest and five in Canada by the end of its fiscal year in January, according to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Home Depot operates 423 stores in 31 states, with half of those stores in California, Georgia, Texas and Florida. Although most of the company’s expansion will take place in the Northeast this year, its future growth lies in the Midwest, spokesman Jerry Shields said. In the year ended Jan. 28, Home Depot opened 83 stores, including 20 in the Northeast, 22 in the Southeast, 16 in the Midwest and 16 in the West. Since 1990, the company has increased its store count by an average of 24% a year.