May 17, 2004

Contacts:

Kmart Media Relations (248) 463-1021

For Immediate Release

KMART HOLDING CORPORATION REPORTS NET INCOME OF $93 MILLION FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF FISCAL 2004 TROY, MICHIGAN, May 17, 2004 -- Kmart Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: KMRT) today reported financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2004. For the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2004, Kmart Holding Corporation (Kmart or the Successor Company) reported net income of $93 million, or $0.94 per diluted share. Kmart Corporation (the Predecessor Company) reported a net loss of $862 million for the same period in 2003.1 Operating income for the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2004 was $165 million, or 3.6% of sales, as compared to a loss of $39 million, or negative 0.6% of sales, for the same period in 2003. The improvement was primarily due to the decrease in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses and the improvement in gross margin rate, as noted below, partially offset by an overall decline in gross margin dollars due to a reduced store base. Operating income was also impacted by net gains on sales of assets of $32 million in the current quarter, and restructuring, impairment and other charges of $37 million in the same period in 2003. Same-store sales and total sales decreased 12.9% and 25.3%, respectively, for the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2004, compared to the 13 weeks ended April 30, 2003. Julian C. Day, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kmart, said: "We are delighted with the progress we’ve made in our business. For the fourth consecutive fiscal quarter, we have reported improved year-over-year profitability and liquidity through our consistent approach of focusing on profitable sales with an improved gross margin rate, reducing operating costs through operational execution, and working to improve the productivity of our assets. These initiatives, together with a renewed focus on communicating the benefits of the Kmart shopping experience to our customers, will continue to characterize our approach going forward." Day added: "Our focus on the productivity of our asset base, exemplified by the diligent management of our inventories which ended the quarter at $3.4 billion, a reduction of over 23% from the prior year, has been a primary element of our improved liquidity position. We apply similar rigor to managing the productivity of our capital assets, focusing on the need to allocate those assets to their best use. Given our success, Kmart today is a financially strong company." As of April 28, 2004, Kmart had approximately $2.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents. Same-store sales include sales of all open stores that have been open for more than 13 full months. The decrease in same-store sales is due primarily to several Company-wide promotional events that occurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2003 along with a reduction in advertising, including the frequency of mid-week circulars in the current year. The decrease in total sales is attributable to the decrease in same-store sales and the closure of 316 stores in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. Gross margin decreased $282 million to $1.14 billion, for the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2004, from $1.42 billion for the 13 weeks ended April 30, 2003. Gross margin, as a percentage of sales, increased to 24.6% for the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2004, from 23.0% for the comparable period a year ago. Favorably affecting the gross margin rate were fewer clearance markdowns and reduced depreciation expense as a result of the write-off of long-lived assets in conjunction with the application of Fresh-Start accounting. SG&A expenses decreased $417 million to $1.0 billion, or 21.8% of sales for the 13 weeks ended April 28, 2004, from $1.42 billion, or 23.0% of sales, for the 13 weeks ended April 30, 2003. The decrease in SG&A resulted from reduced payroll and related expenses in stores during the current quarter, as well as the impact of store closings and the corporate cost reduction initiatives implemented in the first quarter of fiscal 2003. Also impacting the decline was a reduction in advertising expenses and lower depreciation as a result of the write-off of long-lived assets in conjunction with the application of Fresh-Start accounting. Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Information Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA (Year-to-date earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, net gains on sales of assets, bankruptcy-related recoveries and certain other items) is a non-GAAP financial measure. Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA is not the same as EBITDA defined in Kmart’s credit facility. Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA is a Company-defined metric used solely by Kmart’s management for the administration of the Company’s incentive compensation program for eligible employees. Year-to-date Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure or indicator of the overall financial condition or performance of Kmart and should not be used by investors as a basis for formulating investment decisions as it excludes a number of important cash and non-cash recurring items. Management compensates for this limitation by using GAAP measures, as well, in managing the business.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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Footnote 1: Upon emergence from bankruptcy on May 6, 2003, Kmart Corporation (Predecessor Company) applied the provisions of Fresh-Start accounting effective as of April 30, 2003, at which time a new reporting entity, Kmart Holding Corporation (Kmart), was created. As a result of applying Fresh-Start accounting, the reported historical financial statements of the Predecessor Company for periods ended prior to May 1, 2003 generally are not comparable to those of Kmart. Therefore, comparisons of earnings per share data are not included herein. As referenced within this news release, results of operations for the period ended April 30, 2003, refer to the Predecessor Company. About Kmart Holding Corporation Kmart Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: KMRT) and its subsidiaries (together, “Kmart”) is a mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Thalia Sodi, Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Kathy Ireland, Martha Stewart Everyday, Route 66 and Sesame Street. Kmart operates more than 1,500 stores in 49 states. For more information visit the Company’s website at www.kmart.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Matters Statements or reports made by or on behalf of Kmart which address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate may occur in the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect, when made, Kmart’s current views with respect to current events and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate and involve risks, uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any anticipated future results, express or implied, by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, factors relating to Kmart’s internal operations and the external environment in which it operates; Kmart’s ability to successfully implement business strategies and otherwise fund and execute planned changes in various aspects of the business; marketplace demand for the products of Kmart’s key brand partners, as well as the engagement of appropriate new brand partners; changes in consumer spending and Kmart’s ability to anticipate buying patterns and implement appropriate inventory strategies; Kmart’s ability to reverse its negative same-store sales trend; competitive pressures and other third party actions, including pressures from pricing and other promotional activities of competitors, as well as new competitive store openings; the resolution of allowed claims for which Kmart is obligated to pay cash under the Plan of Reorganization; Kmart’s ability to properly monitor its inventory needs in order to timely acquire desired goods in appropriate quantities and/or fulfill labor needs at planned costs; Kmart’s ability to attract and retain customers; Kmart’s ability to maintain normal terms with vendors and service providers; Kmart’s ability to maintain contracts, including leases, that are critical to its operations; Kmart’s ability to develop a market niche; regulatory and legal developments; general economic conditions; weather conditions, including those which affect buying patterns of Kmart’s customers; other factors affecting business beyond Kmart’s control; Kmart’s ability to attract, motivate and/or retain key executives and associates; and other risks detailed in Kmart’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Kmart undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date such statements were made.