[B] FULL: Sears, Roebuck domestic Dec same-store sales down 1.1% Updated Thu 1/4/2001 10:58 EST --Sears, Roebuck to close 89 under-performing stores in Q1 --Sears, Roebuck to take $150 mln charge in Q4 on closures --Sears, Roebuck to take $115 mln asset impairment charge in Q4 --Sears mulls options for Termite and Pest control ops --Sears December domestic store revs $4.42 bln vs $4.43 bln By BridgeNews New York--Jan 4--Sears, Roebuck & Co. will close down 89 under-performing stores in the first quarter, and evaluate strategic options for termite and pest control operations. The company's December same-store sales fell 1.1% while its December domestic store revenues fell to $4.42 billion from $4.43 billion a year ago. The company said industry softness and difficult weather conditions dampened its holiday season sales. --Joby P. Johnson, BridgeNews * * * The following is the text of today's announcement, with emphasis added by BridgeNews. BridgeStation links to company data have been inserted at the end: Sears December Comparable Sales Decline 1.1 Percent /FROM PR NEWSWIRE CHICAGO 888-776-6551/ TO BUSINESS AND RETAILING EDITORS: Sears December Comparable Sales Decline 1.1 Percent Company Announces Fourth Quarter Charge HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO. (NYSE: S) ANNOUNCED TOTAL DOMESTIC STORE REVENUES FOR THE FIVE WEEKS ENDING DECEMBER 30, 2000 WERE $4.42 BILLION. COMPARABLE DOMESTIC STORE REVENUES DECREASED 1.1 PERCENT. TOTAL DOMESTIC STORE REVENUES DECREASED 0.1 PERCENT COMPARED TO $4.43 BILLION FOR THE FIVE WEEKS ENDING JANUARY 1, 2000. "LIKE OTHER RETAILERS, GENERAL INDUSTRY SOFTNESS AND DIFFICULT WEATHER CONDITIONS DAMPENED OUR HOLIDAY SEASON SALES," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alan J. Lacy. "Despite the challenging environment, we posted solid sales in a number of leadership categories. In hardlines, appliances posted solid gains, while sporting goods and lawn and garden generated strong increases. Footwear and home fashions also performed well. Off the mall, we were very pleased with the results posted by Sears Tire Group and The Great Indoors, which both showed double-digit increases." Sears, Roebuck and Co. 5 Weeks 48 Weeks 2000 Domestic Store Revenues* $4,422,300,000 $28,190,400,000 1999 Domestic Store Revenues* 4,426,100,000 27,196,800,000 Percent Change (0.1)% 3.7% Comparable Domestic Stores Percent Change (1.1)% 2.4% 2000 Total Revenues* $5,612,100,000 $38,134,100,000 1999 Total Revenues* 5,587,600,000 36,807,700,000 Percent Change 0.4% 3.6% * Revenue amounts for both 1999 and 2000 reflect the implementation of the SEC staff accounting bulletin (SAB No. 101) for licensed business revenue. Company Records Fourth Quarter Charges for Store Closures and Asset Impairment THE COMPANY ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT IT HAD INITIATED THE CLOSING OF 89 UNDER-PERFORMING STORES, INCLUDING 53 NTB STORES, 30 HARDWARE STORES AND 4 FULL-LINE STORES (2 INCLUDE SEARS AUTO CENTERS). THE STORE CLOSINGS WERE ANNOUNCED TO AFFECTED ASSOCIATES ON DECEMBER 29, 2000. THE COMPANY PLANS TO COMPLETE THE CLOSINGS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2001. FOURTH QUARTER 2000 RESULTS WILL INCLUDE A NON-RECURRING PRE-TAX CHARGE OF APPROXIMATELY $150 MILLION ($100 MILLION AFTER TAX) RELATED TO ASSET WRITE-DOWNS, SEVERANCE AND OTHER EXIT COSTS. FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS WILL ALSO INCLUDE A ONE-TIME PRE-TAX CHARGE OF APPROXIMATELY $115 MILLION ($100 MILLION AFTER TAX) RELATED TO SEARS TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL. DUE TO ONGOING AND ANTICIPATED FUTURE LOSSES, A LONG-TERM ASSET IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE IS BEING RECOGNIZED IN FISCAL 2000. THE IMPAIRMENT EXPENSE PRIMARILY REPRESENTS A NON-CASH CHARGE FOR GOODWILL. "Our actions reflect our heightened focus on productivity and returns. We will continue to identify opportunities to more effectively deploy resources and enhance overall company profitability," said Lacy. "By closing under-performing NTB and hardware stores we will enhance the profitability of Sears off-the mall businesses. SEARS TERMITE AND PEST CONTROL IS A NON-CORE BUSINESS FOR SEARS, AND WE ARE EVALUATING STRATEGIC OPTIONS FOR THIS BUSINESS." Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking and as such involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. The company's forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including competitive conditions in the retail industry, changes in consumer confidence and spending, general United States economic conditions such as higher interest rates and normal business uncertainty. The company intends its forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of such statements, and does not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available. Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenue of nearly $40 billion. The company serves families across the country through approximately 860 full-line department stores, approximately 2,100 specialized retail locations, and a variety of online offerings accessible through the company's Web site, www.sears.com . The company makes available by phone a recorded message on sales performance of its domestic stores. The message is updated weekly and can be heard by calling 847-286-6111. SOURCE Sears, Roebuck & Co. CONTACT: Peggy A. Palter of Sears, Roebuck & Co., 847-286-8361 Copyright 2001 Bridge Information Systems Inc. All rights reserved.

-- kevin (ktross@mailcity.com), January 04, 2001