Lowe’s announced the company is on track in regard to its expansion into Canada, with the opening of its first stores in the Greater Toronto Area planned for the second half of 2007.

“Today, we’re breaking ground on our first location in Hamilton, have identified additional locations in Brantford, South Brampton and Toronto and have another nine locations approved through our real estate committee process,” said Doug Robinson, president of Lowe’s Canada during a media briefing at the company’s Toronto offices this morning. “We have begun the search for potential store employees with home improvement know-how and a passion for customer service.”

The initial stores are projected to open in the second half of 2007, each creating up to 175 jobs. Each store represents an average investment of $20.5 million ($18.5 million USD).

Lowe’s has contracted with Canadian distribution expert Assured Logistics (a subsidiary of Progistix-Solutions, Inc.) to provide distribution and fulfillment services to help support the launch and growth of Lowe’s Canadian retail operations. The company is also beginning the review process for vendors. Vendors and potential employees interested in working with Lowe’s may visit www.Lowes.ca for more information.

Additional members of Lowe’s Canada executive management team include: Lori Digulla, vice president of supply chain; Alan Huggins, vice president of store operations; Ben Mauceri, vice president of merchandising; Uwe Stueckmann, vice president of marketing; Stephen Taylor, vice president of merchandising and store support; and Catherine Townsend, vice president of human resources.

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Statements of the company’s expectations for sales growth, comparable store sales, earnings and performance, capital expenditures, store openings, demand for services, and any statement of an assumption underlying any of the foregoing, constitute “forward-looking statements” under the Act. Although the company believes that the expectations, opinions, projections, and comments reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. A wide-variety of potential risks, uncertainties, and other factors could materially affect our ability to achieve the results expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, changes in general economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency fluctuations, fuel and other energy costs, slower growth in personal income and other factors which can negatively affect our customers as well as our ability to: (i) respond to decreases in the number of new housing starts and the level of repairs, remodeling, and additions to existing homes, as well as general reduction in commercial building activity; (ii) secure, develop, and otherwise implement new technologies and processes designed to enhance our efficiency and competitiveness; (iii) attract, train, and retain highly-qualified associates; (iv) locate, secure, and develop new sites for store development; (v) respond to fluctuations in the prices and availability of services, supplies, and products; (vi) respond to the growth and impact of competition; (vii) address legal and regulatory matters; and (viii) respond to unanticipated weather conditions. For more information about these and other risks and uncertainties that we are exposed to, you should read the “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the descriptions of any material changes in those “Risk Factors” included in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date of this release and the company does not assume any obligation to update any such statements.

With fiscal year 2005 sales of $43.2 billion (USD), Lowe’s Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE® 50 company that serves approximately 12 million customers a week at more than 1,275 home improvement stores in 49 states. Based in Mooresville, N.C., the 60-year old company is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.