The Home Depot, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that was incorporated in 1978. The Company and its subsidiaries operate The Home Depot stores, which are full-service, warehouse-style stores averaging approximately 105,000 square feet in size. The stores stock approximately 30,000 to 40,000 different kinds of building materials, home improvement supplies and lawn and garden products that are sold to do-it-yourself customers, do-it-for-me customers, home improvement contractors, tradespeople and building maintenance professionals. At the end of fiscal 2008, the Company was operating 2,274 stores, which included 1,971 The Home Depot stores, 34 EXPO stores, five Yardbirds stores and two THD Design Center stores in the United States, including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, 176 The Home Depot stores in Canada, 74 The Home Depot stores in Mexico and 12 The Home Depot stores in China. On January 26, 2009, the Company announced plans to close the EXPO, THD Design Center and Yardbirds stores as part of its focus on its core business. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Homer TLC, Inc., the Company has registered or applied for registration, in a number of countries, for a variety of internet domain names, service marks and trademarks for use in its businesses, including The Home Depot(r) Hampton Bay(r) fans, lighting and accessories Glacier Bay(r) toilets, sinks and faucets Pegasus(r) faucets and bath accessories and Workforce(r) tools, tool boxes and shelving. The Company’s business is highly competitive, based in part on price, store location, customer service and assortment of merchandise. With respect to some products, the Company competes with discount stores, local, regional and national hardware stores, mail order firms, warehouse clubs, independent building supply stores and, to a lesser extent, other retailers. The Company is committed to conducting business in an environmentally responsible manner and this commitment impacts all areas of its business, including store construction and maintenance, energy usage, product selection and customer education.