Best Buy Disaster Relief - Update: September 8, 2005.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY):

Employee recovery-relief

--Best Buy has accounted for the majority of its 1,273 displaced employees. Managers are still working to connect with a handful of employees, including individual searches of shelters.

--Employees who remain displaced are asked to call the employee hotline, [phone].

--Temporary shelters, provided by Best Buy, are available for employees and their families, including food and necessities.

--All displaced employees are being provided with temporary housing through Best Buy.

--All employees will be paid for as long as the crisis persists, which will be monitored.

--Employees who need cash are receiving cash advances from Best Buy.

--Employees who want to work, but whose home stores are currently closed, are being welcomed to work at Best Buy stores throughout the U.S.

--Counseling is being offered to all employees through our employee assistance program.

--A Web site and employee hotline have been established for store employees and their families to consult for current information.

Customer/community relief efforts

--Best Buy has expanded its matching program for customer donations to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund in support of victims of Hurricane Katrina. Since launching the match program Sept. 1, customers of Best Buy donated nearly $1 million in six days through the registers at more than 690 Best Buy stores across the nation alone. The public can donate at any U.S. Best Buy store register in any dollar amount, or online at www.BestBuy.com; no purchase is necessary. Donations will be accepted through September 30. The Best Buy Children's Foundation will match donations up to $2 million.

--Job fairs are taking place the week of Sept. 12 at Best Buy stores in Spanish Fort, Ala., Mobile, Ala., Lafayette, La., and Baton Rouge, La. for displaced survivors of the hurricane.

--In-store "computer banks" provide free internet access to community members who need to file insurance claims, register with FEMA and the Red Cross, and reach loved ones. Each bank provides roughly five computers with Web access. Two stores currently offer the banks - Lafayette, La. and Baton Rouge, La. The company hopes to open additional computer banks as other stores reopen and are equipped to provide the service.

--A FEMA shelter in Cajun Dome, La. received eight laptop computers with wireless network connectivity and Internet access from Best Buy for use by its evacuees who need to file insurance claims and reach loved ones.

--Ten laptop computers were donated from the Baton Rouge, La. store to the American Red Cross.

--Best Buy is offering two financing options for in-store purchases: 1) no interest, no payments for 12 months on purchases $299 and up; and 2) no interest, with payments, for 24 months on purchases less than $299. There is no minimum purchase required to qualify.

--The Best Buy credit card program, managed by HBSC, is temporarily suspending late fees, finance charges, penalty rates, and NSF fees for customers in FEMA-designated disaster areas. Additionally, mailings, collection activities, and solicitations are being temporarily suspended. Customers need to call the customer service number (800-365-0292) to determine if suspensions are applicable for their accounts.

Store status

--As of September 8, the following Best Buy stores remain closed: Harvey, La., Slidell, La., Metairie, La., Covington, La., Hattiesburg, Miss., and Houma, La.