Autogrill: net income six times up on 2002, net debt decreases

Milan, 26 March 2004 - At a meeting today chaired by Gilberto Benetton, the Autogrill S.p.A. Board of Directors approved the draft 2003 consolidated and parent company financial statements (*), which will be presented for the approval of the Shareholders at a meeting on April 27 (first call) and May 4 (second call).
“It gives me great satisfaction to present another successful Annual Report for a year marked by a difficult economic climate, and a change in leadership,” commented Autogrill Chairman Gilberto Benetton. “The company’s excellent competitiveness is providing a solid footing for its concessions portfolio in all the countries in which it operates and competes. The management is fully aware of the need to guarantee continuity in responding to these challenges, even in the event, in the interests of Autogrill, of a change in ownership, which today is only a working hypothesis.”