COMPANY NEWS Of 12/06/2000 On occasion of the beginning of the summer season fire prevention campaign, the annual press conference was held today in Sorem’s hangar by Prof. Franco Barberi, President of the Italian Civil Protection Agency. With great satisfaction, Prof. Barberi confirmed that 1999 brought the highest results of the last years with a substantial improvement of effectiveness in fire intervention. In particular, the CANADAIR® CL 415 aircrafts managed and employed by Sorem have given a substantial contribution: of 16,180 water launches over fire 80% have been performed by Sorem’s pilots with excellent result with a cost saving of about 33% less than the previous year. The cost-per-ton of water dropped by the aircrafts resulted as the lowest of all the aerial means employed by the Civil Protection. After the Benediction Ceremony of the new aircrafts that arrived from Canada, the fleet, which is now composed of 13 CANADAIR® CL 415 (of which 10 ready for fire attack and 3 in logistic reserve) from June 19th will be re-arranged for the summer season throughout the bases of Genova, Pisa, Olbia, Roma, Reggio Calabria and Trapani. (SOREM)