Benetton Upholds the Death Row Campaign; Letters of regret will be sent to victim's families.

Business Editors

PONZANO, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 18, 2001

Benetton Group expresses its regret for any renewed pain caused to victims families but does not intend to go back on the campaign which it created, financed and fully supported.

The aim of the campaign was to contribute to the debate about the Death Penalty, which continues throughout the world, including the USA.

Letters will be sent to the families of victims of four Missouri inmates in which the company expresses its regret for any renewed pain the campaign may have caused them.

The agreement with the State of Missouri, in addition to the letters, provides for a donation of USD 50,000 to the Missouri Crime Victims' Fund.

This agreement has resolved the lawsuit brought against Benetton Group SpA, its US subsidiary, and the four people who worked on the project (Oliviero Toscani, Kenneth Schulman, Thomas H (Speedy) Rice and Julie Wasson), accused of misrepresenting the purpose of the interviews with the inmates and of making false claims to state officials in order to gain access to the correctional center.

Benetton Group accepted this transaction, which in no way indicates the company's guilt, with the aim of putting an end to a legal action which could only have led to escalating legal costs.