Fitch Teleconference: U.S. Consumer Finance, May 14, 10 a.m. EDT.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2003

Fitch Ratings will hold a teleconference on Wednesday May 14 at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to discuss the outlook for U.S. consumer finance companies.

During the teleconference, analysts Christopher Wolfe and John Olert will elaborate on the Negative Outlook Fitch currently maintains for these companies as well as the sectors that they represent, including auto, credit card and residential mortgage. The teleconference also will detail the capital structure of and alternative financing options available to these consumer finance companies.

Participants should call 1-877-897-0442 and international participants should dial 1-706-643-7396. All participants should dial in ten minutes prior to 10 a.m. EST. Interested parties who are not available for the teleconference will be able to hear a replay of the call starting at 5:00 p.m. EST  the day of the teleconference and running until May 21, 2003. Domestic listeners should dial 1-800-642-1687 and international listeners should dial 1-706-645-9291. All callers seeking the replay should quote the access number '442865'.

Additionally, a replay of the teleconference will be archived on the Fitch Ratings web site for three months. Interested parties can find the appropriate link at the 'Company Events & Online Media' link, which is located under the heading 'About Fitch' at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

The report 'U.S. Consumer Finance: A Light at the End of the Rating Tunnel in 2003' is available on the Fitch Ratings web site at 'www.fitchratings.com' by linking to the 'Finance & Leasing Companies' sector and then clicking on 'Special Reports'.