Fitch to Host Teleconference on U.S. Homebuilding & Construction, March 5.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 4, 2003

Fitch Ratings will host a teleconference on tomorrow, March 5 at 11:00 a.m. EST to discuss its credit outlook for U.S. homebuilding and construction as well as to review the financials and operating performance of companies that have reported their earnings. Specifically, the topics to be discussed are: industry credit profiles, expansion activity, including acquisitions, as well as an assessment of industry prospects for the remainder of 2003.

Fitch analyst Robert Curran will host the call. Janet Fisher, who covers the homebuilding and construction for the European market, will also be available on the call for the question and answer session that will follow immediately after the teleconference.

Participants should call 877/897-0442 and international participants should dial 706/643-7396. All participants should dial in five minutes prior to the 11:00 a.m. EST start time and give the title of the call 'Fitch' or the passcode '11809'. The call leader is Robert Curran.

Interested parties who are not available for the teleconference will be able to hear a replay of the call starting on March 5, at 3:00 p.m. EST  until March 7. Domestic participants should dial 800/642-1687 and international listeners should dial 706/645-9291 and use the access code 11809.