Press Release Details

AutoNation Inc. Added to S&P 500 Index

Feb 19, 2003
NEW YORK, Feb 19, 2003 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- AutoNation Inc. (NYSE: AN) will replace Rational Software Corp. (Nasdaq: RATL) in the S&P 500 Index after the close of trading on a date to be announced. S&P 500 component International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE: IBM) is acquiring Rational Software. The transaction is still subject to European Union approval.

    Following is a summary of the announced change:

                                  S&P 500 INDEX -- TBA
             COMPANY              GICS ECONOMIC SECTOR    GICS SUB-INDUSTRY

    ADDED    AutoNation Inc.     Consumer Discretionary   Specialty Stores

    DELETED  Rational Software   Information Technology   Application Software
AutoNation is an automotive dealer which also offers vehicle maintenance and repair services, vehicle parts, extended service contracts and insurance products. The company, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, will be added to the S&P 500 GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) Specialty Stores sub-industry.

Company additions to and deletions from an S&P equity index do not in any way reflect an opinion on the investment merits of the company.

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SOURCE AutoNation Inc.

CONTACT: David Blitzer, Managing Director, Quantitative Services, +1-212-438-3907, or Carol Levine, Communications Manager, +1-212-438-3534, sp_global@standardandpoors.com, both of Standard & Poor's, for AutoNation Inc.

URL: http://www.standardandpoors.com
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