Lagardère SCA Reports Increase in Sales for First Quarter 1999 : + 1.5%

Lagardère reported consolidated sales for the first quarter of 1999 of 2,348 million Euros (FF 15,401 million), an increase of 1.5% over first quarter 1998 sales of 2,312 million Euros (FF 15,168 million). Excluding changes in Group’s structure and the effects of exchange rates, the increase amounted to 0.4 %.

These figures include the sales of Matra Hautes Technologies and do not take into account the transfer of that business to Aerospatiale, a transaction that was approved by Lagardère’s shareholders on May 6, 1999.

_{* Excluding changes in the group’s structure and effects of exchange rate fluctuations.}

(1) Note

: Matra Transport International’s sales amounted to FF 93 million as of March 31, 1998. This figure is shown
in “other activities”. Matra Transport International was sold in 1998.

• The previously announced decrease in High Technologies’ sales resulted from the full completion on complete delivery by end of 1998 of an important export contract in the Defense division. Strong progress made on the METOP contract (Meteorology satellite) resulted in a significant increase in sales in the Space division, while the Telecommunications-CAO/CFAO division improved more moderately.

• The Automobile business posted moderate sales increases, building on the considerable growth experienced in the first quarter of 1998 and confirming the commercial success of the Espace minivan.

• Strong sales in the Communication/Media sector resulted from higher contributions from all divisions, with the most significant gains coming from the Audivisual and Multimedia/Grolier divisions. The main changes in group’s structure in the first quarter of 1999 include the purchase of the Japanese and Italian magazine publishing companies “Fujin-Gaho” and “Rusconi” and the sale of the outdoor advertising company “Affichage Giraudy”.