Press release regarding Goodyear comments

Milan, 10 October 2001 - Reports which have appeared in certain newspapers to the effect that a major competitor is interested in acquiring Pirelli's entire tyre sector were commented upon by the Company as follows.
The Tyre Sector is a strategic activity for the Group and its sale is a totally unrealistic hypothesis.
Even the sale of the European Truck Tyres segment, communicated in recent weeks as a possibility, will be pursued only if and when particularly interesting opportunities arise.