Le r?ve am?ricain devient r?alit? : Wayne Huizenga se voit attribuer le prix " World Entrepreneur Of The Year " d?cern? par Ernst & Young

( BW)(ERNST-&-YOUNG) American Dream Comes True as Wayne Huizenga Wins Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year; Miami Dolphins Owner and Founder of Blockbuster Entertainment Proves That Nice Guys Can Finish First

Business Editors

MONTE CARLO, Monaco--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 28, 2005--Wayne Huizenga, the only person in history to have founded three Fortune 500 companies was this evening named the 2005 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year (WEOY) at an award ceremony in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The judges identified the consistent nature of his success, his 'confident humility' and his pioneering of many new business models over the years as his winning characteristics

"Even now, despite his uniquely successful track record he remains as excited by his most recent idea as by his first," said Howard Stevenson, Senior Associate Provost at Harvard University, and Chairman of the judging panel

"Among a truly exceptional group of entrepreneurs from right around the world, Wayne stands out not just for his business success but for his contributions to humanity." Gregory K. Ericksen, global head of the Entrepreneur Of The Year program commented: "When it comes to entrepreneurship, Wayne is the genuine article

He has consistently taken an idea to an exceptional level with deeply loyal teams.

His personal qualities, the strength of his family relationships and his business leadership have had far reaching social and economic impact across the globe." Ernst & Young Chairman and CEO, James S. Turley, said: "Wayne is a role model for every aspiring entrepreneur whether they are in Chicago, Copenhagen or Chunquing.

His astonishing story of success will be an inspiration to every generation of entrepreneurs seeking to make a real difference."

Notes to Editors

1. About Wayne Huizenga

The Wayne Huizenga story is one of unprecedented achievement for turning business vision into business reality.

He is the only person in corporate history to be responsible for six companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange and to have founded three Fortune 500 companies. Wayne created the global leader in waste management, Waste Management, Inc. as well as the third largest U.S. waste disposal company, Republic Industries. Additionally, he created Blockbuster Entertainment, the global leader in video entertainment, created AutoNation, the country's first and world's largest public automotive dealership, was the owner of three professional U.S. sports teams, and is currently the owner of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.

Wayne's achievements were recognized by the Horatio Alger Association who presented Wayne with their top honor in 1992, along with Henry Kissinger and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

2. National/regional EOY programs

Currently, 42 Ernst & Young country practices run Entrepreneur Of The Year programs. To participate in national Entrepreneur Of The Year and World Entrepreneur Of The Year events, entrants must own or manage a private or public company, be primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company, and still active in top-level management.

3. WEOY 2005 finalists

Australia : Robert Gerard AO -Gerard Corporation Pty Ltd.

Belgium :Clement De Meersman - Deceuninck

Brazil :Norival Bonamichi - Ouro Fino Animal Health

Canada :William Comrie -The Brick Warehouse Corporation

Czech Republic Ing. :Miroslav Rihak-ANECT a.s.

Denmark :Gitte Dyrberg and Henning - DYRBERG/KERN A/S Kern

Finland :Kirsti Paakkanen - Marimekko Oyj

France : Christophe Bonduelle -Bonduelle

Germany :Heinrich Baumgartner - BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik AG

Hungary :Dr. Sandor Kurti- KURT Corporation

India: Sunil Bharti Mittal - Bharti Enterprises

Indonesia: Sudhamek AWS S.H, S.E- PT. Garudafood

Ireland :Dr. Peter Fitzgerald - Randox Laboratories Ltd.

Israel :Ilan Atias and Igal Rotem – PowerDsine

Italy :Andrea Illy - illycaffe S.p.A.

Japan :Takashi Sakamoto- Bookoff Corporation Ltd.

Luxembourg :Nicholas Buck - Victor Buck Services S.A.

Malaysia : Dato' Dr. Lim Wee-Chai - Top Glove Corporation Berhad

Netherlands :Arjen de Koning-Paradigit Computers BV

New Zealand : Phillip Mills -Les Mills Group Ltd.

Norway : Stale Lonnum -TAG Systems AS

Philippines : Socorro C. Ramos - National Book Store, Inc.

Poland : Zbigniew Sosnowski - Kross

Russia :Ruben Vardanian-Troika Dialog Group

Singapore: Tay Liam Wee -Sincere Watch Limited

South Africa : Stephen B. Saad - Aspen Pharmacare Holdings

Spain :Mikel Urizarbarrena - Panda Software Aguirre

Sweden :Thomas Engstrom - Radi Medical Systems AB

Switzerland : Heinz Aeschlimann - Aeschlimann AG

Turkey : Kerim Taner - Alara Agri Business

United Kingdom: Bill Gammell - Cairn Energy plc

United States : H. Wayne Huizenga - Huizenga Holdings, Inc.

4. WEOY 2005 judges

United States : Prof. Howard H. Stevenson - 2005 WEOY Judging Panel -Provost - Chairperson - Harvard Business School - 2004 WEOY Judging Panel Chairperson

Philippines : Tony Tan Caktiong - 2004 World Entrepreneur Of - President - The Year -Jollibee Foods Corporation - 2003 Philippines - Entrepreneur Of The Year - Entrepreneur Of The Year - Judging Panel, Philippines

Denmark : Michael Holm - 2003 Denmark Entrepreneur - Managing Director - Of The Year - Systematic Software - Engineering A/S

New Zealand : David Johnson- 1998 New Zealand - Chairman and Publisher - Entrepreneur Of The Year - Trends Publishing - 2004 Judging Panel - International - Chairperson, New Zealand

South Africa : Patrice Motsepe - 2002 South Africa - Chairman - Entrepreneur Of The Year - ARMgold - Entrepreneur Of The Year - Judging Panel, South - Africa

United States : Barbara Mowry - 2000 U.S. Entrepreneur Of - President and CEO-The Year - Silver Creek Systems

Germany:Prof. Hans Georg Nader - 2003 Germany Entrepreneur - CEO -Of The Year - Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH

India: T. N. Ninan - Entrepreneur Of The Year - Editor and Publisher -Judging Panel, India - Business Standard Limited

Ireland:Padraig O'Ceidigh- 2002 Ireland Entrepreneur - Managing Director -Of The Year - Aer Arann- 2004 World Entrepreneur Of -The Year Judging Panel

Switzerland : Markus Oberholzer- 2002 Switzerland - President and CEO-Entrepreneur Of The Year - First Catering, Ltd. - Entrepreneur Of The Year - Judging Panel, Switzerland

United States : Joseph Sansone -2002 U.S. Entrepreneur Of - President and CEO - The Year - Sansone Medical Enterprises 2003- Health Sciences - LLC -Judging Panel Chairperson, - U.S.

Poland: Maria Wisniewska - 2003 Judging Panel - Chair Person, Polish- Chairperson, Poland - Confederation of Private - 2004 Judging Panel - Employers Advisory Board - Chairperson, Poland - Professor, Gdansk University - and Warsaw University

5. About Ernst & Young

Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, is committed to restoring the public's trust in professional services firms and in the quality of financial reporting. Its 100,000 people in more than 140 countries around the globe pursue the highest levels of integrity, quality, and professionalism to provide clients with solutions based on financial, transactional, and risk-management knowledge in Ernst & Young's core services of audit, tax, and transaction advisory services.

Further information about Ernst & Young and its approach to a variety of business issues can be found at www.ey.com/perspectives.

Ernst & Young refers to all the members of the global Ernst & Young organization.

6. About World Entrepreneur Of The Year

Ernst & Young created the annual Entrepreneur Of The Year(R) Award program in the United States in 1986 to recognize the most successful and innovative entrepreneurs. During the past 19 years, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Award program has expanded globally. In the year 2004, entrepreneurs from 32 countries were honored with their country's national Entrepreneur Of The Year Award.

Ernst & Young anticipates conducting programs in 42 countries in the year 2005.

Each Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors successful entrepreneurs every year, and in so doing, brings to the public's attention role models for the aspiring entrepreneurs of tomorrow. The program provides a unique way of encouraging entrepreneurial activity and recognizing the achievement of outstanding men and women.

For more information, see www.ey.com/weoy.

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Ernst & Young

William Mutton, +44 7766 442 391 [email protected]

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Kevin Russell, +44 7884 235 846 [email protected]

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Will White, +44 7771 555 247 [email protected]

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SOURCE: Ernst & Young