Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (WWY) Rule 10b5-1 Trading Program February 28, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Wrigley Company Board of Directors at its last meeting approved a stock trading program for corporate officers and others affected by the insider trading rules, under the newly adopted Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The new SEC rule allows programs to be established that permit a corporate insider to prearrange purchases or sales of his/her Company's securities at a time when that individual is not aware of any material non-public information. Such a program involves preparation of a written plan to buy or sell shares on a regular basis over a set period of time that is submitted to the Company's Secretary and General Counsel. These pre-planned trades can then be executed at a later date, as spelled out in the plan, without regard to any subsequent non-public information the individual might have received or the price of the stock at the time of the sale. Implementation of the Rule 10b5-1 trading program has been approved to permit corporate insiders to satisfy liquidity and wealth diversification objectives. Such programs can also minimize the market effect of such insider purchases or sales by spreading them over a more extended period than the traditional, limited trading "windows." It is anticipated that the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. William Wrigley, Jr., will, in the near future, adopt a program under this new rule. FROM: WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY Christopher J. Perille Director - Corporate Communications Phone: (312) 644-2121 To the extent that statements contained in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements, the following will be deemed to be the Company's meaningful cautionary disclosure regarding such statements. A variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed. The important factors that could affect these outcomes are set forth in Exhibit 99 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000. << Back