Al & Ed's Autosound Ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 List

VAN NUYS, Calif.--Jan. 7, 2004--

Company that Helped Shape Development of Southern California's Car Culture Earns Prestigious Spot at Beginning of Golden Anniversary Celebration Year

Al & Ed's Autosound, California's first and largest mobile electronics and communications specialist, has been ranked as one of the top 500 franchising opportunities in the world, according to Entrepreneur Magazine. The Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 rankings placed Al & Ed's as the #3 franchiser in the "Miscellaneous Automotive Products and Services" category and 430th overall. The 25th annual rankings are included in the January 2004 issue of the publication.

"Being named among the top franchisers in the world is a fantastic way to kick-off our 50th anniversary celebration," said Gabi Mashal, president of Al & Ed's Autosound. "Moreover, being ranked #3 among automotive-related businesses shows that we continue to grow and play an influential role in the evolving American car culture, just as we have since 1954."

The Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 is an annual index of franchises in the world based on financial strength and stability, growth and size of the franchise system, number of years in business, length of time franchising, start-up costs, litigation, percentage of terminations, and company's franchise financing mechanisms, if any.

About Al & Ed's Autosound

Founded in 1954, Al & Ed's Autosound has grown to become the largest mobile electronics and communications specialist, with more than 29 Southern California stores. As a recognized leader in the mobile electronics industry, Al & Ed's Autosound has been an instrumental partner in the pioneering of innovations such as FM radio for cars, cassette players for cars, and the first car alarms, and is viewed within the mobile electronics industry as a barometer for the industry in Southern California. For more information, visit www.al-eds.com.