The　main　result　of　this　paper　is　the　following:　if　A　=　(aij)　is　an　inverse　M-matrix,　A(r)　=　(aijr)　denotes　the　rth　Hadamard　power　of　A,　then　A(r)　is　again　an　inverse　M-matrix　for　any　real　number　r　＞　1.　This　settles　a　conjecture　proposed　by　Wang　et　al.　[B.Y.　Wang,　X.P.　Zhang,　F.Z.　Zhang,　On　the　Hadamard　product　of　inverse　M-matrices,　Linear　Algebra　Appl.　305　(2000)　23-31]　affirmatively.　Naturally,　it　shows　that　the　conjecture　of　Neumann　[M.　Neumann,　A　conjecture　concerning　the　Hadamard　product　of　inverses　of　M-matrices,　Linear　Algebra　Appl.　285　(1998)　277-290]　is　also　valid.　©　2006　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.