The J.K. Rowling Harry Potter book series has been published in 115 countries and 29 languages with more than 18.4 million books in circulation in the U.S. alone. The Harry Potter books have rocketed up and stayed atop national best seller lists such as the New York Times and USA Today. The "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" book currently is being developed as a theatrical film for Warner Bros. Pictures.

"We are delighted and honored to have been awarded this license from Warner Bros," said John F. Cauley, Chairman and interim CEO, Enesco Group, Inc. "Harry Potter is such an incredible property for any company to be in association with, given its worldwide appeal and success. It is Enesco's vision to create several exciting gift and collectible lines to fit our entire range of customer channels of distribution. These 'must-have' products will be highly sought by both avid Harry Potter enthusiasts and new consumers to the storyline."

Cauley adds, "For Enesco, securing this license is an endorsement of our strategy to invest our talents in alternate channels of distribution, with the opportunity to create products for more than 40 different channels ranging from bookstores to mass market. It is the first time that Enesco has been awarded a major license outside of our traditional card and gift channel, and we are both thrilled and humbled by it."

Enesco's license agreement with Warner Bros. includes the development of gift and collectible product based on the literary characters featured in the current installments of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. An initial offering of products is planned for Fall of 2000. Enesco also will develop giftware products in conjunction with the release of the upcoming Harry Potter theatrical film from Warner Bros. Pictures in 2001.

"Enesco's product development and merchandising expertise in the gift and collectibles industry will help bring the magic of Harry Potter to life for fans of all ages," says Karen McTier, Senior Vice President, North American Sales, for Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "With a property as special as Harry Potter, we look for extraordinary licensees such as Enesco."

Warner Bros. Worldwide Consumer Products gained all worldwide licensing and merchandising rights for the enormously successful Harry Potter children's book series as part of an overall deal when Warner Bros. Pictures signed with author J.K. Rowling. The deal includes development of two films based on the first two books of the series -- "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a division of Warner Bros., a Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P., is one of the leading and most diversified licensing and retail merchandising organizations which includes a vast library of intellectual properties and the Warner Bros. Studio Stores, including wbstore.com, its e-commerce Web site. With over 3,700 licensees, Warner Bros. Consumer Products licenses the rights to names, likenesses and logos for a variety of entertainment properties, categories, and the Warner Bros. Name icons that include Looney Tunes, Batman, Superman, Scooby-Doo, The Wizard of Oz, Friends, ER, and its newest member, Harry Potter.

For more than 40 years, Enesco Group, Inc. has been a global leader in the gift, collectibles and home decor industries, offering products from such notable licensees as Cherished Teddies, Mary Engelbreit, and Kim Anderson's Pretty as a Picture, among others. The company's award-winning Precious Moments brand is one of the top lines of collectibles throughout the world. Further information is available on the company's Web site at www.Enesco.com .

``Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,'' the fourth book in the best-selling children's series went on sale just after midnight on July 8 to record sales.

[Posted 7/11/2000]