From: Greg McElhatton <[STU GLMCELHA] at [VAX1.ACS.JMU.EDU]>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.info
Subject: Diamond Press Release; DC Goes Exclusive
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 95 01:22:28 GMT

April 28, 1995

DC COMICS AND DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS FORGE EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT

Strategic Relationship Will Strengthen Distribution To Comic Book Specialty
Retailers


DC Comics and Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. announced today that they have
reached an agreement for Diamond to become DC's exclusive agent for sales to
comic book specialty stores, effective with May orders for products shipping
after July 1, 1995.

Under this new sales representation agreement, Diamond will remain a 100%
independently owned and operated company. It will handle all distribution
functions for DC products to comic book specialty retailers: soliciting
orders; order processing; physically pulling, packing, and shipping orders;
invoicing; credit and collections. Diamond, however, will no longer purchase
product from DC for resale. Instead, the transaction will be made between DC
and the retailers, with DC setting its own prices and terms of sale, and
Diamond acting as DC's sales representative for such transactions.

In making the announcement, DC Executive Vice President & Publisher Paul
Levitz and Diamond President & CEO Stephen A. Geppi issued the following
statement: "DC and Diamond have had a long and effective relationship that has
nurtured and encouraged the growth of comic book shops. Now, as we move into
an even stronger and closer relationship, we look forward to doing more for
our customers and helping them do more for their customers."

The two executives also detailed key points of philosophic agreement that
their companies will support as they implement the new agreement:

- Retailers will be assured ACCESS to the widest possible selection of
products, and other suppliers will be assured access to comic book specialty
retailers. No supplier's products will be dropped by Diamond as a result of
this agreement.

- Retailers will not be forced to place product in their shops, rather, they
will be assisted in a concerted effort to sell more comics.

Discussing the practical effects of this reorganization Geppi said, "Diamond
has prepared a special team to give a quick and easy welcome to the new
accounts we anticipate adding under this agreement. We will do our best to
make doing business with Diamond as easy and profitable as possible. We have a
history of successful expansion, and our distribution infrastructure is
already in place and effective."

Levitz added, "We regret ending our long-standing relationships with other
distributors who have contributed to the growth of our industry, but we
believe this arrangement with Diamond is the right way to lead DC and the
entire comics industry into the future."

"We are pleased that DC has selected Diamond for this exclusive relationship,
and we look forward to working together on behalf of retailers," said Diamond
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Chuck Parker. "This new
relationship preserves and compliments our ability to work with our other
suppliers as we strive to be the best, most efficient, customer service minded
distributor in the business."

"Our strong commitment to comics specialty retailers is unwavering," added Bob
Wayne, DC's Director--Direct Market Sales. "At DC, we are comic book
publishers first and foremost. Our comics are created by comic book people,
marketed by comic book people, and sold by comic book people. Now our new
relationship with Diamond ensures that our comics are distributed by comic
book people. It's the best guarantee that we can give comic book retailers and
their customers--our readers--that they will continue to be serviced by a
system that acknowledges its best interests are inextrictably linked to that
of the entire industry, both commercially and creatively."

DC will announce its terms of sale to retailers in the coming weeks, and
Diamond likewise will be sharing its plans and goals for the future.
Executives of both companies will be meeting with retailers across the
United States, Canada, Europe, and the Far East at Diamond's "New Dynamics"
seminars, with dates and locations to be announced shortly.

Retailers with questions about opening an account with Diamond should call
(800) 362-6421 or (410) 560-7100 from outside the U.S. and Canada.

--
Greg McElhatton
[stu glmcelha] at [vax1.acs.jmu.edu]           [d--z--n] at [genie.geis.com]
"The horror, the horror!"  --Greg's reaction to CLANDESTINE #9