Sonopress Delivers Record Number of Audio CD & Cassette Editions of ``Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'' Under Tightest Security

Business Wire, July 23, 2003

Entertainment Editors/Business Editors

ASHEVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2003

Extraordinary Measures In Place for Replication of

High-Volume, High-Profile Product

Sonopress LLC, a global leader in media services and turnkey production operations, today announced that its production of Random House's "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K. Rowling was the largest volume order for an audio CD book in history. It was also produced under a set of strict control measures, far beyond the usual tight security already in place at the Company's Weaverville, NC facility. Sonopress went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that the content of the book - and the corresponding audio CD and cassette - remained secret for the duration of the record-setting cassette and CD production.

"High security continues to be a key to the success of many new releases," said Per Save, Sonopress vice president, sales and marketing. "By establishing and managing a secure production environment, we have become a chosen supplier of publishers who need to replicate confidential, time-sensitive content. In the case of Random House's most recent Harry Potter release, not only was the volume- more than 11 million CDs and audio cassettes combined- a new record, we also implemented several additional layers of security. This ensured that each and every detail of the content would remain confidential and that the simultaneous launch of the hardcover book and corresponding audio version would be a success."

With such heightened anticipation for the Order of the Phoenix, Sonopress had to tighten even the most rigorous security measures, ensuring that no CDs could leave the manufacturing site. High-performance video surveillance cameras were used to monitor the facilities and Sonopress established secure, guarded areas within the facility for additional quality control. J.K. Rowling's Phoenix set new international sales records, with 9.3 million copies in-print and 11 million CDs and cassettes produced by Sonopress.

Maintaining a secure environment is one of the many requirements satisfied by Sonopress for publishers worldwide on daily basis. To meet customer's tight security needs, Sonopress establishes monitored, secure staging areas for distribution and around the clock surveillance. In part due to these strict security measures, Sonopress is certified by the Anti-Piracy Compliance Program (APCP), an initiative developed by the International Recording Media Association (IRMA) to protect intellectual property rights throughout the media replication and manufacturing process.

About Sonopress

Sonopress LLC, part of arvato, a Bertelsmann company, is a global leader in media replication and turnkey services. Sonopress possesses the technological expertise to produce the widest variety of analog and digital media formats currently on the market (cassettes, CD, DVD, DVD Hybrid). The company's services include pre-mastering, optical mastering and replication, graphics sourcing, packaging, assembling, warehousing and distribution. The Sonopress global network, with more than 3,900 employees, places customer service and product quality as its top priorities. For further information visit: www.sonopress.com.