FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY AND LEKI USA, INC. ANNOUNCE LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR LINE OF TREKKING POLES

WASHINGTON, DC (January 2003)—The National Geographic Society™ announces a licensing agreement with LEKI USA, Inc., to produce and market high-tech, lightweight adjustable trekking poles that will be available at outdoor specialty stores in the United States and Canada in the spring of 2004.

"This agreement continues our goal to join with leading manufacturers to further develop a wide range of outdoor products for our explorers to use while on assignment for National Geographic," said John Dumbacher, Senior Vice President, National Geographic Licensing. "This affiliation, along with all of our licensing efforts, enables us to broaden our consumer base and continue to generate revenue that directly benefits the Society's exploration and education programs."

As part of its "Gear on Assignment™" program, National Geographic explorers, researchers, photographers, and filmmakers will field-test National Geographic trekking poles while on assignment around the world. They provide input on the development of the products to ensure the products are authentic and functional. National Geographic's net proceeds support vital exploration, conservation, research, and education programs.

"We are thrilled about the opportunity to create a special series of trekking poles that represents the National Geographic Society's focus and philosophy," said Greg Wozer, Vice President of LEKI USA, Inc., the world's largest producer of adjustable trekking poles.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Its mission is to increase global understanding and promote conservation of our planet through exploration, research, and education. Founded in 1888 for the increase and diffusion of geographic knowledge, National Geographic reflects the world through magazines, television programs, books, videos, maps, interactive media and merchandise. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC magazine, the Society's official journal, published in 20 languages, is read by 40 million people each month in every country in the world. The National Geographic Channel reaches more than 200 million households in 25 languages in 144 countries. Nationalgeographic.com averages around 44 million page views per month. National Geographic has funded over 7,000 scientific research projects and supports an education program combating geography illiteracy.

National Geographic Enterprises includes licensing, a catalog business, online commerce and retail. These units oversee the merchandise related to the National Geographic brand worldwide. To learn more about National Geographic, log onto www.nationalgeographic.com, AOL Keyword: NatGeo.

LEKI USA, Inc., Buffalo, NY, is the sole North American distributor of LEKI brand adjustable trekking poles, alpine and nordic ski poles, mountaineering poles, and fitness and medical poles. LEKI poles are Germandesigned and engineered and proudly manufactured in the Czech Republic.

CONTACT: Adrianne MacPherson
Corbin & Associates, Ltd.
+1 212 246 6515
Adrianne@corbinpr.com

Claire Moynihan
National Geographic
+1 202 857 7332
cmoyniha@ngs.org