Universal Studios Consumer Products Group Expands Offices in Asia Pacific Bill Rahn, General Manager, USCPG Japan, Assumes Additional Responsibility for International Expansion UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- Universal Studios Consumer Products Group (USCPG) today announced plans to continue its international growth throughout the Asia-Pacific markets by expanding the current duties of William M. Rahn, general manager for USCPG in Japan. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010110/LAW080 ) Mr. Rahn, who is currently responsible for all licensing activities in Japan, will assume additional responsibilities to aggressively market USCPG's properties in Asia-Pacific including Australia and China and will focus on developing local strategies and product initiatives. Mr. Rahn and his team will be selling directly into the markets as well as working with local representatives in order to position Universal Studios and its characters and properties for long-term presence. "In his role as general manager, Bill has increased licensing in this territory ten-fold by focusing on Universal's core characters and properties," stated Cynthia Cleveland, president, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. "We credit Bill with the tremendous growth of our classic 'Curious George' brand in the Japanese market. We look forward to an even bigger impact in these markets as Bill's range of responsibility increases." Mr. Rahn will begin highlighting Universal's upcoming event film properties to potential licensees in his expanded territories. These include "Jurassic Park III," Universal Pictures' and Amblin Entertainment's third installment in the studio's most successful film franchise ever and Universal Pictures' "The Mummy Returns," the sequel to last summer's blockbuster success "The Mummy," which grossed nearly $450 million dollars in worldwide box office revenue. In addition to the upcoming event films, Mr. Rahn will also focus on a number of Universal's classic properties such as "Curious George," "Woody Woodpecker" and "Bruce Lee," which lend themselves favorably to local merchandising and promotions. In his position as general manager, Japan, USCPG, Mr. Rahn has not only been responsible for all consumer product activities in Japan, but has also played a key role working with Universal Studios Japan in Osaka in the critical lead up to the theme park's upcoming opening in Spring 2001. In addition to Mr. Rahn's office in Tokyo, he is supported in the United States by Neal Rudge, director, Asia-Pacific Licensing, USCPG. Prior to joining Universal Studios, Mr. Rahn served as general manager of the international division of Simon Marketing, and was responsible for opening their Tokyo office. He earned a B.A. in Japanese Studies from Yale University. Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is a unit of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com), a part of CANAL+, the TV and Film division of Vivendi Universal, a new global leader in media and communications. For more information contact Debra Jackman of USCPG, 818-777-3188, [email protected]; or Carla Buranelli of Cairns & Associates, 212-421-9770, [email protected], for USCPG. SOURCE: Universal Studios Consumer Products Group CONTACT: Debra Jackman of USCPG, 818-777-3188, [email protected]; or Carla Buranelli of Cairns & Associates, 212- 421-9770, [email protected], for USCPG Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010110/LAW080 AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467 Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com (VO)-END-