Sony and Neiman Marcus Announce Marketing Partnership

Sony to be Exclusive Provider of Electronics Products For InCircle Rewards Program

PRNewswire
NEW YORK
06/15/2005

Sony Corporation of America and Neiman Marcus announced today that they have entered into a marketing agreement under which Sony will be the exclusive provider of electronics products made available to Neiman Marcus InCircle Rewards Program members.

Additionally, Sony will provide memberships to Sony Cierge for select InCircle Rewards platinum and Chairman's Circle members, and will provide Neiman Marcus with marketing access to all Cierge members and VIP clients. Sony Cierge is an exclusive, by-invitation personal shopping program.

"The Neiman Marcus InCircle Rewards Program caters to some of the world's most discerning customers of luxury goods," said Tim Baxter, senior vice president of Strategic Marketing for Sony Corporation of America. "We are delighted to have this opportunity to showcase Sony's finest products, including our premium QUALIA line, for this audience."

"Sony's reputation for excellence in product quality and entertainment content made it the perfect choice for our InCircle Rewards Program members," said Jeffrey Netzer, Vice president of Customer Programs for Neiman Marcus. "We hope to expand this relationship in time, to offer our members access to the full array of Sony's electronics and entertainment products."

Under terms of the agreement, select Sony electronics products will be featured in a variety of Neiman Marcus marketing vehicles, including its InCircle Wish Book, published annually; Entree Magazine, published quarterly; the Point newsletter; neimanmarcus.com; and various mailings and in store rewards events. The Sony electronics products for this program can be viewed at http://www.incircle.com/.

The initial agreement is effective through March 2006. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. operations include the Specialty Retail Stores segment and the Direct Marketing segment. The Specialty Retail Stores segment consists primarily of Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman stores. The Direct Marketing segment conducts both print catalog and online operations under the Neiman Marcus, Horchow and Bergdorf Goodman brand names. Information about the Company can be accessed at http://www.neimanmarcusgroup.com/.

Sony Corporation of America, based in New York City, is the U.S. subsidiary of Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo. Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, motion picture, television, computer entertainment, and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. Sony's principal U.S. businesses include Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., and a 50% interest in Sony BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, one of the largest recorded music companies in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $67 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, and it employs 151,400 people worldwide. Sony's consolidated sales in the U.S. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005 were $18.4 billion. For more information see http://www.sony.com/.

SOURCE: Sony Corporation of America

CONTACT: Jennifer Glass of Sony Corporation of America, +1-212-833-6975,
or jennifer_glass@sonyusa.com, or Xitlalt Herrera of Neiman Marcus,
+1-214-573-6835, or xitlalt_herrera@neimanmarcus.com

Web site: http://www.sony.com/