De Rigo Announces the Signing of a Distribution Agreement with Viva

De Rigo Announces the Signing of a Distribution Agreement with
Viva 


LONGARONE, Italy, July 29  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- De Rigo (NYSE:DER) and
Viva have signed a distribution agreement to exploit the synergies between
their respective distribution networks in the United States, Canadian, Italian
and Greek markets.

As a result of this agreement, Viva will distribute De Rigo's licensed brands
Givenchy, Etro, Fila and Furla in the United States and Canada, while De Rigo
will distribute Viva's licensed brands Tommy Hilfiger, Guess and Gant in Italy
and the Tommy Hilfiger brand in Greece. The contract will be effective starting
September 2004.

The parties believe that this distribution agreement represents the first step
in the process of realizing a strategic alliance that could potentially involve
the combination of the two Groups' wholesale and manufacturing businesses
worldwide: De Rigo and Viva are continuing to work on developing optimal
structures in order to obtain the highest level of synergies from their
cooperation.

De Rigo is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of premium
eyewear, the major optical retailer in Spain through General Optica, one of the
leading retailers in the British optical market through Dollond & Aitchison and
a partner of the LVMH Fashion Group for the manufacture and distribution of
Givenchy, Celine, Fendi and Loewe eyewear. De Rigo also manufactures and
distributes the licensed brands Escada, Etro, Fila, Furla, La Perla, Mini and
Onyx and its own brands Police, Sting and Lozza.

Viva International Group is a worldwide industry leader, with a dedicated
office and direct sales force in the United States, Canada, Mexico, France,
Italy, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Australia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and
Japan. Viva also distributes to more than 50 countries around the globe. The
current portfolio of fashion-forward eyewear includes: GUESS?, Tommy Hilfiger,
Gant(R), Candie's(R), Ellen Tracy, Magic-Clip(R), Harley-Davidson(R), Bongo(R),
Marc Ecko Scopes, Catherine Deneuve, Viva, and Savvy Eyewear. 

DATASOURCE: De Rigo S.p.A.



CONTACT:  For further information, please contact: Maurizio Dessolis,

Chief Financial Officer, Tel [phone], Fax

[phone], e-mail: 

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