BLAINE, Wash., Sep 27, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Geographics, Inc. (OTC BB:
GGIT), a manufacturer of value-added and designer stationery paper and office
products, announced today the signing of a letter of intent to license
Geographic's products of its Geographics Europe, Ltd. subsidiary to Smead
Manufacturing Corporation's European subsidiary Atlanta Group BV.
 
Smead/Atlanta Group BV will include certain assets of Geographics Europe, Ltd.,
and will also pay Geographics a royalty for the License to use Geographics names
and logos.
 
According to the agreement, Atlanta Group BV/Smead Corp. will acquire certain
assets of Geographics Europe, Ltd., including inventory, customer files,
customer records, sales history, sales orders, supply contracts, designs,
goodwill and know-how, which represent substantially all of the assets necessary
to operate the Business. Geographics shall retain ownership of its copyrights
and trademarks, but shall license them to Smead/Atlanta Group.
 
Geographics shall also grant Smead/Atlanta Group BV, an exclusive license of all
brand names and logos. The License shall also include the name "Geographics" for
the paper and filing products on a non-exclusive basis.
 
"Upon completion of this deal, Geographics, Inc.'s inventory will transfer to
cash, giving Geographics, Inc. capital and an upside potential of additional
cash through royalty payments," commented James L. Dorman, President and CEO of
Geographics, Inc.
 
Further financial terms were not disclosed.
 
Dorman added, "Atlanta Group BV, headquartered in Hoogezand, The Netherlands
also has distribution facilities in Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany,
Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. Atlanta has established distribution of its
products in an additional 50 countries via distributors. This will greatly
expand the sales of Geographics products to many new prospects and enhance our
relationship with our major customers. Our service levels will also improve by
having stocks in all major European countries."
 
Atlanta manufactures products based on three technologies: injection molding,
paper and metal. Atlanta has exclusive distribution rights to sell a number of
leading brands in several European countries.
 
Sharon Avent, President and CEO of Smead, said, "this agreement further shows
our commitment to position the Atlanta Group as one of the leading suppliers in
Europe and beyond."
 
Dorman continued by saying, "We are especially pleased with this proposed
Agreement, because through this sale of our licenses and products, a
newly-formed relationship will be created with Smead/Atlanta Group BV. We look
ahead with great expectations that our new relationship will create an exciting
synergy between two companies that are committed to offering the finest products
and services worldwide. In the meantime, we continue to focus on future
prospects and execution of our growth strategy."
 
Geographics, Inc., a manufacturer of value-added and designer stationary paper
and office products, distributes its products in North America, Australia and
Europe. Geographics, Inc. maintains its headquarters and principal
production/warehousing facilities in Blaine, Washington. Geographics also has
sales offices and warehousing/distribution facilities in Milwaukee and Madison,
Wisconsin and Toronto, Canada. Information about Geographics and its products is
available on the Internet at www.geographics.com.
 
Smead Manufacturing Company manufactures and markets filing systems and records
management products for large and small businesses as well as for individual and
home office use. In addition to the UltraColor series, Smead also offers
standard file folders, Flex-I-Vision(R) hanging folders and related Viewables
(labeling products, color-coded filing supplies, Alpha-Z(R) self-adhesive label
products, filing accessories, expanding files and wallets, shelving products,
made-to-order products and state-of-the-art Smeadlink(R) document management
software). Smead products are available through office product distributors and
retail office product outlets. Founded in 1906, Smead is a leading worldwide
manufacturer and distributor of office filing and records management supplies
headquartered in Hastings, Minn., Smead is a privately held, majority
woman-owned business with about 3,000 employees in 10 manufacturing plants
located across North America and Europe.
 
Smead acquired Atlanta in early 1998 to enhance its capability to offer products
to its customers on a global basis.
 
"Flex-I-Vision," "Alpha-Z" and "Smeadlink" are registered trade names of Smead
Manufacturing Company. "InnDura," "UltraColor" and "Viewables" are trademarks of
Smead Manufacturing Company.
 
Statements made in this release may construed to be forward-looking and are made
pursuant to Safe Harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1998. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks relating to
operations and acquisitions, the availability of capital to finance growth, as
well as other matters disclosed in documents filed from time to time by the
Company with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Investor Awareness, Inc. is not a brokerage firm or securities dealer, so this
is not a solicitation to buy or sell securities, and does not purport to be a
complete analysis of Geographics, Inc. (OTC BB: GGIT). The material herein was
provided by Geographics, Inc. and is for informational purposes only. Investor
Awareness, Inc. receives a fee from Geographics, Inc. for marketing services and
its owners/employees may from time to time purchase, sell, or have a position in
the securities of Geographics, Inc.
 
For more information contact Investor Awareness, Inc. at 847-945-2222 or visit
www.investorawareness.com.
 
 
 CONTACT:          Investor Awareness, Inc.
                   Tony Schor, 847/945-2222
 
 URL:              www.investorawareness.com
                   OR
                   Geographics, Inc.
                   James L. Dorman/Daniel J. Regan
                   800/426-5923 or 414/479-1871
                   www.geographics.com