FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2002

JENNIFER BOES, 302.672.6811

(New Castle, Del.) -- Governor Ruth Ann Minner announced today that a new catalogue fulfillment center, slated to begin operations this May, would create 109 new jobs for Delaware.

The catalogue fulfillment center, to be located at the Twin Spans Business Park on 801 East Sixth Street in the City of New Castle, will be operated by Winterthur of Winterthur, Del. The center will provide customer service and fulfillment for all Internet, mail and phone orders for the museum's catalogue division.

Governor Minner said, "Winterthur is one of Delaware's most celebrated cultural institutions. I am honored that the museum has chosen to locate its new catalogue fulfillment operation in our state. I am also very proud that Delaware is able to continue growing its business and job base in a time when so many other areas of our country are seeing significant layoffs."

This is the third economic development announcement the Minner administration has made this month. Earlier this January, the Governor announced the creation of approximately 1000 jobs with the location of a Wal-Mart distribution center to Smyrna and the arrival of a new pickle grading plant in Bridgeville, which will result in a significant revenue increase for Delaware vegetable producers.

Leslie Bowman, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Winterthur, said, "We are delighted to bring our fulfillment operations back to Delaware. When we were searching for a location for the distribution center, Delaware put its best foot forward. The state's ability to provide training, employment and other assistance played a huge role in our decision. Delaware's friendly business climate and qualified workforce were also contributing factors."

Winterthur, known worldwide for its preeminent collection of 85,000 American antiques, its glorious 60-acre garden, and library that is a research center for the study of American art and material culture, opened in 1951. Proceeds from the catalogue help support its maintenance and development, and the furtherance of its educational programs. Products include jewelry, garden accessories, and home décor and furnishings.

The Delaware Economic Development Office has been working to attract the catalogue distribution center to Delaware since October 2001, competing with the States of New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

John D. Wik, Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, said, "We have a large number of workers here in Delaware with call center operations skills. This was a definite advantage."

Winterthur will occupy approximately 125,000 square feet of a new building being constructed at the Twin Spans Business Park, including office and warehouse space. The 110-acre business park is the former Chicago Bridge and Iron Company. Harvey Development (HDC) purchased the property in 1999 and is in the process of re-developing the site into office, laboratory, and distribution space. The park is slated for completion in 2007 and will encompass approximately 1.1 million square feet of new building space.

E. Thomas Harvey III, President of Harvey Development, said he was very pleased to have Winterthur as a long-term tenant in the Park. "We intend to create the finest Class A Business Park in the area, and Winterthur's location of its new fulfillment center is consistent with our overriding goal. We could not be happier with Winterthur's decision to come to Twin Spans and the City of New Castle," said Harvey.

Thomas J. Hanna, Vice President for Harvey Development, said, "This is a prime example of how a cooperative infill development project can benefit everyone. I know I speak for all of us when I say that The City of New Castle, The Trustees of New Castle Commons, and Harvey Development are all very proud of participating in Winterthur's longstanding Delaware tradition." Chris Castagno, President of New Castle City Council and Beth Matkins, a member of the city's planning commission, were instrumental in helping Harvey Development interface with the various city groups interested in the project, Hanna added.

Wik said, "Attracting the Winterthur facility is a success not only because of the jobs that will be created. Generating economic growth in areas where the necessary infrastructure already exists is one of the fundamental goals of Governor Minner's Livable Delaware initiative and is a win-win situation for business and our residents."

Winterthur currently uses a provider in West Virginia for its catalogue call center and fulfillment services. Bowman said, "Since the catalogue's beginning in 1981, Winterthur has used third party fulfillment companies to provide merchandise and service to our customers. In order to support projected growth, we've decided that operations should be managed internally. The new Delaware fulfillment facility will allow us to achieve excellence in cost and quality control."