DirectGroup Bertelsmann has the following statement:

Guetersloh, Germany (PROTEXT) - Isolated reports indicate thatBertelsmann intends to merge its US book clubs with the stockmarket-listed Internet bookseller Barnesandnoble.com. Thisstatement is incorrect and has no basis in fact. The integration of BOL.com and Clubs to transformBertelsmann's direct-to-customer businesses - with their 55million customers - into a community-based venture refersexclusively to the European and Asian market. Bertelsmann has a 36 percent interest in Barnesandnoble.com. Further Information is available: www.directgroup-news.de otsOriginal Text Service: DirectGroup Bertelsmann Internet:www.presseportal.de Contact: Gerd Koslowski, Vice PresidentCommunication, DirectGroup Bertelsmann, Tel.: +49 (0) 5241 / 80-415 55E-Mail: Gerd.Koslowski@bertelsmann.de

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