Enesco Group, Inc. to Begin Stock Repurchase Program.

ITASCA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 24, 1999--Enesco Group, Inc. (NYSE: ENC) announced today that it would commence its 1999 stock repurchase program.

John F. Cauley, chairman of Enesco's Board of Directors, said Enesco has approximately 2.5 million shares remaining under this program. Shares will be used for general corporate purposes and employee benefit plans.

"The Company's earnings, cash flow and debt capacity, combined with the current stock price, make purchases of the Company's stock, in the Board's view, one of its best available investments," Cauley said. "We believe the Company's stock today is substantially undervalued and we will purchase stock from time to time in the open market or in private transactions, depending on the market and business conditions." Cauley said the Board delayed the start of its 1999 stock repurchase program after the receipt of an unsolicited indication of interest, which the Company determined not to pursue, in a possible transaction at a price in excess of the then current market price of the Company's stock.

As stated previously, Jeffrey A. Hutsell, chief executive officer of Enesco, said that the Company expects the earnings per share growth to exceed 1999 net income growth, due to the Company's operating improvement plan and the impact of the stock repurchase program.

"Our operating plan remains in place," Hutsell said. "We continue to anticipate that 1999 revenue will decline slightly from 1998, with the majority of the decline expected in the first half of the year, due to unusually strong first half 1998 comparisons and the elimination of product lines that did not have adequate returns."

"We expect that revenues and profits will increase during the second half of the year due to the continued strength of the Company's Precious Moments licensed brand, positive reaction at winter gift shows and continued improvement in supply chain operations," Hutsell said.

Enesco Group, Inc. is a global marketer of quality branded gifts, collectibles and decorative accents. The Company's product lines include the Precious Moments, Cherished Teddies, Kim Anderson's Pretty as a Picture and Mary Engelbreit brands, among others.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from the Company's present expectations. A description of the risk factors that could cause such material differences is set forth in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or publish in the future any forward-looking information.