Kmart and B.A.S.S., Inc. Sign Strategic-Marketing Partnership Agreement.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 1997--Kmart, the second-largest retailer in the nation, and B.A.S.S., Inc., the world's oldest and largest bass fishing organization, have formed a strategic alliance partnership which places Kmart as a major new sponsor of the premier professional fishing circuit, the BASSMASTER Tournament Trail.

The three-year contract becomes effective in August 1997.

The joint announcement was made today by Kmart Sporting Goods Merchandise Manager Jim Potter and B.A.S.S., Inc., President and CEO Helen Sevier.

In the new alliance, Kmart will be name-title sponsor of the seven events on the Kmart BASSMASTER Top 100 pro-am circuit, including the $517,000 Kmart BASSMASTERS MegaBucks tournament. Kmart also will be an official team sponsor of the showcase BASS Masters Classic world championship and accompanying 235,000-square-foot Classic outdoor show; the three BASSMASTER Invitational pro tournament circuits -- an additional 12 tournaments, including the new BASSMASTER Western Invitational Tournament Trail; the five B.A.S.S. regional amateur championships and the WRANGLER/B.A.S.S. National Championship. In addition to Zebco, Kmart will be a co-presenting sponsor of the national BASSMASTER CastingKids program.

"Kmart has long recognized that bass fishermen set the trends in sportfishing, and that B.A.S.S. is recognized as their primary director," said Potter. "As one of America's leading retailers, we recognize the need to become more involved in helping build the sport as well as the fisheries. Our new relationship with B.A.S.S. will allow us to begin immediately to become much more involved in both."

B.A.S.S., Inc., is the center of gravity for the nearly $40 billion freshwater bass fishing industry. The company reaches approximately 10 million anglers a year with its events; four publications, two TV series; and a grass-roots organization of 2,700 local chapters in 47 states. B.A.S.S. has international chapters in Japan, Canada, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Zimbabwe -- and three new clubs in Italy.

Its publications include the leading magazine in the bass fishing industry, BASSMASTER, with a circulation of approximately 600,000; B.A.S.S. Times, a monthly newspaper which provides in-depth coverage of environmental issues as well as advanced bass fishing techniques and tips (circ.; approx. 75,000); FISHING TACKLE RETAILER, the leading trade magazine; and SOUTHERN OUTDOORS Magazine which covers outdoor activities in addition to fresh- and saltwater fishing (circ.: approx. 250,000). In addition, B.A.S.S., Inc., produces THE BASSMASTERS TV series, which has been nominated for two ACE Awards for excellence in cable television. It launched a new TV series, SOUTHERN OUTDOORS, this season. Both are seen weekends on The Nashville Network (TNN).

"Our primary emphasis for the last 29 years has been on serving America's fishermen," said Sevier. "This partnership opens some wide doors for us to expand those efforts in new and innovative ways. Kmart is one of the world's largest mass retailers and has at least one store within a 15-minute drive of 80 percent of all Americans, making it easily accessible to most bass anglers.

"We are greatly impressed with the energy we see in Kmart executives and the progressive thinking that focuses on accomplishing goals in short order," Sevier said. "We are especially impressed with Kmart's dedication to the environment and warmly welcome its interest in joining our efforts to protect and enhance our nation's fisheries. The fact that Kmart provides a battery recycling program that has helped concerned Americans to safely dispose of more than five million auto and marine batteries since 1990, is just one more example to us that they are a caring company that includes the environment in their enthusiastic `can do' approach to progress."

A profile of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society members does not reflect the stereotype touted by some. The median age of B.A.S.S. members is 42. Their median income of $46,759 (an average of $56,017); 59.8 percent attended or graduated from college. And they are not all Southerners. Far from it. Of the top 10 states, ranked by B.A.S.S. membership, six are outside the South. California ranks third; Illinois is fourth; Ohio, sixth; Pennsylvania, seventh; Indiana, ninth; and Missouri is 10th. New York is in the top 15, Michigan in the top 20, and New Jersey ranks 21st.

More money is spent in pursuit of the freshwater black bass than on tennis and golf combined, according to the American Sportfishing Association (703-519-9691).

Kmart Corporation serves America with 2,134 Kmart and Super Kmart Centers and 168 Builders Square retail outlets. In addition to serving all 50 states, Kmart operations extend to Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada.

CONTACT: B.A.S.S., Inc., Montgomery

Ann Lewis, 334/272-9530

or

Kmart

Michele Jasukaitis, 810/643-5200