Pictured above: “Tuxedo” by Lenox

SOTHEBY’S TO AUCTION 75 SPECIALLY DESIGNED MICKEY STATUES AS FINALE TO MICKEY MOUSE’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

SEPTEMBER 27, 2005 AUCTION IN NEW YORK WILL BENEFIT 50 CHARITIES STATUES DECORATED BY BEN AFFLECK, ELLEN DEGENERES, ANNETTE FUNICELLO, TOM HANKS, SIR ELTON JOHN, SHAQUILLE O’NEAL AND JOHN TRAVOLTA, AMONG OTHERS

New York, New York – On September 27, 2005, Sotheby’s (NYSE: BID) and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) will conclude the celebration of Mickey Mouse’s 75th anniversary by auctioning 75 uniquely-designed statues of Mickey, an icon of American popular culture beloved for more than three generations. The statues, which have toured the country since Mickey’s 75th anniversary on November 18, 2003, are part of a special tribute entitled “Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations.” Each statue, individually-decorated by notable Disney legends, artists, actors, musicians or athletes, is 6-feet-tall and weighs more than 700 pounds. The proceeds of the sale of each Mickey statue will benefit 50 deserving charities, designated by the artist of each statue. A catalogue containing all 75 Mickey statues will be available for purchase and will be accompanied by a limited-edition “Tuxedo” Mickey pin for collectors for the first 5,000 orders placed. Fifteen of the 75 statues will be featured in locations throughout New York City in August -- the New Amsterdam Theatre and World of Disney, among others. The full exhibition will take place from September 20th through 26th in Sotheby’s 3rd floor galleries and is free and open to the public. The statues will be sold without reserve, and the sale is expected to bring in excess of $1 million*.

Pictured above: “Music Royalty” by Sir Elton John

When the statues began their cross-country tour in November 2003, Disney Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner said: “No other single character has remained in the limelight like Mickey, no other single character has been at the definitive forefront of a global entertainment company, no other single character has such timeless, ageless appeal or has engaged the hearts of so many. Chances are, if you talk to a 4-year-old or a 70-year-old anywhere in the world, they consider Mickey a special friend.”

Lee Dunbar, director of Sotheby’s Collectibles department, said: “Sotheby’s and Disney have a long-standing relationship, and we are thrilled to have been selected to conduct this special auction of 75 inspired visions of Mickey Mouse in a sale that will benefit a host of worthy charitable organizations.”

Among the participants in this milestone event are:

• Ben Affleck designed “Home Run Hero” for The Jimmy Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Andre Agassi designed “Love All” for the Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation
• Jerry Bruckheimer designed “Slapstick Mouse” for the Ilitch Charities for Children
• Jamie Lee Curtis designed “The Original Mouse Pad” for the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
• Ellen DeGeneres designed “Ellenland” for the Children’s Action Network
• Long-time Disney animation artist Andreas Deja designed “Fruits of the Mouse” for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
• Annette Funicello designed “Always My Angel” for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California Chapter
• James Gandolfini designed “Funny Bones” for the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation
• Tom Hanks designed “Space Mouse” for the James Birrell Neuroblastoma Research Fund
• Sir Elton John designed “Music Royalty” for the Elton John AIDS Foundation
• Shaquille O’Neal designed “Dunk Mouse” for the Real Model Foundation
• Kelly Ripa designed “Big City Mouse” for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
• John Travolta designed “Jet Setter” for the Hollywood Education and Literacy Project

Pictured below: “Love All” by Andre Agassi

Each artist’s statue is a genuine work of art, and while some of the individuals offered creative inspiration, others, such as Peter and Harrison Ellenshaw, Rosie O’Donnell, Mear One, Raven, David Willardson and Wyland, chose to personally paint their Mickey statue. Otherwise, TivoliToo, a Minnesota-based design and sculpting studio, transformed the remaining statues for each artist.

While much of the proceeds will be donated to Make-a-Wish Foundation of America, 49 other charities will benefit from the sale, including the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Children’s Miracle Network, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation. Disney was able to bring “Celebrate Mickey: 75 InspEARations” to fruition with the help of The Coca-Cola Company, the primary tour sponsor. The Home Depot® provided “Disney Color by Behr” paint and other supplies to bring the statues to life; Suddath Relocation Systems, an agent for United Van Lines, transported the statues to each destination; and Kodak offered digital photographs in each city via its EasyShare system.

Pictured left: “Big City Mouse” by Kelly Ripa

The Catalogue
The catalogue can be pre-purchased now by logging on to www.sothebys.com or by calling (888) 752 0002. The price for the catalogue is $41 including shipping and handling.

Registering to Bid
Registration is required to bid in Sotheby’s auctions. You can register easily in person at our New York headquarters any time before the sale, or via fax when you submit an absentee bid form. Please call the Bid Department at (212) 606 7414 for further information.

Placing Bids
There are four ways to bid in this sale:

• Place bids in the room by attending the auction and raising your paddle (issued upon registration).
• Bid over the telephone through a Sotheby’s representative, who is in the salesroom and conveys your bid to the auctioneer.
• Enter Absentee bids. An Absentee (or Order) bid can be placed by filling out a form and returning it to Sotheby’s bid department via fax or mail. The form indicates the highest amount you would like to bid for an item or items. (The auctioneer will submit bids on your behalf, never bidding more than necessary to secure the lot and never more than the amount you specify.) Absentee bid forms are printed in the back of each catalogue and are available at Sotheby’s offices and on www.sothebys.com.
• Bid through the Internet using real-time and absentee bidding at ebayliveauctions.com. You can register there to place bids through eBay’s Live Auctions tool. Note that online registration only enables you to bid online.

Pictured above: “Mickey’s Shadow” by Trey Hoyumpa for Parsons School of Design

For more information on the charity auction, visit www.sothebys.com/mickey.

For a complete list of statues, artists and charities associated with this auction, or to download high-resolution images of the statues, visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com.

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*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium.