GETECH First Day Dealings

IP2IPO Group PLC 23 September 2005 For immediate release 23 September 2005 IP2IPO GROUP PLC GETECH GROUP PLC SUCCESSFUL PLACING AND ADMISSION TO AIM IP2IPO Group plc (AIM: IPO) ('IP2IPO'), the intellectual property commercialisation company, is pleased to note that today is the first day of trading on AIM of shares in GETECH Group plc ('GETECH'), a spin-out company that was formed within the University of Leeds. GETECH is an oil services business that specialises in the compilation and analysis of gravity and magnetic data. GETECH raised £3.5 million (before expenses) at a placing price of 39p per share (the 'Placing Price') and its capitalisation at the Placing Price was £10.8 million. Following the placing IP2IPO owns 4,585,000 shares in GETECH (worth £1.8 million at the Placing Price), representing 16.6 % of GETECH's enlarged share capital. For more information please contact: IP2IPO 020 7489 5200 David Norwood, Chief Executive Officer GETECH Group plc 0113 343 5240 Dr Derek Fairhead, Managing Director Buchanan Communications Tim Anderson, Mark Court, Mary-Jane Johnson 020 7466 5000 The press release issued today by GETECH follows: GETECH Group Plc ('GETECH' or 'the Company') STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 23 SEPTEMBER 2005 FIRST DAY OF DEALINGS ON THE AIM MARKET OF THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE GETECH Group Plc, the oil services business specialising in the compilation and analysis of gravity and magnetic data, is pleased to announce its flotation on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange today. Teather & Greenwood Ltd is the Company's nominated adviser and broker. INTRODUCTION GETECH is a profitable and cash generative oil services business specialising in the compilation and analysis of gravity and magnetic data. GETECH licenses these data sets and interpretation reports to major oil, gas and mining companies to enable these companies to evaluate regional geology and thereby assist their exploration strategies. GETECH has compiled one of the most extensive commercial libraries of gravity and magnetic data. GETECH is based at the University of Leeds, and it has a subsidiary in Houston, Texas. PLACING STATISTICS Placing Price 39p Number of Ordinary Shares in issue prior to the Placing 20,000,000 Number of Placing Shares to be issued pursuant to the Placing 7,692,307 Number of Vendor Placing Shares being placed 578,051 Number of Ordinary Shares in issue immediately following Admission 27,692,307 Market capitalisation of the Company following the Placing and Admission at the Placing Price £10,800,000 Percentage of Enlarged Share Capital being placed pursuant to the Placing 27.77 % Estimated gross proceeds of the Placing £3,225,000 Estimated net proceeds of the Placing receivable by the Company £2,498,000 For further information, please contact: Buchanan Communications 01943 883990 Kelly-Ann French GETECH Group Plc 0113 343 5240 Prof Derek Fairhead Colin Glass 07831 258494 Teather & Greenwood Ltd 020 7426 9000 Mark Dickenson Rob Naylor BACKGROUND Magnetic data can be mapped to show small variations in the Earth's magnetic field. These maps can then be analysed to show the location and depth of geological structures such as faults, rock boundaries and volcanics. Gravity data is similar to magnetic data, except that it is used for mapping the variation of the gravity field of the Earth. Variations in the Earth's gravitational pull arise from changes in the density of rocks. The gravity field allows three-dimensional analysis of geological structures at depth. For example the gravitational field increases over anticlines (arch folds in rocks) and decreases over the top of salt domes (a plug of salt). This information, together with other data, contributes to the evaluation of the mineral and hydrocarbon potential of a region. GETECH licenses its magnetic and gravity datasets and interpretation reports to oil, gas and mining companies who are able to generate an image of the sub-surface geology over a potential exploration area. The Directors believe this benefits the oil, gas and mining companies by adding a greater degree of certainty before more expensive seismic exploration and drilling operations are undertaken. HISTORY GETECH has evolved from a University of Leeds research group, which was established in the early 1980s by Dr Derek Fairhead, currently Professor of Applied Geophysics. In 1991, this research group was renamed Geophysical Exploration Technology and it became a division of ULIS, a company established to manage the University's commercialisation of intellectual property. In 1996, Geophysical Exploration Technology Inc. was established in Houston, Texas, to strengthen and build on close contacts with major oil companies. In October 2000, GETECH was 'spun-out' from the University with 80 per cent. of the equity being allocated to senior employees within GETECH and with the University retaining the remaining 20 per cent. To preserve GETECH's valuable links with the University, Dr Derek Fairhead still spends 20 per cent. of his time teaching and supervising research within the University. GETECH has, since the mid-1980s, undertaken and continues to undertake a series of major gravity and magnetic continental scale studies, funded by oil and gas companies. These studies have integrated on a continental scale disparate exploration gravity and magnetic datasets owned by oil companies with other available data into a single unified database. GETECH took the strategic decision in mid-2004 to develop a new division of the business, the Petroleum Systems Evaluation Group (PSEG), and recruited senior geo-scientists to manage it. PSEG uses data already held by GETECH with other data to analyse the potential petroleum systems within sedimentary basins. The aim of PSEG is to provide oil companies with a more detailed insight of where oil and gas are likely to be found within the sedimentary basins. This further analysis builds on GETECH's core competency of defining the location and structural architecture of the sedimentary basins. The Directors believe PSEG has significant growth potential due to the increasing demand for its services. PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES GETECH has 3 principal activities: Global Gravity and Magnetic Data Licensing Interpretation Studies and Services PSEG The first two activities contributed the majority of Group revenue for the year ended 31 July 2005. 1. Global Gravity and Magnetic Data Licensing GETECH has compiled one of the most extensive commercial libraries of gravity and magnetic data, which is marketed and then licensed to oil, gas and mining companies. This activity has contributed the majority of Group revenue and profit since 2000 and contributed 51 per cent. Of Group revenue for the year ended 31 July 2005. GETECH continues to update its data library by entering into new marketing agreements with data suppliers and therefore continues to develop new products. For example, RAMS, an ongoing GETECH study, receives funding from four of the leading oil companies totalling in excess of £1.2 million. 2. Interpretation Studies and Services The Group undertakes two types of interpretation studies: Non-exclusive studies, whereby a number of companies provide the funding for the study but the ownership of the study remains with GETECH. The study is then licensed to as many clients as possible after completion. GETECH's global gravity and magnetic archive data are often incorporated within the studies. An example of such a study is the 'Libya Depth to Basement Study', which used GETECH-compiled gravity and magnetic data, over 700 wells, and public domain data to undertake a geological/geophysical three-dimensional interpretation study of the basement. The study has been sold successfully for five years as oil companies either enter Libya for the first time or return after sanctions were lifted. New studies are being considered in Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia. Proprietary studies, whereby a single client commissions work. Currently, this is a relatively modest revenue earner for GETECH contributing 3 per cent. of Group revenue for the year ended 31 July 2005. The work covers processing and interpretation of both GETECH datasets and survey data provided by the client. The Directors believe that this work broadens the Group's industry relationships and generates repeat work. GETECH provides three types of services, which include: Software sales and support of a limited range of databasing, processing and interpretation software developed by GETECH. Training courses to oil, gas and mining companies, which are part of GETECH's marketing strategy. Research and development to be undertaken and funded within set projects or as a standalone proprietary or group-funded study. The Directors consider that these three types of services are an important part of the business, although they do not generally represent a significant percentage of Group revenue, as service contracts can lead to further project work. For example, a one year study has been solicited from a leading European oil company as a result of services performed by GETECH for the oil company. 3. PSEG In mid-2004, GETECH decided to enhance its interpretation capability by establishing PSEG, headed by Dr John Jacques and Dr Paul Markwick. PSEG uses data already held by GETECH with other data to analyse the potential petroleum systems within sedimentary basins. The aim of PSEG is to provide oil companies with a more detailed insight of where oil and gas are likely to be found within the sedimentary basins. The Directors believe PSEG will increase GETECH's breadth of business activity in an area where there is competition, but also considerable demand from oil companies, for such services. PSEG will build on the already established links and reputations that Dr John Jacques and Dr Paul Markwick have generated over the last 5 to 10 years. PSEG has expanded to 5 people to date. The current focus is on proprietary studies, one of which has already been completed for a British company in South East Asia. PSEG is also promoting non-exclusive studies with one in the Gulf of Mexico having commenced, and another in the South Atlantic, which is currently being planned. CUSTOMERS The market in which GETECH operates is dominated by the large oil companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil and BP. The nature of GETECH's core business is licensing data on an enquiry by enquiry basis. This ensures GETECH is not heavily reliant upon one customer. GETECH's largest customers over the last three years, representing 50 per cent. of income, were BP and its joint ventures, ENI, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil and the US Government. In addition, GETECH licensed data and services to over 30 smaller oil, gas and mining companies (representing the remaining 50 per cent. of its income). MARKET The market is dependent upon the size of exploration budgets in the oil industry, which is, in turn, dependent on the existing oil production levels and future demand. An indication of this demand is the current high price of oil. Many of the oil companies have taken the decision to increase their exploration budgets as they need to locate and exploit new fields to maintain current production levels and to cope with the increasing demand from developing areas such as China. GETECH has a range of products, including data for a large number of countries worldwide, as well as a mixture of ongoing long and short-term projects with oil and gas companies. Hence the Directors believe GETECH is well positioned to provide good value products to oil, gas and mining companies which will remain in demand even if exploration budgets were to be reduced. Dependency on licences Where GETECH enters into collaboration, sponsorship and supply agreements with data providers to supply and enable GETECH to integrate data for specific geographical areas, ownership of the data remains with the provider of the data and GETECH requires a licence to be able to market the data derived from the project. These licences have not always been expressly provided. Competitors The Directors believe GETECH is perceived by the industry as a major supplier of regional gravity and magnetic data. GETECH's main competitor is Fugro Robertson, which is a subsidiary of Fugro N.V., an integrated oil services company. However, the Directors believe that Fugro Robertson offers no direct competition in some of GETECH's specific areas of expertise. Another potential source of competition is from in-house teams within the larger integrated oil and gas companies accessing the data from the original data suppliers and undertaking their own interpretation. The levels of enquiries received by the Company indicate that in-house technical teams are not currently able to cope with the demands for their services. Strategy The Directors will continue to grow the existing core business of interpretation studies and services, and are currently considering several new areas of study in which to invest. The Directors also intend to expand the core global gravity and magnetic data licensing business, and will use a portion of the proceeds of the Placing for working capital to manage and expand the data library. The Directors aim to take the lead role in selected studies going forward thereby reducing the need for sponsors. The Directors believe that PSEG has major growth potential and links closely and effectively with the existing core business, expanding the services GETECH is able to offer its customers. A portion of the proceeds of the Placing will be invested in PSEG to enlarge the operation, through recruiting additional qualified staff, increasing the accommodation and equipment and committing funds to additional marketing spend. The Directors will also look to use the existing cash balance and remaining Placing proceeds for acquisitions and joint ventures both in GETECH's current areas of operation and also to expand the Group's operations further down the exploration and production process, enabling it to access a wider range of oil, gas and mining company budgets. PROCEEDS OF PLACING The net proceeds of the Placing will be used: to invest in the core data library and for working capital for the development of global gravity and magnetic data sales, allowing the Group to take the lead in selected studies and providing funds to meet advanced royalty payments to secure access to new databases and sources; to invest in Petroleum Systems Evaluation Group (PSEG), enlarging the operation by recruiting additional qualified staff, increasing the accommodation and equipment and committing funds to additional marketing spend; and together with GETECH's current cash balances, to seek opportunities for acquisitions and joint ventures both in its current areas of operation and also to expand the Group's operations further down the exploration and production process, enabling it to access a wider range of oil, gas and mining company budgets. Current Trading The Group has continued through August 2005 to work on a number of non-exclusive and proprietary studies for its customers. In addition the Group continues to license magnetic and gravity data from its extensive library. Current trading is therefore in line with management's expectations. Directors The Board consists of 7 Directors in respect of whom brief biographies are set out below. Peter Stephens (aged 49), Non-Executive Chairman Peter was previously Head of European Equities Sales at Salomon Brothers and Credit Lyonnais. Since 2001 he has been working as a venture capitalist. He has a M.A. in Jurisprudence from Oxford University and qualified as a Barrister in 1978. He is a founding shareholder of Desire Petroleum plc and is a non-executive Director of Tristel plc, a company quoted on AIM. Dr Derek Fairhead (aged 60), Managing Director Derek is the founder of GETECH. Derek received a B.Sc. in Geology and Physics from Durham University, a M.Sc. in Geophysics from Newcastle University, and a Ph.D. in Geophysics from Newcastle University. He has been Managing Director of GETECH for over fourteen years, and is also the Professor of Applied Geophysics at Leeds University as well as having had over 100 papers published. Derek has an honorary Professorship at the Ocean University of Qingdao, China; was awarded the Bureau Gravimetrique International (BGI) medal 'for outstanding works on the Earth's gravity' in 1994; and received the Special Commendation Award by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists in 1999. Derek has numerous contacts in the oil and gas industry and Government Ministries/Survey Departments worldwide due to his involvement with the continental data compilation studies. Dr Christopher Green (aged 44), Technical Director Christopher has a B.Sc. in Physics from Durham University, a M.Sc. in Geophysics from the University of Leeds, and a Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of Leeds. He started work as a Research Assistant at the University of Leeds in 1983 and subsequently became GETECH's chief Geophysicist and Technical Director. He has developed software for the visualisation of gridded gravity, magnetic and topographic datasets, in a plate tectonic context and algorithms and techniques for the processing of altimeter data from the ERS-1 and GEOSAT satellites into free-air gravity. Ian Somerton (aged 50), Marketing Director Ian started his career as a Geophysicist at the British Antarctic Survey, UK, and Antarctica in 1976. During 1980-82 he worked in the Applied Geophysics Research Unit at Birmingham University before moving to Robertson Research International Limited (currently renamed Fugro). Whilst with Robertson Research International Limited, Ian was responsible for many geophysical acquisition, processing and interpretation projects. These involved overseas fieldwork in countries including, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Portugal, Botswana, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. Ian joined GETECH in 1994 and his current responsibilities include co-ordinating the marketing of all GETECH's products and services to oil, gas and mining companies. Colin Glass (aged 62), Finance Director Colin is a Chartered Accountant and a partner in Winburn Glass Norfolk Chartered Accountants. He is a founder Director of the AIM quoted Surgical Innovations Group plc which reversed into Haemocell plc in 1998. He is a non-executive Director of Coe Group plc taking the company from venture capital funding to AIM quotation through a reverse takeover. He is a non-executive Director of Straight plc which he assisted in floating on AIM in 2003. He also advised the GETECH management team in the negotiations on the spin-out from the University. Raymond Wolfson (aged 51), Non-Executive Director Raymond has a B.A. in Physics from Magdalen College, Oxford. He worked for thirteen years in BNFL in various management consultancy and commercial roles and then moved to Ernst and Young and qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Since 1991 he has been involved in the technology transfer company at the University of Leeds, as Finance Director and later Investment Director. He has created and been a director of various spin-out companies from the University, a significant number of which have raised funding and/or been sold. Most recently he has been responsible for managing the intellectual property created at the University of Leeds. Dr David Roberts (aged 62), Non-Executive Director David has a B.Sc. and a D.Sc. in geology and geophysics from Manchester University. He worked for the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences for 16 years before joining BP Exploration in 1981 as Head of the Basins Analysis group. He retired from BP in 2003 as Distinguished Exploration Advisor. David's experience at BP has given him world wide exposure to exploration in a variety of sedimentary basins and petroleum systems both onshore and offshore. He is also a Visiting Professor and fellow of Royal Holloway, University of London, the University of Southampton and IFP school in Paris. David has published more than 100 papers on a variety of geoscience topics. He is the founder and editor of Marine and Petroleum Geology and is the recipient of numerous awards and also runs his own geoscience consultancy. Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trusts The Company has received provisional clearance that its shares will be a qualifying investment for the purposes of the EIS and a 'qualifying company' for the purposes of investment by Venture Capital Trusts ('VCTs'). -ENDS- This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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