Acquisition of Interests

On-Line PLC 15 June 2000 ON-LINE PLC ACQUIRES 25% STAKE IN SMOKING GUN HOLDINGS LTD On-line PLC (the Aim listed Internet and Content company) today signed an agreement with software developers Smoking Gun Holdings Ltd, in which On-line purchases a 25% stake in that company. The deal follows a long and successful relationship between the two parties. A subsidiary company, Smoking Gun Productions Ltd, developed Giant Killers, the first ever football management game for the under 16s, which was successfully launched earlier this year under the On-line Sports label. The two companies are now gearing up, ready for the launch of Giant Killers Euro Manager 2000 in June during the Euro 2000 Soccer championships. The shares are being purchased for £200,000 in cash. This funding will enable Smoking Gun to continue its rapidly expanding operations, commencing with the development of the latest game in the Giant Killers series to be released through On-line Sports next year. In addition, the company is developing an online football management game, PerfectFootball.co.uk, which will use up-to-the-minute information to give players a more realistic game experience. Michael Hodges, Managing Director of On-line PLC, said, 'We are delighted with this opportunity to work more closely with Smoking Gun. They are an innovative and successful development company and through this agreement we are able to support them in their future growth.' Rob Henderson, Managing Director of Smoking Gun, added, 'PerfectFootball.co.uk is the flagship of our Perfect Sports Network, a cross-platform strategy to develop mass-market games and entertainment content for web, WAP and set-top digital formats. The timing of the deal, and On-line's proven publishing experience, ensures we will be at the forefront of this exciting new market.' Smoking Gun team members' combined softography includes Giant Killers, Carmageddon, and Terry Pratchett's The Colour Of Magic. Notes for Editors * On-line Sports is a division of On-line PLC and was launched at ECTS in September 1999. * On-line PLC is an AIM listed company specialising in the development of Internet content and tools, software and web sites. The company is also active in the development and publication of games in all formats from PC to Nintendo Colour Gameboy. * On-line PLC recently successfully floated its financial division advfn.com PLC (www.advfn.com) * On-line PLC can be found at www.on-line.co.uk * Other recent partnerships for On-line PLC have included Internet projects with GlobalnetFinancial.com and Quote.com. For more information, please contact: Chris Patmore @ On-line, tel: 020 8591 1125 x 227, e-mail: chrisp@on-line.co.uk
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