Acquisition of Interest

Viking Internet PLC 10 July 2000 News Item VIKING INTERNET ACQUIRES 7% STAKE IN EPANI AB High technology investment vehicle, Viking Internet PLC, which raised £2.0 million in an AIM float this May, has made its eighth and largest investment to date. The company has acquired a 7% stake in Epani AB for £290,000 (just over 4 million Swedish Kronor). Epani is an international supplier of complete IT system solutions for the rapidly developing golf industry, and is extending its systems into other growing sporting sectors which attract affluent participants. Epani is involved with three main golf-related activities. These include five national portals in Sweden, Germany, Finland, Norway and Denmark operated by European Golf Web Holding BV. Epanis's own tee time reservation system is already used by over 600 US golf courses and is being adapted for another major operator in Florida. Epani has gained over 90% market share of the golf sector in the Nordic countries with a variety of IT products. These range from reservations, tournament handling, handicapping, cashier services to course maintenance management. The company is also an Application Service Provider. It employs 45 people and has established major offices in Halmstad, Sweden and Orlando, Florida (USA), as well as representative ones in several other European countries. Epani has significant partnership agreements with Ericsson, European Golf Web Holding BV, Adera AB, the British and International Golf Greenkeepers' Association, and other prominent golfing operators Viking Internet's investment represents just over 25 per cent of Epani's recently completed financing of around £1.2 million (16 m Swedish Kronor). Epani intends to use the funding to develop its existing businesses and products and to use the technology to expand into other sporting areas. Epani has recently signed a contract with the Swedish Equestrian Society, and the company is in discussions with other potential sports clients. Viking Internet's Executive Chairman, Erik Wachtmeister, said in Stockholm today 'Thanks to our exceptional connections we have got in at the base of what I am sure will be Epani's sharp success curve. We are in company with some illustrious names in the Nordic region's investment community.' Peter Sederowsky, who introduced the Epani deal, is a member of Viking Internet's Investment Advisory Board, and former Chairman of Bidlet AB, which in March he sold to QXL, of which he is now a director. He explains 'I wanted Viking Internet to participate in this exclusive opportunity at an important time for Epani, whose components have been independently assessed as extremely valuable.' Viking Internet's website is www.vikinginternet.com. Epani's website is www.epani.com.
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