Disposal

Interregnum PLC 29 March 2000 INTERREGNUM PLC ('Interregnum' or 'the Company') REALISATION OF GEOCONFERENCE INVESTMENT Interregnum, the specialist IT venture marketing company, has successfully advised Geoconference Limited ('Geoconference'), the teleconferencing services provider, on its sale to Global Crossing Conferencing, a subsidiary of Nasdaq-quoted Global Crossing Ltd for an undisclosed consideration. The proceeds due to Interregnum from this transaction amount to an initial consideration of over £360,000 from both the sale of its equity interest and an advisory fee from Geoconference, to be followed by a further fee arising from earn-out payments over the next two years. The sale of Geoconference represents Interregnum's first realisation since the Company's shares were admitted to trading on the Alternative Investment Market on 13 March 2000. Interregnum was awarded an equity stake in Geoconference at the time of its formation in 1996. This was subsequently augmented by a grant of options, leaving Interregnum with a 4.2% stake at the time of sale. Interregnum advised Geoconference on the development of its business plan to build a new-style, audio and video- conferencing company. Ken Olisa of Interregnum became Chairman of Geoconference in July 1996. In addition, Interregnum assisted in two rounds of fund-raising for Geoconference. In July 1996, 3i and Thomson Clive provided a total of £1.6 million of start-up capital and in October 1998, a £500,000 finance facility was provided by IFT, a US-based trade finance house. Geoconference has call centres in Glasgow and London and a national virtual private network. In 1999, the company employed around 70 people and generated revenues of nearly £4m. Its customers include IBM Europe, Clifford Chance and Deutsche Bank. Ken Olisa, Managing Director, Interregnum plc commented: 'We take great pride in the successful conclusion of our venture marketing relationship with Geoconference. As Founder shareholders, our hands-on approach to venture marketing helped George Mackintosh to grow a company from scratch to a turnover of £4m and 50 strong workforce. As M&A advisors to the company we were able to demonstrate the breadth of Interregnum's services'. For more information: Interregnum plc 0207 494 3080 Ken Olisa, Managing Director Adrian Merryman, Chief Investment Officer Sherry Madera, Principal Teather & Greenwood Limited 0207 426 9000 Russell Cook Adrian Dewey Ludgate Communications 0207 216 4453 Vanessa Anderson Tim Davis NOTES TO EDITORS * Interregnum is a specialist IT venture marketing company. It works with high potential IT entrepreneurs to develop, resource and implement aggressive, marketing-led, value building strategies and to 'transform technology into wealth'. * Interregnum was admitted to AIM on 13 March 2000. The closing middle market price on 28 March 2000 was 175p; a 25% increase to the placing price of 140p. This values Interregnum at approximately £113 million. The proceeds of the placing will be used to finance the expansion of all areas of the business, in particular its highly successful venture marketing activities. * Interregnum provides four main services: - Venture Marketing: working as non-executive directors with high-potential IT companies to develop, fund and implement aggressive business strategies, in order to increase realisable market value and create wealth; - Venture Capital: working with institutional and private investors to source capital; - Research: working with both innovators and investors on specific projects where the critical analysis or development of strategies is involved; - Mergers & Acquisitions: helps the parties involved in M&A transactions to understand and justify the unique value attributable to IT companies. * Interregnum - (www.interregnum.com) is headquartered in London with an office in San Francisco, USA, and associates in Silicon Valley and New York. The company currently employs 16 people. * In August 1999, Interregnum launched 'enterprise.USA', in conjunction with the DTI-backed Software Business Network, to assist UK IT entrepreneurs in establishing and building the right infrastructure to launch and sustain successful businesses in the US. * Interregnum currently has a portfolio of 24 IT and IT-related investments.
UK 100

Latest directors dealings