Investment in Another Company

NewMedia SPARK PLC
19 February 2001

               NewMedia SPARK Invests in Berry Birch and Noble



NewMedia SPARK plc ('SPARK') announces that it has today agreed to subscribe
for 650,000 new ordinary shares in Berry Birch and Noble plc ('BBN') at a
price of 119.25p per share. The subscription will give SPARK a stake of
approximately 9% in BBN's enlarged equity. BBN, which is listed on the London
Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market, is a long established IFA
firm.

Commenting on this investment Michael Whitaker, SPARK's CEO, said:

'It is unusual for us to invest in a publicly quoted company, particularly one
which is not at present directly involved in the technology industry. However,
SPARK shareholders will be aware that we have a number of investments in
financial software and on-line financial products, and we believe that there
could be interesting synergies between some of these technology businesses and
an off-line IFA firm such as BBN.'

For further information, please contact:

Michael Whitaker

NewMedia SPARK                                   020 7851 7777

Lawrence Dore/Annabel Knight

Mantra                                        020 7440 1512

Berry Birch & Noble

Berry Birch & Noble plc (BBN) is a national independent financial planning and
insurance services group, which has been established since 1963. BBN's
customers are individuals and companies requiring initial and ongoing
independent financial advice and insurance products. The company's business
comprises two distinct but complementary divisions - Financial Services and
Insurance Broking. The operating companies in these divisions provide a wide
variety of services including personal financial planning, pensions
consultancy, trustee services, commercial & planning insurance broking,
affinity insurance schemes and marketing services. BBN is ideally placed, with
its quality staff, strong customer base, enviable reputation and new
management team to capitalise on the growing consumer and corporate demand for
professional and specialist financial planning and insurance services.

NewMedia SPARK Plc

NewMedia SPARK Plc is a leading early stage TMT investor. SPARK currently has
a portfolio of over 50 investments in early-stage companies in Europe and
India. Core software, B2B infrastructure and digital television companies now
represent 70% of the portfolio in value. SPARK currently has operations in
London, Stockholm, Berlin and Madrid and has established a presence in India.
The SPARK team is one of the most experienced in Europe, with skills ranging
from investment banking and venture capital, to the active involvement in the
formation and running of technology companies. NewMedia SPARK is listed on the
London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market.