Minority Stake Taken in Funplanet.com

NewMedia SPARK PLC 17 February 2000 NewMedia SPARK invests SEK 12,000,000 for a minority stake in Funplanet.com NewMedia Spark plc ('SPARK2) announces that it has agreed to invest SEK 12,000,000 (approximately £870,000) for a minority stake in Funplanet.com ('Funplanet'). This will be SPARK's first investment in Sweden, and its second in the Nordic region. Funplanet, based in Stockholm, is Sweden's number one entertainment site and qualifies as one of Sweden's ten most visited websites. Funplanet offers online games and entertainment which provide sophisticated marketing solutions for its on-line business clients enabling them to reach large numbers of visitors with co-branded entertainment. The java games are modular and portable and can therefore be supplied as interactive content to all major ISPs and portals. The company is exploring distribution of its products via Interactive TV and mobile devices. The company will use the funds to launch in the UK and will work with Spark and Result Venture Knowledge on a full European expansion later in the Spring. Jakob Kinde of NewMedia Investors will take a seat on the board. Result bring significant experience in the expansion process having assisted a number of internet businesses in their European expansions, including Dressmart and Sportus. Funplanet's founders, Peter and Mikael Sandberg, previously held senior positions at Bonnier Online (part of the Bonnier Group which is Scandinavia's largest media company) where they founded Funplanet in 1996. Commenting on the investment Mike Whitaker, CEO of SPARK, said: 'We are pleased to be investing in Funplanet, whose games and entertainment content is already proving to be an important marketing aid to a growing number of on-line businesses. This is an innovative and compelling use of the Web, and as a proven service in Sweden it has excellent potential to be rolled out into other geographical territories. We are presently investigating a number of further investment opportunities in the Scandinavian region.' We are presently investigating a number of further investments in the Nordic region, where we have developed strong contacts and where we are impressed by the high quality and technologically forward looking nature of the investment opportunities available. The combination of our strong UK presence and experience in financial markets presents a compelling reason for such companies to choose SPARK as an investment partner, and we look forward to further strengthening our Nordic presence.' Funplanet.com is the sixteenth investment by NewMedia SPARK since its shares began trading on the Alternative Investment Market on 28th October 1999. SPARK's present portfolio (in which it has invested a total of approximately £12m), comprises sharheoldings in Digital Animations Group, Bridge4u, Linkguard, Watchmyprice, Skillvest, Firebox, Crocus, Mergermarket, Synaptics, Purple Voice, Travelstore, Rainbow Network, Clipserver, and Wireless Commerce Limited. In addition, one investment, easier! Plc, has been sold for a profit of £2.75m. The present breakdown by category of SPARK's investment portfolio is as follows: Internet infrastructure software 5 B2B 5 Content 3 B2C 2 _________________________________________________________ For further information, please contact: NewMedia SPARK Michael Whitaker 0171 887 4510 Buchanan Communications Tim Anderson / Lisa Baderoon 0171 466 5000 Peel, Hunt & Company Limited David Davies 0171 418 8900 MSCDDLFFBLBXBBB
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