On-Line Betting Service with Freeserve

Sports Internet Group PLC 9 February 2000 SPORTS INTERNET GROUP PLC ('Sports Internet') Formation of Exclusive On-Line Betting Service with Freeserve plc Sports Internet, Europe's leading integrated Internet sports content, statistics and betting group, announces the formation of a new and exclusive on-line betting service with Freeserve plc ('Freeserve'), the UK's leading Internet business. Sports Internet is delighted to announce that it has become the exclusive provider of fixed odds on-line sports betting services to Freeserve, through its subsidiary, Surrey International. Sports Internet will apply its integrated Internet platform, embracing content, statistics and betting, to the entire Freeserve customer base. Freeserve customers will thus be able to place fixed odds bets on a wide range of sports. Sports Internet's sophisticated systems allow customers not only to place bets but to access the extensive range of content and statistics contained within the Sports Internet, Planetfootball.com and Opta Index web sites. The service is expected to be launched before the end of March 2000. Sports Internet also announces that optasoccer.com, its recently launched football website, will also form part of Freeserve's sports channel. Freeserve customers will thus gain direct access to optasoccer's unique combination of football content and statistics. With its offering of up-to- the-minute world football news, combined with a comprehensive library of football statistics, optasoccer.com can provide Freeserve customers with an on-line encyclopaedia of football. In order to cement the commercial alliance between Sports Internet and Freeserve, Sports Internet is issuing to Freeserve a warrant to subscribe for 400,000 new ordinary shares in Sports Internet, at a price of 750p per share. The new ordinary shares subject to the warrant represent 1.18% of the current issued ordinary share capital of Sports Internet. The warrant to be issued to Freeserve will not be listed or tradeable on any market and is, subject to the approval of Sports Internet shareholders at its next General Meeting, exercisable at any time before 9 February 2002. Jeremy Fenn, Chief Executive of Sports Internet, commented: 'Teaming up with Freeserve is a major achievement for Sports Internet. We have reached this alliance due to our unique combination of sports content, statistics and betting that we have developed into a fully integrated on-line package. Freeserve recognises that this will significantly enhance their sports content and betting offer. We are delighted that customers of the UK's leading Internet business will now have direct and instant access to our betting platform.' John Pluthero, Chief Executive of Freeserve, added: 'We are delighted to offer our customers the best football statistics and content on the web, as well as offering them the opportunity for integrated betting on football.' 9 February 2000 Enquiries: Sports Internet Group plc Jeremy Fenn, Chief Executive Tel: 01423 700 800 College Hill Tel: 020 7457 2020 Nicola Weiner Archie Berens WestLB Panmure Limited Tel: 020 7638 4010 Tim Linacre
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