Issue of Equity

Auxinet PLC 5 July 2001 auxinet plc ('auxinet' or 'the Group') auxinet, the UK's leading processor of e-commerce payment transactions through its DataCash business, announces that Collins Stewart Limited, auxinet's brokers, have agreed to place 5,302,500 new ordinary shares at 40p each to raise £2.0 million, net of expenses. The net proceeds will be used to fund the Group's continued development whilst DataCash grows its profitability and whilst Platima customers are signed up and converted to revenue generative business. David Bailey and Gavin Breeze, two of auxinet's directors, have agreed to subscribe for 100,000 and 87,500 shares in the placing respectively. Application has been made for these shares to be admitted to trading on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, with admission expected to take place on 11 July 2001. The Group is pleased to announce that, ahead of expectations, DataCash has been trading profitably (before central Group overheads) since May 2001 and, as already indicated, anticipates growing profitability in the second half. DataCash has processed over 3.6 million transactions in the first half of 2001 to date, compared to 1.6 million transactions in the first half of 2000, and 2.6 million transactions in the second half of 2000. Transaction volumes have grown by approximately 9 per cent per month during the past year. Additionally, contracts are in detailed negotiation with a number of very sizeable potential customers that, if concluded, would add substantially to the rate of growth in transaction revenues. Accordingly, the Board remain confident for the future of DataCash and expect it to increase its profitability as a result of the high margin incremental revenues now being experienced. Platima, the B2B payments solution developed by auxinet, is believed to be unique in the market place as the only operational, fully functional, global payments solution designed to automate payments efficiently between businesses whilst minimising back-office processing. Platima's first customer, mondus, is due to launch the Platima service in the third quarter of 2001. A further agreement has now been signed with a US reseller acting as a marketing umbrella organisation for businesses operating in a proven, high volume transaction market sector. Further details are expected to be announced soon, although it is currently subject to confidentiality agreements. A number of other potential customers are in detailed negotiations with Platima, with particular interest being shown by businesses looking to automate payments in their e-procurement activities. The Board of auxinet is excited by the numerous prospects for Platima and are optimistic it will achieve profitability in 2002. The recruitment business has continued to suffer from a sharp fall in hiring activity in the technology industry, and the anticipated profitability of this division has therefore failed to materialise. Further cost-reduction measures have been necessary, and the business has now been contained. The performance of the recruitment division and the continuing cost of the Platima development will result in an overall auxinet Group loss for the first half of approximately £1.7 million. The Board has decided to raise further funding at this time as the recruitment division has been unable to generate sufficient cash-flow to fund the continued development of the payments' businesses. The Board believes the funds raised will enable auxinet to exploit the many significant opportunities presenting themselves to DataCash and Platima and is confident that the Group, as a whole, will move towards profitability in the second half of this year providing a base for solid, rapidly growing, cash generative profitability in 2002. A further update on developments will be provided with the interim figures to be published in early September. The press announcement has been approved for the purposes of Section 57 of The Financial Services Act 1986 by Collins Stewart Limited which is authorised by The Securities and Futures Authority Limited. Enquiries: John Coyle, Clerkenwell Communications Tel: 020-7713 0900

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