Interim Results - 6 Months to 31 Dec 1999, etc.

On-Line PLC
20 March 2000


On-line PLC Announces Encouraging Interim Results and Launch of ADVFN.COM PLC
on AIM


On-line PLC, the internet content developer and publisher, today announced
interim results for the six months to 31 December 1999. 

Highlights were:

* ADVFN.COM PLC successfully launched on AIM

* giant killers game released

* Business expanded rapidly but costs strictly controlled

* Turnover increased fourteen per cent


Commenting on the results, Michael Hodges, Chairman of On-line Ply said:

'I am happy to say the prospects for On-line PLC are very exciting. Our
businesses continue to expand, our customer base is growing and we have
substantial funds to call on. Particularly pleasing to me is we have coupled
this with a tight control of expenditure.  Since the period end we have
released giant killers and have several new products in development. Last but
by no means least we have successfully launched our subsidiary ADVFN.COM PLC
onto the AIM market with its own listing this morning.

I am looking forward to On-line continuing on this developing path and see
bright prospects ahead as we continue to exploit our long standing expertise
in both the internet and  computer entertainment field.'


For further information, please contact:

Michael Hodges       Chairman/CEO       On-line PLC       0181-591-1125

Adrian Weston        Media Relations    Weston.coma       01273-506655



Chairman's Statement

Interim results

I am pleased to report the results of the Group for the six months ended 31st
December 1999 as follows. Turnover increased by 14% to £374,000 ( 1998 :
£327,000), loss before tax increased  to £143,000 (1998: loss £96,000) and 
loss per share increased to 3.3p (1998 : loss per share 2.9p). These figures
were better than the Boards expectations. This profit and loss account and
accompanying notes were prepared under the Groups accounting policies as
disclosed in the published accounts for the period ended 30 June 1999 and have
not been audited. The Group will not be paying a dividend for the period.

The six months ended 31st December 1999 was a period of rapid growth for us
which is expected to continue for at least the next year. Our staff numbers
have increased over 50% since the last year end and we have more projects
under development than ever before, but our strategy of tight control over
expenditure has allowed us to achieve this with a relatively modest increase
in costs. 

Group Structure

As previously announced we entered into discussions with our advisers
regarding our group structure and how best to maximise opportunities and
returns for shareholders in our group. The prime outcome of this was the
decision to float off our ADVFN and 2C units within the company ADVFN.COM PLC
and to seek a separate listing on AIM for this company. This is to allow the
market fully to value this opportunity, and enable ADVFN.COM to raise further
funds to finance its future development. 

We have also separated our various other activities into separate subsidiaries
with the recruitment of several middle and senior management personnel so as
to enable each subsidiary to be more focused on their specific activities and
goals. 

Games Publishing and Development

Both the development side and the publishing side of our business have been
enhanced with the addition of new management and staff. We believe that we can
build this part of the business into a software games publisher with a
significant presence in the market.

As previously reported we have received strong interest in the range of
products in development under our new On-Line Sports brand, which were
presented at the European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) last Autumn. We have
signed a world-wide license for our Extreme Bike Trials game from the
governing body F.I.M. and this fits nicely into our plans to produce a series
of license based sports products. Our first development on the Nintendo Colour
Game Boy format, entitled MicroMachines 1 & 2 was successfully launched by our
client THQ and we look forward to finalising more projects on this format in
the near future.

Our publishing capabilities have been expanded and since the period end we
released  giant killers a football management game on PC CD. giant killers
has been well received and we are optimistic we can establish it as a brand.
We expect to follow up with several more releases this year and are also
actively looking for other third party products to publish. Computer games is a
dynamic industry and we feel poised to make significant inroads in the market
over the next year.


Internet Games Development

We have been expanding this section over recent months, concentrating on a
promising sector for Web games, the casual and family gamer. New games like
Art of Kings and 1 Million to 1 will form a part of a new games area we are
creating at the moment.  We continue to work towards developing a business
model that will enable us to hit 'critical mass' in this area and we feel sure
that the time will soon arrive when internet gaming will become a valuable
sector of the internet market. We are also actively looking for acquisitions in
this area.

ADVFN.COM PLC

ADVFN is an acronym for Advanced Financial Network. It is a comprehensive
financial website incorporating a private investor community and can be found
at www.advfn.coma. ADVFN was built, designed and developed by a team of our
programmers and web designers with feedback from a group of private investors
to create a new kind of investor community on the internet. 

ADVFN provides a combination of free and premium services. . Launched during
December ADVFN did not contribute to the figures for the period, but since
then its rate of growth in number of users, conversion of users to subscribers
and page impression rates have all been well above those expected.
Since the year end ADVFN has been floated on the AIM market and On-line will
continue to hold a sizeable stake, initially 76%, and will continue to
benefit from the future results of ADVFN.COM PLC.

Internet

The company continues to grow and enhance its web presence in many areas. One
of the most exciting developments has been the creation of AdvertWizard, which
can be seen at www.advertwizard.coma. 
This project has involved the creation of an internet advertising business
involving the automated buying and selling of internet banner advertising.
Although in its early stages Advertwizard is showing promise and we feel that
we can build an exciting business around its core technologies.

Strategy and Prospects.

The last few months have seen an enormous increase in interest in the internet
and businesses connected with it. Having been one of the first internet
companies listed in the UK, we believe our years of experience combined with
our management and technical skills leave us almost uniquely positioned to
benefit from the huge potential of the internet. We are pleased with the
success of ADVFN and  look forward to the benefits from its existence as a
separately listed AIM company. We are minded that the development and
subsequent floatation of ADVFN provides a useful blueprint for the future.

I look forward to the next 12 months with enthusiasm.


Michael Hodges
Chairman

20th March 2000


CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT


                              Six months ended   Six months ended    Year ended
                              31 December 1999   31 December 1998  30 June 1999
                                 Unaudited           Unaudited          Audited
                                    £'000              £'000              £'000
                                                                        



Turnover                              374                327             1,008

Cost of sales                         (22)               (21)              (30)

Gross Profit                          352                306               978

Administrative expenses              (500)              (398)           (1,165)

Operating loss                       (148)               (92)             (187)




Interest receivable and 
  similar income                       13                  -                13
Interest payable and 
  similar charges                      (8)                (4)               (8)

Loss on ordinary activities 
  before taxation                    (143)               (96)             (182)


Tax on loss on ordinary activities      -                  -                 -

Loss on ordinary activities after 
  taxation                           (143)               (96)             (182)




Loss per ordinary share             (3.3p)             (2.9p)            (5.1p)


There were no recognised gains or losses other than the result for the
financial period.

Notes to the Interim Statement

1. The calculation of loss per share is based on the loss on ordinary
activities after taxation divided by the weighted average number of shares in
issue for the period which was 4,270,000 (3,310,000 in half year to 31 December
1998 and 3,358,000 in year ended 30 June 1999). 

2. The directors do not recommend the payment of an interim dividend.

3. The financial information contained in this document does not constitute
statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act
1985. The financial information for the year ended 30 June 1999 is extracted
from the audited financial statements for that period on which the auditors
gave an unqualified report. A copy of those financial statements has been
filed with the Registrar of Companies.

4. As stated within the annual report for the year ended 30 June 1999, a
thorough review of the group's equipment, systems and software has led us to
the conclusion that we are at no material risk from Year 2000 bugs.

5. Copies of this statement are being posted to shareholders and will be
available from the company's registered office at Crown House, Linton Road,
Barking, Essex, IG11 8HJ for the next 14 days