Intention to make an offer

NewMedia SPARK PLC 17 May 2002 NewMedia SPARK plc announces its intention to make an offer for the minority shareholdings in Spuetz AG NewMedia SPARK plc ('SPARK') announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, NewMedia SPARK-Holding GmbH, has today announced its intention to make a voluntary public offer to acquire the minority shareholdings in Spuetz AG (SPZ). The offer price will be EUR 5.00 per share, which represents a premium of 41% over the closing price of Spuetz shares on 16 May 2002. If successful, this offer will involve a maximum cost to SPARK of EUR 11m (£6.9m). NewMedia SPARK-Holding GmbH acquired a majority stake in Spuetz in September 2001 and currently holds approximately 60% of the outstanding share capital. Since September, Spuetz has appointed a new management team, sold its stake in the Deutsche Boerse and most recently merged its warrant trading and settlement business, Spuetz Boersenservice GmbH, with the equity broking business of Kling Jelko Wertpapierhandelsbank AG. Spuetz, which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, is now concentrating on its investment activity and, in the invitation to the General Meeting of Shareholders to be held on 28 June 2002, has signalled that it may also seek to delist in the near future. SPARK is therefore providing minority shareholders with an opportunity to dispose of their shares at a premium to the current market price. The offer is pursuant to (S) 10 (1), (3) of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Code. A copy of the offer document will be published on www.newmediaspark.com in due course. For further information, please contact: Michael Whitaker / Joel Plasco NewMedia SPARK plc +44 (0) 207 851 7777 NewMedia SPARK plc Listed on London's Alternative Investment Market, NewMedia SPARK plc is a quoted European venture capital organisation focused on investments in the telecoms, media, technology and financial services sectors. SPARK has operations in London, Stockholm and Berlin. For further information see www.newmediaspark.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100