Offer Update

NewMedia SPARK PLC
2 September 2001



         NewMedia SPARK plc gains control of 53.7% stake in Sputz AG


NewMedia SPARK plc ('SPARK') announces that following the closing of its
tender offer for shares in Sputz AG ('Sputz'), SPARK now controls 53.7% of
Sputz shares.

287,150 Sputz shares were tendered at SPARK's offer price of Euro8.50 per
Sputz share, and SPARK has accepted these tenders in full. Prior to making the
tender offer SPARK had entered into a conditional contract to purchase
1,453,320 shares from two major shareholders. In addition SPARK has in recent
weeks bought 1,215,311 Sputz shares in the market at average prices of
slightly below Euro8.50.

SPARK has therefore now achieved its stated intention of acquiring at least
51% control of Sputz. Consequently, the present Sputz Supervisory Board has
tendered its resignation and SPARK will in due course recommend new
Supervisory Board members. SPARK will also maintain Sputz's stock market
listing as in due course this public quotation could be helpful in
facilitating strategic acquisitions by Sputz.

Commenting on these developments Michael Whitaker, CEO of SPARK, stated:

'We are pleased that we have now achieved our stated goal of acquiring
majority control of Sputz. We now intend to work closely with the company to
develop and maximise the value of its operating businesses and investments.
SPARK has extensive investments in electronic trading platforms and we believe
that by combining these with Sputz's broking operations, a substantial and
profitable business can be built.

Germany's capital markets have attractive growth potential and there is a high
penetration of broadband Internet connections amongst German private
investors. This puts Germany's retail market at the forefront of use of new
electronic financial product trading platforms.

Over the coming months we will be thoroughly reviewing Sputz's operations and
assets. We are confident that this deal will be asset enhancing and will
create considerable value for our shareholders.'



For further information, please contact:


Michael Whitaker / Joel Plasco

NewMedia SPARK plc                         [phone]


Alexander Eichner

SPARK GmbH                              [phone]


Lawerence Dore/Victoria Martin

Mantra                                        [phone]


NewMedia SPARK


Listed on London's Alternative Investment Market, NewMedia SPARK plc is one of
Europe's leading quoted venture capital organisations. SPARK currently has a
portfolio of investments in over 50 companies in Europe and India. At 31 March
2001, SPARK's portfolio was valued at £109.7m and it had cash reserves of £
76.6m. SPARK has operations in London, Stockholm, Berlin and Madrid. For
further information see www.newmediaspark.com.


Sputz AG


Sputz AG is a holding company listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange. Sputz's
portfolio of holdings includes a number of important financial businesses,
operating both on-line and off-line. For example, it owns approximately 1% of
the Deutsche Borse and approximately 11% of Tullett & Tokyo Liberty plc, as
well as having majority ownership of significant German broking operations and
a minority holding in Germany's first ECN. In addition it owns stakes in
several technology related pre-IPO businesses, and has been in the process of
developing a venture capital investment business to complement its financial
services businesses. It also has fund management operations. Sputz is
headquartered in Dusseldorf and also has operations in Frankfurt. For further
information see www.spuetz.de.