Sale of Investee Company

NewMedia SPARK PLC
08 August 2006


For Immediate Release                                              8 August 2006


NewMedia SPARK plc announces the cash sale of Mergermarket Limited, a company it
                         backed as a start-up in 1999.


NewMedia SPARK plc ('SPARK'), the investor in early stage digital information
and technology companies, is pleased to announce the conditional sale of
Mergermarket Limited, ('Mergermarket'), to the Financial Times Group part of
Pearson plc (LSE:PSON) at a £14.8m premium to SPARK's book value, thereby giving
SPARK a return of almost 24 times its initial investment.'


SPARK's book value for its stake in Mergermarket was £8.0 million at 31 March
2005 and £13.0m at 30 September 2005. SPARK'S expected proceeds from this sale
amount to approximately £27.8m.


SPARK was the first investor in mergermarket as a start-up in 1999 and has
invested a total of £ 1.175 million, comprising £725,000 initially, £200,000 in
September 2000 and a further £250,000 as a participant in a follow on round in
2001.

SPARK intends to use the proceeds to continue investing in accordance with its
stated investment strategy and to continue its share buyback programme. SPARK's
team has been investing in early stage start -up technology businesses since
1985 and in recent years has successfully exited from several early stage
investments at significant premiums to book value such as Footfall, Pricerunner
and Elata.


The transaction is expected to complete within three to four weeks once
confirmation has been received from certain EU competition authorities that the
acquisition can proceed.


Tom Teichman, Chairman of SPARK and Director of mergermarket said :


'This transaction reflects SPARK's core competence of picking start-up and early
stage investments created by outstanding management teams in growing markets.


'Mergermarket has performed extraordinarily since its foundation and the launch
of its first working product in 2000 in a very competitive but vibrant market
dominated by established major players, almost always exceeding its targets.
Even in M & A downturns it has performed excellently and come up with very
attractive and innovative products. This is the type of transaction SPARK was
established to 'spark' into life as the core of its business model. We believe
the sale of the business to the Financial Times Group will provide an excellent
base from which the company can continue to grow rapidly while incorporating its
products and resources into and benefiting from the large Pearson financial
information network, particularly the Financial Times Group.'


Caspar Hobbs, Chief Executive of Mergermarket said:


'SPARK saw exactly what we were trying to do when we simply had a business plan
and lots of enthusiasm, they backed both. They have been great partners and
shareholders, supportive and encouraging from the earliest stages of the company
and in every phase of its growth. They understand entrepreneurs because they are
entrepreneurs. Their wisdom and perspective always added great value. We are
delighted to now be a member of the Financial Times Group and we are extremely
excited about building our business with them going forward. '


Hawkpoint acted as financial advisers to the shareholders of Mergermarket in
relation to its sale to Pearson Plc.


Spark will be releasing its preliminary announcement of results for the year
ended 31 March 2006 shortly. Management expects to value SPARK's stake in
mergermarket in those results at the levels implied by the transaction announced
today, net of provisions for costs and SPARK management's 20% interest in
portfolio profits above an annual hurdle. Taking into account trading and other
portfolio valuation changes during the period ended 31 March 2006, SPARK expects
its NAV as at 31 March 2006 to be approximately 17.7p.



Enquiries:


For NewMedia SPARK

Thomas Teichman, Chairman                                     07007 333 123

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Executive Officer                    020 7851 7777

Isabel Podda, Buchanan Communications                         020 7466 5000


Notes to Editors:


About NewMedia SPARK plc


NewMedia SPARK is a quoted venture capital organisation based in central London
focused on early stage investments in the technology, media and telecoms
sectors. SPARK's portfolio has a particular emphasis on digital media, software
applications, technology and communications. As an investor, SPARK expects to
add significant value to its investments through active support and strategic
direction. SPARK is listed on London's Alternative Investment Market.


For further information, see www.newmediaspark.com.


About Mergermarket


Mergermarket is a leading provider of proprietary predictive event-driven
intelligence to investment banks, hedge funds, private equity houses, wealth
managers, restructuring specialists, law and accountancy firms and corporates
worldwide. Since its foundation in 1999, mergermarket has successfully built an
unrivalled blue chip client base through the development of its complementary
portfolio of 'must have', subscription-based electronic products including
mergermarket, Debtwire, dealReporter and Wealthmonitor which appeal to a broad
range of the financial services industry as well as corporate clients.


Fore more information, please visit www.mergermarket.com

                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange