Ad-hoc | 26 January 2000 08:35

Ad hoc-Service: Value Managem. & Research Eng

Ad hoc-announcement edited and send by DGAP. The sender is responsible for the contents of this announcement. —————————————————————————— JellyWorks plc and Ellerman Corporation Ltd have acquired a total of 1,5 million shares of VMR, or 22,5% of the outstanding capital, from Gold-Zack AG for cash and shares. JellyWorks plc is a public company quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange valued at over 300 million EUR. The company is dedicated to investing in internet and internet related businesses and is the primary Internet investment vehicle for the Rowland family. Jellyworks PLC enjoys outstanding access to attractive internet investment opportunities. In a short time span JellyWorks PLC has built an attractive portfolio of internet participations. Ellerman Corporation Ltd. is a Jersey company controlled by David and Frederick Barclay. The Barclay brothers have built a substantial investment group with a broad base of media, entertainment, transport, property and other interests. VMR currently holds ten internet investments. VMR’s principal internet asset is VMR’s 60% stake in VEM (Virtuelles Emissionshaus AG) the leading Internet IPO Bank in Germany, with approximately twenty thousand customers and twenty completed internet IPOs to date. VMR’s exposure to the internet has increased steadily over the last three years. Presently, approximately one third of VMR’s profits and about half of its net assets are internet related. This proportion is likely to increase significantly through close cooperation with JellyWorks plc and their partner network. There are immediate synergies between JellyWorks plc in deal sourcing, evaluation and co-investing on a global scale. The first of these synergies will be realized through a jointly owned company, Jellyworks Deutschland GmbH which will focus its activites on internet related investments. This company will initially be capitalized with 5 million EUR. Florian Homm, VMR’s Executive Chairman stated that “By coordinating our resources we will be able to create a unique platform for internet investments, particularly in Europe. Jellyworks’ strengths in the UK and our position on the continent make for an ideal combination. The new shareholder structure will allow VMR to build its internet activities at a far faster pace. We are pleased that our focus on the internet has been recognised by a professional internet investment company like Jellyworks.” Kevin Devine, Member of VMR’s Executive Management Board expressed that “We are extremely pleased to welcome JellyWorks and Ellerman into our group of core shareholders. This partnership strongly enhances the value of our internet activities and enables us to generate more value for our shareholders in this fast growing field.” For further information please contact: Value Management & Research AG Florian Homm: +49 – 6196 – 88 00 0 Jelly Works PLC Ed Guinan: +44 – 171 – 6549500 The Communications Group PLC Sam Valings: +44 – 171 – 6301411 End of Message