BILL.L Regulatory News (BILL)

21 Mar 2006 07:03

Billing Services Group Limited21 March 2006 For immediate release 21 March 2006 Billing Services Group Limited Announces New CEO Former Deutsche Telekom Executive, Roland Bopp, Will Join BSG To Lead In Dynamic Growth Period Bermuda - March 21, 2006 - Billing Services Group Limited (AIM: BILL) todayannounced that Roland Josef Bopp will join the company, effective April 3, 2006,as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and as a director on the board of directors.The company's current CEO, Patrick J. Haynes III, will remain with the company,becoming Chairman of the board, with particular responsibility for groupstrategy. Patrick Heneghan, current Chairman, will continue on the board asvice-Chairman and senior independent non-executive director. Bopp's appointmentis a strategic response to BSG's dynamic growth and increased global expansionover the past year. Mr. Bopp, a German national, brings more than 20 years of executive leadershipin telecom service organizations in both North America and Europe, mostsignificantly as Chairman, President & CEO of the Americas for Deutsche TelekomInc., a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom of Germany, based in New York. Over aperiod of three years he led the successful expansion of that business via bothorganic growth and through acquisitions. Prior to that, he was managing directorof Mannesmann, the U.S.-based, $20 billion telecom and engineering companyacquired by Vodafone in 2000. While at Mannesmann, Bopp was also responsible forestablishing Mannesmann's successful mobile business. Most recently, Mr. Bopphas managed a number of telecom sector private equity funds and has advisedlarge Eastern Europe wireless and landline operators, among others.* "Roland brings tremendous business acumen and global contacts to this position,"said Patrick J. Hayes III, Chairman of the board for BSG. "His understanding ofthe industry and customer requirements and his experience with expanding globalcompanies will be invaluable as we continue to build BSG into a globalcommunications clearinghouse." Mr. Bopp was recruited to Billing Services Group Limited to oversee thecompany's further international development, particularly in Europe, the MiddleEast and Asia. Mr. Bopp will relocate to London, where the company hasestablished a central executive function, and a full U.S.-based executive team,all of whom will continue with the business, will support him. As part of hisservice package, Mr. Bopp will be granted options on over 8,000,000 un-issuedcommon shares in the capital of the company, vesting over three years and onterms comparable to those under the company's existing share option plans. Thecompany's remuneration committee based on the fair market value of the company'scommon shares as of today will determine the exercise price of these options. "I'm very pleased to be joining such an impressive organization at a strategicmoment in its history," said Roland Bopp. "After just one year on AIM, BSG willmove up on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) next month. The company's strongmarket position and recent acquisitions have established the right structure forthe next phase of growth." * A complete schedule of Mr. Bopp's directorships for the past five years isattached. Contacts: Bobby MorseBuchanan Communications - UK financial media and investor relations+ 44 (0) 020 7466 5000bobbym@buchanan.uk.com Trudie ParsonsBlanc & Otus Public Relations - UK trade media relations+44 (0) 207 413 3229tparsons@blancandotus.co.uk Erin BrennanBlanc & Otus Public Relations - US media relations+1 512 372 6653ebrennan@blancandotus.com About BSG Clearing Solutions BSG Clearing Solutions is a leading global provider of clearing and settlement,payment services, and financial risk management solutions for communicationsservice providers. The company processes over 20 billion transactions annuallyfor 630 of the world's largest communications companies throughout NorthAmerica, Europe and Asia. With a ubiquitous, scalable platform and an extensiveportfolio of clearinghouse services for fixed-line, wireless, Wi-Fi, andbroadband networks, BSG monetizes network transactions by facilitating thefinancial exchange of its customers' services. BSG meets the needs of today'scomplex network interconnections and anticipates the requirements of convergingtechnologies, allowing for rapid and reliable deployment. BSG Clearing Solutionsis an operating subsidiary of Billing Services Group Limited, publicly traded onthe London Stock Exchange (AIM) under the ticker symbol BILL. For moreinformation, visit www.bsgclearing.com. ### This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange