OPP.L Regulatory News (OPP)

2 Apr 2007 12:07

Origo Sino-India PLC02 April 2007 RNS & MEDIA RELEASE2nd April 2007 ORIGO EXCHANGES SHARES IN M-IKON FOR STAKE IN FANS MEDIA Origo Sino-India PLC ("Origo")(LSE:OSI), the investment and strategic advisorycompany focused on the private equity markets of China and India, announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements to exchange its holding in m-Ikon Ltd ("m-ikon") for shares in Fans Media Company Ltd ("Fans Media"). m-ikon is a content provider and marketing company specialising in creatingmobile content, and campaigns, around sport stars. Fans Media and its affiliatedcompanies operate www.ifensi.com, China's largest dedicated online fanscommunity and one of the country's leading entertainment sites. Under the terms of the agreement between Fans Media and Origo, Origo will swap its 30% stake in m-ikon in consideration for up to US$360,000 worth of FansMedia ordinary shares. Origo has supported m-ikon with accounting, legal and strategic advisory services since co-founding the Company in February 2004 withUS$3,000 in seed capital. This deal revalues Origo's investment in m-ikon by a factor of up to 120 times. In parallel with this share-swap, Fans Media has agreed to invest an undisclosedamount in new ordinary shares of m-ikon. Both transactions are expected to closeon or around 15th May 2007, subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions. Origo acted as the exclusive advisor to m-ikon on this transaction. Commenting on the transaction, Chris Rynning, Chief Executive Officer of Origo, said : "We are very pleased to have assisted m-ikon to secure equity capital to fund its growth whilst at the same time acquiring an equity stake in Fans Media, one of China's most promising online companies. This is another example of how we create value for our portfolio companies and shareholders alike." Wang Ji Peng, Chief Executive Officer of Fans Media, explained the rational of the deal: "Expanding our sports offerings and mobile distribution capabilities are two priorities for strengthening our position as the destination site for Chinese fans. The strategic partnership with m-ikon is key to this strategy." Jan Stala, Chief Executive Officer of m-Ikon, added: "When we retained Origo late last year to find a strategic investor, we couldn'thave hoped for a better partner. Besides expanding our distribution in China, the Fans Media partnership offers us unparalleled access to China's most popular artists and movie stars. We look forward to working closely with Fans Media in creating new revenue streams for both companies." END For further information please call: Christopher Joll/Tim McCall, MJ2 020 7491 7776 Notes to Editors 1. Origo Sino-India plc ("Origo"): • Origo is an established and profitable private equity investor and strategic consultancy business, which provides its shareholders with exposure to growth opportunities and private equity returns in China and India. • Origo's business model is to generate capital gains from private equity investment in growth companies from which it also generates fees for consultancy services related to further fundraisings, M&A and strategic development. • Origo is aligned with two major institutions which provide a source of high quality deal flow. In China, Origo work closely with China Equity, a leading private equity firm, whose chief executive is on Origo's board. In India, Origo has entered into a memorandum of understanding with SBI Capital Markets, one of longest established companies in the Indian Capital Markets. A former chairman of SBI is on the board of Origo. • Origo has signed agreements with 4 Chinese companies and 7 Indian companies to provide both financing and advisory services and more than 20 potential investments in the pipeline. • At the AIM Placing in December 2006 Origo raised £12.8 million gross of new money via a placing of 25,673,238 Ordinary Shares at 50 pence per share. Each Ordinary Share carries a Warrant exercisable at 55p. Seymour Pierce Ltd is the nominated adviser and broker. 2. Fans Media Company Ltd ("Fans Media"): • Fans Media Company Ltd (BVI), and its affiliated companies, own and operate www.ifensi.com. Adhering to its slogan "You Are the Star!" the mission of ifensi.com is to bring Chinese speaking audiences across Greater China closer to their favorite stars and celebrities. • www.ifensi.com offers China's online audience one site for accessing entertainment content and related services: (1) entertainment news and information, syndicated from third party sources and in-house original content created by the site's own journalist; (2) multimedia content and services, such as online radio and live streaming video interviews; (3) social networking, discussion forums, and blogs. • Fans Media team was founded by Wang JiPeng, a well-known Chinese media commentator and co-founder of Bokee.com, a prominent Chinese blog site. The management stands out in that it brings together executives with a unique blend of media and entertainment experience coupled with online execution abilities, gained from previous positions with the top Chinese online portals including Sina.com, Sohu.com and Tom.com among others. • Fans Media's business model combines Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 elements. By creating and aggregating information, content and services around famous entertainment properties, the site attracts traffic, new users and eyeballs. Through interactivity and community features built on blogging and SNS technologies, the site ensures there is a recurrent feed-back loop of original user-created content, creating further customer appeal and stickiness. • Fans Media has established strategic relationships with MTV China and China Central Television ("CCTV"); its roster of advertising clients include top-notch multinational brands such as Nike, Nokia, P&G, Johnson & Johnson, Sony Ericsson, Motorola among others 3. m-ikon Ltd ("m-ikon"): • m-ikon (www.m-ikon.com) is a content provider and management company, offering wireless and online service providers unique content built around sports and entertainment stars. • m-ikon has signed deals with several word-class football players and other sports properties, around which the company creates mobile services and promotion packages for different formats covering SMS, WAP, JAVA and WEB and traditional media platforms. • m-ikon work closely with broadcasters, media-companies, mobile operators and TV networks, enabling these customers to generate revenue through distributing premium content. The company's growing network of distribution partners throughout South-East Asia includes Astro in Malaysia, MediaCorp in Singapore, M-Stars in Indonesia, Channel 3 in Thailand, among others. • Based in Shanghai, m-ikon is founded and managed by entrepreneurs and executives with 40 years of aggregate mobile experience in Asia. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange