RNS Number:8002S
HG Capital Trust PLC
18 October 2005



The following is the text from a press release issued by HgCapital, which
manages the investment portfolio of HgCapital Trust plc alongside those of other
clients. The trust, which participates in all of HgCapital's investments, will
invest #5.4 million in Sporting Index Group Limited.

                   HgCapital wins the race for Sporting Index

London, 18 October 2005. HgCapital, the European sector-focused private equity
investor, today announced that it has agreed to acquire Sporting Index Group
Limited ("Sporting Index") from Duke Street Capital for a total cash
consideration of #75.8 million. Management will continue to manage the business
going forward and will retain a meaningful stake in the company.

Founded in 1992, Sporting Index is the recognised leader in sports spread
betting, with a market share of approximately 70% in the UK. It offers more
markets (approximately 23,000), more fun bets and more choice than any other
sports spread betting company. It is also the only sports spread betting company
to offer continuous 24 hour betting and sports spread betting on Sky TV.
Furthermore, it has recently expanded its product portfolio by developing a
unique range of spread betting games.

Sporting Index's management team, led by Chief Executive Richard Glynn, has been
successful in restructuring the business over the past 3 years and in growing
customer recruitment and bet volumes by approximately 50% and 37% respectively
over that period.

While recent historical focus of the company has been on the continued evolution
of the core UK sports spread betting business, HgCapital will now work closely
with management to leverage the strength of Sporting Index's core business, both
organically and by acquisition, to build a broader-based betting and gaming
group. This will involve not only the roll-out of the proven Sporting Index
sports spread betting model into new jurisdictions but also a further expansion
of the product range, both domestically and internationally.

This acquisition underlines HgCapital's commitment to, and expertise in, the
gaming and broader leisure sector. HgCapital, until recently an investor in
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power, has developed strong relationships in the gaming
and gambling sector and is ideally placed to support Sporting Index's growth in
this exciting market.

Ben Hewetson, Director and Head of Leisure Investments at HgCapital said:
"Over the past 3 years, Sporting Index's management team has built a market
leading business which they have developed significantly, most notably in terms
of distribution and product development. Over 70% of all bets are now placed via
the internet and the company continues to develop its distribution channels to
meet changing customer needs, as evidenced by the recent developments of its Sky
TV and mobile telephone channels. The recently launched range of spread betting
games is already showing good signs of growth.

We believe that Sporting Index represents a robust base from which to build,
both organically and by acquisition, a larger betting and gaming group, taking
advantage of the exciting growth opportunities in its target markets. We look
forward to working with management through the next phase of the company's
development."

Richard Glynn, Chief Executive of Sporting Index said:
"We are delighted to be working with HgCapital. It has a long and successful
track record of working alongside leisure-related businesses. Their Leisure Team
has demonstrated an excellent understanding of the potential of the business and
shares our vision for the on-going growth of the group. We are confident that
they are the right partner both for the business and for management and will
provide the support that we need to fulfil our ambitions for Sporting Index."

                                    - ends -


Enquiries:

HgCapital                              Sporting Index
Ben Hewetson    +44 (020) 7089 7888    Richard Glynn      +44 (020) 7840 4068

Maitland                               Brunswick Group
Suzanne Bartch  +44 (0)20 7379 5151    James Hogan        +44 (020) 7404 5959
Peter Ogden     +44 (0)20 7379 5151    Ash Spiegelberg    +44 (020) 7404 5959







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

END
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