RNS Number:4866V
Clipper Ventures PLC
8 December 2000


                                                                8 December 2000

                             CLIPPER VENTURES PLC

                           FOCUS ON CORE ACTIVITIES

Clipper Ventures PLC ("Clipper Ventures"), the AIM quoted yacht racing and
branded marine events company, is to focus on its core activities in order to
concentrate its resources on developing and promoting major events capable of
attracting significant participation income, media coverage and associated
sponsorship revenue.

Clipper Ventures was formed in 1995 to run round-the-world yacht races.  These
biennial events have become increasingly successful.  The latest event, The
Times Clipper 2000 with The Times Newspaper as title sponsor, started in
mid-October 2000.  All the berths have been sold and the event is attracting
substantial coverage in both the print and broadcast media.  As a result of
this high profile, Clipper Ventures is receiving an unprecedented level of
crew registrations for its 2002 round-the-world race.

Clipper Ventures' experience has shown that the potential value of sponsorship
reflects the media coverage achieved on the previous event.  The print and
broadcast media coverage achieved to date for the 2000 race is running at over
five times the volume for the 1998 race at the same stage.  Clipper Ventures
has commissioned external studies which give rise to the projection that the
media value of the Times Clipper 2000 will be approximately #5 million,
providing an excellent basis for the work which has commenced on marketing the
sponsorship rights as a major package for its 2002 and 2004 round-the-world
races.

Over the past two years, Clipper Ventures initiated a number of new activities
which are related to its core business of major marine events.  In particular,
the Corporate Sailing division has become firmly established with forward
bookings for 2001 running at a level some seven times higher than a year ago.
Corporate Sailing will be integrated more closely with the round-the-world
races in order to offer customers more comprehensive and attractive corporate
sailing 'packages'.  It  will also make better use of management and premises,
resulting in substantial cost savings.

The rigid inflatable boat ("RIB") import, distribution and charter business
will be sold to a new company which will have the resources to accelerate its
development.  Close links with this business will be retained and will enable
Clipper Ventures to have access to a fleet of RIBs for corporate entertainment
and other events.  Although this business has not yet moved into
profitability, its disposal is expected to be completed at book value.
Elsewhere, the clothing division will be run down and the remaining stock
sold.

Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston commented :


"We have taken a close look at all our activities and have concluded that
there is still a huge unexploited potential in our successful round-the-world
yacht races, corporate sailing and other large marine events.  Accordingly, we
have decided to focus our management and financial resources on these major
activities.  We have put in place a number of partnerships which allow Clipper
Ventures to continue to offer our established customer base a wide portfolio
of sailing events and activities.  These changes will reduce our costs and
improve our profitability."


For further information, please contact :


Clipper Ventures PLC                                              023-8023-7088
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman
William Ward, Chief Executive
Richard Cooper, Managing Director
Tim Cowper, Finance Director

Buchanan Communications                                           020-7466-5000
Steve Liebmann or Ed Cowdery
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