LONR Lonrho

RNS Number:4274S
LonZim PLC
16 April 2008



16 April 2008

                                   LonZim Plc

                          ("LonZim" or the "Company")



           Acquires option to control communication technology company

                                   FMN Africa



LonZim Plc (AIM: LZM), which was established for the principal purpose of making
investments in Zimbabwe and the Beira corridor in Mozambique, is pleased to
announce that it has signed an Option Agreement to acquire a 51 per cent.
controlling shareholding in ForgetMeNot Africa Limited ("FMN Africa"). FMN
Africa, a subsidiary of ForgetMeNot Software Limited Hong Kong ("FMN"), is a
newly incorporated communications technology company established to specialise
in 2-way global messaging across Africa.



FMN is one of the market leaders in global messaging solutions. Its Message
Optimiser (MO) software enables seamless messaging between SMS capable mobile
telephones, email addresses and instant messaging (IM) destinations.



The Acquisition

The immediate consideration of US$150,000, paid to FMN for the option, will be
used by FMN to introduce the MO software into two large corporate customers in
Zimbabwe.  Upon FMN Africa demonstrating the successful implementation of the MO
solution with two significant customers, LonZim has the option to acquire a 51
per cent. stake in FMN Africa from FMN for a further US$400,000.



If LonZim exercises the option, a further US$1,000,000 will then become payable
by LonZim to FMN on 30 December 2008 in return for FMN granting FMN Africa an
exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable and royalty-free licence to use, distribute
and sub-licence FMN's Message Optimiser technology across Africa.




Message Optimiser

Message Optimiser (MO) uniquely provides global 2-way unified messaging
capability, including 2-way email, 2-way instant messaging (IM) and SMS
messaging to and from any mobile device and personal computer, irrespective of
device type, sophistication, carrier network, IM client or language. MO
instantly provides any mobile device with some of the features of high end
smartphones and devices without the need for any software download or change in
user behaviour. End users (both those who pre pay and those on a contract) can
become up and running within seconds, using just their mobile phone and without
any need for PC or Internet access.



Importantly, MO forms the core of FMN's secure micro banking and micro credit
services, opening up huge opportunities in mobile banking and credit provision
to the massive "unbanked" sector of Africa. MO allows real time, remote account
set-up for a variety of financial transactions including debit, credit, bill
payment, top-ups and money transfers using just the mobile phone with
comprehensive automatic audit and tracking of all transactions and
communications.



Deal Rationale

LonZim and FMN Africa intend to develop the MO technology across the business
and private sectors in Zimbabwe and other countries in southern Africa.



This acquisition and the licence agreement with FMN are intended to accelerate
the development and distribution of the technology throughout the African
continent and FMN Africa will appoint Zimbabwe based IT and telecoms company,
Celsys Limited (an existing LonZim subsidiary), as its regional partner.  Celsys
has the capability to deliver competent technical support and high level
contacts in the telecommunications and financial sectors in the region, and will
be responsible for beginning the roll out of the technology in Africa from
Zimbabwe.



The intended clients for FMN Africa are primarily carriers and financial service
providers who wish to provide high value sophisticated unified messaging and
banking facilities to all of their customers without the need to expend on
upgrading devices or infrastructure or increasing overheads.



David Lenigas, Executive Chairman of LonZim commented:


"Message Optimisation is an innovative, market driven solution that will be
beneficial to many phone users throughout Africa. The system permits a normal,
low cost GSM handset to be able to send and receive emails, transfer funds and
carry out services otherwise only available at the most affluent end of the
market.



"FMN Africa strategically complements LonZim's previous investment in Celsys and
financial services technology company, Paynet. These businesses are already
successful in the current economic environment, demonstrating their strength and
potential, and are well positioned to rapidly benefit from an economic upturn in
Zimbabwe.  With relatively low overheads in Zimbabwe LonZim plans to launch a
pan-African technology company that will accelerate communications and commerce
across Africa."



Paul Roberts, co-founder and Director of FMN commented:



"We are very pleased to be working with LonZim in distributing our patent
pending Message Optimiser mobile technology in Africa and, coupled with LonZim's
excellent distribution and reach, FMN Africa has the capacity to provide a
massive leap forward in bringing highly advanced digital communications and
access to comprehensive financial services to the entire African continent. This
agreement with LonZim is consistent with our market entry strategy of working
with companies who have in depth local knowledge in the territories in which we
operate."




ENQUIRIES

LonZim Plc                                           +44 (0)20 7016 5105

David Lenigas, Executive Chairman                    +44 (0)7881 825 378
Geoffrey White, Chief Executive Officer              +44 (0)7717 307 308
Emma Priestley, Executive Director                   +44 (0)7867 785 177

Pelham Public Relations
Charles Vivian                                       +44 (0) 20 7743 6672

                                                     +44 (0) 7977 297903
James MacFarlane                                     +44 (0) 20 7743 6375

                                                     +44 (0) 7841 672831

Collins Stewart Europe: NOMAD
Helen Goldsmith                                      +44 (0) 20 7523 8350


NOTES TO EDITORS

About LONZIM:

LonZim Plc ("LonZim") is a company focused on developing and acquiring business
opportunities primarily in Zimbabwe and the region of Mozambique known as the
Beira Corridor, which links Zimbabwe to the coast.  LonZim was listed on the AIM
market of the London Stock Exchange on 11th December 2007 after raising �29.16
million.  LonZim is 20 per cent. owned and managed by Lonrho Plc (AIM: LONR) a
company strategically focused on the development of business opportunities in
infrastructure, transportation, support services and natural resources
throughout Africa.

Since listing in December 2007, LonZim has invested in or acquired control of:


Celsys Limited                        www.celsys.co.zw
Gardoserve (Private) Ltd t/a Millpal Chemicals

Aldeamento Turistico de Macuti, SARL., a company owning land in central Beira on
the Mozambique coast

Paynet Limited



About FMN:



ForgetMeNot Software is a privately held company headquartered in Hong Kong with
representation in USA and Asia and plans for setting up in Europe in the near
future. The company provides a range of scalable Unified Messaging services and
technologies to Carriers, Enterprises and Financial Institutions worldwide who
wish to capitalise on the ubiquity of the mobile phone and its capacity to
enhance and empower individuals and institutions. Its patent pending software
allows truly seamless Unified Messaging and transaction capability using
industry standard protocols.






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