LUD Ludorum

RNS Number:7908A
Ludorum PLC
03 April 2006



                                                                     
                                                                  3rd April 2006



                    Admission to AIM - First Day of Dealings


Ludorum plc, the media and entertainment investment vehicle, which was recently
established to focus on rapidly evolving technology platforms through which to
distribute intellectual property (IP), announces its admission to the AIM market
of the London Stock Exchange and the commencement of trading in its ordinary
shares.

Highlights of the placing

* Ludorum has raised net proceeds of approximately #4.65 million,
  following a placing by Investec of 4.95 million ordinary shares at #1 per share

* At the placing price, Ludorum has a market capitalisation of #5
  million

* Investec is nominated adviser and broker to Ludorum

* Ludorum's RIC code is LUD

Rob Lawes, Ludorum CEO, said:

"We are delighted with the enthusiasm investors have shown to own shares in
Ludorum. Our aim is to create a leading organisation to exploit existing and new
technologies to maximise revenue streams through the efficient management of IP
rights across a broad age profile. We believe there are a number of exciting
opportunities in this rapidly evolving and fragmented sector and our listing
means we should be able to leverage these opportunities for the benefit of our
shareholders."


For further information, please contact:

Ludorum                              +44 (0)20 8849 8745
Rob Lawes
Charlie Caminada
Simon Pearce

Investec                             +44 (0)20 7597 5000
Erik Anderson
Rupert Krefting
Andrew Craig

Brunswick                            +44 (0)20 7404 5959
Kate Holgate
Sophie Fitton
Ash Spiegelberg



Notes to Editors:


Ludorum was formed in late 2005 in order to take advantage of the rapidly
evolving technology platforms through which to distribute intellectual property
(IP). The primary focus of the company will be on the media and entertainment
fields. Ludorum has been established by a proven media industry management team
who were involved in growing HIT Entertainment from an #18 million company into
a circa #476 million leading preschool entertainment company with a strong
portfolio of classic properties including Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank
Engine, Barney, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu and Guinness World Records.

Management

The Board comprises the following directors:


  * Richard Rothkopf, Executive Chairman, aged 61. Between 1969 and 1975 Mr
    Rothkopf held various positions in Europe for Mobil Oil Corp. In 1975 he was
    appointed International Controller for Nixdorf Computer AG, Germany until
    1977 when he became President of Douglas Dunhill Inc., a position he held
    until 1979. Since 1980, Mr Rothkopf has been Chairman and owner of Rothkopf
    Enterprises Inc. In addition, he held the position of Executive Chairman of
    Learning Curve International from 1993 until its acquisition by RC2
    Corporation in 2003 and has been a director and Executive Vice President of
    RC2 Corporation since 2003. Mr Rothkopf, who is currently based in the
    United States, was appointed an Executive Director of Ludorum on 16 March
    2006.


  * Rob Lawes, Chief Executive Officer, aged 38. Mr Lawes was company
    accountant at Video Arts Television before joining HIT in 1989 as its
    Financial Controller and Company Secretary. In 1995, he was appointed to the
    board of HIT as Finance Director and became its Director of Corporate
    Development in 1997 and Commercial Director in 1999. From June 2001 until
    October 2004, Mr Lawes held the position of Chief Executive of HIT,
    following which he advised Apax Partners on its successful acquisition of
    HIT in May 2005. Mr Lawes was appointed an Executive Director of Ludorum on
    10 January 2006.


  * Charles Caminada, Chief Operating Officer, aged 48. Mr Caminada was
    National Sales Director of Triple M Radio in Sydney, Australia from 1981
    until 1986. He joined London Weekend Television in 1987 as Sales Group
    Manager for its new Late Night Service until 1990 when he joined HIT as
    Senior Sales Executive. Mr Caminada was HIT's Head of Sales from 1993 until
    1995 when he was appointed to the board as Sales Director. In 1999 he became
    Managing Director - Worldwide Distribution and in June 2001 Mr Caminada
    became HIT's President - Global Sales and Marketing. Between June 2002 and
    September 2005, he held the position of Chief Operating Officer of HIT. Mr
    Caminada was appointed an Executive Director of Ludorum on 10 January 2006.


  * Simon Pearce, Finance Director, aged 45. Mr Pearce qualified as a
    Chartered Accountant with Spicer & Pegler in 1986, following which he worked
    in its corporate finance and investigations department until 1989 when he
    joined Pine Street Investments Limited, a venture capital company, as an
    Investment Analyst. In 1991, he joined Wassall PLC as Assistant to the
    Corporate Development Director, researching acquisitions and investments,
    and became its Company Secretary in 1994. In 2000, Mr Pearce was appointed
    Company Secretary of P&O Princess Cruises plc, a position he held until its
    acquisition by Carnival Corporation in 2003. From 2003 until July 2005 he
    was Company Secretary of HIT. Mr Pearce was appointed an Executive Director
    and Company Secretary of Ludorum on 10 January 2006.


  * David Maloney, Non-Executive Director, aged 50. Mr Maloney graduated from
    Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh with a degree in Economics and spent the
    early part of his career with Paramount Pictures Corporation and Mobil Oil
    Corporation. David Maloney has held senior positions in a number of service
    sector companies, including Chief Financial Officer for Le Meridien Hotels &
    Resorts and Chief Financial Officer for Thomson Travel Group plc. He also
    spent 12 years working with Avis Europe plc latterly as group Finance
    Director, overseeing the group's flotation on the London Stock Exchange in
    1997, and as Managing Director of the group's Spanish subsidiary. Mr Maloney
    is currently a non-executive director of Virgin Mobile plc and Micro Focus
    International plc, and he assisted the boards of both of these two companies
    with their respective flotations on the London Stock Exchange in 2004 and
    2005. He is also a non-executive director of Carillion plc, and a fellow of
    the Chartered Institute of Management. David Maloney was appointed a Non-
    Executive Director of the Company on 28 March 2006.




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

END
MSCKGGFFDMRGVZM

Ludorum (LSE:LUD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024

Ludorum (LSE:LUD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024