RNS Number:2311T
Sportsworld Media Group PLC
30 October 2000




                          SPORTSWORLD MEDIA GROUP PLC

                          DISPOSAL OF NON-CORE ASSETS
                                       
Sportsworld Media Group plc, the sports TV production, sponsorship  and  event
marketing  company, announces that it has agreed to dispose of the  Australia-
based outdoor advertising operations of its recently acquired subsidiary  SOMI
to Eye Corp Australia Pty Limited ("Eye Corp"). Sportsworld will  receive  a
cash consideration of AUS$80.8million (approximately #29.4 million) which will
be payable as to AUS$68.9 million on completion and a further AUS$11.9 million
upon completion of a number of advertising sites which is expected to occur in
approximately six to nine months. The assets to be sold include the  marketing
rights to  landmark  outdoor  advertising  sites  at  Sydney and Brisbane
International airports and on the main access roads to Stadium Australia.  The
disposal is conditional, inter alia, upon the completion of an agreement dated
30 October 2000 between Manboom Pty Limited and Eye Corp, which is expected to
occur in the short term

The  assets to be sold were acquired by Sportsworld when Sportsworld purchased
SOMI for #54m in March this year. The core businesses of SOMI that Sportsworld
is retaining are those that complement Sportsworld's current portfolio, namely
activities in sports stadia advertising and sports marketing consultancy.

In the year ended 30 June 2000, the assets to be sold made a profit before tax
of  AUS$2.9m  (approximately  #1.07 million) on  gross  billings  of  AUS$23.4
million (approximately #8.45million).  The net assets being sold as at 30 June
2000 were AUS$65million (approximately #23.6 million).

Sportsworld  will  maintain  its focus on its key sport-related  divisions  of
programming, marketing and sponsorship, stadia marketing and new media,  where
growth  opportunities are particularly strong. The proceeds from the  disposal
will  be  placed  on deposit until required by the Company in  order  to  fund
potential  new  acquisitions  in  areas  where  directors  believe  there  are
significant opportunities to further their strategy.

Commenting, Sportsworld's Chief Executive Geoff Brown said:

"Sportsworld  is  a  focused company and this disposal is  in  line  with  our
strategy  of  concentrating  on  the growth of  our  core  activities  in  the
expanding  sports  media  market. This is an area  which  is  experiencing  an
unprecedented demand for sports programming and a reallocation of  advertising
budgets  from  traditional television advertising to  programming  and  sports
sponsorship. The proceeds from the disposal, for which we have achieved a good
price,  will  support new and exciting opportunities for the Group  in  sports
media."

Enquiries:

Geoff Brown, Chief Executive
Andy Fletcher, Chief Financial Officer
Sportsworld Media Group plc                 Tel: 020 7240 9626

Tim Spratt / Tania Wild
Financial Dynamics                          Tel: 020 7831 3113
                                       


Sportsworld Media (LSE:SWD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more Sportsworld Media Charts.
Sportsworld Media (LSE:SWD)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024 Click Here for more Sportsworld Media Charts.