London (10 May, 2004) – Ariadne Capital Ltd. announced eight new investors rounding out a European shareholder base of two-dozen successful entrepreneurs. New investors include Mark Blandford, founder of Sportingbet; Finn Helmer, founder of Giga; Nick Ogden, founder of On Instant, and earlier, WorldPay; Stefan Roever, founder of Navio and earlier, Brokat; Michael Jansen, founder of Brokat and Auxell Private Equity, and Nigel Burton, CFO, WILINK. Ariadne Capital is applying these individuals’ experience of building businesses and shareholder value to the next generation of European fast growth companies.

A source of capital for start-up entrepreneurs, these investors actively invest in Ariadne Capital-backed deals, thereby contributing to its growing portfolio of high-growth companies and its pool of private capital. This brings Ariadne Capital’s private investor network to a total of 24 active investors who are also Ariadne Capital shareholders. Ariadne Capital and its investors have invested more than $3 million into six Ariadne Capital portfolio companies including NanoMuscle, Navio, Intamac, Casino Village, Ten UK, and Real Health.

“This is ‘Atlas Shrugged’ backwards,” said Julie Meyer, CEO of Ariadne Capital, referring to Ayn Rand’s landmark book chronicling the building of the New World. “The impact of pooling the market power of top business leaders and entrepreneurs in this manner is massive. If there is a force for ‘building Europe.net’ in an enterprise-friendly manner, this is it.”

Ariadne Capital’s shareholder base now includes the founders of Cinven, WILINK, WorldPay, SES Astra, Net Beans, Systinet, Causeway Capital, James Hallam Insurance, Net Partners, ENBA/First E, Global Bet Brokers, Navio, Museums Online, Brokat, Affinity Internet Holdings, EuropeOnline, Sportingbet, and First Tuesday.

Bundeep Singh Rangar, COO, Ariadne Capital, said, “Julie and I are ruthlessly focused on backing those with the visions and execution ability to change the world.”


Notes to Editors:
Investment Highlights

March 2004, Intamac based in Northampton, UK received investment from four Ariadne Capital Investor Members.

October 2003, Ariadne Capital Investors also invested in and syndicated a financing for Cupertino, California-based Navio, a company focused on enabling digital commerce across platforms and on a P2P basis, which recently closed its Series A round.

August 2003, Ariadne Capital Investors invested in and syndicated a $16 million Series C financing for Antioch, California-based NanoMuscle, which develops motion technologies that displace motors.

Current Investors

Ariadne Capital Investors include Lionel Anthony, Mark Blandford, Peter Wakeham, Nigel Burton, Finn Helmer, Stefan Roever, Nick Ogden, Stephen Harlow, Gerhard Huber, Michele Appendino, Michael Jansen, Martin Velasco, Candace Johnson, Wayne Lochner, Roman Stanek, Alan Turner, Paul Turner, Paul Danowa, Gerard Bonnevay and Benoit Leleux.

About Ariadne Capital

Ariadne Capital is a European venture capital group, which invests in early stage private and advises later stage private and public companies, undergoing significant growth or change. The sectors that it focuses on include Enabling Technologies, Life Services, Communications and Software. Information about its portfolio can be found at www.ariadnecapital.com

Ariadne Capital provides its portfolio companies, as well as its strategic partners, access to its network of industry executives and investors, hands-on management and Board level assistance to implement strategic, operational and financial plans. Ariadne Capital helps its companies access capital, secure executives, leverage innovation and generate sales.

Ariadne Capital advises BT, Volkswagen, Lloyds TSB, Gresham Computing, T Mobile as well as high-growth start-ups.

Ayn Rand/Atlas Shrugged

http://www.aynrand.org/aynrand/

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