Geneva, April 18, 2000

Nascendo signs alliance with Opta Ltd

Nascendo announces today the signature of a commercial and strategic alliance with Opta Ltd, the leading British new business creation company. Nascendo and Opta will be sharing resources in order to support both companies expansion in the UK and continental Europe from their respective head quarters in London and Geneva.

Marin Le Corre, President of Nascendo, commented: "Opta have a business model that is similar to ours and a complementary focus. We were impressed with the calibre of their team of senior executives and client list among blue chip telecom, finance and media firms in Europe. Nascendo is well positioned to support Opta on the ground and participate in their commercial expansion in continental Europe."

Opta was first established in 1988 and provides new business creation services for corporate and entrepreneurs with a focus on Telecom, Media and Finance industries. Recent clients of Opta include Prudential Bank (launch of Egg Plc, the leading UK online bank), and ITV OnDigital, with the design and launch of its new digital interactive TV portal. Opta also assisted with the mobile phone launches of Bouygues Telecom in France and Otelo in Germany. The team at Opta makes available to clients their hands-on line management experience acquired with blue chip corporate including Cable & Wireless, BSkyB, Orange, Mercury Communications, etc. The services offered by Opta are available to corporate, governmental bodies and entrepreneurs looking to establish new businesses, products and services, and new channels to customers using wireless, interactive TV and Internet technologies.

Paul Humphries, Development Director of Opta, said: "We look forward to a fruitful co-operation with Nascendo and the opportunity to expand our activities in continental Europe in the field of new business creation. We see a tremendous opportunity for companies to take advantage of changes in the market place in order to launch new businesses or products: Opta has the experience and depth of management resources to assist in the design and launch of such projects."

In common with Nascendo, Opta has equity stakes in a portfolio of promising businesses positioned to take advantage of opportunities arising from technological and market changes in the telecom, media and finance sectors in Europe. This "owners attitude" contributes to the strong partnership forged with clients which Opta and Nascendo are looking to serve in continental Europe.

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