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IDEAL SHOPPING DIRECT PLC IS VOTED AIM COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Ideal Shopping Direct plc was voted Company of the Year at the tenth annual AIM Awards at a ceremony in London last night (13 October). The AIM Awards are sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers in association with the London Stock Exchange.

AIM is the London Stock Exchange’s market for young and growing companies from all over the world and the AIM Awards recognise the outstanding companies quoted on the market across a range of categories.

In 2005, a total of £4.95 billion has been raised and 389 companies have been admitted to AIM including 78 international companies. Since its launch in 1995, over 2,700 companies have chosen to join AIM.

Mark Speller, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance, said:

“Given PricewaterhouseCoopers strategy to support growth companies, we are naturally delighted by the way in which the AIM awards has showcased so many of the success stories from AIM’s first ten years. We commend in particular the five winners of the Decade of Excellence awards. They have really helped put AIM on the map.”

Martin Graham, Director of Market Services and Head of AIM, said:

“AIM has seen phenomenal growth and now has over 1300 companies including over 200 from overseas. Since its launch in 1995 a total of £20 billion has been raised by AIM companies and over 350 billion shares have been traded. AIM has now emerged as the world’s most successful growth market and its success is testament to the hard work of the entire AIM community. We hope that this community will continue to grow as we expand AIM across Europe.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

1. Category winners were:

Company of the Year Award: Ideal Shopping Direct plc

Ideal Shopping Direct Plc is engaged in the business of distance selling through its three television home channels in the United Kingdom: Ideal World, Create and Craft, and Ideal Vitality. On 23 April 2004, Ideal World, the Company's flagship channel, commenced broadcasting on Freeview, channel 22, in addition to broadcasting on the digital satellite channel 635 and NTL 855. This expanded Ideal Shopping's potential viewers by three million. Ideal Vitality offers a range of healthy living products that are designed to encourage a healthier lifestyle and add to the wellbeing of customers. Ideal Vitality also offers beauty products. Create and Craft is a 24-hour channel that features a portfolio of craft products, such as accessories, needlecraft and embroidery, scrap booking, tools and equipment, among others. For the six months ended 30 June 2005, Ideal Shopping Direct plc's turnover increased 54% to £37m. Net income totalled £2.6m, up from £480,000. Turnover reflects significant contribution from the Freeview Channel. Net income benefited from improved operating margins, higher interest received. There were significant contributions from the niche market channels: Create and Craft and Ideal vitality.

International Company of the Year Award: First Quantum Minerals plc

First Quantum Minerals Limited is engaged in the exploration and development of mineral properties located primarily in Africa. The company's principal focus is on the copper sector of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Its properties in Zambia include the wholly-owned Bwana property and the 80%-owned Kansanshi property. During the year ended December 31, 2004, Bwana produced 41,546 tons of copper and 66,460 tons of surplus acid. In the DRC, First Quantum operates the 100%-owned Lonshi Copper Mine, which provides oxide copper ore for processing at Bwana. The company also holds a 100% interest in the Frontier Copper Deposit in the DRC, and an 80% interest in the Guelb Moghrein Copper-Gold Deposit in Mauritiana, both of which were in the development stage as of December 31, 2004. In addition, the company holds interests in Mopani Copper Mines Plc, which operates the Nkana and Mufulira underground copper mines in Zambia. For the three months ended 31 March 2005, First Quantum Mineral Limited's revenues increased 51% to $38.4m. The company's net income for the period totalled $27m, up from $6.7m. Revenues reflect an increase in production of grade A copper cathodes at the Bwana plant in Zambia and the Comisa mine in Congo. Net income also reflects foreign exchange income vs. a loss and $16.1m gain on disposal of investment.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Michael Kiernan – Consolidated Minerals plc

Consolidated Minerals is a diversified, Australian-based resource group with a strong growth focus in the carbon steel materials business. In addition to AIM, the company is also listed on Frankfurt and Australian Stock Exchanges. Consolidated has a sound profit base founded on its successful West Australian manganese operations at the Woodie Woodie mine in the State’s Pilbara region, supplemented by a growing production base at the Coobina Chromite mine in the same region. The company has a strong track record in the successful and cost-effective development and operation of mining projects.

Michael Kiernan has 30 years experience in the transport, processing and mining contracting industries. He has been involved with all the major manganese projects of the East Pilbara. His experience includes gold, iron ore, nickel, barytes and tin projects. He has held executive positions with Australia's major transport and mining contractors.

Best Newcomer Award: Spice Holdings plc

Spice Holdings plc is the holding company of a group of support services businesses operating predominantly in the United Kingdom utilities sector. The company's activities are split into three independently-managed operating divisions: electricity services, telecom services and water services. The electricity services division is a national support services operation offering a wide and diverse range of services to a number of companies, primarily utilities, across the United Kingdom. The telecom services division comprises three principal operating divisions, forming a specialist telecommunications services business that provides solutions, products and services for a worldwide client base. The water services division is focused on both clean and dirty water services for the industrial/commercial sector, including water utilities, and to a limited extent, the domestic sector. For the fiscal year ended 30 April 2005, Spice Holdings plc's turnover rose 3% to £85.5m. Net profit totalled £3.7m, up from £1.5m. Turnover reflects growth in organic turnover within water services. Net income also benefited from improved operating margin, decrease in administrative expenses and lower interest payable.

Best Performing Share: Asia Energy plc

Asia Energy plc was incorporated in London in September 2003 and acquired 100% of Asia Energy Corporation Pty Ltd, which holds the licences to explore and mine the Phulbari Coal Project in northwest Bangladesh. Asia Energy Corporation Pty Ltd acquired the Project from BHP, which made the original discovery of coal at Phulbari. Building on BHP’s work, Asia Energy undertook additional drilling and a pre-feasibility study. The Company raised £14m and its shares were admitted to trading on AIM in April 2004.

From a low of 73p in August 2004, the shares closed out the period in review, at the end of July 2005, at 581p.

Best Use of AIM Award: Media Square plc

Media Square plc is a United Kingdom-based holding company for a group of businesses engaged in marketing communications and retail marketing services. Fourninety Limited is a retail marketing service company. Coutts is a retail communications provider. BANC Group is a business-to-consumer marketing communications company. Clark McKay Walpole is a direct marketing and advertising agency. IAS Group is a business-to-business marketing communications company. Arnold Interactive is an interactive agency. The company has offices, creative studios and production centres in London, Newmarket, Oxford, Manchester and Leeds. For the six months ended 30 April 2005, Media Square plc's turnover totalled £29.6m, up from £6.6m. Net profit totalled £928k, up from £406k. Turnover reflects strong results from the Retail Marketing Services, through acquisitions and organic growth. Net profit benefited from improved margins due to close attention to operational performance as well as growth in the Marketing Communications business.

AIM transaction of the year: Sportingbet plc

Sportingbet plc is a United Kingdom-based online gambling company. The company provides tax-free gambling for its clients in over 100 countries around the world. The company relies on sporting events around the globe, as well as additional sports and special events, including motor sports, boxing, athletics, international competition and politics. It offers fully-interactive sports betting and casino services where clients can view prices, fund their accounts, place bets and check winnings online and in real-time. In addition, the company offers a wide range of flexible payment options to enable deposits and refunds using secure online credit card processing for protection. For the nine months ended 30 April 2005, Sportingbet plc's turnover totalled £1.19bn. Net profit totalled £31.4m.

Sportingbet acquired Paradise Poker for £169m in November 2004, as part of its bid to become a world leader in the online sports betting and gaming entertainment industry. Sportingbet paid £105m in cash and the rest in shares for Paradise, which is one of the four largest internet poker sites in the world. Established in 1999, Paradise is thought to command a 10% market share of the online poker sector generating turnover of £20.3m and an operating profit of £11.6m in the first seven months of 2004.

Best Communication Award: Dobbies Garden Centres plc

Dobbies Garden Centres plc is a United Kingdom-based garden centre retailer. The company operates 17 garden centres in Scotland, Lancashire, North East England and the West Midlands. The garden centres offer a wide range of garden and home merchandise, including gardening essentials (such as tools, machinery and fertilisers), patio gardening products (including stoneware, tubs, troughs, planters and allied products) and water gardening products (including pools, ponds, pumps, filters, fountains and related products), as well as houseplants, seeds, garden architecture and garden furniture. The garden centres also offer housewares, glassware and chinaware, books and cards, outdoor clothing and Christmas decorations. For the fiscal year ended 31 October 2004, Dobbies Garden Centres plc's turnover for the period increased 17% to £54.1m. Net profit for the period increased 30% to £3.8m. Turnover reflects increased sales from outdoor living, water gardening and restaurants divisions and higher like for like sales.

Best Technology Award: Hamworthy plc

Hamworthy Plc is a designer, developer and manufacturer of advanced marine fluid handling systems for ships and offshore oil and gas facilities. The company designs often highly-customised designs for marine gas handling, pumping and waste treatment systems. The company operates in technologically or contractually demanding markets, which include gas and liquid cargo handling, cruise, naval and offshore. The company also supplies other products to markets, such as RoRo, PCTC, bulkers and containerships. Hamworthy is headquartered in Poole, Dorset and has design, development and production facilities in the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Singapore and a modern assembly plant in China.

Decade of Excellence winners:

Connaught plc

Connaught plc is an outsourcing business, providing facilities management and building support services to the owners and occupiers of commercial and residential buildings throughout the United Kingdom. The company is streamlined into two operating businesses, social housing and small and medium sized (SME) services. The social housing division accounted for 84% of the company's turnover in the fiscal year ended 31 August 2004. The balance is accounted for by the SME services. The company made three acquisitions in fiscal 2004. In South Wales, it acquired two businesses, GasCare and Building Services Training, which provide gas heating and maintenance services to the social housing sector. In Scotland, it acquired the Glasgow-based Maginnis Ltd. This maintenance business serves local authorities and RSLs throughout Scotland. For the six months ended 28 February 2005, Connaught plc's revenue increased 8% to £113.5m. Net income from continuing operation increased 77% to £2.2m. Revenues reflect an increase in the company order book, due to the success of winning long-term business based on partnership arrangements within the social housing market. Net income benefited from the presence of gain on sale of operation and fixed assets and improved operating margins.

Domino’s Pizza UK & Irl plc

Domino's Pizza UK & Irl plc is engaged in the development of the Domino's franchise system in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, principally through its wholly owned subsidiary, Domino's Pizza Group Limited (DPG). DPG holds the master franchise license to own, operate and franchise Domino's Pizza stores in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The Domino's Pizza stores principally target the home-delivered food market offering various pizzas, such as the double layer Double Decadence pizza, the Delight Mozarella with reduced fat cheese and the Hallmark Fresh Dough Base. During the year ended 31 December 2004, the Company opened 40 new delivery stores and closed one store, bringing the store count to 357. For the 26 weeks ended 3 July 2005, Domino's Pizza UK & Irl plc's turnover increased 17% to £40.5m. Net profit increased 40% to £4.1m. Turnover reflects the increased like-for-like sales, system sales and the growth of e-commerce channels due to successful launch of cheese melt pizza. Net profit also reflects improved operating margins, profit from disposal of fixed assets vs. a loss and lower interest payable.

International Greetings plc

International Greetings plc is primarily engaged in the design and manufacture of gift-wrapping paper, greetings cards, Christmas crackers, licensed stationery and other decorative accessories. The company operates in the United Kingdom and through a combination of growth and acquisition has expanded in Europe, the Far East and the United States. During the fiscal year ended 31 March 2004, the bompany acquired the Hoomark gift-wrap business. Major licenses held by the company include Disney, Winnie the Pooh, The Simpsons, Barbie and Postman Pat. Some of the company's principal subsidiary undertakings include Scandinavian Design Limited, International Greetings Asia Limited, Scoop Designs Limited, Gift Design Limited, Hy-Sil Manufacturing Company Inc. and The Shenzhen Gift International. For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2005, International Greetings plc's turnover increased 13% to £143.7m. Net income for the period increased 18% to £9.5m. Turnover reflects the contribution from Hoomark and higher like-for-like sales of stationery products in the United States. Net income benefited from the decrease in net interest payable.

Majestic Wine plc

Majestic Wine plc is engaged in the retail sale of wines and beers. It operates a wine warehouse chain with 115 stores in the United Kingdom, specialising in the sale of beers and wines by the mixed case direct to the public. The company focuses its annual marketing activity on five distinct periods: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Christmas and Winter, each supported by a promotional programme including the mailing of its price list to customers on the company's database. The database includes 47,000 addresses. A selection of wine regions is chosen for each campaign, and wines are made available to customers for tasting over themed weekends. Majestic Wine is also involved in the sale of wines and beers to corporate customers. In addition, it operates the www.majestic.co.uk portal for the online sale of its wines and beers. Furthermore, during the fiscal year ended 29 March 2004, the company opened a climate-controlled fine wine centre in St. John's Wood. The centre has a stock of 200 wines. For the fiscal year ended 28 March 2005, Majestic Wine plc's turnover increased 10% to £162.5m. Net income increased 19% to £8.5m. Turnover reflects higher like-for-like UK sales, an increase in the number of new customers and higher sales of champagne and rose wine. Net income also reflects improved operating margins due to the ongoing focus on controlling costs, higher other operating income and increased interest receivable.

Mears Group plc

Mears Group PLC is the holding company, and through its subsidiaries provides facilities and support services to clients in the public and private sectors. The company operates primarily in five sectors. Mears Limited provides repairs and maintenance services for local authorities and registered social landlords in the United Kingdom. It also provides building, mechanical and electrical services to over 400,000 homes in 50 local authority areas across the United Kingdom, and provides personal services tailored to its individual customer needs. Mears Facility Management provides multi-disciplinary maintenance services on long-term contracts, delivering nationwide through a network of more than 30 offices. The company provides a year-round, 24/7 service. Mears Decorating provides painting and repair programmes to the social housing sector, with a full-service, in-house from design brief to completion. For the six months ended 30 June 2005, Mears Group plc's turnover increased 18% to £96.3m. Net profit rose 53% to £3m. Turnover reflects organic growth, acquisition of Scion Group Limited and increased revenue from maintenance, mechanical & electrical services. Net income benefited from improved operating margins and rise in interest income. Mears installs and maintains facilities for thousands of public and commercial buildings each year.

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