04/07/2002

QXL and Manchester United sign exclusive co-branding agreement

ManUtd.com offers fans exclusive auctions via QXL's auction technology

London, 4 July 2002 - QXL ricardo plc ('QXL') (LSE:QXL.L; Nasdaq:QXLC; Frankfurt: QXL.F), the pan-European online auction company, today announces that its UK subsidiary, QXL.com, has signed an exclusive co-branding agreement with ManUtd.com ('ManUtd'), the official website for the world's most popular football club.

Via its co-branding programme, QXL has integrated its auction technology into the ManUtd.com site, creating a dedicated auction channel. The auctions went live on http://www.manutd.com on 1 July 2002. The auction channel is populated with QXL content, official Manchester United memorabilia from the club and those auctions created by the ManU fanbase.

ManUtd Auctions are fully integrated into the ManUtd site featuring alongside Home in the core navigation. In addition the channel is accessible within the Shop @ ManU drop-down menu, and certain auctions will be promoted via editorial in the News section. Offline, the auction facility will be promoted to Manchester United fans in the quarterly "Welcome Pack".

Peter Northing, Managing Director of QXL.com, commented: "This new partnership with the Manchester United website is a significant signing for QXL, solidifying our position within the online football community. It's a fantastic brand for us to be working with and we look forward to introducing auctions to the global Manchester United fan base."

Ben Hatton, Director of Business Development, Manchester United Plc, "It was very important for us to offer our users auctions from the ManUtd site, an environment with which they are already comfortable. We chose QXL as our official auction partner as their co-branding solution ideally suited our objective. In addition the revenue share business model is complimentary to our e-commerce strategy."

The financial terms of the agreement are based on a revenue share model, including shared revenue from the sales of advertising inventory, which will be sold exclusively by QXL.

About QXL ricardo plc
QXL ricardo plc ("QXL") is a pan-European online auction community, conducting online auctions in eleven languages and twelve currencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week in an efficient, convenient and entertaining environment. QXL enables buyers to bid on merchandise and services from across Western Europe which are sold by QXL members and merchants. QXL also enables sellers to locate and trade with buyers in new geographic markets. A wide selection of merchandise and services is available on its online auction community, ranging from computer software and hardware, consumer electronics, household appliances and collectibles to travel-related items and sports equipment. QXL is a publicly traded company with its shares listed on the Official List of the United Kingdom Listing Authority, the Nasdaq National Market and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

QXL provides access to the QXL trading community in:
UK - www.qxl.com and www.qxl.co.uk; Germany - www.ricardo.de; France - www.qxl.fr; Italy - www.qxl.it; Netherlands - www.ricardo.nl; Norway - www.qxl.no; Denmark - www.qxl.dk; Spain -www.qxl.es; Poland - www.allegro.pl; Sweden - www.qxl.se; Finland - www.qxl.fi; Switzerland - www.ricardo.ch

CONTACT INFORMATION

QXL ricardo plc Alison Cabot+44 20 8962 7231
VP, Communicationsalison.cabot@qxl.com
CJ Wilson,  +44 20 8962 7321
 PR Managercj.wilson@qxl.com
   
Financial Dynamics James Melville-Ross
+44 20 7831 3113
Juliet Clarke 

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that relate to the Company's plans, objectives, estimates and goals. The Company's business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with: funding requirements; acquisitions; only having a limited operating history; regulation of auctions and the Internet; probable variability in the Company's quarterly operating results; the Company's results of operations not being indicative of future performance; significant losses being incurred as a result of expansion of the Company's business; dependence on growth of online consumer-to-consumer commerce market; risks associated with development and growth of the Company's foreign language web sites; intense competition; failure to develop the Company's brand; failure to expand the Company's systems; risks associated with managing internal growth and retaining and recruiting personnel; international expansion; online commerce security; risks associated with not developing new services, features and functions; risks associated with intellectual property rights; fraudulent activity of our members and suppliers; and seasonality. These and other risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail in the Company's Registration Statement dated 7 October 1999, on Form F-1 and Annual Report dated 1 October 2001 on Form 20-F filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, in the Company's prospectuses and listing particulars filed with the UK Listing Authority and the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales (the most recent being dated 22 May 2001), in the German Sales and Listing Prospectus dated 23 October 2000 filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (as supplemented on 10 November 2000), could cause the Company's actual results and developments to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any of these forward-looking statements.


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