Neomobile acquires Arena Mobile, A New Global Leader in Mobile Entertainment is Born

Neomobile acquires Arena Mobile
A New Global Leader in Mobile Entertainment is Born

For more information http://www.neomobile.it/media/Neomobile_acquires_Arena_Mobile_EN.pdf

Roma and Barcelona, October 21st, 2008

Neomobile SpA (“Neomobile”), the leading Italian player in the mobile entertainment D2C Sector, and Spain’s Arena Mobile (“Arena”), the global B2B mobile content provider, announce the signing of an agreement that will lead to the birth of a major player in the global Mobile Entertainment Industry – the Neomobile Group.

Operating in the market since 2004, Neomobile has in just a few years achieved a prominent role in the Italian market. The experience gained in Italy, considered to be one of the most advanced and competitive mobile entertainment markets has allowed Neomobile to successfully set-up operations at international level in Turkey, Spain, and this year in Brazil. Neomobile markets directly to consumers (D2C) a wide variety of content and services, having developed an innovative approach to address the widest possible audience, yet guaranteeing a consistently high level of customer experience. In 2007 alone, more than 2,5 mln unique users downloaded Neomobile digital contents.

Arena Mobile, founded in 2001, is one of the pioneers of Mobile Value Added Services. Arena currently works with over 150 operators and media players in 70 countries, specializing in the provision of B2B content and solutions. Headquartered in Spain, Arena boasts local operations in Brazil, Mexico, France, UK, Portugal, Morocco, India, Singapore and Bangladesh, and has a presence also in USA, China and Japan.
Arena recently powered the “Music Box” service of TMN, the leading Mobile Operator in Portugal, awarded as one of most innovative Web&Mobile full-track store at European level.

Neomobile has acquired Arena in order to pursue two main strategic objectives:
1. expand and consolidate its global presence. Arena’s extensive content portfolio, broad international exposure and strong relationship with global operators media players will support Neomobile in consolidating its D2C operations in Spain and Brazil and act as a catalyst for rapid start-up of B2C operations in new markets.
2. extend and diversify its service offering. This deal allows Neomobile to enter the previously untapped B2B segment through Arena’s globally renowned brand. Furthermore Arena will also enable Neomobile’s core business to benefit from a faster time-to-market of cutting edge mobile content and innovative applications

Commenting on the transaction, Gianluca D’Agostino, CEO of Neomobile, said: “This deal represents a key milestone in Neomobile’s global growth strategy allowing us to accelerate our penetration in high potential markets, especially in Latin America and Asia Pacific regions and to bring a new B2B offering in those markets in which we have gained great expertise, such as Italy and Turkey. Arena Mobile has in the past proved to be an invaluable partner to Neomobile, and through this acquisition we look forward to establishing a tighter relationship between our complementary offerings and operations. I am confident that the synergies between the two companies will prove instrumental to further growth, allowing us to garner together the best business opportunities in the global scenario.”

Josep Anton Aliagas, CEO of Arena Mobile, added: “Neomobile is the partner we have been looking for to strengthen our business model and service offerings. We bring to the table a solid reputation and proven success story, having been a pioneer of the Mobile Entertainment Industry since 2000, edging technology and content, and serving global customers. Arena Mobile will be able to leverage Neomobile’s exposure in the global B2C market and contribute to improving its offering to operators. I have no doubt that this important move will benefit all parties involved and drive value generation. Current shareholders including myself will remain with the new Group, and are confident that this operation will add much value and contribute to the Neomobile Group becoming one of the leaders in the global mobile entertainment market in years to come.”

The global Mobile Entertainment Market is expected to register a growth of over 20% this year and to reach €60 billion in global revenues by 2011 (source: Yankee Group 2008). The highest growth rates are expected from “BRIC” (Brazil, Russia, India, China) and other emerging markets, most of which the Neomobile Group is ready to address successfully.
The merger will lead to the establishment of a new global player - an emerging leader with 2008 revenues estimated at around € 40.0 million and a workforce of 200 employees.

About Neomobile
Neomobile SpA is a dynamic mobile entertainment company, specialized in marketing cutting edge m-content formats and in direct-to-consumer distribution, with a potential reach of over 300 million mobile phone users.
Main shareholders are Teleunit SpA, the Italian telecommunications service provider listed on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange (AIM: “TLU”), and MPS Venture SGR SpA, the private equity unit of Montepaschi banking group.
The Company began operations as the Mobile Content Services division of Teleunit SpA and was separately incorporated as Neomobile SpA in February 2007. Since its inception, Neomobile has shown consistent growth in revenues, profitability, and market share, becoming a leader in the home market and the emerging player in Turkey (since 2006) and more recently in Spain. The Company, headquartered in Rome, has offices in Istanbul, Madrid and Saõ Paulo, where it markets its services under its proprietary brands, the most well known is “Dindo”. Neomobile is an active member of the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF).
For more information on Neomobile, please visit: http://www.neomobile.it/

About Arena Mobile
Headquartered in Reus (Barcelona), Arena Mobile is a global mobile content player focused on B2B services and solutions, and content distribution. Founded in 2001 by the Aliagas brothers, Arena is a pioneer of Mobile Value Added Services, and in 2003 was the first Company to provide i-mode and WAP services to Telefonica in Spain.
The Company has since become a global player, working with over 120 network operators and 30 media players in 70 countries, and is one of the first European Companies to deploy innovative Mobile VAS projects in the Asian Market.
Arena Mobile is a member of the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA).