International Sports Media and Marketing Group ISMM announced today the appointment of Max W. Gurtner as Head of Corporate Communications as of 1 May 2000. In this newly created function Gurtner will also assume responsibility for communication activities of the ISMM Group companies ISL Worldwide, CPG (Copyright Promotion Group plc), SRi (Sponsorship Research International) and En- Linea.

Max Gurtner has broad experience and a successful track record in corporate communications: His current position is Head of Investor Relations for the Roche Group, a function he has created and run since 1989. From 1986 to 1996 he was Head of Corporate Communications of the Basle based pharmaceutical company and from 1980 to 1986 Head of Media Relations and Publishing at the GDI (Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute). Gurtner, who holds a master’s degree in economics from University of St.Gallen, is co-founder of the Swiss Investor Relations Society (SIRV) and a lecturer at the Swiss Public Relations Institute (SPRI).

With an integrated communications function, the ISMM Group, leader in the global sports media and marketing industry, will be able to even better support its corporate clients, sports federations and the media. The appointment also enhances lines of information with the international capital markets in view of possible capital market transactions to sustain the further expansion of ISMM.

The ISMM Group (International Sports Media & Marketing) serves the marketing and communication needs of all the main institutions engaged in the commercial aspects of sports, i.e. federations, teams and other governing bodies, corporate entities and the media. With its Group companies, ISL (International Sports & Leisure Marketing), CPG (Copyright Promotions Group), En-Linea (websites and interactive network systems) and SRi (Sponsorship Research International), ISMM is able to offer fully integrated services. Headquartered in Lucerne, Switzerland, ISMM serves its business partners and sponsoring clients with 475 staff members in 34 offices located in the world’s major markets.

Major business partners of the ISMM Group companies include the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP Tour Inc.), the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the International Swimming Federation (FINA) and others.

For further information either on ISL Worldwide, or the ISMM Group, please refer to our homepages www.ismmgroup.com or at www.islworld.com.

Contact: ISMM Group, Lilly Frei at lilly.frei@islworld.com or ++41 1 388 91 27