ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY FINDS ASP REALLY USEFUL Submitted By: Axicom Monday, 5 March 2001

ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY FINDS ASP REALLY USEFUL Submitted by: AxiCom Monday, 5 March 2001

The Really Useful Group Switches To iFuel For Secure, Ubiquitous Application Access iFuel, Europe's fastest growing ASP aggregator, today announced that it is to host and manage applications for Andrew Lloyd Webber's International Entertainment Company The Really Useful Group (RUG). iFuel will provide RUG employees in London and New York with key office productivity applications including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Exchange, Sun Systems, Forest & Trees and Vision. The Really Useful Group was introduced to the ASP concept by iFuel ASP reseller Integration Ltd, a long term IT supplier to RUG. iFuel's ASP solution allows RUG to offer its employees secure, ubiquitous access to its line-of-business applications whilst dramatically simplifying the management of its IT infrastructure and providing a predictable cost path through a monthly scheduled payment scheme. Key benefits of the move to ASP included the ability to securely access applications from anywhere in the world using RSA SecurID two-factor authentication, as well as 24 x 7 remote support, data backup and virus protection. In addition, iFuel takes on responsibility for the entire back-end infrastructure, ranging from server hardware to communications and system management. iFuel also maintains a minimum of 30% extra capacity in its server farms at all times, which allows RUG to instantly scale up the service as new users come on board. "Companies in the SME sector are beginning to realise that the ASP model is not only a viable business option in terms of cost, but also in terms of service," said Eamus Halpin, CEO of iFuel. "iFuel firmly believes that an ASP should add value to the basic hosted software proposition by simplifying business processes and integrating applications to turn IT into a true business tool. RUG chose to go the ASP route because it was confident in both Integration's and iFuel's understanding of its business needs."

Page 1 The new contract allows 75 users to access mainstream productivity applications such as Microsoft Office 2000, Microsoft Exchange 2000, SunSystems Financial Accounting solutions, Forest & Trees and Vision, as well as a Visual Basic programmes and Microsoft SQL Server databases, all deployed via a Citrix MetaFrame enabled platform. About The Really Useful Group The Really Useful Group Limited (RUG) was founded in 1977 by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The group is wholly, privately owned by Lloyd-Webber and is an established international entertainment company, actively involved throughout the world in theatre and concert production, recording, merchandising, music publishing, television, film, video and publishing. The group also co-owns and manages thirteen theatres in London's West End. RUG is a UK based company with its head office in London and satellite offices in New York and Sydney. The Really Useful Group produces, co-produces and licenses theatrical productions worldwide. At the heart of the business lie the musicals of Andrew Lloyd Webber, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Song & Dance, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, By Jeeves, Whistle Down the Wind and The Beautiful Game. There are currently 22 productions of Lloyd Webber musicals playing around the world. About iFuel iFuel is Europe's fastest growing ASP aggregator and enables ISVs to deliver applications, whatever their design or build, through either direct or indirect channels via the software as a service model, on a pan-European basis. In contrast to a number of ASPs, iFuel does not sell directly to the end user, but instead adds value for ISVs and their reseller channels by enabling them to provide fully hosted, managed and integrated application packages to their existing and prospective customer base. iFuel, launched in November 2000, currently has over 11,000 contracted users, using more than 30 fully hosted applications from 11 ISVs. For more information, visit the iFuel web site at http//:www.ifuel.com

Page 2 For further information please contact: Alistair Verney, AxiCom, Tel: 020 8600 4616, Email:[email protected] Sara Hassett, AxiCom, Tel: 020 8600 4610, Email: [email protected] Alissa Quinn, iFuel, Tel: 01895 444420, Email: [email protected] The Really Useful Group: Daniel Bee, Brown Lloyd James. Tel: 0207 591 961, Email: [email protected]

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