London, 8 August 2002 – Hotwire, the European technology PR consultancy, has announced today that it has been appointed by NetBenefit plc (LSE:NBT), Europe´s leading specialist domain management company and one of the UK´s largest providers of website hosting services, to drive its UK PR activities.

NetBenefit plc is the most recent addition to Hotwire´s fast-growing digital media practice. NetBenefit plc includes two brands, NetNames and NetBenefit. NetNames is an internationally accredited registrar for generic top-level domains, such as .COM and .ORG, and is able to register names in over 240 country suffixes around the globe. It also has a range of domain management services aimed at corporates and IP professionals and works with international brand owners such as De Beers, Chanel, British Airways and Virgin Enterprises Ltd. NetBenefit provides the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) market with domain names as well as web hosting and email services.

Hotwire will devise business-to-business PR strategy and implementation plans for both the brands. For NetNames Hotwire will be targeting the business and legal trade media in order to raise awareness of the Platinum Service, and for NetBenefit will be targeting the SME media to highlight web hosting and email services.

“NetBenefit has well recognised brands with a reputation for quality and customer service. As the product range is developing with a focus on specific market segments we wanted to work with an agency that had a good understanding of the market and an ability to help us achieve our goals. Hotwire has the experience in the market and a good track record. We were impressed with their creative approach and their understanding of the important issues. We are looking forward to working with them,” said Geoff Wicks, CEO, NetBenefit plc.

Sian Gaskell, senior partner for Hotwire who will be leading the account, explained the significance of NetBenefit plc within the industry: “NetBenefit was one of the pioneers of the UK Internet industry and over the past few years has grown to be a leader in global domain management services. It is now at the forefront of enabling international organisations to manage their brands online, as well as providing a whole range of services for SMEs. We are looking forward to working closely on the PR campaigns for both of the brands and raising awareness of the importance of domain management to a corporate and legal audience,“ she said.

NetBenefit plc (LSE:NBT) is Europe's leading specialist domain name management company and one of the UK's largest providers of website hosting services. Through its two brands, NetNames and NetBenefit, the company is responsible for managing and protecting online brands and domain names for international corporates and hosting websites for small and medium sized enterprises (SME). NetNames is an ICANN accredited registrar for generic top-level domains and has the ability to register names in all of the 240-plus country suffixes around the world. Within the NetNames offering there are a number of domain management services aimed at corporates and Intellectual Property professionals, including Platinum Service, Portfolio Manager, Brand Audit, Name Alert and Consultancy and Recovery Services. NetBenefit provides the SME market with domain names as well as web hosting and email services. NetBenefit plc is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Nice and Milan. For further information, visit www.netbenefit.com.

Hotwire is a European technology public relations consultancy established to provide the technology industry with progressive PR services.

Since its foundation, Hotwire has won a number of prestigious awards across Europe. The accolades include the French Public Relations Top Com d’Or Trophée in the Corporate Business category. Hotwire has also been recognised by the International Public Relations Association when it was awarded Best Business-to-Business Campaign in 2003 for its work with Scottish telecoms company THUS.

Hotwire is headquartered in London with offices in Paris and Frankfurt. The company has six client practice areas: applications & services, consumer technology, digital media, enterprise & electronics, telecommunications, and banking & finance.

For more information about Hotwire, please visit www.hotwirepr.com.