GON Galleon Hldgs

RNS Number:5221P
Galleon Holdings PLC
4 January 2002

                             GALLEON HOLDINGS PLC
Press Release


4 JANUARY 2002

             GALLEON HOLDINGS PLC ACQUIRES 50% OF NEW CHILDREN'S
                        ANIMATION PROPERTY, PC PEPPER

Galleon Holdings plc ("Galleon" or "the Group"), the AIM listed cross-media
company with interests in animation, media production, database marketing,
software publishing, public relations, trade journal production and graphic
design, announces that it has acquired 50 per cent. of the rights to PC
Pepper, the new children's animation concept developed by Rob Lee, co-creator
of the immensely popular Fireman Sam character. Under the terms of the
agreement, Galleon will control all of the merchandising and marketing of the
property including the production and sale of the series to television
stations worldwide.  A promotional trailer for the TV series is being created
using Macromedia's Flash software by London-based New Media and Animation
company, Lightmaker.  In return for its 50 per cent. interest, the Group will
use its resources to develop the concept.

PC Pepper is based around the exploits of a likeable local Bobby stationed on
"August Island".  His daily duties involve helping the locals get out of spots
of bother. The action takes place over a number of settings including "Crab
Cove", "Herring Harbour" and "Oyster Bay".  PC Pepper is joined in his
adventures by friends including Dr. Bridget Brideswell (a flying doctor with a
penchant for exotic plants) and Noah McCloud.  PC Pepper will be seen as a
likeable character that children can identify with and since his character
will be that of a Policeman, in a similar way to the character of Fireman Sam,
Rob Lee and others involved in the series creation are hopeful that PC Pepper
will have that same appeal when children see the various different adventures
he has.



Galleon intends to exploit the potential of PC Pepper with a comprehensive
merchandising and marketing programme to compliment the TV series.  This will
commence in Las Vegas later this month where the PC Pepper trailer debuts at
an international TV trade show, NAPTE, but the Group have also had interest
from a number of European broadcasters keen to buy the series and from
licensors seeking to sign up the PC Pepper product.



PC Pepper joins Galleon's growing portfolio of animated children's properties,
which includes the 3D computer series Astro Knights, and shows the Group's
determination to build an IPR portfolio that underpins Galleon's market value.



Commenting on the transaction, Galleon's chairman James Driscoll said: "I am
delighted to announce Galleon's first acquisition of a cartoon character
property, PC Pepper.  I have worked closely with Rob Lee before on the
international best selling children's TV property The Shoe People where he
developed the characters.  The success of Fireman Sam further strengthened his
reputation as a creator, illustrator and writer and I am confident that PC
Pepper will become an international success."

Press enquiries:
James Driscoll               
Galleon Holdings plc         
Tel: 01384 440591            
e-mail: james.driscoll@galleonplc.com 

Paul Wooding                
RedEye Public Relations     
Tel: 0775 367 8326          
e-mail: paul.wooding@redeyepr.com 

Simon Ellis
Binns & Co. PR Limited
Tel: 020 7786 9600
e-mail: simon.ellis@binnspr.co.uk



Notes to Editors:

*         PC Pepper is a joint collaboration between Rob Lee and Galleon. Rob
Lee will manage the character creation, storylines and scripting of the
series, whilst Galleon will control TV production and sales, licensing,
publishing merchandising and the marketing of the property.

*         Rob Lee is co-creator of the Fireman Sam character as well as
working on a range of TV projects including Super Ted, The Shoe People and
Joshua Jones (currently airing on UK terrestrial TV). Driscoll was the creator
of the internationally famous 'Shoe People' cartoon series and licensed
property.

*         The series will be created using Flash Animation, Macromedia's
leading software package. This will enable transfer of actual TV footage to
video games, Internet and Internet TV applications. This is envisaged to be of
particular interest to licensees operating in the interactive education
sector.



About Galleon Holdings plc

Galleon is a content provider across platforms in multimedia broadcast and
interactive software. The Group strategy is to build, acquire and own a
significant intellectual property rights portfolio. The Group combines a
number of companies that already generate turnover and profit. The Group owns
companies with intellectual property rights in software, animation and new
media. The Group is the holding company of Synthetic Dimensions plc -
comprising, Astro Knights Ltd, Probe Media Ltd, Redeye PR Ltd, Meta4 Design
Ltd and A4 Holdings plc, and also an equity interest in two other companies.


Galleon's shares are now listed on the Alternative Investment Market.

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