Management changes at Independent News & Media

Dr. O'Reilly said "I would like to pay a warm tribute to Liam Healy who has been an outstanding Chief Executive and has lead the development of Independent News & Media PLC during the period in which it has become a major international communications group."

"Liam has been Chief Executive for 9 years and a long standing executive with the company for over 36 years and I am very pleased that he has agreed to an ongoing involvement with the group. He will continue to be the same indefatigable contributor to the fortunes of our employees and shareholders that he has always been," said Dr. O'Reilly.

"We welcome John Meagher to the International Advisory Board, where he joins Mr. Kenneth Clarke, former Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, and Mr. Brian Mulroney, the former Prime Minister of Canada, two new members of the Board," he added. The International Advisory board will meet in South Africa next month.

Mr. Ivan Fallon, Chief Executive of Independent News & Media Holdings in South Africa, has also been appointed Executive Chairman of iTouch International, the rapidly growing mobile information service company in which Independent now has an effective 70% shareholding.

iTouch, founded in Cape Town but now based in London, is a preferred supplier to a number of mobile cellular operators around the world, including Vodafone and its South African affiliate, Vodacom, with which it has worked closely over a number of years.

iTouch is at the leading edge of developments in mobile data, WAP technology and m-commerce applications. It now operates in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and South Africa, and is opening an operation in Israel. Later this year, it has plans to launch into other markets, including Portugal, Holland, the United States and the Far East.

Merrill Lynch International has been appointed lead manager for a proposed IPO this year. Merrill acted as lead manager for recent IPOs including OpenTV, MIH, Jazztel, Infonet, PT Multimedia and Aether Systems of the US.

iTouch also announces the appointment of Avi Azulay and Wayne Pitout, the founders of iTouch, as joint managing directors of the company, resident in London.

Ivan Fallon said, "iTouch is a wonderful illustration of what can be achieved by combining the power of Independent's international newspaper brands with new developments in electronic information services. It takes the Group to the forefront of one of the most exciting businesses in the world today - mobile data and mobile commerce. iTouch, over a period of years, has developed and successfully demonstrated its expertise and skills in mobile information, and now stands poised to benefit from its huge potential."

Ends. Tuesday, 11th January, 2000 For Reference: Ivan Fallon
iTouch Tel: +353 - 1 - 475 8432 +27 - 82 - 557 2296

Jim Milton

Murray Consultants Limited
Tel: +353 - 1 - 633 3310 086 - 2558400