Shares in Easydate (AIM:EZD), an internet-based dating operator, began trading on AIM this morning, with the company raising £10m in a 60p per share placing that values the company at £45m. Through a growing network of websites, Easydate Group has built a base of over 13m registrants and over 9m members in 29 countries, with a growing proportion of members coming from outside of the UK. It offers a wide variety of online dating services allowing members to interact with each other and access the content available on the group's websites.

Bill Dobbie, the chief executive of Easydate, said: “The internet dating sector is growing rapidly and we believe that the increased profile and additional funding our quotation on AIM brings will provide an opportunity for us to grow Easydate into a substantial global internet dating business. The response we have had from the market during the placing has been tremendous. After a lot of hard work to get the company this far, we are now looking forward to life as an AIM quoted company and the opportunities that will bring.”

The worldwide market for dating services is estimated by Easydate to be in excess of US$1bn and growing in the established US market at approximately 3%, in the UK at between 6% and 10% with emerging markets growing at a far higher rate. Easydate’s websites are intended to appeal to dating users of diverse ages, cultures and social interest groups. Its most heavily visited websites include www.benaughty.com, www.cupid.com, www.girlsdateforfree.com and www.datetheuk.com. The Group also promotes the niche brands www.datingforparents.com, www.speeddater.com andwww.maturedating.co.uk.

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