AIM to put Net firm on target

The founder of PC World, Jan Murray, has embarked on a bold project to make money in the Internet business.

He is moving on to the AIM market through a reverse takeover of property firm Capital & Western Estates, which will then pour its capital reserves into The Global Group, an Internet company controlled by Murray.

Global turned in a loss of nearly u700,000 last year and needs a fresh cash injection to make it sing.

The company has a subscription list of 8,000 and is aiming for 40,000 customers within two years.

Other AIM-based companies which may come under Murray's umbrella include Ballynatry Holdings. The idea is to push money into enterprise to take it into the top realm of UK Internet service providers (ISP).

This could prove trickier than Murray's venture into computer superstores, where he was the UK's first operator. The UK Internet market is already looking decidedly crowded as there are at least 140 ISPs in the country.

The Metropolitan Police has issued a list of Usenet groups it wants ISPs to regulate. But one of the problems it will face is that trade association ISPA only has about 60 per cent of UK providers. The ISPA argues that content is not its concern.