And the pair, together with chairman Alan Leighton, this week stumped up 110,000 to buy additional shares and prove their confidence in the firm's future. The sum compares with the founding pair's combined stake in the company at the time of flotation of 127m. They have extended the firm's operations to France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands and Australia, offering consumers travel, tickets, restaurant bookings and impulse gifts. In its most recent set of results the firm said it had lost 11.7m in the final three months of 2000. The question is whether or not it will be able to turn those customers into a source of profit before the money runs out.
Japan sets extra budget Links to more Business stories are at the foot of the page.