Global Personals Ltd Acquires Market-leading Freemium Brand Smooch.com

LONDON, May 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Personals Ltd, the largest privately owned online dating company in Europe, announces the acquisition of leading 'freemium' dating brand Smooch.com, the seventh largest dating site in the UK (Experian Hitwise) alongside its parent company WooWise.

Global Personals Ltd will now be offering free and freemium white label products to its award-winning subscription platform, WhiteLabelDating.com.

Ross Williams, CEO of Global Personals said:

"The two biggest disrupters of the last decade in the online dating industry have been white label platforms and free dating. With both of these in place, Global Personals Ltd is now positioned to dominate this exciting, profitable and ever-growing industry. The WooWise freemium white label system will allow our partners to grow into this popular dating space, currently dominated by Badoo and Plenty Of Fish. The deal will help our partners monetise members who may not wish to pay on a traditional subscription-based dating site."

Martin Bysh, CEO of WooWise, adds:

"Having previously worked with WhiteLabelDating.com as a partner, I have nothing but respect for the team and their business acumen. We had some very strong offers on the table from leading global players in the market, but chose Global Personals Ltd for their honesty and decency, which was confirmed during this process. The company seems to be soaking up the best talent from the dating and digital industries and will grow Smooch and our white label services to a worldwide audience."

- About Global Personals -

Launched in 2003, Global Personals Ltd has annualised revenues of over £36 million. The company owns and operates its own online dating sites including Singles 365. com and DatingAgency . com, whilst its B2B service,WhiteLabelDating . com, offers a platform for brands and individuals to power their own dating sites that includes The Independent, Bauer Media and Plenty More Fish as partners. WhiteLabelDating . com provides the dating software, membership database, payment processing, customer support and more. You provide your brand, design and marketing and we do the rest.

Global Personals has received a collection of accolades including fastest growing company in the South East, UK, in the 2011 and 2010 Deloitte Fast 50 and the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA, ranked in The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 (2010, 2011) and European Media Momentum Top 50, 2011. WhiteLabelDating . com has also won 'Best Dating Software Provider' for the last three years at industry awards, iDate.

Louisa Page Tel: +44(0)1753-271280 Email: press@globalpersonals.co.uk