Web flotation will be absolutely fabulous, sweetie

The man who ran the firm that inspired cult comedy Absolutely Fabulous plans to float his Internet company on the stock market. The former MD of Lynne Franks PR, Graham Goodkind, aims to raise £5 million for his latest venture, Funmail, according to today’s Times newspaper. The flotation, tipped to take place on the Alternative Investment Market this month, is expected to value the two-month old company at more than £30 million. Funmail offers free customised email addresses, citing hairyarmpits.co.uk and guyofyourdreams.co.uk among its most popular domains. Around 45,000 users, who prefer to use these gems than the name of their company or ISP, have signed up for the service. The company hopes to sell its addresses to advertisers, who can target users by sending them personalised offers via email. Goodkind, Funmail MD, will stay actively involved in the company after its flotation, as will the other three founders and shareholders, Steve Bowbrick, chief executive, Jeremy Kerner, director, and Peter Beech, director. ®