UK Internet companies are rushing to float on the stock market following the success of Freeserve, whose share offering was 30-times over subscribed.

Net businesses dominate the list of companies expected to float in the next few months, starting with the online gaming site gameplay.com due to be listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) from 2 August.

Trading in shares of the Internet financial services company, The eXchange Holdings, is expected to begin on 13 August. The company runs the moneyeXtra.com personal finance portal, in association with Microsoft, and is showing profits. It hopes to raise around £150m by selling 40% of the company.

Trio of IPOs?

Three companies that are very much creatures of the Net may cause excitement in the world of stocks and shares in the coming months:

• Funmail's flotation on AIM is imminent. Its site went live in May and already has around 50,000 registered members. Funmail offers e-mail addresses to suit your mood, interests or personality, such as @cheekymonkey.co.uk.
• QXL, the European online auction site, could float in September according to reports, and for as much as £500m, making it second only to Freeserve in size. It was valued at only £28m in February when the venture capitalists Apax bought a 25% stake.
• Lastminute.com may also float in the autumn. Specialising in late deals on flights, holidays and show tickets. It has gained 300,000 registered users since its launch last November.