Aim-listed media company Galleon has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing and merchandising agreement with Garry Kasparov, the world's top chess player. James Crux reports.

Galleon's recently formed rights representation arm, Clipper Media, will act as sole licensing agent for Kasparov across a host of categories including publishing, giftware, toys and games, interactive and home broadcast. 'There are only two sportsmen with levels of recognition and reverence that are truly worldwide. One is Muhammad Ali, the other is Garry Kasparov,' argues John Knox, head of Clipper.

'He's an iconic figure,' Knox continues. 'We are looking to create a sub-brand of high-quality premium consumer products like luggage or limited edition watches, and obviously we'll do a link in with a chess manufacturer.'

He maintains that, although Kasparov's profile is 'stellar' already, it will soar this October when the world number one takes on the reigning world computer chess champion, 'Junior', in Jerusalem. Knox says the interest in this contest will 'provide a perfect foundation' for Clipper's licensing work.

Clipper was set up earlier this month to handle licensing and merchandising programmes for all of Galleon's children's animation properties, such as The Cornish Riviera Pasties, PC Pepper and Astro Knights, as well as 'external' clients such as Kasparov. Galleon is also the holding firm of Synthetic Dimensions, which comprises Astro Knights, Probe Media, Redeye PR and Meta4 Design.

Chaired by James Driscoll, the firm came to the junior market from Ofex in December after completing the reverse takeover of former mining venture Andaman Resources. In the year to March 2002 (reflecting 12 months of Andaman but just four of Galleon), losses widened from £169,414 to £812,497, on £276,886 of sales.

The shares sparked up 0.25p to 1.5p on this morning's news, valuing the group at £1 million.