Worldwide Partnership Formed to Establish Hard Rock Hotel & Resort Destinations Bali

Hard Rock Hotel & Beach Club to Open in Spring of '98

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 6 / Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. has signed an agreement with Leisure Ventures Pte Ltd ("LVPL"), a Singapore- based company, providing for the development of Hard Rock Hotels & Resorts worldwide.

The first resort is already under construction in Bali and is scheduled to open Spring of 1998. With a projected investment of $70 million, the Bali Hard Rock Hotel & Beach Club features 421 rooms on a waterfront property across from the famed Kuta beach. The resort includes a 100,000 square foot swimming pool surrounded by private cabanas, rock 'n' roll piped underwater, and its own center sand island which also serves as an outdoor performance venue. The resort and beach club surrounds a two story Hard Rock Cafe and Hard Rock Live! concert venue which will feature nightly live music.

The agreement calls for LVPL, a joint venture between entrepreneur Ong Beng Seng and Hotel Properties Limited and a Singapore based firm managed by Mr. Ong, to develop hotel & resort properties incorporating a similar rock 'n' roll music theme that has made the Hard Rock Cafe restaurant chain the dominant player in the themed restaurant industry. As part of the deal, Hard Rock will provide the licensing to use the Hard Rock name and work closely in support of the overall theme of each property while LVPL will develop and operate each of the units.

The terms of the deal call for Hard Rock to receive an initial licensing fee. Additionally, Hard Rock will receive a separate fee for each new site developed and will continue to receive royalties from each hotel based on a percentage of gross sales. LVPL is expected to develop a minimum of seven and up to twelve hotels and resorts over a twelve year period.

"For twenty-six years the Hard Rock has built a solid reputation for its quality service and presentation of its unparalleled product. We will now bring that same level of energy, creativity and service into the Hard Rock hotel & resort properties worldwide," stated Jim Berk, President & CEO, Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. "Mr. Ong is a perfect partner for us given his knowledge of the Hard Rock brand and his immense success as a hotelier of distinguished properties throughout the world," added Berk.

"Whether surfing on Kuta beach, relaxing in a private pool side cabana or enjoying the amenities of a full service hotel that provides a rock 'n' roll environment, the Hard Rock Hotel & Beach Club-Bali combines the relaxed energy that embodies the 26 year history of the Hard Rock Cafe," stated Berk.

"As themed restaurants have swept the restaurant scene, themed hotels will follow suit. We will be at the cutting edge of this with the Hard Rock themed hotels. We look forward to bringing a new dimension to the hospitality industry with this exciting product," said Mr. Ong.

Mr. Ong has in his portfolio of hotels, a stable of distinguished properties, including several Four Seasons managed hotels, his own Concord Hotel chain, and several independent boutique hotels such as the Halkin and Metropolitan, both located in London. Mr. Ong is very familiar with the Hard Rock brand and culture, as he is currently Hard Rock Cafe's largest franchisee with operations throughout Asia. LVPL is 50% owned by Hotel Properties Limited (HPL), a public company listed on the Stock Exchange of Singapore, through its wholly owned subsidiary HPL Singapore Pte Ltd and the balance of 50 percent is owned by Mr. Ong Beng Seng (through Rizona (Hong Kong) Ltd).

Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. owns and/or franchises a worldwide network of 79 Hard Rock Cafes in 30 countries. Now, with worldwide control of the brand, Hard Rock has expanded into television with the Hard Rock Live weekly music series on VH-1, Hard Rock Records music label releasing its first two compilation albums this August and Hard Rock Live! performance venues currently under construction in Bali, Orlando and Mexico City. Aggressive expansion of the cafes calls for an average of one new Hard Rock Cafe to open every month through the millennium. Hard

Rock Cafe International, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Rank Group Plc., a publicly traded company based in London.

Jonathan Grevatt , 212-489-6565
Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc.