Trading Statement

Millfield Group PLC 09 May 2005 Date: 9 May 2005 On behalf of: Millfield Group plc ("the Group") Millfield Group plc Pre-Close Period Trading Update Prior to entering its close period, Millfield Group plc, a leading independent financial services advisory group, today announces an update on the Group's progress since its merger with Inter-Alliance Group Plc on 1 October 2004 and on the enlarged Group's trading prior to its year end of 31 March 2005. Since the merger, we have achieved our key objective of undertaking all of the main elements of the integration of the two businesses within the six months to 31 March 2005. The Group structure has now been considerably simplified and we have successfully exited all non-core businesses, details of which are set out below. As a result, the Group is now positioned to focus on the growth and development of its trading activity. In the second half of the year trading performance in both parts of the merged group has been consistent with that in the previous six months. Cash resources available to support the continued trading and development of the Group are in line with our expectations and the Directors believe that they are sufficient for the foreseeable future. Underlying headcount in the core business has also remained stable with total numbers at the year end of 1,654 in the UK. In January previously non-regulated business was taken over by the FSA; as a result we closed down the Trinon non-regulated network which had 86 contributing advisers and rationalised Legacy Protect, reducing numbers by 57 - average productivity from these advisers was under £25,000. We continue to implement minimum standard requirements which will result in some further headcount reductions which we expect to be more than offset by recruitment. The main areas involved in the integration and restructuring of the Group have been: Corporate Structure and Branding - at 31 March 2005, the businesses of Inter-Alliance Group Plc and Inter-Alliance (Group Practices) Limited were transferred to Millfield Partnership Limited. The UK National advisory business now trades under the Millfield brand and the Inter-Alliance brand is only used for the Group's International business. Disposals - we have disposed of, or closed down, Millfield Moncur Jackson Limited, Simply Millfield Limited, Product Innovations Limited, Inter-Alliance (Mortgages) Limited, Trinon Limited and the external business of Intelliflo Plc. Millfield Associate Partnership - we have restructured the arrangements with the Associate firms so that we do not now necessarily expect to assume 100% ownership of them. They will now be accounted for as associates rather than subsidiaries. Training - we have integrated the internal training arrangements for the Group in Millfield Academy, a non-profit making company funded by the product providers. Operations - the operations of the businesses have been merged. The main changes were: • Premises. A rationalisation plan is being implemented to reduce Group properties from 46 at the merger to 14 strategic locations and 7 satellites. 13 properties have already been closed, including the Inter- Alliance head office buildings, and the balance will be closed by 31 December 2005. Our Hull operations centre has moved to new premises. • Staffing. Staff numbers engaged in overhead activities have been reduced from 546 at the time of the merger to 406. • Systems. Millfield Partnership has been migrated onto the Atlas system. At the end of May we will transfer to a new purpose built, hosted IT operations centre and switch to Telstra, the AAA rated carrier, as a single telecoms supplier. • Business Processes. A single set of processes has been implemented, using the Millfield business centre in Hull. • Purchasing. A review has taken place of the Group's main suppliers. Commissions - Common fee and commission terms were implemented across the Group with effect from 1 April 2005. During this quarter we are launching three major business initiatives: 1. Multi-tie. Depolarisation is being implemented from 1 June and at the same time we are launching our multi-tie division, Millfield Alliance. This will allow advisers to offer over 100 products from our six multi-tie partners (Axa, Friends Provident, Norwich Union, Prudential, Scottish Widows and Skandia) and to operate whole of market to facilitate the servicing of existing client policies. 2. Mortgages. On 12 May we are launching the Millfield Mortgage Solutions Mortgage Club, providing specialist support to this large market segment. 3. Lifetime. Our joint venture wrap account business was launched with a pilot group of Millfield advisers on 25 April and will now be progressively rolled out. As set out above, we have carried through our plans for the integration and simplification of the Group during the second half of last year. The Group's principal operating businesses are now the National advisory company, Millfield Partnership (incorporating the business received from the Millfield Associate Partnership, and Millfield Enterprise firms as well as the branch based business), the Sage IFA network, RST, the accountancy firm and the Inter-Alliance International business. Outlook We have laid the foundations for the new Group to move ahead successfully. We have implemented a structure which allows us to focus on the growth of a core group of businesses, each with a single operational base. The Group is now very distinctively positioned in the IFA and advisory market which is otherwise predominantly served by networks. As a result we currently have a record recruitment pipeline with 150 applications being processed at present. The Group has seen turnover growth recommence in the last two months and expects revenue in this financial year to be in line with market expectations. As a result of the integration and restructuring of the Group, we have achieved a 26% reduction in the run rate for overhead costs from £49m at the time of the merger to £36m at the start of the New Year. The reduction of overheads arising from the restructuring of arrangements with Millfield Associate Partnership firms is mirrored by a reduction in the gross margin for the Group. The Group's gross margin for the current year will be dependent on the mix of business between the different channels. Initially we would anticipate a level of around 25% with progressive growth through the year, as income from the aforementioned business initiatives develops, with the aim of achieving margin levels of 30%. We have the resources to take the Group forward and have made excellent progress in building the successful and profitable business that we envisaged at the time of the merger. In addition, we have a number of major business initiatives being delivered. Enquiries to Millfield Group plc Paul Tebbutt, Chief Executive Tel: 020 8604 2607 Redleaf Communications Emma Kane/Sanna Lehtinen Tel: 020 7955 1410 Notes to Editors About Millfield • Further information on Millfield is available at: www.millfield-partnership.co.uk • Millfield Group plc was floated on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in March 2001; • Millfield is a national independent financial advisory company in the UK, offering truly independent advice, primarily in the pensions, life insurance, investment and mortgage sectors, as well as long-term care provision, personal wealth management and the corporate financial planning arena. Millfield also has specialist divisions dealing with offshore investment, insurance and employee benefits. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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