Trading Statement

Evolution Group PLC 30 January 2003 30 January 2003 The Evolution Group Plc ("Evolution Group", the "Group") Trading update Evolution Group, the AIM listed investment bank and retail fund management group, today issues a trading update. Investment banking Following the completion of the acquisition of Beeson Gregory Group in July 2002, we were pleased to be able to announce the successful integration of the two businesses in our interim statement. We have continued this process during the remainder of the year to ensure the creation of a culture and structure to realise the goal of creating a highly profitable investment banking franchise. Our financial performance in the final four months of the year has seen revenues exceed the targets set for the combined business. This income has been earned across the whole firm with strong performances from corporate finance, sales and trading. Overall, in this four month period, Evolution Beeson Gregory has made a profit against a background of very difficult market conditions. We have continued to focus on cost management and have made significant reductions in our headcount, from 128 people when the deal was completed to 84 at the year end, whilst eliminating other overhead expenses. This has resulted in our cost of income in the period now being close to 60%, a structure which we believe will allow us to operate profitably going forward. We have won a significant number of new corporate clients in the period since the merger demonstrating success across a number of sectors and market capitalisations. On this basis our future income quality is high, with a strong retainer income base of over 25% of projected operating costs, and the opportunity to secure corporate transaction fees as well as primary and secondary commissions. Private Client Stockbroking and Fund Management Christows has experienced the effects of extremely difficult market conditions in the retail stockbroking sector. Declining equity market valuations have a direct impact upon the level of management fees earned from our discretionary asset management products. Against this background we have continued to strive to win new funds under management via our sales and marketing efforts which have been successful in gaining £54 million of new funds under management during the full year. In conjunction with this strategy, we launched a multi-manager portfolio service which provides discretionary management across the unitised and exchange traded fund asset classes for individuals with amounts greater than £25,000 to invest. This extends our offering to a significantly wider potential client base and, in its opening months, has been extremely well received by end and intermediary customers. Obviously, in the current economic climate, cost management is paramount. The steps we took in 2001 to realign the cost base by reducing headcount and other overheads and eliminating non-core activities, have resulted in significant savings in 2002. IP2IPO The second half of 2002 saw an acceleration of progress made in the Group's Intellectual Property subsidiary. Three further spin-outs, Glycoform, Capsant Neurotechnologies and Southampton Polypeptides, were completed in the period. Furthermore, ACTIVE em, an earlier spin-out from Southampton University, achieved a successful second round of funding, raising £2.2 million. The value of IP2IPO's two partnerships with Oxford University's Chemistry department and The University of Southampton is underlined by these further activities and we believe that the Company will contribute significantly to the Group's value. Exceptional Items There will be one off exceptional charges in the period ended 31 December 2002 relating to the merger and restructuring of the Beeson Gregory Group. In addition, in line with the Evolution Group's policy regarding valuations of unquoted investments, there are significant exceptional charges related to the revaluation of Beeson Gregory's technology investments. Outlook Our two operating businesses have begun 2003 very well placed in terms of having the appropriate strategy to increase revenues and a rationalised cost structure to enable a profitable performance. The Board remains committed to maintaining the Group's strong balance sheet and substantial cash position. Clearly market conditions remain extremely difficult but your Board will undertake everything required to ensure the ongoing performance of the operating businesses and to realise maximum potential from our other strategic assets. Board Changes I have decided, following the successful completion of the integration of Beeson Gregory and Evolution, to stand down as Chairman of the Evolution Group Plc, with effect from today. This will enable me to take up further non-executive directorships and pursue other interests. I am proud to have led the business of Beeson Gregory, which was founded in 1989, and has over the last fourteen years established itself as one of the largest corporate broking businesses in London. In 2002 it merged with the Evolution Group at which point Alex Snow became Chief Executive of the merged group. I will continue to serve as a non-executive director of the University spin out company, IP2IPO Group Limited. I am pleased to announce that Richard Griffiths, currently a director of the Group, has today been appointed by the Board as Chairman of the Evolution Group. Alex Snow, Chief Executive, said: "The Board would like to thank Andrew Beeson for all his efforts and the contribution he has made to ensuring the success of this merger." Andrew Beeson Chairman For further information please contact: The Evolution Group Plc 020 7488 4040 Alex Snow, Chief Executive Graeme Dell, Finance Director Hogarth Partnership Limited 020 7357 9477 Andrew Jaques / Georgina Briscoe For further information on the Evolution Group Plc, please go to www.evolution-group.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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