Acquisition

W.H. Ireland Group PLC
05 August 2003


5 August 2003                                              For immediate release


                     ACQUISITION BY W. H. IRELAND GROUP PLC
                               ('W. H. IRELAND')
                 OF CARR SHEPPARDS CROSTHWAITE'S CARDIFF OFFICE


W.H. Ireland, the Manchester-based stockbroking and corporate finance group, is
pleased to announce today the acquisition of Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite's
business in Cardiff. Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite is a leading private client
investment manager and stockbroker and member of the Investec Group.

The acquisition, which follows a strategic review of its operations by Carr
Sheppards Crosthwaite, will see all the employees concerned, four of whom are
stockbrokers and fund managers, joining the existing W.H. Ireland team in
Cardiff and giving it the critical mass it has been seeking for some time.

Laurie Beevers, Chief Executive of W.H. Ireland, said: 'We are absolutely
delighted that the two successful teams at the Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite
Cardiff office have accepted our invitation to join us and provide a significant
boost to our presence in Wales.'

Fred Carr, Chief Executive of Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite, said: 'Cardiff is a
profitable branch, and has a professional and enthusiastic team in place, but we
decided that we either had to expand our branch network and the size of the
units within it, or consolidate in areas nearer London where we have the most
strength. Although we are sad to lose our Cardiff base we are glad that we have
been able to agree terms with W.H. Ireland both for the benefit of our staff and
to provide a continuity of service to our clients and business connections.'

The combined business will operate mainly from W.H. Ireland's St Andrew's
Crescent office, which Alwyn Young, Director of W.H. Ireland Cardiff, opened two
years ago.

She said: 'We are very much looking forward to working with our new colleagues
and continuing to provide the personal and professional service offered to our
clients. Including our office in North Wales, we will now have four fluent Welsh
speakers in the firm.'

Dafydd Hampson-Jones, a Divisional Director at Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite in
Cardiff, said: 'Though we are disappointed to be leaving our colleagues at Carr
Sheppards Crosthwaite, with whom we've enjoyed a long and amicable relationship,
we're very focused on the way ahead and we are looking forward to developing all
aspects of the W.H. Ireland business here in South Wales.'



For further information contact:

W. H. Ireland Group plc

Manchester:                                Cardiff:
Richard Lee                                Mrs Alwyn Young
Tel: [phone] / 6644                  Tel: [phone]

Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite

Cardiff:                                   London:
Dafydd Hampson-Jones                       Alun Evans
Barrie Tyler                               Tel: [phone]
Tel: [phone]



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