Close Brothers Group Plc has today announced its preliminary results. Profits are up 39% to £119 million and the results demonstrate the underlying strength of the business.

At Close Brothers Corporate Finance we are proud to contribute to these strong
results. Our business has performed well over the last year, with profit before tax of £9.8 million, up by 85% over last year.

Outlined below are some of our recent successes:

• Our M&A business has advised on more than 75 deals in the last year. We have advised on numerous high profile deals, from Yates and Early Learning Centre, to the De Vere defence and Peterhouse's sale to Babcock.
  
• Our Corporate Restructuring Group maintains its leading European position - in the last six months the Group worked on seven engagements involving the restructuring of close to £7.0 billion of debt for companies such as British Energy, Parmalat and Queens Moat Houses.
  
• In the last six months our Debt Advisory Group undertook seven debt financing projects, involving the raising of over £1.5 billion of debt for companies such as Pressac, Paragon and Enterprise Inns.

The last year has seen us take on more staff at all levels. We have also strengthened our international network and now have over 270 professionals, in 19 countries with 28 offices.

If you would like to learn more about how we apply our sector knowledge, our extensive industry contacts and the experience of our staff to give insightful, strategically enhancing advice, we would be delighted to discuss how we could assist you.

Kind regards

Richard Grainger

Chief Executive Officer