CLOSE BROTHERS CORPORATE FINANCE APPOINTS TWO NEW DIRECTORS

Continued growth of business demands more senior appointments

Close Brothers Corporate Finance ("Close Brothers") continues to bolster its senior management team and has appointed two new directors from within the company. 

Andrew Merrett has been a key member of Close Brothers' European market-leading Corporate Restructuring Group since 2002.  Recent high profile restructurings he has advised on include Enron Teeside; the Scandinavian bus company, Concordia; and the hotel groups Queens Moat Houses and Le Meridien.  He was previously a member of the insolvency team at PWC in London.

Gareth Healy joined Close Brothers in January 2004, from UBS.  Although his focus is predominantly the technology sector, more recently he has played a key role in the Close Brothers IPO and Management Interest Support practice.  Recent deals he has worked on include advising the management of NCP on the sale from Cinven to 3i for £555 million, and the sale of the mobile content provider iTouch to For-side, the largest ever acquisition of a UK corporate by  a Japanese company.

Commenting on the promotions, Richard Grainger, Chief Executive of Close Brothers, said:

"These promotions are in recognition of the fantastic contribution Gareth and Andrew have made to the development of our restructuring and M&A practices.  Our business is buoyant and these appointments will support our growth into the future."

For further information please contact:

Close Brothers

Justin Clark +44 (0)20 7655 3784