14 August 2006

On 14th August 2006, Wise Speke Portfolio Managers, a division of Brewin Dolphin Securities will continue its expansion drive by opening an office in Keswick. Brewin Dolphin which trades under the established name of Wise Speke in the North of England, is the largest independent investment manager in the UK, now with 35 branches nationwide. The Group has £19 billion under management on behalf of over 100,000 clients. Wise Speke offers investment services to individuals, pension funds, charities and intermediaries such as solicitors, accountants and independent financial advisors.

The new Keswick branch will be headed by Peter Martin, currently a Divisional Director of the company and previously based in the Manchester office. He is relocating to the Lakes together with Andrew Eze (an Assistant Director of the same branch). Their job will be to replicate the highly successful Manchester operation where they have worked for 20 and 10 years respectively. Both relish the opportunity to build a new business and are keen to be involved with the Cumbrian economy from the outset.

Peter Martin, Head of the Keswick office said “I feel there is real opportunity by opening in Keswick to offer Cumbrians the chance to have their money invested by local broker, while drawing on the proven track record of a national fund management Group. We have been a successful team for many years and I hope that investors in Cumbria will be drawn by the prospect of being able to have their assets managed locally where their brokers are easily accessible. We have the expertise and experience to provide a first class service with national capabilities and research facilities”.

The possibility of running a stockbroking and portfolio management office and still being able to enjoy the personal benefits of living in the Lake District is not lost on either Peter or Andrew. With a lifelong love of the area and a wife whose family originated from Barrow-in-Furness, Peter feels this is a return home. As a keen walker and cyclist, Andrew Eze is also eager to move north and feels that the advent of modern technology will enable him to pursue a professional job and yet be on the doorstep of the great outdoors.

“The computer system we have throughout the Group is excellent and allows us to tap into the same stock market news, reports and research wherever our branches are located. Our offices in London, Newcastle and Edinburgh provide specialist support and administration which is sent instantly to all Wise Speke offices to enable us to make informed investment decisions about markets, trends and individual shares. It is this technology which has enabled us to open the Keswick office with the confidence that we can compete with the best in the market”.

For more details of Wise Speke’s services in Keswick please contact Peter Martin or Andrew Eze at Wise Speke, 42 St John Street, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5AF or on 0845 213 1500, Peter Martin or access www.brewin.co.uk.