Last checked at 17 May 2013 07:00
17 May 2013
EW GROUP LIMITED
("EW Group" or "the Company")
Investment portfolio update and notice of results
30 April 2013 represented the twelve month anniversary of the Company's first investment in European Wealth Management Group Plc ("European Wealth"), which has transformed the Company's fortunes; propelling it from holding a few minority stakes in quoted and unquoted companies to being the largest investor in a major consolidation player within the UK's wealth management sector.
In that period, EW Group's market value has increased more than 8-fold to approximately £4.2m, which includes the issue of almost £2.5 million in new equity; whilst the Company's net assets have increased more than 10-fold.
European Wealth (www.europeanwealth.com)
Since April 2012, European Wealth's contracted assets under management have grown, both organically and by acquisition, from £150 million to more than £650 million, with a further £50 million expected to be signed up over the coming few months. European Wealth has grown its employee base from 24 to 45 over that period and now operates from offices in London, Cheltenham, Maidstone, Worcester, Wokingham and Brighton. Its rapid rate of growth has, in part, been assisted by funding provided by the Company in the form of interest bearing loans and equity.
EW Investments
The Company today announces that it has formed a new wholly owned investment holding company, EW Investments Limited, to consolidate its investments held in AIM quoted companies. Whilst its value today is small when compared to the value of the Company's stake in European Wealth, the directors believe that there are a significant number of well-managed companies on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange which are materially undervalued. The directors intend to take advantage of this opportunity through taking minority positions for short-medium term capital gain.
With management's time being divided between building the portfolio of quoted investments and continuing to support the development of European Wealth, the directors propose selling the Company's holding in CMS Corporate Consultants Limited to a management buyout
Notice of results
The Company expects to announce its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2012 on 25 June 2013.
Commenting on the transformational 12 months, Paul Everitt, director of EW Group said:
"The last 12 months have seen a material change in the Company's profile, thanks in a large part to our initial investment in European Wealth. We believe the Company's unique investment company positioning in the small cap arena allows us to assist management teams in their short to medium term growth plans, especially those with buy and build strategies, such as European Wealth, in order to build lasting capital growth. We look forward to updating shareholders further in due course."
Further information please contact:
EW Group Limited
Paul Everitt: +44 (0)14 8173 2888
Daniel Stewart & Company Plc - Nominated Adviser and Broker
Antony Legge and James Thomas: +44 (0)20 7776 6550