Mercia Asset Regulatory News (MERC)

21 July 2011

AIM: MERC

MERCHANT SECURITIES GROUP PLC

("Merchant Securities")

Appointment of Finance Director

Merchant Securities, the financial services group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nigel Gurney to the Board as Finance Director with effect from 1 August 2011. The appointment has received FSA approval.

Nigel Gurney, aged 44 years, has wide-ranging experience in senior financial roles, working for the last six years in the financial services industry. He was previously Finance Director at WH Ireland Group plc, the stockbroking and securities business. Prior to this, Nigel was Financial Controller at Spencer House Capital Management LLP, the independent Asset Management partnership founded by Lord Rothschild and Richard Horlick (formerly CIO of Schroders). Nigel has also held senior management roles at Invicta Investment Management LLP, the London-based hedge fund and ORN Capital LLP, the hedge fund platform. He is a Chartered Accountant, having qualified in 1993.

Nigel currently holds, and has held (including all appointments during the five years preceding the date of this announcement), the following directorships and partnerships, other than of the Company:

Commenting on the appointment, Patrick Claridge, Chief Executive said:

"We are delighted to welcome Nigel to the Board as Finance Director. I am sure that he will prove an asset to our business and we look forward to working with him to deliver our growth plans."

There is no further information to be disclosed under Schedule 2(g) of the AIM rules.

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