Trading Statement

Berkeley Berry Birch PLC
30 January 2003



For Immediate Release                                            30 January 2003


                            Berkeley Berry Birch plc

                               Trading Statement

Berkeley Berry Birch plc continues to play a lead role as a market consolidator
                       in financial services distribution

Berkeley Berry Birch plc (BBB), the financial services distribution group listed
on the London Stock Exchange announces continuing revenue progress and
development of the group's distribution capabilities.

BBB today announces that its revenues for the year ending 31st March 2003 are
expected to be broadly in line with market expectations of £57 million. The
revenue performance for the year to date reflects the strength of the group's
distribution capabilities even in the current uncertain economic and investment
environment.

BBB performance has been particularly strong in the current financial year in
the network services business (Berkeley Independent Advisers), insurance broking
(Berry Birch & Noble Insurance Broking) and the protection network (Direct
Protect) which was launched in July 2002. In addition BBB has recently commenced
it's acquisition programme with the purchase of a national IFA (Weston Financial
Group Limited) in December 2002 and a regional IFA (Professional Financial
Solutions) in January 2003.

Despite the strong performance of the businesses identified above, performance
in Berry Birch & Noble Financial Services, (BBNFS) , the group's national IFA
has continued to be disappointing. Management had previously anticipated that
this business would have reached operating breakeven by the end of the current
financial year. Based on performance in December 2002, management now consider
this to be unlikely and have revised earnings expectations for the full year
accordingly. It is expected that the continued underperformance will more than
offset the stronger trading in other areas of the business as BBNFS would be
expected to generate greater margins. The group now anticipates that its net
loss for the period ending March 2003 will be in the range of £2.5 million
higher than market expectations.  Despite this, the group's management remain
confident that, as previously stated, the group will return to operating
profitability in the first part of the financial year commencing 1 April 2003.

The group's management are in the process of taking the necessary action to
correct the financial performance of BBN FS. Steps already taken  include the
implementation of a new sales management system  and new processes. In addition
to this, the acquisition of Weston's, a national IFA with 60 advisers,  in
December presents the group an opportunity to develop synergies within this part
of the group's business. The group's management will issue a further statement
in the near future on the corrective action being taken to ensure the improved
financial performance of BBNFS.

Overall, BBB continues to be well positioned to exploit the market consolidation
opportunities in financial services distribution and benefit from the market
liberalisation proposals announced in the FSA's draft rules (CP166) for a
depolarised market.

Notes to Editors

Berkeley Berry Birch plc

•         National Financial Services Distribution Group
•         Top Five Independent Financial Advice (IFA) Group in the UK
•         Formed by the merger of Berkeley and Berry Birch & Noble plc in
          January 2002
•         Listed on the London Stock Exchange, with blue chip institutional
          investor base
•         Completed £20 million capital raising in October 2002 to implement
          acquisition strategy
•         Over 700 financial advisers producing an annual turnover in excess of
          £55 million.
•         Multi distribution structure which includes financial planning,
          employee benefits, trustee services, network services & insurance 
          broking.

For further information please contact:

Berkeley Berry Birch plc
Craig Butcher, Group Financial Director                    Tel: [phone]
Stephen Ingledew, Group Deputy Chief Executive             Tel: [phone]

Grandfield                                                 Tel: [phone]
Matthew Jervois
Olly Scott



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange