Evolution Group PLC
26 April 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 26 April 2006
THE EVOLUTION GROUP PLC
EXPANSION OF CHINESE INVESTMENT BANKING SUBSIDIARY
The Evolution Group Plc ("Evolution") announces that its subsidiary, Evolution
Securities China Limited ("ESCL"), has conditionally agreed to acquire the
entire issued share capital of Watterson Asia Limited ("Watterson") from its
existing owner and chief executive, David Tsang ("the Acquisition").
The Acquisition is conditional upon the approval by the Securities and Futures
Commission of Hong Kong ("SFC") of the change of control of Watterson. An
application for such approval has been submitted and it is currently expected
that confirmation of the SFC's decision will be delivered by the end of May
2006.
Watterson is based in Hong Kong and is licensed by the SFC to conduct corporate
finance and securities dealing activities. Since its inception in 2001,
Watterson has undertaken a wide variety of corporate finance and advisory
functions and has led or co-led fundraisings for a number of companies in the
listed Hong Kong market.
The board of ESCL expects that the Acquisition will significantly enhance
ESCL's current capability by giving it full access to Hong Kong equity markets
on a primary and secondary basis. This will complement its existing specialist
research activities based in Shanghai and its primary and secondary activities
in the London market.
Evolution currently owns approximately 73 per cent. of the issued share capital
of ESCL and the Acquisition is a class 3 acquisition for Evolution for the
purposes of the Listing Rules. The gross assets of Watterson as at 31 December
2005 were approximately HK$ 12.7 million, equating to approximately £900,000 at
the prevailing exchange rates.
For further information, please contact:
The Evolution Group Plc
Graeme Dell, Finance Director
020 7071 4430
Notes to Editors:
ESCL is a specialist investment banking and securities firm dedicated to
offering equity research, institutional sales and sales trading to a broad
base of professional portfolio investors, as well as Equity Capital Markets
and Corporate Finance services, primarily to Chinese and Asian corporations.
ESCL is headquartered in London with an additional office in Shanghai. ESCL
is currently an appointed representative of Evolution Securities Limited,
Evolution's wholly owned securities business, under the regulatory authority
of the FSA.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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