AGM Statement

Berry Birch & Noble PLC
19 July 2001


BERRY BIRCH & NOBLE PLC

                                                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                                                                 19TH July 2001

                   APPOINTMENT OF NEW NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mr Jim Gaskin will today be appointed a non-executive director of Berry Birch &
Noble PLC (BBN).

Mr Gaskin, aged 56, is a chartered accountant and Managing Director of The
Exchange.

Mr Gaskin was formerly a regulator for nine years with FIMBRA and the PIA and
was Chairman of Misys IFA Services, a group of four networks with over 4400
registered financial advisers.

Commenting on Mr Gaskin's appointment, Sir Jeremy Black, the BBN Chairman said,
' Mr Gaskin will bring tremendous regulatory and industry experience to the BBN
board table. We are delighted he has accepted the invitation to join the
company at this important stage of our strategic development.'

'The appointment of Mr Gaskin reflects the new executive management team
appreciation of the key role of independent directors on the board. The
appointment will bring the number of independent non executive directors on the
BBN board to two and the company is actively working towards appointing a third
independent non executive director in the near future'.

BBN TRADING STATEMENT

At today's BBN annual general meeting, the Chairman Sir Jeremy Black made the
following trading statement

'Since the Report & Accounts were published on 18th June 2001, the business
rationalisation programme has continued at a pace.

Cost savings in the Group have been identified and specific changes are being
implemented in July resulting in redundancy terms being offered to a number of
staff. This move will enable the Group to make some significant savings and
will focus resources on supporting core business activities.

Actions to increase revenue levels have commenced and specifically all
Financial Services sales staff are now participating in an ongoing customer
acquisition training programme. There is still significant room for improvement
in productivity and we anticipate progress in revenue growth in the coming
year.'