4 January 2008

The Bank of England may shave a quarter-point off the interest rate, according to Brewin Dolphin, the UK’s largest independent provider of private client investment management and financial planning services.

[Insert spokesperson], of [brand name]’s branch in [town], said: “Many analysts have worries for the state of the UK and world economies at the moment. Earnings growth for companies is expected to slow, at a time when oil prices have briefly punctured the $100-a-barrel mark which means that many costs are being squeezed.

“The Bank of England is concerned about inflation, which is why interest rates are currently high in relation to the past couple of years. However, these emerging worrying factors may tip the balance slightly, and may lead the monetary policy committee, the Bank’s rate-setting panel, to announce a cut next Thursday. This would give British businesses some breathing space.

“We expect to see two further cuts throughout the course of the year, with interest rates on 4.75% as we enter 2009.

“From local companies’ points of view, this could ease some of the difficult financial pressures that we see in the coming months. From the man on the street’s point of view, lower interest rates could potentially be good news for mortgage costs.”

-Ends-

For more information please contact:

Damian Kerr
0845 213 3026
damian.kerr@brewin.co.uk

Charlotte Black
0845 213 3331
charlotte.black@brewin.co.uk

Notes to editors

Brewin Dolphin Limited ("BD") is the principal operating company of Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. BD is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a member of the London Stock Exchange.

BD is the largest independent private client investment manager in the UK. The Group manages £21.6 billion of funds for over 120,000 clients, and of this £10.7 billion is on a discretionary basis. BD has 39 offices and is corporate adviser to 131 corporate and 100 institutional clients. Brewin Dolphin Investment Banking was voted AIM Broker of the Year 2007.^[1]

^[1] Brewin Dolphin Investment Banking was voted Broker of the Year 2007 at the Investors Chronicle AIM Investment Awards, in association with the FT

The Group provides complete investment management for private investors, charities and pension funds and trades as:

Brewin Dolphin in England, Wales and the Channel Islands
Bell Lawrie in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Hill Osborne in the East Midlands
Wise Speke in the North of England
Stocktrade is the BD Execution-Only division. www.stocktrade.co.uk

Please see Media Centre section on www.brewindolphin.co.uk for details and photos of all commentators and analysts throughout the BD Group.