St Laurence Announces Growth Plans

News Release 6 September 2005

ST LAURENCE ANNOUNCES GROWTH PLANS

Investment and finance group St Laurence today unveiled growth plans for its Australasian business with planned new product and funding developments across its key property, mortgage, managed funds and finance divisions, and the appointment of a Director, Group Marketing.

Following the appointment of executive director Phil Newland earlier this year, the company has appointed Helen Mexted to a newly created position of Director, Group Marketing. In this role she will work with directors and business unit heads to lead new product development and marketing initiatives. Ms Mexted joins St Laurence from TOWER Investments where she led the team responsible for marketing, communications and research. She has a BBS (Marketing) from Massey University and will graduate with a MBA from Victoria University of Wellington in December.

St Laurence’s Managing Director Kevin Podmore said, “This year we will be releasing a number of investment opportunities. Our Australian office has just launched their Capital Assured Fund, which carries some Lloyd’s insurance cover.

“St Laurence Mortgages, the group’s finance company, has advanced plans to release a dual currency debenture and a subordinated note issue, both of which are likely to be available by mid-October, and St Laurence’s Funds Management division are expecting to launch a new Proportionate Ownership Scheme in late October.”

Founded in 1994 by Mr Podmore, St Laurence’s mission is to provide investors with higher yields than bank deposits while minimising the risks normally associated with higher performing investments. The company attributes its rapid growth over the past eleven years to a disciplined and structured approach to the property and finance market.

As well as growing its client base in New Zealand, Mr Podmore sees Australia as the big opportunity for St Laurence; both in terms of Australian domiciled investments and Australian investors.

“I like to think we have built a reputation for putting our investors first; which has enabled St Laurence to establish itself as a trusted investment and finance company that provides excellent returns for our investors,” he said.

“Investors are seeking the certainty of fixed rate, fixed return investments and I don’t see this situation changing in the foreseeable future. As always, investors need to ensure their investment risk is matched to the anticipated returns; too often investors unwittingly seek high returns irrespective of the risk.

“The St Laurence philosophy is simply stated; we don’t put out clients money anywhere that we’re not prepared to put our own,” Mr Podmore said.

ENDS

BACKGROUND

St Laurence Limited
St Laurence Limited is an Australasian investment and finance company specialising in property bond issues, fixed interest debenture stock investments, managed funds and syndicated property investments.

With offices in Wellington and Sydney, St Laurence manages more than $700 million of assets for more than 12,000 investors.

www.stlaurence.co.nz

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