6th June 2003 - Trucost Chairman, Simon Thomas, speaking at INSEAD conference and University of Leeds conference in June 2003.

London, Friday 6th June 2003: Following recent speeches at the UKSIF and IRS conferences in London, Simon Thomas, Chairman of Trucost Plc, will be speaking at INSEAD's CMER (Centre for the Management of Environmental Resources) conference 'Investor Interest in Corporate Sustainability and the Disclosure of Material Risk' in Fontainebleau, France on 19th June 2003. Simon will be speaking on the subject of 'When do sustainability issues constitute a material risk?'

INSEAD states that since the recent much publicised corporate scandals and collapses, there has been mounting pressure on corporate governance and adequate disclosure of material risks even outside the specialised socially responsible investing (SRI) community. These risk factors extend beyond traditionally defined accounting tangibles. Increasingly, studies have been conducted indicating that non-tangible material risks do impact on revenues and costs, thus increasing relevance for investors. Issues to be addressed include the extent of investors' interest in a firm's corporate sustainability activities and the relevance of this information to assess the firm's material risk. This conference will serve as a platform for participants to develop a roadmap for linking sustainability considerations with investment decisions.

Following this, Simon Thomas will be speaking at the University of Leeds 'Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management Conference' on 30th June 2003. Simon will discuss the role of 'Management Systems' and how Trucost helps to measure, manage and communicate environmental performance.

This conference provides a forum for the dissemination of research findings, practical guidance and case studies associated with the development of Corporate Social Responsibility in business including the implementation of Corporate Environmental Management tools. Both elements contribute to business strategies consistent with sustainable development. The conference wishes to encourage both practical and theoretical papers and is a forum for debate and discussion.

Simon will also be speaking at the 5th Triple Bottom Line Investing conference in Amsterdam in November 2003 on 'Can the valuation of external costs lead to a single bottom line?'

Simon Thomas has 21 years senior business experience in the publishing, finance and self-storage sectors. Simon is Chairman of Trucost Plc, a London-based company that was established in early 2000. Trucost has developed two unique products: The Trucost Environmental System provides an objective, quantitative measure of an organisationís overall environmental performance, including those of its supply chain; the Trucost Environmental Cost Calculator allows fund managers, environmental consultants and companies to model the environmental impacts of companies and sectors in financial terms. Simon has overseen the development of Trucost's methodology by its research team, with the support of an International Advisory Panel of leading academics in the fields of economics and the environment. Simon is a regular commentator on environmental measurement, reporting and analysis, along with other CSR and SRI issues.

In 1997, Simon joined Lok'n'Store, the self-storage company, which was subsequently floated on the London Alternative Investment Market (AIM). Previously, Simon co-founded the emerging markets investment trust business at LCF Edmond de Rothschild and raised USD 30 million for the first fund investing in emerging North Africa. Simon has also held senior positions at Nomura International and Swiss Banking Corporation. From 1981-1987 he worked for Reed International, ultimately as a magazine publisher within their Business Press division. London, 4th June 2003 - Previewing today, the Trucost Environmental Cost Calculator allows fund managers, consultants and companies to evaluate the real environmental impacts of companies and sectors in financial terms for the first time. Valuations of these environmental costs are provided as a proportion of a company's turnover, putting them into context. This helps companies meet the environmental reporting obligations set out in the Company Law White Paper.

1. The Value of Environmental Reporting , UK Social Investment Forum (UKSIF) conference, 13 November 2002
2. Communicating Environmental Performance to Investors , Investor Relations Society (IRS) conference, 4 June 2003

For further information or copy of speeches and presentations at the conference, please contact Philippa Thomson on 020 7321 3731

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