Trading Statement

Claims Direct PLC 25 January 2001 Claims Direct plc ('the Company') Trading Statement and Board Changes Following yesterday's meeting of the Board of Claims Direct plc, the Company is today making a trading statement and announcing changes to the Board. Trading statement Following the fall in consumer confidence which was experienced after autumn's negative publicity and despite encouraging increases in call centre enquiries in recent days, the run rate of accepted cases has not maintained the levels seen up to the end of November. It is still too early to forecast whether the recent increases in enquiry levels will continue. As a result, the Board anticipates that the level of accepted cases for the remainder of the financial year ending 31 March 2001 will be significantly below market expectations. Since the half year end, the run rates of accepted cases have been as follows: October 4,379 November 5,002 December 2,411 January (to date) 2,523 Due to delays in the introduction of the enhanced insurance policy product (which was announced in the statement dated 24 November 2000), the Company has to date been unable to recover from its clients the increased premium costs payable to underwriters. Accordingly, gross margins have been significantly reduced during this period. The Board anticipates that previous gross margins will be restored when the enhanced insurance policy is introduced in the near future. Discussions continue with the underwriters and the Company anticipates that it will be required to make substantial advanced payments in order to secure underwriting capacity on a longer term basis (three years). This will be reflected in the accounts for the full year to 31 March 2001. The Company has continued its substantial budgeted marketing spend and has recently, within this budget, launched a new advertising campaign designed to develop its brand proposition further. The Board believes that this campaign will lead to a recovery in the number of accepted cases, although the full impact will not be seen until the new financial year commencing 1 April 2001. As a result of the reduced caseload, the associated increased advertising spend per accepted case and the increased insurance cost, the Company expects that its results for the six months ending 31 March 2001 will be substantially below market expectations. A further trading update will be provided around the time of the year end. Board Changes As a result of the above and recognising the new operating environment, the Board has decided that Mr Tony Sullman, currently Executive Chairman, will be better able to serve the Company in a non-executive capacity. Mr Sullman will therefore become non-executive Chairman with immediate effect. The Board intends to appoint an independent non-executive Chairman in due course. The Board intends to appoint David Gravell to the Board as Operations Director in the near future. Mr Gravell, who joined the Company in November 2000, has 22 years experience in the defendant insurance industry. Before joining the Company, Mr Gravell was the Claims Director of the commercial division of Zurich Insurance (part of Zurich Financial Services, the fourth largest insurer in the UK with approximately 9,000 employees and a turnover in excess of £2 billion). Mr Gravell was jointly responsible for running a business with an annual turnover of £600 million and 2,500 employees. Paul Rew, Legal Director and Company Secretary, having assisted the Company through its flotation process, has indicated his intention to leave Claims Direct to seek new challenges. On his departure, Paul Doona, Finance Director, will assume the role of Company Secretary. Commenting on today's statement, Colin Poole, Chief Executive of Claims Direct, said: 'We recognise that we underestimated the negative impact on Claims Direct's business from the autumn publicity. In addition, competition has grown and rates and capacity within the relatively immature personal injury underwriting market have hardened. 'We believe we have taken the steps necessary to remedy these issues, whilst acknowledging that our actions will not bear fruit until the next financial year. 'The Board continues to have confidence in the Company's ability to operate in the personal injury market and related market places.' For further information, please contact: Claims Direct plc (Today) 0207 253 2252 Colin Poole, Chief Executive Paul Doona, Finance Director Web Site www.claimsdirect.com Golin/Harris Ludgate 0207 253 2252 Reg Hoare/Robin Hepburn/Trish Featherstone
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