New Business Model

Claims Direct PLC 21 February 2002 For immediate release Thursday, 21st February2002 Claims Direct plc NEW BUSINESS MODEL UPDATE New agreement with Poole & Co Introduction As previously announced, Claims Direct plc ('Claims Direct' or 'the Company'), the leading personal injury claims management specialist, is introducing a new business model and accordingly is seeking to terminate or renegotiate a number of existing agreements and schemes with certain of the Company's business partners. Agreement with Poole & Co A pre-requisite to launching the new business model involves the termination of existing arrangements with the partners of the solicitors firm Poole & Co, the partners of which are Jake Bennett and Robert Andrews. Under those existing arrangements Claims Direct is obliged to refer, on an exclusive basis, cases for vetting and introduction. Poole & Co also exclusively established and administered the panel of solicitors. The Company is pleased to announce that it has today entered into a new agreement with Poole & Co terminating with immediate effect those existing arrangements. Under the terms of the agreement Claims Direct has agreed to extinguish all debts and work-in-progress owed by Poole & Co up to 20 February 2002 (approximately £1.9 million) and Poole & Co has agreed to extinguish all debts owed by Claims Direct up to 31 December 2001 (approximately £0.9 million). In addition Claims Direct has agreed to purchase Poole & Co's interest in all of Poole & Co's aborted cases, valued at £1.05 million as at 31 December 2001, in respect of which moneys are due from insurers. Claims Direct has agreed to make a maximum payment of £1.3 million for that interest to Poole & Co., payable in seventeen monthly instalments commencing on 21 February 2002. For a period of 5 years from the date of the agreement Claims Direct has agreed to introduce to Poole & Co cases on a monthly basis as a member of their new Solicitors' Panel. At the end of the 5 year term Poole & Co may elect either to extend the agreement for a further final period of 2 years or receive a termination payment of £500,000. In the event that Claims Direct defaults on its obligations to make the payments or introduce cases under the agreement Poole & Co may at its option terminate the arrangements for the introduction of future cases, invoice the Company for all work in progress, disbursements and VAT in respect of the ongoing cases introduced to it and require the Company to pay liquidated damages of a maximum of £360,000. Commenting on the new business model update, Ronnie Henderson, Chief Executive of Claims Direct plc, said: 'Making these changes is imperative as it not only helps us become more efficient as we seek to restore the financial health of Claims Direct, but also represents important progress in the launch of our new business model. Accordingly, we will continue to announce changes and new developments as we conclude agreements with our business partners. 'The recent acquisition of Claimline and the pending launch of the new business model are beginning to provide a platform from which we can re-establish Claims Direct and restore its reputation.' - Ends - For further information please contact: Claims Direct plc 01952 284800 Ronnie Henderson, Chief Executive www.claimsdirect.com Weber Shandwick Square Mile 0207 950 2800 Reg Hoare/Christian Taylor-Wilkinson/Claudine Cartwright This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange D
UK 100