Statement re. Suspension

Claims Direct PLC 10 July 2002 Claims Direct plc Statement re: Temporary Suspension of Shares Claims Direct plc, the personal injury compensation specialist, today petitioned the High Court to grant an Administration Order, having requested the Financial Services Authority to suspend its shares from trading on the London Stock Exchange with immediate effect. An Administration Order will allow the Company to continue to trade whilst the Administrator assesses the Company's position, thus giving it time to be restructured or disposed of as a going concern. A decision is expected within a few days. Claims Direct announced on 1 July 2002 that despite recently raising funds through several disposals, it still required further funds to secure the business beyond the immediate future. Regrettably, discussions with several parties to raise this additional capital have been unsuccessful. It has thus become clear that the Company's cash flow projections, based on anticipated continuing loss making trading, indicate that it could be trading insolvently within weeks and it is the Director's duty to therefore seek the appointment of an Administrator. Claims Direct's Chief Executive, Ronnie Henderson, said: 'I am extremely disappointed that in my short time with the Company all the hard work and sacrifices made by Claims Direct staff have not been rewarded. 'Unfortunately the total intransigence of the Liability Insurance industry in not acknowledging their responsibilities to our clients under the Access to Justice Act has continued to be a significant drain on our resources, despite the recent support for the new legislative regime from the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords. Indeed the results of our own test cases on the reasonableness of our premiums are expected within weeks. 'This, coupled with some poor business decisions of the previous management and the delays to the introduction of our new business model, has left the Company with few options but to seek to appoint an Administrator. 'We believe that the appointment of an Administrator will allow the Company time to effect a restructuring for the overall benefit of creditors, employees and shareholders, thus enabling the Company to move forward for the benefit of all.' 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/Claudine Cartwright This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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