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