3rd Apr 2006 07:02
Helphire Group PLC03 April 2006 For release 7.00am 3 April 2006 Enquiries: Mark Jackson 01225 321 205 David Lindsay 01225 321 298 Helphire Group plc 01225 321 000 Tarquin Edwards 07879 458 364 Binns & Co. 020 7786 9600 Helphire Group plc ("the Company") Trading Update In the period since 30th September 2005, Helphire Group plc, the leading motoraccident management handlers, is pleased to announce that the strong growthexperienced in the first half has continued. The integration of Swift Rentacarhas now been completed and Swift, Albany and the core Helphire business continueto trade in line with the Board's expectations. We are pleased with theintegration and performance of these recent acquisitions. In the five month period to the end of February, in excess of 47,000 hires(2005: 27,000), over 17,000 credit repairs (2005:12,000) and more than 11,000personal injury claims (2005: 3,000) were processed by the Company. Given boththe healthy pipeline of new business prospects and the significant organicgrowth being seen in a number of key accounts the Board is confident of theCompany's prospects for the financial year ending 30 June 2006. A number ofsignificant new accounts are expected to be finalised in the next three monthsand further information about these will be provided in due course. The most recent review of the ABI GTA scheme car hire rates has recently beenconcluded successfully with the majority of new rates having been implementedfrom 1 April 2006. The review process has resulted in a simplified matrix ofrates for vehicle types which should make the system easier to operate. Theoverall impact of these changes is positive for the Company. Since the interim results the Company has strengthened the board with theappointment of Rodney Baker-Bates as Non-Executive Chairman. The financial year end of the current accounting period will be 30 June 2006.Information on the six-month period to 31 March 2006, in the form of a secondinterim report, will be released in June 2006 and results for the fullfifteen-month period to June will be reported in September 2006. Commenting on the performance to date, Chief Executive Mark Jackson said: "During 2005 we experienced strong growth and this has continued into the startof 2006. The prospects for the continuation of this growth are very good and welook forward with confidence." ENDS This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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