Last checked at 24 Nov 2009 16:57
Personal Group Holdings plc (`the Company') 24 November 2009 TRADING UPDATE
In the 2009 interim statement Nigel Brittle commented that record months for new business sales had been achieved in January, March and June this year. This trend has continued into the second half year with July, August and October also being record months.
The board are confident that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the overall new business performance for 2009 will exceed last year's record total.
The income stream from our Voluntary Group Income Protection continues to progress steadily and our strategy has developed positively in the last quarter with the addition of a new version of the product in partnership with BUPA.
In the 2009 interim statement the Chairman commented on the increase in claims payments to our policyholders in the first half of the year due to a number of factors that occurred when we enhanced our hospital cash plan policy. We can confirm that since 30 June 2009 the number of claims reported and our claims ratio have both settled down and are now closer to our original expectations.
The Company continues to trade in line with management expectations.
DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT
The directors of the Company are pleased to announce that the fourth quarterly dividend for 2009 of 4.15p per share will be paid on 18 December 2009 to members on the register on 4 December 2009. Shares will be marked ex-dividend on 2 December 2009.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2009
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the preliminary statement of the results for the year ending 31 December 2009 will be announced on Monday, 22 March 2010.
CHANGE OF COMPANY NAME
At a board meeting held earlier today the directors of Personal Group Holdings Plc confirmed that they intend to amend the name of the Company to Personal Group Plc. A formal announcement will be made when this change has been registered at Companies House.
Contact: Personal Group Holdings PlcJohn Barber, FDTel: 01908 605000Cenkos Securities PlcStephen KeysTel: 0207 397 8926Bankside ConsultantsSimon RothschildTel: 0207 367 8871
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