Watchstone Group is a holding company with technology at its core.

Our businesses offer leading technology solutions primarily to the insurance, automotive and healthcare industries.

While we have a diverse portfolio, our operating businesses are unified by a set of shared commercial principles:

■We seek to anticipate change and we have the agility to exploit the dynamism of customer behaviour
■We invest in the people and technologies that will drive innovation and success in our markets
■We promote in-depth sector knowledge and experience as the starting point of value creation, and
■We strive for efficiency across our businesses through the optimal allocation of resources and good governance

                   

NEWS

26th Jan 2018 Pre-close trading update
11th May 2017 Prospective claim by Slater and Gordon
05th May 2017 Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2016
27th Apr 2017 Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2016

VIDEO/AUDIO/PRESENTATIONS

May 2017 2016 Annual Report and Accounts
Jun 2016 Presentation-Results for the six months ended 30 June 2016
27th May Watchstone Audio Webcast-Financial Results
27th Jan Watchstone Group Outline Strategy

EVENTS

The 2017 Commercial Vehicle Show (CV Show)25th-27th April -UK (Hubio)
The Strategic Claims conference2nd March-UK (Hubio)
2017 Insurance-Canada.ca Technology Conference28th February-Canada (Hubio)
NRF's Annual Convention & EXPO (Retail's BIG Show)15th-17th January-USA (Tech Mahindra-Bronze sponsors/exhibitor)
2017 Commercial Vehicle Show25th-27th April-UK (Hubio Fleet-exhibitor)

WEBSITES




LINKS TO DEDICATED PAGES

pt Health
ingenie Updated 2nd June
Innocare Updated 2nd June

Telematics policies grow in popularity by 40%
14th March 2016

The British Insurance Brokers' Association has reported a 40% rise in the number of telematics policies. The news arrives on the same day we hear rumblings about a potential rise in Insurance Premium Tax - yes, the same IPT that was raised by 3.5% back in November 2015.

Thumbs up for the rise of telematics

It's happening. Well - it's actually happened. Telematics is now a mainstream choice for young drivers. With the number of drivers insuring with a black box rising by 40% in the last year overall, older drivers are clearly beginning to realise they can benefit too.

When we were thinking up ingenie, we were faced with quite a few raised eyebrows. Nearly 5 years after launching the brand, I think those have turned into raised glasses. We were right: telematics is the best way to get more affordable insurance. All you have to do is drive properly - so simple.

From the latest figures, ingenie now has around a 10% share of the telematics market, and we've reduced the risk of crashing in our growing community by 40% compared with national average. We're incredibly proud of those numbers.

https://www.ingenie.com/blog/2016/03/telematics-policies-grow-in-popularity-by-40

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/consumer-news/94860/uk-sees-40-rise-in-black-box-telematics-car-insurance-policies

http://moneyfacts.co.uk/news/car-insurance/growth-in-telematics-car-insurance-policies/

Pretty sure this never got flagged up on 'Stockwatch' yesterday:

21 March 2016
Watchstone Group plc

Management Incentive and Retention Plan

Watchstone (LON:WTG) announces that it has implemented a new management incentive and retention plan ("Plan"), adopted by the Board on the recommendation of the Company's Remuneration Committee following independent external advice and consultation with major shareholders. Grants under the Plan have been made to a number of key executives none of whom are members of the Company's Remuneration Committee ("Participants"). The Board (excluding any Participants) believes that the Plan is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

Richard Rose, Non-executive Chairman said; "After taking extensive advice and following consultation with shareholders, we have designed an executive incentive plan that is rooted in the creation of value for all shareholders. The Plan recognises the Group's complex history and its diverse nature following the disposal of the Professional Services Division. Against this backdrop, the Board decided to implement a cash-based scheme, focussed on delivering growth in the value of the Company's operating businesses going forward without penalising, or enhancing returns for, management in respect of historic matters. Accordingly, the Board will not grant share options to the Participants."

http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5250175

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InnoCare Launched as First of Its Kind Technology-Enabled Clinic Management Software Platform and Business Process Services
April 04, 2016 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

HAMILTON, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Watchstone Group plc (“Watchstone”) is pleased to announce the launch of InnoCare Ltd. (www.innocare.ca) (“InnoCare”) which is being spun out of Watchstone’s leading Canadian physiotherapy business, pt Healthcare Solutions Corp (“pt Health”).


“We have invested heavily in the development of our clinic management platform and we’ve proven its success in pt Health’s clinics. We can now bring to market the most comprehensive clinic management suite of solutions to the wider healthcare market across Canada and North America.”

InnoCare’s proprietary clinic management software platform and call centre customer service operations combined with its established industry expertise will enable clinic owners to transform patient experience and operate more efficient and productive practices in the growing North American healthcare market.

InnoCare has developed a range of cloud based, software as a service products as well as business process outsourcing modules, which include:

• Advanced online booking and client self-booking options that are proven to drive lead generation and increase client satisfaction;
• Data analytics and intelligent reporting capability to support patient treatment, enhance practice management, and provide objective visibility into business operation;
• Optimized schedule management tools, allowing clinics to more effectively fill excess capacity;
• Call centre operations that increase communication with clients and clinicians by extending personalized customer service hours to 90 hours per week; and
• Billing and payroll services that reduce administrative requirements significantly, creating operational efficiencies and better financial control.

A tailored package of services is available to suit individual clinicians as well as larger practices. These modular products are mobile enabled, fully configurable, and this will enable them to rapidly enhance their clinic operations and scale their practices.

InnoCare’s proven technology already powers 230 clinics across Canada treating 5,000 patients each day and delivering a 96% patient satisfaction score.

InnoCare will now develop customers throughout the healthcare industry (physiotherapists, opticians, doctors and other clinic types) across both Canada and the USA.

"Technology innovation is changing the way healthcare is delivered and how the industry optimizes their operations. Cloud based platforms allow clinics of all types to deliver a more connected, personalized and improved customer experience. Such optimization tools will give partner clinics significant competitive advantage in this evolving marketplace”. says Wayne Ingram, Managing Director, Slalom Consulting Canada, a leading Customer Experience and Technology Consultancy.

Heather Shantora, CEO of InnoCare said: “We have invested heavily in the development of our clinic management platform and we’ve proven its success in pt Health’s clinics. We can now bring to market the most comprehensive clinic management suite of solutions to the wider healthcare market across Canada and North America.”

Indro Mukerjee, Group CEO of Watchstone said: “The launch of InnoCare as a separate company will allow it the freedom to maximize the vast opportunity in the healthcare technology market whilst pt Health continues to do what it does best – serving patients and customers. Under Heather’s leadership, we are building one of the largest physiotherapy businesses in Canada and now make our market leading healthcare technology platform available to the wider market across North America. Our pt Health clinics will continue to deliver front line services to patients and will remain a trusted provider to thousands of consumers each day.”

http://www.businesswire.com/news/financialpost/20160404005365/en/InnoCare-Launched-Kind-Technology-Enabled-Clinic-Management-Software

Statement re Share Price Movement

Watchstone (LON:WTG) notes the recent share price rise and can confirm that the Company has recently received a draft and highly conditional, non-cash proposal from a private company (the "Draft Proposal") for all of the assets (but excluding the actual and contingent liabilities) of the Group. The Board has rejected the Draft Proposal as being unworkeable but the correspondence may or may not lead to a further proposal being made to the Company.

The Company will provide more information as and when appropriate.

There is a new (new to me anyway) section on the WTG homepage 'Latest News & Updates' which was updated 7th April giving details on InnoCare Ltd, Hubio, Business Advisory Service and ingenie:

http://www.watchstonegroup.com/

InnoCare

Leveraging research, resources, and substantial experience in clinic management, InnoCare is an innovative health tech company that provides software as a service and business process outsourcing for clinic owners. InnoCare’s proprietory clinic management software platform and call centre customer service operations combined with its established industry expertise enables clinic owners to transform patient experience and operate more efficient and productive practices in the growing North American healthcare market.

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InnoCare attends Canadian Physiotherapy Association Congress
June 2, 2016/in Company News by watchstonegroup


InnoCare was a featured exhibitor at the highly anticipated Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA) Congress that took place from May 26 – 28 in Victoria, British Columbia. CPA is the largest professional physiotherapy association in Canada, with over 14,000 members who are all rehabilitation professionals dedicated to the health, mobility and fitness of Canadians.

The event, which was attended by over 1,000 practising physiotherapists from every province in Canada, was an ideal setting for the team to meet clients and showcase InnoCare Software.

InnoCare CEO, Heather Shantora, also spoke with delegates at the event about the future of technology in healthcare and the evolution of patient care in the digital age.





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InnoCare showcases innovative clinic management technology solutions at the OPA InterAction conference
April 20, 2016



InnoCare marked the end of an exciting national launch week with a highly successful debut at the Ontario Physiotherapy Association (OPA) InterAction conference from 9-10th April in Toronto, Canada. The OPA is responsible for implementing innovation and strategic direction for the profession of physiotherapy in the province of Ontario.

Exhibiting for an audience of hundreds of practicing physiotherapists in the private and public sector, InnoCare’s complete practice management solution – which includes proprietary cloud-based practice management software and a comprehensive suite of back office administration services – emerged as a clear market enabler.

Already used in 230 clinics across Canada, InnoCare is transforming how independent clinic owners approach practice management. “InnoCare allows clinicians to effortlessly streamline clinic operations so that they can focus on their patients”, says Heather Shantora, CEO of InnoCare. “We’re the first company in Canada to do this and we’re looking forward to bringing InnoCare to market.”

InnoCare will be an exhibitor at the Canadian Physiotherapy Association conference in British Columbia from 26–28th May.

For more information on InnoCare, please visit www.innocare.ca

InnoCare CEO Heather Shantora speaks at technology innovation event
May 4, 2016 in Company News


InnoCare CEO Heather Shantora attended RehabTO technology innovation and collaboration event at Ryerson University in Toronto.

Heather spoke to a large audience of health practitioners, independent clinic owners, and health technology advocates at the RehabTO “Meet Up” event at Ryerson University’s DMZ facility. Ryerson’s DMZ facility is Canada’s largest university based business incubator for emerging tech companies, ranking first in North America and third in the world. The RehabTO event was an ideal setting for Heather to connect directly with a large group of stakeholders and for the InnoCare new business team to demo and showcase InnoCare Software.

InnoCare is the first Canadian company to provide clinic owners with the ability to focus solely on patient care. By providing call centre services and removing the burden of administrative functions such as billing, payroll, marketing, and HR, InnoCare’s business outsource offerings enhance customer service and improve the patient experience.

In particular, InnoCare Software’s unique integrations with health and motor vehicle insurance carrier billing portals were met with enthusiasm by attendees. As the only software platform with these billing integrations in Canada, InnoCare is emerging as a clear market leader with a strong and unique value proposition for clinic owners in the Canadian rehabilitation market.

For more information on InnoCare, please visit www.innocare.ca

ingenie attends third annual Young Driver Focus forum
May 4, 2016 in Company News

ingenie attended the Young Driver Focus forum recently held at the RAC club in central London. This was a very well attended event with over 200 delegates from local councils, road safety charities, driver behaviour psychologists, researchers, major players in telematics insurance and the emergency services. ingenie CEO Richard King took part in a 20 minute Q&A session with Nick Rawlings of Road Safety GB during which he dispelled a number of myths around telematics.

Read ingenie’s blog here

To find out more about ingenie, please visit www.ingenie.com

Hubio provides insight at the TU-Automotive Connected Car Insurance event
May 4, 2016 in Company News


Hubio’s presence at this leading European connected car insurance event recently held in London has received positive feedback from both delegates and organisers alike.

The event was well attended by the automotive insurance sector, with around 400 people present as Watchstone Group plc CEO, Indro Mukerjee, made his keynote speech on telematics’ move from disruptor to enabler.

Matteo Carbone, Principal, Bain & Company, moderated the technology and innovation panel, IoT is redefining every industry. Indro was joined on the stage by Jacques Amselem, Head of IoT, Allianz and Roberto Polli, Head of Insurance Telematics, Vodafone Automotive.

For more information on Indro’s keynote speech and coverage of the event, visit TU-Automotive’s website.

For more information on Hubio, please visit www.hubio.com

You got high hopes for these Banjo ? .

VICTIM, I got badly burnt from QPP so 'high hopes' indeed!

Watchstone do appear to be heading in the right direction, restructuring into a company with clear goals but still early days possibly?

I've only got a small number , after the special divi thing got my money back .

Highlighting the Canada launch last month:

InnoCare clinic management suite launched in Canada
May 11, 2016

The UK-based Watchstone Group recently announced the launch of InnoCare Ltd., a spin-off out of Watchstone’s leading Canadian physiotherapy business, pt Healthcare Solutions Corp (pt Health) based in Hamilton. InnoCare’s proprietary clinic management software platform and call centre customer service operations, combined with its established industry expertise will enable clinic owners to transform patient experience and operate more efficient and productive practices in the growing North American healthcare market.

Heather Shantora (pictured), CEO of InnoCare said: “We have invested heavily in the development of our clinic management platform and we’ve proven its success in pt Health’s clinics. We can now bring to market the most comprehensive clinic management suite of solutions to the wider healthcare market across Canada and North America.”

A tailored package of services is available to suit individual clinicians as well as larger practices. These modular products are mobile enabled, fully configurable, and this will enable them to rapidly enhance their clinic operations and scale their practices.

InnoCare’s proven technology already powers 230 clinics across Canada treating 5,000 patients each day and delivering a 96% patient satisfaction score.

InnoCare will now develop customers throughout the healthcare industry (physiotherapists, opticians, doctors and other clinic types) across both Canada and the USA.

InnoCare has developed a range of cloud-based, software as a service products as well as business process outsourcing modules, which include:

• Advanced online booking and client self-booking options that are proven to drive lead generation and increase client satisfaction;

• Data analytics and intelligent reporting capability to support patient treatment, enhance practice management, and provide objective visibility into business operation;

• Optimized schedule management tools, allowing clinics to more effectively fill excess capacity;

• Call centre operations that increase communication with clients and clinicians by extending personalized customer service hours to 90 hours per week; and

• Billing and payroll services that reduce administrative requirements significantly, creating operational efficiencies and better financial control.

“Technology innovation is changing the way healthcare is delivered and how the industry optimizes their operations.

Cloud-based platforms allow clinics of all types to deliver a more connected, personalized and improved customer experience. Such optimization tools will give partner clinics significant competitive advantage in this evolving marketplace,” says Wayne Ingram, managing director of Slalom Consulting Canada, a leading customer experience and technology consultancy.

Hubio CEO to chair TINtech conference
May 20, 2016/in Company News

At Hubio we are focused on enabling a technology and data-led future for insurance and automotive sectors. We will be showcasing our solutions at TINtech, the UK’s leading insurance technology strategy conference.

Watchstone Group plc & Hubio CEO, Indro Mukerjee, will be chairing the event, where the hot topics will include InsurTech and human versus digital in the changing insurance landscape.

The conference will take place on 14 June at Grand Connaught Rooms, London.

For more information on the programme and scope of the event, visit TINtech’s website.

For more information on Hubio, please visit www.hubio.com

Connected Car Platform | Hubio
Published on May 23, 2016


Hubio's Automotive Solutions deliver meaningful consumer engagement and interaction – with telematics-based services for connecting vehicles and driver community development.

For the first time ever, Post's hugely-popular conferences - Motor Claims and Insurance Telematics will come together under one roof for one super charged event designed to address the challenges shaping motor insurance in 2016 and beyond.

Post's Motor Insurance World taking place on 25 May at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Milton Keynes, is an exciting new event that fuses up to the minute content from the industry's leading speakers with a bustling exhibition space for inspiring innovation.

Committed to serving our insurer community, this event will cover motor claims, underwriting and insurance telematics to provide delegates with a one-stop shop for all things motor.

If you attend just one motor event this year, make it this one!

http://www.motorinsuranceworld.co.uk/

hubio sharing a stand with Tech Mahindra:



https://twitter.com/louiserobertson

EDIT:

Hubio Insurance ‏@hubioinsurance · 2h hours ago

Our Insurance Strategy Director, @_NeilThomson is at #PostMotor. Chat to him on @tech_mahindra 's stand about #UBI

https://twitter.com/hubioinsurance

Usage-based insurance (UBI) product demo | Hubio
Published on May 25, 2016

Hubio’s end-to-end insurance technology solutions are changing the game for insurers and automotive organisations. Watch to see how our modular solutions would work for you.

Business Advisory Service Ltd (BAS) is one of the UK’s largest energy switching brokerages and employs over 280 energy experts in the UK and South Africa.

Since 2006, we have helped more than 35,000 UK businesses switch their energy providers and saved a total of £42 million. We provide a range of energy, water and waste services and work closely with the UK’s top providers to find the most cost effective solutions to our clients and secure the best rates available on the market.


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TELCA 2016 Business Person of the Year shortlist (The Energy Live Consultancy Awards)

Energy Live News is pleased to announce the shortlist for Business Person of the Year. The following people have been shortlisted:

Nick Proctor, Amber Energy

Chris Shaw, Business Advisory Service

Kelly Ivison, Exchange Utility

Emily Groves, Indigo Swan

Peter Kirkham, Smart Utility Management

Gerard Duggan, Utilitrack

James Longley, Utility Bidder

Graham Cooke, Zenergi

The winner will be announced on 30th June at the awards ceremony held at the Honourable Artillery Company.

http://www.energylivenews.com/telca-2016-shortlist/

Hubio, the usage based insurance technology company owned by Watchstone Group has teamed up with Indian carmaker Mahindra to offer telematics-based insurance services.

http://www.newslocker.com/en-uk/profession/insurance/ex-quindell-unit-hubio-teams-up-with-indian-carmaker-mahindra/view/

SEE POST 41

27 May 2016
Watchstone Group plc
("Watchstone" or the "Company" or the "Group")

Results for the year ended 31 December 2015

Watchstone (AIM:WTG.L) today announces its results for the year ended 31 December 2015, a period of radical change for the Group.

Financial summary:

· Underlying* business revenues steady at £58.3m (2014: £56.5m)

· Underlying EBITDA loss of £16.1m (2014: loss of £16.8m)

· Disposal of the Professional Services Division generated a profit of £494.3m

· Impairment of goodwill and other intangible and non-cash assets - total charge of £113.5m (2014: £129.1m). Further details of the impairments can be found in notes 6 and 7 to the financial information in this announcement

· Total profit after tax £274.9m (2014: loss of £374.5m)

· Group net assets (excluding contingent liabilities) of £137.1m representing approximately 297 pence per share following capital return of £411.9m

· Group cash at 31 December 2015 of £103.2m including £97.6m in the Company. Group cash of £93.1m (unaudited) as at 20 May 2016 including cash in the Company of £86.9m (unaudited) with a further £50.0m (unaudited) in escrow.

* Underlying includes ptHealth, Hubio, Ingenie, BAS, Maine Finance and Central

Operational highlights:

· Disposal of the Professional Services Division for £645m plus deferred contingent consideration completed in May 2015

· Court approved capital return of 90 pence per ordinary share completed in December 2015

· New Group CEO and Board in place which has brought stability and started to rebuild investor confidence

· Substantial work completed and on-going to simplify the Group, reduce the Group's losses and build the platform to deliver the best possible shareholder value from all the Group's operational and other assets

· Clear strategy and plan for all Group businesses - energetically pursuing opportunities and robustly dealing with challenges

Current trading (unaudited):

· Overall trading is in line with expectations with some good momentum in ptHealth, ingenie and BAS

· ptHealth has had a solid start to the year

o Unaudited revenue of £6.6m in Q1 2016 (an increase of 4.4% vs. Q1 2015 (excluding exchange rate fluctuations) from a reduced number of clinics)

o Average revenue per clinic up 12% in Q1 2016 compared to the same period in 2015

o Assessment and treatment numbers have increased by 11% and 7% respectively during the same period

o Launch of InnoCare as a spin out of ptHealth

· ingenie performing strongly in Q1 2016

o Gross Written Premium up 23% to £20.7m in Q1 2016 (Q1 2015: £16.8m)

o Policies written up 19% to 10,706 in Q1 2016 (Q1 2015: 8,985)

o Approximately 39,700 policies in force at 31 March 2016 (31 March 2015: 34,515)

· Hubio stable but historic growth expectations proven to be unrealistic- business being reshaped in line with market opportunities

o Unaudited Q1 2016 revenue of £4.3m (Q1 2015: £4.1m)

o Active devices as at 30 April 2016 was 38,631, 77% more than at 30 April 2015 this was largely recovering from technical issues with a large customer in the US

· BAS is now cash generative whilst work continues to improve Maine Finance and quotesupermarket.com

o Unaudited BAS revenues for Q1 2016 of £0.8m, an increase of 21% on the same period in 2015 and the business is now cash generative

o Unaudited Q1 2016 total revenue for Maine Finance and quotesupermarket.com was £0.4m (Q1 2015: £0.5m)

http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5349631