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

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.


*****************************************************


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

Results for the year ended 31 December 2015 (continued)

Indro Mukerjee, Group Chief Executive Officer said: "Even taking the legacy, non-operational matters to one side, the Group I joined in September 2015 was disproportionately complex and needed operational improvement. At the same time, I have found a number of good examples of advanced technology capabilities; capable people; and healthy market positions across our operating companies.

I believe we have made strong progress towards our key objectives in the last three quarters and there is demonstrable momentum in our ptHealth/InnoCare, ingenie and BAS businesses with a strong determination to continue to set Hubio and Maine Finance/QSM on paths to maximise their potential."

Richard Rose, Non-executive Chairman said: "I am very pleased with the significant progress the Group has made over the course of the last twelve months. The new Board has successfully refocused the Group's strategic priorities while drawing a line under the past by working tirelessly to deliver the highest standards of corporate governance.

The sale of our legal services business and the significant return of value to investors marked the start of rebuilding shareholder confidence and we are confident of continuing to deliver value. Watchstone now has solid foundations on which to build further and the Board and the management team are committed to maximising the potential of the remaining businesses."

The Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015, Notice of the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") and a Form of Proxy will be posted to registered shareholders.

The AGM is to be held at 10.00am on 30 June 2016 at Plaza Suites 1 - 3, 200 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7UT. Following the AGM, there will be a product demonstration and showcase from the Group's companies.

These results have been extracted from the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015, a full version of which is available at www.watchstonegroup.com/investors.

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

From the WTG website:

Announcement

Report

Presentation


Webcast/Video

Link to historic 'Shareholder information'

Shareholder information

The directors have been notified, or are aware of the following interests in the issued share capital of the company in respect of the shareholdings, and related holding percentages, of the following significant shareholders and directors of Watchstone Group plc as at 24 May 2016.

Major shareholder information

Name--------------------------------------------No. of Shares-------------------% Holding

Beach Point Capital Management LLP-----------4,001,335-----------------------8.69%
M&G Investments (Prudential)------------------2,916,666-----------------------6.34%
Sand Grove Capital Management LLP-----------2,305,383-----------------------5.01%


Subtotal------------------------------------------9,223,384 ----------------------20.04%


Current total shares in issue 46,038,333 as at 24 May 2016 with none being held as treasury and 1.97% being held “not in public hands” i.e. held by directors, directors of subsidiaries, trustees of employee share schemes / pension funds or any other substantial shareholders (>10%).

Director information

Name---------------------------------------No. of Shares-------------------% Holding

Richard Rose--------------------------------100,000--------------------------0.22%
Indro Mukerjee-------------------------------50,550--------------------------0.11%
Mark Williams---------------------------------50,550--------------------------0.11%
Lord Howard of Lympne----------------------12,608-------------------------0.03%
David Currie-------------------------------------1950--------------------less than 0.01%

Subtotal---------------------------------------215,658-------------------less than 0.47%

http://www.watchstonegroup.com/investors/shareholder-information/

Hubio takes expert soundings

Hubio launched earlier this year. As part of our strategic development Hubio has been active in consulting with, and showcasing our products to, a number of leading consultants and analysts in a bid to capture their expertise and understand the zeitgeist in the sectors we operate in.

This learning mindset has led to some important insights into the marketplace today. These have enabled us to adapt and add to our solutions and products in a way that accurately reflects and meets the needs of our customers and sets the scene for our continued relevance and preparedness for the future.

Previously, the research and consulting firm Celent outlined a scenario whereby the market for auto insurance could shrink dramatically as a result of improved road safety through telematics, anti-collision technologies and driverless cars. Celent’s Jamie MacGregor recently remarked: “Today, this scenario is fast becoming a reality. Insurance carriers operating in this market need a cost effective solution that is able to flex with demand, offer insight around driver behaviour, and deliver a compelling driver proposition. In launching Hubio, the Watchstone Group has created a technology services company to focus on navigating the change ahead.”

Paul Anderson of Gartner, a leading technology research and advisory company, commented: “Through a strategic partnership with Gartner, Hubio is able to align their solutions to market demands now and in the future by inspiring their development teams to conceive breakthrough ideas. Strategic decisions are validated to determine where Hubio should go next from a product, geography and market perspective.”

Participating in industry events and mixing with our peers and competitors is another avenue Hubio is exploiting to further our knowledge and increase our visibility.

Indro Mukerjee, CEO, Watchstone Group PLC, has spoken about Hubio at a number of events, as have senior colleagues. Our participation in public forums has provided us with a valuable platform for the presentation and exchange of ideas in this fast-moving and fast-changing landscape. Andrew Pym, Head of Insurance, TU-Automotive, confirmed this, saying: “It is clear that Hubio understands the need for insurers to be prepared for change. Indro has positioned Hubio to bring new, flexible, technology equipped for the future changing demands of the industry.”


Through our presence, be that as keynote speakers, panellists or delegates, we have established relevant relationships with other players, allowing for a frank and valuable interchange of ideas as evidenced in the words of William Hawkins of KBW: “Indro’s presentation at KBW’s European insurance technology conference was thought-provoking and inspiring. We think there is everything to play for between incumbents and newcomers to the insurance value chain. Hubio was presented as a model that blends industry and technology expertise to partner with insurers to win in the new industry landscape.”

Hubio continues to explore and adapt whilst partnering with our customers to deliver outstanding service and an unparalleled consumer experience, anticipating future needs. Nurturing our existing relationships and forging new ones – with customers, partners, thought leaders and experts – will be an integral part of our ongoing journey.

TR-1: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTEREST IN SHARES

Dialectic Capital Management, LP taken 2,307,438 (5.012%)

http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=5353288

Link to historic 'Shareholder information'

Shareholder information

The directors have been notified, or are aware of the following interests in the issued share capital of the company in respect of the shareholdings, and related holding percentages, of the following significant shareholders and directors of Watchstone Group plc as at 02 June 2016.

Major shareholder information

Name--------------------------------------------No. of Shares-------------------% Holding

Beach Point Capital Management LLP-----------4,001,335-----------------------8.69%
M&G Investments (Prudential)------------------2,916,666-----------------------6.34%
Dialectic Capital Management LP----------------2,307,438-----------------------5.01%
Sand Grove Capital Management LLP-----------2,305,383-----------------------5.01%


Subtotal------------------------------------------11,530,822----------------------25.05%


Current total shares in issue 46,038,333 as at 24 May 2016 with none being held as treasury and 1.97% being held “not in public hands” i.e. held by directors, directors of subsidiaries, trustees of employee share schemes / pension funds or any other substantial shareholders (>10%).

Director information

Name---------------------------------------No. of Shares-------------------% Holding

Richard Rose--------------------------------100,000--------------------------0.22%
Indro Mukerjee-------------------------------50,550--------------------------0.11%
Mark Williams---------------------------------50,550--------------------------0.11%
Lord Howard of Lympne----------------------12,608-------------------------0.03%
David Currie-------------------------------------1950--------------------less than 0.01%

Subtotal---------------------------------------215,658-------------------less than 0.47%

http://www.watchstonegroup.com/investors/shareholder-information/

News & Updates

The future of managing claims

There’s no secret about what consumers want from their insurance providers: rapid, efficient service tailored to individual needs. However they also want the lowest possible premiums, so insurers have traditionally had to strike a balance between investing in customer service resource and keeping prices low.

That was in the past. New technology offers insurers the opportunity to provide customers with levels of service that would have been unimaginable just five years ago.

What customers will expect from insurers

Modern consumers have higher expectations of responsiveness from their insurers. The impact of the digital world including social media, online commerce and the continued growth in smartphone usage means that people want to be able to carry out a task when they wish and in the manner they wish. Delays and being kept on hold are less and less acceptable in this ‘always-on’ environment.

Claims handling in the future

Imagine being available for your customers whenever and wherever they need you, without delay. Today’s claims teams are always racing to improve effectiveness and efficiency: whether it’s answering calls, entering claim details or assessing settlement options, if claim volumes are high then response times will suffer.

Telematics enable insurers to know about customers’ road accidents the instant they occur. The customer can use an app to select a local repairer to attend the scene or call a breakdown service. The system will log the location of the incident, weather conditions and other important information. If the incident is much more serious and the customer is not responsive, the system can even call the emergency services to attend the scene.

Meanwhile, claims will also be processed more smoothly because the customer will be able to input details and engage with the insurer directly through a web app on their personal device or mobile. If the customer prefers to provide information by telephone, a call script can be generated in response to the information already gathered about the incident.

Insurers are already embracing the added value that telematics has to offer. According to a recent study by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), the number of live telematics-based motor insurance policies have increased by 40% in just one year.

How Hubio can help

Using our award-winning claims technology, Hubio’s products allow customers to report and track their own claims easily via the web. For customers, this provides the instant engagement they want, while for insurers it reduces inbound call traffic and cuts operating costs. Our speed of implementation proves to be a real plus, particularly due to the rapid ‘Return on Investment’ received as a response.

In addition, Hubio systems offer excellent control and overview for insurers. Systems can be trialled and deployed rapidly and regulatory performance can be monitored at the click of a button. Claims handling staff are freed to concentrate on using their skills to negotiate claims settlement and deliver excellent customer service rather than inputting data, improving overall job satisfaction. You will also have a system with in-built analytics reporting which can give you invaluable information about emerging trends.

Today’s insurance industry is more complex than ever, with multiple platforms and technologies. Our built-in configurability empowers your business users to adapt and modify the way they work as the market changes around them, while our digital and omni-channel functionality ensures maximum efficiency along the way.

Come and say hello

Why not catch up with Hubio at the TINtech Insurance Network Technology Conference on 14 June 2016? We’ll be on stand 25 in the Grand Connaught Rooms, London and would love to talk to you about how telematics can improve your customer service.