Press Release

Southport based Paymentshield ranked as one of the UK's fastest growing companies

Paymentshield, the Southport based general insurance provider for intermediaries, has been recognised as one of the UK's top 100 fastest growing companies.

Paymentshield was awarded the accolade as part of the Sunday Times Profit Track 100 survey, which lists the top 100 private firms in the UK with the fastest growing profits.

Paymentshield, which is the largest single employer within the Southport area has experienced ongoing growth ever since its management buy-in led by CEO Stuart Pender.

The company with headquarters in Marshside, Southport employs a total of 293 local staff and recorded profits of £11.5m in 2005. This represents a profit boost of 68% a year, up from £2.4m in 2002.

Stuart Pender: "We are delighted to be placed so highly in the league table of fastest growing businesses, which provides recognition of our successful business strategy. It also reflects the hard work undertaken by all staff to achieve such strong performance without sacrificing service levels. We look forward to providing greater returns for 2006 and are aiming to enhance our offering to support our strong performance."

For further enquiries call 08450 615 700

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:

Paymentshield Limited is the largest independent supplier of general insurance products to the mortgage intermediary sector with current new business levels exceeding 30,000 policies a month. Paymentshield only sells through intermediaries and over 27,000 intermediaries have chosen Paymentshield.

For all further enquiries, please contact:

Fiona Kitchin
Head of Marketing
Tel - 0870 351 5878
Mobile - 07989 960 166
E-mail - fiona.kitchin@paymentshield.co.uk

Inez de Koning / Anna Schirmer
Lansons Communications
Tel - 0207 294 3623 / 0207 294 3605
E-mail - inezd@lansons.com / annas@lansons.com