Charter Insurance Selects ADP Claims Solutions Group's Shoplink and Photolink for its Direct Repair Program; New System to Fully Integrate with Charter's Field Estimating System.

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 1998--Charter Insurance Companies today announced they have chosen Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) Claims Solutions Group's Claimsflo(TM) estimating platform and will be implementing ADP CSG's Shoplink(TM) and Photolink(TM) software solutions to enhance their successful direct repair program (DRP).

"The ADP CSG system will allow Charter to easily integrate its current field estimating system, PenPro(TM), with the Shoplink/Photolink combination. This integration is expected to increase the level of communication for the property & casualty carrier with its collision repair program.

"By implementing ADP CSG's Shoplink/Photolink, we have immediately enhanced the electronic communication avenues between our organization and our repair shops," said Richard Cantrell, vice president of claims for Charter Insurance Companies. "The decision to implement Shoplink/Photolink was a very logical one for us, since we already have a successful field estimating initiative which includes ADP CSG's PenPro estimating system."

Shoplink/Photolink offers another claims solution to Charter by assisting them in their efforts to reduce unnecessary claims costs. The Shoplink/Photolink process allows Charter's DRP shops to receive an assignment, write the estimate, search ADP CSG's PXN and PSX databases for new and salvaged parts, complete the estimate, attach any Photolink photos of the loss and then electronically transmit the loss back to Charter.

This process allows each shop to prepare its estimate, graphically document any hidden damage -- as well as the original impact areas of the vehicle -- and transmit all estimate information back to Charter within a few seconds of the estimate being written.

According to Susan Raifman, ADP CSG's vice president of marketing and product management for Estimatics, "This relationship between ADP CSG and Charter is an illustration of how the industry views the importance of managing growing claims costs by improving their own efficiencies. By increasing the level of electronic communication between their DRP shops and their field adjusters with Shoplink/Photolink, Charter will be able to enhance their claims handling efforts while raising their level of service to policyholders."

ADP Claims Solutions Group, with headquarters in San Ramon, Calif., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP). Roseland, N.J.-based ADP, with more than $4 billion in revenues and over 400,000 clients, is one of the largest independent computing services firms in the world.

ADP CSG provides the property and casualty industry and their business partners with integrated, neutral and independent information services for automotive, medical and property claims management. ADP CSG clients include many of the top insurers in North America, as well as leading automotive repairers, recyclers and related businesses.

Charter Insurance Cos., with headquarters in Dallas, is a specialty automobile insurance carrier, writing business in Texas and Oklahoma.

CONTACT: ADP Claims Solutions Group

Theresa Roberts, 800/366-4237 x2240 or 510/866-1100

or

Hayes & Wood Marketing

Marilyn Haese or Daryn Teague, 310/284-3119