Stephen Knight, Chief Executive

As we have not posted a blog since 25 November 2009 I would like to take this belated opportunity to wish everybody a Happy New Year.  Let’s hope that major positive changes occur in our market during the course of 2010.

We are working very hard to bring this about.  Our investors are known for taking the long term view and are being very supportive, working with us to find a solution that can bring Checkmate to market.   We are not there yet, but we are closer than we were.

Unfortunately, however, rumours of an imminent launch in the next few months are wide of the mark.

What continues to encourage us is the strength of demand we have received through our ongoing conversations with the intermediary market.   The half a dozen lenders that are currently accounting for at least 85% of UK mortgage lending are hurting the intermediary sector by operating dual pricing in favour of direct business, and often taking a long time to give a decision.

By contrast, our plans are still to focus on supporting the intermediary sector and to use our substantial investment in the market’s latest and best decisioning system to make a speedy credit decision whilst embracing all aspects of lending responsibly.

The immediacy and certainty of our approach will offer an important value-added service to assist intermediaries in selecting the right balance of product and service, and provide consumers with a genuine alternative to the current lenders.

When we have something definite to announce, we will do so.   Rest assured that we are still here and working very hard towards the possibility of a launch in 2010.