Attenborough plc runs an oil refinery in Dorset. On 1 February 2022, a small group of environmental activists blockaded the entrance to the plant gluing themselves to the tarmac. As a result, the refinery was closed for seven days. The plant reopened on 8th February 2022, but the firm's computers were subject to a cyber attack. Safety protocols could not be maintained and the plant had to be shut down for a further 2 weeks. Finally on 22 February 2022 - just as the plant was about to reopen, half of the workforce tested positive for Covid 19. Management decided it was too risky to restart production with a skeleton staff. As a result, the plant was finally able to reopen on 8 March 2022 - 5 weeks after the original closure. Attenborough wishes to claim off its business interruption insurance policy. The firm's insurers are disputing the claim stating that management has been negligent throughout the whole series of incidents. Following discussions, they have agreed with Attenborough that they will pay out a proportion of the claims as follows: Environmental protest 50% of the loss with a 10% excess on the net claim Cyber attack 80% of the loss with a 10% excess on the net claim Covid disruption 20% of the loss with a 10% excess on the net claim The maximum cover under the policy is £10m. Results for Attenborough in a "normal" year (assume 52 weeks) are shown below Note - Activity in 2022 is up by around 20% over a normal year. ,£000 Sales 7800 Cost of Sales -2808 Variable expenses -1170 Fixed costs -1040 Semi-variable costs* -910 Profit before interest and tax 1872 * the variable element is estimated at 5% of turnover. Ignore taxation

Required 

a) Calculate the total loss of profits resulting from the three plant closures. 

b) Estimated the amount payable by the insurance company and the net  loss to Attenborough as a result of the 3 incidents

c) Discuss what is meant by "contributory negligence" in an insurance context and identify THREE insurance related frauds.

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

a Total loss of profit Environmental protest 50 of loss with 10 excess 50 x 1872 10 x 1872 936 Cyber ... View the full answer