Etailer bounces back after oil depot fire

Insurance covers loss

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Financial News, 16th January 2006 11:43 GMT

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A fashion etailer whose warehouse went up in flames five weeks ago following the massive explosion at the Buncefield oil depot is once again open for business.

Asos.com - an online fashion and beauty retailer with some 750,000 registered users - was forced to suspend its business before Christmas following the oil blaze at the depot in Hemel Hempstead.

Its warehouse was next door to the Buncefield plant and was damaged by the explosion. However, the firm was fully insured not just for its buildings and stock but also to cover loss of profits.

As a result the UK-based firm reckons the fire, which forced it to shut up shop just before Christmas and refund orders to around 19,000 punters - will not damage its financial position.

Announcing that its ecommerce site is once again open for business from today the firm said that the "interruption will not affect profits for the financial year" and that the results are "therefore likely to be in line with market expectations".

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