[Plenty of lessons here. Can the various' companies IT
infrastructures cope? Were there disaster recovery strategies in
place? I suspect offsite backups might have helped here. Did I
mention I sell remote storage accounts just perfect for offsite
backup... - Stu]
An online fashion firm has suspended trading and halted dealing in
its shares while it assesses the fallout from the Hertfordshire oil
depot fire.
ASOS moved to its new base in Hemel Hempstead, near the blaze site,
this year and is examining warehouse damage.
Also hit was software and IT firm Northgate Information Solutions,
which said offices were "seriously damaged".
The main distribution centre for Scottish & Newcastle's subsidiary
Waverley TBS was also badly damaged.
S&N, the UK's biggest brewer, said its Waverly TBS wholesale
subsidiary "will have incurred significant asset losses".
Dixons and Currys owner DSG International had to close its head
office, but said trade would not be affected.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said damage suffered by
business because of the explosion would be covered.
"The standard business policy covers that," it said.
Celebrity look
A vast plume of choking smoke is still billowing from Buncefield fuel
depot, near Hemel Hempstead and north-west of London.
The first of several explosions hit the site just after 0600 GMT on
Sunday, injuring 42 people, two seriously.
ASOS - which stands for As Seen On Screen - is one of the UK's
fastest-growing retail businesses, selling clothing to fashion-
conscious 18 to 34-year-olds.
It sells clothes in the style worn by celebrities such as Kate Moss,
and in October its website was the second most popular clothing
website after Next, with more than 1.1 million visitors.
Chief executive Nick Robertson said the fire was "a major blow" for
the business in the run up to Christmas, but was grateful no-one was
in the warehouse at the time.
Its shares closed at 77.5p on Friday, not far off last year's all-
time high of 89.5p and above its 23.5p flotation price in 2001.
Last month it blamed a profits shortfall on one-off costs of £250,000
incurred from the relocation to its new warehouse at Hemel Hampstead.
'Badly damaged'
Meanwhile Northgate Information Solutions, one of the UK's leading
suppliers of specialist software for human resources, said four of
its employees had been taken to hospital but were later discharged.
In a statement to the stock market, Northgate said: "The fabric of
the building and the fixtures and equipment inside have been badly
damaged. The back-up systems that were in place have also been
rendered inoperable.
"Northgate's ability to service its customers has therefore been
temporarily affected."
The firm, whose shares fell in early trade, said a fall-back plan had
been put into action, and work transferred to other offices from its
main headquarters, where 400 people are employed.
"Northgate's financial exposure is limited by its insurance policies
that provide sufficient cover for the building and its contents as
well as for any business interruption," it said.
'Trading losses'
DSG International said its Hemel Hempstead head office, where 1,500
administrative staff work, was closed on Monday but that its Dixons
and Currys stores would be trading as normal.
Home computer specialist PC World said it had moved its Hemel
Hempstead headquarters to alternative offices.
However its shares were not adversely affected after the group said
there would be "no disruption" to trading.
Meanwhile Scottish & Newcastle said: "We believe that Waverly TBS
will have incurred significant asset losses but we believe that all
asset and subsequent trading losses will be fully recovered from our
insurers."
The AIB said some businesses may have taken out denial of access
cover, which covers the policyholder for loss of profitability if
they cannot get to their business.
"They may also have business interruption cover, which would cover
alternative accommodation," it said.
And the AIB also said some businesses may be putting forward quite
large claims.
Warnings, first made on Sunday, not to panic buy petrol were
reiterated by Tony Blair's office on Monday.
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