Mitchell Collaborates With DEG Project to Identify Key Database Trends and Issues Affecting the Collision Repair Industry

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - July 25, 2007) - Mitchell International, Inc., a leading provider of performance management solutions to the automotive insurance claims and collision repair industries, today announced that it will collaborate with the newly formed DEG Project (Database Enhancement Gateway). Through this collaboration, Mitchell and the DEG Project will work to collect broader industry data in an effort to identify, monitor and analyze wider industry trends and issues concerning the collision industry.

The DEG Project was developed by the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers (AASP), the Automotive Service Association (ASA) and the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) to create a single industry website for collision repairers to file database requests for review with the industry's three main information providers, as well as view all responses from the database providers themselves.

"Mitchell welcomes the formation of the DEG Project as a vehicle for the collision repair industry to voice concerns and issues about sourced data," said Tom Fleming, Vice President Industry Relations, Mitchell International. "Mitchell has a long, successful history of being responsive to our customers' questions and concerns about information accuracy and provides customers with direct, toll-free telephone access to Mitchell labor editors to clarify and answer those questions."

In addition to cooperating with the DEG Project, Mitchell is asking its customers to continue to directly contact its in-house repair data editors with specific inquires using their toll-free number: 800-854-7030 ext. 8220.

"Every labor time inquiry Mitchell receives is documented as part of a broader process to continually validate the data and ensure that it reflects 'real world' repair situations," continued Fleming. "This is a proven process that allows Mitchell to continually verify that its repair information is accurate and up to date. It's important that our customers continue to contact us directly with these specific issues so that we are able to document them along with others."

Reflecting this process and acting in the spirit of openness with the DEG Project, Mitchell has recently released a breakout of included refinish operations based on a typical refinish allowance of 2.2 hrs. This breakout provides further transparency into the composition of the key included operations that make up a normal panel refinish allowance.

To further ensure the integrity of its labor time data and processes, Mitchell has been conducting advisory meetings for over 15 years with its editorial advisory board, which is composed of highly experienced and respected industry professionals. The editorial advisory board is also charged with liaising with the various industry associations. Mitchell industry liaisons include Carroll Proctor and Darrell Amberson for the ASA; Nick Kostakis and Rick Starbard for the AASP; and Dan Risley, Lou DiLisio and Barry Dorn for the SCRS.

This collaboration with DEG Project reflects Mitchell's historical commitment to industry openness and cooperation and to providing fair and accurate repair data. Mitchell has long maintained a balanced approach in working with both carriers and shops, both directly and through shop organizations such as the ASA, SCRS, CIC and AASP.

About Mitchell International, Inc.

Mitchell International (www.mitchell.com) is a leading provider of information, workflow, and performance management solutions to the automotive insurance claims industry, serving carriers, collision repair facilities, and other commercial participants in the physical damage and auto-related medical claims markets. Mitchell facilitates millions of electronic transactions between more than 16,000 business partners each month to enhance their productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction levels.

Contact Information: Contacts: Jennifer Forman Sr. Director, Marketing 800-238-9111 x6585 Kam Hashim Boston Communications 617-619-9803