Crawford and Co. signals Andersen may be out as auditor

ATLANTA - John F. Giblin, Chief Financial Officer for Crawford & Company , announced today that Crawford has issued a request for global audit proposal for the 2002 fiscal year to each of the &#34;big five&#34; accounting firms, including Arthur Andersen, LLP, its auditor for the last 50 years. <br> <br> The RFP&#39;s will be reviewed by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, and it is anticipated that the company&#39;s Board of Directors will select the 2002 independent auditors in the second quarter. <br> <br> In the interim, Andersen will continue to serve as the Company&#39;s auditor.<br> <br> Mr. Gilbin further noted, &#34;Arthur Andersen has provided high quality auditing services to Crawford & Company since 1951. Although the company&#39;s Board of Directors, at their January 2002 meeting, approved Andersen as the<br> company&#39;s independent auditors for 2002, recent events have led to the decision by the company to reopen that selection process.&#34;<br> <br> Although ratification of the appointment of Andersen was on the agenda and included in the Proxy Statement already distributed to Crawford&#39;s shareholders for the April 30, 2002 Annual Meeting, no action will be taken at that meeting related to ratification of the Board&#39;s selection of independent auditors for<br> the 2002 fiscal year.<br> <br> Crawford & Company is an independent provider of services to insurance companies, self-insured corporations, and governmental entities. <br> <br> Crawford & Company is an Atlanta based corporation with approximately 10,000 employees worldwide and over 700 offices in 65 countries. <br> <br> <br>