Over the past couple of years there has been an upward trend in the cost of insuring motor vehicles. This is possibly something that you have noticed when receiving your renewal notice and, if so, has hopefully triggered you to seek comparative quotations through the likes of ourselves to see if we can find you a better deal from another provider.
Well, the Association of British Insurers has recently produced the ABI Premium Tracker that monitors what the cost of motor insurance has been over an extended period of time. Apparently, the average premium paid for fully comprehensive cover throughout 2017 was £481 per annum. This was an increase of 9% in comparison to the cost 12 months ago that, in monetary terms, equated to a rise of £40 per annum.
Another disturbing statistic is the fact that the average cost of insuring a motor vehicle increased by a staggering 29% since back in 2014.
There are a number of factors that have caused this increase in the cost of motor insurance. For instance, repair costs of vehicles have gone up, there has been a rise in the number of people seeking compensation for whiplash injuries, Insurance Premium Tax has gone up and there has been a change in the calculation of compensation payouts.
The ABI is encouraging the Government to stop increasing the Insurance Premium Tax, make changes to how claims for lower value claims for whiplash are dealt with and also to look at the Ogden Discount Rate which is used to work out what compensation someone should receive who has suffered a significant injury as a result of a road traffic accident. These things are all with a view to potentially reducing how much someone pays for their motor insurance.
So, is there anything that you can do to mitigate such an increase? Well, you may wish to consider shopping around for cheaper cover but if you do, make sure that the level of cover meets your needs.
Here at AIB Insurance, we have been able to help arrange car insurance for a number of customers at a lower premium than their existing insurer has been charging them so why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 to discuss your requirements and obtain a quotation without any obligation.
AIB Insurance is very pleased to inform our high net worth clients that the Aviva Private Clients division has recently been added to our select panel of insurance companies. Its Distinct Home, Distinct Motor and Distinct Travel products provide bespoke cover for the discerning individual whether it is to insure an Edwardian country mansion, a penthouse in Mayfair, a Rolls-Royce Phantom or provide cover for a luxury holiday.
Aviva is the largest insurance company in the UK having in excess of 15,000 million customers. Its history goes back as far as 1696 when the Hand in Hand Fire & Life Insurance Society was established. In 2000 Norwich Union and CGU PLC merged as CGNU and in 2002 it became known as Aviva. It has offices in numerous countries around the world employing about 30,000 people and has a worldwide customer portfolio of over 33 million. The company deals with over 10 million calls a year and in 2017 paid out more than £34 billion in benefits and claims.
Aviva Distinct Home insurance provides outstanding, tailor made cover with a level of service that is second to none at every stage of the process from initial enquiry, setting up the policy to making a claim with a dedicated home claims adviser dealing with the latter to provide you with complete peace of mind. There are numerous benefits including worldwide, warranty free, all risks cover, access to a number of specialist suppliers, cover for student and visitors belongings and guaranteed building reinstatement.
Aviva Distinct Motor insurance provides bespoke cover that aims to exceed what is expected by our clients. Some of the benefits include new for old replacement if your car is under three years of age, choice of repairer, £4,000 to hire a car or a Mercedes-Benz C class whilst your car is being repaired and your no claims discount is not affected if an uninsured driver collides with your vehicle and you are not at fault.
Aviva Distinct Travel insurance provides an exceptional level of cover to give you complete peace of mind wherever you are travelling around the world. For instance, you have £10 million of medical emergencies and associated expenses cover worldwide, a UK based experienced claims team who are available 24 hours a day, up to £15,000 of cancellation cover and winter sports cover included in the policy.
Let us all hope that you do not need to make a claim for either say a fire in your home, a motoring accident or for medical treatment whilst on holiday but, if you do, you can be assured that your claim will be dealt with promptly with support every step of the way. We very much look forward to being of assistance.
If you would like to find out more about the insurance products offered by the Aviva Private Clients division the why not visit their website at www.aviva.co.uk/aviva-private-clients/
Unlimited in every sense, the new series production Exige Cup 430 is Lotus’ wildest incarnation of its fire-breathing, point-to-point two-seater sports car.
New to the Exige, the Cup 430 sees the introduction of a savage, high-performance engine installation, mated to a new supercharger and chargecooler, designed specifically for the unique demands of this vehicle. A development of the powertrain recently used on the phenomenal Lotus Evora GT430, it’s perfectly paired with a newly-designed body, which delivers enhanced aerodynamic performance to reveal the model’s true potential. The result is a strikingly different beast of pure performance, that’s not for the faint of heart.
• New engine installation, delivering 430 hp and 440 Nm
• New design generating 220 kg of downforce
• 407 hp per tonne provides unrivalled performance
• 0-60 mph in 3.2 secs, dry weight from 1,056 kg
With 55 hp, or 13%, more power than the limited production Exige Cup 380 model it succeeds, and 220 kg of downforce, it’s a monster of a car. Compared to the Exige Sport 350, it has 24% more power and generates the same downforce at 100 mph as the Exige Sport 350 does at its maximum speed of 170 mph.
Lotus’ expertise in lightweight design has played its part in reducing the overall dry weight by 12 kg to 1,059 kg, with the vehicle down to 1,056 kg in its lightest configuration. This, combined with the dramatic jump in raw power, raises the Cup’s power to weight from 355 hp / tonne (Cup 380) to 407 hp / tonne.
With 430 hp at 7,000 rpm and 440 Nm (325 lbft) of torque from 4,000 rpm, 0-60mph is dispatched in 3.2 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds) with a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h). Helping to harness all that power, the Cup 430 benefits from a comprehensive range of new aero elements. A new ultra-lightweight front clam with unique carbon fibre ducts has wider radiator apertures and a new mesh pattern grille to provide a more combative aspect and to allow for a new front splitter and air curtain mechanism to reduce drag. The lightweight rear clam panel supports the larger, straight motorsport wing to increase downforce without impacting upon the car’s overall drag coefficient. The new design front and rear clam panels are 6.8 kg lighter than those on any other Exige.
Focused fairly and squarely on aggressive track performance and point-to-point supremacy, the new Lotus Exige Cup 430 is capable of covering the Hethel circuit in 1 minute 24.8 seconds – the fastest production car to lap the famous circuit – 1.2 seconds faster than the Lotus 3-Eleven (Road).
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “This is the car that we have always wanted to build, and I am sure that all Lotus enthusiasts will be delighted with the end product. As well as a significant power hike, the Cup 430 has benefited from extensive development in areas essential to Lotus’ DNA, in order to ensure that the full potential of the Exige’s incredible chassis can be exploited. This car has no rivals – inside or outside of its price bracket – and it’s no exaggeration when we say that nothing can keep up with this Exige on the road or track.”
Lotus’ most extreme Exige packs the company’s most potent powertrain into its smaller vehicle architecture to provide a level of performance that is a step beyond what most drivers can exploit. The car’s distinctive and aggressive new styling perfectly matches the character of the new Exige Cup 430.
Signalling the most motorsport focused models in Lotus’ range, the Cup variants are centered on only the essential. Extending this philosophy to its limit, the new Cup 430 is at the apex of the Exige line-up – with only a track-only racer capable of exceeding the car’s abilities.
With the Exige already regarded as the standard for purity of purpose, Lotus’ engineers have built upon this benchmark, ensuring that the application of more power is complemented by a class-leading handling balance, characterised by precision and tactility.
At the heart of the car lies Lotus’ most formidable engine, a 3.5-litre supercharged and charge cooled V6 producing 430 hp and 440 Nm.
Unapologetically aggressive, the Exige Cup 430’s 220 kg of downforce is developed through the careful management of airflow under and over the car. Vital in keeping the Cup at the top of timing sheets, it’s designed to make the most of 440 Nm (325 lbft) of torque delivered from 4,000 rpm, and delivering the lowest of lap times not matter the track. This not only includes the new front clam panel, incorporating a new design of splitter and carbon fibre air blades, but also the high mounted rear wing. The new body introductions combine form and function, with the new hybrid carbon composite panels not only saving weight, but also delivering the car’s distinctive new styling and aerodynamic set up.
Balancing downforce over the entire car was a priority with, when compared to the Exige Cup 380, a greater percentage of downforce allocated to the front to ensure accurate high-speed turn in (36% increased to 45%). The new front splitter with trailing lip helps separate and speed airflow under the car and the inclusion of new air curtain elements into the front clam panel efficiently moves air though to the front wheel cavities to help reduce turbulence and drag generated by the front wheels. The front louvers reduce the pressure within the front wheel arches, increasing downforce. The cut-out sections behind the rear wheels, also reduce wheel arch pressure, whilst the new lightweight aluminium diffuser is 1 kg lighter. Crowning all of this is the carbon fibre straight rear wing, raised higher to further boost downforce, clearly signaling the car’s aggressive intent and pursuit of aerodynamic excellence.
As you would expect, the intense use of ultra-lightweight carbon fibre only adds to the overall performance, as well as reinforcing the Exige Cup 430’s physical presence. The hand-made composite components include front splitter, front access panel, roof, diffuser surround, large aperture air-intake side pods, one-piece tailgate and the race derived rear wing.
Scratch the surface of the Cup’s capabilities, and you’ll find its motorsport-derived credentials. In addition to revised steering arm geometry, to increase bump steer, the car’s handling characteristics can be altered via the introduction of new Nitron three-way adjustable dampers (adjustable for rebound and low and high-speed compression, giving the ability to fine tune the damping) and Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, both as standard.
The substantial Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (215/45 ZR17 front and 285/30 ZR18 rear) are fitted to ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels, available in red, black or silver as standard.
The faster the car, the better the brakes need to be, and the Exige Cup 430 uses some of the largest calipers and rotors of any Lotus road car. With forged, four-piston AP Racing brake calipers and new performance two-piece, J-hook brake discs (with higher thermal capacity) front and back, the system is designed to give improved bite and debris clearance and reduce distortion and vibration and to deliver consistent pedal feel and stopping power lap after lap.
The Cup 430 also comes with a tremendously strong, yet light, T45 steel roll over bar, new seatbelt anchorage frame (saving 1.2 kg), a Lithium-Ion battery and front towing eye as standard, as well as a host of options including, a dealer fit FIA compliant roll cage, electrical cut-off and fire extinguisher controls, airbag deletion and a non-airbag steering wheel.
Key to the Cup’s potency is the Exige’s newly-developed powertrain. Based on the benchmark engine from the recently launched Evora GT430, it features an Edelbrock supercharger and water to air charge cooler to generate more power through cooling the higher pressure charged intake air. Specifically developed for the Exige, the engine’s calibration allows for a redline of 7,000rpm, helped in part by a new intake system and larger throttle body. In order to handle the extra power, a new oil cooler configuration and uprated clutch are required.
Available as standard with a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission, the Exige range features Lotus’ acclaimed open-gate manual gearbox design. Precisely aligned for fast and seamless shifts, it has recently established itself as a favourite of Lotus customers. To transfer the increased power and torque from the engine to the gearbox, a new 240 mm diameter clutch has been fitted (up 12 mm compared to the Exige Cup 380) which increases the clutch surface area by 11%.
Engine note and tone also play big parts in the Cup’s repertoire. With the new induction and supercharger configuration, and a high-flow titanium exhaust system as standard, the Cup 430 sounds like no other Exige at speed. In addition, the titanium exhaust removes 10 kg from beyond the rear axle.
The Lotus Exige Cup 430 includes a variable traction control function, linked directly to the ECU. The six-position rotary switch is located on the steering column, and only active with ESP switched to off, with five pre-set traction levels (1%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% slip) as well as “off”, displayed via the instrument cluster.
The composite concept continues into the Cup’s cabin with visible-weave, handmade sections including a new lightweight carbon fibre binnacle surround, Lotus’ bespoke carbon race seats, with new lightweight seat runners, and carbon door sills. Colour keyed inserts for the revised lightweight sports seats, transmission console, HVAC surround and window switches are also standard, along with a centre console, door cards and dashboard trimmed in Alcantara®, with leather or tartan as a no cost option, along with contrast stitching and an Alcantara® steering wheel. In total, the lightweight interior of the Exige Cup 430 is 2.5 kg lighter than on the Cup 380.
All the lightweight standard items help reduce the total mass by 29 kg which more than offsets the increase in weight from the chargecooler and cooling system (+15 kg), new higher rated clutch (+0.8 kg) and wider brake discs (+1.2 kg) resulting in an unladen weight of 1,093 kg and 1,059 kg dry. By selecting the airbag deletion option, the customer can take the lightest possible dry weight of the Exige Cup 430 to 1,056 kg.
For owners wanting to brand the new Exige their own, the Cup 430 can be personalised through Lotus’ Exclusive programme. Combining traditional British craftsmanship with modern design, the service inspires customers to spend time tailoring the character of their Lotus with a comprehensive array of options. Since its introduction this has proved increasingly popular, with over 25% of all new cars undergoing some form of personalisation.
Launching the new Lotus, Jean-Marc Gales said, “The Exige continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of performance, agility, aerodynamics and rapid covering of ground from A to B in a production road car. There isn’t another car on sale that can match the new Exige Cup 430; it will go down as a ground-breaking car in the history of Lotus.”
The Exige Cup 430 is available as a series production car and can be ordered now, priced £99,800 including VAT (UK) and €127,500 (Germany) and €128,600 (France).
Here at AIB we offer exceptional bespoke insurance cover for Lotus owners and understands that owning and driving a Lotus is a unique experience and deserves one-of-a-kind insurance call us now on 02380 268351 for your Lotus insurance!
Due to continued growth the Airsports Insurance Bureau team are pleased to welcome new addition Tom Hopkins to its personal lines Executive team. Tom has been recruited as one of our Senior Insurance Consultants and will be responsible for ensuring both our new and existing clients get the very best service.
Tom has spent the last couple of years at Turners Insurance in Botley, Hampshire and has an excellent background providing insurance solutions to both commercial and personal clients, particularly property related insurance products.
Tom had this to say on his appointment:
“As soon as I spoke to AIB I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me to progress further within the insurance industry locally. I appreciate that insurance can be a ‘necessary evil’ at times and I like to assist client’s in ‘taking the pain’ out of the Insurance Purchase and making sure they get a quality product designed around their needs.”
Tom lives in Locks Heath supporting his local Premier League Football club, Southampton FC. He is a keen poker player and will often attend tournaments throughout the south of England. Tom considers himself well travelled and the three people he’d like to invite to his ‘perfect’ dinner party would be former professional boxer Carl Froch MBE, Liverpool FC legend Steven Gerrard and TV royalty, Ross Kemp.
Those of you interested in motorcycling will no doubt be aware that the Isle of Man TT Race is possibly one of the most dangerous racing events that a motor bike rider is likely to take part in. There have been numerous fatal accidents during the races as the bikes travel at huge speeds around country roads on the beautiful, tranquil island.
Well, Chris Ganley who is 28 years of age and who used to serve in the Armed Forces is planning to take part in the racing event in 2023. However, it should be noted that Mr Ganley would be doing so with only one arm making him the first biker to do this with such an impairment.
Regrettably, back in 2014, he was unfortunately involved in an accident on a motorbike resulting in him loosing his left arm. However, the tenacious motorcyclist was back riding a motorbike that had been specially adapted a mere six months after the almost fatal accident. Mr Ganley is obviously a very good motorcyclist as he came third in his first race that he took part in after his operation.
The motorbike in question is a Yamaha R1 that has been modified so that the braking and clutch controls are on the right hand side of the vehicle thus helping him operate the motorcycle.
It sounds like he is a determined motorcyclist who loves the sport and we wish him well in his attempt to prepare for racing in the Isle of Man TT Race.
Here at AIB Insurance, we have many years experience in arranging motorbike insurance for a variety of bikes so why not give us a call on 02380 268 351 and speak with a knowledgeable member of our team. Without any obligation on your part, we will gladly look to source a competitive quotation for motorbike insurance from our extensive panel of insurers.
According to the Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index that is produced in association with Willis Towers Watson, motorists will be disappointed to read that, in the first quarter of 2017, fully comprehensive car insurance premiums rose. This has been a trend for quite some time and it remains to be seen when it will end.
Such premiums have increased by an average of 16% in the 12 months to 31st March 2017. In monetary terms, this equates to an average rise of £110 per annum that is no small sum. In fact, there has been an average increase of 2% per annum in the first quarter of this year with this equating to an extra £14 per annum. The cost of providing such cover at the end of the first quarter of 2017 had reached an average of £781 per annum.
Regrettably, every UK region saw an increase in premiums over a period of 12 months with the biggest percentage rise being in the Scottish Islands and Highlands that saw a rise of 21%. The Scottish Borders saw an increase of 19% but, interestingly, premiums in that region are still the lowest in the UK averaging £547 per annum.
Those motorists living in Inner London have seen their fully comprehensive car insurance premiums increase by an average of £174 per annum to £1,260 per annum in the 12 months to 31st March of this year. That equates to a rise of 16%. The South West saw an annual rise of 15% although in the first quarter of 2017 the average premium in that region actually dropped by £1 per annum.
It is 66 year olds who have been subjected to the largest percentage increase with car insurance premiums going up by 23% in the last 12 months. The lowest increase in percentage terms was for 18 year olds who saw their premiums rise by an average of 9% although it is that age group who pay more for their motor insurance than anyone else with premiums being an average of £2,164 per annum.
With the cost of covering your car going up it is important that you shop around for a competitive deal. In that respect, why not speak to one of our experienced members of staff on 02380 268 351. AIB Insurance has access to an extensive panel of insurers and can help arrange cover on various makes and models of vehicle.
The Jaguar E-Type was an iconic sports car that was particularly popular way back in the 1960s. It was driven by the likes of famous film and football stars such as Brigitte Bardot and George Best and was renowned for its speed and elegant looks. It featured in many racing events.
Well, if you have got a spare £285,000 or more then you may be able to become the proud owner of an original Jaguar E-Type Series 1 that has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. Initially, there are 10 of these classic vehicles being restored.
Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works is located in Coventry where skilled craftsmen lovingly restore Jaguars under the “Reborn” scheme. The unit has the most up to date technology available to assist in the restoration process. Original Jaguar classic parts are to be utilized when the vehicles are restored.
You may be interested to read that a Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2 Fixed Head Coupe finished in opalescent gunmetal grey is the first one to be restored. Back in 1965, the vehicle was shipped to California but found its way back to the UK. It has 78.000 miles on the clock. Its original engine, gearbox and bodywork have been rebuilt to the highest standard of workmanship.
The Jaguar E-Types will have either 3,781 cc or 4,235 cc six cylinder engines producing 265 bhp getting from 0 to 60 mph in around a mere 7 seconds and capable of a top speed of around 150 mph. We are sure that you will agree those are extremely impressive performance figures.
So, if one of these classic sports cars is still available to purchase and you are considering buying one why not get in touch with one of the experienced, friendly team here at AIB Insurance on 02380 268 351 to obtain a competitive quotation for classic car insurance to provide you with complete peace of mind.
AIB Insurance has been in operation for over 20 years during which time we have grown in so many ways. For instance, we have progressively increased the number of insurance partners on our extensive panel providing our valued personal and business customers with access to a larger, more comprehensive range of insurance products resulting in them having a greater opportunity to obtain competitively priced, quality insurance cover.
This has resulted in a significant increase in the number of customers that we look after on a daily basis. That meant it has been necessary to recruit additional staff to provide our bigger customer base with the outstanding level of service that they have come to expect from us. You only have to take a look at our News section where we introduce our clients and business partners to our carefully selected newly appointed staff members to see what we mean.
Of course, those new staff and the additional office furniture and equipment that they needed have taken up more space meaning that we were outgrowing our current accommodation and required further room. As a result, we are pleased to inform you that we have been able to increase our office space but without having to move from our current location as the premises next door became available and we have signed a new lease.
At the present time, we are having building works carried out around us such as the removal of walls between both sets of offices to create one large premises. We will retain our current address. When the works are completed, we will have doubled the floor area that will also have the capacity to comfortably cope with our anticipated steady growth in the future.
We would just like to take this opportunity to thank our clients, insurer partners, advertising and marketing friends as well as our staff for bearing with us during the alterations. We can assure you all that it is “business as usual” here at AIB Insurance so feel free to continue to give us a call or pop into the office to discuss your insurance requirements.
Many of you will be aware that most general insurance policy premiums are subject to Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) at 10%. The sort of policies this applies to include the likes of, motor, home, private health insurance and pet insurance.
That’s all about to change as the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Autumn Statement of a few days ago that this tax was being increased by 2% to 12% with effect from the 1st June 2017. This will be the third time this tax has been increased since November 2015. On the 1st November last year IPT went up from 6% to 9.5% – a rise of 3.5% and then it increased by 0.5% to 10% on the 1st October 2016.
This means that, if you are currently paying say £500 per annum for your motor insurance, say £400 per annum for your home insurance, say £300 per annum for your pet insurance and say £1,000 per annum for your private health cover then you would see your total premiums for these policies increase by £44 per annum which, if you pay monthly, means that you would have to find an extra £3.66 per month. This increase would exceed the forecast saving of £40 per annum that motorists may make if certain changes proposed by the Government were made to how whiplash claims are dealt with as referred to in our news article of the 17th November 2016.
This announcement has not gone down well with many in the insurance industry including the Association of British Insurers (ABI) that is concerned how hard it will hit some people. Of course, this increase will particularly affect those who are paying the highest premiums for their cover such as young drivers and motorists living in some inner city areas. Unfortunately, this rise may result in more uninsured drivers on our roads.
The ABI estimate that in excess of 50 million policies will be affected by this increase. Apparently, in Europe, the UK will have the 6th largest rate for IPT. It is estimated that by 2018/2019 Insurance Premium Tax will add around £6 billion to the Government’s “coffers”. The 20% IPT rate used for what some consider to be luxury insurance products including travel insurance, mechanical/electrical appliances insurance and even spacecraft insurance has remained unchanged.
The government will argue that the general cost of IPT throughout Europe is 19% but this does not take into account that the average motor insurance premium paid by UK’s drivers is significantly higher to begin with. In fact, the UK has the fourth most expensive average motor insurance premium in the world (behind the US, Austria and Germany).
It is to be hoped that this announcement does not encourage some policyholders to cancel any of their insurance policies as they no doubt provide valuable cover. In the case of motor insurance, it is a legal requirement that motorised vehicles are insured unless they are kept off the public road system and declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
Here at AIB Insurance, whilst we can obviously do nothing to prevent this increase in IPT, we will continue as we always have done to endeavour to provide our customers with competitive quotations for their insurance policies from the extensive panel of insurers at our disposal.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has recently published statistics showing that, last year, general insurance companies paid out £56.7 million a day to policyholders. This included payouts for people that had the likes of protection, home, motor and business insurance policies.
Claims payouts for damage to property amounted to £15 million a day. Of that figure, £6.9 million was paid out daily in respect of commercial claims that were made by owners of businesses. The balance of £8.1 million per day was paid out to owners of residential properties so no doubt included things like damage to properties caused by fire and flood and subsidence.
Payments were made to motorists totaling £28.6 million per day who claimed on their motor insurance policies. This sum will no doubt have been paid to cover the likes of claims for personal injuries such as whiplash and for damage to vehicles that were either repaired or had to be replaced.
Travel insurers paid out £1 million a day to holidaymakers who claimed on their travel insurance policies no doubt for things like medical expenses, flight delays and lost luggage.
Insurance companies providing protection cover including life, terminal illness, income protection and critical illness insurance paid out £9.9 million every day to policyholders and beneficiaries to provide financial support at a time of need.
Trade credit insurance policies paid out £400,000 a day. This sort of cover assisted businesses that were owed monies by another business that was unable to pay the sum outstanding.
We are a nation of pet lovers and many people choose to insure their pets. You may be interested to know that £1.8 million was paid out every day in 2015 towards vet bills.
You may also be interested to note that, according to figures recently issued by the ABI, in 2014 and 2015, 84% of claims on house insurance policies were paid out, 99% of claims on private motor insurance policies were met and 87% of claims on travel insurance policies were paid out.
Here at AIB Insurance, we will gladly endeavor to assist any of our clients who wish to make a claim in respect of a policy that was arranged through ourselves. In this respect, please give us a call on 02380 268 351.
AIB Launch Classic Car Offering
AIB is proud to announce the launch of our non-standard per...
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