EXHIBIT 23
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS
May 4, 2000 Nasdaq National Market/AVRT
http://www.avert.com
Avert, Inc. Announces Release of its 1999 Hiring Statistics
Annual Hiring Index Validates Pre-Employment Screening Industry
FORT COLLINS, Colorado - (NASDAQ: AVRT) Avert, Inc. releases its annual Hiring
Index today, and finds that 10% of new hire applicants have criminal
convictions. The figure, a record high for the annual Hiring Index, is a rise of
43% over the 7% criminal conviction rate found in 1998. A criminal record exists
when an applicant has a felony or misdemeanor charge linked to them within the
past seven years.
The 1999 Avert Hiring Index confirms the increasing risks associated with low
unemployment. "This continues a trend we noticed last year of increasing hiring
risk as unemployment rates maintain historic low levels across the country,"
said Dean Suposs, President and CEO of Avert, Inc. "In 1998 we saw a 30%
increase in employees reported as ineligible for rehire. Now we are seeing a
similar increase in applicants with a criminal record." The impact is especially
great on small businesses that do not have access to sophisticated employment
screening tools. "Not true now", says Suposs. "With easy to use Internet
technology, even the smallest business has the ability to identify and quantify
employment risk."
The figures in the 1999 Avert Hiring Index are compiled from a sample of Avert's
800,000 background checks performed in 1999. The numbers help employers to
monitor trends in the workforce and are provided to the public as a community
service. Employers nationwide are able to use the figures and confirm the
reality of risk associated with hiring employees in today's market.
1999 Avert Hiring Index:
Criminal Records
o 10% of applicants had a criminal record in the last seven years
Employment Records & Reference Checks
o 15% of employers referenced reported applicants ineligible for rehire
o 29% of applicants misrepresented their education, credential and/or
employment records
Driving Records
o 27% of applicants had one or more accidents or moving violations on
their driving records
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o 12% had four or more moving violation, a DUI or DWI, or had a
suspended driver's license
Credit Records
o 25% of applicants had credit records showing a judgement, lien or
bankruptcy, or had been turned over to a collection agency
Workers' Compensation Claims
o 10% of applicants had a previous workers' compensation claim
Avert, Inc. is an Internet-based application service provider (ASP). The company
provides employment background checks to a diverse nationwide customer base.
Avert, Inc. is publicly traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
AVRT.
About Avert, Inc.
Through its headquarters in Fort Collins, Colorado, Avert, Inc. is an
Internet-based information network company providing employment background
checks via remote access to a diverse nationwide customer base. Visit our
headquarters at www.avert.com.
Contact: Michael Madsen, Avert, Inc. Public Relations 800.367.5933 ext. 219
Kelly Newberg, Avert, Inc. Investor Relations 800.367.5933 ext. 467
This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant
to the "safe harbor" provisions of Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Factors that may cause the company's actual results to differ materially
from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, the following: risks associated with potential liability for failure
to comply with federal and state regulations; liability to customers and/or to
the subjects of background checks for inaccurate or misuse of information; loss
of key personnel; and intense competition, as well as general economic business
conditions, changes in laws of regulations and other factors, many of which are
beyond the control of the company.