Bond Insurance

Sale Of Search Engine Network Generates Traffic

2008-10-07T08:29:00.000+05:30

We've been getting a lot of emails looking for more information about the European Search Engine Network that I posted about the other day. To eliminate some of the questions, I am posting some more information about this 12 year old network of sites that is built upon their search technology. The more I learn about what they have, the more potential I see for someone with additional skills, capital, and other resources to tie into what they already have and expand on or into the European market.

Here is some more information:

- Monthly traffic of 3,000,000+ per month across the network.

- 3,500 current /past advertisers

- Registered as a European distribution partner for Microsoft Adwords.

- A partner with Google Doubleclick and Adsense.

- Has the ability to deploy new local search engines quickly.

- Currently targeting markets in Europe, US, and several other countries as well as several topics, such as travel.

- Owns at least 4 trademarks

- Currently has 450+ Domains launched on their servers.

Domains:
· International
· US
· UK
· Ireland
· Europe
· Austria
· France
· Germany
· Italy
· Spain
· India
· China
· Japan
· South Africa
· Money
· Travel
· and several others

If you are interested or require more information please let me know and I will put you in touch with the company. I've been friends with the owner for some time now and agreed to help them find a buyer if I can.

I would have thought the current economic situation would have made it difficult to generate interest in a search network such as this, but I was clearly wrong. There are many that would like to expand their current holdings and sites like social networks, consumer shopping sites, auction sites, and sites that are based on UGC (User Generated Content) seem to be super interested in adding mature search to the current offerings. Building is always an option, but why build and re-invent the wheel when you can buy.

And I just learned today that one of my old favorite UK search engines, www.Burf.com was sold and now has a new owner.
If you need to reach me, just Google "NielsenTech" and you should be able to contact me.

Equipment Financing Still Strong For Financial Corporation

2008-09-27T09:10:00.000+05:30

Landmark Financial Corporation Boasts Equipment Financing Still Strong

Although traditional banks are shying away from industrial equipment financing, Landmark Financial Corporation is still able to provide equipment financing for new small and large companies. Because Landmark is not a bank, they are not limited by traditional lending practices.

Greenwood Village, CO, September 26, 2008 -- While the media is full of doom and gloom reports about the current economy, Landmark Financial Corporation announces that construction equipment leasing and financing remains stronger then would be expected given current economic news.

"Those expecting to see evidence of an overall slowdown in commercial equipment finance activity - or a significant decline in portfolio performance - as a result of the mortgage crisis, rising energy and food prices or a general economic slowdown may be surprised by a report by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association. Economic activity for the $650 billion equipment finance sector, showed overall new business volume for May increased 6.5% when compared to the same period in 2007, proof that our industry is strong," said William Verhelle (ELFA Press Release 06/25/08)

Banks are becoming less willing to offer financing for small and newly established businesses. There are many government lending programs small businesses can turn to when looking for a loan if a traditional bank is unwilling to write the loan. However, these programs aren't always a good fit for small and new businesses that need the cash, because of the restrictions in place by the government. The criteria for such programs are also becoming more stringent in many cases requiring direct liens on the business owners' personal assets.

"We have many new or used equipment finance options for businesses of all sizes. Because we're a direct lender, we have the ability to be more flexible and creative when it comes to business equipment financing. We're in the unique position of having available capital that allows us to manage our portfolio with an eye towards identifying solid opportunities in an economic environment that has finance companies pulling back," said Peter Sutherland, President of Landmark Financial Corporation.

In addition to financing business owners, Landmark also has an appetite for supporting other lenders in purchasing portfolio and is also available to banks wishing to provide their own customers with financing options. This way if a bank is unable to offer a loan to a long-term customer, it can refer the customer to Landmark instead of sending them to a competitor.

"Loans that banks would have approved a year ago don't make the grade today. The credit window is not likely to open up further anytime soon. The Federal Reserve recently reported that the share of banks tightening loan availability to small businesses surged to a record high of 65.3% in the third quarter, up from 7.7% a year ago, according to its monthly survey of senior loan officers. We're striving to make our equipment financing programs available to credit worthy businesses while maintaining the flexibility and creativity often missing from other large institutional lenders in these difficult economic times," said Sutherland.

Landmark Financial Corporation offers all types of construction equipment financing and leasing. Financial help is available for restaurants, construction companies, transportation companies and many others. Because Landmark focuses solely on equipment financing, they are capable of financing almost any type of business equipment.

About Landmark Financial Corporation: Landmark Financial Corporation offers a full service approach to equipment financing. As a direct underwriter, Landmark Financial eliminates the middleman, to save clients money and provide a more seamless experience. The company offers financing for a wide variety of equipment from e-commerce systems to furniture, machine tools to fixtures. Landmark is still there to be your capital finance partner.

Contact Information

Landmark Financial Corporation
Tom Brems
720-214-6866
tom@lfcinc.com

Star's Stock Investing Techniques Shared With People

2008-09-18T06:17:00.000+05:30

Adam Mesh, "The Average Joe's" Stock Coach, Partners with Prosper Inc.

Prosper Inc., a distance education company based in Utah, has reached an agreement with Adam Mesh to share the former "Average Joe" star's stock investing techniques with people who are eager to get involved with the stock market.

Provo, UT, September 17, 2008 -- Adam Mesh, "The Average Joe's" Stock Coach, has reached an agreement with Utah-based Prosper Inc. to share his highly popular stock trading techniques and coaching in the company's one-to-one distance learning programs.

Even before appearing on NBC's "The Average Joe," Mesh was a successful stock trader. He has been a partner at two successful trading companies, selling the last one in 2006. His success has been landed him coverage in Fortune, "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno, Trader Monthly, and CNBC's "Squawk Box."

"Prosper is the undisputed leader in one-to-one coaching programs, so it was an easy decision to partner with them," Mesh said. "Prosper has perfected the systems and resources that help students excel. I trust Prosper to give my students what they need to succeed."

"We are thrilled to partner with Adam and we look forward to helping his students gain the stock trading knowledge he is uniquely qualified to share," said Ethan Willis, CEO of Prosper. "We deliver the highest quality coaching programs for some of the most respected brands in the world, and adding someone of Adam's caliber only enhances our position as the most trusted name in one-to-one education."

Since selling his trading company in 2006, Mesh has focused on helping individuals succeed in the stock market, and has found great demand for his coaching. "There are thousands of people who want to get started in the stock market but don't know how," Mesh said. "Prosper will help me reach those who want to learn how."

Prosper works closely with highly recognized business experts, including David Bach, Ken Blanchard, and John Cummuta. Prosper develops curricula for students that, combined with one-to-one coaching, helps them achieve business goals, get out of debt, develop added sources of revenue, etc. Approximately 85 percent of Prosper's enrolling students complete the coursework for their chosen program.

About Prosper Inc.
Prosper Inc., based in Provo, Utah, is a global leader of coaching and distance training in real estate investing, stock market investing, entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and personal finance. Prosper has coached more than 40,000 students since its founding in 1999, and currently educates thousands of students enrolled in its programs in more than 70 countries. Visit Prosper at http://www.prospercorp.com.

Contact Information

Prosper Inc.
Jason Russell
801-371-0755
jrussell@prospercorp.com
www.prospercorp.com

If You Can Pay Off Mortgage, Should You?

2008-09-15T02:28:00.000+05:30

Paying Off Your Mortgage is a Mistake

If you are even thinking about paying off your mortgage, think again. Why is the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reporting that Americans are making the "wrong choice" when it comes to pre-paying their mortgage and saving for their retirement? Find out EXACTLY why and how you can empower your financial future. Live event and financial workshop April 22, 2008, 7 p.m., Oakbrook, IL.

Oakbrook, IL - April 21 -- MatthewSapaula, Inc. will host an event April 22nd, 2008 to help middle class homeowners and real estate investors better manage their money more wisely. They will review strategies on how to maximize a homeowner's greatest asset-their home, protect them from dropping property values and explore options on how to secure their financial future during uncertain economic times. This event is one of more than 350 free classes, seminars and activities promoting financial education that will take place during Chicago's Money Smart Week April 20-26th, 2008.

"Many people today are feeling more isolated, confused and powerless as they are bombarded with negative news about our country and economy," says Matthew Sapaula, President of MatthewSapaula, Inc. "Our workshops will help shed a different light to allow attendees to rethink and redefine how to maintain control of their financial future during these unique times."

Their workshop, titled House Rich, Cash PoorAmerican Dream to American Trap and How to Avoid It, is sponsored by Wachovia and will be held at 7 p.m. CST at the Oakbrook Marriot, 1401 W. 22nd St., Oakbrook, IL 60523, intersection of Cermak and Route 83. Special guest book signings will be held by financial authors James Kraiss, CFP and David Muti, JD who wrote Discovering Life's Hidden Financial Treasures and Mortgages: What You Need to Know, respectively. For seat reservations, free report and audio download, call 800.955.0589 or visit http://www.moneyinmotionseminars.com

Coordinated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and its Money Smart partners, Money Smart Week is designed to educate consumers about money management and create awareness of financial education programs on a wide range of topics such as budgeting, retirement savings and using credit wisely.

The educational activities will be carried out by more than 200 local community groups, businesses, schools, and non-profit organizations.

"Money Smart Week celebrates its seventh anniversary in Chicago and continues to provide many different opportunities for people to learn about managing their personal finances," said Chicago Fed President Charles Evans. "This year's calendar features diverse and numerous events for a broad range of consumers. During this week, attendees will have many chances to learn where good personal finance information is available."

Additional information and a calendar of events for this year's Money Smart Week are now available at http://www.moneysmartweek.org/chicago

Press Contact: Matthew Sapaula
Company Name: MatthewSapaula, Inc.
Phone: 708.236.1720
Website: www.matthewsapaula.com

Social Networking to Grow Deposits and Lending For Caribbean Banks

2008-09-08T01:13:00.000+05:30

Caribbean Banks to Leverage Social Networking to Grow Deposits and Lending; eDominate Software Opens New Doors for Online Customer Service

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, September 07, 2008 -- eDominate Inc., a global leader in providing buying cycle management solutions to financial institutions, today announced its introduction of eCommerce Manager Caribbean (or, "eCM Caribbean") and Caribbean Loan Origination Plus (or, "Caribbean LOS Plus") to the Caribbean banking markets.

As eDominate's flag-ship product, eCM Caribbean is a dynamic online lending portal designed to improve financial institutions' loan portfolios, deposits, customer service, and profitability. The software gives banks and credit unions around the world the ability to support borrowers during the research, shopping, and lending stages of their buying cycles. This expanded customer service - or "buying-cycle management" - not only increases customer value and loyalty, but improves the institution's chances of capturing their loan business when they are ready to seek financing.

Helping to define eDominate's focus, the Caribbean Bankers User Group held their 18th Annual Meeting the week of July 15, 2008, at the Ft. Young Hotel in Dominica. The focus of this year's meeting was on increasing fee income through secure remote distribution channels, and eDominate was invited to speak and offer a solutions' roadmap.

"eDominate is our only vendor who has automated loan origination, both online and in the back-office, specific to the Caribbean banking requirements," said Chantell Norville, Manager of Project User Information Management and Technology for the East Caribbean Financial Holding Company, Ltd. "Their phenomenal success with the Bank of Saint Lucia makes them a key provider for lending solutions in the Caribbean."

eDominate's experience in loan origination instructed their development of eCM Caribbean, harnessing the social networking capabilities of Internet communications to add the tangible benefits of buying-cycle management for lenders. And eDominate's success in mapping their loan origination and online lending solutions to the Caribbean market, initially with the Bank of Saint Lucia, make for an end-to-end loan generation and origination solution for Caribbean banks.

"There is a very strong desire across Caribbean bankers to leverage technology automation," said John Benjamin, Managing Director at TCI Bank. "We hope to use automation not only to increase income, but also to gain operational efficiency, decrease costs, and provide improved services to our customers. I'm intrigued by eDominate's unique approach to Internet lending and how they help banks to support potential borrowers much earlier in their buying cycles than the loan process. I can easily imagine how providing this elevated level of service wins customers for the lender."

eDominate will be showcasing eCM Caribbean and the business advantages of buying-cycle management to Caribbean financial institutions this fall in a series of teleconferences with ECIC Holdings Ltd. In demonstrating the diverse features of this online portal - and answering questions on how it can drive lending, deposits, cross-sales, and even commercial business - eDominate intends to acknowledge the Caribbean Bankers User Group's consolidated buying power by offering discounted pricing to institutions purchasing as a group.

ABOUT ECIC Holdings Ltd.
ECIC Holdings Ltd. (ECIC) is a private company headquartered in Basseterre, St Kitts, and held by 10 indigenous banks of the region: Grenada Co-operative Bank Ltd., 1st National Bank St Lucia Ltd., National Bank of Dominica, ABI Bank Ltd., Caribbean Union Bank Ltd., St Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank Ltd., Bank of Nevis Ltd., National Bank of Anguilla Ltd., Caribbean Commercial Bank (Anguilla) Ltd. and TCI Bank Ltd. ECIC's mission is to be the facilitator of the creation of a virtual, modern, competitive financial services operation comprising member indigenous financial institutions of the region, and to enhance the operations and the share value of its shareholders and promote their competitiveness and sustainability in the CSME. ECIC owns majority shares of Caribbean Financial Services Corporation (CFSC), a Barbados-based development finance institution that provides loan, quasi-equity, and equity financing to Caribbean SMEs, as well as facilitates participation in the region's capital markets by the public and private sectors of the region.

About eDominate
eDominate Inc. ("eDominate") is a global provider of software and services that help financial institutions to build and monetize social networks. Banks, credit unions, and finance companies use eDominate's patent-pending methodology and Internet technologies to open new markets for lending and deposits, win new commercial accounts, drive new lending opportunities, generate new revenue streams, improve customer service online, provide community advocacy, achieve "greener" business operations, and cross-sell more financial products and services. eDominate software can be delivered internationally and customized to accommodate almost any financial niche. For more information, please visit www.eDominate.com.

Contact Information

eDominate, Inc
Mike Einsel
602-222-8558
meinsel@edominate.com
www.edominate.com

Farmers Insurance Claims Mobile Claims Units Ready to Help Customers

2008-09-02T04:25:00.000+05:30

Farmers Insurance Claims Teams and Mobile Claims Units Ready to Help Customers Suffering Damage from Hurricane Gustav

LOS ANGELES-- September 01, 2008 --Farmers® Insurance Group of Companies claims teams are preparing today to move into areas stricken by Hurricane Gustav. Once the areas are identified, the teams will deploy along with 2 Catastrophe Claims buses and 5 Customer Care Claims Vehicles.

"Our claims personnel and fleet of claims vehicles are gearing up to assist our customers in Louisiana, Texas and any other areas suffering damage from Gustav," explains Paul Quinn, Assistant Vice President of Claims Communications for Farmers Insurance.

The Mobile Catastrophe buses are equipped with state-of-the art satellite communications equipment; claims stations; water, supplies; laptop, satellite telephone capability; and have a built in grill to serve meals to Farmers' customers and others in need.

The Customer Care Claims Vehicles are smaller versions of Farmers claims buses and are ready to assist with claims and supply needs of Farmers' customers and others in need.

Note to Media: A press release listing exact locations of the claims vehicles will be issued as soon as locations are selected. For questions or information at any time, please contact the Farmers Media Team listed above.

Farmers Insurance customers who have suffered damage should contact their agent or call Farmers' 24-hour-claims hotline, 800-HelpPoint (1-800-435-7764) for immediate assistance.

"Farmers' customers who have moved to evacuation centers in Texas, Louisiana or other states, should keep the HelpPoint number handy if needed, when they return to their homes.

Foremost Insurance customers should file their claims by calling: 1-800-527-3907.

Flood victims who have flood insurance should contact the National Flood Program at www.floodsmart.com

Farmers Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, an insurance-based financial services provider with a global network of subsidiaries and offices in North America and Europe as well as in Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Farmers® is the nation's third-largest Personal Lines Property & Casualty insurance group. Property and casualty products are underwritten and issued by the Farmers Exchanges and their subsidiaries, which Farmers Group, Inc. manages but does not own. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the Farmers insurers provide Homeowners, Auto, Business, Life insurance and financial services to more than 10 million households. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com.

Contacts

Farmers Insurance Group
Jerry Davies, 213-400-4459
jerry.davies@farmersinsurance.com
or
Michelle Levy, 512-791-7445
michelle.levy@farmersinsurance.com
or
David Bishop, 850-228-8997
david.bishop@farmersinsurance.com

Trading Club Delivers Stock Picks, Trade Set-ups and Market Intelligence

2008-08-16T10:11:00.000+05:30

Swing Trading Club from Investing Systems Delivers Stock Picks, Trade Set-ups and Market Intelligence to Day Traders, Swing Traders and Long Term Investors

AMELIA ISLAND, Fla.-- July 26, 2008 --Investing Systems announced today the opening of their new Swing Trading Club for traders and investors.

"Buy and hold investing has seen better days," said William McKinley, President of Investing Systems. "Most people believe that you need to take a more active role in order to effectively manage a portfolio."

The swing trading club offers trade set-ups daily and shows investors the entry and exit strategy, the stop-loss points and target prices for each trade. The site features a chat room, market trend indicators and commentary from professional traders.

"Everyone knows that you need to invest for yourself," McKinley said. "But that does not mean that you have to trade by yourself."

The Swing Trading Club is open to all traders and investors and even includes training sessions and coaching on specific technical trading styles. The subscription price is just $49.95 per month and the members already love the interaction with other traders.

"People like to trade along with others in the club," McKinley said. "Beginners are learning the ropes and experienced traders like to share their expertise. We think everyone should take a serious look at the club if only to have some trading buddies to bounce ideas with."

Investing Systems Inc. manages a network of more than 100 websites focused on the benefits of disciplined systematic investing. Customers in more than 70 countries have used ISI products and services to become better, more disciplined, investors.

"I am not sure exactly how many members we will let into the club," McKinley said. "The most important thing to us is that people have fun, make money and become better traders and investors. If we have to limit the size, we will."

For additional information about the Swing Trading Club website visit:

http://www.SwingTradingClub.com

Contacts

Investing Systems Inc.
Douglas Newberry, 904-261-5289
DNewberry@investing-systems.com

Bonds Outlook Stable

2008-08-12T06:20:00.000+05:30

Fitch Upgrades Cape Regional Medical Center's (NJ) Bonds to 'A'; Outlook Stable

NEW YORK-- August 11, 2008 --Fitch Ratings has upgraded the $23.5 million outstanding New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority revenue bonds (Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, Inc. Issue), series 1999 to 'A' from 'A-'. The Rating Outlook is Stable.

The rating upgrade to 'A' is based on Cape Regional Medical Center's (Cape Regional; formerly Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital, Inc.) excellent liquidity and light debt burden as well as improved operations over the last 3 1/2 fiscal years. At fiscal year end Dec. 31 2007, Cape Regional had days cash on hand (DCOH) of 273.1 days and cash to debt of 301.9%, both well above Fitch's 'A' category medians of 185.2 DCOH and 111.6% cash to debt. Additionally, Cape Regional defeased its 1991 series bonds in fiscal 2007.

Maximum annual debt service (MADS) on the remaining series 1999 bonds is $2.1 million, which is $1.2 million lower than previous MADS. Pro forma debt service coverage in fiscal 2007 was a strong 6.2 times (x), above Fitch's 'A' category median of 4x, and the cushion ratio was 33.3x, more than double Fitch's 'A' category median of 15.4x. Unaudited results for six months ended June 30, 2008 show MADS coverage of 5.5x and a cushion ratio of 31.4x.

In addition to Cape Regional's strong liquidity and light debt burden, operations over the last 3 1/2 fiscal years have continued to improve. Since fiscal 2005, Cape Regional has improved operations with positive operating margins two out of the last three years and positive excess margins in all three years. Cape Regional ended fiscal 2007 with a 0.6% positive operating margin and a 5% positive excess margin ($5.6 million in total excess income). Further indication of the operational turnaround has been the improvement to Cape Regional's operating EBITDA margin and EBITDA margins. Cape Regional's Operating EBITDA and EBITDA margins have averaged 7.5% and 11.2%, respectively, from 2005-2007 compared to 5.3% and 7.3% from 2002-2004.

The Stable Outlook is based on Cape Regional's continued market dominance, lighter debt burden, and Fitch's belief that Cape Regional will be able to sustain the current operating performance. Cape Regional enjoys a 72% market share in its primary service area as its nearest competitor is more than 20 miles away. This market dominance helps to offset concerns about Cape Regional's small revenue size for the rating category. Ongoing credit concerns include Cape Regional's rising bad debt expense and vulnerability of revenue stream given the seasonality of admissions.

Fitch does not anticipate Cape Regional issuing additional debt over the next few years. A prior credit concern of Fitch's had been the hospital's capital needs. Management has begun increasing capital spending, including a $2.2 million renovation of inpatient rooms. Capital expenditures as percentage of depreciation increased to 217.4% in fiscal 2007 from 66.2% in fiscal 2006; Fitch's 'A' category median is 155.8%. Given Cape Regional's operational turnaround, Fitch anticipates that over the medium term the hospital will be able to continue to fund capital projects from cash flow and philanthropy without the need to issue debt.

Fitch believes that Cape Regional will be able to sustain current levels of operations. Cape Regional has significantly lowered its length of stay over the past few years, from 4.9 days in fiscal 2004 to 4.3 days in fiscal 2007, started a hospitalists program, had strong physician recruitment, and established an affiliation with University of Penn Health System for oncology and cardiology, which has improved cardiology coverage at the hospital. These programs should help sustain operating margins over the medium term. While Cape Regional has a negative 0.8% margin for the first six months of fiscal 2008, it showed bottom line profitability with a 3% excess margin, and is ahead of budget heading into the busy tourist season. Management indicated that the volume numbers from the first two months of the season, June and July, have been strong.

Cape Regional is a 242-licensed (208 operated) bed facility located in Cape May County off exit 10 on the Garden State Parkway, approximately 45 miles south of Atlantic City. Cape Regional, with total revenue of $107.5 million in fiscal 2007, is part of the Cape Regional Health System, which includes a foundation, and Cape Regional Health Enterprises, which houses a small management services organization. Cape Regional covenants to provide annual and quarterly disclosure to bondholders. Disclosure to bondholders has been good, including quarterly income statement, balance sheet, cash flows, utilization, and management discussion and analysis.

Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency's public site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site.

Contacts

Fitch Ratings, New York
Eric Espino, 212-908-0574
Gary Sokolow, 212-908-9186
or
Media Relations:
Cindy Stoller, 212-908-0526

Bond Insurance in a Changing Market

2008-08-08T09:02:00.000+05:30

The Knowledge Congress Has Scheduled a Live Teleconference & Webinar on Bond Insurance in a Changing Market and Regulatory Environment: What to Expect

New York, NY, June 20, 2008 -- The Knowledge Congress, the leading producer of regulatory focused teleconferences and webinars, announced today that it has scheduled a live teleconference and webinar on Bond Insurance in a Changing Market and Regulatory Environment: What to Expect. This two-hour event is scheduled on Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (EDT - New York).

Bond insurance companies are being monitored by a number of investment firms to make sure they can sustain any loss brought about by collateralized debt obligations with high-risk mortgage-backed securities. Issuers and borrowers should examine bond transactions that are tax-exempt as a precautionary measure in case a downgrade occurs. It is also important in examining agreements entered into by issuers and in case there is a need in changing credit and liquidity support bonds secured by a letter of credit. Non-profit organizations that are classified as bond issuers or conduit borrowers should take note of this issue so that preventive measures may be taken if necessary. The Knowledge Congress has assembled a panel of distinguished experts to help make these policies clear to the organizations most impacted. The panel will present their findings, which include "best practice" panel, and a question-and-answer segment enabling the audience to interact directly with the faculty in a two-hour teleconference and webinar.

Speakers/Faculty Panel

Steven A. Chamberlin, Manager, Tax Exempt Bonds, Compliance & Program Management, Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Michael Moriarty, Deputy Superintendent for Property and Capital Markets, New York State Insurance Department

Michael J. Schozer, President, Assured Guaranty Corp.

Margaret Purcell, Executive Director, National Tax Exempt Organization Group, Ernst & Young LLP

Valerie Pearsall Roberts, Partner, Jones Day

For updated list of the faculty panel, please visit: http://www.knowledgecongress.org/event_2008_BondInsurance.html

About The Knowledge Congress

The Knowledge Congress is an organization that produces teleconferences and webinars that examine regulatory changes across a variety of industries. "We bring together the world's leading authorities and industry participants through informative two-hour teleconferences and webinars that study the impact of changing regulations and help businesses succeed through proper regulatory compliance."

Contact Information
The Knowledge Congress
Thomas LaPointe, Jr., Executive Director
1.800.578.4370
info@knowledgecongress.org
www.knowledgecongress.org
Therese Lumbao, Director
Account Management & Member Services
tlumbao@knowledgecongress.org

No Cost Personal Finance Program

2008-08-08T06:11:00.000+05:30

Free Personal Finance Program

The Money Books.com is offering "Links To Your Financial Future" for a limited time.

Los Angeles, CA - March 14 -- dash Media Networks announced today its website The Money Books.com (www.themoneybooks.com) will offer a free downloadable personal finance program for a limited time. Users will need to join The Money Books mailing list to get access to the program. Links To Your Financial Future provides valuable internet links to a variety of important financial topics in the categories of Investment and Planning, Credit and Retirement.

According to a dash Media Networks spokesman, "This type of personal finance program is particularly important this time of year when everyone is concerned about the IRS and their taxes. The Money Books.com site is all about helping people increase their personal wealth and financial well being and this program provides an avenue for greater financial knowledge."

For dash Media Networks, the move is part of an effort to increase its interaction with the users of The Money Books.com. By encouraging users to sign up for its mailing list the site can service the needs of the community more efficiently as well as provide important information to the most motivated users. Mailing list subscribers will receive targeted content in a variety of areas such as mortgage finance, insurance, and entrepreneurial wealth building.

About dash Media Networks:
dash Media Networks is a collection of broad and niche oriented e-commerce and social networking outlets focused on products and communities in the range of technology, consumer electronics and other high growth potential sectors.

Press Contact: David Ashe
Company Name: dash Media Networks
Phone: 310-749-5055
Website: www.themoneybooks.com

Property.com Unable to Resist Foreclosure

2008-07-25T03:24:00.000+05:30

Property.com SOLD to Foreclosure.com

FORECLOSURE.COM OWNER TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY.COM

Brad Geisen continues to build online real estate empire to expand opportunities for future homebuyers and investors nationwide
Boca Raton, Fla. - July 22, 2008 Foreclosure.com Founder, President and CEO, Brad Geisen, announced today that he has reached an agreement with "Domain King" Rick Schwartz to acquire the domain name "Property.com," paving the way for his entry into a new market.

With Property.com Geisen intends to create a one-of-a-kind - and convenient - one-stop online real estate marketplace that is easy-to-use and navigate. The Web site will serve as an easy-accessible national real estate classified that is going to be free to all visitors, providing sellers, buyers and investors with a whole new concept of marketing and finding homes on the Web.

According to Geisen, the acquisition of Property.com will allow him to focus his efforts on a different and potentially much larger segment of the real estate market. In fact, in Geisen's opinion, the niche foreclosure market, which is Foreclosure.com's market, represents just 2 percent of all available real estate inventory.

"I'm going after the 98 percent of the real estate market outside of the foreclosure business." said Geisen. "For the past several years, I've built and run one of, if not 'the,' most successful Internet foreclosure businesses, but the business was always exclusively distressed real estate. I've achieved in Foreclosure.com what I set out to accomplish and I am ready for a new challenge in a different market. I intend to shift my focus on developing my new ideas that will revolutionize how homes should be listed, viewed and purchased. I've developed the critical skills which I intend to apply to this new market," said Geisen.

Property.com will include all listing types, including those indexed the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), creating a database that could surpass more than 15 million homes, but not including distressed properties, which will remain the business of Foreclosure.com. The best part is that it will be totally free to search for potential buyers and visitors, and sellers will be able to upload and edit their own personal listings at no charge. It's a wide-open model that Geisen knows will create an invaluable resource for just about anyone interested in real estate.

"I'm raising the stakes and pushing all my chips to the center of the table," said Geisen. "Foreclosure.com and my related companies have been leaders in their spaces for nearly a decade. I've seen what's been wrong with the way things were done and I've developed the methods to fix them. I have the knowledge and resources to take this to a whole new level . and that's what I plan to do."

Geisen revealed the new Property.com will be unveiled sometime in 2009. The specific terms of the deal to acquire Property.com were not disclosed. However, Geisen indicated that the value of the deal is one of the largest URL purchases to date.
That's a deal that has the seller Rick Schwartz - who is known as the "Domain King" -- smiling from ear-to-ear. He purchased Property.com for $750,000 in 2005 and was recently introduced to Geisen through Kevin Leto of BigTicketDomains.com about a possible re-sale.

"My job is to acquire prime, industry specific domain names with large volumes of natural type in traffic and eventually develop them to their fullest potential by partnering with leading companies in their respective fields which I have been doing for more than a decade," said Schwartz," "Early on I saw the value in Property.com; however, I never had the resources to develop it so it could reach its maximum potential. Brad Geisen has the vision to truly get the most of Property.com for the benefit of so many people in every corner of the United States. I'm thrilled to be a part of this exciting new project with Brad."

Stay tuned for frequent updates and milestones for the new Property.com. Feel free to visit the Web site in its current form. However, as mentioned earlier, the complete re-launch will not be official until sometime in 2009.

About Brad Geisen and Foreclosure.com
Ten years ago, Brad Geisen founded Foreclosure.com and built it over time to a company with more than 1.8 million foreclosure, preforeclosure, bankruptcy, FSBO and tax lien listings in one place, Foreclosure.com delivers America's largest and most accurate searchable database of foreclosed homes and distressed property information to its customers and business partners. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Brad Geisen and Foreclosure.com work with hundreds of top lending institutions and government agencies to list diverse property types on its Web site, including Real Estate Owned (REO); Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); Department of Veterans Affairs (VA); Fannie Mae; and other government agency and financial institution properties; as well as listings from an extensive network of corporate sellers. On the Web: www.foreclosure.com.

About eRealEsate.com.
Rick Schwartz, aka "Domain King" and "Webfather," is the CEO, President and Cofounder of T.R.A.F.F.I.C. found at TargetedTraffic.com-- the premiere domain conference for the domain industry. It is both the oldest and largest and attracts over 500 of the top professionals in the industry in a by invitation only event. As one of the early domain pioneers dating back to 1995, Rick has a knack for predicting big trends and getting it right. He may have been the first to recognize the value of "type in" traffic which is now commonly referred to as "direct navigation" -- the most potent and targeted traffic on the net. Rick has a prime portfolio of one and two word domains, and is considered by many to be among the leading experts on domain names, traffic, Web site flow and valuation. www.eRealestate.com

Media Contact
Thomas Myers
Foreclosure.com
tmyers@foreclosure.com
Tel: (561) 981-5337 ext. 381

Auction Rate Credit Linked Certificates Downgraded

2008-07-24T08:19:00.000+05:30

Fitch Downgrades Capstan Master Trust Auction Rate Credit Linked Certificates Series 1-4

NEW YORK-- July 23, 2008 --Fitch Ratings has removed from Rating Watch Negative and downgraded the following series of Capstan Master Trust (collectively, Capstan). The following rating actions are effective immediately:

Capstan Master Trust Series 1

--$150,000,000 certificates due 2017 downgraded to 'A' from 'AAA'.

Capstan Master Trust Series 2

--$150,000,000 certificates due 2017 downgraded to 'A' from 'AAA'.

Capstan Master Trust Series 3

--$150,000,000 certificates due 2017 downgraded to 'A' from 'AAA'.

Capstan Master Trust Series 4

--$150,000,000 certificates due 2017 downgraded to 'A' from 'AAA'.

The actions reflect Fitch's view on the credit risk of the rated certificates following the release of Fitch's new Corporate CDO rating Criteria.

Capstan Series 1 through 4 are four series of auction rate credit-linked certificates, the proceeds from which were used to directly purchase $600,000,000 of credit linked certificates (the 'Underlying Collateral') referencing a static portfolio of primarily investment grade corporate assets, which was privately-rated by Fitch in July 2007. The Underlying Collateral is the sole asset of Capstan. Periodic interest payments on the auction rate credit-linked certificates are determined and paid according to an auction process, as described in the transactions' governing documents. In addition, Capstan has entered into a basis swap with Deutsche Bank AG (rated 'AA-/F1+'; Outlook Stable by Fitch), whereby income from the Underlying Collateral is transferred to Deutsche Bank AG in exchange for periodic interest payments due on the auction rate credit-linked certificates. The rating of Capstan is directly linked to the credit risk of the Underlying Collateral. Thus, the downgrades reflect Fitch's view on the credit risk of the Underlying Collateral for the deal, which was downgraded to 'A' from 'AAA' on July 23, 2008.

The key drivers of the downgrade on the Underlying Collateral include Fitch's updated corporate CDO rating criteria as well as the deterioration of the average portfolio quality from 'BBB/BBB+' on the closing date (July 2007) to 'BBB-' on July 16, 2008, representing an average downgrade of 2 notches across 51.2% of the portfolio. Currently, 18.4% of the portfolio carries a below investment grade rating, approximately 12.0% of the portfolio is on Rating Watch Negative and 17.6% is on Negative Outlook by Fitch. Moreover, 24.0% of the portfolio is concentrated in the banking & finance sector which is currently under stress.

Given Fitch's view of concentration and the current credit quality of the portfolio, the credit enhancement level of 9.8% is not sufficient to justify the current rating of the Underlying Collateral.

Fitch released updated criteria on April 30, 2008 for Corporate CDOs and, at that time, noted it would be reviewing its ratings accordingly to establish consistency for existing and new transactions. As part of this review, Fitch makes standard adjustments for any names on Rating Watch Negative or with a Negative Outlook, reducing such ratings for default analysis purposes by two and one notch, respectively. Fitch has previously noted that its review will be focused first on ratings most exposed to risks it has highlighted in its updated criteria. Consequently, the certificates were placed on Rating Watch Negative on May 15, 2008. As previously indicated, resolution of the Negative Watch status depends on any plans managers/arrangers may choose to modify either the structure or the portfolio. In this case, the arranger has confirmed that it does not intend to make any modifications.

Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency's site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site.

Contacts

Fitch Ratings
Derek Miller, +1-312-368-2076 (Chicago)
Kevin Kendra, +1-212-908-0760 (New York)
Media Relations:
Julian Dennison, +44 020 7682 7480 (London)
Sandro Scenga, +1-212-908-0278 (New York)

Consolidate Outstanding Debts With Bad Credit Loans

2008-07-21T09:34:00.000+05:30

Take Advantage of Bad Credit Loans to Consolidate Outstanding Debts

Even if your credit is not great, you can still benefit from a Consolidation Loan explains Andy Hygate from www.loansbadcredit.org.uk.

Edinburgh, UK - March 11 -- Even if your credit is not great, you can still benefit from a Consolidation Loan explains Andy Hygate from www.loansbadcredit.org.uk, and get out from under an avalanche of rising interest payments.

Just when we had hoped for relief, the economic woes seem to accelerate with no end in sight. Combined with growing fears of a recession we now have the disturbing prospect that an imminent recession will be combined with simultaneous price inflation. Commodity prices, for example, are climbing - with some industry observers predicting that the price of petrol will rise as much as 30-40 percent by July. As these factors create a bleak economic outlook, the cost of high-interest debt becomes more burdensome.

According to recent reports from the Telegraph and BBC News:

- A record-breaking 107,000 people went insolvent in 2006, an annual rise of almost 60 percent, as UK personal debt totals hit £1.4 trillion

- Lenders wrote off about £6.8bn in individual debt last year, the biggest annual total on record.

- Banks classified a total of £2.1bn as bad debt in the final quarter of 2007, of which £1.6bn was consumer debt.

- Only a small fraction of this was mortgage debt, with the majority accounted for by credit card and other unsecured debts.

But all is not lost. While major interest rates are still relatively low there is time to get out from under high-interest debt, and mounting monthly payments by borrowing a single affordable loan and using it to pay off more expensive loans. The strategy, referred to as debt consolidation, is often recommended to consumers faced with seemingly impossible financial circumstances. A debt consolidation loan is one that offers a more competitive rate than the ones you currently hold.

Of course if you already have bad credit, it can be harder to find an attractive consolidation loan. But so-called bad credit loans offer a solution, even for those with low credit scores. Lenders who offer these loans tailor to a niche market, and specialise in serving those borrowers who are turned down by traditional banks and other lenders due to credit problems. Their sole purpose and business focus is on providing loans to people with poor credit, and the services they provide are a valuable asset for UK consumers unable to borrow from conventional lenders.

With a bad credit loan from one of these lenders, it is possible to consolidate debt and convert your bad credit into a good plan for saving money and getting back on track to financial security. Transferring outstanding balances to a single lower interest bad credit loan accomplishes two critical and financially helpful goals.

First of all, you save money on the difference in interest payments. For example, if you are paying on a credit card that charges 18 percent interest and can pay off that balance with a new loan that only charges 8 percent, you realise immediate savings of 10 percent. That's a better return than most stock market wizards can boast, and it can be done in a matter of minutes by simply applying for the new loan.

Secondly, consolidating debt by paying it off with a single loan makes monthly payments simpler to manage your budget. With only one payment to make - instead of numerous bills to pay at various times during the month - it is easy to write one check, once a month. You minimize the risk of late payments, penalties, fees, and punitive rate hikes, while also making your personal financial life less stressful.

Press Contact: Andy Hygate
Company Name: Loans for Bad Credit
Phone: 07780859312
Website: www.loansbadcredit.org.uk

Secrets How To Survive This Mortgage Market Collapse

2008-07-19T10:06:00.000+05:30

New Radio Show Reveals Insider Secrets How To Survive This Mortgage Market Collapse

Teaneck, New Jersey based Mortgage Expert, Joe Gross reveals mortgage market survival secrets on a brand new radio show, "Your Home - Your Future" on WVNJ 1160AM.

Teaneck, NJ  - March 19 -- National Mortgage Expert Joe Gross launched a new radio show "Your Home - Your Future." You can listen to the show live on Thursday March 20th at 2pm, or at http://www.yourhomeyourfutureradioshow.com. "Your Home - Your Future", is all about helping listeners get the tools and information they need to protect their home for today and the future.

National Mortgage Expert, Joe Gross, addressed in his radio show on this past Thursday the issues of protecting your credit rating, debt consolidation companies, refinancing in today's ever changing mortgage market. Listeners were able to email their financial questions or situations and receive help both on- and off-air.

"Your Home - Your Future" is a forum to discuss most recent financial headlines, listener financial problems and tips to protect your home and improve your financial situation.

This week's program is all about Adjustable Rate Mortgages and how to stop the predatory rate increases. Future shows in the "Your Home - Your Future" series will cover other aspects of the mortgage market including:
    Avoiding scams and fraudsters
    How to budget your income and expenses
    Boosting your credit score
    How to choose a good broker
Since the mortgage market collapse, Joe has redoubled his efforts in educating the public about the mortgage market and what they can do to get in a better position for the future. "If this crisis has taught us anything, it's that everyone loses when people aren't educated." This is the primary reason behind the launch of the radio show.

Joe has worked in the mortgage industry for ten years and has heard hundreds of stories from customers who have gotten into trouble with debt and thought they couldn't get out. He has helped people refinance into a much better situation with manageable monthly payments and has maintained a 98 percent approval rating.

Kim and Richard VanNortwick had combined mortgage and credit card payments of $2,903.00. They had been trying for a few months to refinance. "We were very stressed out," says Kim. "We tried calling other mortgage companies but we kept getting the answer, "I'm sorry but there is nothing we can do for you."

Joe got them a 30 year fixed mortgage and saved the VanNortwick's $597.63 a month. "It only took us 17 days to get out of this misery. Joe was also able to escrow our taxes and insurance and pay off our outstanding taxes of $9,042.41" says Kim. The VanNortwick's are happy to be on their way to financial freedom and credit National Mortgage Expert, Joe Gross with their success.

Joe Gross is the president of Qualified Mortgage Inc. and specializes in Debt Consolidation and helping people with credit issues. He is committed to getting each customer into a product that will benefit them today AND tomorrow. Joe's unique Client for Life program provides additional support to customers through monthly newsletters, tele-seminars and email bulletins.

Currently, Joe is writing a book on the mortgage market collapse covering what happened, who's to blame and, most importantly, how people can get out of this mess and keep their homes.

Joe is available for interview and welcomes your mortgage-related questions. Call 800-662-0125 for a Free No-Obligation Consultation or visit http://www.yourhomeyourfutureradioshow.com.

Please contact Theresa Consoli with any questions or interview requests:
800-662-0125
Fax: 201-837-1128
email protected from spam bots
www.yourhomeyourfutureradioshow.com

Qualified Mortgage Inc.
1086 Teaneck Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666

Press Contact: Theresa Consoli
Company Name: Qualified Mortgage Inc.
Phone: 800-662-0125
Website: www.yourhomeyourfutureradioshow.com

First-Timers Prefer Virgin Money

2008-07-17T05:53:00.000+05:30

Virgin Money USA Leads Industry in Private Mortgage-Based Loans

Growing Number of Homeowners Seek Intra-Family Mortgage Loans Over Traditional Lending Sources

Waltham, MA - March 13 -- Virgin Money USA, the leader in formalizing and servicing mortgage loans between friends and family, today announced that it has reached its highest volume of mortgage-based loans to-date. With over 1/3 of the total loan volume -- which has recently surpassed the $300 million mark -- coming from mortgage-based loans, Virgin Money continues to prevail as the leader in the private mortgage loan industry.

With consumers feeling the impact of the recent credit crunch and the decline of the housing market, homeowners are now seeking refinance options to help lower their monthly interest payments. In addition, new homeowners are seeking an alternative source of funding for a down payment or mortgage now that it has become increasingly difficult to get from a bank due to tightening loan qualification restrictions.

Turning to family or friends for a mortgage-based loan has become a popular option that offers benefits to both the borrower and the lender alike. Borrowers are able to determine an interest rate that is often lower than a traditional bank rate, and can set a repayment schedule that meets their needs, considerably lowering the risk for default. In addition, lenders are able to earn additional income from an interest rate that is often higher than traditional bank investments, such as a CD.

"By keeping the money within the family, an intra-family loan provides options to all parties involved with the transaction; borrowers need a financial boost without breaking the bank, and lenders are looking for unique ways to preserve their wealth. Virgin Money allows lenders to earn fixed income while helping a loved one or friend in need," said Asheesh Advani, CEO of Virgin Money USA. "We offer a variety of mortgage products that are designed to meet the individual needs of homeowners, including residential mortgages, retirement mortgages and seller-financing options, enabling consumers to get a better deal than they would from a traditional lending source."

Virgin Money USA provides documentation, professional service and complete record-keeping for every mortgage loan, as many people welcome having an independent third party in the middle of a family transaction. Virgin Money allows homeowners to keep the home and the cash, as well as the decision-making power, in the family. To learn more about mortgage products and services from Virgin Money USA, please visit www.virginmoneyus.com.

About Virgin Money USA
Virgin Money USA is a financial services company committed to offering consumers alternatives to traditional and costlier forms of credit. The company provides a safe and easy way for people to make loans between relatives and friends -- thereby helping people to arrange affordable loans without hurting their relationships, to enjoy the benefits of flexible loans that fit their needs and to keep money where it belongs -- in the family. With interest rates that are typically lower than what a bank charges, coupled with flexible repayment schedules, Virgin Money allows consumers to take major steps toward achieving their personal dreams, with help from friends and family. Visit us at www.virginmoneyus.com.

Press Contact: Laren Frueh
Company Name: Virgin Money USA
Phone: (617) 337-9514
Website: www.virginmoneyus.com

Negative Watch Rating On State Loan Bonds

2008-07-08T09:46:00.000+05:30

Fitch Places Two State Loan Pool Programs on Rating Watch Negative

CHICAGO-- July 07, 2008 --Fitch has placed the following state loan pool bond programs which use debt service reserve fund surety bonds from MBIA Insurance Corp. (MBIA) and Ambac Assurance Corp. (Ambac) on Rating Watch Negative:

--Oregon Bond Bank, revenue bonds, rated 'AA';

--New Mexico Finance Authority, subordinate lien public project revolving fund revenue bonds, rated 'AA-'.

In the bond programs above, MBIA and Ambac provide credit enhancement in the form of debt service reserve fund surety bonds, which are sized at the least of maximum annual debt service, 10% of principal, or 125% of average annual debt service. Fitch recently withdrew its rating on MBIA and Ambac and is considering in its reviews on the above loan pool programs how the cash flows are currently performing, their expected performance under various stress scenarios, the likelihood that a claim will be made on the debt service reserve fund surety policy, and other program resources. Fitch is also reevaluating the credit value that Fitch places on the guarantors' abilities to meet their surety bond obligations. In doing so, Fitch will rely on its internal assessments of the guarantors, other agencies opinions, and other market views.

Fitch's rating definitions and the terms of use of such ratings are available on the agency's public site, www.fitchratings.com. Published ratings, criteria and methodologies are available from this site, at all times. Fitch's code of conduct, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, affiliate firewall, compliance and other relevant policies and procedures are also available from the 'Code of Conduct' section of this site.

Contacts

Fitch Ratings
Adrienne M. Booker, +1-312-368-5471 (Chicago)
David Litvack, +1-212-908-0593 (New York)
Christopher Kimble, +1-212-908-0226
(Media Relations, New York)

Job Seekers Driven To Self-Employment By Worsening Economy

2008-07-03T22:38:00.000+05:30

Worsening Economy is Driving Job Seekers to Self-employment

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.-- July 03, 2008 --Forced retirement, job cutbacks, and economic uncertainty all point to a safety net of a recession-proof franchise opportunity. Liberty Tax Service is experiencing a tremendous response to its franchise opportunity. "When job security goes away, many people decide to take the future into their own hands," according to John Hewitt CEO and Founder of Liberty Tax Service. (www.libertytaxfranchise.com). The company offers low start-up costs and the certainty of filing income tax returns to provide an enticing business opportunity that's a part of the American way of life.

In 2008, the gloomy forecast is that corporate layoffs could increase up to 37 percent. Contrast that with the tax industry that historically has delivered a growing market of taxpayers every year. Approximately 62% of all taxpayers paid someone to prepare their taxes in 2008, up from 51% in 1994.

Liberty Tax and CEO John Hewitt are garnering many accolades for a superlative franchise opportunity that welcomes a diverse America to join its ranks. Hewitt has 39 years of tax industry experience, the most of any CEO in the tax preparation business. He is the only founder of two franchises that Entrepreneur magazine has ranked in the top 25 of their Franchise 500: Liberty Tax Service and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service (NYSE:JTX).

"Our franchisees continue to be the cornerstone of our success. For the sixth year in a row, Liberty grew by more returns (raw numbers) than H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt combined," noted Hewitt. "We are focused on providing an affordable opportunity for new franchisees, and great support so that our existing franchisees can add additional offices. These key factors will allow us to open a projected 400 new offices for tax season 2009."

Liberty Tax franchising is a fit with various life scenarios: keeping a day job while starting a franchise, entry into the tax business with little or no experience, and the challenge of a busy seasonal business.

A tax background is not a requirement. Top performing Liberty Tax franchisee, Annie Fuller of Newberry, South Carolina lacked any previous tax experience. "I followed the Liberty Tax Service system, held tax schools for training, and hired the best people who were stars in the customer service arena," said Annie. "I'm obviously not a bean counter." By Tax Day, April 17th 2007, Annie's first-year Liberty Tax office in Newberry finished #1 in the entire Liberty Tax Service operating system for first-year stores with a company record of 1658 returns prepared. She was first in the system for second year offices in 2008.

About Liberty Tax Service:

Founded in 1997 by CEO John T. Hewitt, Liberty Tax Service (www.libertytax.com) has prepared over 6,000,000 individual income tax returns. The Liberty Tax franchise opportunity is ranked highly on Entrepreneur's "Franchise 500" for affordability, low cost and overall potential. The company is a member of the International Franchise Association and its MinorityFran and FranVet outreach programs. John Hewitt is available for interviews on franchising issues and entrepreneurial advice.
Contacts

Liberty Tax Service
Martha O'Gorman
Chief Marketing Officer
800-790-3863 ext. 8022
martha.ogorman@libtax.com

Hedge Funds within a Wealth Management Strategy White Paper

2008-06-26T23:11:00.000+05:30

White Oaks Wealth Advisors Releases New White Paper

MINNEAPOLIS-- June 26, 2008--White Oaks Wealth Advisors, Inc. today released its latest addition to its series of white papers on wealth management topics affecting upper income and net worth issues. The latest entitled ''Hedge Funds within a Wealth Management Strategy'' was authored by Robert Klosterman who is the Founder, President & CEO of White Oaks Wealth Advisors, Inc.

"There is a lot of mystery shrouding the hedge fund space and the purpose of this paper is to pull open the drapes and let the sun shine in on the terminology and the potential uses of these specialized vehicles. Clearly there are unique and specific risks associated with these investment choices," remarked Sharon Bloodworth, Vice President of White Oaks, "and investors should be aware of what they are and consider their impact carefully when considering their use within an investment strategy."

"Hedge Funds are a broad and non-descriptive term that is used to cover numerous strategies," added Klosterman, "and our intent is to provide a tool for investors in order for them to start the process of understanding their options."

White Oaks Wealth Advisors, Inc. is a private, fee-only wealth management firm with offices in Minneapolis, MN and Sarasota, FL that specializes in simplifying the complexities of wealth for upper net worth individuals. The firm offers an advisory team with over 60 years of experience in areas such as retirement planning, investment advice and management, estate planning, tax planning, stock option exercise, charitable gift planning, qualified plan distribution planning, and many other issues that individuals face in meeting and achieving their financial security goals.

White Oaks Wealth Advisors, Inc. has been honored by having team members listed on the ''Top 250 Financial Advisors'' by Worth Magazine, ''Top Dogs'' by Bloomberg Wealth Manager, ''5 Star Advisor'' by Paladin Registry, ''Best 150 Advisors for Doctors'' by Medical Economics and ''100 Top Advisors'' by Mutual Funds Magazine.

Contacts

White Oaks Wealth Advisors, Inc.
Robert Klosterman, 612-455-6900

$66 Million to Velocita Wireless From Factoring Company to Support Acquisition of SkyTel

2008-06-19T05:30:00.000+05:30

Factoring Company Provides $66 Million Factoring Facility to Velocita Wireless to Support Acquisition of SkyTel, from Bell Industries, Inc.

A leading factoring company, has signed an agreement to provide a $66 million accounts receivable factoring facility to a leading provider of wireless data services. The accounts receivable factoring facility was a key element of the funding package which enabled the New Jersey based network operator to complete the acquisition of a complimentary wireless technology business, providing nationwide wireless data and messaging services. At a time when borrowing facilities are extremely difficult to negotiate Platinum distinguished themselves with their speed of decision, flexibility and willingness to work to get the deal done.

New York, NY - June 17, 2008 -- Platinum Funding Group, a leading factoring company, has signed an agreement to provide a $66 million accounts receivable factoring facility to a leading provider of wireless data services. The accounts receivable factoring facility was a key element of the funding package which enabled the New Jersey based network operator to complete the acquisition of a complimentary wireless technology business, providing nationwide wireless data and messaging services.

Factoring

With its headquarters in New Jersey, this national wireless network operator focuses on the M2M market. The company offers wireless data machine-to-machine (M2M) products including automatic vehicle location (AVL), telematics, point-of-sale, security and energy solutions to enterprise and government customers. Its network operates in 50 states covering 93 percent of all U.S. businesses and 220 million people.

The accounts receivable factoring facility provided by Platinum Funding Group will also assist the combined entity to consolidate its position as one of the leading M2M providers in the U.S. providing comprehensive, reliable and secure communication solutions.

"Platinum's ability to think outside the box, and find creative solutions for complicated transactions is a necessity in the current financial environment," said Eyal Levy, founder and CEO of Platinum Funding Group. "Platinum's assistance in several acquisitions lately, when liquidity is limited, makes us an attractive instrument for investment banks, private equity and venture capital firms."

Russell Backhouse, the CFO who co-ordinated the transaction with Platinum added, "At a time when borrowing facilities are extremely difficult to negotiate Platinum distinguished themselves with their speed of decision, flexibility and willingness to work to get the deal done."

Mark Hull, CEO said, "This acquisition clearly benefits all of our customers as together we are an even stronger company with a long-term commitment to messaging, data and the M2M market."

About Platinum Funding Group:
Platinum Funding Group, a leading factoring company, provides clients with accounts receivable financing, purchase order financing, letters of credit, bridge funding, and accounts receivable management. Established in 1992, the factoring company has been consistently assisting companies with annual sales revenue between $1 million and $150 million. Platinum provides premier factoring services and possessions the financial resources to serve the needs of its invoice factoring clients across more than 30 industries, issuing same day advances on accounts receivable to early-stage companies, fast growing firms, and companies in Chapter 11. Platinum Funding Group is headquartered in New York City and has regional offices throughout the U.S.

Platinum Funding UK Limited commenced operations out of its United Kingdom office in the spring of 2008. Through its UK affiliate, Platinum Funding Group has expanded its services to include purchases of international receivables, with a focus on the European market.

By SEO Factor.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Danielle Lacombe
Platinum Funding Group
646-315-7200

Cobi babchuk
Platinum Funding UK Limited
646-315-7200