Finance News

Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. Declares Dividend

2005-09-13T12:16:00.001-07:00

Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. Declares Dividend

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors of Castle Convertible Fund, Inc. (AMEX:CVF), a closed-end investment company managed by Fred Alger Management, Inc., declared a dividend of $0.17 per share to shareholders of record on September 30, 2005, payable October 17, 2005.

Contact: Frederick A. Blum
Executive Vice President
Fred Alger Management, Inc.
(201) 547-3600

Source: Fred Alger Management, Inc.

CONTACT: Frederick A. Blum, Executive Vice President of Fred Alger
Management, Inc., +1-201-547-3600

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Profile: financial services

Mercantile Bankshares Corporation Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

2005-09-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

Mercantile Bankshares Corporation Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

BALTIMORE, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Edward J. Kelly, III, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercantile Bankshares Corporation (NASDAQ:MRBK) announced that, at a meeting held today, the Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.38 per share on the common stock, payable September 30, 2005, to stockholders of record as of September 23, 2005.

Mercantile Bankshares Corporation, with more than $16 billion in assets, is a regional multibank holding company with headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. Its member banks serve communities in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, the Delmarva Peninsula and southern Pennsylvania from a network of more than 235 offices and more than 250 ATMs. The Investment & Wealth Management division has assets in excess of $48 billion, with management responsibility for more than $21 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mercantile.com/.

Source: Mercantile Bankshares Corporation

CONTACT: David E. Borowy, Investor Relations of Mercantile Bankshares
Corporation, +1-410-347-8361, or david.borowy@mercantile.net

Web site: http://www.mercantile.com/

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Profile: financial services

Trend Micro Study Provides End-User Revelations About Risky Online Behavior at Work

2005-09-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

Trend Micro Study Provides End-User Revelations About Risky Online Behavior at Work

Behavioral tendencies magnify IT's challenge to educate, protect end users from viruses, spyware, spam, phishing, and more

TOKYO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trend Micro, Inc. , a leader in antivirus and content security, today announced results of a study that reveal why some end users in enterprise environments around the world are more likely to engage in riskier online behavior at work than home. The findings place added emphasis on the security challenge IT organizations face in protecting business networks, securing critical information, and reducing helpdesk calls.

The study, conducted in July 2005, featured more than 1,200 corporate end users in the United States, Germany, and Japan who responded to an online survey. Of the many findings, perhaps the most significant is the correlation between the presence of an IT department and end-user confidence in the security they expect against viruses, worms, spyware, spam, phishing, and pharming. These expectations often result in riskier online behavior that exacerbates IT's challenge to protect business operations from increasingly unpredictable threats.

Of those who responded, 39 percent of enterprise end users believed that IT could prevent them from falling victim to threats like spyware and phishing. This belief prompted many of them to admit bolder online behavior. Of those who admitted to engaging in bolder online behavior, 63 percent acknowledge that they are more comfortable clicking on suspicious links or visiting suspicious Web sites because IT has installed security software on their computers. Forty percent of those who admitted to engaging in riskier online behavior said it was because IT was available to provide support if problems occurred. Because of the correlation between IT's presence, end-user security expectations, and riskier end-user behavior, the study magnifies the importance for IT to ensure up-to-date security across the business network.

"Although end users have expectations of IT to educate and protect them, they may not always help in overcoming network security challenges. In fact, they could make it more difficult," said Max Cheng, executive vice president and general manager of Trend Micro's enterprise business segment. "Eye-opening revelations like these highlight the security challenges IT departments face within their own organizations and should motivate them to ensure greater protection across their enterprise."

The study suggests that a bolder user base can impact an enterprise organization's ability to contain costs, particularly associated with its IT helpdesk. For example, in Germany, end users expressed a high degree of confidence in their IT departments, admitting that their presence made them feel more inclined to click on suspicious links, open suspicious emails, and, if needed, contact the helpdesk when problems occurred.

Forty percent of German end users were inclined to contact IT regarding security issues -- whether they were perceived or real. In fact, 38 percent of German enterprise end users had contacted their IT departments about security concerns within three months leading up to the survey. For enterprise organizations with hundreds or thousands of employees, the likelihood for 38 out of every 100 end users to engage helpdesks about security issues -- in a concentrated amount of time -- impacts IT's ability to manage its cost structures and protect investments.

"More than just network availability or information integrity is at stake," Cheng said. "Understanding end user behavioral tendencies and protecting the business can be the difference between ensuring business continuity and losing it."

Noteworthy findings include:
-- In the United States, 48 percent of workers who admit they are more
likely to open suspicious emails or Web links on their work computers
than at home said it was because they had IT to support them if
something bad happened. Germany (39%) and Japan (28%) featured similar
results.
-- In Germany (76%) and the United States (65%), business end users who
admitted to being more likely to open suspicious emails and links said
it was because IT had installed security software on their computers.
In Japan, 42 percent felt the same way.
-- 1 out of 3 (34%) U.S. business end users and at least 1 out of every 4
in Germany (29%) and Japan (28%) who admitted that they are more likely
to open suspicious emails or click on suspicious links said it was
because the computer equipment was not theirs.
-- At least 1 out of 4 end users in the United States (31%) and Japan
(27%) contacted their IT helpdesks regarding security concerns within
three months of responding to the survey. In Germany, 38 percent of
enterprise end users had contacted IT within the same timeframe because
of security concerns.

"Policy enforcement for security products and the ability to control access to the Internet from a central server are key success factors in ensuring corporate desktop security and protecting the bottom line," Cheng said. "In looking at the big picture, this must all be part of a multilayered antivirus and content security solution that spans the entire network environment, from gateways and servers to desktops and mobile devices. Such an infrastructure enables the delivery of timely updates that protect every corner of your network -- and therefore your business."

For information on Trend Micro solutions that provide this multi-layered security infrastructure and deliver timely updates to combat growing threats in enterprise environments, visit www.trendmicro.com

About Trend Micro, Inc.

Trend Micro, Inc. is a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services. The Tokyo-based corporation has business units worldwide. Trend Micro products are sold through corporate and value-added resellers and managed service providers. For additional information and evaluation copies of all Trend Micro products, visit our Web site, www.trendmicro.com

Trend Micro and the t-ball logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Trend Micro Incorporated. All other company or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their owners.

Source: Trend Micro, Inc.

CONTACT: Mike Haro, Public Relations Manager, North America, of Trend
Micro, Inc., +1-408-850-1069 or mike_haro@trendmicro.com

Web site: http://www.trendmicro.com/

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Profile: financial services

Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to Keynote AHLA/HCCA Fraud & Compliance Forum

2005-09-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to Keynote AHLA/HCCA Fraud & Compliance Forum

September 25-27, 2005, Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, MD

70+ speakers and 42 separate sessions -- addressing a broad spectrum of legal and compliance issues including the new Medicare Part D Program, CMS Effectiveness Project, Attorney Client Privilege, Physician Recruitment, Advanced Stark, Gainsharing, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and other critical health care legal and compliance issues.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will keynote the 2005 Fraud & Compliance Forum being held September 25-27 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland. Also heading the list of more than 70 expert speakers is Assistant US Attorney James G. Sheehan, Kim Brandt, Director CMS Office of Financial Management, Program Integrity Group, Elizabeth Carder-Thompson, Esq., and D. McCarty Thornton, Esq. Levinson will address a general session of the Conference on Monday, September 26 beginning at 9:45 AM.

Jointly sponsored by the American Health Lawyers Association (Health Lawyers) and the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), the 2005 Forum offers 42 separate sessions, covering a wide range of compliance and legal issues addressed by health care fraud and abuse laws and regulations.

"This program offers a unique educational opportunity for health lawyers and compliance officers to learn together about new regulations, laws and significant developments," said Anthea R. Daniels, Health Lawyers' President- Elect and Chair of the AHLA Program Committee. "Health lawyers and compliance officers alike will benefit greatly from the program's content and by networking with an outstanding faculty and their peers."

Fraud & Compliance Forum concurrent sessions include:
* Compliance Enforcement Trends
* Advanced Stark
* Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives for Clinical Research Activities
* Medicare Part D Fraud and Abuse Issues
* New CMS Initiatives to Curb Fraud, Waste and Abuse in the DMEPOS Arena
* Clinical Trial Billing Compliance
* Preserving the Attorney-Client Privilege in the Age of Transparency
* Effectiveness Panel
* Key Considerations for EMTALA Compliance Plans
* Panel of In-House General Counsel and Compliance Officers who Survived
a Qui Tam
* Current Issues in Off-Label Use of Drugs and Medical Devices
* Preparing for and Responding to a CMS Conditions of Participation
Survey
* The Gambro Investigation: Lessons Learned the Hard Way and the Easy Way

Complete information and a program brochure for the 2005 Fraud and Compliance Forum are available on Health Lawyers Web site, (copy and paste into your web browser): http://www.healthlawyers.org/Template.cfm?Section=Program_Calendar&CONTENTID=5 174&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

Press may register for this landmark conference on fraud and compliance issues, by completing and returning the press registration form (copy and paste into your web browser): http://www.hcca-/ info.org/Content/NavigationMenu/About_HCCA/Press_Releases/Press_Releases.htm ) by the close of business on September 19, 2005. Please submit it to Margaret Dragon via Fax: 781/593-4920 or by E-mail to margaret.dragon@hcca-info.org). We regret that due to hotel space constraints, attendance will be limited to two representatives per publication. Please call if you need more information.

About the American Health Lawyers Association

The American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) is the nation's largest nonpartisan 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to legal issues in the healthcare field. The Association's 9,500 active members practice in law firms, government, in-house settings, and academia. They represent the entire spectrum of the healthcare community: physicians, hospitals and health systems, manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, health maintenance organizations, health insurers, managed care companies, nursing facilities, home care providers, and consumers. Health Lawyers provides in-person and "distance learning" educational programs; an annual conference; an award-winning Web site; public interest colloquiums, briefings, and teleconferences; and books, practice guides, monographs, the monthly publications Health Law Digest and Health Lawyers News, the quarterly Journal of Health Law, and the online news and analysis service Health Lawyers Weekly, as well as fourteen Practice Groups that focus on specific areas of health law or special employment settings. For additional information, visit AHLA's Web site at http://www.healthlawyers.org/. AHLA is located at 1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036 - Telephone 202/833-1100.

About the Health Care Compliance Association

The Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) is the only national, non- profit organization solely dedicated to improving the quality of health care compliance. Its mission is to champion ethical practice and compliance standards and to provide the necessary resources for compliance professionals and others who share these principles. HCCA's roles include facilitating the development and maintenance of health care compliance programs; providing a forum for understanding the complicated health care compliance environment; and offering tools, resources and educational opportunities for those involved with compliance in the health care industry. To learn more about HCCA, visit their Web site at http://www.hcca-info.org/. HCCA is located at 5780 Lincoln Drive, Suite 120, Minneapolis, MN 55436 - Telephone: 888/580-8373.

Source: Health Care Compliance Association

CONTACT: Margaret Dragon of Health Care Compliance Association,
+1-781-593-4924

Web site: http://www.hcca-info.org/

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Profile: financial services

Mayflower Bank Announces West Wareham Expansion Plans

2005-09-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Mayflower Bank Announces West Wareham Expansion Plans

MIDDLEBORO, Mass., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mayflower Bank (NASDAQ:MFLR) has announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a site in West Wareham, Massachusetts on which the Bank plans to construct a retail branch facility.

This Agreement, which is for a property located at the intersection of Cranberry Highway and Tow Road in West Wareham, Massachusetts calls for the Bank to take title to the site later in 2005 and is contingent upon the performance of satisfactory due diligence, receipt of appropriate municipal permits and regulatory approval. It is anticipated that capital costs associated with the acquisition of this site, construction of the branch facility, and the purchase of necessary equipment will approximate $2 million in total.

Bank President and CEO Edward M. Pratt commented that, "The Bank is extremely pleased to announce the execution of the Purchase and Sale Agreement for a proposed branch site in West Wareham and we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to expand our branch network into this area. Although Mayflower has long maintained a market presence in Wareham and has a very successful branch in the Onset section of the town, this location represents an area in which the Bank has not heavily penetrated and which is experiencing substantial growth of both a commercial and residential nature. Subject to matters of due diligence and receipt of municipal and regulatory approvals, we would hope to commence construction on this new branch in 2006 and anticipate opening it for business in the same year."

The Bank has indicated that current plans for this new branch contemplate a building of approximately 3,000 s.f. and incorporate multiple drive-up facilities and ATM capabilities. The Bank would also intend to provide full- time lending staff in the proposed branch.

Mayflower Bank is a Massachusetts-chartered cooperative bank specializing in residential and commercial lending and traditional banking and deposit services. The Bank currently serves Southeastern Massachusetts from its main office in Middleboro, Massachusetts and five other full service branches located in Plymouth County. The Bank maintains additional offices in Bridgewater, Wareham, Rochester and Plymouth, Massachusetts, and opened its newest branch office in Lakeville in the Summer of 2005.

Total assets of Mayflower Co-operative Bank as of July 31, 2005 were $240.6 million and stockholders equity was $18.7 million. All of the Bank's deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and by the Share Insurance Fund (SIF) of Massachusetts.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements, which are based on management's current expectations regarding economic, legislative and regulatory issues that may impact the Bank's earnings in future periods. Factors that could cause future results to vary materially from current management expectations include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, real estate values and competition; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; changes in legislation or regulation; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting the Bank's operations, pricing, products and services.

Source: Mayflower Bank

CONTACT: Edward M. Pratt of Mayflower Cooperative Bank, +1-508-947-4343

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Profile: financial services

Cohen & Steers Web Site Named Best Mutual Fund Web Site in 2005 WebAward Competition

2005-09-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

Cohen & Steers Web Site Named Best Mutual Fund Web Site in 2005 WebAward Competition

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cohen & Steers, Inc. (NYSE:CNS) today announced that its Web site, www.cohenandsteers.com, was awarded the "Best Mutual Fund Web site WebAward" in the Web Marketing Association's 2005 competition. The entries were judged on design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, navigation and ease of use. Judges included members of the media, advertising executives, site designers, content providers and webmasters.

"We pride ourselves on delivering timely information and providing investors with the highest level of service. The WebAward further demonstrates this commitment," stated John McCombe, executive vice president, director of sales and marketing.

The WebAward competition, now in its ninth year, is hosted by the Web Marketing Association, Inc. (WMA), an independent volunteer organization founded with the purpose of evaluating, recognizing and increasing the standard of excellence on the World Wide Web. The annual WebAwards competition judges Web sites against Internet standards and peer sites within specific industries.

"The Cohen & Steers property is a great example of accessibility. The highest marks for navigability and content drill in. Well done," commented one judge.

Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. is a manager of high-income equity portfolios, specializing in U.S. REITs, global real estate securities, preferred securities, utilities, value equity securities and other high- dividend paying common stocks. Headquartered in New York City, the firm serves individual and institutional investors through a wide range of open- and closed-end funds, and separate accounts.

Source: Cohen & Steers, Inc.

CONTACT: Stephen Tone, web manager, +1-212-832-3232

Web site: http://www.cohenandsteers.com/

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Profile: financial services

Piper Jaffray to Match Employee Donations to $100,000 for Hurricane Katrina Relief

2005-09-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

Piper Jaffray to Match Employee Donations to $100,000 for Hurricane Katrina Relief

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Piper Jaffray Companies is matching employee donations up to an aggregate amount of $100,000 to provide relief for the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Through September 30, 2005, Piper Jaffray will match dollar for dollar all employee contributions between $25 and $1,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

"This is an unprecedented natural disaster for our country, and whether we know someone in the area or not, we are grateful to be able to do our part in helping those whose lives are forever changed," said Andrew Duff, chairman and chief executive officer of Piper Jaffray Companies. "Our employees are incredibly generous and we are pleased to be able to support their generosity."

Since the firm's founding in 1895, Piper Jaffray has been committed to building strong communities through both financial and volunteer support. The firm donates five-percent of pre-tax earnings each year to charitable organizations through a combination of cash contributions, in-kind contributions and volunteer hours.

Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE:PJC) is a focused securities firm dedicated to delivering superior financial advice, investment products and transaction execution within selected sectors of the financial services marketplace. The company operates through two primary revenue-generating segments: Capital Markets and Private Client Services. Through its chief operating subsidiary, Piper Jaffray & Co., the firm has served corporations, government and non- profit entities, institutional investors and the financial advisory needs of private individuals since 1895. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Piper Jaffray has approximately 3,000 employees in 104 offices in 23 states across the country and in London. For more information about Piper Jaffray, visit us online at http://www.piperjaffray.com/ .

Source: Piper Jaffray Companies

CONTACT: Rob Litt, Media Relations, of Piper Jaffray Companies,
+1-612-303-8266

Web site: http://www.piperjaffray.com/

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Profile: financial services

Katrina Survivors Can Access Free Online Resource to Find Temporary and Permanent Housing in Arizona

2005-09-13T08:34:00.000-07:00

Katrina Survivors Can Access Free Online Resource to Find Temporary and Permanent Housing in Arizona

New Welcome Wagon Web Site Offers Convenience of Aggregated Shelter and Housing Information From Numerous Sites

PHOENIX, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- For the benefit of those left homeless by Hurricane Katrina who are currently in or want to relocate to Arizona, Welcome Wagon, a division of Homestore, today announced that its newly launched Web site http://relief.welcomewagon.com/ now contains more than 2,500 Arizona listings for available housing in shelters, churches, apartment complexes, single-family homes and senior facilities. The continually updated site also provides information about available housing nationally for those who prefer to settle elsewhere.

This free resource provides the most current information from multiple housing-related sites including HurricaneHousing.org, KatrinaHousing.org, KatrinaHome.com, Katrina-Relocation.com and HomeRentalAds.com. In addition to housing searches, this Web site also serves as a resource for information about a variety of organizations offering housing-related and other relief aid, including the American Red Cross, the REALTORS(R) Relief Foundation and HomeAid America.

"We are proud to take part in the relief effort," states Nathan Gill, regional president of media services. "This search tool takes thousands of available resources and brings them together in one simple interface. We applaud the whole-hearted effort Arizona is making to find shelter for these devastated refugees, and encourage any individual with available rooms or homes to add their information to the site."

At http://relief.welcomewagon.com/, survivors of Hurricane Katrina and their friends and family, as well as relief agencies and other volunteers, can search a comprehensive database of available homes and sort by city/state, number of people and length of stay. When a search is initiated, multiple other sites are simultaneously evaluated for matching search results, enabling the user to effectively and efficiently identify a possible housing solution. This alleviates the need to individually visit multiple sites to query the same search.

Individuals can post information about open beds, extra rooms, guest houses and other temporary housing that they may have available at http://relief.welcomewagon.com/. Additional hurricane-relief resources can be added to this site free simply by emailing relief@welcomewagon.com.

The dedicated team at Welcome Wagon, a Homestore company, developed the site's underlying technology and donated their time and effort to create this free resource for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

About Welcome Wagon

For more than 75 years, Welcome Wagon has been committed to helping people connect with their communities. The Web site http://relief.welcomewagon.com/ is an extension of this commitment, by helping individuals and families devastated by Hurricane Katrina connect with people in their communities who can help. Welcome Wagon is operated by Homestore, Inc.

ABOUT HOMESTORE, INC.

Homestore, Inc. is the leading provider of real estate media and technology solutions. The Company operates the No. 1 network of home and real estate Web sites including flagship site REALTOR.com(R), the official Web site of the National Association of REALTORS(R) and HomeBuilder.com(TM), the official new homes site of the National Association of Home Builders. Homestore also operates RENTNET(R), an apartments, corporate housing and self- storage resource, SeniorHousingNet(TM), a resource for senior housing and care, and FactoryBuiltHousing.com, the official Web site of the Manufactured Housing Institute, as well as Homestore.com(R), a home information resource. Homestore's print businesses are Homestore(R) Plans and Publications and Welcome Wagon(R). Homestore's professional software division includes TOP PRODUCER(R) Systems, a leading provider of provider of real estate sales productivity applications. For more information: http://ir.homestore.com/.

Source: Homestore, Inc.

CONTACT: Carrie Morgan, ext. 15, cmorgan@ACmarketingPR.com, or Jan
Shulman, ext. 12, jshulman@ACmarketingPR.com, +1-480-664-8412, both of
Amendola Communications for Homestore, Inc.

Web site: http://ir.homestore.com/
http://relief.welcomewagon.com/

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Profile: financial services

Wachovia Designates New Markets Tax Credits for Redevelopment of Areas Hit by Hurricane Katrina

2005-09-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Wachovia Designates New Markets Tax Credits for Redevelopment of Areas Hit by Hurricane Katrina

Portion of current allocation will be set aside for projects in the Gulf Coast region

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Wachovia announced today that it is designating a substantial portion of its federal New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation for redevelopment in the Gulf Coast region in response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Last week, the company announced that it would donate $2 million to the American Red Cross and two community foundations in the Gulf Coast for hurricane relief and recovery.

Wachovia will set aside $30 million of its current $90 million third-round NMTC allocation for redevelopment in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.

In addition, the company will designate a significant portion of any fourth-round award it receives for use in this region. The Treasury Department will announce fourth-round NMTC awards in the spring of 2006.

In the Gulf Coast region, the bank's retail branches operate under the SouthTrust name and will change over to the Wachovia name in October.

"New Markets Tax Credits were created to encourage investment in communities that most need economic development. The regions affected by Hurricane Katrina will clearly have great need for years to come, and we are fortunate to be in a position to respond," said Cathy Dolan, Wachovia's director of Community Development Finance. "Wachovia's banking presence in many of these affected communities gives us a unique opportunity to contribute to the efforts of stabilization and redevelopment. We have employees and customers who live and work in these areas and we feel it is our responsibility to make a difference where we can."

Created by Congress in 2000, NMTC is a federal tax program designed to help spur investment in businesses located in lower-income communities. The program is intended to have the same positive influence on business and economic development that the Low Income Housing Tax Credit has had on the construction of affordable housing.

Over seven years, the NMTC program will encourage $15 billion of capital investment in low-income urban and rural areas.

Wachovia received a $150 million allocation in 2002 in the program's first round of funding. This allocation already has been deployed for community development projects throughout the United States, with an emphasis on Wachovia's retail markets.

In addition, Wachovia has invested $38 million dollars with five other NMTC allocation recipients.

More information on NMTC can be found at http://www.cdfifund.gov/.

ABOUT WACHOVIA

Wachovia Corporation (NYSE:WB) is one of the largest providers of financial services to retail, brokerage and corporate customers, with retail operations from Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas, and retail brokerage operations nationwide. Wachovia had assets of $511.8 billion, market capitalization of $78.2 billion and stockholders' equity of $47.9 billion at June 30, 2005. Its four core businesses, the General Bank, Capital Management, Wealth Management, and the Corporate and Investment Bank, serve 13 million household and business relationships primarily through 3,126 offices in 15 states and Washington, D.C. Its full-service retail brokerage firm, Wachovia Securities, LLC, also serves clients through 699 offices in 49 states and five Latin American countries. The Corporate and Investment Bank serves clients primarily in 10 key industry sectors nationwide. Global services are offered through 33 international offices. Online banking and brokerage products and services also are available through Wachovia.com.

Source: Wachovia Corporation

CONTACT: Aimee Worsley of Wachovia Corporation, +1-704-715-2005

Web site: http://www.wachovia.com/
http://www.cdfifund.gov/

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Profile: financial services

BFC Financial Corporation to Hold Investor Luncheon Meeting in St. Louis

2005-09-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

BFC Financial Corporation to Hold Investor Luncheon Meeting in St. Louis

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BFC Financial Corporation ("BFC") (NASDAQ:BFCF), the Florida-based holding company that invests in and acquires diverse operating businesses, today announced that its Managing Director, Phil Bakes, will host an investor luncheon meeting in St. Louis, Missouri. During the meeting, Mr. Bakes will give a presentation on BFC to investors followed by a question and answer session.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041015/FLFLOGO )

The investor luncheon meeting will be held on Thursday, September 22, 2005 from 12:00 p.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton hotel, located at 100 Carondelet, Clayton, Missouri.

To RSVP, please contact The Investor Connection at 1-888-977-9766 or Investor Relations at BFC at 954-940-4994.

The slide presentation discussed at the meeting will be available on BFC's website located at http://www.bfcfinancial.com/ . To access the slides, please go to the Investor Relations section and click on the "presentations" button. Copies of the presentation can also be received via email, fax or postal service by contacting BFC's Investor Relations department at the address provided at the end of this release.

About BFC Financial Corporation:

BFC Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:BFCF) is a diversified holding company that invests in and acquires private and public companies in different industries. BFC is typically a long-term, "buy and hold" investor whose direct and indirect, diverse ownership interests spans a variety of business sectors, including consumer and commercial banking; brokerage and investment banking services; homebuilding; development of master-planned communities; the hospitality and leisure sector through the development, marketing and sales of vacation resorts on a time-share, vacation club model; and the restaurant and family dining business. BFC's current major holdings include BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE:BBX) and its subsidiaries, BankAtlantic and Ryan Beck & Co.; Levitt Corporation (NYSE:LEV), which includes its subsidiaries Levitt and Sons(TM) and Core Communities; Levitt Corporation's 31% ownership in Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE:BXG), as well as a minority interest in the renowned national restaurant chain, Benihana, Inc. (NASDAQ:BNHNA).

For further information, please visit our website at: http://www.bfcfinancial.com/ . To receive future news releases or announcements directly via Email, please click on the Email Broadcast Sign Up button.

BFC Contact Info:
Investor and Corporate Communications:
Sharon Lyn, Vice President
Email: CorpComm@BFCFinancial.com
Investor Relations:
Leo Hinkley, Senior Vice President
Email: InvestorRelations@BFCFinancial.com

Mailing Address and Telephone:
BFC Financial Corporation
Attn: Investor Relations
2100 West Cypress Creek Road
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Phone: (954) 940-4994
Fax: (954) 940-5320

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041015/FLFLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: BFC Financial Corporation

CONTACT: Investor and Corporate Communications, Sharon Lyn, Vice
President, CorpComm@BFCFinancial.com, or Investor Relations, Leo Hinkley,
Senior Vice President, InvestorRelations@BFCFinancial.com, both of BFC
Financial, +1-954-940-4994, or fax, +1-954-940-5320

Web site: http://www.bfcfinancial.com/

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Profile: financial services

Next Inning Technology Research Updates Outlooks for Sigma Designs, Microsoft, Cree and National Semiconductor

2005-09-13T08:13:00.001-07:00

Next Inning Technology Research Updates Outlooks for Sigma Designs, Microsoft, Cree and National Semiconductor

PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Inning Technology Research (http://www.nextinning.com/), an online subscription service focused on semiconductor and technology stocks, announced today that it has provided members with an update on Sigma Designs' (NASDAQ:SIGM) partnership with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), as well as other IBC-related news. Editor Paul McWilliams also recently provided members with an update on Cree (NASDAQ:CREE), and reviewed National Semiconductor's (NYSE:NSM) earnings.

In addition to McWilliams' commentary, members will soon receive Next Inning's 3rd-quarter "State of Tech" report. This comprehensive report, a $149 value, will soon be available free to new members who sign up for a complimentary 30-day trial subscription to Next Inning Technology Research:

https://www.nextinning.com/subscribe/index.php?refer=prn127

In his report McWilliams said: "Microsoft executives said they were working with semiconductor suppliers to help them introduce system on a chip (SoC) solutions for IPTV set-top boxes. The first announced partner is Sigma Designs, which Microsoft said had a part capable of delivering multiple high- definition channels. Of course this is not news to us, but it will probably increase the awareness of Sigma Designs."

In his commentary, McWilliams discussed the following topics, among others:

-- What does Sigma Designs' partnership with Microsoft mean for the stock
going forward in what is sure to become a competitive landscape?

-- Why does McWilliams believe Cree's position as a leader in LED
lighting could begin to pay off handsomely?

-- While McWilliams thinks National Semiconductor is doing well, what
smaller player does he like better in the emerging high-performance
analog / mixed-signal space?

Founded in September 2002, Next Inning's model portfolio has returned 240% since its inception versus 75% for the Nasdaq.

About Next Inning Technology Research

Next Inning Technology Research is a subscription financial newsletter focused on technology stocks. Editor Paul McWilliams is a 20+-year industry veteran.

NOTE: This release was published by F.P. Real Ventures I, LLC (CRD #131926), a registered investment advisor with the NASD and State of NJ. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should always research companies and securities before making any investments. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security.

CONTACT: Rusty Szurek, Next Inning Technology Research, +1-888-440-6116

Source: F.P. Real Ventures I, LLC

CONTACT: Rusty Szurek, Next Inning Technology Research, +1-888-440-6116

Web site: http://www.nextinning.com/

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Profile: financial services

/C O R R E C T I O N -- Fabrikant/

2005-09-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

/C O R R E C T I O N -- Fabrikant/

In the news release, "Fabrikant Co-Chair, Phillip Hahn, Remembered for His Wisdom and Wit," issued earlier today by Fabrikant over PR Newswire, the headline of the release should read, "Fabrikant Co-Chair, Philip Hahn, Remembered for His Wisdom and Wit," rather than what was originally issued incorrectly by PR Newswire.

PRNewswire -- Sept. 13

Source: Fabrikant

Web site: http://www.fabrikant.com/

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Profile: financial services

PXRE to Present at Fox-Pitt, Kelton's 2005 Bermuda in Boston Conference

2005-09-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

PXRE to Present at Fox-Pitt, Kelton's 2005 Bermuda in Boston Conference

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PXRE Group Ltd. (NYSE:PXT) announced today that Jeffrey L. Radke, President & Chief Executive Officer of PXRE Group, and John Modin, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PXRE Group, will speak at Fox-Pitt, Kelton's 2005 Bermuda in Boston Conference on Tuesday, September 20th, 2005 at 11:30 a.m. ET.

The presentation will be webcast and may be accessed at www.PXRE.com.

PXRE - with operations in Bermuda, Europe and the United States - provides reinsurance products and services to a worldwide marketplace. The Company's primary focus is providing property catastrophe reinsurance and retrocessional coverage. The Company also provides marine, aviation and aerospace products and services. The Company's shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "PXT."

Source: PXRE Group Ltd.

CONTACT: John Modin, Chief Financial Officer PXRE Group Ltd., +441-296-
5858, john.modin@pxre.com; Investors - Jamie Tully of Citigate Sard Verbinnen,
+1-212-687-8080 ext. 236 jtully@sardverb.com

Web site: http://www.pxre.com/

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Profile: financial services

Tyler Technologies to Present at the Second Annual Merriman Curhan Ford & Co. Investor Summit

2005-09-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

Tyler Technologies to Present at the Second Annual Merriman Curhan Ford & Co. Investor Summit

DALLAS, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL), a leading provider of end-to-end information management solutions and services for local governments, announced today that Brian Miller, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will present at the Second Annual Merriman Curhan Ford & Co. Investor Summit on September 20, 2005 at 11:15 a.m. Pacific time. This event will be held at the Mark Hopkins InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco.

A live audio Web cast will begin at 11:15 a.m. Pacific time (2:15 p.m. Eastern time) on September 20, 2005 and will be available on the Internet at http://www.wsw.com/webcast/mcm2/tyl/ and via the investor section of Tyler's Web site at http://www.tylerworks.com/ . A replay of the Web cast will also be available on Tyler's Website soon after the presentation is concluded.

More information about the conference can be found at http://www.merrimanco.com/ .

Based in Dallas, Tyler Technologies is a leading provider of end-to-end information management solutions and services for local governments. Tyler partners with clients to make local government more accessible to the public, more responsive to needs of citizens, and more efficient. Tyler's client base includes nearly 6,000 local government offices throughout all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Forbes Magazine named Tyler one of the "200 Best Small Companies" in America in 2004. More information about Tyler Technologies can be found at http://www.tylerworks.com/ .

Tyler Technologies, Inc. has included in this press release "forward- looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning its business and operations. Tyler Technologies expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations. These expectations and the related statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties which forward-looking statements are subject to include, but are not limited to, changes in competition, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the budgets and regulatory environments of the Company's customers, risks associated with the development of new products and the enhancement of existing products, the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Photo: Newscom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020416/TYLLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Tyler Technologies, Inc.

CONTACT: Brian K. Miller, Senior Vice President - CFO of Tyler
Technologies, Inc., +1-972-713-3720, or bmiller@tylerworks.com

Web site: http://www.tylerworks.com/
http://www.wsw.com/webcast/mcm2/tyl
http://www.merrimanco.com/

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Profile: financial services

/C O R R E C T I O N -- Socrates/

2005-09-13T07:55:00.000-07:00

/C O R R E C T I O N -- Socrates/

Editors are advised that the news release, Greek Thought Leader Shares Post-Labor Day Wisdom on the Anatomy of a 'DIY'er, should be replaced with the version below, rather than the release incorrectly transmitted by PR Newswire.

National Survey by 'Greek Thought Leader' Shows DIY Moving Out of Hardware Aisles and Into Workplace

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Self-reliance is moving away from hardware stores and into people's professional routines, according to a national sampling survey from Socrates ( http://www.socrates.com/ ).

The Chicago-based company recently polled more than 1,000 Americans on activities they would do without outside professional help. The survey confirmed that the DIY lifestyle trend extends beyond pipes and drains; it's impacting businesses owners, operations and media usage.

Socrates is the leading brand of needed know-how solutions for individuals and small businesses. The company's content helps consumers solve everyday legal, finance and business management matters themselves.

"This survey shows how far self-reliance has come," said Socrates Consumer Marketing Director Michael Kahn. "Technology has changed how we view resources and do things on our own."

The Rise of DIY & the "Reality TV Effect"

Consumers are taking control of everything-from the way they shop and manage real estate to operating a business. The DIY lifestyle is indicative of how people use outside resources. Consider the following:

-- In terms of shopping habits, 93.5% of respondents preferred searching
online to learn more about products and services they plan to purchase
-- higher than asking a friend or family member or reading material
from articles and catalogs.
-- When searching the Internet for information on products and services
they plan to purchase, 94% use a general search engine versus the
specific Web site. One conclusion is that consumers want to do their
own research to ensure all views are presented. They might not trust
information directly from the product's site.

While Americans are more willing to fix a plumbing problem (54.6%) than climb a mountain (15.8%), more than half of all survey respondents (54.9%) would start a business on their own. 57.7% of those surveyed said they would lease or rent property, and 49.3% said they would complete a contract negotiation without professional help.

"The fast-paced transfer of knowledge allows more people to see what options are available in the business world - options beyond the norm," Kahn said. "Reality and informational shows on mainstream and cable channels, alike, have given Americans the needed lift to attain their dreams. This newfound knowledge is helping to boost consumer confidence in DIY projects, concurrently supporting the growth of small businesses."

Kahn cited that cable television is the preferred news media outlet for 25.5% of the survey's respondents, while DIY-supporting retailers such as Wal- Mart, Office Depot, Lowe's, Staples, and Home Depot topped the list of stores most often visited in the past six months.

"Everyday people now have motivation to leave their prior existence behind in order to start a new life with personal gratification and meaning," Kahn said. "Business products and services need to be conscience of this societal trend to ensure their products are meeting new needs."

The Anatomy of a Small Business Owner

Being your own boss allows the business freedom that we all crave, but what are small business owners really doing during the day? Socrates' small business time clock details a day in the life of the typical small business owner. Among those duties:

-- Information gathering. 28.4% of small business owners listen to the
radio 4-8 hours a day. This could also be interpreted as multi-tasking
-- absorbing information while working.
-- Net surfing. Most entrepreneurs are Internet-savvy, but may not be
using lightning fast connections for better work productivity (72.7 %
were connected to the internet through Broadband and spent 4-8 hours
surfing the net for unrelated work research).
-- Keeping the ship afloat. Many small business owners do it all --
payroll, accounting, managing employees, collecting debts, AND holding
responsibility for the company's products or services. Socrates
suggests small business owners learn about the DIY legal options
available for small businesses either through its array of products or
through other sources.
-- Seeking a key shipmate. When asked what one source of information or
entertainment they would have if marooned on a deserted island, more
than half of small business owners said their computer with a wireless
Internet connection. Only one said "wife."

"Society is redefining the role of consultants and the self-employed; they're not just sitting behind the desk," said Kahn. Many small business owners chart their own course with a desire to seek life change. Each new business expedition encounters stress and anxiety, but those squalls can be diverted with concise planning and support materials."

He concluded, "Small business owners should focus more on performance, not process. Socrates materials are designed with the independent philosophy in mind. They can assist in charting a more streamlined course toward business success."

Source: Socrates

CONTACT: Michael Shmarak for Socrates, +1-312-587-7677

Web site: http://www.socrates.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Kahn available for interviews; full results of the survey available.

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Profile: financial services

U.S. stocks open lower; PPI in focus

2005-09-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

U.S. stocks open lower; PPI in focus

By Leslie Wines, MarketWatch Sep 13, 2005

U.S. stocks opened lower Tuesday, although investor sentiment was bolstered by news that wholesale prices rose less than expected last month and that the U.S. trade gap unexpectedly narrowed during July. Stocks have been on the rise since this month, and the selling pressure early Tuesday may signal only a small pullback.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 51 points at 10,631, the S&P 500 down 4.93 points at 1,235, and the Nasdaq composite down 8.66 points at 2,174.

Before the opening, the Labor Department reported that wholesale prices increased 0.6% in August, beneath the 0.7% advance expected by analysts polled by MarketWatch.

Core prices, which strip out food and energy prices, were unchanged. MarketWatch had forecast a 0.1% gain in the core rate.

Separately, the Commerce Department said that a record amount of U.S. goods and services sold overseas helped narrow the U.S. trade gap in July despite the record high cost of foreign oil, the government reported Tuesday.

The nation's trade deficit narrowed in the month by 2.6% to $57.9 billion, the Commerce Department said. The MarketWatch forecast was for the deficit to widen to $59.5 billion.

The Treasury market rallied after news of the tamer-than-expected increase in wholesale inflation. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note last was up 9/32 at 100-28/32 with a yield of 4.142%. In closing trade on Monday the yield on the 10-year note rose to a two-week high of 4.17%.

The dollar, benefiting from news of the narrower trade gap, last was up 0.4% at 110.76 yen, while the euro fell 0.04% to $1.2272.

In premarket electronic trade, the October oil future contract closed up 36 cents at $63.70 a barrel. Crude futures this week have fallen from recent historic highs due to expectations for lower demand growth and improving output in the Gulf of Mexico.

The December gold contract last was down $4.60 at $449.10 an ounce. On Monday gold futures logged an eight consecutive higher close, continuing to benefit from indications of strong demand.

Stocks in motion Shares of Ford Motor Co. increased 8 cents to $10 after the car maker proposed buyouts for 5,000 United Auto Workers union members.

Ford and parts maker Visteon also said they reached a definitive agreement to transfer 17 auto parts plants and six other offices to a new Ford-managed entity. Late Monday Ford said it will sell the Hertz rental car unit to private investors for $15 billion.

Shares of mobile phone maker Nokia were 4.4% higher at $16.78. The company lifted third-quarter earnings and sales guidance, noting strong phone device sales volume and only a mild decline in average selling prices.

Nokia's good news lifted the share price of its big supplier, Texas Instruments, which jumped up 1.2% to $33.51.

Supermarket chain Kroger rose 1.2% to $20.49 after the company turned in a sharp rise in second-quarter profit that matched Wall Street's target.

Best Buy shares dropped 7.6% to $46.52 after the nation's largest consumer-electronics retailer said higher costs caused second-quarter profit to fall short of Wall Street's target and will also hurt upcoming earnings.

Shares of Knight-Ridder fell 4% to $62.34 after the company warned that third-quarter earnings from continuing operations will be about 20% below year-earlier levels. The publisher cited a disappointing August, newsprint hikes and unfavorable year-ago comparisons.

Delta Air Lines was down 8% at 78 cents after J.P. Morgan slashed its rating on the carrier to underweight from overweight, predicting that a bankruptcy filing is likely.

This is Thomson Financial's Market Commentary, which is issued three times daily; Pre-Open ( 9:00 a.m.), Post-Open (10:15 a.m.), and Close (5:00 p.m.). The information herein is believed to be true and accurate. We take no responsibility for inaccurate information and reserve the right to update our reports. If you have any questions please e-mail James Sang at james.sang@tfn.com or call 646.822.6233. For more information about Thomson Financial visit us on-line at http://www.thomsonfinancial.com/. For more financial information at your fingertips, please visit http://www.irchannel.com/.

PRNewswire -- Sept. 13

Source: Thomson Financial Corporate Group

Web site: http://www.thomsonfinancial.com/

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Profile: financial services

ICNB Financial Corp. Declares Q3 Cash Dividend

2005-09-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

ICNB Financial Corp. Declares Q3 Cash Dividend

IONIA, Mich., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ICNB Financial Corporation (BULLETIN BOARD: ICNB) , the holding company for Ionia County National Bank and Austin Mortgage Company, declared its regular third-quarter dividend, James D. Fast, President, announced today.

The Board of Directors authorized the payment of a regular third-quarter dividend in the amount of $0.23 per share, payable October 20, 2005 to shareholders of record September 23, 2005.

The payment is equal to the third-quarter-2004 dividend and brings the year-to-date payout to $0.69 per share, on par with last year's nine-month total.

Mr. Fast noted that shareholders' cumulative payout was additionally boosted from the Corporation's 5% stock dividend, declared and paid at yearend 2004.

ICNB Financial Corporation (OTCBB: ICNB) is the holding company for Ionia County National Bank and Austin Mortgage Company. Founded in 1934, Ionia County National Bank is a leading full-service community bank providing a wide range of commercial and consumer financial services from offices in Ionia, Belding, Grand Rapids, Lowell, Sunfield and Woodland, Michigan. Austin Mortgage Company, founded in 1990, is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan and conducts business in Gaylord, Grand Haven, and Muskegon, Michigan.

Principal marketmakers are Howe Barnes Investments and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company.

Safe Harbor Provision. This news release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on management's current information and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which can cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or clarify forward-looking statements.

This news release and other information about ICNB Financial Corporation are available at no charge at http://www.prnewswire.com/ and http://www.icnb.com/ .

Source: ICNB Financial Corporation

CONTACT: James D. Fast of ICNB Financial Corp., +1-616-527-8725; or
Mike Marcotte of Marcotte Financial Relations, +1-248-656-3873, for ICNB
Financial Corp.

Web site: http://www.icnb.com/

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Profile: financial services

LOMA Announces 2005 Education Award Winners

2005-09-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

LOMA Announces 2005 Education Award Winners

ATLANTA, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- LOMA is pleased to announce the 2005 Educational Achievement, Excellence in Education and Educational Quality award winners. This year's winners represent a diverse group of insurance and financial services companies dedicated to employee education and professional development.

The Educational Achievement Awards recognize the top 15 LOMA member companies on individual, regional and global levels with the greatest involvement and participation in LOMA's professional learning programs based on their total number of exam enrollments during the previous calendar year. The winners represent a broad spectrum of companies in terms of size, location and the markets they serve, but all have established a corporate culture that encourages employee involvement in industry education and recognizes employees for their individual learning initiatives.

This year, LOMA has expanded the Educational Achievement Award at the recommendation of LOMA's Education and Training Council by adding to its individual company category two new categories: the regional and global company levels.

The 2005 Excellence in Education Awards, presented to 68 out of 1,200 LOMA member companies worldwide, recognize companies for their outstanding participation and performance in LOMA's professional learning programs, and continued growth in exam enrollments. With LOMA education programs now being offered in seven languages-English, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese, Korean, French, Spanish, and Portuguese-the competition for these awards is fiercer than ever.

"The Education Award winners understand the importance of employee education in today's competitive market, and they realize that professional development is crucial to both an employee's success and an organization's bottom line," said Thomas P. Donaldson, FLMI, CLU, president and CEO of LOMA. "This is an exciting opportunity for us all to celebrate the industry's dedication to lifelong learning and professional development."

Special recognition goes to New York Life Insurance Company, United States, and American International Assurance, Hong Kong, for being the first 11-year winners of the Educational Achievement Award; and to PHILAM Life, Philippines, for being the first 11-year winner of the Excellence in Education Award.

The Educational Quality Award recognizes member companies with exemplary employee professional development programs. This year, LOMA proudly presents this award for the second time to Modern Woodmen of America, Rock Island, IL, a member company where 40 percent of its employees are FLMIs.

For a complete list of this year's educational award winners, visit the LOMA Web site, http://www.loma.org/EdAwards.asp.

Ceremonies for the award winners will be held during the LOMA 2005 Annual Conference & Conferment at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World(R) Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla, Sept. 18-20, http://www.loma.org/annualconference.asp.

About LOMA

Established in 1924, with 1,200 plus member companies in over 80 countries, LOMA is committed to a business partnership with its world-wide members in the insurance and financial services industry to improve their management and operations through quality employee development, research, information sharing, and related products and services. For more information, visit http://www.loma.org/.

Source: LOMA

CONTACT: Svy Nekrasas, Marketing Director of LOMA, +1-770-984-3709, or
fax, +1-770-984-6418, or nekrasas@loma.org

Web site: http://www.loma.org/
http://www.loma.org/annualconference.asp
http://www.loma.org/EdAwards.asp

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Profile: financial services

XTF Advisors to Launch at 2005 World ETF Summit

2005-09-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

XTF Advisors to Launch at 2005 World ETF Summit

Company to Introduce Powerful New ETF-Based Investment Products and Services for Financial Professionals

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- XTF Advisors, a company focused exclusively on providing ETF-based products and services, launched today at the 2005 World ETF Summit. At the Summit, XTF also introduced its three main offerings: separately managed accounts, asset allocation strategies and education.

XTF's flagship offering is a unique, ETF-based separately managed account (SMA) product that was designed to improve on traditional SMAs in three ways:

1. It aims to exceed returns of passive index strategies with a
proprietary, data-driven Tactical Asset Allocation (TAA) model that
guides ongoing proactive management of allocations. (See "Testing the
XTF Model," below.)
2. It evaluates the entire universe of all domestic ETFs to identify the
optimal mix of holdings when building and managing portfolios.
3. It charges lower fees due to its exclusive use of ETFs and highly
automated processes.

"The time is now to combine the complementary strengths of SMAs and ETFs," said Sander Gerber, chairman and CEO of XTF. "Through XTF's ETF-based SMA product, investment advisors will be able to grow their businesses and provide an improved level of service to their clients through greater returns and less risk."

The XTF SMA is already available through the CheckFree advisor platform or directly through XTF by calling 866-XTF-ETFS or visiting http://www.xtf.com/ . XTF expects the SMA product to be available through Fidelity's advisor platform later this year, as well.

In addition to its SMA product, XTF also offers the same sophisticated asset allocation strategies utilized by major financial institutions and a range of unbiased ETF education services, including XTF Insight, a monthly publication featuring exclusive news and commentary on trends in the ETF market.

"There is a unique opportunity for an ETF-based SMA product," said Gerber. "Quite simply, ETF-based portfolios represent a better way for financial professionals to invest on behalf of their clients, and I'm thrilled to turn our expertise into valuable solutions for financial professionals."

Testing the XTF Model

XTF's SMAs are managed using a proprietary Tactical Asset Allocation (TAA) model. Professor Edward Nelling of Drexel University back-tested this model against almost 20 years of historic returns for a passive index portfolio strategy.

In his research paper about the TAA model, Nelling wrote, "The Tactical Asset Allocation portfolios based on the XTF/TAA model all exhibited higher returns and lower risk than the corresponding benchmark portfolios from 1986 through 2004. The analysis in this report is based on a daily rebalancing of the actively managed TAA portfolio, compared with a quarterly rebalanced benchmark portfolio. However, monthly or quarterly TAA portfolios also outperform their benchmarks ... examination of annual returns indicates that the superior performance of the TAA portfolios is relatively consistent over time, and not simply due to one or two unusually good years."

The Expertise Behind XTF Advisors

Gerber brings together a diverse management team from throughout the financial community, including Rob Adler, former head of mutual fund marketing at Shearson Lehman and a veteran of the mutual fund industry, and Darvin Klarin, who brought more than 20 years of leadership in the consumer and capital markets divisions at Merrill Lynch.

In addition to the senior management team, XTF Advisors is able to leverage the ETF-focused industry expertise of other XTF Group affiliates, including XTF Market Making and XTF Capital. As one of the largest ETF market making firms at the American Stock Exchange, XTF Market Making can offer XTF Advisors its significant resources in the area of ETF research and quantitative analysis.

About XTF Advisors

XTF's goal is to transform the way Americans invest. The company brings financial professionals and individual investors a suite of unbiased ETF-based portfolios, asset allocation strategies and education. With impartial analysis and a proprietary quantitative investment model, XTF builds ETF portfolios designed to offer stronger, more consistent returns, lower costs, greater tax efficiency and improved transparency, as compared to other investment choices. XTF's affiliated companies include XTF Market Making LLC, XTF Advisors LLC and XTF Capital LLC. Visit the company online at http://www.xtf.com/ or call 866-XTF-ETFS to learn more about setting up an account.

Source: XTF Advisors

CONTACT: Lonny White, lonny@scanloncc.com , or Josh Inglis,
josh@scanloncc.com , both of Scanlon Corporate Communications,
+1-312-372-4400

Web site: http://www.xtf.com/

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Profile: financial services

Premier Retail Networks and Wal-Mart Stores Host 3rd Annual Upfront Presentation for Wal-Mart Television Network

2005-09-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

Premier Retail Networks and Wal-Mart Stores Host 3rd Annual Upfront Presentation for Wal-Mart Television Network

Special Guest Speaker, Renetta McCann, CEO of Starcom MediaVest, to Present 'Going Beyond Impressions With Creative Media Planning'

Country Superstar Clint Black to Perform

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Retail Networks (PRN), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thomson Corporation (Euronext: 18453) (NYSE:TMS), and Wal-Mart Stores will host the Wal-Mart TV 2006 Upfront presentation on September 21, 2005, in Bentonville, Ark.

Management from Wal-Mart, walmart.com, PRN, and industry experts, including Renetta McCann, CEO of Starcom MediaVest, will look at how an integrated communications program can enhance the brand building strategy of leading and emerging advertisers in today's retail and advertising landscape. At the Upfront, advertisers and their agencies will have the opportunity to preview new media systems and enhancements, significant third-party research results and new programming options.

Troy Steiner, Senior Director Wal-Mart Media commented, "We are looking forward to hosting the WMTV Network Upfront event again in Bentonville this year. This is a great opportunity to bring together world class marketers in an exchange of ideas on how we can work together using all of the marketing tools available both in the store and online to help enhance the shopping experience for our customers."

Charlie Nooney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PRN, commented, "For the third year, PRN and Wal-Mart will bring together the world's leading marketers to provide them with the most comprehensive and innovative research and programming developments for in-store media. Each year we receive an increasingly positive response to the Wal-Mart TV from our potential and existing advertisers. We are looking forward to this being another groundbreaking year."

Mark Mitchell, Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales for Premier Retail Networks, stated, "We have found that many of our advertisers use Wal- Mart TV as the means to offset conventional media erosion. It serves to extend the reach of in-home television efforts, by incorporating this critical touch point in consumers' lives, the store environment, into a more complete communications plan. They are using the Network to both introduce new products and to increase overall brand awareness among a large, but very targeted, audience of consumers. The new innovations we will be announcing will give marketers another set of tools to use in the store to continue to enhance their marketing campaigns."

About PRN Corporation

Founded in 1992, the PRN Corporation operates the PRN Network, the largest in-store television network in the United States based on the number of consumers reached each month. Through the PRN Network, PRN enables national and local advertisers to target consumers in over 5,000 leading retail stores in all of the 210 media markets designated by AC Nielsen in the United States. PRN works with retailers and advertisers to create in-store television programming that includes entertainment, news, product information, advertising and community content. Retailers carrying the PRN Network include Albertsons, Best Buy, Circuit City, Costco, Jewel-Osco, Pathmark, Ralphs, SAM'S CLUB, Sears, Shaw's, ShopRite, Star Market, and Wal-Mart Stores. Based on information provided by several third-party research firms and retailers, PRN Network is watched more than 180 million times each month by consumers in retail stores. PRN's headquarters are in San Francisco, California. PRN is wholly-owned by Thomson, the world leader in integrated solutions (technologies, equipment and services) for the entertainment and media industries. For more information, please visit http://www.prn.com/.

Source: PRN Corporation

CONTACT: Genet Garamendi of Premier Retail Networks, +1-415-808-9167 or
Genet_Garamendi@prn.com; or Erica Pettit, +1-212-850-5614 or
epettit@fd-us.com, or Evan Smith, CFA, +1-212-850-5606 or esmith@fd-us.com,
both for Premier Retail Networks

Web site: http://www.prn.com/

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Profile: financial services

Bankers Systems and S1 Corporation Expand Alliance

2005-09-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

Bankers Systems and S1 Corporation Expand Alliance

S1 Corporation to Offer Bankers Systems' Electronic Documents With Branch and Lending Solutions to Help Customers Minimize Compliance Risks

ST. CLOUD, Minn., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Bankers Systems, a Wolters Kluwer business, today announced an expanded alliance agreement with S1 Corporation, a leading global provider of integrated front-office applications for financial institutions.

Under the terms of the agreement, S1 Corporation will offer Bankers Systems' deposit, individual retirement account (IRA), and consumer and commercial lending electronic document modules to banks and credit unions using S1's branch and lending solutions. The electronic document modules can be integrated with S1 Sales and Service Platform, S1 Enterprise Sales and Service Platform, and S1 Consumer Lending, S1 Business Lending and S1 Lending Documents. S1 will have the opportunity to integrate additional electronic document modules with its suite of S1 Enterprise Solutions depending on specific customer needs. By offering Bankers Systems' electronic documents with its solutions, S1 is helping its customers meet ever-changing compliance requirements.

"This alliance offers our customers an integrated, compatible solution across all lines of business," said Drew Lamparello, director of product management, branch solutions for S1. "We've extended our relationship with Bankers Systems because of the company's long-standing reputation as a compliance leader and because financial institutions using Bankers Systems' wide range of electronic documents can realize time and cost savings resulting from digital processing. These institutions can also look forward to regular compliance updates automatically made by Bankers Systems to the documents."

Bankers Systems' documents are based on its extensive compliance knowledge base, Expere(R), and industry best practices. The company's documents are updated by Bankers Systems' compliance staff, who constantly monitor changes in new state and federal legislation regulations, and case law for 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. government.

In addition, since Bankers Systems' electronic documents seamlessly integrate with S1's applications, institutions benefit from reducing the number of different point solutions that need to be integrated with their systems.

"Integrating Bankers Systems' electronic compliance documentation with S1's solutions is an example of how two industry leaders can work together to help financial institutions increase the efficiency, productivity and consistency of sharing data across their organizations," said John Bryant, senior vice president of banking for Bankers Systems and Wolters Kluwer Financial Services.

About Bankers Systems

Established in 1952, Bankers Systems, a Wolters Kluwer business, is a leading national provider of compliance, credit and operational risk management content, documentation, technology, and services for financial organizations of all sizes. The company's comprehensive lending, deposit, individual retirement account, identity verification, and anti-money laundering solutions are used by more than 12,000 financial organizations, including more than 80 percent of banks and one in three credit unions in the United States. Bankers Systems' solutions help the industry become more productive, work more efficiently, manage risks, and grow their businesses. Bankers Systems is the sponsor of ComplianceHeadquarters.com, a web site designed to provide relevant compliance information and tools to financial professionals. To learn more about Bankers Systems, visit http://www.bankerssystems.com/ or call 800.552.9410.

Wolters Kluwer is a leading multinational publisher and information services company. The company's core markets are spread across the health, corporate services, finance, tax, accounting, law, regulatory, and education sectors. Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues (2004) of euro 3.3 billion, employs approximately 18,400 people worldwide, and maintains operations across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its depositary receipts of shares are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices.

About S1 Corporation

S1 Corporation is a leading global provider of integrated front-office applications for more than 4,000 banks and insurance providers around the world. Comprised of applications that address virtually every market segment and delivery channel, S1 solutions help integrate and optimize an institution's entire front office, resulting in increased operational efficiencies, revenue opportunities, and overall customer satisfaction. S1 is the only provider with the proven experience, breadth of products, and financial strength to empower financial services companies' enterprise strategies. Additional information about S1 is available at http://www.s1.com/ .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These statements include statements with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business. The words "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "projects," "contemplates," "anticipates," "forecasts," "intends" or similar terminology identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made using information currently available to us. Because these statements reflect our current views concerning future events, they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Therefore, actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The risk factors included in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (and available on our web site at http://www.s1.com/ or the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov/ ) provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. Except as provided by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Expere is a registered trademark of Bankers Systems, Inc.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Bankers Systems

CONTACT: Peggy Wilson, +1-800-397-2341, ext. 5260,
Peggy.Wilson@wolterskluwer.com , or Andrew McCaskill, +1-678-781-7210, both
for Bankers Systems

Web site: http://www.s1.com/
http://www.bankerssystems.com/

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Profile: financial services

Fabrikant Co-Chair, Phillip Hahn, Remembered for His Wisdom and Wit

2005-09-13T07:15:00.001-07:00

Fabrikant Co-Chair, Phillip Hahn, Remembered for His Wisdom and Wit

Mr. Philip J. Hahn: 1916-2005

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The employees of M. Fabrikant & Sons, Inc., mourn the loss of our Co-Chairman of the Board, Mr. Philip J. Hahn. Following his distinguished career in the Army during World War II, Mr. Hahn devoted himself to the growth and development of the firm to its status as the worldwide industry leader. He was a titan of the diamond industry who pioneered the early days of the markets in Tel Aviv, Mumbai, and Antwerp where he established manufacturing and trading offices for the firm. He was a positive presence in our New York office until his demise at the age of 89. We mourn his loss, and will miss his wit and wisdom. We extend our condolences to his family.

A Biography of Philip J. Hahn

1916-2005

After graduating from New York University (Heights Campus), Mr. Hahn began a distinguished career in The United States Army. He served during World War II in military intelligence where he did signals work and code breaking while stationed in Africa, Austria and Italy. In Italy he was bestowed the honor of Cavalier of the Republic.

Following the war he returned to New York City where he began his career in 1947 in the family business of M. Fabrikant & Sons, Inc. Mr. Hahn devoted himself to the development and growth of the firm, and along with his partner and cousin, Charles F. Fortgang led to firm to its status as the pre-eminent worldwide industry leader.

Mr. Hahn was known throughout the world as a titan of the diamond industry who pioneered the early days of the markets in Antwerp, Mumbai, and Tel Aviv, where he established manufacturing and trading offices for the firm. He was a true diamond expert who understood the value of all goods ranging from single cuts to gem stones. He was a presence in the firm's headquarter offices in New York, where he continued to be active until last month.

Source: Fabrikant

CONTACT: Rick Cohen at +1-212-757-0790, for Fabrikant

Web site: http://www.fabrikant.com/

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Profile: financial services

Renewable Ventures Signs Its First Fleet 'Certified Clean Car' Participant

2005-09-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

Renewable Ventures Signs Its First Fleet 'Certified Clean Car' Participant

Club Sportiva Will Neutralize CO2 Emissions from Its Fleet of Classic, Exotic Cars

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Just eight weeks after announcing its Certified Clean Car Emission Reduction Program at World Environment Day, Renewable Ventures LLC, a renewable energy project finance VC, today announced its first fleet partner in the program, Club Sportiva, the pioneer of timeshare access to classic sports cars. By participating in the Certified Clean Car program, Club Sportiva will offset the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of its entire fleet, making its classic and exotic automobiles carbon neutral.

Renewable Ventures' Certified Clean Car program gives automobile drivers an easy and affordable way to reduce CO2 emissions while helping to grow markets for clean renewable energy. To participate or learn more about Certified Clean Car visit: www.certifiedcleancar.com.

"We are pleased to welcome Club Sportiva and its fleet to the Certified Clean Car program. Even though emission-free cars are not yet a viable option, and never will be in the case of classic cars like Club Sportiva's, there exists a real way that drivers can offset their cars' air pollutants today," said Matt Cheney, CEO of Renewable Ventures LLC. "When drivers and organizations participate in Renewable Ventures' Certified Clean Car program, they are purchasing carbon credits and Renewable Energy Certificates to effectively neutralize their cars' emissions."

"Through Certified Clean Car we are making a difference to the environment while continuing to offer our members the ultimate driving experience," said Torbin Fuller, president and operating partner, Club Sportiva. "We provide our members with extraordinary cars and exceptional service, and we are proud to offer first-rate environmental practices to match."

Offsetting automobile carbon dioxide emissions can be done in a variety of ways, including the purchase of carbon credits and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Produced when renewable energy plants generate electricity, RECs represent the environmental benefits of using a renewable source like solar or wind instead of a source like coal or oil that emits carbon dioxide. Their purchase supports the construction of new renewable energy plants. Carbon credits are produced through a different process. In order to monitor and manage overall air pollution, companies and countries around the world have created both mandatory and voluntary carbon trading systems wherein carbon credits are traded between polluting and non-polluting sources to maintain baseline levels of carbon dioxide emissions. Companies that have reduced their pollution levels below the baseline are able to trade carbon credits to those companies or individuals (like car drivers) that want to offset their CO2 pollution.

At CertifiedCleanCar.com, participants can easily calculate the amount of carbon dioxide emitted annually by their cars and then neutralize that damage by purchasing an offset equivalent to the pollution. Certified Clean Car's RECs come from renewable sources certified by the Green-e Renewable Energy Certification Program administered by the Center for Resource Solutions, a national nonprofit organization. Their carbon credits come from the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), North America's first and only voluntary, legally binding multi-sector market for reducing and trading greenhouse gas emissions.

With locations in California and Germany, Club Sportiva's carbon neutral fleet includes classic and hard-to-find Ferrari, Corvette, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, Lotus, Morgan, BMW, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar automobiles.

About Renewable Ventures LLC

Renewable Ventures LLC is a leading provider of innovative financing solutions focusing on solar electric and renewable energy power plant development for commercial, industrial and governmental customers in the U.S. Renewable Ventures brings predictable, long-term solar energy to its customers at a price equal to or below that of their current electricity rate. Renewable Ventures finances, owns and operates renewable energy power plants in North America, including plants located in California, Ohio, Connecticut and Texas. For more information about Renewable Ventures, please visit www.renewableventures.com.

About Club Sportiva

Club Sportiva puts a new twist on the timeshare concept, this time, with classic sports cars. Founded in 2003 in San Francisco, Club Sportiva pioneered the sports car "timeshare" concept offering car aficionados and classic car buffs the ultimate classic car driving experience -- without the hassles and costs of ownership, maintenance and storage. Club Sportiva offers four membership packages with a variety of benefits for classic car enthusiasts. Membership packages also include participation in special club events, complimentary use of the car paddock and clubhouse for private parties, travel and subscription discounts and incentive points for member referrals. Club Sportiva also maintains offices in San Jose, and Munich, Germany, with additional locations planned for Los Angeles, Miami and others cities. Each fleet will grow to as many as 80 cars per location. Euro Sportiva, Club Sportiva's European operation, offers nearly 30 exotic cars for touring vacations in Western Europe. For more information, please visit www.clubsportiva.com.

Source: Renewable Ventures LLC

CONTACT: Rosalind Jackson of Antenna Group Public Relations, +1-415-977-
1923, or rosalind@antennagroup.com, for Renewable Ventures LLC; or Trisha
Clayton of Rowcliffe Communications Group, +1-415-346-4564, or
t.clayton@sbcglobal.net, for Renewable Ventures LLC

Web site: http://www.certifiedcleancar.com/

Web site: http://www.clubsportiva.com/

Web site: http://www.renewableventures.com/

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Profile: financial services

Critical Watch Approved as MasterCard SDP Compliant Vendor

2005-09-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

Critical Watch Approved as MasterCard SDP Compliant Vendor

FusionVM From Critical Watch Is Now an Approved Vendor for Required Vulnerability Scanning Under the Payment Card Industry Security Standard

DALLAS, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Critical Watch is pleased to announce that its FusionVM Enterprise Vulnerability Management solution successfully completed compliance testing under the MasterCard Site Data Protection Program. This validates and approves FusionVM as a compliant scanning vendor for organizations seeking compliance under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.

"Critical Watch recognizes and supports the need for industry standards in this space, and is pleased to be able to provide a valuable service to aid companies in achieving compliance under PCI," said President and CEO David Laizerovich. For more information on Critical Watch's MasterCard SDP/PCI compliance services send email to sdp@criticalwatch.com .

About FusionVM

FusionVM is an enterprise class vulnerability management system that goes beyond just scanning and tracking vulnerabilities to provide a powerful, enterprise business process platform that integrates and automates the complete lifecycle from discovery to closure in a way that is uniquely optimized for a client's business. FusionVM enables clients with the ability to collaboratively manage security across multiple internal groups, scale the process across the entire enterprise and gain a new level of ongoing security insight by viewing vulnerabilities in the context of their business. For more information, visit http://www.criticalwatch.com/ .

About Critical Watch

Founded in 2000, Critical Watch provides corporations with the most comprehensive business process platform for integrating vulnerability management across their enterprise. Its solution FusionVM, is offered as both a managed service and an enterprise product, and is deployed in Global 2000 enterprises across verticals such as healthcare, financial services, state and local government, ecommerce and manufacturing. FusionVM empowers organizations to:

* Efficiently and effectively manage business critical risks across the
enterprise
* Establish better visibility, measurability and control over their
security function
* Coordinate and embed a preventive process across all operational
groups
* Validate regulatory and policy compliance

Source: Critical Watch

CONTACT: Mike Curtis of Critical Watch, +1-972-490-3600 x 710, or
mike.curtis@criticalwatch.com

Web site: http://www.criticalwatch.com/

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Profile: financial services

BB&T unveils eighth in a series of educational audiotapes for Hispanics

2005-09-13T06:53:00.000-07:00

BB&T unveils eighth in a series of educational audiotapes for Hispanics

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In an ongoing effort to reach the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States, BB&T today released the eighth installment in a groundbreaking series of Spanish- language educational audiotapes.

Tape No. 8 offers advice on how to start a small business in America. It is sponsored by BB&T, the N.C. Office of Hispanic/Latino Affairs and El Pueblo Inc.

"This tape is a great resource guide for Hispanics wishing to be entrepreneurs," said Axel Lluch, director of Hispanic and Latino Affairs for the N.C. governor's office. "It's a self-guide with a wealth of information that is easy to follow and understand."

The 60-minute "BiBi" (pronounced Bee-Bee) tapes -- named for its main character -- are available at no charge throughout BB&T's 1,400-branch network across 11 states and Washington, D.C. The educational tapes are part of BB&T's ongoing Hispanic Initiative aimed at the 2.3 million Hispanics in its footprint, a segment with an estimated $40 billion in buying power.

The two-sided BiBi cassette tapes are designed to bridge the learning gap many Hispanics say exists when it comes to life and how to live it in America. The eighth tape explores small business start-up topics such as how to create a business plan, marketing, taxes, permits, licenses and financing.

"Many in our community are small business owners and we are happy to partner with BB&T to release this important information," said Andrea BazAn- Manson, executive director of El Pueblo.

BiBi Tape No. 8 also discusses small business resources such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, S.C.O.R.E. (Service Corps of Retired Executives), community colleges and universities, and Latino small business associations and chambers of commerce.

The previous seven tapes -- all available at any BB&T branch -- covered emergency preparedness, home and auto safety tips, renting and buying a home, health care, education, insurance, working in the United States, tips on finding a job and basic banking information.

More than half of all U.S. retail banking growth in financial services during the next two decades will come from America's expanding Hispanic population, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. The number of Hispanic households with checking accounts is expected to increase by 57 percent and savings account holders by 76 percent.

Hispanics accounted for 12.6 percent of the U.S. population in 2000. The population is expected to nearly double by 2050, the Census Bureau reports. And Hispanic buying power -- expected to be $1 trillion by 2010 -- is growing at a faster rate than the segment's booming population growth. U.S. banks are expected to spend $8.5 billion through next year marketing to and servicing the Hispanic market.

Less than 27 percent of Hispanic consumers in the BB&T footprint currently have a bank account and less than 18 percent own a credit card.

Unlike traditional American educational audiotapes, where narrators generally offer information in a tutorial teacher-to-student style, the BiBi tapes follow the "novella style" storytelling approach popular on Spanish TV.

The tapes trace the experiences of Juan and Maria Perez, fictional immigrants who have recently come to the United States. One of the people they meet is a Mexican woman named Beatriz Bienvenido Torres, or "BiBi," as she likes to be called. BiBi, portrayed as a respected member of the Hispanic community and longtime U.S. resident, is also a BB&T "employee" on the tape.

The lessons are taught through BiBi's interaction with Juan and Maria and other Latin American immigrants. She serves as both their trusted counsel as well as BB&T's conduit to Hispanic clients.

The SBA has ranked BB&T Corporation as the nation's No. 1 "small business- friendly" financial holding company in five of the past seven years. BB&T divides its footprint into autonomous community bank regions to keep lending decisions closer to the customer.

BB&T operates more than 1,400 financial centers in 11 states and Washington, D.C. With $105.8 billion in assets, Winston-Salem-based BB&T Corporation (NYSE:BBT) is the nation's ninth largest financial holding company. More information is available at http://www.bbandt.com/.

Source: BB&T Corporation

CONTACT: Teresa Mackey, Vice President, BB&T Hispanic Initiative,
+1-336-733-0682; or Andrea Bazan-Manson, Executive Director, El Pueblo Inc.,
+1-919-835-1525, or Jeff Nichols, Vice President, BB&T Public Relations,
+1-336-733-1007

Web site: http://www.bbandt.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/809325.html

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Profile: financial services

Canaccord Capital Inc. to acquire Adams Harkness Financial Group, Inc.

2005-09-13T06:48:00.000-07:00

Canaccord Capital Inc. to acquire Adams Harkness Financial Group, Inc.

Canaccord expands global small to mid cap market niche into the United States

VANCOUVER, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Canaccord Capital Inc. ("Canaccord", CCI: TSX & AIM) today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Adams Harkness Financial Group, Inc. ("Adams Harkness"), a privately-held Boston, Mass. based institutional investment bank, for US$20 million. The acquisition will create Canaccord Adams, a new brand for Canaccord's Global Capital Markets operations worldwide. This new group will combine the industry expertise, services and market reach of Canaccord Capital and Adams Harkness and enhance the company's ability to serve the global small to mid cap market niche.

"We see our expansion into the US as an extension of our niche approach. Partnering with the skilled professionals at Adams Harkness creates an exciting opportunity to provide a higher level of differentiated ideas and execution to our clients," said Paul Reynolds, Vice Chair, Head of Global Capital Markets, Canaccord Capital Inc. "The combined operations will enhance Canaccord's global capabilities, expand and add balance to our sector coverage and further diversify our revenue base."

"The marketplace for entrepreneurial companies has become global in scope and opportunity," said John Adams, Chairman, Adams Harkness Financial Group, Inc. "Both Canaccord and ourselves have observed this phenomenon with keen interest and we want to be in a position to exploit it for the benefit of our respective clients. We believe that we are first to market and we are committed to being the best. A long acquaintance with Canaccord has convinced us that we share a common culture as well as a common vision."

The US$ 20 million in consideration will consist of US$8 million in cash and US$12 million in approximately 1.34 million common shares of Canaccord Capital Inc., which will come from a combination of shares acquired from selling shareholders and issuance of treasury shares. Shares will be held in escrow until June 30, 2008, with annual releases of one-third per year, beginning on June 30, 2006. Current shareholders of Adams Harkness will retain ownership of certain non-core assets.

In addition, a US$10 million retention pool in Canaccord common shares has been established to retain key Adams Harkness employees and ensure that senior management will continue in their roles. The retention pool involves the issuance of 1.12 million common shares of Canaccord Capital Inc., to be paid after a three-year vesting period. The total number of shares to be vested is also based on achievement of certain performance levels. Therefore, the total number of common shares required for purchasing Adams Harkness and employee retention purposes is 2.46 million.

Canaccord expects this transaction to be neutral to Canaccord's fiscal 2006 EPS and accretive to EPS in fiscal 2007 based on the assumptions outlined above. Canaccord intends to continue its normal course issuer bid. As of August 30, 2005, Canaccord had a total of 45,929,368 common shares outstanding.

The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals in Canada and the US, which are expected to take between 90 and 120 days to obtain and is subject to approval by the shareholders of Adams Harkness and other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close prior to the end of fiscal Q4/06, which ends on March 31, 2006.

Acquiring Adams Harkness is consistent with Canaccord's stated acquisition policy that acquisitions will: have like minded partners and a culture that will integrate well with Canaccord's; service focused markets that are complementary to our existing areas of expertise; be accretive within a reasonable time frame; and, effectively invest surplus capital.

Adams Harkness' original operating entity was founded in 1937 and has 165 employees in Boston, New York and San Francisco. In fiscal 2004, the company had annual revenue of US$62 million, a loss of US$9 million and net assets of US$11 million. Fiscal 2004 was a transition year for Adams Harkness, involving internal changes, restructurings, changes in senior management and write offs, helping prepare the firm to focus on its priorities in fiscal 2005. Excluding these items Adams Harkness would have had an operating loss of US$3 million in fiscal 2004. With a strategic focus on growth companies in the technology, healthcare, consumer services and industrial & manufacturing growth sectors and strong client relationships, Adams Harkness has built an idea-based franchise of independent research, innovative sales and trading execution, and focused investment banking activity.

The addition of Adams Harkness to Canaccord's existing platform will allow for enhanced revenue opportunities in M&A, corporate finance, institutional sales and trading execution. It is expected that Canaccord Adams will create a strong base of global client offerings and will enable seamless distribution of products and services in three core capital markets - Canada, the US and Europe. Additionally, Canaccord Adams will build upon Canaccord's and Adams Harkness' established focus on the small to mid cap market niche globally and offer clients expertise in the metals and mining, energy, technology, life sciences and diversified sectors.

A presentation for the investment community with highlights of the transaction will be available following the distribution of this release on Canaccord Capital Inc.'s web site in the investor relations section at: http://www.canaccord.com/investor/shareholder/investor_presentations.htm.

The highlights will be presented by senior executives to analysts and institutional investors on a conference call which will include a question and answer session. The call is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at 8 a.m. (Pacific time); 11 a.m. (Eastern time); and 4 p.m. (UK time). Analyst and institutional investors can call in via telephone at:

- 416-640-4127 (within Toronto)
- 1-800-814-4853 (toll-free outside of Toronto)
- 00-800-0000-2288 (toll-free from the United Kingdom)

The conference call may also be accessed live and will be archived on a listen-only basis via the Internet at: www.canaccord.com/investor/webcast.

A replay of the conference call can be accessed after 1:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on September 13, 2005 until midnight September 27, 2005 at 416-640-1917 or 1-877-289-8525 by entering passcode 21150374 followed by the number sign.

ABOUT CANACCORD CAPITAL INC.:

Canaccord Capital Inc. is a leading independent full service investment dealer, publicly traded on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), a market operated by the London Stock Exchange. Canaccord has operations in two of the principal segments of the securities industry: Private Client Services and Global Capital Markets. Together, these operations offer a wide range of complementary investment products, brokerage services and investment banking services to Canaccord's retail, institutional and corporate clients. Canaccord has approximately 1,300 employees worldwide in 28 offices, this includes Investment Advisors located in 25 offices across Canada, and international Global Capital Markets professionals based in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and London (UK).

ABOUT ADAMS HARKNESS:

Adams Harkness is a privately held institutional investment bank focused on growth companies in the technology, healthcare and consumer sectors. With a focus on research-driven investment ideas, Adams Harkness offers investment banking and sales and trading services to its corporate and institutional clients. Headquartered in Boston, Mass. and with offices in New York, N.Y. and San Francisco, Calif., Adams Harkness offers the expertise of a national investment bank with the personalized attention and long-term strategic client relationships of a boutique investment bank. More information is available at www.adamsharkness.com. Adams Harkness is a member of the NASD and SIPC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anthony Ostler
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications
Phone: 604-643-7647
Email: anthony_ostler@canaccord.com

London:
Ben Willey/Charles Ryland
Buchanan Communications
Phone: +44 (0) 207 466 5000
Email: benw@buchanan.uk.com

United States:
Ann Carter
Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications
Phone: 617-443-9933
Email: ACarter@rasky.com

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any offer will only be made through a prospectus, which is a part of a proxy statement to be distributed.

Caution regarding forward-looking statements

This document may contain certain forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's expectations regarding Canaccord's growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. These statements also include expectations relating to completion of the proposed transaction with Adams Harkness, realization of expected synergies from the transaction and other matters. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "continue", "target" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. By their very nature, forward- looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and a number of factors could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, readers should specifically consider various factors, which may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not limited to, market and general economic conditions, the nature of the financial services industry, the ability to successfully integrate the operations of Adams Harkness with the operations of Canaccord, and the risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Canaccord's interim and annual financial statements and its Annual Report and Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document, and Canaccord assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Source: Canaccord Capital Inc.

CONTACT: Anthony Ostler, Senior Vice President, Investor
Relations & Communications, Phone: (604) 643-7647,
Email: anthony_ostler@canaccord.com; London: Ben Willey, Charles Ryland,
Buchanan Communications, Phone: +44 (0) 207 466 5000,
Email: benw@buchanan.uk.com; United States: Ann Carter, Rasky Baerlein
Strategic Communications, Phone: (617) 443-9933, Email: ACarter@rasky.com

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Profile: financial services

Canaccord Capital Inc. to acquire Adams Harkness Financial Group, Inc.

2005-09-13T06:47:00.002-07:00

Canaccord Capital Inc. to acquire Adams Harkness Financial Group, Inc.

Canaccord expands global small to mid cap market niche into the United States

- 416-640-4127 (within Toronto)
- 1-800-814-4853 (toll-free outside of Toronto)
- 00-800-0000-2288 (toll-free from the United Kingdom)

The conference call may also be accessed live and will be archived on a listen-only basis via the Internet at: www.canaccord.com/investor/webcast.

ABOUT CANACCORD CAPITAL INC.:

ABOUT ADAMS HARKNESS:

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anthony Ostler
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications
Phone: 604-643-7647
Email: anthony_ostler@canaccord.com

London:
Ben Willey/Charles Ryland
Buchanan Communications
Phone: +44 (0) 207 466 5000
Email: benw@buchanan.uk.com

United States:
Ann Carter
Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications
Phone: 617-443-9933
Email: ACarter@rasky.com

Caution regarding forward-looking statements

Source: Canaccord Capital Inc.

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Profile: financial services

QED National Names New Executive

2005-09-13T06:47:00.001-07:00

QED National Names New Executive

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- QED National, a leader in providing consultants and teams for Information Technology announced today an addition to the management team effective immediately.

Marilyn Collins will be assuming the role of Operations Manager at QED National. This newly created position will allow QED National to drive the efforts on operational excellence as well as deepen its commitment to the customer.

"We are pleased to announce Marilyn's appointment and expansion of our team as we continue to position QED National as the leading provider of IT consultants, said Colleen Molter, President of QED National. "Marilyn's experience in technology and customer care combined with her drive, passion and commitment to excellence will be an essential part of QED National's growth."

Prior to joining QED National, Collins served as Vice President, Infrastructure and Data Services for Merrill Lynch where she was responsible for the development and management of technical systems and support services. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Marilyn held various management and management consulting positions in the IT and Financial Services industries.

Collins is a graduate of the Rensselaer Graduate Center's Computer Science Program as well as the University of Massachusetts.

About QED National:

With more than ten years of successful engagements with the world's most prestigious Wall Street firms, high tech companies and governmental agencies, QED National, a Certified Women-Owned Business, provides technical solutions through staffing. Founded by Colleen Molter, QED National's highly scrutinized and skilled network of candidates delivers staffing solutions to improve client productivity and profitability. QED National's reputation for locating candidates that are the right fit allows it to locate qualified candidates over 90% of the time. Building solid teams for technology projects requires experience in both IT and Staffing. QED National builds those teams. Problem Solved!

Source: QED National

CONTACT: Beth Silver, of QED National, Phone: +1-212-481-6868, Cell: +1-
917-209-2703, bsilver@qednational.com

Web site: http://www.doubetllc.com/

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Profile: financial services

Canaccord Capital Inc. to Acquire Adams Harkness Financial Group, Inc.

2005-09-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

Canaccord Capital Inc. to Acquire Adams Harkness Financial Group, Inc.

VANCOUVER, Canada, September 13/PRNewswire/ --

- Canaccord Expands Global Small to Mid Cap Market Niche into the United
States

Canaccord Capital Inc. ("Canaccord", TSX: CCI; AIM: CCI) today announced
it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Adams Harkness
Financial Group, Inc. ("Adams Harkness"), a privately-held Boston, Mass.
based institutional investment bank, for US$20 million. The acquisition will
create Canaccord Adams, a new brand for Canaccord's Global Capital Markets
operations worldwide. This new group will combine the industry expertise,
services and market reach of Canaccord Capital and Adams Harkness and enhance
the company's ability to serve the global small to mid cap market niche.

"We see our expansion into the US as an extension of our niche approach.
Partnering with the skilled professionals at Adams Harkness creates an
exciting opportunity to provide a higher level of differentiated ideas and
execution to our clients," said Paul Reynolds, Vice Chair, Head of Global
Capital Markets, Canaccord Capital Inc. "The combined operations will enhance
Canaccord's global capabilities, expand and add balance to our sector
coverage and further diversify our revenue base."

"The marketplace for entrepreneurial companies has become global in scope
and opportunity," said John Adams, Chairman, Adams Harkness Financial Group,
Inc. "Both Canaccord and ourselves have observed this phenomenon with keen
interest and we want to be in a position to exploit it for the benefit of our
respective clients. We believe that we are first to market and we are
committed to being the best. A long acquaintance with Canaccord has convinced
us that we share a common culture as well as a common vision."

The US$ 20 million in consideration will consist of US$8 million in cash
and US$12 million in approximately 1.34 million common shares of Canaccord
Capital Inc., which will come from a combination of shares acquired from
selling shareholders and issuance of treasury shares. Shares will be held in
escrow until June 30, 2008, with annual releases of one-third per year,
beginning on June 30, 2006. Current shareholders of Adams Harkness will
retain ownership of certain non-core assets.

In addition, a US$10 million retention pool in Canaccord common shares
has been established to retain key Adams Harkness employees and ensure that
senior management will continue in their roles. The retention pool involves
the issuance of 1.12 million common shares of Canaccord Capital Inc., to be
paid after a three-year vesting period. The total number of shares to be
vested is also based on achievement of certain performance levels. Therefore,
the total number of common shares required for purchasing Adams Harkness and
employee retention purposes is 2.46 million.

Canaccord expects this transaction to be neutral to Canaccord's fiscal
2006 EPS and accretive to EPS in fiscal 2007 based on the assumptions
outlined above. Canaccord intends to continue its normal course issuer bid.
As of August 30, 2005, Canaccord had a total of 45,929,368 common shares
outstanding.

The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals in Canada and the US,
which are expected to take between 90 and 120 days to obtain and is subject
to approval by the shareholders of Adams Harkness and other customary closing
conditions. The transaction is expected to close prior to the end of fiscal
Q4/06, which ends on March 31, 2006.

Acquiring Adams Harkness is consistent with Canaccord's stated
acquisition policy that acquisitions will: have like minded partners and a
culture that will integrate well with Canaccord's; service focused markets
that are complementary to our existing areas of expertise; be accretive
within a reasonable time frame; and, effectively invest surplus capital.

Adams Harkness' original operating entity was founded in 1937 and has 165
employees in Boston, New York and San Francisco. In fiscal 2004, the company
had annual revenue of US$62 million, a loss of US$9 million and net assets of
US$11 million. Fiscal 2004 was a transition year for Adams Harkness,
involving internal changes, restructurings, changes in senior management and
write offs, helping prepare the firm to focus on its priorities in fiscal
2005. Excluding these items Adams Harkness would have had an operating loss
of US$3 million in fiscal 2004. With a strategic focus on growth companies in
the technology, healthcare, consumer services and industrial & manufacturing
growth sectors and strong client relationships, Adams Harkness has built an
idea-based franchise of independent research, innovative sales and trading
execution, and focused investment banking activity.

The addition of Adams Harkness to Canaccord's existing platform will
allow for enhanced revenue opportunities in M&A, corporate finance,
institutional sales and trading execution. It is expected that Canaccord
Adams will create a strong base of global client offerings and will enable
seamless distribution of products and services in three core capital markets
- Canada, the US and Europe. Additionally, Canaccord Adams will build upon
Canaccord's and Adams Harkness' established focus on the small to mid cap
market niche globally and offer clients expertise in the metals and mining,
energy, technology, life sciences and diversified sectors.

A presentation for the investment community with highlights of the
transaction will be available following the distribution of this release on
Canaccord Capital Inc.'s web site in the investor relations section at:
http://www.canaccord.com/investor/shareholder/investor_presentations.htm.

The highlights will be presented by senior executives to analysts and
institutional investors on a conference call which will include a question
and answer session. The call is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2005 at
8 a.m. (Pacific time); 11 a.m. (Eastern time); and 4 p.m. (UK time). Analyst
and institutional investors can call in via telephone at:

- 416-640-4127 (within Toronto)
- +1-800-814-4853 (toll-free outside of Toronto)
- 00-800-0000-2288 (toll-free from the United Kingdom)

The conference call may also be accessed live and will be archived on a
listen-only basis via the Internet at: www.canaccord.com/investor/webcast. A
replay of the conference call can be accessed after 1:00 p.m. (Eastern time)
on September 13, 2005 until midnight September 27, 2005 at 416-640-1917 or
+1-877-289-8525 by entering passcode 21150374 followed by the number sign.

About Canaccord Capital Inc

Canaccord Capital Inc. is a leading independent full service investment
dealer, publicly traded on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Alternative
Investment Market (AIM), a market operated by the London Stock Exchange.
Canaccord has operations in two of the principal segments of the securities
industry: Private Client Services and Global Capital Markets. Together,
these operations offer a wide range of complementary investment products,
brokerage services and investment banking services to Canaccord's retail,
institutional and corporate clients. Canaccord has approximately 1,300
employees worldwide in 28 offices, this includes Investment Advisors
located in 25 offices across Canada, and international Global Capital
Markets professionals based in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto,
Montréal and London (UK).

About Adams Harkness: Adams Harkness is a privately held institutional
investment bank focused on growth companies in the technology, healthcare and
consumer sectors. With a focus on research-driven investment ideas, Adams
Harkness offers investment banking and sales and trading services to its
corporate and institutional clients. Headquartered in Boston, Mass. and with
offices in New York, N.Y. and San Francisco, Calif., Adams Harkness offers
the expertise of a national investment bank with the personalised attention
and long-term strategic client relationships of a boutique investment bank.
More information is available at www.adamsharkness.com. Adams Harkness is a
member of the NASD and SIPC.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities
in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to qualification under the securities laws of any such
jurisdiction. Any offer will only be made through a prospectus, which is a
part of a proxy statement to be distributed.

Caution regarding forward-looking statements This document may contain
certain forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events
or future performance and reflect management's expectations regarding
Canaccord's growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects
and opportunities. These statements also include expectations relating to
completion of the proposed transaction with Adams Harkness, realisation of
expected synergies from the transaction and other matters. Such
forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based
on information currently available to management. In some cases,
forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may",
"will", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate",
"predict", "potential", "continue", "target" or the negative of these terms
or other comparable terminology. By their very nature, forward- looking
statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and
specific, and a number of factors could cause actual events or results to
differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking
statements. In evaluating these statements, readers should specifically
consider various factors, which may cause actual results to differ materially
from any forward-looking statement. These factors include, but are not
limited to, market and general economic conditions, the nature of the
financial services industry, the ability to successfully integrate the
operations of Adams Harkness with the operations of Canaccord, and the risks
and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Canaccord's interim and
annual financial statements and its Annual Report and Annual Information Form
filed on www.sedar.com. These forward-looking statements are made as of the
date of this document, and Canaccord assumes no obligation to update or
revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Source: Canaccord Capital Inc.

For further information: Anthony Ostler, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications, Phone: +1(604)-643-7647, Email: anthony_ostler@canaccord.com; London: Ben Willey, Charles Ryland, Buchanan Communications, Phone: +44(0)207-466-5000, Email: benw@buchanan.uk.com; United States: Ann Carter, Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, Phone: +1(617)443-9933, Email: Acarter@rasky.com

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Profile: financial services

AdPay Appoints Paul T. Wolfe as Vice President of Sales

2005-09-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

AdPay Appoints Paul T. Wolfe as Vice President of Sales

Company Hires 18 Year Software Sales and Start-Up Veteran to Lead Western Region Sales Team

DENVER, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- AdPay, Inc. today announced the appointment of Paul T. Wolfe to the role of Vice President of Sales. Wolfe brings over 18 years of sales and sales management experience to the company. He will be responsible for the sales and account management for AdPay's western region.

"I'm very excited to join a company that is leading the way in the e-commerce enabled classifieds industry," said Wolfe. "AdPay's best-of-breed solution is the future for those newspapers wanting to compete in the online marketplace and get closer to the transaction."

Wolfe has worked in a number of senior positions in planning and implementing sales strategies, product launches, and start-up sales operations for high growth companies including Travidia, the leading print-to-Internet vendor for newspapers. At Travidia, he rose to Vice President of Media Services and was responsible for developing many of the company's key accounts including Knight Ridder, Belo, Hearst, and The Seattle Times Company.

"Paul's sales, software, and newspaper industry experience are great compliments to our existing management team," said Mike Heene, CEO of AdPay. "His knowledge and industry experience will be instrumental in continuing the rapid market adoption of our Click-N-Buy product."

Wolfe is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a BA in Economics and International Relations.

About AdPay

AdPay, Inc. is the pioneer in providing online classified e-commerce solutions to the newspaper industry. The company was founded with one premise: to enable print publications to effectively compete in the high growth online domain. Under the Click-N-Buy Classifieds(TM) brand, they offer an Internet- hosted solution suite that unifies print and online classifieds into a single, dynamic transactional marketplace. Click-N-Buy's patent-pending technologies integrate with the newspaper's web sites and classified ad entry and posting systems. The result is a strong and effective answer to online competition, allowing the newspaper to be the local online shopping hub while creating new, lasting sources of revenue. AdPay customers include more than 30 of the largest newspapers in U.S., and several media groups including McClatchy, E. W. Scripps Company, Belo, Media General, and Freedom Community Newspapers. For more information, go to www.adpay.com.

Contact:
Kurt Schmidt
(P) 303.268.4069
(F) 303.268.1529
kschmidt@adpay.com

Source: AdPay, Inc.

CONTACT: Kurt Schmidt of AdPay, Inc., +1-303-268-4069,
fax +1-303-268-1529, kschmidt@adpay.com

Web site: http://www.adpay.com/

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Profile: financial services

70+ Exhibitors to Showcase Latest Technologies, Services And Solutions at the Sarbanes-Oxley Conference & Exposition

2005-09-13T06:38:00.001-07:00

70+ Exhibitors to Showcase Latest Technologies, Services And Solutions at the Sarbanes-Oxley Conference & Exposition

Largest and Most Comprehensive Sarbanes-Oxley Program Ever Developed Set to Take Place at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland September 25-27

BALTIMORE, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute for Financial Excellence, the organization of choice for finance executives, today announced that its upcoming event, The Sarbanes-Oxley Conference & Exposition (www.sarboxconf.com), will host an exhibit hall with over 70 vendors and consultancies showcasing their latest Sarbanes-Oxley specific offerings. Taking place September 25-27 at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland, attendees can see firsthand the technologies, services and solutions that will help their organizations efficiently and effectively address Sarbanes-Oxley requirements.

To view the list of exhibitors, visit: http://www.sarboxconf.com/ExhibitOpp/exhibitorList.asp.

Some of the exciting Sarbanes-Oxley innovations that will be on display include:

-American Appraisal Associates (booth #300) - provides valuation and
fixed asset consulting services to businesses, governmental entities,
health care providers and financial institutions.
-Approva Corporation (booth #317) - By flagging business exceptions,
Approva BizRights enables sustainable compliance and improved business
efficiency. BizRights allows all compliance stakeholders - including
business managers, auditors, and IT specialists - to collaboratively
manage internal controls.
-Certus (booth #313) - Certus Governance Suite combines best-of-breed
SOX compliance tools into an individually customizable dashboard that
lets all levels of an organization monitor and manage compliance
activities across the enterprise.
-ChangePro (booth #305) - introduces Compliance Central. Eliminate
spreadsheet management, consolidate reporting, and reduce compliance
management costs. This application centralizes risk control data and
monitors actions for mitigating risks.
-CODA Financials, Inc. (booth #400) - CODA-Control combines CODA's task
modeling engine with Microsoft's standard portal, email and forms
technologies. This allows users to model, manage and automate key
processes, allocating responsibilities, timescales and dependencies to
each task.
-Compassoft (booth #416) - will announce a strategic company
acquisition. Combining technology to "discover," "relate," "compare"
and "audit" the accuracy of key financial information from enterprise
systems, spreadsheets and reports.
-Control Solutions (booth #404) - will highlight its SOXlite(TM)
methodology, a groundbreaking approach that reduces the financial
burden of SOX compliance for smaller companies through expertly
designed control activities and reduced documentation effort.
-Cybertrust (booth #322) - New enhancements to Cybertrust Risk
Management Program (RMP) allow users to easily implement and
demonstrate SOX-mandated controls that safeguard critical data.
-EDGAR(R) Online(R), Inc. (booth #214) - will showcase Metrix(TM), a
revolutionary tool that helps companies comply with S-Ox by increasing
the speed and accuracy of data retrieval and analysis.
-Enabling Technologies Corporation (booth #421) - will demonstrate the
Industry's First Secure IM Management Appliance for Microsoft Live
Communications Server. The ETX 5000 provides a comprehensive, plug-
and-play solution for secure enterprise IM management & collaboration
-Enterprise Financial Consulting (booth #200) - presents Sar-BOXED, a
solution for Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance significantly reducing time and
costs associated with compliance and easily adaptable to any size
firm.
-Entomo (booth #402) - will showcase its SmartHubTM revenue analysis and
channel sales operations offerings. Unlike other solutions that focus
on managing spreadsheets and manual processes Entomo's products is the
first to eliminate them.
-Fidelis Security Systems (booth #224) - is launching the Extrusion
Prevention ROI tool on KnowledgeStorm. The tool, created by Nucleus
Research, quantifies the impact of enterprise data leakage.
-Kforce Finance & Accounting Staffing (booth #223) - With 40 years'
experience, a national footprint and a dedicated SOX team, Kforce
Finance & Accounting Staffing is uniquely positioned to assist with
compliance/remediation efforts.
-LogicalAppsR (booth #312) - will highlight its new software, AppsRules
v6.5. AppsRules automates the monitoring and enforcement of business
controls in real-time, to ensure continuous compliance with SOX.
-Movaris (booth #411) - develops and implements Financial Control
Management software for Fortune 1000 companies to improve strategic
financial operations including Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Movaris
will showcase its newly launched Certainty(TM) Suite.
-Paisley Consulting (booth #112) - will showcase The Paisley Solution -
the industry's only comprehensive, tightly integrated evaluation tool
that facilitates standardized, automated and collaborative processes
for Sarbanes-Oxley, Internal Audit, General Compliance and Enterprise
Risk Management.
-RippleTech, Inc.(booth #403) - RippleTech's Risk Assessment Module
reports on system configurations and policy settings, highlights
vulnerabilities and provides a baseline for automated scanning,
management and reporting moving forward.
-Tax Analysts (booth #425) - will showcase Financial Reporting Watch.
This new online tax resource offers weekly news emails, powerful
monthly practice articles, and a document database.
-UpStream Software Corp (booth #324) - UpStream WebLink combines the
collection of actual source financial and analytical data with a
central repository for section 302 certifications and Section 404
assessments.
-Vignette Corporation (booth #TS600) - Vignette(R) Compliance integrates
the Certus Governance Suite with Vignette(R) Records & Documents,
delivering the industry's leading Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and
records management solution.
-Virtual Commitment, Inc. (booth #216) - is pleased to announce the
automatic Excel upload documentation utility for its SARBOX Monitor
Sarbanes-Oxley / 404 tool.
-Wimmer Systems (booth #212) - is the leading provider of solutions that
allow spreadsheets to comply with Section 404 control requirements.

About The Sarbanes-Oxley Conference & Exposition

The Sarbanes-Oxley Conference & Exposition is the definitive event for finance and accounting executives. C-Level and Senior Executives will converge in Baltimore, September 25-27th to learn, share, interact, and network with leading executives facing similar challenges regarding Sarbanes- Oxley implementation and compliance. Participants will also have the opportunity to review cutting-edge products, services, applications and solutions at the Exposition.

In support of this event are numerous leading organizations, associations, and media outlets, including: AccountingToday, AccountingWEB, AIIM International, B2B Worldwide, Baltimore Business Journal, Baltimore Smart CEO, Business Ethics, Business Management America, Compliance Solutions Advisor Magazine, Corporate Secretary Magazine, E-Discovery Advisor Magazine, Information Lifecycle Management Newsletter, IR Magazine, IT Compliance Institute, KM World, Maryland Association of CPA's (MACPA), Open Compliance & Ethics Group (OCEG), Sarbanes-Oxley Institute, and The Wall Street Journal.

To Register:

To register for this event visit: http://www.sarboxconf.com/registration.asp

About The Institute for Financial Excellence

The mission of The Institute is to be the organization of choice for Finance Executives that addresses critical finance and accounting issues and produces measurable business results through expert educational programs, focused networking opportunities, and cutting-edge online resources. For more information regarding The Institute for Financial Excellence, email info@tife.org.

Media Contacts:
Kimberly E. Nichols
The Sarbanes-Oxley Conference & Exposition
knichols@tife.org
410-229-0019

Evan Weisel
Welz & Weisel Communications
evan@w2comm.com
703-323-6006

Source: The Institute for Financial Excellence

CONTACT: Kimberly E. Nichols of The Sarbanes-Oxley Conference &
Exposition, +1-410-229-0019 or email knichols@tife.org; or Evan Weisel of
Welz & Weisel Communications, +1-703-323-6006 or email evan@w2comm.com

Web site: http://www.tife.org/
http://www.sarboxconf.com/

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Profile: financial services

TalkSwitch(R) Launches New Channel Partner Program to its Network of over 1000 North American Reseller Partners

2005-09-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

TalkSwitch(R) Launches New Channel Partner Program to its Network of over 1000 North American Reseller Partners

TalkSwitch &You channel program brings personality and increased profit to TalkSwitch resellers

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- TalkSwitch(R), a company specializing in the design and manufacture of innovative PSTN and VoIP telephone systems for small and multi-location businesses, today announced the launch of a new channel partner program designed to increase revenue and profit for its network of over 1000 resellers.

The TalkSwitch &You partner program offers three levels of certification including Authorized, Gold and Platinum, and combines rewards and increased margin opportunities for all partners. Designed specifically for VARs who sell into the dynamic small business marketplace, revenue boosting program components like Vertical Reality, Zero to Fifty, Multi-Site Madness and Margin Muscle, deliver flexibility, choice and financial rewards. Partners can even customize an incentive program to maximize their sales and meet customer needs.

Certified partners receive enhanced sales and marketing support with a dedicated Account Management team delivering the goods and services required to make selling TalkSwitch products easy and profitable. Premium technical support, lead referral, a secure reseller Web site, TalkSwitch @Work technical webinars, TalkSwitch-On-Tour sales seminars, success stories, competitive advantage information, the creation of custom marketing material and a partner news release program are just a few of the benefits available for partner use.

"Our channel partners have rewarded us with loyalty, support and revenue growth over many years," said Tim Welch, Vice President Sales, TalkSwitch. "With the TalkSwitch &You incentives and dedicated sales and marketing resources, we're set to further build and strengthen our valued relationships delivering tangible benefits to those who sell TalkSwitch products."

"This has been a phenomenal year of milestones and success for TalkSwitch," said Jan Scheeren, President & CEO, TalkSwitch. "The small business market for phone systems is strong and VoIP is opening new doors for all of us. TalkSwitch systems are designed and developed specifically for this segment. With Tim's team and this new program, we look forward to a great fall season."

TalkSwitch will celebrate the official launch of TalkSwitch &You at a special event to be held at the New England Aquarium in Boston on September 20th, 2005. This event coincides with Fall VON, www.von.com , where TalkSwitch will be exhibiting in Booth 1234. For further information about this event or to become a TalkSwitch reseller, contact sales@talkswitch.com or call toll free 1-888-332-9322 x 301.

About TalkSwitch(R)

TalkSwitch(R) is dedicated to providing small and multi-location businesses with innovative telecommunications solutions. Since 1990, TalkSwitch has delivered rich features, high functionality and unbeatable value. Ideal for businesses with up to 32 telephone users per office, TalkSwitch systems provide users with options to connect to both the traditional telephone network (PSTN) and Voice over IP (VoIP) networks. TalkSwitch was named to the prestigious 2005 Pulver 100 list. TalkSwitch is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada. For more information call (888) 332-9322 or visit our website at www.talkswitch.com .

Source: TALKSWITCH

CONTACT: Chris Brennan, Public Relations Manager, TalkSwitch,
(613) 725-2980 x 136, (888) 332-9322 x 136, cbrennan@talkswitch.com

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Profile: financial services

Northern Trust Expands Personal Wealth Services in the Northeast With Opening of First Office in Boston

2005-09-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

Northern Trust Expands Personal Wealth Services in the Northeast With Opening of First Office in Boston

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Northern Trust has further expanded its Personal Financial Services Group in the Northeast with the opening of a Boston office -- serving affluent individuals, families and family offices in Boston and Massachusetts with its brand of high-touch client service and a full spectrum of personal financial services, including financial consulting, private banking, trust and estate planning and investment management services.

"We are competitively well positioned for future growth in the Northeast as evidenced by our successes in New York, Connecticut and Delaware," says Alison Winter, President and CEO, Northern Trust-Northeast. "With a substantial and growing client base in Boston, our new office will enable us to more effectively serve our clients and develop business in this very important market. The expansion also reinforces our strategy to reach and serve successful individuals and families with an objective, advice-driven approach backed by outstanding technology."

Lee J. Woolley has been named President of Massachusetts, reporting to Winter. Woolley, formerly Senior Vice President and Director of Northern Trust's Midwest Wealth Strategies Group, is responsible for overseeing the office's operations and he will be instrumental in developing client relationships.

Comments Winter, "As a twenty-year veteran of Northern, Lee served in numerous roles and assumed increasing levels of responsibility in each of his assignments. He has a depth of expertise in a number of areas including financial planning and business development. Lee has earned distinction as a thought leader to the ultra affluent seeking objective advice, making him uniquely qualified to lead our expansion into Boston."

Woolley began his career with Northern Trust in 1985 as a consultant in Northern Trust's Financial Consulting Center where he advised clients on estate, retirement and tax planning, life insurance and education funding. Most recently he led business development efforts for the Midwest from the company's Chicago headquarters. Woolley is a graduate of Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

The Boston office is located at One International Place, Suite 1600, Boston. The phone number is 617-235-1800.

Northern Trust Personal Financial Services (PFS) is one of the largest U.S. providers of integrated financial services for high net-worth individuals, families and family offices, including 24 percent of the Forbes 400 wealthiest families. Helping clients grow, preserve and transfer wealth, Northern Trust PFS offers clients an objective, consultative approach to personal financial management. PFS offices are located within 45 minutes of 40 percent or 1.1 million high net worth U.S. households. As of June 30, 2005, Northern Trust PFS had assets under custody of $219.5 billion, of which $111.1 billion is managed by Northern Trust.

About Northern Trust

Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ:NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management, asset and fund administration, fiduciary and banking solutions for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals worldwide. Northern Trust, a multibank holding company based in Chicago, has a growing network of 84 offices in 18 U.S. states and has international offices in 11 countries. As of June 30, 2005, Northern Trust had assets under custody of $2.7 trillion, and assets under investment management of $590 billion. Northern Trust, founded in 1889, has earned distinction as an industry leader in combining high-touch service and expertise with innovative products and technology. For more information, visit http://www.northerntrust.com/ .

Source: Northern Trust Corporation

CONTACT: Rebecca Hayne, Vice President Corporate Communications, of
Northern Trust Corporation, +1-312-444-4281, rlh5@ntrs.com

Web site: http://www.northerntrust.com/

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Profile: financial services

Nokia, Knight-Ridder, Taser, eBay to draw attention

2005-09-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

Nokia, Knight-Ridder, Taser, eBay to draw attention

By Abby Deveney, MarketWatch

Sep 13, 2005

Pre-open moves U.S. stocks looked set for weaker trading as crude turned higher and retailer Best Buy disappointed with earnings. The weakness prevailed as data showed that a record amount of goods and services sold overseas helped narrow the U.S. trade gap in July, despite the record high cost of foreign oil. The narrowing of the trade gap was unexpected. Data also showed that wholesale prices jumped 0.6% in August because of higher energy prices, slightly better than forecast.

Global markets European markets weakened as traders took profit from the oil sector with crude below $64. Japan's Nikkei paused from Monday post-election rally and regional indexes ended mixed.

Broker action EBay was downgraded to sector performer from sector outperformer at CIBC World Markets on the belief the shares will be stuck in a range given concerns over near-term challenges related to its purchase of Internet-phone startup Skype Technologies.

Media company Dow Jones & Co. was cut to reduce from neutral at UBS. The broker said Dow Jones doesn't deserve a premium to sector peers as technology and financial advertising are not poised for a significant recovery. Dow Jones owns MarketWatch, the publisher of this report.

Breaking news: Nokia, the world's top seller of mobile phones, lifted third-quarter earnings and sales guidance due to stronger-than-expected mobile device volumes and a decline in average selling prices that was lower than initially forecast. Shares rose 4% in European trade.

Knight-Ridder Inc., the San Jose, Calif., media group, expects third-quarter profit from continuing operations, excluding a tax benefit, to decline 20% while fourth-quarter profit will be higher. The consensus estimates of analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call are 89 cents for the third quarter and $1.38 for the fourth. Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Ridder called the August results "disappointing."

Viacom Inc.: News, Quote and cable giant Comcast Corp. plan to unveil a wide-ranging joint venture that will create several new cable networks, the New York Post reported. The venture will include several lifestyle channels, video-on-demand and e-commerce. John Sykes, the former head of Viacom's radio division Infinity Broadcasting, is heading up the joint venture, the report said.

Time Warner reaffirmed its financial outlook for fiscal 2005 ahead of a company presentation at an investor conference. The New York-based media giant said it continues to expect its growth rate will be in the high single digits for its adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization in 2005 from its equivalent 2004 total of $9.9 billion. The company said its view reflects both anticipated revenue gains and margin expansion.

Taser International, the Scottsdale, Ariz., producer of non-lethal weaponry, said international law-enforcement agencies placed two orders valued at more than $775,000 for its X26 devices and accessories. The orders are expected to ship in the third quarter.

Jo-Ann Stores said Brian Carney has resigned as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective the end of September. And Valerie Gentile Sachs resigned from her executive vice president, general counsel and secretary positions. The company said its finance team will be led during a transition period by Jim Kerr, its controller, and Don Tomoff, its treasurer.

EnCana Corp.: News, Quote said it's agreed to sell all of its Ecuador oil and pipeline interests for $1.42 billion. Andes Petroleum Co., a joint venture of Chinese oil companies, will pay Calgary-based EnCana cash under terms of the deal, which is expected to close before the end of 2005.

Vivendi Universal said it'll beat its adjusted net profit target for the year of 1.8 billion euros after seeing first-half adjusted net income climb to 1.16 billion euros from 344 million euros, on rising Universal Music Group profitability, a return to profit at Vivendi Universal Games and increasing telecommunications services earnings.

This MarketWatch news update is provided to you courtesy of Thomson Financial.

PRNewswire -- Sept. 13

Source: Thomson Financial Corporate Group

Web site: http://www.thomsonfinancial.com/

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Profile: financial services

OFT TO STUDY DRUG PRICING SCHEME

2005-09-13T06:25:00.000-07:00

OFT TO STUDY DRUG PRICING SCHEME

London, 13 September/GNN/ --

OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING News Release (171/05) issued by the Government News
Network on 13 September 2005
The OFT has launched a market study into the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation
Scheme (PPRS).

The NHS spends about £7bn a year on branded medicines for prescription in
the hospital and community sectors. The PPRS is the method by which the UK
Departments of Health seek to control the price of these drugs, by setting
a cap on the profits that each drug company can earn on its annual sales of
branded medicines to the NHS. It is a voluntary scheme negotiated every five
years between the Departments of Health and the Association of the British
Pharmaceutical Industry. The current scheme runs from 2005 to 2010.

The stated aims of the PPRS are to:
* secure the provision of safe and effective medicines for the NHS at
reasonable prices
* promote a strong and profitable pharmaceutical industry capable of such
sustained research and development expenditure as should lead to the future
availability of new and improved medicines
* encourage the efficient and competitive development and supply of medicines
to pharmaceutical markets in this and other countries.

The OFT study will assess whether the scheme provides an effective way of
meeting these aims.

The decision to launch the study follows a previous study by the OFT looking
at the impact of public procurement on competition. The study will last
at least until spring 2006 and may continue until the end of that year,
depending on the findings. Possible outcomes include:
* recommendations that Government consider changes to the scheme
* a reference to the Competition Commission for it to investigate the
matter further
* enforcement action by the OFT
* a clean bill of health for the scheme.

John Vickers, OFT Chairman, said:
'Healthcare and the interaction between government and markets are two of
the OFT's priority areas - both are at the heart of this study. We want to
examine whether the PPRS works well to ensure that pharmaceuticals markets
meet the needs of patients by offering adequate rewards to pharmaceutical
companies for developing new and useful drugs, while providing the taxpayer
with value for money.'

NOTES
1. Source: Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme: Eighth Report to Parliament,
Department of Health, March 2005.

2. Source: The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme 2005, Departments of
Health of the United Kingdom and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry, 3 November 2004.

3. The report Assessing the impact of public sector procurement on competition
is available from the OFT website at www.oft.gov.uk (see PN16/04 and the
statement Public sector procurement research published of 30 September
2004). The study evaluated the ways in which public sector procurement policy
could affect competition, both positively and negatively, and identified a
number of sectors - including pharmaceuticals - in which the impact is more
likely to be significant.

MEDIA enquiries: 020 7211+
Marion Heywood 8899
Julia Smith 8898
Roger Hislop 8133
Kate Wilcox 8901
Mark Kram 8900
Mike Ricketts 8904
press@oft.gov.uk
Out of hours: mobile: 07774 134814
messages: 020 7211 8961
Copies of press notices: Ext. 8993
http://www.oft.gov.uk

PUBLIC enquiries: 0845 7224499 enquiries@oft.gov.uk
OFT reports and consumer information leaflets are available free from:
OFT, PO Box 366, Hayes UB3 1XB 0800 389 3158 oft@ecgroup.uk.com

Source: OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING

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Profile: financial services

WhenU Names Ken Evans EVP Ad Sales; Expands Sales and Distribution

2005-09-13T06:24:00.000-07:00

WhenU Names Ken Evans EVP Ad Sales; Expands Sales and Distribution

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- WhenU.com, Inc., the leader in best practices for software-based advertising, announced today that Ken Evans has been named Executive Vice President of Advertising Sales.

Evans was tapped to lead WhenU's advertising sales and operations teams, which have grown to 25 since the company brought all sales in-house earlier this year. WhenU has also expanded its distribution and compliance teams since former About.com CEO Bill Day was named CEO of WhenU in October of 2004.

Previously, Evans served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Advertising.com, where he restructured the company's sales organization and more than doubled revenue as a result. During his tenure as Vice President of Sales at ZDNet/CNET Networks, sales grew from $3 million to $125 million in 3 years. Evans began his career in 1988 at CMP Media creating value for their key publications and serving as Senior Director of International Sales until 1996.

"We're pleased that our aggressive and consistent leadership in the implementation of best practices has enabled us to attract an experienced Internet sales veteran of Ken Evans' caliber," says Day. "Ken has held leadership roles with key players throughout the evolution of Internet advertising. He understands our commitment to respect the consumer's right to control the desktop and meet the advertiser's need to target effectively while protecting peoples' privacy and security."

"Smart marketers know that software-based advertising is extremely effective, offering unprecedented return on investment," says Evans. "WhenU is the only company in this space that has truly proven its commitment to providing users with clear disclosure and complete control, enabling consumers to freely opt in or out of receiving WhenU's competitive marketing offers at any time -- without sacrificing computing performance, privacy or control. I look forward to communicating the advantages of WhenU's unique approach to the advertising community."

WhenU is the standards leader in software-based contextual advertising. The company's products enable consumers to download and use free software in exchange for agreeing to view a limited number of relevant pop-up ads offering valuable coupons and compelling comparative advertising offers. WhenU also displays its contextual advertising from within desktop toolbars and can serve contextual advertising on publishers' sites.

All WhenU products are installed with the explicit permission of the consumer, are clearly branded and easy to uninstall. In contrast to all other players in the behavioral/contextual marketing space, WhenU does not use tracking cookies or harvest clickstreams showing all the sites the user visits, nor does the company compile or maintain any database of behavioral data or engage in any type of user profiling, anonymous or otherwise. In addition, every ad served by WhenU displays the company's toll-free support number. WhenU reaches more than 12 million unique consumers monthly and has attracted more than 400 brand name advertisers, including many Fortune 500 marketers.

About WhenU.com, Inc.

WhenU is an established force in software-based contextual advertising and the industry leader in best practices. Its products include adware, branded toolbars and integrated contextual and behavioral products that enable many Fortune 500 companies to reach consumers with the right message at the right moment without compromising users' privacy or security. WhenU's unique advertising technology distinguishes itself from existing approaches by applying precision logic at the desktop level. From the desktop, WhenU software examines keywords, URLs and search terms currently in use on the opted-in consumers' browsers and then presents highly relevant advertising, coupons and services. WhenU does not use tracking cookies, collect personal info or harvest clickstreams showing all the sites users visit, nor does the company compile or maintain any database of behavioral data or engage in any type of user profiling, anonymous or otherwise; behavioral data remains encrypted on the opted-in users' machines. WhenU is headquartered in New York City and has offices in San Francisco and Toronto. For more information visit http://www.whenu.com/.

Source: WhenU.com, Inc.

CONTACT: Suzanne Gibbons-Neff of WhenU.com, Inc., +1-203-656-0833,
suzannegn@whenu.com

Web site: http://www.whenu.com/

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Profile: financial services

mValent Appoints Software Industry Veteran Joe Forgione as President and CEO

2005-09-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

mValent Appoints Software Industry Veteran Joe Forgione as President and CEO

Brings More than 20 Years Experience Leading Global Software Organizations; Proven Track Record Building Partner Relationships, Creating New Initiatives and Driving Growth

BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- mValent, the leader in automated application configuration management software, today announced the appointment of software industry veteran Joe Forgione as President and CEO. Forgione brings extensive senior management experience leading global organizations and driving new business ventures. To support mValent's market expansion, former mValent President and CEO Swapnil Shah assumes the role of Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development.

"Automating application configuration management is a market opportunity that is rapidly emerging as IT organizations recognize the benefits derived from automating very complex, time-consuming and error-prone tasks," said Forgione. "mValent is poised to capitalize on this significant opportunity with impressive customers and a solution that reduces enterprise operational costs, application backlogs and the risk of configuration change errors. With the strength of the mValent management team, we will drive increased sales, continue to establish our competitive position and expand our partnerships. I look forward to working with our customers and partners to move mValent to the company's next phase of growth."

IT departments within large enterprises are faced with managing hundreds of applications, often distributed throughout global locations. The challenge of controlling and managing the underlying IT infrastructure required to deploy business-critical applications is often handled manually, leading to errors and creating significant application backlogs. This IT infrastructure includes application servers, Web servers, databases, middleware and operating systems. At a time when IT is moving aggressively to a services model, solutions are needed to automate complex, repetitive activities that drain IT resources and increase risks of downtime. Automating application configuration management can reduce the IT service workload by more than 50% and unlock the backlog of applications waiting to be deployed to improve business competitiveness.

"We are extremely pleased to attract someone of Joe's caliber and experience to lead mValent as the company focuses on growing revenue, building market share and expanding sales relationships," said Chip Hazard, general partner, IDG Ventures. "Swap and his team have delivered world-class application configuration management solutions that address complex issues facing enterprises both at the operational and IT levels. With brand name customers, mValent is well positioned to capture this market opportunity."

Prior to joining mValent, Forgione was Vice President of Solutions for Novell (NASDAQ:NOVL) where he was responsible for Global Solutions Creation and Marketing. Forgione also served as President and CEO of content management leader Eprise, a company that he took public. Prior, Forgione was Vice President of Business Development and Planning for the Internet Applications Division of Lotus, now part of IBM, where he drove OEM relationships, strategic partnerships and business alliances for Lotus' Internet applications. He also served as General Manager of Lotus Notes solutions products. Earlier, Forgione co-founded HyperDesk, an object- oriented tools company, and held various marketing management positions at Data General.

About mValent

mValent's software automates application configuration management and is used by leading organizations to manage the building and maintenance of complex application configurations throughout their entire lifecycle from development to production.

mValent is located in Burlington, Massachusetts. The privately held company is backed by top-tier venture capital firms, including Charles River Ventures, IDG Ventures and Polaris Venture Partners. For more information, visit mValent at http://www.mvalent.com/.

mValent and the mValent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of mValent, Inc. in the United States. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective companies.

Source: mValent

CONTACT: Media Contacts: Randy Wambold of CHEN PR, Inc., +1-781-672-3119,
rwambold@chenpr.com

Web site: http://www.mvalent.com/

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Profile: financial services

Banc of America Securities' Global Industries Corporate & Investment Banking Group Expands Industry Expertise and Midwest Presence

2005-09-13T06:18:00.000-07:00

Banc of America Securities' Global Industries Corporate & Investment Banking Group Expands Industry Expertise and Midwest Presence

Eric Hirschfield and Paul Hawkinson Join BAS' Chicago Office

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Banc of America Securities LLC (BAS) today announced that Eric Hirschfield and Paul Hawkinson have joined the Global Industries Corporate & Investment Banking Group as managing directors. Hirschfield joins as Head of Packaging, reporting to Tony Magro, managing director and head of the Global Industries Group. Hawkinson will cover the Auto sector, reporting to Scott Ullem, managing director and head of Midwest Industrials. Both are based in Chicago. Hirschfield and Hawkinson join a growing team of Global Industries bankers based in the Chicago office, following the appointment in June of Scott Ullem from Goldman Sachs to head Midwest Industrials.

"Eric and Paul are welcome additions to the team and just the latest examples of the exceptional talent that has joined the Global Industries Group over the past two years," said Magro. "Eric's in-depth knowledge of the packaging industry and Paul's track record working with automotive manufacturers and suppliers will be valuable as we deepen our sector expertise across Global Industries to enhance the quality of counsel we can provide to our clients."

Hirschfield is an eighteen-year veteran of corporate finance and merger advisory. He was most recently head of Packaging, Metals & Mining at Deutsche Bank. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Hirschfield was a managing director in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Societe Generale/Lodestar Group. He received a BS from Indiana University.

Hawkinson also comes to BAS from Deutsche Bank where he worked in the Industrial Practice, focused on providing corporate finance and merger advisory services primarily to automotive companies. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Hawkinson was a senior auditor in the Financial Services Practice at Deloitte & Touche. He received an MBA from Northwestern University and a BA from North Park College.

Banc of America Securities' Global Industries Group is a leading advisor to major corporations in such sectors as Aerospace & Defense, Auto & Auto Parts, Chemicals, Diversified, Packaging, Building Products, Paper & Forest Products and Transportation & Logistics. The Group's leadership in these sectors is underscored by its prominent role in several market leading transactions, including global coordinator roles in the $2.4 billion bond offering for United Technologies and $4 billion debt IPO for ResCap (GM); lead M&A and financing roles in the sale of American Tire Distributors and the sale of Custom Building Products; M&A advisor in the spin-off of Chaparral Steel by Texas Industries; and M&A advisor in the sale of the Marketing Services Division of Cendant.

About Bank of America

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) is one of the world's leading financial services companies. The company's Global Corporate and Investment Banking group (GCIB) provides investment banking, equity and debt capital raising, research, trading, risk management, treasury management and financial advisory services. Through offices in 32 countries, GCIB serves domestic and international corporations, institutional investors, financial institutions and government entities. Many of the bank's services to corporate and institutional clients are provided through its U.S. and UK subsidiaries, Banc of America Securities LLC and Banc of America Securities Limited. For additional information, visit www.bankofamerica.com

Source: Bank of America

CONTACT: Brandon C. Ashcraft of Banc of America Securities,
+1-212-933-2365, or brandon.c.ashcraft@bofasecurities.com

Web site: http://www.bankofamerica.com/

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Profile: financial services

Second Quarter 2005 Foreclosures Increase by 7 Percent According to RealtyTrac(TM) U.S. Foreclosure Market Report

2005-09-13T06:16:00.000-07:00

Second Quarter 2005 Foreclosures Increase by 7 Percent According to RealtyTrac(TM) U.S. Foreclosure Market Report

Nearly 390,000 Properties Enter Foreclosure During First Six Months of 2005

Florida, Utah and Colorado Post Highest Foreclosure Rates For Six-Month Period

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- RealtyTrac(TM) (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today released data from the first six months of its 2005 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which showed 389,480 properties nationwide entered some stage of foreclosure during the first half of 2005 and the number of new foreclosures increased by 7 percent from the first quarter to the second quarter of the year.

RealtyTrac publishes the largest national database of pre-foreclosure and foreclosure properties, with more than 550,000 properties in nearly 2,000 counties across the country, and is the foreclosure data provider to MSN House & Home, Yahoo! Real Estate, AOL Real Estate and HomeGain.com.

"Nationally, one household in every 298 was in some stage of foreclosure between January 1 and June 30, 2005," said James J. Saccacio, RealtyTrac chief executive officer. "While there were regional variances and some significant fluctuations from month to month, the overall numbers show a 5.5 percent increase in the number of foreclosure properties over the first six months of the year."

Florida documented the most new foreclosures and the highest foreclosure rate of any state despite an 11 percent decrease in new foreclosures in the second quarter. From January to June the state reported a total of 65,463 new foreclosures -- 16.8 percent of the nationwide total. Florida's foreclosure rate was 2.7 times the national average, with one new foreclosure for every 112 households.

Although new foreclosures in Utah decreased 21 percent from the first quarter to the second quarter, the state registered the second highest foreclosure rate of any state during the first half of 2005, with one new foreclosure for every 123 households -- 2.4 times the national average.

With 14,641 properties entering some stage of foreclosure between January and June, Colorado recorded one new foreclosure for every 125 households -- the nation's third highest foreclosure rate. The state's foreclosures increased 16 percent in the second quarter.

Texas accounted for 11.6 percent of the nation's new foreclosures, with 45,303 properties entering some stage of foreclosure during the first six months of 2005. The state's foreclosure rate was sixth highest among the states, with one property entering foreclosure for every 178 households -- 1.7 times the national average.

After Florida and Texas, the states reporting the most new foreclosures from January to June were California, Illinois and Ohio. California accounted for 7.6 percent of the nation's total foreclosures with 29,391 new foreclosures, although the state's foreclosure rate registered well below the national average, with one foreclosure for every 416 households. Illinois accounted for 6.2 percent of the nation's total with 23,988 new foreclosures, and the state's foreclosure rate was eighth highest among the states, with one foreclosure for every 204 households. Ohio accounted for 4.7 percent of the nation's total with 18,448 new foreclosures and reported one new foreclosure for every 259 households -- 1.2 times the national average.

The RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report provides the total number of homes entering some stage of foreclosure nationwide and by state compared to the preceding month. Data is also available at the individual county level. RealtyTrac's report includes properties in all three phases of foreclosure: Pre-foreclosures -- Notice of Default (NOD) and Lis Pendens (LIS); Foreclosures -- Notice of Trustee Sale and Notice of Foreclosure Sale (NTS and NFS); and Real Estate Owned, or REO properties (that have been re-purchased by a bank).

Below are foreclosure market statistics nationwide and by state:

State Name Jan Feb Mar April May June Q1 Q2
US 1/05-6/05 71509 69940 46673 53606 72341 75411 188122 201358
Alabama 304 495 0 406 360 1079 799 1845
Alaska 103 83 82 85 189 146 268 420
Arizona 2110 1823 1963 2883 2598 2096 5896 7577
Arkansas 855 951 0 563 1496 939 1806 2998
California 5779 5063 5045 4620 4199 4685 15887 13504
Colorado 2758 3089 932 2595 2968 2299 6779 7862
Connecticut 637 819 0 840 946 815 1456 2601
Delaware 39 29 51 53 32 28 119 113
District of
Columbia 7 3 0 0 26 32 10 58
Florida 10367 12562 11722 10557 10477 9778 34651 30812
Georgia 3899 4489 0 0 2928 4913 8388 7841
Hawaii 65 74 61 73 70 68 200 211
Idaho 375 331 230 183 277 224 936 684
Illinois 4528 2576 4990 3236 4893 3765 12094 11894
Indiana 2285 2095 2874 2681 2387 2141 7254 7209
Iowa 173 125 168 200 123 128 466 451
Kansas 140 92 208 213 155 152 440 520
Kentucky 469 390 490 495 626 637 1349 1758
Louisiana 298 379 478 714 295 355 1155 1364
Maine 14 22 14 14 12 3 50 29
Maryland 388 279 0 0 236 645 667 881
Massachusetts 303 313 0 381 405 379 616 165
Michigan 2147 2264 0 1063 3126 3033 4411 7222
Minnesota 139 167 180 222 190 159 486 571
Mississippi 112 164 63 204 304 342 339 850
Missouri 993 1046 0 474 1223 728 2039 2425
Montana 52 67 60 64 77 38 179 179
Nebraska 80 117 170 136 87 80 367 303
Nevada 653 686 611 606 633 559 1950 1798
New Hampshire 15 18 0 5 11 13 33 29
New Jersey 2361 2239 1882 2902 3067 3196 6482 9165
New Mexico 412 408 434 173 1518 370 1254 2061
New York 1867 1681 1751 3517 3506 2914 5299 9937
North Carolina 1276 1393 1501 1478 1257 1459 4170 4194
North Dakota 25 28 15 15 19 19 68 53
Ohio 2702 2851 2994 3080 2831 3990 8547 9901
Oklahoma 1109 1054 968 1379 974 1190 3131 3543
Oregon 726 644 729 631 671 469 2099 1771
Pennsylvania 1055 1490 2538 3243 2402 2182 5083 7827
Rhode Island 4 5 0 2 10 6 9 18
South Carolina 916 701 612 775 644 660 2229 2079
South Dakota 10 12 33 35 10 4 55 49
Tennessee 2626 2113 0 0 3225 2369 4739 5594
Texas 12614 11513 0 0 7557 13619 24127 21176
Utah 1264 1025 1195 1012 823 914 3484 2749
Vermont 6 6 3 7 6 3 15 16
Virginia 154 226 0 0 110 278 380 388
Washington 1722 1401 1091 1347 1951 1077 4214 4375
West Virginia 77 65 23 77 63 62 165 202
Wisconsin 479 443 512 362 318 356 1434 1036
Wyoming 17 31 0 5 30 15 48 50

About RealtyTrac Inc.

Ranked as the fourth-largest real estate site by Nielsen NetRatings, RealtyTrac Inc. (www.realtytrac.com), is the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, providing all the resources that home seekers, investors and real estate agents need to locate, evaluate and buy properties below market value. Founded in 1996, RealtyTrac publishes the largest and most comprehensive national database of pre-foreclosure, foreclosure, For-Sale-by-Owner and new construction properties, with more than 550,000 properties across the country, property reports, productivity tools and extensive professional resources. RealtyTrac hosts close to 2 million unique visitors monthly and is the exclusive foreclosure data supplier to AOL, MSN House & Home, Yahoo Real Estate and HomeGain. For more information, visit www.realtytrac.com.

Source: RealtyTrac Inc.

CONTACT: Jennifer Olson of Atomic Public Relations, +1-415-402-0230,
jennifer@atomicpr.com, for RealtyTrac Inc.

Web site: http://www.realtytrac.com/

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Profile: financial services

EDS' Bob Swan to Address Bank of America 35th Annual Investment Conference

2005-09-13T06:12:00.000-07:00

EDS' Bob Swan to Address Bank of America 35th Annual Investment Conference

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EDS (NYSE:EDS) Executive Vice President Bob Swan will address the Bank of America 35th Annual Investment Conference on Tues., September 20, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time (12:30 p.m. EDT) at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco.

Mr. Swan's comments will be available via webcast at http://www.eds.com/investor .

About EDS

EDS is a leading global technology services company delivering business solutions to its clients. EDS founded the information technology outsourcing industry more than 40 years ago. Today, EDS delivers a broad portfolio of information technology and business process outsourcing services to clients in the manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, communications, energy, transportation, and consumer and retail industries and to governments around the world. With $20.7 billion in 2004 revenue, EDS is ranked 95th on the Fortune 500. Learn more at http://www.eds.com/ .

CONTACT:
Terry Balluck - EDS
972 797 8751
terry.balluck@eds.com

Source: Electronic Data Systems Corporation

CONTACT: Terry Balluck of Electronic Data Systems Corporation,
+1-972-797-8751, or terry.balluck@eds.com

Web site: http://www.eds.com/
http://www.eds.com/investor

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Profile: financial services

Sirenza Microdevices to Present at Banc of America Securities Conference

2005-09-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

Sirenza Microdevices to Present at Banc of America Securities Conference

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sirenza Microdevices, Inc. (NASDAQ:SMDI) announced that Robert Van Buskirk, president and chief executive officer, is scheduled to present an overview of the company's business on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time at Banc of America Securities 35th Annual Investment Conference at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, California.

The presentation will be webcast live for the general public on the investor relations section of Sirenza's website, located at www.sirenza.com, and a copy of the webcast will be maintained on that site through October 7, 2005.

Sirenza Microdevices, Inc.

Headquartered in Broomfield, Colo., with design centers throughout the U.S., Sirenza Microdevices is a leading designer and an ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System and ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System certified (registered by QMI) supplier of high performance radio frequency (RF) components for the commercial communications and A&D equipment markets. Sirenza's integrated circuit (IC) and multi-chip module (MCM) product lines include amplifiers, power amplifiers, transceivers, tuners, discrete devices, RF signal processing components, signal source components, government and military specified components, and antennae and receivers for satellite radio. Detailed product information may be found on Sirenza's website at www.sirenza.com.

NOTE: Sirenza Microdevices(R) and the Sirenza logo are trademarks of Sirenza Microdevices, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030820/SMDILOGO )

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030820/SMDILOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Sirenza Microdevices, Inc.

CONTACT: Jodi Bochert of Sirenza Microdevices, Inc., +1-303-327-3193,
ir@sirenza.com

Web site: http://www.sirenza.com/

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Profile: financial services

Union Dental to Present at Arch Investment Conference Sept. 13

2005-09-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

Union Dental to Present at Arch Investment Conference Sept. 13

Conference to be Webcast Live

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Union Dental Holdings, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: UDHI) , the leading provider of network- based dental services for union members, announced today that President and CEO George D. Green will present at the Arch Investment Conference in New York City Tuesday, Sept. 13. The conference will be webcast live.

Union Dental is one of six companies presenting at the conference. Green is scheduled to present in the morning session from 9 to 10 a.m. The audience will include fund managers, analysts and investment bankers, media and other members of the investment community.

The conference will be webcast live at http://www.informedinvestors.com/VC/ClientPage.asp?ID=45356 .

About Arch

Arch Investment Conferences, Inc. is an investment conference company that provides services to public smallcap and microcap companies. Arch hosts exclusive events for companies to connect with fund managers, analysts, investment bankers, brokers and other members of the investment community. Arch is not only a bridge to the companies of tomorrow, but to the investment ideas of today. For more information, visit http://www.archconferences.com/ .

About Union Dental

Union Dental provides a unique way for unions to provide dental care to its members. The company is currently serving the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Union Dental receives annual management fees from the dentists in exchange for practicing in areas of exclusivity where CWA and IBEW members use the dentists' services. The company also has contracts with CWA & IBEW local unions to provide a dental network using the members' existing insurance policies. Dentists in the dental network provide services for union members as well as existing patients in exchange for an annual management fee. The network of dentists accepts payment from union insurance plans for services rendered as payment in full with certain procedures requiring a small out-of- pocket co-payment from the union member patient. Union Dental also owns and operates a 17-year old profitable dental practice. For more information, visit http://www.uniondental.com/ .

An investment profile about Union Dental Holdings, Inc. may be found at http://www.americanmicrocaps.com/udhi/profile.pdf .

An online investor relations kit containing Union Dental press releases, SEC filings, current Level II price quotes, interactive Java stock charts and other useful information for investors can be found at http://www.hawkassociates.com/ and http://www.americanmicrocaps.com/ . Investors may contact Frank Hawkins or Julie Marshall, Hawk Associates, at (305) 451-1888, e-mail: info@hawkassociates.com .

Dentists in the dental network provide services for union members as well as existing patients in exchange for an annual management fee. The network of dentists accepts payment from union insurance plans for services rendered as payment in full, with certain procedures requiring a small out-of-pocket co- payment from the union member patient. Union Dental also owns and operates a 17-year-old profitable dental practice.

An online investor kit containing Union Dental press releases, SEC filings, current Level II price quotes, interactive Java stock charts and other useful information for investors can be found at http://www.americanmicrocaps.com/ .

Audio: http://www.informedinvestors.com/VC/ClientPage.asp?ID=45356
Source: Union Dental Holdings, Inc.

CONTACT: Frank Hawkins or Julie Marshall, both of Hawk Associates,
+1-305-451-1888, or info@hawkassociates.com, for Union Dental Holdings

Web site: http://www.uniondental.com/
http://www.hawkassociates.com/
http://www.americanmicrocaps.com/
http://www.americanmicrocaps.com/udhi/profile.pdf

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Profile: financial services

Aflac Incorporated to Present at Banc of America Securities 35th Annual Investment Conference

2005-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Aflac Incorporated to Present at Banc of America Securities 35th Annual Investment Conference

COLUMBUS, Ga., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) announced today that it will make a presentation at Banc of America Securities 35th Annual Investment Conference. President and Chief Financial Officer Kriss Cloninger III will represent Aflac Incorporated, and he is scheduled to make a presentation on September 19 at 12:30 p.m. EDT (9:30 a.m. PDT). During the Aflac Incorporated presentation, Mr. Cloninger will discuss the company's outlook for 2005 and its strategy for growth in the U.S. and Japanese insurance markets.

Mr. Cloninger's presentation will be webcast live at the following web address:

http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/35th-annual-2005/id88105574.cfm

After the presentation, a breakout session will be webcast live at the following web address:

http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/35th-annual-2005/id53107022.cfm

For 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan. Aflac's insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. In January 2005, Aflac was included in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the seventh consecutive year. Aflac has also been included in both Forbes magazine's Platinum 400 List of America's Best Big Companies and in Fortune magazine's listing of America's Most Admired Companies for five consecutive years. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO )

Analyst and investor contact - Kenneth S. Janke Jr., 800.235.2667 - option 3, FAX: 706.324.6330, or kjanke@aflac.com

Media contact - Laura Kane, 706.596.3493, FAX: 706.320.2288, or lkane@aflac.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041202/CLTH019LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Aflac Incorporated

CONTACT: Analysts and investors, Kenneth S. Janke Jr., +1-800-235-2667,
option 3, or fax, +1-706-324-6330, or kjanke@aflac.com , or Media, Laura Kane,
+1-706-596-3493, or fax, +1-706-320-2288, or lkane@aflac.com , both of Aflac
Incorporated

Web site: http://www.aflac.com/
http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/35th-annual-2005/id88105574.cfm
http://www.veracast.com/webcasts/bas/35th-annual-2005/id53107022.cfm

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Profile: financial services

Huntington Receives National Excellence Awards

2005-09-13T05:59:00.000-07:00

Huntington Receives National Excellence Awards

Greenwich Associates Recognizes Bank's Customer Satisfaction, Branch Performance

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Huntington Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:HBAN) (www.huntington.com) has been named winner of three Excellence Awards for its success in the business banking sector, based on results of the 2005 Greenwich Associates' Business Banking Study.

Huntington was named a national award winner in two categories: Overall Customer Satisfaction and Branch Service Performance. Huntington also received a Midwest Regional Award for Overall Customer Satisfaction. Greenwich is a leading worldwide strategic consulting and research firm specializing in financial services.

During the first quarter of 2005, Greenwich Associates interviewed more than 3,300 business banking customers located within the Huntington footprint who use a variety of institutions for their banking needs. Interviews evaluated overall customer satisfaction and cash management services, as well as performance of call centers, online services, branch services and business banking officers.

"Our customer promise is high touch and high service," said Lee Lemke, Huntington's senior vice president, business banking group manager. "We take pride in providing our small business customers with the financial solutions they need to succeed and grow. These awards are a wonderful validation of our business bankers' hard work and attention to our promise."

About Huntington -- Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $33 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Through its affiliated companies, Huntington has more than 139 years of serving the financial needs of its customers. Huntington provides innovative retail and commercial financial products and services through more than 300 regional banking offices in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its network of approximately 800 ATMs. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in other states including: Dealer Sales offices in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Arizona; Private Financial and Capital Markets Group offices in Florida; and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and New Jersey. International banking services are made available through the headquarters office in Columbus and an office located in the Cayman Islands and an office located in Hong Kong.

Source: Huntington Bancshares Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Ron Newman of Huntington Bancshares Inc.,
+1-614-480-3077, or ron.newman@huntington.com

Web site: http://www.huntington.com/

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Profile: financial services

Leading Industry Expert in Mobile Technology & Information Security Joins Towergroup as Director of Emerging Technologies

2005-09-13T05:58:00.001-07:00

Leading Industry Expert in Mobile Technology & Information Security Joins Towergroup as Director of Emerging Technologies

NEEDHAM, Mass., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- TowerGroup today announced that respected wireless and IT industry thought leader, Bob Egan, has joined the firm as director of the Emerging Technologies research service. A veteran of the wireless and IT spaces, Egan brings to TowerGroup a wealth of research experience and thought leadership on the opportunities and implications surrounding mobile technologies for the financial services sector, including enterprise mobility, security risks and solutions, wireless broadband, the regulatory landscape, and much more. Egan joins TowerGroup from Mobile Competency -- a firm he founded in 2002 to help businesses leverage mobile technology to become more productive.

"The evolution of the mobile channel and other fast-emerging technologies is critically important to financial institutions and the companies that serve them," said Karen Cone, president and CEO of TowerGroup. "Tremendous opportunities are building to increase the productivity and effectiveness of employees and processes from an internal perspective, as well as externally to enhance the customer experience and available touchpoints. But with this comes an exponential increase in risk relative to information security and, ultimately, reputation. We are extremely pleased that someone of Bob's stature and knowledge of this shifting landscape has joined TowerGroup to provide our clients with superior insight and counsel."

"Information mobility, which is far broader than just 'wireless,' is rewriting the rules for businesses of all kinds and carries major implications for all financial services sectors," said Egan. "Mobility requires financial services institutions to rethink both internal and external business processes. Employees are demanding more flexible enterprise access while consumers are looking for life beyond ATM's. As we build on the existing knowledge capital of the Emerging Technologies service, expect to see TowerGroup become the dominant voice of the financial services industry's brave new frontiers -- mobile payments, mobile banking, electronic trading platforms, mobile brokerage, location services and information security."

A Mobile "Market Maker"

Egan has more than 25 years of wireless and IT industry experience. Prior to founding his firm Mobile Competency, he held corporate leadership positions at Corechange, Digital Equipment Corp., Waters Associates and GTE Research Laboratories, and was a leading analyst at Gartner in the mobile space. As a vice president with Gartner, he received the firm's esteemed "Thought Leadership Achievement Award." Industry trade Wireless Review has called him the "Market Maker" and he was named one of the top six most influential industry analysts by Adweek's Technology Marketing magazine.

Over the course of his career, Egan has written hundreds of articles and reports on the mobile industry. His perspective is often sought by members of the print and broadcast media including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, BusinessWeek and ABC News. He also serves as a board advisor to Mobile Enterprise magazine.

Egan made his TowerGroup debut with a presentation at the 2005 TowerGroup Financial Services Business and Technology Conference, titled "Financial Services Institutions Secure Their Future: Navigating the Abyss of Innovation and Ubiquity." In it, he underscored the dynamic nature of the information security ecosystem, and explored which emerging technology trends will most influence both the business and IT initiatives of financial institutions over the coming years.

"Bob has long-served as an educator and a guide for business and technology professionals, helping them navigate the complex array of issues relating to mobility and how it affects enterprise efficiency and profitability," said Guillermo Kopp, vice president of the Cross-Industry research practice at TowerGroup. "His arrival as head of our Emerging Technologies service further affirms our commitment to providing the financial services community with both a vision of the future of the businesses, and a roadmap to leverage technology breakthroughs and act on that vision."

Those interested in learning more about Emerging Technologies, or any other TowerGroup research service, may call +1.781.292.5200 or email service- info@towergroup.com.

About TowerGroup: TowerGroup is the leading advisory research and consulting firm focused on the global financial services industry. A respected source for trusted information and advice, TowerGroup brings many of the world's leading financial institutions, technology companies, and professional services firms a deeper understanding of the business and technology issues impacting their organizations. Headquartered near Boston in Needham, Massachusetts, and with offices in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, TowerGroup serves a global client base. Visit http://www.towergroup.com/ for more information.

Contacts:
Anne Green Rachael Adler
agreen@cooperkatz.comradler@cooperkatz.com
+1-212-455-8017 +1-212-455-8037

Source: TowerGroup

CONTACT: Anne Green, +1-212-455-8017, agreen@cooperkatz.com, or Rachael
Adler, +1-212-455-8037, radler@cooperkatz.com both of TowerGroup

Web site: http://www.towergroup.com/

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Profile: financial services

FBR Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.34 per Share

2005-09-13T05:58:00.000-07:00

FBR Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.34 per Share

Dividend Payable on October 31, 2005

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. (NYSE:FBR) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $0.34 per share for the third quarter of 2005. The dividend will be payable on October 31, 2005 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2005 (ex-dividend date of September 28, 2005).

Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. provides investment banking*, institutional brokerage*, asset management, and private client services through its operating subsidiaries and invests in mortgage-related assets and merchant banking opportunities. FBR focuses capital and financial expertise on eight industry sectors: consumer, diversified industrials, energy and natural resources, financial institutions, healthcare, insurance, real estate, and technology, media and telecommunications. FBR, headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with offices in Arlington, Va. and Bethesda, Md., also has offices in Boston, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Irvine, London, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vienna. For more information, see http://www.fbr.com/.

*Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc.

Statements concerning future performance, developments, events, market forecasts, revenues, expenses, earnings, run rates and any other guidance on present or future periods, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties that might cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations or current circumstances. These factors include, but are not limited to, the effect of demand for public offerings, activity in the secondary securities markets, interest rates, costs of borrowing, interest spreads, mortgage pre-payment speeds, risks associated with merchant banking investments, the realization of gains and losses on principal investments, available technologies, competition for business and personnel, and general economic, political and market conditions. These and other risks are described in the company's Annual Report and Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that are available from the company and from the SEC.

Source: Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc.

CONTACT: Investors: Kurt Harrington, +1-703-312-9647,
kharrington@fbr.com, or Media: Lauren Burk +1-703-469-1004, lburk@fbr.com,
both of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc.

Web site: http://www.fbr.com/

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Profile: financial services

Strategic Planning Tool Provides Recipe for Success for Restaurant and Hospitality Industry

2005-09-13T05:53:00.000-07:00

Strategic Planning Tool Provides Recipe for Success for Restaurant and Hospitality Industry

Budgeting, Planning, Forecasting, Reporting, Consolidation Solutions from Applix Bring Predictability in Operations and Finance and Increase Bottom-line

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Applix, Inc. (NASDAQ:APLX), a global provider of single platform solutions for Business Performance Management (BPM) and Business Intelligence (BI), is providing strategic budgeting, planning, forecasting, reporting, consolidations, and analysis solutions based on its award-winning TM1(R) platform, to restaurant chains and hospitality businesses globally. The food service and hospitality industry uses TM1 for a number of different operational and financial activities, including labor management, food trend analysis, store profitability analysis, food supply planning, scenario planning for new franchises, and financial budgeting and reporting.

These leading edge uses of business performance management are a result of the spreading use of technology in the food service industry, especially spreadsheet-based solutions (see Dallas Morning News' article "Serving up Menu Data") to better manage and grow profits in this traditionally low profit margin business.

"Achieving long-term success in the hospitality and food service industry can be quite a challenge, what with changing trends and high customer service requirements," said David Menninger, vice president, worldwide product management and marketing, Applix, Inc. "Fortunately, business performance management solutions can help bring predictability, reliability and profitability to the operational and financial management of the business. TM1, with its ease-of-use, flexibility in configuring applications and changing business models, and low implementation and ownership costs, is particularly successful in this market and enables leaders in the industry to focus on improving their profit margins instead of learning complex, cumbersome software."

The TM1-based applications provide insight and understanding in order to better manage the business. For example, the hospitality industry is impacted significantly by many factors including weather patterns and even terror alert levels. Interstate Hotels and Resorts, the nation's largest independent hotel management company, uses TM1 to power its Web-based Business Intelligence portal to provide detailed daily and monthly information to its management team. TM1 allows for real time data so that its operators can react quickly to changing market conditions.

Sodexho USA is the leading provider of food and facilities management services in the United States. Its treasury department handles all the forecasting and budgeting of balance sheets and cash flow for the North American businesses. As a subsidiary of Sodexho Alliance, Sodexho needs to transform US GAAP financials to French GAAP financials; soon they will also have to transform this information into IFRS financials. The company relies on TM1 to consolidate partial balance sheet and cash flow forecasts and budgets received from multiple divisions and marry those projections to historical data from the general ledger system. The treasury department then uses TM1 to incorporate all those pieces with its own input to arrive at a single, consolidated view.

"TM1 has proven an ideal tool to accomplish our tasks and adapt to ever- changing reporting requirements," said Marc A. Blass, vice president and treasurer, Sodexho, Inc. "TM1 enabled us to structure the cubes to keep order among the numerous views of our data, perform allocations and ensure all the pieces fully integrate with one another."

A sample of the restaurant, food service and hospitality businesses that have selected Applix TM1 over competing products include Bertucci's and Luby's.

Applix TM1

Applix's TM1 is a proven, multi-dimensional budgeting, planning, forecasting, consolidations, reporting and analytics platform for powering strategic analysis of financial, transactional, operational and other business data. TM1 has scored the highest rating in goal achievement, better decisions, and better reporting for the second year in a row, according to The OLAP Survey 4 (http://www.survey.com/olap) by independent analyst Nigel Pendse. The annual BPM Partners "Beyond the Hype" Webcast (http://www.bpmpartners.com/events_webinars.shtml) named Applix the 2004 leader in the tools category and in 2005 recognized that Applix customers had the highest level of satisfaction of any of the leading BPM solutions, suites, tools and vendors. Customers using TM1-based applications have won industry awards from several leading publications, including Start Magazine and Business Finance Magazine.

Applix recently released TM1 Financial Consolidations(TM) to streamline journal entries, inter-company eliminations and other consolidation processes. The company also offers TM1 Planning Manager(TM) to provide workflow and compliance capabilities for all TM1-based applications, TM1 Financial Reporting(TM) for rapid and easy reporting applications and TM1 Web(TM), a Web-enabled front end for global and remote read/write capabilities of BPM and BI applications.

About Applix

Applix (NASDAQ:APLX) is a global provider of Business Performance Management and Business Intelligence solutions. These solutions, based on Applix's TM1 analytics platform, enable the continuous planning, management and monitoring of performance across the financial and operational functions within the enterprise. Applix is a founder of the BPM Standards Group (http://www.bpmstandardsgroup.org/), and has been recognized by numerous industry analyst groups for its technical leadership and vision in the marketplace.

More than 2,000 customers worldwide use TM1 for its tight integration with Excel, real-time response, adaptability, and low total cost of ownership. Delivered by Applix and by a global network of partners, TM1-based solutions help customers manage their business performance and respond to the marketplace in real time. Headquartered in Westborough, MA, Applix maintains offices in four countries in Europe, North America and the Pacific Rim. For more information about Applix, please visit http://www.applix.com/.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this document are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements concerning future plans or results are only estimates and actual results could differ materially from expectations. Certain factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include without limitation, competitive pressures, changes in customer demands, adverse economic conditions, loss of key personnel, litigation, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, lengthy sales cycles, market acceptance of new or enhanced products and services, factors affecting spending by customers and other risks, uncertainties and factors including those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 under the heading "Risk Factors" and its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the heading "Factors That May Affect Future Results." The forward-looking statements provided by the Company in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, and these forward- looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

Applix and TM1 are registered trademarks of Applix, Inc., TM1 Financial Consolidations, TM1 Planning Manager, and TM1 Web are trademarks of Applix, Inc. All other trademarks and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:
Charlotte Locke Kelley Kassa
Applix SparkSource, Inc.
(508) 475-2441 (781) 274-6061 x206
clocke@applix.comkkassa@sparksource.com

Source: Applix, Inc.

CONTACT: Charlotte Locke of Applix, +1-508-475-2441, clocke@applix.com;
or Kelley Kassa of SparkSource, Inc., +1-781-274-6061 ext 206,
kkassa@sparksource.com

Web site: http://www.applix.com/

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Profile: financial services

CIT To Present at Lehman Brothers Financial Conference

2005-09-13T05:50:00.000-07:00

CIT To Present at Lehman Brothers Financial Conference

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIT Group Inc. (NYSE:CIT) today announced that Jeffrey M. Peek, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the 2005 Lehman Brothers Financial Services Conference on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at the Hilton New York.

CIT's presentation is scheduled to begin at 1:15pm EDT and will be followed by a brief question and answer session.

To view the presentation and listen to a live Web cast of the session, log on to CIT's Investor Relations Web site at http://ir.cit.com/ approximately fifteen minutes prior to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

An audio replay of the presentation will be available shortly following the event and archived on http://ir.cit.com/ for a period of seven days, ending on Thursday, September 22, 2005 at 11:59pm EDT. A copy of the presentation slides will also be accessible on CIT's Web site.

About CIT Group

CIT Group Inc. (NYSE:CIT), a leading commercial and consumer finance company, provides clients with financing and leasing products and advisory services. Founded in 1908, CIT has nearly $60 billion in assets under management and possesses the financial resources, industry expertise and product knowledge to serve the needs of clients across approximately 30 industries. CIT, a Fortune 500 company and a component of the S&P 500 Index, holds leading positions in vendor financing, factoring, equipment and transportation financing, Small Business Administration loans, and asset-based lending. With its Global Headquarters in New York City and Corporate Offices in Livingston, New Jersey, CIT has approximately 6,000 employees in locations throughout North America, Europe, Latin and South America, and the Pacific Rim. For more information, visit http://www.cit.com/.

Investor Contact: Valerie L. Gerard, EVP
CIT Group Inc.
(973) 422-3284

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041004/NYM003LOGO
Source: CIT Group Inc.

CONTACT: Investors: Valerie L. Gerard, EVP, +1-973-422-3284, of CIT
Group Inc.

Web site: http://www.cit.com/
http://ir.cit.com/

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Profile: financial services

Gregory Hahn joins Oppenheimer Asset Management as Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income

2005-09-13T05:49:00.001-07:00

Gregory Hahn joins Oppenheimer Asset Management as Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income

TORONTO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. (OPY on the NYSE and OPY.NV on the TSX) is pleased to announce the hiring of Gregory J. Hahn as Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Fixed Income for its asset management business. He will report to Thomas R. Robinson, President of Oppenheimer Asset Management. Greg will lead a team of portfolio managers, traders and analysts, several of whom were previously employed by 40/86 Advisors, a wholly owned subsidiary of Conseco, Inc.

"I am pleased to welcome Greg and his team to Oppenheimer," Robinson said. "Greg's experience and background in fixed income portfolio management will help take our fixed income business to a new level."

"The addition of Greg and his team just underscores our firm's long-term focus on building an institutional investment platform and culture," adds Neal Wilkinson, Managing Director, Sales and Marketing for Oppenheimer Investment Management (OIM), the institutional money management unit of Oppenheimer Asset Management.

"I am very excited about joining the Oppenheimer Investment Management and Asset Management teams," said Hahn. "The firm is committed to growing a top-tier investment advisor with a diverse product base. Also, the extensive resources they have provided us underscore the firm's commitment to excellence in performance and client service."

As CIO of Fixed Income, Hahn will have responsibility for overseeing the investment process for fixed income portfolios within both Oppenheimer Investment Management and Oppenheimer Asset Management. Prior to joining Oppenheimer Investment Management, Hahn was with 40/86 Advisors, the investment subsidiary of Conseco, Inc., where he served as Chief Investment Officer. Hahn has a B.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, a M.B.A. from Indiana University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Joining Oppenheimer Investment Management as portfolio managers on the fixed income team are Michael Richman, CFA, and Leo Dierckman. Prior to joining OIM, Richman was a co-portfolio manager and headed the investment grade corporate trading desk at 40/86 Advisors. Richman has a B.B.A. from Indiana University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Prior to joining OIM, Dierckman was a high yield portfolio manager for 40/86 Advisors. Dierckman has a B.B.A. from Indiana University.

Oppenheimer Investment Management Inc. is dedicated to serving the institutional asset management market and is a subsidiary of Oppenheimer Asset Management, Inc., which provides investment and advisory services to high net worth and institutional clients with assets totaling over $10 billion. Oppenheimer Holdings Inc., through its principal 2 subsidiaries Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. is a U.S. financial services company offering a full range of financial products and services from 81 offices in 21 states and 2 foreign jurisdictions.

Certain statements in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, as discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.

CONTACT: Tom Robinson, (212) 667-4910

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Profile: financial services

Pervasive Announces New Integration Solution for Appforce at Dreamforce '05

2005-09-13T05:49:00.000-07:00

Pervasive Announces New Integration Solution for Appforce at Dreamforce '05

New Solution Enables Enterprise Software Users to Integrate With salesforce.com

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pervasive Software(R) Inc. (NASDAQ:PVSW), a global value leader in data infrastructure software, and salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM), the market and technology leader in on-demand customer relationship management, today announced the availability of a comprehensive synchronization solution for key business information between Salesforce and enterprise software applications like SAP. Pervasive delivers full function adapters for both Salesforce and SAP R/3 along with pre-built integration processes for common integration tasks in a ready-to-configure solution.

Many companies depend on SAP to manage back-end processes such as accounting, manufacturing, inventory, and HR. However, as companies become more customer centric, mobile, and virtual, the integration of key information between CRM systems such as Salesforce and back-office applications such as SAP becomes a critical element in driving business success.

"Now salesforce.com customers can get the best of both worlds -- a best- in-class on-demand CRM solution and access to information from a world-leading ERP solution," said Koen De Witte, worldwide vice president of marketing for Pervasive. "Synchronizing Salesforce and SAP information is now routine, and affordable, with Pervasive's ready-to-configure solution."

The ready-to-configure solution dramatically shortens implementation time, while eliminating the cost, risk and complexity of other alternatives. This pre-built functionality eliminates up to 75% of the cost and time compared to traditional software based solutions. Integration can be executed quickly and easily, fully enabling the use of SAP information within Salesforce accounts. Companies using salesforce.com can improve customer centricity, improve operational efficiencies by pushing more information to customer facing functions and eliminate manual re-keying, phone, fax and email based tasks to share information.

"The Pervasive integration solution directly addresses and solves several key integration issues for our customers," said Adam Gross, Director of Product Marketing, salesforce.com. "It provides the comprehensive integration with SAP that our customers demand as they deploy the rich capabilities of Salesforce.com."

According to research at Datamonitor, "The dynamic nature of today's business environment means that organizations are demanding integration- enabled applications that are simple to use and update, and that can be quickly integrated with their underlying infrastructure" (Closing the ISV Integration Gap, March 2005).

The Pervasive solution provides a comprehensive offering that includes integration software licenses, pre-defined business processes, installation, and configuration services. Everything needed to synchronize, update, and download key data elements between systems is included. Pricing varies depending on actual customer system requirements and professional services needs, with pricing starting at $30,000.

Combining deep knowledge and 20 years of migration and integration expertise, Pervasive provides easy-to-use, cost-effective migration and integration technology, services, training and partner programs. These programs help ISVs, ASPs and systems integrators transform their applications into "integration-ready" solutions that are scalable from one-time data migrations to ongoing application integration within and beyond organizational boundaries. The foundation of these partner services is a flexible business model for partners to OEM, resell, or co-market Pervasive integration technology for a comprehensive customer solution with low total cost of ownership. For more information visit http://www.pervasive.com/solutions/isv .

About Pervasive Software

Pervasive Software provides data infrastructure software that helps companies unleash the value of their data investments. For more than two decades, Pervasive has delivered an enduring value proposition and the best combination of performance, reliability, functionality, and connectivity. Today Pervasive is leading its chosen markets by defining and accelerating the inevitable transition from high cost to high value. Pervasive's value is proven by the size, diversity and loyalty of its customer base, partners, and channels. Tens of thousands of customers in virtually every industry, in more than 150 countries around the world, rely on Pervasive to manage, integrate, analyze and secure their critical data. For more information, go to www.pervasive.com . For more information on Salesforce.com, visit www.pervasive.com/salesforce .

About salesforce.com

Salesforce.com is the market and technology leader in on-demand customer relationship management (CRM). The company's Salesforce family of on-demand applications enables customers to manage and share all of their sales, support, marketing and partner information on demand. Appforce, salesforce.com's on-demand platform, allows customers to customize and integrate the Salesforce family to meet their unique business needs, and build whole new powerful applications quickly and easily. Appforce applications are available via AppExchange, salesforce.com's on-demand application sharing service. Customers can also take advantage of salesforce.com's world-class training, support, consulting and best practices offerings.

As of July 31, 2005, salesforce.com manages customer information for approximately 16,900 customers and approximately 308,000 paying subscribers including Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), America Online (AOL), Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Avis/Budget Rent A Car (Cendant Rental Car Group), Dow Jones Newswires, Nokia, Polycom and SunTrust. Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase salesforce.com services should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce.com has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM". For more information please visit http://www.salesforce.com/ , or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.

Cautionary Statement

This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based upon information available to Pervasive as of the date hereof, and Pervasive assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement.

All Pervasive brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pervasive Software Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Salesforce.com is a registered trademark of, and Appforce and AppExchange are trademarks of, salesforce.com, Inc., San Francisco, California. Other names used may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact:
Matt Ceniceros
GCI Group
512.542.2854
mceniceros@gcigroup.com

Jane Hynes
Salesforce.com Public Relations
415.901.5079
jhynes@salesforce.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040503/PVSWLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Pervasive Software Inc.

CONTACT: Matt Ceniceros of GCI Group, +1-512-542-2854, or
mceniceros@gcigroup.com , for Pervasive Software Inc.; or Jane Hynes, Public
Relations of salesforce.com, Inc., +1-415-901-5079, or jhynes@salesforce.com

Web site: http://www.pervasive.com/
http://www.pervasive.com/solutions/isv
http://www.pervasive.com/salesforce
http://www.salesforce.com/

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Profile: financial services

Shift Technologies Launches New Version of its ThinMind(R) Web-based Project Management Application 5.3

2005-09-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

Shift Technologies Launches New Version of its ThinMind(R) Web-based Project Management Application 5.3

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shift Technologies announced today, the latest version of the Project Management application in its ThinMind(R) suite of web-based workforce management solutions.

ThinMind Project Management is an integrated web-based administrative tracking solution that provides the ability to collect, track, and organize project management information at any level of the organization. The new version of the ThinMind Project Management module is now available at http://www.thinmind.com/. Pricing is $5 per user per month, with volume discounts available. Shift Technologies offers a 30-day free trial.

A few of the many new features and enhancements include:

- Project History - Provides ability to track all project adjustments made
during the course of a project life cycle. Historical tracking is
activated per project. Related information is included on status
reports. History includes updates to task estimates, task dates,
assignments, billing rates, and more.

- Proactive Event Notifications - Allows project managers, affected
clients, and employees to receive notices about key project events /
deadlines. Configurable notices include: task start / end reminders,
budget exceeded notices, and project status postings.

- Project Status Collection Integrated Into Timesheet Application -
Automates collection of project updates from employees, by allowing
information to be entered into the same location as time entries. Allow
project managers to focus on strategy and delivery versus data entry.
Feature requires the use of ThinMind Timesheet and Project Management
applications.

- Custom Project Task Fields - Allows business specific data to be tracked
at each level of the project like product line, work types, sign-off
manager, and more. Fields can be named, populated, enabled, or required
to meet business needs.

- Usability Enhancements - Features added include wider screen sizes
allowing more information to be viewed/edited at once, faster pop-up
calendars, and improved screen layouts better conveying key information
points.

- Express Setup Wizard - Minimizes initial setup time by providing step-
by-step instructions to quickly and easily configure the system. Wizard
allows mass data entry to occur, by offering ability to add 10 rows at a
time in each setup step, making setup time a matter of hours.

- Security Limitations by IP - Supports ability to limit access to the
project management application based on the user's IP address. Added
security provides extra control over when, where and who can access the
information.

About Shift Technologies

Based in Charlotte, NC, Shift Technologies provides 100% web-based workforce management solutions. The company's flagship product suite ThinMind(R) includes Timesheet Reporting, Expense Reporting, Issue Tracking, and Project Management. Thousands of people worldwide use ThinMind web-based solutions. The ThinMind suite is designed for small to large businesses and specifically for the professional services market including, the financial services, legal, and IT and business consulting industries. The ThinMind suite of solutions is available on an application service provider (ASP) basis. For more information, contact Shift Technologies at 888.404.7386 or visit http://www.shiftinc.com/.

Source: Shift Technologies

CONTACT: Lorri-Ann Carter of Carter Todd & Associates, Inc.,
+1-803-779-4005 Ext. 2040, la@cartertodd.com

Web site: http://www.shiftinc.com/

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Profile: financial services

Evergreen Re Names Curtis Beharry Vice President of Client Services

2005-09-13T05:45:00.001-07:00

Evergreen Re Names Curtis Beharry Vice President of Client Services

STUART, Fla., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Evergreen Re, the largest HMO reinsurance broker in the country, announced today the appointment of insurance claims and administration veteran Curtis Beharry to Vice President of Client Services.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040217/LATU132LOGO )

Beharry brings more than 19 years of managed care reinsurance and employer stop loss cost management and claims processing experience to the firm. His extensive knowledge of the utilization and configuration of claims processing systems, including the designing of unique specialty programs to help clients reduce costs, will provide even greater depth to the company's client services and insurance administration departments.

"Beharry has been working with managed care organizations and large self-funded employers since the 1980s, analyzing claims data, evaluating claims experience and instituting cost-containment programs," said Charles Crispin, President and CEO of Evergreen Re. "Our clients will benefit greatly by the extensive knowledge and understanding he brings to Evergreen Re," he added.

Formerly director of account services at Risk Based Solutions, Beharry also served as operations director for John Alden Life Insurance, and claims manager for CBAI/CAC Ramsey in Miami. Beharry will be based at the firm's headquarters in Stuart, FL.

Evergreen Re Incorporated is a healthcare consulting firm providing reinsurance brokerage services and other risk reduction products and services that improve predictability and financial performance for health plans, provider organizations, large employers, unions and business coalitions. The company's strategic relationships with leading insurance and reinsurance markets enable it to provide comprehensive risk protection for clients with members in more than 45 states. Evergreen Re has offices in Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Virginia. For more information, visit www.evergreenre.com.

Contact: Ana Bischoff
Evergreen Re Incorporated
(772) 781-5280

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040217/LATU132LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Evergreen Re

CONTACT: Ana Bischoff of Evergreen Re Incorporated, +1-772-781-5280

Web site: http://www.evergreenre.com/

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Profile: financial services

CNL Hotels & Resorts Provides Hurricane Katrina Property Updates; Establishes Fund to Support Relief Efforts

2005-09-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

CNL Hotels & Resorts Provides Hurricane Katrina Property Updates; Establishes Fund to Support Relief Efforts

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc., the nation's second largest hotel real estate investment trust, announced today its properties in Louisiana, Mississippi and South Florida were relatively undamaged by Hurricane Katrina and, with the exception of the JW Marriott in downtown New Orleans, all are fully operational.

The 494-room JW Marriott New Orleans, located on Canal Street, sustained superficial damage and limited water intrusion. The property was the evacuation staging point for all New Orleans-based Marriott-branded hotels and its management and staff assisted approximately 400 guests in their efforts to leave the city safely. Currently, all employees and guests have been evacuated and there have been no injuries reported. Power has been restored to the property and preliminary damage assessments appear favorable. Until local officials in New Orleans provide further guidance, there is currently no assessment on when the property will renew operations. Once water service is restored to the property and occupancy is approved by the city, the hotel can potentially re-open to serve state and federal relief workers.

The 154-room Hampton Inn in Hattiesburg, Miss. sustained no significant damage with minor water intrusion to the lobby and several rooms. Power has been restored and the property is fully operational. The 242-room Holiday Inn in Lafayette, La. was not impacted and is fully operational.

The 692-room Doral Golf Resort & Spa, A Marriott Resort, in Miami, reported numerous downed trees and minor damage to its golf courses; however the resort did not sustain any significant damage and is fully operational.

CNL Hotels & Resorts is working closely with Marriott International and Hilton Hotels Corp.'s damage assessment teams to make the necessary repairs to those properties affected by Hurricane Katrina.

In an effort to express its concern and support for those impacted by the hurricane, CNL Hotels & Resorts has established a corporate matching campaign to benefit the American Red Cross.

"The impact of Hurricane Katrina on the people of the Gulf Coast region has been devastating," stated Thomas J. Hutchison III, chief executive officer of CNL Hotels & Resorts. "We have been particularly humbled by the tremendous support and humanitarian spirit of our associates, who are not only contributing funds through our corporate campaign but are also offering assistance in transporting more than 10,000 pounds of critical supplies to the impacted region. Our thoughts continue to be with every family affected by this natural disaster."

About CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc. owns one of the most distinctive portfolios in the lodging industry. With a focus on luxury resorts and upper-upscale properties, the company has approximately $5.8 billion in total assets with 94 hotels and resorts across North America that operate under independent brands and corporate brands such as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt. For more information, please visit http://www.cnlhotels.com/ .

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements and information included in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws and regulations. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about future events, including, but not limited to, current property damage and the re-opening of such properties. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (the "Company") to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. These risks are discussed in the Company's SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 10K for year ended December 31, 2004, as amended. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward- looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Source: CNL Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

CONTACT: Lauren Harris, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, CNL
Hotels & Resorts, +1-407-650-1205

Web site: http://www.cnlhotels.com/

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Profile: financial services

Former JPI Executives Open Dallas Office With Place Properties

2005-09-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

Former JPI Executives Open Dallas Office With Place Properties

ATLANTA, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Place Properties, one of the nation's largest private student housing developers, hires Brent Little and Jon Clayton, formerly of JPI to head up the company's first regional office in Dallas, TX. This expansion is strategic for Place Properties' national growth goals.

Cecil Phillips, President and CEO of Place Properties said, "We are absolutely delighted that Brent and Jon have joined Place Properties. With their track record, Brent and Jon could have joined any company in our industry. Their coming to Place and opening our Dallas office will make a real difference in expanding our reach and our number of satisfied customers. Brent and Jon are two of the best, and they will make Place even better."

Brent has overseen the development and construction of over $1 billion of multifamily rental and condominium properties, as well as ancillary office, retail and commercial uses for over 20 years. His experience includes working with JPI Luxury and JPI Student Living Development along with other developers such as Echelon Residential, The Related Group, Trammel Crow and First Worthing.

Jon has over 10 years of experience in development, most recently with JPI and has held various development management roles with Echelon and Carbon Development.

Brent, Vice President, Development Partner said, "We are very excited about the opportunities that the Dallas office expansion will afford. Our experience in markets from Florida to California will expand Place Properties' as the preeminent provider of housing and mixed use solutions for college and university communities on a national scale."

Ed Wolff, Vice President, Human Resources said, "We are very pleased to have Brent and Jon join our team. This is a huge step for Place as we continue our efforts to expand nationally and attract top talent across the country."

Place Properties is one of the country's largest developers of student housing and related living/learning facilities with expertise in financing, developing and managing award-winning communities. For more information, please visit http://www.placeproperties.com/ .

Contact:
Jessica Nix
Director of Public Relations
404-495-7591
jnix@placeproperties.com

Source: Place Properties

CONTACT: Jessica Nix, Director of Public Relations of Place Properties,
+1-404-495-7591, or jnix@placeproperties.com

Web site: http://www.placeproperties.com/

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Profile: financial services

ACS to Provide Electronic Benefits Transfer Services for Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

2005-09-13T05:38:00.001-07:00

ACS to Provide Electronic Benefits Transfer Services for Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

DALLAS, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (NYSE:ACS), a premier provider of business process and information technology outsourcing solutions, announced today that it has been selected by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to provide electronic benefits transfer (EBT) services for food stamp benefits. Ohio is converting from an offline smart card program to a new online magnetic stripe program. ACS will convert all EBT clients by April 2006.

The contract is for eight years and is valued at approximately $45 million. The contract provides EBT transaction processing, project management, retailer management for merchants, a data center, a call center, as well as card reconciliation and settlement.

ACS' Government and Community Solutions business unit provides the comprehensive management, automation and operation of public sector human services programs and is a leading provider of EBT and child support payment processing services in the United States.

"ACS is pleased to deepen its human services relationship with the State of Ohio, which provides EBT services for more than 450,000 Ohio food stamp recipients," said Tom Burlin, Group President of ACS Government Solutions. "Our EBT contract is an indication of the commitment shown by State officials to provide the best, most cost-effective services."

ACS' Electronic Payment Services business includes electronic benefits transfer services, e-Childcare(TM) (an electronic system for child care attendance tracking and payments to providers), and the electronic disbursement of child support payments, unemployment insurance, and other government payments to individuals. ACS markets and delivers these business processing services to the state and local government marketplace by applying swipe card technologies and its EPPIC(TM) product, allowing recipients to review their accounts and transactions on-line. EPPIC is written and built specifically for electronic payment delivery and can be customized to meet the requirements of additional programs, such as government payrolls and commercial applications.

ACS, a FORTUNE 500 company with more than 50,000 people supporting client operations in nearly 100 countries, provides business process and information technology outsourcing solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. The company's Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACS". ACS makes technology work. Visit ACS on the Internet at www.acs-inc.com .

The statements in this news release that do not directly relate to historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside the Company's control. As such, no assurance can be given that the actual events and results will not be materially different than the anticipated results described in the forward-looking statements. Factors could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. For a description of these factors, see the Company's prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent filing. ACS disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future event, or otherwise.

Source: ACS, Inc.

CONTACT: investor relations, Warren Edwards, Executive Vice President-
Chief Financial Officer, +1-214-841-8082, or warren.edwards@acs-inc.com , or
media, Lesley Pool, Senior Vice President-Chief Marketing Officer,
+1-214-841-8028, or lesley.pool@acs-inc.com , both of Affiliated Computer
Services, Inc.

Web site: http://www.acs-inc.com/

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Profile: financial services

European Shares Remain Negative

2005-09-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

European Shares Remain Negative

Tuesday 13 September, 1:00 PM BST (Thomson Financial): European markets remain in negative territory as a lack of momentum has given way to some profit taking. The technology sector is bucking the trend after Nokia raised its third quarter earnings and sales guidance.

Amongst today's key earnings, Vivendi Universal has exceeded market forecasts with second quarter net profits of 640 million euros compared to 182 million euros last year and expects to beat its full year profit target of 1.8 billion euros. Meanwhile, Antofagasta's first half net profits have risen on high copper prices, driven by high Chinese demand, while Cobham's first half underlying pre-tax profits have risen.

On the downside, Misys has issued a profit warning while shares in Smith & Nephew are under pressure on disappointing sales growth during the summer period. Meanwhile, Rhodia has warned that weather-related damage to some of its facilities will lead to a slowdown in second half earnings growth.

London's FTSE-100 Index has fallen by 38.20 points or 0.71% to 5336.90, while Paris's CAC-40 Index has dropped by 31.47 points or 0.70% to 4460.35. Frankfurt's DAX Index has declined by 74.67 points or 1.50% to 4915.31 and Milan's S&P MIB Index is lower by 205 points or 0.60% to 34,083. The pan-European blue chip Dow Jones Stoxx 50 Index is weaker by 20.31 points or 0.63% to 3183.25.

* Nokia shares are trading higher after it raised its third quarter guidance, with net sales expected to be in the 8.4-8.5 billion euros range compared to the previous guidance of 7.9-8.2 billion euros, due to stronger-than-expected mobile device volumes and relatively firm prices. Third quarter diluted earnings per share are forecast between 0.18-0.19 euros, exceeding previous guidance of 0.14-0.17 euros as a result of stronger-than-expected sales during the first two months of the quarter, good cost control and one-time positive items.

* Shares in Smith & Nephew's are under pressure after sales growth over the summer fell below expectations, partly due to Hurricane Katrina. The full year trading margin is expected to be slightly lower at 20.6%, with full year earnings per share growth expected to be around 12-13%. In Orthopaedics, sales growth has been slower following new product rollouts by competitors and the company is reducing its full year underlying sales growth target for Orthopaedics by 1% to 17%. In Wound Management, a continued decline in U.S. distributor inventories also led to the firm reducing its full year guidance for underlying sales growth by 1% to 5%.

* Rhodia has said that recent natural disasters have adversely affected operations at two of its facilities. This will slow down its second half earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) growth forecast. The full-year impact of these natural disasters is not expected to exceed a 5% shortfall in projected EBITDA, the company added.

* Mining group Antofagasta has announced first half net profits of US$367.5 million compared to US$207.5 million in the same half last year, the result of high copper prices which have been spurred on by high demand from China. Turnover rose to US$1.123 billion versus US$753.4 million in the prior year and the company is proposing an interim dividend of 16 U.S. cents per share, up 6.6% year-on-year.

* U.K. aerospace and defence group Cobham's first half underlying pre-tax profit has grown to 69.6 million pounds compared to 60.5 million pounds in the same half last year. Total revenues rose to 516.3 million pounds from 459.8 million pounds in the prior year, with the order book reaching 697.4 million pounds from 552.4 million pounds last year. The company said robust performances had been achieved in the Antennas, Avionics, Microwave and Air Refuelling divisions and operational improvements had offset the impact of adverse currency movements. Meanwhile, Cobham has agreed the disposal of the Fluid and Air division companies to Eaton Corporation for 150 million pounds.

* Friends Provident has posted a first-half underlying pre-tax profit under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) of 125 million pounds compared to 101 million pounds in the same half last year. Total new life and pensions business on an annual premium equivalent (APE) basis grew to 282 million pounds from 212 million pounds last year. Looking ahead, Friends Provident expects its 2005 sales growth to be in the single digits, but ahead of the average market rate of 2% in the first half of the year.

* Shares in software group Misys remain sharply lower in the wake of a profits warning - its first half performance in its Banking division will be adversely affected by a delay in revenue recognition and increased investment in the business. As a result, earnings per share in the first half are likely to be significantly below last year and it is not clear that any profit shortfall in the first half will be fully recovered in the second.

* Shares in Rank Group continue to trade higher after the Daily Mail newspaper reported that private equity group Blackstone Group is toiling over a 320 pence per share bid for the U.K. leisure group.

Simon.Tse@Thomson.com; Thomson Financial

This is Thomson Financial Corporate Services Europe Market Commentary. The information herein is believed to be true and accurate. If you have any questions please e-mail James Sang at james.sang@tfn.com. For more information about Thomson Financial, please visit our web site at www.thomsonfinancial.com. For more financial information at your fingertips, please visit www.irchannel.com.

PRNewswire -- Sept. 13

Source: Thomson Financial Corporate Group

Web site: http://www.thomsonfinancial.com/

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Profile: financial services

Shadow Financial Services Expands ShadoSuite Product Offering with Unique Bank of New York Interface

2005-09-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

Shadow Financial Services Expands ShadoSuite Product Offering with Unique Bank of New York Interface

- BoNY Interface Provides Clients With Direct Link to Largest U.S. Securities Clearance Agent -

EDISON, N.J., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Shadow Financial Services Corp., developers of the ShadoSuite(TM) global securities processing system, today announced the release of the company's tailored interface that provides a direct link to The Bank of New York (BoNY). Shadow Financial clients that utilize BoNY execution and clearing services will now have real-time information on the day's trades in one easy-to-use location.

Through the BoNY Securities Group, execution services are provided for 3,500 institutional investors in over 80 markets executing trades for 630 million shares each day. As the largest U.S. securities clearing agent, approximately 50 percent of U.S. Government securities are cleared through the BoNY Securities Group. The BoNY interface has complete interaction capabilities with the FICC netting file process, which captures and queues up all FICC obligations while making them ready for settlement.

Donald Marino, CEO of Shadow Financial Services, said, "Our interface with BoNY is a key addition to the ShadoSuite system. Clients that utilize the services of The Bank of New York now have one source for real-time information about trades, clearance status and the day's settlement processing. This interface is one more step in our commitment of providing our clients with the most advanced securities processing systems."

Shadow's interface with BoNY links to their Government Securities Clearing Exchange (GSCX) system using the bank's proprietary SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) message formats for the transmission of trade-related messages for settlement via MQ Series. Some of the unique features of this interface include a statistics window that allows users to acquire an overview of the day's settlement processing, a primary processing screen that provides a one-stop display of all clearance status messages and includes a filter feature that allows for quick and easy viewing of desired items. In addition, all of the items on the primary processing screen are time-stamped with a continuously updated timestamp based on any status changes received for a message, such as the date and time a trade message was cleared.

Shadow's customized interface utilizes color-coding to alert users to items that are potential problems, and the actual SWIFT formatted messages can also be retrieved and analyzed for additional problem solving. The interface also features built-in links to other windows that allows for certain items to be isolated based on status, such as canceled trades and rejected trades.

ShadoSuite reduces a firm's cost-per-trade and provides real-time efficient access to transactions and positions. ShadoSuite features real-time interfaces to GSCC, DTCC, FICC, OCC, BoNY and SWIFT. For more information, please contact sales@shadowfinancial.com.

About ShadoSuite

Designed to handle the complex transactions of institutional investors as well as the volume of retail brokerage firms, ShadoSuite is a comprehensive global securities processing system. ShadoSuite handles multi-currency trade processing, clearing and accounting for all combinations of currencies, products and types of trades. Unlike many other systems, ShadoSuite maintains every position in its originally traded currency in real-time.

ShadoSuite operates on the Windows NT platform, using Oracle relational database technologies. It utilizes a three-tier client/server architecture, which provides flexible and scalable infrastructure that can grow as a client's business expands.

Trades can be entered from one easy-to-use screen with ShadoSuite's intuitive Windows-based point and click user interface or through the extensive API provided to their clients. ShadoSuite tracks all purchases and sales, deliveries of securities and money through banks, reconciles positions with outside firms, and maintains an integrated general ledger and stock record.

About Shadow Financial Services

Founded in 1997 by industry experts, Shadow Financial Services' technology provides comprehensive back-office functionality on cost-effective, open architecture platforms for institutional and retail brokerage firms. The Company's clients include National Financial Services, Raymond James & Associates, Maple Securities and numerous other brokerage firms. For more information, please visit http://www.shadowfinancial.com/.

Note to editors: ShadoSuite is a registered trademark of Shadow Financial Services Corp. Other trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners.

Source: Shadow Financial Services

CONTACT: Jeanne Achille of The Devon Group, +1-732-542-2000, ext. 11,
jeanne@devonpr.com

Web site: http://www.shadowfinancial.com/

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Profile: financial services

Gateway Enters Strategic Alliance With LEAF Financial and Merrill Lynch for Flexible Technology Leasing Programs

2005-09-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

Gateway Enters Strategic Alliance With LEAF Financial and Merrill Lynch for Flexible Technology Leasing Programs

New Financing Options Allow Businesses, Government Agencies, Educational Institutions and Solutions Providers to Better Optimize Technology Investments

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gateway, Inc. (NYSE:GTW) has launched a financing program that allows its customers to make technology investments that enable growth without expending important working capital needed for day-to-day operations. Gateway, the nation's third-largest PC company, is partnering with LEAF Financial Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Resource America, Inc. (NASDAQ:REXI), and its strategic alliance partner Merrill Lynch to provide leasing programs to Gateway professional customers. These programs will provide Gateway's commercial, government and institutional customers with affordable and flexible alternatives for acquiring computer products and services.

By electing a leasing option, organizations are able to meet their technology needs while simultaneously conserving working capital and existing credit lines to optimize their technology investment. Professional customers will be able to choose from several specially designed leasing products and payment plans for growing businesses and institutions from LEAF. These will include true leases with fair market value residual, full-payout leases, tax-exempt municipal programs, and options for seasonally adjusted "flex" payments. Additionally, leases can be customized to include maintenance costs, supplies and software.

"With the LEAF leasing program, we are now able to offer our customers an affordable financing option for obtaining the products and services they need to run their organizations," said Ken Hall, director of financial services, at Gateway. "We are excited about the combination of web tools, leasing products and additional sales support that we are now able to provide our customers."

For educational institutions and government agencies that hold to pre-set spending times and bulk buys, leasing programs offer a built-in asset management strategy. These organizations are able to purchase computer equipment and services as needed throughout the year.

By partnering with LEAF and Merrill Lynch, a world-wide leading financial management and advisory company, customers are provided with the assurance that they are getting a competitive lease program that best meets their specific needs. Additionally, Gateway sales team members have access to the LEAF Leasing Portal and can input customer information for credit limit and lease approval within minutes.

To further provide financial flexibility and save administration time, other leasing features include master lease agreements, flexible payment schedules, and total solutions financing. Additionally, for state and local government agencies with a fiscal funding termination provision, a tax exempt plan is offered.

"Flexibility is key," said LEAF's Chairman and CEO, Crit DeMent. "Proper financing is what enables many businesses, government agencies and institutions to make technology investments. Our multifaceted and comprehensive program at Gateway gives customers what they need to stay competitive and within budget."

To help administer these new leasing products to its customers, Gateway is adding a team of LEAF staff on site at its North Sioux City, South Dakota offices.

Gateway Professional

From value-priced servers to ultra-reliable desktops to comprehensive services, Gateway has served organizations for 20 years. Gateway makes technology purchase, use and support simple through the programs developed for education, government, business customers as well as the ProNet Partner Program bringing channel-friendly benefits to help solution providers strengthen and grow their businesses. Gateway customers include many of the world's leading organizations, such as the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the University of Arizona, state of California, state of New York and others. For more information on Gateway Professional solutions, visit http://www.gateway.com/business.

About LEAF Financial Corporation (www.leaf-financial.com)

LEAF Financial Corporation is a commercial leasing company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. LEAF's business model is to originate small ticket equipment leases by reaching the small to mid sized business market by forming strategic marketing alliances and other program relationships with equipment vendors, commercial banks and other financial institutions. After origination, LEAF manages the leases for its own account, institutions, and individual investors through investment partnerships and other investment vehicles. LEAF Financial Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Resource America Inc. (NASDAQ:REXI).

About Resource America Inc. (www.resourceamerica.com)

Resource America Inc. is a specialized asset management company that uses industry specific expertise to generate and administer investment opportunities for its own account and for outside investors in the equipment leasing, financial services energy and real estate industries. For more information please visit our website at www.resourceamerica.com or contact investor relations at pschreiber@resourceamerica.com.

About Gateway

Since its founding in 1985, Irvine, Calif.-based Gateway (NYSE:GTW) has been offering award-winning PCs and related products to consumers, businesses, government agencies and schools with the highest quality and service and best overall value. Gateway is now the third largest PC company in the U.S. and among the top ten worldwide. The company's value-based eMachines brand is sold exclusively by leading retailers worldwide, while the premium Gateway line is available at major retailers, over the web and phone, and through its direct and indirect sales force. See http://www.gateway.com/ for more information.

Source: Gateway, Inc.

CONTACT: Bryan Sherlock of Gateway, Inc., +1-949-471-7756,
bryan.sherlock@gateway.com; or Pamela Schreiber of Resource America, Inc.,
+1-215-546-5005, pschreiber@resourceamerica.com

Web site: http://www.gateway.com/business

Web site: http://www.leaf-financial.com/

Web site: http://www.resourceamerica.com/

Web site: http://www.gateway.com/

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Profile: financial services

Digital Insight to Present at ThinkEquity and Bank of America Investor Conferences

2005-09-13T05:24:00.000-07:00

Digital Insight to Present at ThinkEquity and Bank of America Investor Conferences

CALABASAS, Calif., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Digital Insight Corp. (NASDAQ:DGIN) (www.digitalinsight.com), the leading online banking provider, announced today that Jeff Stiefler, chairman, president and CEO, will make presentations to the investment community at the upcoming ThinkEquity and Bank of America Investor Conferences in San Francisco.

ThinkEquity Conference Webcast: Wednesday, September 14 at 10:00 a.m. PDT

The ThinkEquity Conference presentation, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PDT on Wednesday, September 14, will be webcast live for all investors and an archived webcast replay will be available on Digital Insight's web site for two weeks following the conference. Investors interested in viewing the presentation should log on to the webcast 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time within the Investor Relations section of Digital Insight's web site located at www.digitalinsight.com.

Bank of America Conference Webcast: Wednesday, September 21 at 4:00 p.m. PDT

The Bank of America Conference presentation and breakout session, scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, September 21, respectively, will be webcast live for all investors and archived webcast replays will be available on Digital Insight's web site for two weeks following the conference. Investors interested in viewing the presentation should log on to the webcast 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time within the Investor Relations section of Digital Insight's web site located at www.digitalinsight.com.

About Digital Insight

Digital Insight(R) Corporation is the leading online banking provider for financial institutions. Through its comprehensive portfolio of Internet-based financial products and services built upon the company's unique architecture, Digital Insight enables banks and credit unions to become the trusted transaction hub for their retail and commercial customers. Digital Insight offers consumer and business Internet banking, online lending, electronic bill payment and presentment, check imaging, account-to-account transfers, website development and hosting and marketing programs designed to help increase online banking end user growth and more. Each Digital Insight product and service reinforces the strength of its financial institution clients.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on management's current expectations. Because of various risks and uncertainties, actual strategies and results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected. Additional discussion of factors affecting these forward looking statements is contained in Digital Insight's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: Digital Insight

CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Tobin Lee, +1-818-878-6048, or
Investor Relations, Erik Randerson, +1-818-878-6615, both of Digital Insight

Web site: http://www.digitalinsight.com/

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Profile: financial services

Central Pacific Financial Corp. to Present at RBC Capital Markets Financial Institutions Conference

2005-09-13T05:22:00.001-07:00

Central Pacific Financial Corp. to Present at RBC Capital Markets Financial Institutions Conference

HONOLULU, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Clint Arnoldus, Chief Executive Officer and Dean K. Hirata, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Central Pacific Financial Corp. (NYSE:CPF) will address the RBC Capital Markets Financial Institutions Conference on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 at 1:45 p.m. (EDT).

A copy of the presentation and a live link to the audio webcast will be available on Central Pacific's website at http://investor.centralpacificbank.com/. An archive of the webcast will be available at this website for 30 days.

Central Pacific Financial Corp. is a Hawaii-based bank holding company with $4.9 billion in assets. Central Pacific Bank, its primary subsidiary, is Hawaii's fourth largest financial institution operating 37 branches and more than 90 ATMs throughout the state.

Source: Central Pacific Financial Corp.; Central Pacific Bank

CONTACT: Investors, Amy Chamberlain, Investor Relations Officer,
+1-808-544-0618, investor@centralpacificbank.com, or Media, Ann Takiguchi
Marcos, VP & PR/Communications Manager, +1-808-544-0685,
ann.takiguchi@centralpacificbank.com, both of Central Pacific Financial Corp.

Web site: http://investor.centralpacificbank.com/

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Profile: financial services

Northrop Grumman to Present at Morgan Stanley's CEOs Unplugged Industrials Conference 2005

2005-09-13T05:22:00.000-07:00

Northrop Grumman to Present at Morgan Stanley's CEOs Unplugged Industrials Conference 2005

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will present at Morgan Stanley's CEOs Unplugged Industrials Conference 2005 on Thursday, Sept. 15 in Phoenix. The presentation by Ronald D. Sugar, Northrop Grumman chairman, chief executive officer and president, will be webcast at www.northropgrumman.com beginning at 7:45 a.m. local time.

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a global defense company headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 125,000 employees, and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries, Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers.

Note: Certain statements and assumptions in the discussion described in this release will contain or be based on "forward-looking" information (that Northrop Grumman believes to be within the definition in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and involve risks and uncertainties, and include, among others, statements in the future tense, and all statements accompanied by terms such as "project," "expect," "estimate," "assume," "guidance," "outlook," or variations thereof. This information reflects the company's best estimates when made, but the company expressly disclaims any duty to update this information if new data becomes available or estimates change after the date of this release. A discussion of these risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 10-K and 10-Q among others.

Source: Northrop Grumman Corporation

CONTACT: Dan McClain (Media), +1-310-201-3335, or Gaston Kent
(Investors), +1-310-201-3423, both of Northrop Grumman Corporation

Web site: http://www.northropgrumman.com/

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Profile: financial services

Bohai Bank Signs Sponsorship Protocol; Headquarters in Tianjin Binhai New Area

2005-09-13T05:20:00.000-07:00

Bohai Bank Signs Sponsorship Protocol; Headquarters in Tianjin Binhai New Area

TIANJIN, China, Sept. 13 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The management of Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area ("TEDA") announced today that Bohai Bank, the first national joint-stock commercial bank to be approved in China since 1996, has launched its sponsorship protocol, signaling the start of formal preparations for official business operations to commence soon. The bank's headquarter will be located in Tianjin Binhai New Area.

The Bank has a registered capital reserve of RMB5 billion. Its largest shareholder is Tianjin TEDA Investment Holding with a hefty control of 25% of the total shares. What makes the bank more striking is that its the first commercial bank to introduce foreign strategic investors in the preparatory stage. As the second largest shareholder, Standard Chartered (Hong Kong) Ltd. holds up to a 19.99% stake.

The bank will start its official operation in the early 2006. During the preliminary operating stage, it will focus its business operations on the area around the Bohai sea. It is expected to set up branches one year later in major economically developed regions outside Tianjin, such as the Yangtze River and Pearl River deltas.

Brief Introduction to Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area

Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (abbreviated to TEDA, with ''Taida'' as its Chinese transliteration) was established in 1984, upon the approval of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. It was one of the first state-level economic and technological development zones in the country.

Located in the centre of the Circum-Bohai economic circle and in the east of the Eurasia continental bridge, TEDA is a portal to such two metropolises as Beijing and Tianjin and a vital passage to Northeast China. So far over 3,300 overseas-founded companies have settled in TEDA. Among them 93 are founded by 44 corporations of the Fortune Global 500 like Motorola, Samsung, Toyota Motor, etc. In 2000, TEDA was acclaimed by Fortune of U.S. as ''the most admired industrial park of China.'' In 2002, it was elected by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), along with five other Chinese cities and areas including Shenzhen, Suzhou, Pudong New Area of Shanghai, etc., ''the most dynamic regions of China.''

For more information, please visit: http://www.investteda.org/ .

Source: Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area

CONTACT: Ding Lei, +86-22-2520-1576, or Xu Hui, +86-22-2520-1118, both
of TEDA

Web Site: http://www.investteda.org/

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Profile: financial services

InBank Study Examines Insurance and Banking Convergence

2005-09-13T05:18:00.000-07:00

InBank Study Examines Insurance and Banking Convergence

Analysis of Financial Results Points to Need for New Business Model

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Insurance company-owned banking operations are failing to achieve positive financial results and deficient business models are the reason, according to a study released today by InBank. InBank demonstrates there is opportunity for a new business model -- Private Label Banking -- to emerge in the marketplace.

According to the study, insurance companies have entered the banking arena by building or buying banks and an analysis of financial results illustrates neither business model has delivered profitable results. Among the study findings:

1. Insurance companies enter banking to capitalize on the financial
promise of convergence: improving distribution, increasing customer
acquisition and retention, expanding market share, enhancing market
image.

2. The vast majority of insurance company-owned banks have not met with
financial success, with cumulative losses plus invested capital ranging
from about $7 million to well over $500 million among the institutions
surveyed.

3. Insurance and banking product sets are highly complementary, however
the industries have disparate operational infrastructures and sales
cultures, inhibiting profitable organizational integration of insurance
and banking

4. Insurance companies should integrate banking products with their
existing product offering, however the majority should never own a
banking institution.

Private Label Banking is a new model providing insurance companies all the benefits a bank brings without the cost or risk. Enabling an insurance company to market banking products without building or buying a bank operation, Private Label Banking is a turnkey program drawing thousands of new customers to insurance company offices and providing the following components to activate an insurance company banking operation:

1. A full line of retail bank products branded in the name of the
insurance company.

2. Private labeled, transactional Internet banking.

3. Proven marketing programs targeting retail customers, with sales
results reporting at producer, agency, and company levels.

4. Agent training, sales support, and education.

5. Ongoing compliance management.

The study, "Banking by Insurance Companies: Is There a Successful Strategy?" is available upon request from InBank.

Methodology

As authorities on banking and insurance industry issues, InBank relied upon over 50 years of insurance and banking industry expertise when developing this study. Findings are supported by publicly available research data and call reports from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") for insurance company-owned, and independent banking operations.

About IB Services, LLC ("InBank")

InBank has pioneered Private Label Banking for insurance companies, enabling insurance companies to capitalize upon the financial potential of banking and insurance industry convergence. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, InBank has created and markets a fully supported marketing program built around banking products that generates thousands of new customers on behalf of insurance companies. The InBank Private Label Banking program allows an insurance company to offer banking products without any of the capital costs, operational risks, or regulatory responsibility associated with either building or buying a banking institution.

InBank's website is: http://www.myinbank.com/

Source: InBank

CONTACT: Bob Martins of IB Services, LLC, +1-703-229-1306, or
rmartins@myinbank.com

Web site: http://www.myinbank.com/

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Profile: financial services

Roark Capital Group Acquires Wood Structures, Inc.

2005-09-13T05:17:00.000-07:00

Roark Capital Group Acquires Wood Structures, Inc.

Atlanta-based private equity firm buys ninth company

ATLANTA, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, announced today that it has acquired Wood Structures, Inc. (WSI). Headquartered in Biddeford, Maine, WSI is New England's largest wood truss manufacturer and a leading distributor of engineered wood products.

The acquisition of WSI is Roark's second investment in its $413 million fund raised in March 2005. Roark made its first fund investment in August with the purchase of McAlister's Deli, an owner, operator and franchisor of a chain of quick casual restaurants.

"Over the past 40 years, WSI has consistently created the highest quality products and service levels in its industry," said Lawrence J. DeAngelo, partner of Roark Capital Group. "Frank Paul, president of WSI, and his management team's ability to steadily gain market share is evidence of the company's strong customer satisfaction and loyalty."

The company's products and services are gaining importance with builders as they increasingly utilize prefabricated building methods, which reduce dependency on skilled labor, provide better and more consistent product quality and reduce costly work-site delays compared to traditional stick building methods.

Paul will continue to lead the company and is pleased that Roark has added WSI to its growing business portfolio.

"We are excited about our new relationship with Roark," said Paul. "Roark's expertise in finding and integrating complimentary acquisitions and new market expansions was particularly attractive to us and we look forward to a bright future."

About Wood Structures, Inc.

Wood Structures, Inc., based in Biddeford, Maine, is New England's leading designer and manufacturer of roof trusses, floor trusses and wall panels and distributor of engineered wood products, such as floor joists and laminated veneer lumber. For further information about WSI, please visit www.wsitruss.com.

About Roark Capital Group

Roark Capital Group is an Atlanta-based private equity firm that acquires majority positions in franchise, financial services, niche manufacturing, and service businesses. Roark also targets family-owned businesses in the Southeast. The firm, with more than $585 million of equity capital under management, specializes in companies with attractive growth prospects and revenues ranging from $20 million to $1.0 billion. For more information about Roark Capital Group, please visit www.roarkcapital.com.

Contact: Julie Meyer, Fishman Public Relations, (847) 945-1300, ext. 233 or jmeyer@fishmanpr.com

Source: Roark Capital Group

CONTACT: Julie Meyer of Fishman Public Relations, +1-847-945-1300, ext.
233, or jmeyer@fishmanpr.com , for Roark Capital Group

Web site: http://www.roarkcapital.com/
http://www.wsitruss.com/

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Profile: financial services

K&F Industries Holdings, Inc. Elects J. Thomas Zusi Board Member

2005-09-13T05:15:00.000-07:00

K&F Industries Holdings, Inc. Elects J. Thomas Zusi Board Member

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- J. Thomas Zusi was elected to the board of directors of K&F Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:KFI) at its September 8 board meeting.

Mr. Zusi, 62, will serve as chairman of the audit committee, succeeding Dale Frey who remains a director and member of the audit committee.

Mr. Zusi's professional background and education make him well qualified to chair the audit committee as an independent financial expert. He joined AlliedSignal Inc. in 1981 as director-corporate auditing, and assumed increasing responsibility in the accounting and controls area during his tenure becoming vice president, finance and CFO in 1994, and corporate vice president, finance -- business analysis and operations in 1997. Prior to his association with AlliedSignal, from which he retired in 1999, Mr. Zusi was a senior audit manager with Price Waterhouse & Company from 1970 to 1981.

A certified public accountant, Mr. Zusi earned his B.S. in Accounting and his M.B.A. in Finance and Economics at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

About K&F

K&F Industries Holdings, Inc. recently completed an initial public offering of its common stock. Certain affiliates of Aurora Capital Group continue to control a majority of the voting power of K&F's outstanding common stock and therefore K&F remains a "controlled company" within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance standards.

K&F Industries Holdings, Inc., through its Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation subsidiary, manufactures wheels, brakes and brake control systems for commercial transport, general aviation and military aircraft. K&F's other subsidiary, Engineered Fabrics Corporation, manufactures aircraft fuel tanks, de-icing equipment and specialty coated fabrics used for storage, shipping, environmental and rescue applications for commercial and military use.

Forward Looking Statements

Some statements and information contained herein are not historical facts, but are "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, the Company or its representatives have made and may continue to make forward-looking statements, orally, in writing or in other contexts, such as in reports filed with SEC or press releases. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "believes," "expects," "may," "should" or the like, the negative of these words or other variations of these words or comparable words, or discussion of strategy that involves risk and uncertainties. We caution you that these forward-looking statements are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially as a result of a wide variety of factors and conditions, many of which are beyond our control. Some of these factors and conditions include, but are not limited to: (i) government or regulatory changes, (ii) dependence on our subsidiary, Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation, for operating income, (iii) competition in the market for our products, and (iv) our substantial indebtedness. This press release should be read in conjunction with our periodic reports filed with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this press release.

Source: K&F Industries Holdings, Inc.

CONTACT: Kenneth M. Schwartz, +1-914-448-2700, for K&F Industries
Holdings, Inc.

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Profile: financial services

Velocity Asset Management Announces 256% Increase in July Year-Over-Year Collections

2005-09-13T05:14:00.001-07:00

Velocity Asset Management Announces 256% Increase in July Year-Over-Year Collections

- Aggregate Outstanding Principal Amount of Consumer Receivables Under Management Increase 462% to Approximately $90 Million -

RAMSEY, N.J., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Velocity Asset Management, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: VCYA) announced today its wholly-owned subsidiary, Velocity Investments, LLC ("Velocity Investments"), a consumer receivables asset management and liquidation company, experienced record collections from its portfolios of unsecured consumer receivables in the month ended July 31, 2005.

For the month ended July 31, 2005, Velocity Investments posted collections of $483,446, a 256% increase as compared to collections of $135,596 in month ending July 31, 2004, and a 9% sequential increase as compared to collections of $443,092 in previous month ended June 30, 2005.

During the month ended July 31, 2005, Velocity Investments purchased two separate consumer receivable portfolios totaling approximately $30.5 million in outstanding principal amount for a cost of approximately $1.8 million. On July 31, 2005, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Velocity Investments' consumer receivables under management was approximately $90 million, an increase of 462% as compared to approximately $16 million as of July 31, 2004.

The increase in both collections and aggregate outstanding principal amount of consumer receivables under management is a result of Velocity Investments' partial deployment of its first substantial credit facility, a three-year, $12.5-million senior credit facility established in February 2005 with Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc.

Commenting on the announcement, Jack Kleinert, CEO of Velocity Asset Management, stated, "The facility with Wells Fargo Foothill has begun to provide the Company with the opportunity to benefit from scale by acquiring larger non-performing portfolios and take greater advantage of the enormous operating leverage and earnings power our business model presents. We expect to sustain this increase in our rate of growth of collections for the foreseeable future."

About Velocity Asset Management, Inc

Velocity Asset Management, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that focuses on the purchase, resale, and collection of distressed assets through its three wholly owned subsidiaries, Velocity Investments, LLC, J. Holder, Inc. and VOM, LLC. Velocity Investments, LLC is a consumer receivables asset management and liquidation company, which purchases, manages and liquidates portfolios of unsecured consumer receivables. J. Holder, Inc. invests in, and maximizes the return on real property sold at sheriff's foreclosure sales and judgment execution sales, acquires defaulted mortgages and partial interests in real property with the goal of re-selling the property or perfecting the partial interest for resale. VOM, LLC focuses on purchasing, managing and maximizing the return on New Jersey municipal tax liens.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Press Release contains or may contain forward-looking statements and information that are based upon beliefs of and information currently available to the Company's management as well as estimates and assumptions made by the Company's management.

When used herein the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "future," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company or the Company's management identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's operations and results of operations and any businesses that may be acquired by the Company. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed, estimated, intended or planned.

Company Contact: For Investors:
Jim Mastriani, CFO Robert B. Prag, President
Velocity Asset Management The Del Mar Consulting Group, Inc.
(732) 556-9090 (858) 794-9500
jjm@velocitycollect.combprag@delmarconsulting.com

Source: Velocity Asset Management, Inc.

CONTACT: Company Contact: Jim Mastriani, CFO, Velocity Asset Management,
+1-732-556-9090, jjm@velocitycollect.com; or For Investors: Robert B. Prag,
President, The Del Mar Consulting Group, Inc., +1-858-794-9500,
bprag@delmarconsulting.com

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Profile: financial services

Centive Compel for Appforce Introduced at Dreamforce '05

2005-09-13T05:14:00.000-07:00

Centive Compel for Appforce Introduced at Dreamforce '05

On-Demand Sales Compensation Management Solution Provides Visibility into Salesforce to Calculate Projected Sales Earnings

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Centive, the leader in on-demand sales compensation management, and salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM), the market and technology leader in on-demand customer relationship management (CRM), today announced the availability of Centive Compel for Appforce. Tightly integrated with salesforce.com via the Appforce on-demand platform, and immediately available to salesforce.com customers, Centive Compel for Appforce enhances Compel's on-demand sales compensation management solution by providing sales representatives with the ability to model commission earnings for sales opportunities managed within their Salesforce deployment.

Centive Compel for Appforce was announced today in San Francisco at Dreamforce '05, salesforce.com's third annual user and developer conference, and is an Appforce-certified solution.

"The integration of Centive Compel with Appforce demonstrates the ease of building complementary solutions on the Appforce on-demand platform," said Adam Gross, Director of Product Marketing, salesforce.com. "Together, Salesforce and Centive Compel provide an integrated, on-demand approach to CRM that enables companies to better manage the prospect to paycheck lifecycle."

Centive Compel for Appforce uses filters such as probability and estimated close-date to allow both compensation analysts and sales reps to select opportunities that meet specific pipeline criteria. Compel then processes the associated commission value of those opportunities according to their plan rules, enabling sales reps to see their projected earnings in the current pay period. By using a time filter, sales reps gain visibility into opportunities that have a predicted close date in the current period plus additional days, such as the current month plus 60 days out.

"The Appforce API enabled us to rapidly integrate Compel with salesforce.com to provide a complementary on-demand solution that adds tremendous value for new and existing salesforce.com customers," said Michael Torto, president and CEO of Centive. "Now, we can combine the benefits of real-time visibility into sales compensation with the sales pipeline to project sales earnings."

Appforce is a complete on-demand platform that includes Appforce Builder, Appforce DB, Appforce API and the Appforce OS for development & deployment of multiple on-demand applications. Appforce provides unprecedented ease of customization and integration for Salesforce deployments, as well as enabling a whole new generation of on-demand applications that go beyond CRM.

About Centive

Centive is the leader in on-demand sales compensation management. Companies use Centive Compel to gain real-time visibility into sales performance metrics. Compel is a cost effective, on-demand solution that allows executives to be strategic and sales reps to stay focused on selling. A privately held company headquartered in Burlington, Mass., Centive is backed by leading venture capital firms including Polaris Ventures Partners, VSP Capital and Key Venture Partners. Centive delivers its solutions through a direct sales force and alliances with consulting, implementation, platform and software partners. To learn more about Centive, please visit http://www.centive.com/ or call 1-877-CENTIVE.

About salesforce.com

Source: Centive

CONTACT: Robert S. Conlin of Centive, +1-781-852-3503,
bconlin@centive.com; or Kevin Rudden of Kel & Partners, +1-508-259-9584,
kevin@kelandpartners.com; or Jane Hynes, Public Relations of Salesforce.com,
+1-415-901-5079, jhynes@salesforce.com

Web site: http://www.centive.com/
http://www.salesforce.com/

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Profile: financial services

InvestRealEstate.com Rolls Out Zero-Down Investor Loans

2005-09-13T04:56:00.000-07:00

InvestRealEstate.com Rolls Out Zero-Down Investor Loans

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- New and experienced real estate investors alike now have the option of purchasing Investment Property with no down payment, thanks to InvestRealEstate.com (http://www.investrealestate.com/). The real estate investing portal has teamed up with one of the nation's top mortgage banks to offer the first zero- down investor loans on one- to four-unit residential dwellings.

"Our partnership with Charter Funding gives experienced investors more flexibility than ever before," stated InvestRealEstate.com founder Benjamin Cohen. "At the same time, new investors with low or no down payment will finally be able to obtain rental properties and begin investing in real estate."

Along with zero-down mortgages on second homes and investment properties, investors whose credit scores are high enough can qualify for loans with no income, asset or job verification. Charter Funding also offers 1.325% Super Cash Flow loans to investors who desire the lowest possible monthly payment.

But the groundbreaking investment loan programs aren't the only reason investors are intrigued by InvestRealEstate.com: The site's Full Service Program is proving popular among new investors eager to begin owning real estate - and it's not hard to see why. The program combines Charter Funding's Zero-Down loans with the unique services of Investor's RealtyMatch, a boutique firm that matches clients with local real estate agents who are true specialists in the investor niche. Once the desired property is acquired, tenant-location services through RENT.com as well as credit reports to assist in evaluating potential tenants are all included for free.

Investors of all experience levels can take advantage of the numerous tools and resources throughout InvestRealEstate.com. Along with custom Appreciation and Cash Flow calculators, the site provides landlord forms, reports on investing in real estate, a comprehensive service directory, real estate-related news and opinions, and a newsletter - all free. Those interested in zero-down investor loans can determine their eligibility at InvestRealEstate.com before applying.

"Now is the best time to invest in a rental property because interest rates are extremely low, which in turn allows investors to lock in the lowest monthly payment possible, which in turn maximizes their cash flow," Cohen explained. "InvestRealEstate.com offers the tools and resources for both new and experienced investors to invest the right way, today."

Contact:

Benjamin Cohen
Asher Worldwide
480-329-6913
info@investrealestate.comhttp://www.investrealestate.com/

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Source: InvestRealEstate.com

CONTACT: Benjamin Cohen, Asher Worldwide, +1-480-329-6913,
info@investrealestate.com

Web site: http://www.investrealestate.com/

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Profile: financial services

Mellon GCM to Highlight Latest Solutions at Southwest Treasury & Payments Expo

2005-09-13T04:53:00.000-07:00

Mellon GCM to Highlight Latest Solutions at Southwest Treasury & Payments Expo

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mellon Global Cash Management (GCM) will highlight a number of products and services at the 20th Annual Southwest Treasury & Payments Expo on Friday, September 16 at the Wyndham Phoenix.

During the event, Mellon GCM representatives will demonstrate Remote Check Capture, a new solution that enables clients to scan and truncate checks they receive from their payors outside of a lockbox and then electronically transmit the images to Mellon, where they are processed either through wholesale lockbox or directly through deposit operations.

In addition, Mellon GCM representatives will be participating in the following conference sessions:

- "Efficiency & Cost Management in Accounts Payable" at 12:30 p.m. with
Dan Reiff, senior vice president, SourceNet Solutions.
- "Stranded Payments: A Check 21 Surprise" at 2 p.m. with Jayna Desai,
Collections & Disbursements product manager, Mellon GCM.

To schedule a product demonstration or a meeting with a Mellon GCM representative during the event, please call 1 800 424-3004 or e-mail Mellon GCM at gcm_direct_pgh@mellon.com.

Mellon Global Cash Management, a payments industry leader synonymous with quality performance and known for its innovation and expertise, designs comprehensive solutions through its broad line of cash management services to meet the specialized treasury needs of corporations, nonprofit organizations and financial institutions. Recently, an independently-administered customer satisfaction survey revealed that Mellon GCM continues to distinguish itself from its competition in the areas of operating quality, commitment to cash management and customer service. In addition, Mellon GCM was one of only two providers to achieve an A+ average for product performance in the 2004 Phoenix-Hecht(R) Quality Index(TM) of 33 major cash management providers. Throughout 2005, Mellon GCM is celebrating its 50th anniversary in remittance processing. In addition, Mellon GCM is the only electronic payments services provider in the U.S. to successfully complete both a Level 3 Capability Maturity Model(R) (CMM(R)) assessment for its software engineering practices and attain ISO 9001:2000 Registration. More information on Mellon GCM is available at www.mellon.com/gcm.

Mellon Financial Corporation (NYSE:MEL) is a global financial services company. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Mellon is one of the world's leading providers of financial services for institutions, corporations and high net worth individuals, providing institutional asset management, mutual funds, private wealth management, asset servicing, payment solutions and investor services, and treasury services. Mellon has approximately $4.2 trillion in assets under management, administration or custody, including $738 billion under management. Its asset management companies include The Dreyfus Corporation and U.K.-based Newton Investment Management Limited. News and other information about Mellon is available at www.mellon.com.

Source: Mellon Financial Corporation

CONTACT: Ron Gruendl of Mellon Financial Corporation, +1-412-234-7157,
or gruendl.rr@mellon.com

Web site: http://www.mellon.com/
http://www.mellon.com/gcm

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Profile: financial services

Financial Architect(R) 'Expert Suite' Gives CPAs and Attorneys Powerful New Tools to Help Clients Raise Capital

2005-09-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

Financial Architect(R) 'Expert Suite' Gives CPAs and Attorneys Powerful New Tools to Help Clients Raise Capital

Sophisticated Software Can Reduce Cost of Regulation D and Regulation A Offerings By Up to 90%

CHICAGO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Commonwealth Capital Advisors' patent- pending Financial Architect(R) System's "Expert Suite" is now available at http://www.ccaintl.com/ for CPAs and Attorneys, giving them powerful tools to assist their clients in the production of private placement or limited public securities offering documents.

"Only 1.5% of start-up and early stage companies are funded by venture capitalists or investment banks, leaving the rest to turn to commercial bank loans. A private placement or limited public securities offering is generally a more effective way for entrepreneurs or even established companies to raise needed capital. The Financial Architect(R) System's Expert Suite is a full turn-key system that provides accountants and attorneys with the tools necessary to assist their clients in producing these securities offering documents in a cost-effective manner," said Timothy Hogan, CEO of Commonwealth.

The Financial Architect(R) System is a system that includes: an E-book that contains the "Fundamentals" of raising capital using the Wall Street process that rarely change; sophisticated software program modules that enable one to run pro forma financial projections compliant to GAAP standards, create a marketable deal structure and produce the actual securities offering documents; and a private password-protected area on the company's website known as the Commonwealth Capital Club that links entrepreneurs with the critical compliance components and angel investors around the world. This area is dynamic and changes often.

The Financial Architect(R) System is for start-up or early stage companies who need to raise between $100,000 and $20 million in working capital (seed, development and expansion) through the issuance of a Regulation D private or Regulation A limited public securities offering. It is also for seasoned companies seeking $5 to $20 million to launch a new product or service that cannot tap into traditional commercial bank financing without additional equity capital being raised.

By standardizing document production and complex legal, accounting and investment banking issues, the Financial Architect(R) System enables entrepreneurs and their current professional service providers to conduct private placement or limited public securities offering on their own, at a fraction of the traditional cost.

Professional service providers, such as accountants and attorneys who assist small businesses owners, can enhance and expand their practices with the Financial Architect(R) System Expert Suite, which contains the four most popular deal structures for capitalizing start-up and early stage companies. The system modules contain the required documentation for corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships to comply with federal and state(s') securities laws, rules, and regulations.

"We believe that our system and method of reducing the cost of raising capital can strengthen the U.S. and world economies by assisting individuals, with great ideas or inventions, in becoming true entrepreneurs, by enabling them to raise substantial amounts of capital with an inexpensive turn-key web- enabled system," said Charles Dreher, CEO of CCA International.

Commonwealth Capital Advisors specializes in helping start-up and early stage companies raise capital. A complimentary E-Book entitled "Raising Capital for Start-Up and Early Stage Companies - The Secrets of Wall Street" (Summarized Edition) is available on their web site: http://www.ccaintl.com/.

Contact:

Charles D. Dreher, CEO
CCA International
1-312-540-1938
http://www.ccaintl.com/

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Source: CCA International

CONTACT: Charles D. Dreher, CEO, CCA International, +1-312-540-1938

Web site: http://www.ccaintl.com/

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Profile: financial services

Asia Pay Enters Into Partnership With NETS

2005-09-13T04:47:00.000-07:00

Asia Pay Enters Into Partnership With NETS

BEIJING and NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Asia Payment Systems, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: APYM) announced today that it has concluded an agreement for online transaction processing for credit cards and debit cards in Singapore and China with Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd. (NETS).

NETS, Singapore's leading electronic payments provider for the past 20 years, has extensive experience in operating networks that support nationwide direct debit and stored value payments, as well as providing payment solutions for online and mobile transactions via eNETS, Singapore's leading online payments provider for credit cards, direct debit and "virtual accounts."

eNETS' online payment services are used by local and overseas Internet merchants including: government agencies, airlines, MNCs and SMEs. The company handles more than 350,000 transactions a month and has more than 700 merchants signed to its payment gateway. Moreover, eNETS' influence now stretches far beyond Singapore's shores with merchants in Hong Kong, China, Japan and Europe who are benefiting by using the eNETS system. eNETS was also recognized as a trusted payment gateway as it earned the TrustSG seal in July 2005, which guarantees that a customer's personal data is protected and online payment is secure, part of an initiative by the National Trust Council and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore.

General Manager for eNETS and International Markets Raj Lorenz said: "We are pleased to welcome Asia Pay into partnership with NETS and believe that this will be the start of a rewarding and mutually beneficial relationship for both companies. Together with Asia Pay, our aim is to further extend NETS' products and services throughout the Asia-Pacific region and help our merchants gain a foothold in these markets."

Asia Pay's President and CEO Matt Mecke said, "In establishing this relationship, Asia Pay can leverage upon NETS' Southeast Asian coverage, and thus extend its reach within the region, gaining clear recognition as the premier, multinational payment gateway in Asia.

"When you add NETS' scope to our China and Japan links, we truly improve our geographical position and expect that during the coming months we'll be able to grow our regional client base over a much wider catchment area than before," added Mecke.

About Asia Payment Systems, Inc.

Asia Pay is a USA public company with offices in: New York City, Beijing and Shenzhen, China; and in Hong Kong. Asia Pay is developing a credit card processing network that provides clearing services to merchants, oil companies, and financial institutions in China, Japan, and in other card processing markets in Asia.

Asia Pay's mission is to be a national provider of world-class third-party processing services in China to bankcard-accepting merchants, issuers of bank credit cards, issuers of petroleum station retail cards, and issuers of merchandise and other retail cards. Systems, hardware, and personnel are now in place as Asia Pay commences delivering service to clients. In addition, the company plans to expand nationwide operations in the China market, which currently has an estimated 875 million debit cards in use, with annual growth of an additional 100+ million cards.

For more information about Asia Payment Systems, Inc. (Asia Pay), please visit: http://www.asiapayinc.com/.

About Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd. (NETS)

NETS was founded in 1985 to operate and manage an on-line debit payment service. It has since grown from a single to a multi-service organization, providing a comprehensive range of electronic payment services.

Based in Singapore, NETS is expanding internationally with a vision to be the preferred world-class solutions provider for payment and processing services, accepting multi-media and multi-channel transactions on behalf of companies, institutions and individuals around the world. NETS products and services are currently marketed throughout Asia, including China, Hong Kong and South East Asia.

NETS provides merchants, banks and customers with fast and convenient electronic payment services for carrying out everyday transactions. With a willingness to push new technology frontiers, NETS is continuously developing new payment solutions to create an integrated multimedia platform that allows payments to be made seamlessly across mobile, wireless and physical arenas. With a growing range of payment services, NETS is poised to become the integrated payment gateway for Asia.

Find more information on NETS and its payment services at http://www.nets.com.sg/.

Contacts:

Asia Payment Systems, Inc.
Matt Mecke, President & CEO
Tel. +1-866-877-APAY
Fax +1-206-470-1150
ir@asiapayinc.comhttp://www.asiapayinc.com/

Investor Relations
Sussex Avenue Partners
Tel. 760-918-5592
Toll-free. 866-878-7739
news@sussexavenuepartners.comhttp://www.sussexavenueprofiles.com/

Network For Electronic Transfers (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
Theresa Lee
Customer Marketing and Communications
Tel: +65 6374 0453
theresa@nets.com.sghttp://www.nets.com.sg/

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.

Source: Asia Payment Systems, Inc.

CONTACT: Asia Payment Systems, Inc.: Matt Mecke, President & CEO,
+1-866-877-APAY, Fax: +1-206-470-1150, ir@asiapayinc.com; or Investor
Relations: Sussex Avenue Partners, +1-760-918-5592, +1-866-878-7739,
news@sussexavenuepartners.com; or Network For Electronic Transfers (Singapore)
Pte Ltd.: Theresa Lee, Customer Marketing and Communications, +65 6374 0453,
theresa@nets.com.sg

Web site: http://www.nets.com.sg/

Web site: http://www.asiapayinc.com/

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Profile: financial services

Landmark Communications to Take CoolSavings Private; CoolSavings Stockholders to Receive $.80 Per Share in Cash

2005-09-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

Landmark Communications to Take CoolSavings Private; CoolSavings Stockholders to Receive $.80 Per Share in Cash

CHICAGO and NORFOLK, Va., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Landmark Communications, Inc. ("Landmark") today announced the execution of a definitive agreement for Landmark to purchase all of the shares of common stock ("Common Stock") and Series C convertible preferred stock of CoolSavings, Inc. ("CoolSavings") (BULLETIN BOARD: CSAV) held by each of Richard H. Rogel and Hugh R. Lamle and certain of their respective family members and related persons (the "Selling Stockholders"). Landmark is CoolSavings' largest stockholder with beneficial ownership of approximately 83% of CoolSavings' Common Stock, assuming Landmark converted all of its Series B convertible preferred stock. Mr. Rogel and Mr. Lamle are members of the Board of Directors of CoolSavings. This negotiated purchase will be the first step in a series of transactions through which Landmark, without action by the CoolSavings board of directors, intends to take CoolSavings private.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050203/CGTH021LOGO )

Under its agreement with the Selling Stockholders, Landmark will acquire 8,739,904 shares of Common Stock and 12,132,976 shares of Series C convertible preferred stock of CoolSavings (collectively, the "Shares") at a per share price of $.80 for an aggregate purchase price of $16,698,304.

Upon consummation of the acquisition of the Shares, Landmark will hold approximately 66.5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, 100% of the outstanding shares of Series B convertible preferred stock and approximately 95% of the outstanding shares of Series C convertible preferred stock of CoolSavings. Immediately following the acquisition of the Shares, Landmark intends to exercise its right to convert all of its outstanding shares of Series B convertible preferred stock to Common Stock. Once the conversion is completed, Landmark's ownership of CoolSavings' Common Stock will increase from approximately 66.5% to approximately 91.7%, and, accordingly, Landmark will own more than 90% of each class of outstanding stock of CoolSavings.

Immediately following the consummation of the acquisition of the Shares and conversion of all of Landmark's shares of Series B convertible preferred stock to Common Stock, and subject to Landmark's obligations under Rule 13e-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Landmark intends to consummate a short-form merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL") whereby a newly-formed wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Landmark holding all of the shares of CoolSavings capital stock then owned by Landmark and its affiliates will be merged with and into CoolSavings, with CoolSavings being the surviving corporation in such merger. Under Section 253 of the DGCL, the short-form merger may be effected without any vote of the board of directors or stockholders of CoolSavings because the merging subsidiary will own more than 90% of each class of outstanding stock of CoolSavings.

Under the terms of the merger, each outstanding share of Common Stock and each outstanding share of Series C convertible preferred stock of CoolSavings (other than those shares held by Landmark and its affiliates and any shares owned by stockholders who properly exercise their statutory appraisal rights under the DGCL) will be converted into the right to receive $0.80 in cash, without interest. Following the merger, Landmark will beneficially own the same number of shares of Common Stock and Series C convertible preferred stock of CoolSavings, as the surviving corporation, as before the merger.

The closing of the acquisition of the Shares is subject to customary closing conditions, including Landmark's filing of a Schedule 13E-3, the resolution of all SEC comments with respect to the Schedule 13E-3, and the dissemination of the Schedule 13E-3 to CoolSavings' stockholders pursuant to Rule 13e-3. After the consummation of the acquisition of the Shares and the completion of the short-form merger, Landmark intends, and the purpose of the acquisition of the Shares and the short form merger is, to cause CoolSavings to file a Form 15 to deregister the Common Stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and cease to be a publicly traded reporting company.

Landmark intends to file the Schedule 13E-3 as soon as practicable. Following the resolution of any SEC comments, Landmark intends to mail the Schedule 13E-3 to each stockholder of CoolSavings. The purchase of the Shares and the short form merger will not be consummated for at least 20 days following this mailing. Landmark currently anticipates that the going-private transaction will be effected in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Landmark does not expect that there would be any significant changes in CoolSavings management or immediate business strategy.

CoolSavings is joining in this press release with Landmark for the purpose of disclosing information provided to it by Landmark. CoolSavings fully expects to continue operations in the ordinary course of business pending the merger transaction.

ABOUT COOLSAVINGS

CoolSavings is a leading interactive marketing services company for advertisers and publishers. The company provides superior lead generation, e- mail, coupon and loyalty programs across its extensive network of company- owned Branded Web Properties and top partner sites. The company maximizes results using sophisticated targeting, optimization and predictive modeling capabilities. Together these services could enable leaders in the consumer packaged goods, retail and direct marketing industries to reach more than 48 million registering consumers and potentially generate more than 75 million consumer responses in 2005, while delivering valuable content and revenue for the Company's network partners.

ABOUT LANDMARK

Landmark is a privately-held media company with national and international interests in newspapers, broadcasting, cable programming and electronic publishing, including The Weather Channel, weather.com and The Virginian- Pilot.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, both general and specific to the matters discussed in this press release, may cause the proposed transactions contemplated hereunder to differ materially from the expectations expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, without limitation, the SEC review of the Schedule 13E-3, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the stock purchase agreement with the Selling Stockholders and other risks associated with the transactions described herein. For a discussion of other risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements herein, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, both as filed with the SEC.

CoolSavings undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or otherwise reflect new developments or changed circumstances, unless expressly required by applicable federal securities laws. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050203/CGTH021LOGO
Source: Landmark Communications, Inc.

CONTACT: Melissa Lederer, +1-312-224-5153, melissa@coolsavings.com, or
David B. Arney, +1-312-224-5427, darney@coolsavings.com, both of CoolSavings,
Inc.; or Guy R. Friddell, III of Landmark Communications, Inc.,
+1-757-446-2660, rfriddell@lcimedia.com

Web site: http://www.coolsavings.com/

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Profile: financial services

COMPLETED ACQUISITION BY ARDAGH INTERNATIONAL OF REDFEARN GLASS

2005-09-13T04:08:00.000-07:00

COMPLETED ACQUISITION BY ARDAGH INTERNATIONAL OF REDFEARN GLASS

London, 13 September/GNN/ --

COMPETITION COMMISSION News Release (56/05) issued by the Government News
Network on 13 September 2005
Statement of issues

The Competition Commission (CC) has today published an issues statement as part
of its inquiry into the completed acquisition by Ardagh International Holdings
Ltd of Redfearn Glass Limited (previously Rexam Glass Barnsley Limited).

The CC has been asked to consider whether the acquisition may be expected
to result in a substantial lessening of competition within the market (or
any related markets) for the supply of glass containers in the UK. The OFT
has said that following the acquisition, Ardagh controls 50 per cent of the
supply of most types of glass containers in the UK.

The full issues statement is available on the CC's website at:
www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2005/ardagh/index.htm and
covers issues relating to:

* market definition;
* competitive conditions;
* counterfactual (what would happen in the absence of the merger);
* competitive effects of the merger; and
* remedies.

The issues statement forms part of the initial process of gathering
information, views and evidence and identifies clearly for all interested
parties the specific questions and areas the inquiry will be examining. This
will form the basis for the hearings with Ardagh and other interested parties.

If the Group considers that the merger may be expected to result in a
substantial lessening of competition, it will consider whether and, if so,
what remedies might be appropriate, issuing any remedies statement, should
this be required, at about the time it publishes its provisional findings.

The issues statement should not be seen as implying that the Group has
identified any competition concerns-the CC has yet to reach any conclusions
on this inquiry. The purpose of making the statement of issues public is
to inform all interested parties and give them an opportunity to raise any
further points with the CC. The CC would like to hear from all interested
parties, in writing, by 23 September 2005. To submit evidence, please write to:

Inquiry Secretary (Ardagh/Redfearn Glass merger inquiry)
Competition Commission
Victoria House
Southampton Row
LONDON
WC1B 4AD
Or email: Ardagh.Redfearn@competition-commission.gsi.gov.uk.

The CC will now continue to gather evidence in this inquiry and will publish
its provisional findings according to the administrative timetable available
on the CC web site.

Notes to editors
1. The Enterprise Act 2002 empowers the Office of Fair Trading to refer
to the CC completed or proposed mergers for investigation and report which
create or enhance a 25 per cent share of supply in the UK (or a substantial
part thereof) or where the UK turnover associated with the enterprise being
acquired is over £70 million.

2. The case was referred by the OFT on 1 August 2005 and the CC is expected
to report by 13 January 2006.

3. The Ardagh/Redfearn Inquiry Group consists of five members: Diana Guy
(Group Chairman), Carolan Dobson, Richard Farrant, Michael Waterson and
Stephen Wilks..

4. The CC has a 24-week period in which it is required to publish its report,
which may be extended by no more than eight weeks if it considers that there
are special reasons why the report cannot be published within that period.

5. Further information on the CC and its procedures, including its policy on
the provision of information and the disclosure of evidence, can be obtained
from its web site at: www.competition-commission.org.uk.

6. Enquiries should be directed to Rory Taylor or Francis Royle on
020 7271 0242 or rory.taylor@competition-commission.gsi.gov.uk or
francis.royle@competition-commission.gsi.gov.uk.

Source: COMPETITION COMMISSION

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Profile: financial services

Asia Markets -- Shares End Higher

2005-09-13T03:51:00.001-07:00

Asia Markets -- Shares End Higher

SYDNEY, Australia, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Asian share markets ended mixed today with investors generally wary following a lacklustre performance on Wall Street overnight, dealers said.

The Tokyo stock market finished 0.04% firmer Tuesday following the release of strong economic growth figures, dealers said.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange's benchmark Nikkei-225 index rose 5.52 points to 12,901.95.

Chinese share prices surged 1.60% Tuesday due to fresh fund inflows and buying interest in airlines and retailers, analysts said.

The Shanghai Composite Index increased 18.95 points to close at 1,207.16, its highest finish in five months.

Hong Kong stocks finished 0.85% weaker Tuesday as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of a US Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates next week, brokers said.

The Hang Seng index shed 129.23 points at 15,070.56.

South Korean stocks closed 0.02% lower Tuesday as the market underwent a correction after a fifth consecutive bullish run.

The broader Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 0.24 points to 1,158.12.

Share prices on the Taiwan Stock Exchange closed steady Tuesday, with investors exercising caution ahead of a decision by the central bank on monetary policy, dealers said.

The weighted index, the market's key barometer, moved up 4.1 points to close at 6,169.08.

The Australian stock market moved towards record territory today closing up 0.52% as investors ignored an uninspiring lead from United States markets and bought mining and building stocks to push the bourse higher.

At the 1605 AEST close, the S&P/ASX200 index was up 23.3 points to 4495.1, while the all ordinaries points lifted 18.8 points to 4456.3.

Indonesian share prices slumped 1.80% by the end of trade today as investors saw pending fuel increases as likely to spark a rise in inflation, dealers said.

The Jakarta Stock Exchange composite index plunged 19.913 points at 1,085.744.

Thai share prices ended 0.35% softer on modest profit-taking, dealers said.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite fell 2.49 points at 710.31.

Malaysian shares prices finished 0.36% down in lacklustre and directionless trade, dealers said.

The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index fell 3.35 points at 915.72.

Singapore share prices ended 0.63% softer as investors grabbed profits following recent rises, dealers said.

The Straits Times Index dropped 14.76 points to 2,310.35.
TUESDAY INDICES
* TOKYO - Nikkei 12901.95 (up 5.52 points)
* SHANGHAI - Composite 1,207.16 (up 19.85 points)
* HONG KONG - Hang Seng 15070.56 (down 129.23 points)
* SEOUL - Composite 1158.12 (down 0.24 points)
* TAIPEI - Weighted 6169.08 (up 4.10 points)
* SYDNEY - All Ordinaries 4456.30 (up 18.80 points)
* KUALA LUMPUR - KLSE 915.72 (down 3.35 points)
* SINGAPORE - STI Index 2310.35 (down 14.76 points)
* JAKARTA - Composite 1085.74 (down 19.91 points)
* BANGKOK - SET Index 710.31 (down 2.49 points)
* MANILA - Composite 1894.67 (up 27.76 points)

Source: Asia Pulse

CONTACT: Asia Pulse Production Centre, in Sydney, Australia,
+61-29322-8634 or email, www.apulse.com

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Profile: financial services

Business in Asia -- Sept. 13, 2005

2005-09-13T03:51:00.000-07:00

Business in Asia -- Sept. 13, 2005

SYDNEY, Australia, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- A round-up of Asian stock markets prepared by Asia Pulse (http://www.asiapulse.com/), the real-time, Asia-based wire with exclusive news, commecial intelligence and business opportunities.

MICRON OF U.S.TO SET UP SEMICONDUCTOR PLANT IN XIAN

XIAN - Micron of the United States, the world's second largest memory chip maker, on Monday signed an agreement here to launch a semiconductor project in the Xian High-tech Industry Development Zone. The Xian project, involving a total investment of US$250 million, will be divided into two sections respectively for chip assembly and chip testing. The project is expected to create some 2,000 jobs and yield annual exports of about US$500 million.

FRENCH, CHINESE INVESTORS TO BUILD INDONESIA'S TRANS SUMATRA RAILWAY

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government will award the contract to build Trans Sumatra Railway to Societe Nationale de Chemin de Fer Francais (SNCF) and an investor from China, an official said. A local daily quoted Transport Minister Hatta Rajasa as saying the priority will be the construction of northern and southern parts of the 2,151 km track that will cost about US$7 billion. The northern part will be awarded to the French company and the southern part to the Chinese investor, Hatta said. The project is expected to be operational in 2010, Hatta told legislators in a working meeting yesterday.

QUEENSLAND GOVT APPROVES US$769.3 MLN SHIP TERMINAL PROJECT

BRISBANE - The Queensland government has approved an A$1 billion (US$769.3 million) lifestyle precinct in Townsville, which includes a new cruise ship terminal. The Ocean Terminal development, a joint venture between Tabcorp Holdings Ltd and Consolidated Properties Ltd, will be centred on the Western Breakwater, adjacent to the Port of Townsville in north Queensland. It also includes a marina, integrated commercial and residential development on the land surrounding the Tabcorp's Jupiters Casino and a landscape development to provide public access to the Breakwater and future green areas. Work on the project is expected to start in mid 2006.

WORK TO BEGIN ON VIETNAM'S FIRST OIL REFINERY IN NOVEMBER

HANOI - Work is scheduled to start on the construction of the Dung Quat oil refinery, the first in Vietnam, in November 2005. Technip, the contractor of the project, is beginning to design the oil refinery at four centers of the contractor complex, including contractors from France, Japan, Spain and Malaysia, for contract package 1 + 4 (oil refinery and offshore oil container), said Truong Van Tuyen, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation (PetroVietnam). The oil refinery is expected to be operational in early 2009.

PHILIPS INDIA AIMS AT US$274 MLN IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SALES

KOLKATA - Philips Electronics India Limited has targeted sales of Rs 12 billion (US$274 million) for its consumer electronics (CE) division during the current financial year. The company was aiming to be among the top four players in the colour TV and DVD segments in the country, Philips India Director (Sales and Service) S Nagarajan told reporters here on Monday. In the last fiscal year, the company's turnover from the CE division reached Rs 9.69 billion.

IRANCELL REPLACES TURKCELL WITH SOUTH AFRICA'S MTN

TEHRAN - Turkish telecom giant Turkcell has lost its bid for a 300 million euro (US$375 million) second mobile telephone operator deal and the Irancell Consortium will now give priority to South Africa's Mobile Telephone Network (MTN), an Iranian official said here on Sunday. "MTN will be absolutely given the priority but we can also talk with other interested parties for the credit and financial aspects of the deal. Turkcell has missed all its opportunities," a Defense Ministry official said. The chairman of the Board of Directors of Irancell and head of the Electronic Industries Department of the Defence Ministry, Ebrahim Mahmoudzadeh, cited Turkcell's failure to fulfill obligations during the deadline period.

S KOREA TO BUILD RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR NUCLEAR FUSION ENERGY

SEOUL - South Korea is to set up a large-scale public research institute to produce cheap, clean energy through nuclear fusion, the government said today. The state-run Korea Research Council of Fundamental Science & Technology Tuesday approved the establishment of the nuclear fusion research center in October. Under the plan, the institute will be in charge of two nuclear fusion projects, one named "KSTAR" and the other called "ITER." The KSTAR, or the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research, is a 309-billion-won (US$301 million) project aimed at developing an experimental nuclear fusion reactor by August 2007. The ITER, or the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, is a project led by a six-nation consortium comprising South Korea, the United States, Japan, European Union, China and Russia.

CHINA'S WUXI SET TO DEVELOP LCD PRODUCTION BASE

BEIJING - Wuxi, the leading economic hub in East China's Jiangsu Province is set to develop a liquid crystal display (LCD) industrial base in its high-tech zone. The aim is for the base to reach output value of 70 billion yuan (US$8.63 billion) by the year 2008. The target is based on the fact that LCD companies, led by Japan's Sharp, already have LCD-manufacturing plants in the zone. These LCD firms together enjoyed an output value of 15 billion yuan (US$1.85 billion) last year.

JAPAN'S SOFTBANK, FRANCE'S ADVANQUEST IN SOFTWARE JV

TOKYO - Softbank Corp. and French firm Advanquest Software have agreed to establish a software distribution joint venture in October, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun learned Monday. Capitalized at 100 million yen (US$906,000), Advanquest BB will be 51%-owned by Advanquest and 49%-owned by Softbank BB Corp., Softbank's wholly owned broadband Internet unit. It is expected to begin operations in January. Advanquest BB will localize and market in Japan overseas software products to which Advanquest has sales rights. It will also localize Japanese software distributed in Japan by Softbank for export to the U.S., Europe and elsewhere.

AUSTRALIA'S FOODLAND BOOKS SHARPLY LOWER YR NET PROFIT

MELBOURNE - Foodland Associated Ltd has posted net profit of A$95.3 million (US$73.2 million) for 2004/05, down 33 per cent year-on-year. The groceries wholesaler and retailer said the result was affected by A$19.6 million in one-time costs associated with the demerger and transfer schemes currently under way. The company did not declare a final dividend. Foodland is currently subject to a A$3.3 billion carve-up by Woolworths and Metcash Trading Ltd.

Asia Pulse Pte Ltd. Each day Asia Pulse creates up to 300 items of news, business opportunities, expert commentary and industry profiles. Asia Pulse is a unique joint venture involving the resources of Asia's major news and information groups:

(AAP) - Australian Associated Press Pty Ltd (Australia)
(ANTARA) - LKBN ANTARA (Indonesia)
(CNA) - Central News Agency (Taiwan)
(IRNA)- Islamic Republic News Agency (Iran)
(Nikkei) - Nihon Keizai Shimbun Inc (Japan)
(ONA) - Oman News Agency (Oman)
(Pacnews) - Pacific Islands News Association
(Pajhwok) - Pajhwok Afghan News (Afghanistan)
(PNA) - Philippines News Agency (Philippines)
(PPI) - Pakistan Press International (Pakistan)
(PTI) - The Press Trust of India Ltd (India)
(TCA) - Times of Central Asia (Central Asia)
(UNB) - United News of Bangladesh (Bangladesh)
(UzReport) - UzReport.com (Uzbekistan)
(VNA) - Vietnam News Agency (Vietnam)
(XIC) - Xinhua Information Centre (China)
(Yonhap) - Yonhap News Agency (Korea)

Source: Asia Pulse

CONTACT: Asia Pulse Production Centre, in Sydney, Australia,
+61-29322-8634 or email, www.apulse.com

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Profile: financial services

Thompson Retires From Triad Guaranty; Tonnesen Appointed President and CEO

2005-09-13T03:10:00.000-07:00

Thompson Retires From Triad Guaranty; Tonnesen Appointed President and CEO

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Triad Guaranty Inc. (NASDAQ:TGIC) announced that Mark K. Tonnesen will succeed Darryl W. Thompson as President and Chief Executive Officer of Triad Guaranty Inc. and its subsidiary, Triad Guaranty Insurance Corporation, effective September 14, 2005. Mr. Thompson, who founded Triad in 1987, had announced his intention to retire in April and is retiring today.

Mr. Tonnesen comes to Triad with over 20 years of senior management experience in the financial services and banking industry. He has been with the Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto, since 1997, where he held a number of positions, including Vice Chairman & Chief Financial Officer, RBC Insurance and Executive Vice President, Card Services and Point of Sale. Previously, he was associated with Banc One Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, from 1987 to 1997, where he served in a variety of senior positions, including Chief Development Officer, and President, Banc One Credit Card Services Company. While in Canada, Mr. Tonnesen also served as Chair of the Visa Canada Board of Directors and Acxsys, the owner of Interac, the national debit network of Canada. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Visa International and the Advisory Board of HNC.

"Mark is a gifted executive who is well qualified to take Triad to the next level," stated Mr. Ratliff. "He has the vision, experience and leadership skills needed to build on Triad's successes and its reputation as a premier credit enhancement company. The Board and I look forward to working with Mark to pursue profitable growth opportunities in a rapidly changing business environment."

Mr. Tonnesen is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where he received an MBA in 1974. He received a bachelors degree from Rutgers University in 1973.

Mr. Thompson has been President of Triad since 1987 and has overseen a period of unprecedented growth and increasing recognition for the Company. Triad Guaranty Inc. became a public company in 1993 and, through its insurance subsidiary, continues to be the industry's fastest growing domestic mortgage insurer. It has twice been recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America's "200 Best Small Companies", is a member of the Nasdaq Financial-100 Index(R), and recently passed the $1 billion in premiums written mark.

"Darryl has done an extraordinary job leading the Company," said William T. Ratliff, III, Chairman. "He launched Triad with a vision and a set of core business principles that guides the Company to this day. He built a strong management team and a national sales force, and established Triad as a premier credit enhancement company. The Board and I would like to thank Darryl for his tremendous contribution since the Company's founding and wish him well in retirement. Mr. Thompson has been designated by the Board of Directors as Director Emeritus and will continue to serve the Company through a transition period in a consulting capacity."

Triad Guaranty Insurance Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Triad Guaranty Inc., is a nationwide mortgage insurer providing mortgage insurance (MI) to residential mortgage lenders. Private MI makes homeownership available to buyers with equity of less than 20%, facilitates the sale of mortgage loans in the secondary market and protects lenders from default-related expenses. For more information, please visit the company's web site at http://www.triadguaranty.com/.

Source: Triad Guaranty Inc.

CONTACT: William T. Ratliff, III, Chairman of Triad Guaranty Inc.,
1-800-366-1010, wtr3@NewSouthFederal.com

Web site: http://www.triadguaranty.com/

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Profile: financial services

Xactly Corporation Introduces New Appforce Certified Solution at Dreamforce '05

2005-09-13T03:09:00.000-07:00

Xactly Corporation Introduces New Appforce Certified Solution at Dreamforce '05

Xactly Incent Enables Companies to Incent Right and Sell More

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Xactly(TM) Corporation (www.xactlycorp.com) and salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM), the market and technology leader in on-demand customer relationship management (CRM), today announced the availability of Xactly Incent(TM) for Appforce. Tightly integrated with Salesforce via the Appforce on-demand platform, Xactly Incent is an on-demand sales compensation application for direct sales teams and indirect channel partners that enables companies to incent right and sell more.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050913/SFTU005 )
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050906/SFF038LOGO )

Xactly Incent was announced in San Francisco at Dreamforce '05, salesforce.com's third annual user and developer conference.

True sales motivation comes when the outcome can still be changed. Xactly Incent enables sales reps to estimate commission and bonus payments on Salesforce opportunities before, during and after a sale. With Xactly Incent, sales reps can quickly access their Salesforce opportunities by using filters on information such as date, amount and probability of closure.

"Xactly Corporation brings significant domain expertise in delivering a 100% on-demand sales compensation solution that is tightly integrated with salesforce.com's Appforce API," said Jim Steele, president, salesforce.com. "Xactly Incent significantly extends the value of the Appforce platform for those customers requiring a sales compensation solution."

"We made the strategic decision to partner with salesforce.com based on customer requests for tight integration with Salesforce," said Christopher Cabrera, founder, president and CEO of Xactly Corporation. "Salesforce.com is driving the on-demand CRM market. From a development perspective, we were pleased with the ease and speed with which we were able to integrate with Salesforce."

Appforce is a complete on-demand platform that includes Appforce Builder, Appforce DB, Appforce API and the Appforce OS for development and deployment of multiple on-demand applications. Appforce provides unprecedented ease of customization and integration for Salesforce deployments, as well as enabling a whole new generation of on-demand applications that go beyond CRM.

About Xactly Corporation

Xactly Corporation delivers on-demand sales compensation applications that enable companies to incent right and sell more. In today's spreadsheet paradigm, companies tend to simplify or unnecessarily complicate their incentive programs. These programs, delivered with no real-time visibility, often leave the sales force unmotivated, resulting in unpredictable results. Xactly Incent allows companies to easily and affordably design, implement, manage and audit optimized incentive programs. With these improved programs in place, Xactly Incent provides sales with unprecedented real-time visibility via the web. The combination of the right incentives with complete visibility motivates sales to sell more. For more information, visit www.xactlycorp.com or call 1-866-GO-XACTLY.

About salesforce.com

As of July 31, 2005, salesforce.com manages customer information for approximately 16,900 customers and approximately 308,000 paying subscribers including Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), America Online (AOL), Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Avis/Budget Rent A Car (Cendant Rental Car Group), Dow Jones Newswires, Nokia, Polycom and SunTrust. Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase salesforce.com services should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce.com has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information please visit http://www.salesforce.com/ , or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.

NOTE: Salesforce.com is a registered trademark of, and Appforce and AppExchange are trademarks of, salesforce.com, Inc., San Francisco, California. Other names used may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Xactly Corporation, "Incent right. Sell more.," and Xactly Incent are trademarks or registered trademarks of Xactly Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:
Dan Rampe
Director of Corporate Communications
Xactly Corporation
Tel: 408-977-3132, ext. 310
Email: drampe@xactlycorp.com

Jane Hynes
Salesforce.com Public Relations
Tel: 415-901-5079
Email: jhynes@salesforce.com

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050906/SFF038LOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050913/SFTU005
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Xactly Corporation

CONTACT: Dan Rampe, Director of Corporate Communications of Xactly
Corporation, +1-408-977-3132, ext. 310, or drampe@xactlycorp.com; or Jane
Hynes of Salesforce.com Public Relations, +1-415-901-5079, or
jhynes@salesforce.com

Web site: http://www.salesforce.com/

Web site: http://www.xactlycorp.com/

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Profile: financial services

Shashank Samant Named President of Ness Managed Strategic Services

2005-09-13T02:46:00.000-07:00

Shashank Samant Named President of Ness Managed Strategic Services

HACKENSACK, New Jersey, September 13/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ness Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: NSTC), a global provider of IT
solutions and services has announced the appointment of Shashank Samant as
President of Ness Managed Strategic Services effective August 9, 2005. The
appointment reflects Ness Technologies' growth strategy.

(Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050913/185083 )

In his new role, Shashank will be responsible for two of the
company's core groups, The Life Sciences and Specialty Solutions Group (LSS)
- which provides custom application development and systems integration
services to leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and Ness
Managed Labs - which provides offshore development services to Independent
Software Vendors (ISVs).

Shashank Samant joined the company in 2000 and founded the
Managed Labs Business unit which currently assists ISVs in the development of
next generation products in India.

"Shashank's outstanding leadership skills and immense knowledge
has helped Ness Technologies position itself in the league of world class
offshore companies," said Raviv Zoller, President and CEO of Ness
Technologies. "In his new role, Shashank will help the company expand its
business opportunities in North America."

"I am honored with this extended scope of challenge and look
forward to steering the talented and dedicated staff in each of the US
groups," said Shashank Samant.

About Ness Technologies

Ness Technologies (NASDAQ: NSTC) is a global provider of
end-to-end IT services and solutions designed to help clients improve
competitiveness and efficiency. Specializing in outsourcing and offshore,
systems integration and application development, software and consulting, and
quality assurance and training, Ness serves a blue-chip client base of over
500 public and private-sector customers. With over 5,000 employees, Ness
maintains operations in 15 countries across North America, Europe and Asia
Pacific, and more than 100 alliances and partnerships around the world. For
more information about Ness, visit www.ness.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements often are proceeded by words such as "believes,"
"expects," "may," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "assumes," "will" or
similar expressions. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current
expectations, as of the date of this press release, and involve certain risks
and uncertainties. Ness' actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward looking statements as a result of various
factors. Some of the factors that could cause future results to materially
differ from the recent results or those projected in forward-looking
statements include the "Risk Factors" described in Ness' Annual Report of
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31,
2005.

Contact

Media Contact:

David Kanaan
Intl: +972-3-5408188
US: +1-888-244-4919
Email: media.int@ness.com

Allan Jordan
(New York)
Phone: +1-646-284-9452
Email: media@ness.com

Investor Contact:

Daphna Golden
Intl: +972-3-7666816
US: +1-888-267-8160
Email: daphna.golden@ness.com

Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050913/185083

Source: Ness Technologies Inc

Contact : Media Contact: David Kanaan, Intl: +972-3-5408188, US: +1-888-244-4919, Email: media.int@ness.com; Allan Jordan, (New York), Phone: +1-646-284-9452 , Email: media@ness.com; Investor Contact: Daphna Golden, Intl: +972-3-7666816 , US: +1-888- 267-8160 , Email: daphna.golden@ness.com

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Profile: financial services

Europe Opens Lower On Lack Of Momentum

2005-09-13T02:37:00.000-07:00

Europe Opens Lower On Lack Of Momentum

Tuesday 13 September, 10:15 AM BST (Thomson Financial): European markets have opened lower in quiet trading following a flat line performance on Wall Street overnight. In corporate news Vivendi Universal has exceeded market forecasts with second quarter net profits of 640 million euros compared to 182 million euros last year and expects to beat its full year profit target of 1.8 billion euros. Meanwhile, Antofagasta's first half net profits have risen on high copper prices, driven by high Chinese demand, while Cobham's first half underlying pre-tax profits have risen. Elsewhere, Misys has issued a profit warning and shares in Rank Group have opened higher on press reports that private equity group Blackstone is looking to bid for the U.K. leisure group.

On the macroeconomic side, the U.K. consumer price index in August has risen by 2.4% year-on-year and for the second month running, the inflation rate is above the Bank of England's 2% target. However, the core rate has dipped to 1.7% from 1.8%, suggesting that higher energy costs have not yet pushed prices higher.

London's FTSE-100 Index is down by 36.30 points or 0.68% to 5338.80, while Paris's CAC-40 Index is lower by 28.10 points or 0.63% to 4463.72. Frankfurt's DAX Index has fallen by 58.20 points or 1.17% to 4931.78 and Milan's S&P MIB Index has dropped by 179 points or 0.52% to 34,109. The pan-European blue chip Dow Jones Stoxx 50 Index is weaker by 23.76 points or 0.74% to 3179.80.

* Vivendi Universal has exceeded market forecasts with a second quarter
net profit of 640 million euros compared to 182 million euros in the
same quarter last year. Operating profit rose to 1.08 billion euros from
792 million euros in the prior year, on revenues of 4.62 billion euros
compared to 4.27 billion euros last year. These results have been
attributed to steady growth from its SFR-Cegetel telecoms business,
accelerated earnings from its UMG Music subsidiary and a return to
breakeven from the VUG games division. Looking ahead, Vivendi Universal
expects to surpass its 2005 adjusted net income target of 1.8 billion
euros.
* Mining group Antofagasta has announced first half net profits of
US$367.5 million compared to US$207.5 million in the same half last
year, the result of high copper prices which have been spurred on by
high demand from China. Turnover rose to US$1.123 billion versus
US$753.4 million in the prior year and the company is proposing an
interim dividend of 16 U.S. cents per share, up 6.6% year-on-year.
* U.K. aerospace and defence group Cobham's first half underlying pre-tax
profit has grown to 69.6 million pounds compared to 60.5 million pounds
in the same half last year. Total revenues rose to 516.3 million pounds
from 459.8 million pounds in the prior year, with the order book
reaching 697.4 million pounds from 552.4 million pounds last year. The
company said robust performances had been achieved in the Antennas,
Avionics, Microwave and Air Refuelling divisions and operational
improvements had offset the impact of adverse currency movements.
Meanwhile, Cobham has agreed the disposal of the Fluid and Air division
companies to Eaton Corporation for 150 million pounds.
* Friends Provident has posted a first-half underlying pre-tax profit
under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) of 125 million
pounds compared to 101 million pounds in the same half last year. Total
new life and pensions business on an annual premium equivalent (APE)
basis grew to 282 million pounds from 212 million pounds last year.
Looking ahead, Friends Provident expects its 2005 sales growth to be in
the single digits, but ahead of the average market rate of 2% in the
first half of the year.
* Software group Misys has issued a profit warning after saying that its
first half performance in its Banking division will be adversely
affected by a delay in revenue recognition and increased investment in
the business. As a result, earnings per share in the first half are
likely to be significantly below last year and it is not clear that any
profit shortfall in the first half will be fully recovered in the
second.

* Shares in Rank Group have opened higher after the Daily Mail newspaper
reported that private equity group Blackstone Group is toiling over a
320 pence per share bid for the U.K. leisure group.

Simon.Tse@Thomson.com; Thomson Financial

This is Thomson Financial Corporate Services Europe Market Commentary. The information herein is believed to be true and accurate. If you have any questions please e-mail James Sang at james.sang@tfn.com. For more information about Thomson Financial, please visit our web site at http://www.thomsonfinancial.com/. For more financial information at your fingertips, please visit http://www.irchannel.com/.

PRNewswire -- September 13

Source: Thomson Financial Corporate Group

Web site: http://www.thomsonfinancial.com/

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Profile: financial services