Category Archives: Financial

Royal Bank of Scotland selects SmartCo for centralized Securities Reference and Price Data Management

October 28, 2010 smartco

SmartCo, a leading provider of Enterprise Data Management software solutions for the financial industry, is pleased to announce that the Royal Bank of Scotland Global Banking & Markets (GBM) has gone live with its innovative data management software solution, SmartCo DataHub.

GBM intends to use SmartCo DataHub to centralize and manage all the security reference data and end of day prices for the benefit of all departments of the bank.The data management processes are handled 24/7, with a central data management team split in different European and Asian cities and ensuring the highest level of Data Quality. Among other objectives, this project will help RBS reduce its consumption of reference data; have an overall better data quality and pricing data sourcing; aquire a higher STP rate and monitor the quality of trades; and finally improve the accuracy of instrument to issuer mappings. All of this, can be achieved via SmartCo’s reliable, scalable and open IT platform.

Following a period of extensive market and competitor review, as well as eight weeks of proofing the concept, GBM selected SmartCo DataHub for its flexibility, robustness, ease of use and ability to easily grow with the organization as the business requirements and constraints constantly change.

Delivering out of the box connectivity coupled with an adaptable data model, SmartCo was able to accelerate implementation and add value where legacy vendors have traditionally struggled. After a 16-week implementation, the first scope of the project focusing on Fixed Income Instruments, has now been completed and SmartCo DataHub has gone live. The high level of flexibility provided by SmartCo DataHub will also enable RBS teams in Europe and Asia to easily add and manage new data scopes in this central repository within the coming months. “We are very excited about the SmartCo solution and the fast project implementation. The ability to configure in house, rather than rely on vendor developments, means we are able to roll-out the solution incrementally to provide short-term benefits, and also build the foundation of RBS’s long-term strategic tool. The product is also intuitive and we already have a strong team both onshore and offshore able to implement new products and features. We specifically wanted to avoid a long-term and expensive vendor relationship and the SmartCo product has given us that opportunity.” says Jason McCallion, RBS Programme Manager.

“Our product is used by some of the largest sell-side and buy-side institutions. We are particularly proud that RBS, one of the leading global players in the financial markets selected us for this international project. RBS gave us the opportunity to show during a proof of concept how our innovative approach to enterprise data management could bring great additional benefits to their projects” says Pascal Mougin, CEO of SmartCo.

With offices in Paris and Boston, and strategic partners globally, SmartCo is continuously growing internationally. Pascal Mougin commented “When the markets present so much uncertainty, a solution able to address very quickly any present and future data management needs will be preferred to in house specific developments or other software solutions often based on already obsolete platform that are very expensive to evolve and maintain”.

About SmartCo:

Since 2004, SmartCo has helped financial institutions of all sizes to optimize their data management capabilities with a state-of-the-art software solution, SmartCo DataHub. SmartCo is a fast growing and dynamic company with its main headquarter in Paris, a North American headquarter in Boston, and consulting and integration partners in several North American and European cities.

Innovation and flexibility is our motto: In addition to the centralization of securities and counterparties reference and market data and the ability to fully cover the operational data needs for any financial institution, SmartCo DataHub allows its clients’ core data management to seamlessly evolve with their business and market needs without any constraints from the software vendor.

For additional information about SmartCo, go to http://www.smartco.com or email us at info@smartco.com

Business, Financial

Debt Collection – the Hidden Cash Flow Solution for SME’s – Professional Debt Collection An Essential Strategy

October 27, 2010 debtcollectionqld Leave a comment

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 27 Oct 2010 When business owners think of meeting cash flow requirements in their businesses they typically think of two things – borrowing more money and putting more equity in the businesses. These are the traditional sources of business capital.

Most business owners and financial managers don’t realize it but one of the most powerful and cheapest ways of enhancing working capital and cash flow is to reduce their outstanding debtors. This can realistically be achieved through good management and following strict policies in the company.

Some of the policy items would include proper credit checks on every new debtor, and good trade terms that protects their businesses properly.

But very important is the policy on delinquent or slow paying debtors. Such a policy should definitely include referring such debt to a debt collection agency. There is no question that a collection agency typically achieves much better results for a business compared to an in-house effort. And Debt Collection Queensland (DCQ) does this professionally with great results, even offering a guarantee. The guarantee is based on the no win no fee concept. Debt Collection Queensland will at their cost send letters, faxes, emails, make follow up calls, negotiate settlement and payment terms – and only if the debtor pays, will they retain a professional fee for their services.

Debt Collection QLD have helped many businesses, from small, to medium and large corporate clients, improve their cash flow through getting poor paying debtors to pay up – debt recovery at its professional best.

About Debt Collection Queensland:

This company is a leading commercial debt recovery specialist, based in Brisbane, Australia. It serves small, medium and large businesses in various industries, assisting those businesses to quickly and efficiently recover outstanding business debt. It has a reputation in Australia for excellent customer service.

Contact:
Jos Basson, (JD, BBusMan)
Managing Director
Debt Collection Queensland Pty Ltd
1300 440 149
http://www.debtcollectionqld.com.au

Financial

Investing In Property Couldn’t Be Easier When You Use Property Investment Portfolio

October 16, 2010 flashnewsrelease Leave a comment

The experienced team at Property Investment Portfolio can help to make your life so much easier by helping you with every step in this sometimes over complicated investing world.

Nottingham, UK, October 14, 2010 — Investing in property can be a complicated affair, even once you have found the perfect property after months of research, information gathering and then the time consuming legal formalities.

The experienced team at Property Investment Portfolio ( http://www.propertyinvestmentportfolio.com ) can help to make your life so much easier by helping you with every step in this sometimes over complicated investing world.

They hold a stunning multi million pound portfolio of buy-to-let properties from the Midlands to the North of England, all of which are successfully managed by their specialists and experienced in-house team members and approved external management agencies.

This means that whenever you buy an investment property through Property Investment Portfolio, you will also be able to find a reliable and checked tenant and have the property managed all by the same company, which gives you the complete peace of mind that your new investment is being safely looked after and properly managed by a team of people who know what they are doing.

With over twenty years in the property business, ( http://www.propertyinvestmentportfolio.com ) they use their experience and expertise to buy and develop property, from single homes in regeneration areas to blocks of flats, HMOs, student accommodation and other investment property all over the country. Investment property comes in many shapes and sizes, with HMO’s offering a larger scale investment and a one bedroom flat in Hull offering a smaller investment, but both examples can offer a great return on investment.

So, it’s important to remember that even though investing in property has undoubtedly become more challenging in the current financial climate, you will find a team of property experts who can help you not only find the right investment property, but also successfully purchase it and rent it out as well. Property Investment Portfolio ( http://www.propertyinvestmentportfolio.com ) will take care of your every need when it comes to finding you that rewarding investment opportunity.

So, if you are looking for a successful investment property or properties in the east midlands or north of England and need first class advice and support, give Property Investment Portfolio a ring on 0115 928 9333 now or visit their daily updated property listings on their website http://www.propertyinvestmentportfolio.com/ to make sure that you manage to have access to perfect investment opportunities that will start making you money from day one.

Press & Media Contact:
Arv Soar
Property Investment Portfolio
223a Trowell Road
Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 2EP UK
+44 (0)115 928 9333
pip@clearwebservices.com

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Financial

With Help From Mortgage Funds The Real Estate Market Shows Signs of a Recovery

October 9, 2010 flashnewsrelease Leave a comment

Investor confidence in the financial system has also been so badly shaken that many remain very cautious, with high levels of cash kept on the books by most fund managers as they ensure they are not caught out by a sharp downturn in sentiment.

Santa Rosa, CA, October 08, 2010 — Even big money hedge fund and Mortgage fund investors hate to lose money and many are seeking a more conservative way to make high returns on their capital in a sour economy.

Mortgage fund managers are increasingly embracing private commercial mortgage lending as a way to enhance yield and decrease the overall risk of a portfolio. The credit crisis has greatly reduced the availability of commercial mortgage capital and, at-the-same-time, made it harder for borrowers and buildings to qualify for financing. The result is a glut of good deals that should be funded but can’t be funded.

Some hedge funds and Mortgage funds are stepping in and helping fill this “funding gap”. This unprecedented move by private investment funds into commercial real estate finance was prompted by the demands of unhappy investors. When wealthy business people put several hundred thousand in a fund and pay a hefty management fee, they have the right to expect results. After being promised double digit yields, many investors lost large amounts of money and actually had trouble accessing the money they had invested.

Faced with disgruntled and disenchanted clients, Mortgage fund managers were desperate for a high return investment that offered at least some measure of real security. For many, private commercial mortgage loans have proved to be the answer. Unlike residential lending, commercial mortgage banking is largely unregulated and posed no barrier to entry for private investment funds. The credit crunch was (and is) keeping real estate investors, large and small, from obtaining the capital they needed to refinance their buildings or buy any new ones. Thousands of excellent deals with very reasonable risk parameters were (and are) going unfunded and the lack of institutional credit drove private lending rates high enough to pique the interest of even the most sophisticated and return hungry fund managers.With rates ranging between 10% and 15% interest only payments it leaves building owners a quality source to take their loans for funding.However some of these Private Money and Hard Money companies are recommended more then others.There are some in the Hard Money industry that charge a $25,000 to $ 50,000 retainer fee for their services whether or not they perform.So it is always wise to check the track record of the company you are using.One company that we can recommend for loans in the state of California is http://www.Ourfundsonline.com they have a sucessful track record of closing loans in both northern and southern California see below for the loan types and properties they are financing.

Purchases&Refinances with Cash-Out
* Equity Partners
* CD’s
* Hard Money Construction Loans
* International Commercial Project Loans
* Hedge Funds
* Insurance Money
* Joint Ventures
* Lines of Credit
* Overseas Commercial Loans
* Pension Funds
* Private Hard Money Lenders
* Private Lenders
* Private Equity
* Private Money
* Real Estate Lending
* Trust Funds
* Wholesale Hard Money
* Wholesale Commercial Mortgages
* And More programs out daily …

Land: with Entitlements
Construction and Rehab loans
No Pre-Payment Penalty Programs Available for a fee
www..Ourfundsonline.com
California Bridge Financing
Short Term “Bridge or Gap” Financing
Acquisitions with Low Fee and Rate Hard Money
Cash Out Refinances
Tenant Improvements or Rehab
www..Ourfundsonline.com
California Rehab Flip Hard Money Loans – Loan to cost
Residential and Commercial REO, Distressed Sale, Trustee Sale, Short sales.
Loan Amounts: $100,000 – $1,000,000 – No Prepay
Term: 6-months, up to two 3-month extensions
LTC: 70 (up to 75% exception)
ARV: 60-70%
Fico: 625+ (mid score)
Personal Gaurantee: All partners must sign a personal guarantee
Required Reserves: 50% of rehab costs * 6-months payments
Rehab Expenses: Must be fund controlled or suitable alternative
Rehab Draw: 2-3 draws permitted based upon inspection
Rehab Timeline: All rehab work must be completed within 75 days
www.Ourfundsonline.com
Private Money in California
Fast private money loans California
Specializing in apartment private money loans California
We have hard money loans California
in as well for the very poor credit borrowers
www.Ourfundsonline.com
Loan Structures – California Private Money – California Hard Money
Hard money loans are real estate collateralized loans based on the sale value of the property against which the loan is made. Private money lenders generally only lend in 1st positionLoans on Residential Properties *must* be for investment or commercial purposes non owner occupied or the maximum we will lend is 60% max.

Based in Santa Rosa, California – Our Funds Online is a residential and a commercial real estate lender providing fast, creative funding solutions nationwide.We offer bridge loans, mezzanine debt, construction financing (including land development) and occasionally equity participation. It specializes in non-conforming transactions ranging from $2 million to $100 million and above. Please visit us online for additional information http://www.Ourfundsonline.com operators can be reached 24 hours per day toll free at (877) 870-2676 or local office line (310) 984-0496

Press & Media Contact:
Jeffrey Martino Young
OurFundsOnline.com
1585 Terrace Way
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Mob: (310) 984-0496 24 hour contact line
Tel: (877) 870-2676 Toll free line
jyoung@essexmortgage.com
http://www.ourfundsonline.com

Financial

With Bank Off America out of the Picture Hedge Funds and Mortgage Funds Become the Preferred Choice

October 7, 2010 flashnewsrelease Leave a comment

In a somewhat surprising move, Bank of America is ceasing its wholesale lending business amid the ongoing turmoil in the mortgage industry.

Santa Rosa, CA, October 07, 2010 — Recent moves to stamp out wholesale lending have left very few big players in the space, with Chase and SunTrust believed to the be the most popular options left the wholesale market has now turned over to Hedge Funds and Mortgage Funds .In the state of California the obvious choice for a Private Money Loan is a company out of the San Francisco Bay Area – OurfundsOnline.com A private Money Mortgage Funding Unit http://www.OurfundsOnline.com

“We are now faced with the same kind of situation that we were with TARP, where the banks just sit on the money and they don’t get it in the hands of people that need it, then it’s going to be a colossal failure many banks surveyed said that their company is currently hearing from 20,000 people a month inquiring about financing, about a 25-percent increase from pre-recessionary levels.And only about 2% of those eventually are given a loan.”

Rohit Arora, who co-founded the New York-based website Biz2Credit ( http://www.biz2credit.com ) to help small businesses get financing, said credit is virtually frozen right now and the government’s main lending arm – the Small Business Administration – has virtually stopped since the end of May, when TARP-assisted programs elapsed.

“Most of the mainstream banks are not lending money to small businesses in spite of all the announcements they (government) keep making,” insisted Arora, adding 85 percent of small businesses are making getting a loan a priority right now before interest rates start climbing again. “Community banks and smaller banks have started coming back, but there’s a lot of pressure from regulators that if they’re lending money they need to be more conservative.”so they end up denying any loan with a credit score under 720 and at least 30% down payment.Those are the same numbers Hard Money lenders use to approve their loans.Many business owners have given up on the banks ,they figure why wait 45 days to be denied a loan when they can get a Hard Money loan in 7-10 days keep it for a year or two make the interest only payments and just hope that the lending guidelines change when they come around to refinancing their loans.

When your looking for your next loan we recommend trying Ourfundsonline.com ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) they do not underwrite loans for the secondary market.And most importantly they make the rules and use their experience to make loans happen.Simply put they are the bank/lender a vast group of investors who have been working with us for the past 20 years and trust us to evaluate the equity position we are taking on.We are a equity based lender ,we care not about credit scores, previous foreclosure and/or bankruptcy with us all borrowers are the same depending on down payment or the equity position ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) we hold as collateral.

* Residential
* Construction
* $250,000 – $2,500,000
* Lot Loans
* NO FICO requirements
* Small Commercial
* LTV’s to 75%
* Foreclosures
* Stated Income
* Interest only
* Multiple Borrowers
* No Prepay Penalties
* Cross Collateral OK
* Multifamily
* Office
* Retail
* Self Storage
* Special Uses
* Payments Holdbacks
* Medical
* Mixed Use

Borrower EQUITY is the primary criteria. We will look at loans on any type of real estate to any type of borrower just as long as there is equity there is a good chance you have yourself a loan !!!!!!

We fund our loans in as little as 7 days with that being said we try and limit the amount of time we have available to just one state — We fund in California ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) only at the present time so that you get 100% of our time and energy so that your loan funds without any complications.

What kind of interest rate can I expect from an equity loan?
Most borrowers can typically expect an interest rate of 9% to 13% for their private money loans and the payments are lower because they are interest only.

Will my credit score affect my eligibility?
No. This is one of the most important differences between us and banks or mortgage brokers. Your credit score does not affect your eligibility.

What does Loan-to-Value (LTV) mean?
Loan-to-Value is the relationship between the value and the loans against the property.

What types of property are eligible for a private loan?
Single Family Residence, Commercial, Multi-Family, Land, Mixed Use and other real estate properties are all eligible for a hard money loan.

Do I have to pay closing costs?
Yes, however the closing costs can be paid through the loan proceeds.

How long does it take to close on an equity loan?
Closing on a http://www.ourfundsonline.com hard money loan takes between 7 and 10 days after receiving a completed package.Call their operators today toll free (877) 870-2676 or for faster service the direct office line at (310) 984-0496, they will answer any type of questions you may have and assist you with your loan submissions.

Press & Media Contact:
Jeffrey Martino Young
OurFundsOnline.com
1585 Terrace Way
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(310) 984-0496
jyoung@essexmortgage.com
http://www.ourfundsonline.com

Financial

Hard Money Lender in the San Francisco Bay Area Helps Five Homeowners From Foreclosure

October 5, 2010 flashnewsrelease Leave a comment

Lending criteria for hard money mortgages are fairly simple. The loan is based on the value of the subject property either real estate owned or about to be purchased by a borrower.

Santa Rosa, CA, October 04, 2010 — We need Private money loans in California from $100,000, and up to 10,000,000 we love both commercial and residential ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) and we are a fast funding outfit that bases our loans entierely on equity. We are California # 1 equity based lender and have just decided to raise our loan to value from 65% to 70% loan to value of the property. In general, hard money mortgages are used for commercial purposes. However, they can also be applied to residential properties. In this instance, the loan is generally referred to by its more genteel name: a non-conforming mortgage.

Lending criteria for hard money mortgages ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) are fairly simple. The loan is based on the value of the subject property either real estate owned or about to be purchased by a borrower. If the borrower is buying property, the “value” of the real estate is defined as the actual purchase price of the property. If the borrower needs hard money for a refinance situation, the value is determined by a written real estate appraisal.

If you are looking for a hard money refinance loan, the lender will want to know when you purchased the property and what you paid for it. If you bought a property a month ago for a specific sum, the lender will be disinclined to lend you more than that purchase price. Once you own the property for about a year, especially if you have put some money, sweat equity, or both into the property, ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) you can get a new appraisal and get a loan based on the new, improved value of the property. This is called seasoning. Be sure you have seasoned your property for 3 months before going out for a refinance mortgage at a significantly higher value figure than what you paid for it.

Once it has three months seasononing we fund loans to borrowers with unique challenges, and who do not have the time or are unable to seek financing from traditional banking sources. We utilize our own resources to fund loans – when we commit, you may be confident of the timing and outcome we promise and we deliver on our word.

NO Rules! Ourfundsonline.com ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) does not underwrite loans for a secondary market. We make the rules and use our experience to make loans happen. Simply put we are the bank our vast group of investors have been working with us for the past 20 years and trust us to evaluate the equity position we are taking on. We are a equity based lender ,we care not about credit scores, previous foreclosure and/or bankruptcy with us all borrowers are the same depending on down payment or the equity position ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) we hold as collateral.

We fund our loans in as little as 4 days with that being said we try and limit the amount of time we have available to just one state — We fund in California ( http://www.ourfundsonline.com ) only at the present time so that you get 100% of our time and energy so that your loan funds without any complications.

What kind of interest rate can I expect from an equity loan?
Most borrowers can typically expect an interest rate of 9% to 15% for their private money loans.

Will my credit score affect my eligibility?
No. This is one of the most important differences between us and banks or mortgage brokers. Your credit score does not affect your elifibility.

What does Loan-to-Value (LTV) mean?
Loan-to-Value is the relationship between the value and the loans against the property.

What types of property are eligible for a private loan?
Single Family Residence, Commercial, Multi-Family, Land, Mixed Use and other real estate properties are all eligible for a hard money loan.

Do I have to pay closing costs?
Yes, however the closing costs can be paid through the loan proceeds.

How long does it take to close on an equity loan?
Closing on a http://www.ourfundsonline.com hard money loan takes between 3 and 5 days after receiving a completed package.

Does my property need to be appraised by your appraiser?
No, but we will conduct an appraisal review on all appraisal reports submitted to us.

Where do we lend?
We currently lend in California only.

How do I get started on a hard-money loan?
To get started on an equity based hard money loan from http://www.ourfundsonline.com please e-mail me your dead or alive deals now !! e-mail to CaliforniaTDinvestments@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or contact Jeffrey Martino Young today toll free 1-877-870-2676 or 24 hour cell phone # 310-984-0496 or fill out the loan application on our website. http://www.ourfundsonline.com

Press & Media Contact:
Jeffrey Martino Young
OurFundsOnline.com
1585 Terrace Way
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(310) 984-0496
jyoung@essexmortgage.com
http://www.ourfundsonline.com

Business, Deals, Financial, Internet & Online, Media, Technology, Web 2.0

Aol To Acquire Techcrunch Network Of Sites

September 28, 2010 EPR Network Leave a comment

San Francisco, CA, September 28, 2010 – AOL Inc. [NYSE: AOL] today announced that it has agreed to acquire TechCrunch, Inc., the company that owns and operates TechCrunch and its network of websites dedicated to technology news, information and analysis. TechCrunch and its associated properties and conferences will join the AOL Technology Network while retaining their editorial independence, further bolstering AOL’s position as one of the world’s leading providers of high-quality, tech-oriented content. The announcement will be made on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, CA.

Founded by Michael Arrington, TechCrunch operates a global network of dedicated properties from Europe to Japan, as well as vertically-oriented websites, including MobileCrunch, CrunchGear, TechCrunchIT, GreenTech, TechCrunchTV and CrunchBase. The TechMeme Leaderboard ranks TechCrunch as the No. 1 source of breaking tech news online, followed by AOL’s Engadget.*

“Michael and his colleagues have made the TechCrunch network a byword for breaking tech news and insight into the innovative world of start-ups, and their reputation for top-class journalism precisely matches AOL’s commitment to delivering the expert content critical to this audience,” said Tim Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AOL. “TechCrunch and its team will be an outstanding addition to the high-quality content on the AOL Technology Network, which is now a must-buy for advertisers seeking to associate their brands with leading technology content and its audience.”

Heather Harde, Chief Executive Officer of TechCrunch, said: “TechCrunch and AOL share a motivating passion for quality technology news and information, and we’re delighted about becoming part of the AOL family. This represents a compelling opportunity to extend the TechCrunch brand while complementing the great work of sites like Engadget and Switched. Our contributors, and our audiences, can look to the future with excitement about what we can build when we have the significant resources of AOL behind us.”

Michael Arrington, Founder and Co-Editor of TechCrunch, said: “Tim Armstrong and his team have an exciting vision for the future of AOL as a global leader in creating and delivering world-class content to consumers, be it through original content creation, partnerships or acquisitions. I look forward to working with everyone at AOL as we build on our reputation for independent tech journalism and continue to set the agenda for insight, reviews and collaborative discussion about the future of the technology industry.”

TechCrunch also hosts industry-leading conferences and events, including The Disrupt series, The Crunchies Awards and various meet-ups worldwide. These conferences bring together industry innovators, entrepreneurs and financing sources to exchange ideas, forge new relationships and discuss the current and future industry trends.

“Engagement with thought leaders is as important to AOL as our engagement with our contributors, audiences, publishers and advertisers, and TechCrunch’s conferences and websites will give us a promising, additional springboard to join and amplify these conversations. We’re committed to quality in everything we do at AOL, and look forward to working with Heather, Michael and the TechCrunch team to extend the brand,” said David Eun, President of AOL Media and Studios.

The AOL Technology Network consists of AOL’s tech-oriented properties including Engadget, the Web magazine about everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics; Switched, which covers the intersection of the digital world with entertainment, sports, art, fashion and lifestyle; TUAW, the unofficial Apple weblog; and DownloadSquad, the weblog about downloadable software and other computer subjects. The AOL Technology Network ranks in the top five for tech news according to comScore Media Metrix, August 2010 data, and leads the top five in average time spent and average visits per user.

This acquisition will further AOL’s strategy to become the global leader in sourcing, creating, producing and delivering high-quality, trusted, original content to consumers. TechCrunch will remain headquartered in San Francisco, CA, as a wholly owned AOL unit. Deal terms were not disclosed.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding business strategies, market potential, future financial and operational performance and other matters. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the transaction and other statements identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “expect” or similar expressions. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances, including, but not limited to, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the transaction and the parties’ performance of their obligations under the agreements; changes in our plans, strategies and intentions; the competitiveness and quality of our products and services; our ability to retain, hire and develop key employees; and the intensity of competition. Any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein, due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological, strategic and/or regulatory factors, as well as factors affecting AOL’s operations and businesses. More detailed information about these factors as they relate to AOL may be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in AOL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AOL is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About AOL
AOL Inc. (NYSE:AOL) is a leading global Web services company with an extensive suite of brands and offerings and a substantial worldwide audience. AOL’s business spans online content, products and services that the company offers to consumers, publishers and advertisers. AOL is focused on attracting and engaging consumers and providing valuable online advertising services on both AOL’s owned and operated properties and third-party websites. In addition, AOL operates one of the largest Internet subscription access services in the United States, which serves as a valuable distribution channel for AOL’s consumer offerings.

About TechCrunch
TechCrunch is a weblog dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies. In addition to covering new companies, we profile existing companies that are making an impact (commercial and/or cultural) on the new web space. TechCrunch has now grown into a network of technology focused sites offering a wide range of content and new media.

*TechMeme Leaderboard, Sept. 28, 2010

Financial

Quick Cash House Sale With Equity Fast, Leading Cash Buyer Of Property In The UK

September 16, 2010 flashnewsrelease Leave a comment

If you are looking for a quick sale of your home then look no further than Equity Fast, the leading cash buyer of property in the UK.

Gloucestershire, UK, September 16, 2010 — If you are looking for a quick sale of your home then look no further than Equity Fast, ( http://www.equityfast.co.uk ) the leading cash buyer of property in the UK.

There are many reasons for wanting to sell your house quickly, they maybe:

* Money worries
* Divorce
* Bereavement
* Non mortgagable property

What ever your reason is you need to be assured that your home can be sold quickly and this is where Equity Fast can help. Most UK houses with Equity Fast are bought for cash usually within 10 days, this is due to their access to substantial funds and experience of over a decade in fast property purchases.

Equity Fast (http://www.equityfast.co.uk ) has a team of experienced professionals who will take you every step carefully, this service is available throughout the UK including,

Hull, Doncaster, Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford, Nottingham, London, South Wales, North Wales, Birmingham and Derby.

If you are close to repossession then a quick cash sale of your house is a good option, no matter how close you are to legal action Equity Fast ( http://www.equityfast.co.uk ) can help without any intrusion into your personal circumstances. Equity Fast will buy houses, flats and apartments old or new in any condition and area.

It can be a difficult decision to sell your home quickly but Equity Fast ( http://www.equityfast.co.uk ) are at hand to offer you professional advice, ensuring that the decision you make is correct for you and that the sale is done quickly and efficiently helping you to get back on track again.

Selling your house quickly can release the tension of money worries, this can be done by making one simple phone call to Equity Fast on 0800 012 2829. You can also find out more information by visiting the website http://www.equityfast.co.uk.

Press Contact:
Arv Soar
Equity Fast
Gloucestershire, GL16 8JX UK
+44 (0)800 012 2829
equityfast@clearwebservices.com

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Financial

Maximise Your Investment Profits With Property Investment Portfolio

September 16, 2010 flashnewsrelease Leave a comment

Property Investment Portfolio is a leading provider of property and related services in the UK.

Nottingham, UK, September 16, 2010 — Property Investment Portfolio (http://www.propertyinvestmentportfolio.com ) is a leading provider of property and related services in the UK and overseas which include:

* Building
* Refurbishment
* Ongoing Letting Management
* Deal Sourcing
* Investment Consultation

Property Investment Portfolio has a wealth of experience in these fields and offers investors the opportunity to maximise their profit and wealth through investing in property.

As an investor you may be looking to buy one investment property or perhaps build your own property portfolio, this is something that Property Investment Portfolio (http://www.propertyinvestmentportfolio.com ) can help you to achieve. They have a team of professionals on board who can help with every aspect of your investment, ensuring that you maximise your profits.

Property Investment Portfolio (http://www.propertyinvestmentportfolio.com ) was set up by property entrepreneur Arv Soar who has personally built up a property portfolio of over 200 properties, worth in excess of £20 million. With his extensive knowledge in property investment Arv now helps others to achieve what he has in today’s competitive market.

Arv Soar has become a regular contributor to leading property publications which include, Sold Out, Hot Property and Residential Property Investor. He has also featured in local and national newspapers, including the Sunday Times, as well as local radio offering his wealth of experience to others looking to invest in property.

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Press Contact:
Arv Soar
Property Investment Portfolio
223a Trowell Road
Wollaton, Nottingham NG8 2EP UK
+44 (0)115 928 9333
pip@clearwebservices.com

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Business, Economy, Financial, Society

Possible £2.7bn Bill for PPI Reclaim Compensation

September 6, 2010 EPR Network Leave a comment

The Financial Services Authority has announced that compensation for mis-sold PPI reclaims could reach as much as £2.7bn and involve 2.75 million people in the UK. Complaints regarding PPI reclaims are expected to rise to over 550,000 per year for the next five years, with compensation for PPI reclaims varying from £900 – £1,800 per person.

The FSA found ‘wide and deep evidence of weakness in PPI sales’ over the last five years and warned lenders they have until December 1st 2010 to adopt a new set of rules that deal with PPI reclaim complaints, key features of which include:

If the customer would not have bought the policy in the first place, the PPI premiums plus interest should be reimbursed.
If the customer was persuaded to buy a premium with a single up-front payment instead of a regular premium policy, the customer should be reinstated to the position they would have been if they had done.
Dan Waters of the FSA said: “The rules are the culmination of months of hard work and now, with these measures, we look forward to consumers being treated fairly whether they are buying or complaining about PPI. Since we took over the regulation of PPI we’ve carried out 24 investigations and three thematic reviews, issued warnings, halted the selling of single premium PPI with unsecured personal loans, visited over 200 firms, and handed out some very significant fines.”

Lenders up in arms about new PPI reclaim rules

Many have argued the new PPI reclaim rules are unnecessary and disproportionate, with lenders waging a behind-the-scenes campaign to stop the new regulations from being instated.

However, the FSA is adamant the new rules are necessary given the behaviour of some lenders when faced with dealing with PPI reclaims. Some lenders have been automatically turning down almost half of the PPI reclaim complaints they receive with others have been rejecting every single one. Of those customers who had their PPI reclaims rejected, 1 in 3 turned to the Financial Ombudsman Service for help and 80% had their complaints upheld. Such is the extent of the problem, last year the FSA instructed lenders to open up 185,000 rejected PPI reclaims and review them.

For claims comparison site, writeoffloan.com, the behaviour of the lenders is nothing new. “The new FSA rules are incredibly welcome, For years lenders have been mis-selling PPI insurance alongside loans to everyone they could. Often they knew the premiums to be unnecessary or that the customer would be unable to claim on the policy because they were exempt from doing so when they took them out. Sometimes they didn’t even bother telling the borrower they were adding a PPI premium. Customers had no idea they even had an insurance policy.”

The spokesperson added; “The numbers of people coming to us for help with PPI reclaims has risen dramatically over the last 12 months and some of the stories we are hearing are quite shocking. It’s quite obvious the lenders are banking on people being disillusioned and put off when they repeatedly reject their PPI reclaims. That’s why many people need a helping hand from companies like ours to deal with the tactics of these unscrupulous lenders who have simply instated a blanket ban on dealing with PPI reclaims regardless of the merit of the customer’s case. Luckily we understand PPI reclaim law and aren’t so easily put off by the tactics of lenders”.

The Competition Commission is also expected to announce a ban on selling PPI policies at the point when someone is granted a loan. Some lenders however have realised the game is up and have already stopped offering polices, including HSBC and Lloyds.

But it’s all too little too late for the millions of people who were caught and still face a battle to get their money back.

Contact Details: Writeoffloan.com
Finance House,
Stockport Road,
Altrincham
WA15 8ET

Tel: 0800 043 2027
Website: http://www.writeoffloan.com