On December 30, 2011, the Fairholme Focused Income Fund
(NASDAQ:FOCIX) distributed an Ordinary Income dividend of $0.24543
per share to shareholders of record as of December 29, 2011. The
Fairholme Focused Income Funds Net Asset Value (NAV) was reduced by
the amount of the distributions. The Record, Ex-Dividend, Payable
Dates, and Dollars-Per-Share are as follows: THE FAIRHOLME FOCUSED
INCOME FUND Distribution Type
Record Date Ex-Dividend Date Payable Date
Dollars-Per-Share Ordinary Income December 29, 2011
December 30, 2011 December 30, 2011 $0.24543 Past
performance is not a guarantee of future results. The Fairholme
Focused Income Funds investment objectives, risks, charges, and
expenses should be considered carefully before investing. The
prospectus contains this and other important information about the
Fund, and it may be obtained by calling Shareholder Services at
1-866-202-2263 or visiting our website www.fairholmefunds.com. Read
it carefully before investing. Investing in the Fairholme Focused
Income Fund (the Income Fund) involves risk including loss of
principal. The Income Fund is a non-diversified mutual fund, which
means that the Income Fund invests in a smaller number of
securities when compared to more diversified funds. This strategy
exposes the Income Fund and its shareholders to greater risk of
loss from adverse developments affecting portfolio companies. The
Income Funds investments are also subject to interest rate risk,
which is the risk that the value of a security will decline because
of a change in general interest rates. Investments subject to
interest rate risk will usually decrease in value when interest
rates rise and rise in value when interest rates decline. Also,
securities with long maturities typically experience a more
pronounced change in value when interest rates change. Debt
securities are subject to credit risk (potential default by the
issuer). The Income Fund may invest without limit in lower-rated
securities. Compared to higher-rated fixed income securities,
lower-rated debt may entail greater risk of default and market
volatility.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Citi Appointed Depositary for ISAGENs Level 1 Sponsored ADR Program
Citi today announced that its Global Transaction Services
business, acting through Citibank, N.A., has been appointed by
ISAGEN S.A. E.S.P. (ISAGEN), a Colombia-based mixed public utility
corporation, as depositary for its Level 1 American Depositary
Receipt program. ISAGENs shares will trade on the OTC market under
the symbol ISAGY. Each ISAGEN American depositary share represents
10 ordinary shares. Juan Fernando Vásquez Velásquez, Chief
Financial Officer of ISAGEN, said, We are excited to launch our
sponsored ADR program. ISAGEN is committed to increasing its
international exposure, and we look forward to heightening our
visibility and broadening our investor base worldwide, with Citi as
our depositary bank. Dirk Jones, Global Head of Securities and Fund
Services Client Sales Management at Citi, said, Were delighted that
ISAGEN has chosen Citi as depositary bank for its Level 1 ADR.
Citis extensive experience in Latin America lends us a broad
understanding of the needs of clients in this market, and allows us
to most effectively assist ISAGEN in expanding its global profile,
thereby increasing investor awareness and visibility for its
program worldwide. For more information on Citis Depositary Receipt
Services, visit www.citi.com/dr. Global Transaction Services, a
division of Citis Institutional Clients Group, offers integrated
cash management, trade, and securities and fund services to
multinational corporations, financial institutions and public
sector organizations around the world. With a network that spans
more than 100 countries, Citigroups Global Transaction Services
supports over 65,000 clients. As of the third quarter of 2011, it
held on average $365 billion in liability balances and over $12.5
trillion in assets under custody. About ISAGEN ISAGEN, incorporated
as a public company, is a mixed public utility corporation
affiliated with the Ministry of Mining and Energy of Colombia. Its
main objective is the generation and commercialization of electric
energy. ISAGEN provides services primarily in electric energy, gas
supply and energy solutions (maintenance, expansion and energy
efficiency). ISAGENs operations are conducted in Colombia, and
expansion to other countries is currently being assessed.
Additional information can be found at www.isagen.com. About Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has
approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in
more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers,
corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of
financial products and services, including consumer banking and
credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage,
transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information
may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube:
www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://new.citi.com | Facebook:
www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/company/citi
business, acting through Citibank, N.A., has been appointed by
ISAGEN S.A. E.S.P. (ISAGEN), a Colombia-based mixed public utility
corporation, as depositary for its Level 1 American Depositary
Receipt program. ISAGENs shares will trade on the OTC market under
the symbol ISAGY. Each ISAGEN American depositary share represents
10 ordinary shares. Juan Fernando Vásquez Velásquez, Chief
Financial Officer of ISAGEN, said, We are excited to launch our
sponsored ADR program. ISAGEN is committed to increasing its
international exposure, and we look forward to heightening our
visibility and broadening our investor base worldwide, with Citi as
our depositary bank. Dirk Jones, Global Head of Securities and Fund
Services Client Sales Management at Citi, said, Were delighted that
ISAGEN has chosen Citi as depositary bank for its Level 1 ADR.
Citis extensive experience in Latin America lends us a broad
understanding of the needs of clients in this market, and allows us
to most effectively assist ISAGEN in expanding its global profile,
thereby increasing investor awareness and visibility for its
program worldwide. For more information on Citis Depositary Receipt
Services, visit www.citi.com/dr. Global Transaction Services, a
division of Citis Institutional Clients Group, offers integrated
cash management, trade, and securities and fund services to
multinational corporations, financial institutions and public
sector organizations around the world. With a network that spans
more than 100 countries, Citigroups Global Transaction Services
supports over 65,000 clients. As of the third quarter of 2011, it
held on average $365 billion in liability balances and over $12.5
trillion in assets under custody. About ISAGEN ISAGEN, incorporated
as a public company, is a mixed public utility corporation
affiliated with the Ministry of Mining and Energy of Colombia. Its
main objective is the generation and commercialization of electric
energy. ISAGEN provides services primarily in electric energy, gas
supply and energy solutions (maintenance, expansion and energy
efficiency). ISAGENs operations are conducted in Colombia, and
expansion to other countries is currently being assessed.
Additional information can be found at www.isagen.com. About Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has
approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in
more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers,
corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of
financial products and services, including consumer banking and
credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage,
transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information
may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube:
www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://new.citi.com | Facebook:
www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/company/citi
HSBC Card Retail Services Renews Private Label Credit Card Agreements With Saks Incorporated and Three Other Top Companies
HSBC North America's Card and Retail Services business has
reached agreement with Saks Incorporated and three other major
retailers to continue the management of their private label credit
card programs. In addition to reaching a new agreement with Saks,
HSBC also renewed the programs for Darvin Furniture, Big Lots and
Jordans Furniture. All four companies have also agreed to the
assignment of their program agreements to Capital One upon closing
of its planned acquisition of HSBCs card and retail services
business which was announced in August. "We are very proud of our
long-term, productive relationships with these partners, said
Steven Mattics, Head of Retail Services for HSBC. "Our customized
financing products have made it easier than ever for our merchant
partners to meet the credit needs of their customers, deepen
loyalty for their brand and increase their sales. These renewals
demonstrate the strength of our long term partnerships and the
value of our industry leading private label capabilities." In
extending its private label credit card program agreement, Saks
Incorporated continues a relationship with HSBC first established
in 2003. Saks Incorporated, based in New York , New York, is one of
the worlds pre-eminent specialty retailers, operating 46 Saks Fifth
Avenue stores, 61 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores, and saks.com.
Darvin Furniture of Orland Park, Illinois and HSBC will renew a
relationship that spans over 30 years. Darvin Furniture is
recognized as one of the top 100 furniture stores in America. Big
Lots and HSBC have been private label partners since March 2005.
Big Lots, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is the nation's largest
broadline closeout retailer, offering brand name products in more
than 1,400 retail stores serving 48 states. Jordans Furniture has
been an HSBC private label partner since 1991. Jordans is a
Berkshire Hathaway company operating six stores in Massachusetts
and New Hampshire. About HSBC Card and Retail Services: Card and
Retail Services is the seventh largest provider of MasterCard and
Visa credit cards in the United States. In addition, Card and
Retail Services is the third largest issuer of private label
(merchant branded) credit cards in the U.S. and also offers
co-brand cards. The business has private label card relationships
with over 20 merchants, including some of the world's premier
retailers and manufacturers.
reached agreement with Saks Incorporated and three other major
retailers to continue the management of their private label credit
card programs. In addition to reaching a new agreement with Saks,
HSBC also renewed the programs for Darvin Furniture, Big Lots and
Jordans Furniture. All four companies have also agreed to the
assignment of their program agreements to Capital One upon closing
of its planned acquisition of HSBCs card and retail services
business which was announced in August. "We are very proud of our
long-term, productive relationships with these partners, said
Steven Mattics, Head of Retail Services for HSBC. "Our customized
financing products have made it easier than ever for our merchant
partners to meet the credit needs of their customers, deepen
loyalty for their brand and increase their sales. These renewals
demonstrate the strength of our long term partnerships and the
value of our industry leading private label capabilities." In
extending its private label credit card program agreement, Saks
Incorporated continues a relationship with HSBC first established
in 2003. Saks Incorporated, based in New York , New York, is one of
the worlds pre-eminent specialty retailers, operating 46 Saks Fifth
Avenue stores, 61 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores, and saks.com.
Darvin Furniture of Orland Park, Illinois and HSBC will renew a
relationship that spans over 30 years. Darvin Furniture is
recognized as one of the top 100 furniture stores in America. Big
Lots and HSBC have been private label partners since March 2005.
Big Lots, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is the nation's largest
broadline closeout retailer, offering brand name products in more
than 1,400 retail stores serving 48 states. Jordans Furniture has
been an HSBC private label partner since 1991. Jordans is a
Berkshire Hathaway company operating six stores in Massachusetts
and New Hampshire. About HSBC Card and Retail Services: Card and
Retail Services is the seventh largest provider of MasterCard and
Visa credit cards in the United States. In addition, Card and
Retail Services is the third largest issuer of private label
(merchant branded) credit cards in the U.S. and also offers
co-brand cards. The business has private label card relationships
with over 20 merchants, including some of the world's premier
retailers and manufacturers.
Halter USX China Index Announces 2011 Year End and 4Q Results and Adds New Constituents
For the fourth quarter and for the year 2011, the Halter USX
China Index (AMEX:^HXC) was up 2.40% and down 25.59% respectively.
During the same period (fourth quarter and year end), the Dow Jones
Industrial Average increased by 11.95% and 5.53% respectively,
while the NASDAQ finished up 7.86% and down 1.80% HXC is also
pleased to announce the inclusion of 3 new constituents to its
existing index of China-focused, U.S. listed companies including:
China Grentech Corporation Limited (NASDAQ: GRRF) engages in the
manufacture and sale of wireless coverage products and services for
telecommunications operators; Tudou Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: TUDO)
that is an online video company; and Zuoan Fashion Limited (NYSE:
ZA) which engages in the manufacture, distribution, and retailing
of men's apparel. It was also announced that China Natural Gas,
Inc. (NASDAQ: CHNG), WSP Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:WH), American Lorain
Corporation (AMEX: ALN), Yucheng Technologies Limited
(NASDAQ:YTEC), China Information Technology, Inc (NASDAQ: CNIT),
China Finance Online (NASDAQ: JRJC), Ku6 Media Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:
KUTV), China Pharma Holdings, Inc. (AMEX: CPHI), China Marine Food
Group Limited (AMEX: CMFO), China Nutrifruit Group Limited (AMEX:
CNGL), AgFeed Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: FEED), China Sunergy Co.
Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSUND), and IFM Investments Limited (NYSE: CTC) were
removed from the Index. About the Halter USX China Index The Index,
created by the Halter Financial Group and calculated and
distributed by the NYSE Arca, is comprised of companies whose
common stock is publicly traded in the United States and the
majority of whose business is conducted within the People's
Republic of China. The Halter USX China Index was created in
response to the unique economic opportunities taking place in
China, as well as the current dynamics in the United States capital
markets. While there is strong demand for Chinese equity, U.S.
investors still seek and prefer the transparency offered with a
U.S. listing. For a company to be included in the Halter USX China
Index it must conduct a majority of its business in China, maintain
an average market cap of over $50 million for the preceding 40
trading days, trade on the NYSE, NYSE Amex or NASDAQ and be
approved by USX Selection Committee. Investors can gain exposure to
the Index by investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF), the
PowerShares Golden Dragon Halter USX China Portfolio (NYSE Arca:
PGJ). For more information please visit www.usxchinaindex.com. The
following 163 public companies currently comprise the Halter USX
China Index: 21Vianet Group Inc (NasdaqGM: VNET) 3SBio, Inc.
(NASDAQ:SSRX) 51 Job, Inc. (NASDAQ: JOBS) 7 Days Group Holdings Ltd
(NYSE: SVN) Acorn International, Inc. (NYSE:ATV) Actions
Semiconductor Co (NASDAQ: ACTS) Agria Corp. (NYSE: GRO) AirMedia
Group, Inc (NASDAQ: AMCN) Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. (NYSE: ACH)
Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (NYSE: AMBO) American Dairy, Inc
(NYSE:ADY) American Oriental Bioengineering, Inc. (NYSE: AOB)
AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASIA) ATA, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATAI)
AutoNavi Holdings Limited (NasdaqGS: AMAP) Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:
BIDU) BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing (NasdaqGS: BCDS) Bitauto
Holdings Limited (NYSE: BITA) Bona Film Group Limited (NasdaqGM:
BONA) Camelot Information Systems Inc. (NYSE: CIS) Canadian Solar,
Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) Changyou.com Limited (NASDAQ: CYOU) Charm
Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHRM) China Automotive Systems Inc
(NASDAQ: CAAS) China BAK Battery, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBAK) China
Biologic Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBPO) China Ceramics Co., Ltd.
(NasdaqCM: CCCL) China Cord Blood Corp (NYSE: CO) China Digital TV
Holdings Co., LTD. (NYSE: STV) China Distance Education Holdings
Limited (NYSE: DL) China Eastern Airlines Corporation Ltd. (NYSE:
CEA) China Gerui Advanced Materials Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHOP) China
Green Agriculture, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CGA) China GrenTech Corporation
LTD (NASDAQ: GRRF) China Hydroelectric (NYSE: CHC) China Kanghui
Holdings (NYSE: KH) China Life Insurance Co Ltd (NYSE: LFC) China
Lodging Group, Limited (NASDAQ: HTHT) China Medical Technologies,
Inc. (NASDAQ: CMED) China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited (AMEX: CNR)
China Ming Yang Wind Power Group (NYSE: MY) China Mobile Hong Kong
Ltd. (NYSE: CHL) China Natural Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHNR) China
Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. (NYSE:NPD) China New Borun Corp (NYSE:
BORN) China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited (AMEX: NEP) China
Nuokang Bio Pharmaceutical Inc (NASDAQ: NKBP) China Petroleum and
Chemical Corp (Sinopec) (NYSE: SNP) China Real Estate Information
Corporation (NASDAQ: CRIC) China Recycling Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:
CREG) China Shen Zhou Mining Resources, Inc. (AMEX: SHZ) China
Southern Airlines Company Ltd. (NYSE: ZNH) China Techfaith Wireless
Communication Technology Ltd. (NASDAQ: CNTF) China Telecom
Corporation Ltd (NYSE: CHA) China TransInfo Technology Corp
(NASDAQ: CTFO) China Unicom Ltd (NYSE: CHU) China Valves
Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVVT) China XD Plastics Company, Ltd.
(NASDAQ: CXDC) China Xiniya Fashion Limited (NYSE: XNY) China Yida
Holding, Co. (NASDAQ: CNYD) China Yuchai International Ltd. (NYSE:
CYD) China Zenix Auto International Ltd. (NYSE: ZX) ChinaCache
International Holdings Ltd. (NasdaqGM: CCIH) ChinaCast Education
Corp. (NASDAQ: CAST) ChinaEdu Corp. (NASDAQ: CEDU) Chindex
International Inc (NASDAQ:CHDX) Cninsure, Inc. (NASDAQ:CISG) CNOOC
Ltd. (NYSE: CEO) Cogo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: COGO) Concord Medical
Services Holding Ltd (NYSE: CCM) Country Style Cooking Restaurant
Chain Co., Limited (NYSE: CCSC) Ctrip.com (NASDAQ: CTRP) DAQQ New
Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) Deer Consumer Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: DEER)
E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. (NYSE: DANG) E-House (China)
Holdings Limited (NYSE: EJ) eLong (NASDAQ: LONG) Focus Media
Holding Ltd. (NASDAQNM: FMCN) Fushi International, Inc
(NASDAQ:FSIN) General Steel Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GSI) Giant
Interactive Group, Inc. (NYSE:GA) Global Sources Ltd (NASDAQ:GSOL)
Guangshen Railway Co Ltd (NYSE: GSH) Gulf Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:
GURE) Hanwha SolarOne, Ltd. (NASDAQ: HSOL) HiSoft Technology
International Limited (NasdaqGM: HSFT) HLS Systems International,
Ltd. (NASDAQ: HOLI) Home Inns Hotels Management, Inc. (NASDAQ:
HMIN) HuaNeng Power International, Inc. (NYSE: HNP) iSoftStone
Holdings Limited (NYSE: ISS) JA Solar Holdings (NASDAQ: JASO)
Jiayuan.com International Ltd. (NASDAQ: DATE) JinkoSolar Holding
Co., Ltd (NYSE: JKS) Jinpan International Limited (NASDAQ: JST)
Kandi Technologies, Corp. (NASDAQ: KNDI) Kingold Jewelry, Inc
(NASDAQ: KGJI) KongZhong Corporation (NASDAQ: KONG) L L Energy,
Inc. (NASDAQ: LLEN) LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) Le Gaga Holdings
Ltd (NasdaqGS: GAGA) Lentuo International Inc. (NYSE: LAS) Lihua
International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIWA) Longwei Petroleum Investment
Holding Ltd (AMEX: LPH) Mecox Lane Limited (NasdaqGM: MCOX) Mindray
Medical International Ltd (NYSE:MR) Nam Tai Electronics Inc (NYSE:
NTE) Netease.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES) NetQin Mobile Inc (NYSE: NQ)
New Oriental Education Technology Group, Inc. (NYSE:EDU) Noah
Education Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: NED) Noah Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:
NOAH) Orient Paper Inc (AMEX: ONP) Origin Agritech Limited (NASDAQ:
SEED) Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD) PetroChina Co. Ltd.
(NYSE: PTR) Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE: FENG) Qiao Xing Mobile
Com (NYSE:QXM) Qiao Xing Universal Telephone (NASDAQ: XING) Qihoo
360 Technology Co. Ltd (NYSE: QIHU) RDA Microelectronics, Inc.
(NasdaqGM: RDA) ReneSola, Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN)
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (NYSE: SMI) Shanda
Games Limited (NASDAQ: GAME) Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd
(NASDAQ: SNDA) ShangPharma Corporation (NYSE: SHP) Silvercorp
Metals Inc. (NYSE Amex: SVM) Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE:
SCR) Sina Corporation (NASDAQ: SINA) SinoCoking Coal and Coke
Chemical Industries, Inc. (NasdaqCM: SCOK) Sinopec Shanghai
Petrochemcial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: SHI) Sinovac Biotech, Ltd. (NYSE
Amex: SVA) Sky-mobi Limited (NasdaqGM: MOBI) SkyPeople Fruit Juice,
Inc. (NASDAQ: SPU) Sohu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU) SORL Auto Parts,
Inc. (NASDAQ: SORL) SouFun Holdings Limited America (NYSE: SFUN)
Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPRD) Suntech Power
Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
(NasdaqGM: SYMX) Synutra International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYUT) SYSWIN
Inc. (NYSE: SYSW) TAL Education Group (NYSE: XRS) Taomee Holdings
Ltd. (NYSE: TAOM) Telestone Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: TSTC)
The9 Limited (NASDAQ: NCTY) Trina Solar Limited (NYSE:TSL) Trunkbow
International Holdings, Ltd. (NasdaqGM: TBOW ) Tudou Holdings
Limited (NASDAQ: TUDO) UTStarcom Inc (NASDAQ: UTSI) VanceInfo
Technologies Inc. (NYSE: VIT) Vimicro International Corp. (NASDAQ;
VIMC) VisionChina Media Inc. (NASDAQ:VISN) Winner Medical Group,
Inc. (AMEX: WWIN) WuXi Pharma Tech (Caymen) Inc. (NYSE: WX) Xinyuan
Real Estate Company Ltd. (NYSE:XIN) Xueda Education Group (NYSE:
XUE) Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YZC) Yingli Green Energy
Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YGE) Yongye International, Inc. (NASDAQ:
YONG) Youku.com Inc. (NYSE: YOKU) Zhongpin, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOGS)
Zuoan Fashion Limited (NYSE: ZA) The information in this news
release includes certain forward looking statements that are based
upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been
accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties,
including statements to the future financial performance of the
Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations
reflected in its forward looking statements are reasonable, it can
give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-
looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could
cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, successful
performance of internal plans, product development and acceptance,
the impact of competitive services and pricing, or general economic
risks and uncertainties.
China Index (AMEX:^HXC) was up 2.40% and down 25.59% respectively.
During the same period (fourth quarter and year end), the Dow Jones
Industrial Average increased by 11.95% and 5.53% respectively,
while the NASDAQ finished up 7.86% and down 1.80% HXC is also
pleased to announce the inclusion of 3 new constituents to its
existing index of China-focused, U.S. listed companies including:
China Grentech Corporation Limited (NASDAQ: GRRF) engages in the
manufacture and sale of wireless coverage products and services for
telecommunications operators; Tudou Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: TUDO)
that is an online video company; and Zuoan Fashion Limited (NYSE:
ZA) which engages in the manufacture, distribution, and retailing
of men's apparel. It was also announced that China Natural Gas,
Inc. (NASDAQ: CHNG), WSP Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:WH), American Lorain
Corporation (AMEX: ALN), Yucheng Technologies Limited
(NASDAQ:YTEC), China Information Technology, Inc (NASDAQ: CNIT),
China Finance Online (NASDAQ: JRJC), Ku6 Media Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ:
KUTV), China Pharma Holdings, Inc. (AMEX: CPHI), China Marine Food
Group Limited (AMEX: CMFO), China Nutrifruit Group Limited (AMEX:
CNGL), AgFeed Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: FEED), China Sunergy Co.
Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSUND), and IFM Investments Limited (NYSE: CTC) were
removed from the Index. About the Halter USX China Index The Index,
created by the Halter Financial Group and calculated and
distributed by the NYSE Arca, is comprised of companies whose
common stock is publicly traded in the United States and the
majority of whose business is conducted within the People's
Republic of China. The Halter USX China Index was created in
response to the unique economic opportunities taking place in
China, as well as the current dynamics in the United States capital
markets. While there is strong demand for Chinese equity, U.S.
investors still seek and prefer the transparency offered with a
U.S. listing. For a company to be included in the Halter USX China
Index it must conduct a majority of its business in China, maintain
an average market cap of over $50 million for the preceding 40
trading days, trade on the NYSE, NYSE Amex or NASDAQ and be
approved by USX Selection Committee. Investors can gain exposure to
the Index by investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF), the
PowerShares Golden Dragon Halter USX China Portfolio (NYSE Arca:
PGJ). For more information please visit www.usxchinaindex.com. The
following 163 public companies currently comprise the Halter USX
China Index: 21Vianet Group Inc (NasdaqGM: VNET) 3SBio, Inc.
(NASDAQ:SSRX) 51 Job, Inc. (NASDAQ: JOBS) 7 Days Group Holdings Ltd
(NYSE: SVN) Acorn International, Inc. (NYSE:ATV) Actions
Semiconductor Co (NASDAQ: ACTS) Agria Corp. (NYSE: GRO) AirMedia
Group, Inc (NASDAQ: AMCN) Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. (NYSE: ACH)
Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (NYSE: AMBO) American Dairy, Inc
(NYSE:ADY) American Oriental Bioengineering, Inc. (NYSE: AOB)
AsiaInfo Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASIA) ATA, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATAI)
AutoNavi Holdings Limited (NasdaqGS: AMAP) Baidu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:
BIDU) BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing (NasdaqGS: BCDS) Bitauto
Holdings Limited (NYSE: BITA) Bona Film Group Limited (NasdaqGM:
BONA) Camelot Information Systems Inc. (NYSE: CIS) Canadian Solar,
Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) Changyou.com Limited (NASDAQ: CYOU) Charm
Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: CHRM) China Automotive Systems Inc
(NASDAQ: CAAS) China BAK Battery, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBAK) China
Biologic Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBPO) China Ceramics Co., Ltd.
(NasdaqCM: CCCL) China Cord Blood Corp (NYSE: CO) China Digital TV
Holdings Co., LTD. (NYSE: STV) China Distance Education Holdings
Limited (NYSE: DL) China Eastern Airlines Corporation Ltd. (NYSE:
CEA) China Gerui Advanced Materials Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHOP) China
Green Agriculture, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CGA) China GrenTech Corporation
LTD (NASDAQ: GRRF) China Hydroelectric (NYSE: CHC) China Kanghui
Holdings (NYSE: KH) China Life Insurance Co Ltd (NYSE: LFC) China
Lodging Group, Limited (NASDAQ: HTHT) China Medical Technologies,
Inc. (NASDAQ: CMED) China Metro-Rural Holdings Limited (AMEX: CNR)
China Ming Yang Wind Power Group (NYSE: MY) China Mobile Hong Kong
Ltd. (NYSE: CHL) China Natural Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHNR) China
Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd. (NYSE:NPD) China New Borun Corp (NYSE:
BORN) China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited (AMEX: NEP) China
Nuokang Bio Pharmaceutical Inc (NASDAQ: NKBP) China Petroleum and
Chemical Corp (Sinopec) (NYSE: SNP) China Real Estate Information
Corporation (NASDAQ: CRIC) China Recycling Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:
CREG) China Shen Zhou Mining Resources, Inc. (AMEX: SHZ) China
Southern Airlines Company Ltd. (NYSE: ZNH) China Techfaith Wireless
Communication Technology Ltd. (NASDAQ: CNTF) China Telecom
Corporation Ltd (NYSE: CHA) China TransInfo Technology Corp
(NASDAQ: CTFO) China Unicom Ltd (NYSE: CHU) China Valves
Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CVVT) China XD Plastics Company, Ltd.
(NASDAQ: CXDC) China Xiniya Fashion Limited (NYSE: XNY) China Yida
Holding, Co. (NASDAQ: CNYD) China Yuchai International Ltd. (NYSE:
CYD) China Zenix Auto International Ltd. (NYSE: ZX) ChinaCache
International Holdings Ltd. (NasdaqGM: CCIH) ChinaCast Education
Corp. (NASDAQ: CAST) ChinaEdu Corp. (NASDAQ: CEDU) Chindex
International Inc (NASDAQ:CHDX) Cninsure, Inc. (NASDAQ:CISG) CNOOC
Ltd. (NYSE: CEO) Cogo Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: COGO) Concord Medical
Services Holding Ltd (NYSE: CCM) Country Style Cooking Restaurant
Chain Co., Limited (NYSE: CCSC) Ctrip.com (NASDAQ: CTRP) DAQQ New
Energy Corp. (NYSE: DQ) Deer Consumer Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: DEER)
E-Commerce China Dangdang Inc. (NYSE: DANG) E-House (China)
Holdings Limited (NYSE: EJ) eLong (NASDAQ: LONG) Focus Media
Holding Ltd. (NASDAQNM: FMCN) Fushi International, Inc
(NASDAQ:FSIN) General Steel Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GSI) Giant
Interactive Group, Inc. (NYSE:GA) Global Sources Ltd (NASDAQ:GSOL)
Guangshen Railway Co Ltd (NYSE: GSH) Gulf Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:
GURE) Hanwha SolarOne, Ltd. (NASDAQ: HSOL) HiSoft Technology
International Limited (NasdaqGM: HSFT) HLS Systems International,
Ltd. (NASDAQ: HOLI) Home Inns Hotels Management, Inc. (NASDAQ:
HMIN) HuaNeng Power International, Inc. (NYSE: HNP) iSoftStone
Holdings Limited (NYSE: ISS) JA Solar Holdings (NASDAQ: JASO)
Jiayuan.com International Ltd. (NASDAQ: DATE) JinkoSolar Holding
Co., Ltd (NYSE: JKS) Jinpan International Limited (NASDAQ: JST)
Kandi Technologies, Corp. (NASDAQ: KNDI) Kingold Jewelry, Inc
(NASDAQ: KGJI) KongZhong Corporation (NASDAQ: KONG) L L Energy,
Inc. (NASDAQ: LLEN) LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) Le Gaga Holdings
Ltd (NasdaqGS: GAGA) Lentuo International Inc. (NYSE: LAS) Lihua
International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIWA) Longwei Petroleum Investment
Holding Ltd (AMEX: LPH) Mecox Lane Limited (NasdaqGM: MCOX) Mindray
Medical International Ltd (NYSE:MR) Nam Tai Electronics Inc (NYSE:
NTE) Netease.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES) NetQin Mobile Inc (NYSE: NQ)
New Oriental Education Technology Group, Inc. (NYSE:EDU) Noah
Education Holdings, Ltd. (NYSE: NED) Noah Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:
NOAH) Orient Paper Inc (AMEX: ONP) Origin Agritech Limited (NASDAQ:
SEED) Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD) PetroChina Co. Ltd.
(NYSE: PTR) Phoenix New Media Limited (NYSE: FENG) Qiao Xing Mobile
Com (NYSE:QXM) Qiao Xing Universal Telephone (NASDAQ: XING) Qihoo
360 Technology Co. Ltd (NYSE: QIHU) RDA Microelectronics, Inc.
(NasdaqGM: RDA) ReneSola, Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN)
Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (NYSE: SMI) Shanda
Games Limited (NASDAQ: GAME) Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd
(NASDAQ: SNDA) ShangPharma Corporation (NYSE: SHP) Silvercorp
Metals Inc. (NYSE Amex: SVM) Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE:
SCR) Sina Corporation (NASDAQ: SINA) SinoCoking Coal and Coke
Chemical Industries, Inc. (NasdaqCM: SCOK) Sinopec Shanghai
Petrochemcial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: SHI) Sinovac Biotech, Ltd. (NYSE
Amex: SVA) Sky-mobi Limited (NasdaqGM: MOBI) SkyPeople Fruit Juice,
Inc. (NASDAQ: SPU) Sohu.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU) SORL Auto Parts,
Inc. (NASDAQ: SORL) SouFun Holdings Limited America (NYSE: SFUN)
Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPRD) Suntech Power
Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc.
(NasdaqGM: SYMX) Synutra International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYUT) SYSWIN
Inc. (NYSE: SYSW) TAL Education Group (NYSE: XRS) Taomee Holdings
Ltd. (NYSE: TAOM) Telestone Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: TSTC)
The9 Limited (NASDAQ: NCTY) Trina Solar Limited (NYSE:TSL) Trunkbow
International Holdings, Ltd. (NasdaqGM: TBOW ) Tudou Holdings
Limited (NASDAQ: TUDO) UTStarcom Inc (NASDAQ: UTSI) VanceInfo
Technologies Inc. (NYSE: VIT) Vimicro International Corp. (NASDAQ;
VIMC) VisionChina Media Inc. (NASDAQ:VISN) Winner Medical Group,
Inc. (AMEX: WWIN) WuXi Pharma Tech (Caymen) Inc. (NYSE: WX) Xinyuan
Real Estate Company Ltd. (NYSE:XIN) Xueda Education Group (NYSE:
XUE) Yanzhou Coal Mining Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YZC) Yingli Green Energy
Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YGE) Yongye International, Inc. (NASDAQ:
YONG) Youku.com Inc. (NYSE: YOKU) Zhongpin, Inc. (NASDAQ: HOGS)
Zuoan Fashion Limited (NYSE: ZA) The information in this news
release includes certain forward looking statements that are based
upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been
accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties,
including statements to the future financial performance of the
Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations
reflected in its forward looking statements are reasonable, it can
give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-
looking statements will prove to be correct. Factors that could
cause results to differ include, but are not limited to, successful
performance of internal plans, product development and acceptance,
the impact of competitive services and pricing, or general economic
risks and uncertainties.
PrepaYd Wireless Responds to Verizons Proposed $2 Fee to Pay Your Wireless Bill with a Credit Card with Its Y Pay More Plan
PrepaYd Wireless, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PrepaYd,
Inc. (PPDC.PK), a Nationwide Wireless Service Provider responding
to Verizons proposed $2 pay by credit card fee is offering no
contract wireless service plans, free mobile devices and free debit
or credit card payment option. The "Y Pay More" no contract plan
includes Unlimited Talk, Text, and 3G Data for exactly $40 a month
and includes a free mobile device while supplies last. The company
also offers an unlimited plan for non data users at only $35 a
month for unlimited talk and text and includes a free mobile device
while supplies last. "PrepaYd Wireless is excited to respond with
its Y Pay More initiative. We encourage anyone spending more than
$40 a month for cell phone service or fed up with service outages
and rising fees to contact us to find out about our nationwide
coverage and to get a free phone while supplies last," stated Josh
Berman, Vice President of PrepaYd Wireless, Inc. PrepaYd Wireless,
through its parent company PrepaYd, Inc., is a pioneer in the
prepaid debit card industry. The company prides itself on being an
industry leader in competitive pricing and no hidden fees. In fact,
the company lowered its debit card fees this year as banks like
Bank of America tried raising theirs. About PrepaYd Wireless
PrepaYd Wireless, Inc. is a Wireless Service Provider that offers
mobile services to an estimated 110 million consumer demographic.
Prepaid Wireless Services is an alternative to the traditional
Postpaid Wireless Service Plans provided by major carriers. In
addition, PrepaYd Wireless intends to make all of its available
phones and wireless plans compatible for mobile financial services.
For more information about PrepaYd Wireless, Inc. visit
www.PrepaYdWireless.com. About PrepaYd, Inc. PrepaYd, Inc. is a
provider of financial services in the prepaid debit card industry.
The company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, offers prepaid
debit cards to America's estimated 60 million underbanked citizens.
In addition to the underbanked consumer demographic, small and
mid-size businesses have found a much needed product with the
company's Prepaid Business Expense Card Program. With the
diminishing credit card markets, companies need a new way to fund
employees' expenses other than through traditional credit cards or
cash reimbursements. For more information about PrepaYd, Inc. visit
www.PrepaYdInc.com. For more information about PrepaYd Wireless,
Inc. visit www.PrepaYdWireless.com. For more information about
PrepaYd, Inc. visit www.PrepaYdInc.com. FORWARD-LOOKING SAFE HARBOR
STATEMENT: To the extent that this release discusses any
expectations concerning future plans, financial results or
performance, such statements are forward looking within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in the
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date hereof and reflect only management's belief and
expectations based upon presently available information. These
statements, and other forward-looking statements, are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and
uncertainties and the company assumes no obligation to update any
of the forward-looking statements in this release.
Inc. (PPDC.PK), a Nationwide Wireless Service Provider responding
to Verizons proposed $2 pay by credit card fee is offering no
contract wireless service plans, free mobile devices and free debit
or credit card payment option. The "Y Pay More" no contract plan
includes Unlimited Talk, Text, and 3G Data for exactly $40 a month
and includes a free mobile device while supplies last. The company
also offers an unlimited plan for non data users at only $35 a
month for unlimited talk and text and includes a free mobile device
while supplies last. "PrepaYd Wireless is excited to respond with
its Y Pay More initiative. We encourage anyone spending more than
$40 a month for cell phone service or fed up with service outages
and rising fees to contact us to find out about our nationwide
coverage and to get a free phone while supplies last," stated Josh
Berman, Vice President of PrepaYd Wireless, Inc. PrepaYd Wireless,
through its parent company PrepaYd, Inc., is a pioneer in the
prepaid debit card industry. The company prides itself on being an
industry leader in competitive pricing and no hidden fees. In fact,
the company lowered its debit card fees this year as banks like
Bank of America tried raising theirs. About PrepaYd Wireless
PrepaYd Wireless, Inc. is a Wireless Service Provider that offers
mobile services to an estimated 110 million consumer demographic.
Prepaid Wireless Services is an alternative to the traditional
Postpaid Wireless Service Plans provided by major carriers. In
addition, PrepaYd Wireless intends to make all of its available
phones and wireless plans compatible for mobile financial services.
For more information about PrepaYd Wireless, Inc. visit
www.PrepaYdWireless.com. About PrepaYd, Inc. PrepaYd, Inc. is a
provider of financial services in the prepaid debit card industry.
The company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, offers prepaid
debit cards to America's estimated 60 million underbanked citizens.
In addition to the underbanked consumer demographic, small and
mid-size businesses have found a much needed product with the
company's Prepaid Business Expense Card Program. With the
diminishing credit card markets, companies need a new way to fund
employees' expenses other than through traditional credit cards or
cash reimbursements. For more information about PrepaYd, Inc. visit
www.PrepaYdInc.com. For more information about PrepaYd Wireless,
Inc. visit www.PrepaYdWireless.com. For more information about
PrepaYd, Inc. visit www.PrepaYdInc.com. FORWARD-LOOKING SAFE HARBOR
STATEMENT: To the extent that this release discusses any
expectations concerning future plans, financial results or
performance, such statements are forward looking within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual results
could differ materially from those anticipated in the
forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date hereof and reflect only management's belief and
expectations based upon presently available information. These
statements, and other forward-looking statements, are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and
uncertainties and the company assumes no obligation to update any
of the forward-looking statements in this release.
A.M. Best Revises Outlook to Negative for Southern Trust Insurance Company
A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable
and affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and
issuer credit rating of a of Southern Trust Insurance Company
(Southern Trust) (Macon, GA). The revision of the outlook to
negative reflects Southern Trusts negative underwriting income in
recent years, driven not only by significant weather-related losses
but also an elevated expense ratio that on a five-year basis,
considerably exceeds the private passenger auto and homeowners
composite. In addition, Southern Trusts business concentration
creates exposure to ongoing weather-related losses. In spite of the
negative underwriting results, Southern Trust maintains strong
risk-adjusted capitalization, which is derived from its
conservative operating strategies, favorable reserve development
and conservative investment risk. In addition, Southern Trust
maintains long-standing agency relationships and possesses local
market expertise in its leading state of Georgia. Future rating
downgrades could result if there is continued deterioration in
underwriting performance or a significant erosion of Southern
Trusts capital base. Removal of the negative outlook would include,
but is not limited to, several years of improved underwriting
performance while maintaining strong risk-adjusted capitalization.
The principal methodology used in determining these ratings is
Bests Credit Rating Methodology -- Global Life and Non-Life
Insurance Edition, which provides a comprehensive explanation of
A.M. Bests rating process and highlights the different rating
criteria employed. Additional key criteria utilized include: Risk
Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies;
Understanding BCAR for Property/Casualty Insurers; and Catastrophe
Analysis in A.M. Best Ratings. Methodologies can be found at
www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best
Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance
rating and information source. For more information, visit
www.ambest.com. Copyright 2011 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.
and affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and
issuer credit rating of a of Southern Trust Insurance Company
(Southern Trust) (Macon, GA). The revision of the outlook to
negative reflects Southern Trusts negative underwriting income in
recent years, driven not only by significant weather-related losses
but also an elevated expense ratio that on a five-year basis,
considerably exceeds the private passenger auto and homeowners
composite. In addition, Southern Trusts business concentration
creates exposure to ongoing weather-related losses. In spite of the
negative underwriting results, Southern Trust maintains strong
risk-adjusted capitalization, which is derived from its
conservative operating strategies, favorable reserve development
and conservative investment risk. In addition, Southern Trust
maintains long-standing agency relationships and possesses local
market expertise in its leading state of Georgia. Future rating
downgrades could result if there is continued deterioration in
underwriting performance or a significant erosion of Southern
Trusts capital base. Removal of the negative outlook would include,
but is not limited to, several years of improved underwriting
performance while maintaining strong risk-adjusted capitalization.
The principal methodology used in determining these ratings is
Bests Credit Rating Methodology -- Global Life and Non-Life
Insurance Edition, which provides a comprehensive explanation of
A.M. Bests rating process and highlights the different rating
criteria employed. Additional key criteria utilized include: Risk
Management and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies;
Understanding BCAR for Property/Casualty Insurers; and Catastrophe
Analysis in A.M. Best Ratings. Methodologies can be found at
www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best
Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance
rating and information source. For more information, visit
www.ambest.com. Copyright 2011 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sallie Mae Reminds College Bound Students: Put FAFSA at the Top of Your New Years Resolution List
Sallie Mae, the nations No. 1 financial services company
specializing in education, encourages high school seniors and other
college-bound students to make completing the FAFSA part of their
New Years resolution checklist. The form for the 2012-13 academic
year will become available on Jan. 1. The FAFSA, which stands for
Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a must-do for students
looking to tap not only federal aid but also most state and
institutional aid. To help make it easier for students, Sallie Mae
offers free tips and how-to videos at SallieMae.com/Fafsa.
According to Sallie Maes How America Pays for College national
study, 80 percent of undergraduates completed the FAFSA last
academic year, the highest percentage since the research series
began. Still, that leaves 20 percent who did not complete the form
and may potentially miss out on federal or state aid. While the
form for the 2012-13 academic year asks virtually the same 100-plus
personal and financial questions as in the past, the Department of
Education and IRS recently made the form easier to complete online
and now enable electronic transfer of tax form data from the IRS to
the FAFSA form. FAFSA deadlines differ by state, with the earliest
on Feb. 15 in Connecticut, quickly followed by California, Idaho,
Indiana, Maryland and Michigan in early March, to name a few.
Students should also consult their schools website to see when it
requires FAFSA or other financial data as part of its aid and
scholarship award process. Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) is the nations
No. 1 financial services company specializing in education. Whether
college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae
helps turn education dreams into reality for 25 million customers.
With products and services that include college savings programs,
scholarship search tools, education loans, tuition insurance, and
online banking, Sallie Mae offers solutions that help families
save, plan, and pay for college. Sallie Mae also provides financial
services to hundreds of college campuses as well as to federal and
state governments. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as
Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored
by or agencies of the United States of America.
specializing in education, encourages high school seniors and other
college-bound students to make completing the FAFSA part of their
New Years resolution checklist. The form for the 2012-13 academic
year will become available on Jan. 1. The FAFSA, which stands for
Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is a must-do for students
looking to tap not only federal aid but also most state and
institutional aid. To help make it easier for students, Sallie Mae
offers free tips and how-to videos at SallieMae.com/Fafsa.
According to Sallie Maes How America Pays for College national
study, 80 percent of undergraduates completed the FAFSA last
academic year, the highest percentage since the research series
began. Still, that leaves 20 percent who did not complete the form
and may potentially miss out on federal or state aid. While the
form for the 2012-13 academic year asks virtually the same 100-plus
personal and financial questions as in the past, the Department of
Education and IRS recently made the form easier to complete online
and now enable electronic transfer of tax form data from the IRS to
the FAFSA form. FAFSA deadlines differ by state, with the earliest
on Feb. 15 in Connecticut, quickly followed by California, Idaho,
Indiana, Maryland and Michigan in early March, to name a few.
Students should also consult their schools website to see when it
requires FAFSA or other financial data as part of its aid and
scholarship award process. Sallie Mae (NASDAQ: SLM) is the nations
No. 1 financial services company specializing in education. Whether
college is a long way off or just around the corner, Sallie Mae
helps turn education dreams into reality for 25 million customers.
With products and services that include college savings programs,
scholarship search tools, education loans, tuition insurance, and
online banking, Sallie Mae offers solutions that help families
save, plan, and pay for college. Sallie Mae also provides financial
services to hundreds of college campuses as well as to federal and
state governments. Learn more at SallieMae.com. Commonly known as
Sallie Mae, SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries are not sponsored
by or agencies of the United States of America.
Northern Trust to Provide Custody Services for St. Joseph Health System in California
Northern Trust announced today it has been selected to
provide custody services for the St. Joseph Health System (SJHS),
based in Orange, Calif. Northern Trust will provide custody and
related services, including Investment Risk Analytical Services,
for the $1.8 billion operating assets of SJHS. Northern Trust
distinguished itself in the selection process with a dedication to
client service and technology innovation, and particularly with
their web-portal Passport, said Lisa M. Laird, Vice President of
Investments and Cash Management for St. Joseph Health System. The
Passport system provides an intuitive tool that eases our data
integration process, as well as allowing us to achieve efficiency
while maintaining the highest standards of security and data
integrity. Northern Trust is committed to meeting the asset
servicing needs of leading not-for-profit institutions like St.
Joseph Health System, said Laurie Neu, Group Head for Public
Entities and Institutions at Northern Trust. We feel that our
client service model of understanding client needs with attention
to detail, coupled with innovation and flexibility, leads to
valuable solutions and differentiates the Northern Trust offering.
St. Joseph Health System provides a full range of care facilities
including acute care hospitals, home health agencies, hospice care,
outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities, community clinics,
and physician organizations throughout California, Texas and New
Mexico. SJHS has 24,000 dedicated employees and more than 6,000
physicians. About Northern Trust Northern Trust Corporation
(Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management,
asset and fund administration, banking solutions and fiduciary
services for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals
worldwide. Northern Trust, a financial holding company based in
Chicago, has offices in 18 U.S. states and 16 international
locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the
Asia-Pacific region. As of September 30, 2011, Northern Trust had
assets under custody of US$4.2 trillion, and assets under
investment management of US$644.2 billion. For more than 120 years,
Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader in
combining exceptional service and expertise with innovative
products and technology. For more information, visit
www.northerntrust.com.
provide custody services for the St. Joseph Health System (SJHS),
based in Orange, Calif. Northern Trust will provide custody and
related services, including Investment Risk Analytical Services,
for the $1.8 billion operating assets of SJHS. Northern Trust
distinguished itself in the selection process with a dedication to
client service and technology innovation, and particularly with
their web-portal Passport, said Lisa M. Laird, Vice President of
Investments and Cash Management for St. Joseph Health System. The
Passport system provides an intuitive tool that eases our data
integration process, as well as allowing us to achieve efficiency
while maintaining the highest standards of security and data
integrity. Northern Trust is committed to meeting the asset
servicing needs of leading not-for-profit institutions like St.
Joseph Health System, said Laurie Neu, Group Head for Public
Entities and Institutions at Northern Trust. We feel that our
client service model of understanding client needs with attention
to detail, coupled with innovation and flexibility, leads to
valuable solutions and differentiates the Northern Trust offering.
St. Joseph Health System provides a full range of care facilities
including acute care hospitals, home health agencies, hospice care,
outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities, community clinics,
and physician organizations throughout California, Texas and New
Mexico. SJHS has 24,000 dedicated employees and more than 6,000
physicians. About Northern Trust Northern Trust Corporation
(Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of investment management,
asset and fund administration, banking solutions and fiduciary
services for corporations, institutions and affluent individuals
worldwide. Northern Trust, a financial holding company based in
Chicago, has offices in 18 U.S. states and 16 international
locations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the
Asia-Pacific region. As of September 30, 2011, Northern Trust had
assets under custody of US$4.2 trillion, and assets under
investment management of US$644.2 billion. For more than 120 years,
Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader in
combining exceptional service and expertise with innovative
products and technology. For more information, visit
www.northerntrust.com.
2011 is the Best Holiday Ever for Kindle
(NASDAQ: AMZN) - Amazon.com, Inc. today announced that 2011
was the best holiday ever for the Kindle family as customers
purchased millions of Kindle Fires and millions of Kindle
e-readers. Authors also continue to benefit from the success of
Kindle the #1 and #4 best-selling Kindle books released in
2011wereboth published independently by their authors
using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). We are grateful to our
customers worldwide for making this the best holiday ever for
Kindle, said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. And in a huge
milestone for independent publishing, wed also like to congratulate
Darcie Chan, the author of The Mill River Recluse, and Chris
Culver, the author of The Abbey, for writing two of the
best-selling Kindle books of the year. More Kindle holiday facts:
Throughout December, customers purchased well over 1 million Kindle
devices per week. The new Kindle family held the top three spots on
the Amazon.com best seller charts #1: Kindle Fire, #2: Kindle
Touch, #3: Kindle. Kindle Fire is the #1 best-selling, most gifted,
and most wished for product across the millions of items available
on Amazon.com since its introduction 13 weeks ago. Kindle is also
the best-selling product on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr,
Amazon.es and Amazon.it this holiday season. Gifting of Kindle
books was up 175 percent between this Black Friday and Christmas
Day compared to the same period in 2010. Christmas Day was the
biggest day ever for Kindle book downloads. Kindle Fire is the
best-selling product on Amazon.coms mobile website and across all
of Amazon.coms mobile applications. Additional Kindle Direct
Publishing successes include: Decembers #1 best-selling Kindle
Direct Publishing book Wife by Wednesday was also the #5 overall
best-selling Kindle book in December and has appeared on both the
USA Today and Wall Street Journal best seller lists. Author
Catherine Bybee was formerly an emergency room registered nurse,
and has now left her job to focus on writing full-time. In 2011,
KDP and CreateSpace author CJ Lyons reached #2 on the Amazon best
seller list, #2 on theNew York Times best seller list, and #4
on the USA Today best seller list. As a former pediatric ER doctor,
CJ has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge suspense
novels, and she quit her job in medicine after 17 years to pursue
her dream of becoming a full-time novelist. Her latest work
includes Face to Face and Hot Water. Businesses Selling on Amazon
2011 was also a record-breaking holiday season for businesses that
sell on Amazon. Third-party sellers experienced record holiday
growth: the number of sellers who exceeded $5,000 in sales during
the holiday season increased 44 percent year-over-year. For the
year, businesses on Amazon sold hundreds of millions of units worth
billions of dollars worldwide. Scharf Industries, an office
supplies and electronics provider, increased its sales on Amazon by
over 500 percent this holiday season compared with last holiday
season. We greatly value the cooperation that we have developed
with Amazon, said AndrewD. Scharf, CMO of Scharf Industries.
They have provided us with the tools necessaryto grow our
business in arapid and efficient manner. Ken Reiss, the owner
of Reiss Innovations, LLC, started with one Amazon Webstore,
selling five to 10 mouse pads for the year. Six years later he has
a successful eCommerce business, selling through multiple Amazon
Webstores. Just this year alone, Reiss saw a 21 percent increase in
sales compared with the holiday season last year. He has also
increased the number of product listings by 50 percent over 2010
and recently extended his business to Canada. According to Reiss,
one of the most beneficial aspects of his relationship with Amazon
is that It allows me to scale in efficiency. I can devote my time
to building vendor relations and growing my inventory, rather than
worrying about logistical aspects, such as shipping products. Reiss
currently stores 90 percent of his inventory in Amazons warehouses,
up from 75 percent last year. Other seller successes include:
Amazons third-party sellers sold enough cameras for every fan at
the next 10 Super Bowls to snap their own shots of the winning
touchdown. Amazons third-party sellers sold enough toys in 2011 to
give a toy to every resident of Chicago. In fact, they sold as many
Lalaloopsy Dolls as there are lights on the Rockefeller Center
Christmas Tree in New York City. Debra Keyes, CEO of The Internet
Department Store, which sells costumes for both adults and
children,began utilizing Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) the
Amazon service that stores, packs and ships orders for third-party
sellers as soon as it launched. By January 2011, she had 1,300
products listed in FBA. That number has now grown to 7,800 products
by November 2011. During that same time period, the companys sales
increased by 34 percent. Holiday Fun Facts Shipping: The last
One-Day Prime order that was delivered in time for Christmas was
placed on Dec. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PST and shipped to Ballwin, Mo. The
item was The Cooks Herb Garden, a book by Jeff Cox and Marie-Pierre
Moine. The last Local Express Delivery order that was delivered in
time for Christmas went to Seattle, Wash. It was a Sony
Rechargeable Battery Pack that was ordered at 2:35 p.m. PST on
Christmas Eve and delivered at 6:15 p.m. PST that same evening.
Earlier this year, an Amazon customer called with an urgent request
for large volume of a single book, which they needed at the airport
the next day before they boarded a flight. The books were special
gifts and no other retailer had them available in such short
notice. Even though the cutoff time had passed for all traditional
delivery methods, Amazon was able to arrange a delivery to the
customers hotel just prior to their departure for the airport.
Customer Purchases (Amazon.com only; holiday timeframe-specific):
Amazon customers purchased enough copies of Walter Isaacsons Steve
Jobs book to create a stack taller than Mt. Everest. The cumulative
weight of the Bowflex 552 Adjustable Dumbbells purchased by Amazon
customers would outweigh more than 70 adult elephants. If you
unfolded and stacked each pair of jeans purchased by Amazon
customers this holiday, the height would be 2,500 times taller than
the Statue of Liberty. Amazon customers purchased enough sweaters
to outfit each of Santas reindeer during Christmas Eve deliveries
for the next 14,000 years. Amazon customers purchased enough copies
of Just Dance 3 to give 15 copies to each person who participated
in setting the world record for simultaneous dancing. Amazon
customers purchased enough HeatMax HotHands Handwarmers to give a
pair to each resident of Iceland. Amazon customers purchased enough
Rorys Story Cubes to give a cube to each person watching the New
Years Eve ball drop live at Times Square. Holiday Best Sellers
(Amazon.com only; based on units ordered): Electronics: Kindle
Fire; Kindle Touch; and Kindle Toys: Rorys Story Cubes; Qwirkle
Board Game; and Perplexus Maze Game Video Games: Just Dance
3;Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3; and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Sports Outdoors: Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation DVD Set;
Emergency Fire Starter; and Flexible Flyer Snowball Maker Home
Kitchen: Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler; Fred M-Cups Measuring
Matroyshkas; and Pure Komachi 2 Series Hollow-Ground Santoku Knife
Books: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson; Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin
Fever by Jeff Kinney; and 11/22/63 by Stephen King Kindle Books:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; Catching Fire by Suzanne
Collins; and The Litigators by John Grisham CD: Christmas by
Michael Bublé; 21 by Adele; and Duets II by Tony Bennett Amazon
MP3: 100 Classic Christmas Songs by Various Artists; Mylo Xyloto by
Coldplay; and A Very She Him Christmas by She Him DVD: Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2; Bridesmaids; and The Help Amazon
Instant Video: Super 8; The Help; and Crazy, Stupid, Love Watches:
Timex 1440 Sports Digital Resin Strap Watch; LEGO Kids' Star Wars
Darth Vader Mini-Figure Alarm Clock; and XOXO Rhinestone Accent
Gold-Tone Bracelet Watch Jewelry: 10k White Gold Round Diamond Stud
Earrings; Sterling Silver Amethyst Butterfly Pendant; and White
Peacock and Pink Freshwater Cultured Pearl Button 3 Pair Stud
Earrings Set Clothing: Levis 501 Jean; Levis 505 Straight Fit Jean;
and Levis 550 Relaxed Fit Jean Shoes: UGG Australia Classic Tall
Boots; Crocs Classic Clog; and BEARPAW Emma Short Boot Beauty:
Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift Eau de Parfum Spray; Olay Pro-X
Advanced Cleansing System; and NARS Orgasm Blush Health Personal
Care: Philips Norelco SensoTouch Electric Shaver; Philips Norelco
Shaving System; and Philips Sonicare Essence Power Toothbrush Tools
Home Improvement: Streamlight Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED
Flashlight; Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener; and
Black Decker All-In-One SureGrip Laser Level Automotive: Battery
Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger; Wagan 12-Volt Heated Seat
Cushion; and Mystic Industries Reindeer Vehicle Costume Baby: Baby
Einstein Take Along Tunes; Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether; and
Cloud B Twilight Turtle Constellation Night Light
AmazonWireless:Motorola DROID RAZR 4G Android Phone (Verizon
Wireless);Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch 4G Android Phone
(Sprint); andSamsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (ATT)
Amazon Appstore for Android: Angry Birds (Ad-Free); TETRIS; and
Pandora Internet Radio About Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:
AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World
Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection.
Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company,
where customers can find and discover anything they might want to
buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest
possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of
unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books;
Movies, Music Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics Computers; Home
Garden; Toys, Kids Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes Jewelry; Health
Beauty; Sports Outdoors; and Tools, Auto Industrial. Amazon Web
Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to
in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end
technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually
any type of business. The new latest generation Kindle is the
lightest, most compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch,
most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper
even in bright sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the
Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier
than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes - still with
all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display.
Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line e-reader and offers the same
new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the unparalleled
added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies,
TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing
with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud,
Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon's new revolutionary
cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and
powerful dual-core processor. Amazon and its affiliates operate
websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk,
www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca,
www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein,
"Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com,
Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from
management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related
to competition, management of growth, new products, services and
technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results,
international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims,
fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial
agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign
exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government
regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about
factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial
results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
was the best holiday ever for the Kindle family as customers
purchased millions of Kindle Fires and millions of Kindle
e-readers. Authors also continue to benefit from the success of
Kindle the #1 and #4 best-selling Kindle books released in
2011wereboth published independently by their authors
using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). We are grateful to our
customers worldwide for making this the best holiday ever for
Kindle, said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com founder and CEO. And in a huge
milestone for independent publishing, wed also like to congratulate
Darcie Chan, the author of The Mill River Recluse, and Chris
Culver, the author of The Abbey, for writing two of the
best-selling Kindle books of the year. More Kindle holiday facts:
Throughout December, customers purchased well over 1 million Kindle
devices per week. The new Kindle family held the top three spots on
the Amazon.com best seller charts #1: Kindle Fire, #2: Kindle
Touch, #3: Kindle. Kindle Fire is the #1 best-selling, most gifted,
and most wished for product across the millions of items available
on Amazon.com since its introduction 13 weeks ago. Kindle is also
the best-selling product on Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr,
Amazon.es and Amazon.it this holiday season. Gifting of Kindle
books was up 175 percent between this Black Friday and Christmas
Day compared to the same period in 2010. Christmas Day was the
biggest day ever for Kindle book downloads. Kindle Fire is the
best-selling product on Amazon.coms mobile website and across all
of Amazon.coms mobile applications. Additional Kindle Direct
Publishing successes include: Decembers #1 best-selling Kindle
Direct Publishing book Wife by Wednesday was also the #5 overall
best-selling Kindle book in December and has appeared on both the
USA Today and Wall Street Journal best seller lists. Author
Catherine Bybee was formerly an emergency room registered nurse,
and has now left her job to focus on writing full-time. In 2011,
KDP and CreateSpace author CJ Lyons reached #2 on the Amazon best
seller list, #2 on theNew York Times best seller list, and #4
on the USA Today best seller list. As a former pediatric ER doctor,
CJ has lived the life she writes about in her cutting edge suspense
novels, and she quit her job in medicine after 17 years to pursue
her dream of becoming a full-time novelist. Her latest work
includes Face to Face and Hot Water. Businesses Selling on Amazon
2011 was also a record-breaking holiday season for businesses that
sell on Amazon. Third-party sellers experienced record holiday
growth: the number of sellers who exceeded $5,000 in sales during
the holiday season increased 44 percent year-over-year. For the
year, businesses on Amazon sold hundreds of millions of units worth
billions of dollars worldwide. Scharf Industries, an office
supplies and electronics provider, increased its sales on Amazon by
over 500 percent this holiday season compared with last holiday
season. We greatly value the cooperation that we have developed
with Amazon, said AndrewD. Scharf, CMO of Scharf Industries.
They have provided us with the tools necessaryto grow our
business in arapid and efficient manner. Ken Reiss, the owner
of Reiss Innovations, LLC, started with one Amazon Webstore,
selling five to 10 mouse pads for the year. Six years later he has
a successful eCommerce business, selling through multiple Amazon
Webstores. Just this year alone, Reiss saw a 21 percent increase in
sales compared with the holiday season last year. He has also
increased the number of product listings by 50 percent over 2010
and recently extended his business to Canada. According to Reiss,
one of the most beneficial aspects of his relationship with Amazon
is that It allows me to scale in efficiency. I can devote my time
to building vendor relations and growing my inventory, rather than
worrying about logistical aspects, such as shipping products. Reiss
currently stores 90 percent of his inventory in Amazons warehouses,
up from 75 percent last year. Other seller successes include:
Amazons third-party sellers sold enough cameras for every fan at
the next 10 Super Bowls to snap their own shots of the winning
touchdown. Amazons third-party sellers sold enough toys in 2011 to
give a toy to every resident of Chicago. In fact, they sold as many
Lalaloopsy Dolls as there are lights on the Rockefeller Center
Christmas Tree in New York City. Debra Keyes, CEO of The Internet
Department Store, which sells costumes for both adults and
children,began utilizing Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) the
Amazon service that stores, packs and ships orders for third-party
sellers as soon as it launched. By January 2011, she had 1,300
products listed in FBA. That number has now grown to 7,800 products
by November 2011. During that same time period, the companys sales
increased by 34 percent. Holiday Fun Facts Shipping: The last
One-Day Prime order that was delivered in time for Christmas was
placed on Dec. 22 at 11:59 p.m. PST and shipped to Ballwin, Mo. The
item was The Cooks Herb Garden, a book by Jeff Cox and Marie-Pierre
Moine. The last Local Express Delivery order that was delivered in
time for Christmas went to Seattle, Wash. It was a Sony
Rechargeable Battery Pack that was ordered at 2:35 p.m. PST on
Christmas Eve and delivered at 6:15 p.m. PST that same evening.
Earlier this year, an Amazon customer called with an urgent request
for large volume of a single book, which they needed at the airport
the next day before they boarded a flight. The books were special
gifts and no other retailer had them available in such short
notice. Even though the cutoff time had passed for all traditional
delivery methods, Amazon was able to arrange a delivery to the
customers hotel just prior to their departure for the airport.
Customer Purchases (Amazon.com only; holiday timeframe-specific):
Amazon customers purchased enough copies of Walter Isaacsons Steve
Jobs book to create a stack taller than Mt. Everest. The cumulative
weight of the Bowflex 552 Adjustable Dumbbells purchased by Amazon
customers would outweigh more than 70 adult elephants. If you
unfolded and stacked each pair of jeans purchased by Amazon
customers this holiday, the height would be 2,500 times taller than
the Statue of Liberty. Amazon customers purchased enough sweaters
to outfit each of Santas reindeer during Christmas Eve deliveries
for the next 14,000 years. Amazon customers purchased enough copies
of Just Dance 3 to give 15 copies to each person who participated
in setting the world record for simultaneous dancing. Amazon
customers purchased enough HeatMax HotHands Handwarmers to give a
pair to each resident of Iceland. Amazon customers purchased enough
Rorys Story Cubes to give a cube to each person watching the New
Years Eve ball drop live at Times Square. Holiday Best Sellers
(Amazon.com only; based on units ordered): Electronics: Kindle
Fire; Kindle Touch; and Kindle Toys: Rorys Story Cubes; Qwirkle
Board Game; and Perplexus Maze Game Video Games: Just Dance
3;Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3; and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Sports Outdoors: Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation DVD Set;
Emergency Fire Starter; and Flexible Flyer Snowball Maker Home
Kitchen: Cuisinart 5-in-1 Griddler; Fred M-Cups Measuring
Matroyshkas; and Pure Komachi 2 Series Hollow-Ground Santoku Knife
Books: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson; Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin
Fever by Jeff Kinney; and 11/22/63 by Stephen King Kindle Books:
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; Catching Fire by Suzanne
Collins; and The Litigators by John Grisham CD: Christmas by
Michael Bublé; 21 by Adele; and Duets II by Tony Bennett Amazon
MP3: 100 Classic Christmas Songs by Various Artists; Mylo Xyloto by
Coldplay; and A Very She Him Christmas by She Him DVD: Harry Potter
and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2; Bridesmaids; and The Help Amazon
Instant Video: Super 8; The Help; and Crazy, Stupid, Love Watches:
Timex 1440 Sports Digital Resin Strap Watch; LEGO Kids' Star Wars
Darth Vader Mini-Figure Alarm Clock; and XOXO Rhinestone Accent
Gold-Tone Bracelet Watch Jewelry: 10k White Gold Round Diamond Stud
Earrings; Sterling Silver Amethyst Butterfly Pendant; and White
Peacock and Pink Freshwater Cultured Pearl Button 3 Pair Stud
Earrings Set Clothing: Levis 501 Jean; Levis 505 Straight Fit Jean;
and Levis 550 Relaxed Fit Jean Shoes: UGG Australia Classic Tall
Boots; Crocs Classic Clog; and BEARPAW Emma Short Boot Beauty:
Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift Eau de Parfum Spray; Olay Pro-X
Advanced Cleansing System; and NARS Orgasm Blush Health Personal
Care: Philips Norelco SensoTouch Electric Shaver; Philips Norelco
Shaving System; and Philips Sonicare Essence Power Toothbrush Tools
Home Improvement: Streamlight Nano Light Miniature Keychain LED
Flashlight; Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener; and
Black Decker All-In-One SureGrip Laser Level Automotive: Battery
Tender Junior 12V Battery Charger; Wagan 12-Volt Heated Seat
Cushion; and Mystic Industries Reindeer Vehicle Costume Baby: Baby
Einstein Take Along Tunes; Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether; and
Cloud B Twilight Turtle Constellation Night Light
AmazonWireless:Motorola DROID RAZR 4G Android Phone (Verizon
Wireless);Samsung Galaxy S II Epic Touch 4G Android Phone
(Sprint); andSamsung Galaxy S II 4G Android Phone (ATT)
Amazon Appstore for Android: Angry Birds (Ad-Free); TETRIS; and
Pandora Internet Radio About Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:
AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World
Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection.
Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company,
where customers can find and discover anything they might want to
buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest
possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of
unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books;
Movies, Music Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics Computers; Home
Garden; Toys, Kids Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes Jewelry; Health
Beauty; Sports Outdoors; and Tools, Auto Industrial. Amazon Web
Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to
in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end
technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually
any type of business. The new latest generation Kindle is the
lightest, most compact Kindle ever and features the same 6-inch,
most advanced electronic ink display that reads like real paper
even in bright sunlight. Kindle Touch is a new addition to the
Kindle family with an easy-to-use touch screen that makes it easier
than ever to turn pages, search, shop, and take notes - still with
all the benefits of the most advanced electronic ink display.
Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the line e-reader and offers the same
new design and features of Kindle Touch, with the unparalleled
added convenience of free 3G. Kindle Fire is the Kindle for movies,
TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing
with all the content, free storage in the Amazon Cloud,
Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon's new revolutionary
cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch screen, and
powerful dual-core processor. Amazon and its affiliates operate
websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk,
www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca,
www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein,
"Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com,
Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from
management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related
to competition, management of growth, new products, services and
technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results,
international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims,
fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial
agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign
exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government
regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about
factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial
results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
Amazon.com Announces Best of 2011 Lists
(NASDAQ:AMZN) -- Amazon.com, Inc. today released its "Best of
2011" lists, which include the best-selling, most wished for, most
gifted, and most loved products as determined by Amazon.com
customers in 2011. Best-selling Products of 2011 The following are
the best-selling products on Amazon.com in 2011 (based on total
units sold): Electronics: Kindle Fire Toys: Rorys Story Cubes Video
Games: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Sports Outdoors: Zumba
Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD Set Home Kitchen:
Cuisinart SmartStick 200-Watt Immersion Hand Blender Books: Steve
Jobs by Walter Isaacson Kindle Books: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
CD: 21 by Adele Amazon MP3: Born This Way by Lady Gaga DVD: Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 Amazon Instant Video: The
Help Watches: Timex T5J151 1440 Sports Digital Watch Jewelry:
Designer Inspired Silver Heart Charm Toggle Bracelet Clothing:
Levi's Men's 501 Jean Shoes: Crocs Classic Clog Beauty: Olay Pro-X
Advanced Cleansing System Health Personal Care: Philips 7310
Norelco Men's Shaving System Tools Home Improvement: Rayovac
Sportsman Xtreme 300-Lumen LED Lantern Automotive: Battery Tender
Junior 12V Battery Charger Baby: Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether
AmazonWireless:Samsung Galaxy S II (Verizon Wireless) Amazon
Appstore for Android: Angry Birds Rio (Ad-Free) Most Wished For
Products of 2011 The following are products added to Wish Lists and
registries most often by Amazon.com customers in 2011: Electronics:
Kindle Fire Toys: Angry Birds: Knock On Wood Game Video Games: Call
of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Sports Outdoors: Emergency Fire Starter
Home Kitchen: Cuisinart SmartStick 200-Watt Immersion Hand Blender
Books: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson Kindle Books: The Help by
Kathryn Stockett CD: 21 by Adele Amazon MP3: Born This Way by Lady
Gaga DVD: Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) Amazon
Instant Video: Crazy, Stupid, Love Watches: G-Shock X-Large
Military Series Watch Jewelry: Sterling Silver Marcasite and
Gemstone Colored Glass Heart Pendant Clothing: Levi's Men's 501
Jean Shoes: Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Top in Gold Metallic Beauty:
Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System Health Personal Care: Waterpik
Ultra Water Flosser Tools Home Improvement: Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal
Multifunction Sharpener Automotive: ResQMe Keychain Rescue Tool
Baby: Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether Amazon Appstore for Android:
Angry Birds Rio (Ad-Free) Most Gifted Products of 2011 The
following are popular products ordered as gifts by Amazon.com
customers in 2011 (based on total units sold): Electronics: Kindle
Fire Toys: Rorys Story Cubes Video Games: Just Dance 3 Sports
Outdoors: Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD Set
Home Kitchen: KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer Books: Steve
Jobs by Walter Isaacson Kindle Books: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
CD: 21 by Adele Amazon MP3: Born This Way by Lady Gaga DVD: Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 Watches: LEGO Kids' Star
Wars Darth Vader Mini-Figure Alarm Clock Jewelry: 14k Yellow Gold
Plated "A Mother Holds Her Child's Hand For A Short While And Their
Hearts Forever" Open Heart Pendant Clothing: Gerber 5-Pack Onesies
Brand One Piece Underwear Shoes: Crocs Classic Clog Beauty: Olay
Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System Health Personal Care: Philips 7310
Norelco Men's Shaving System Tools Home Improvement: Smith's PP1
Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener Automotive: Wagan 12-Volt Heated
Seat Cushion Baby: Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether Most Loved
Products of 2011 The following are products that were reviewed most
positively byAmazon.comcustomers in 2011: Electronics:
Kindle Toys: Syma R/C Helicopter Video Games: Portal 2 Sports
Outdoors: Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set Home Kitchen:
EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale Books: Unbroken: A
World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura
Hillenbrand Kindle Books: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins CD:
Il Volo by Il Volo Amazon MP3: Born this Way (Special Edition) by
Lady Gaga DVD: Soul Surfer Amazon Instant Video: Fat, Sick, Nearly
Dead Watches: Casio AWG100-1A G-Shock Multi-Band Solar Atomic
Analog Watch Jewelry: Tungsten Carbide Comfort Fit Flat Wedding
Band Ring Clothing: Mens Air Force A-2 Flight Leather Bomber Jacket
Shoes: ASICS Men's GEL-Nimbus 12 Running Shoe Beauty: NARS Orgasm
Blush Health Personal Care: Finger Pulse Oximeter Tools Home
Improvement: Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme 300-Lumen LED Lantern
Automotive: 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System Baby: Fisher-Price
Rainforest Jumperoo AmazonWireless:Droid Razr 4G by Motorola
(Verizon Wireless) Amazon Appstore for Android: Quell About
Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company
based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and
today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to
be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find
and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors
to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and
other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used
items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music Games; Digital
Downloads; Electronics Computers; Home Garden; Toys, Kids Baby;
Grocery; Apparel, Shoes Jewelry; Health Beauty; Sports Outdoors;
and Tools, Auto Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's
developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure
services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which
developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. The
new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most compact Kindle
ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink
display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Kindle
Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use
touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search,
shop, and take notes - still with all the benefits of the most
advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the
line e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle
Touch, with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle
Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines,
apps, games and web browsing with all the content, free storage in
the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon's new
revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch
screen, and powerful dual-core processor. Amazon and its affiliates
operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk,
www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca,
www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein,
Amazon.com, we, our and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and
its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from
management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related
to competition, management of growth, new products, services and
technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results,
international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims,
fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial
agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign
exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government
regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about
factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial
results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
2011" lists, which include the best-selling, most wished for, most
gifted, and most loved products as determined by Amazon.com
customers in 2011. Best-selling Products of 2011 The following are
the best-selling products on Amazon.com in 2011 (based on total
units sold): Electronics: Kindle Fire Toys: Rorys Story Cubes Video
Games: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Sports Outdoors: Zumba
Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD Set Home Kitchen:
Cuisinart SmartStick 200-Watt Immersion Hand Blender Books: Steve
Jobs by Walter Isaacson Kindle Books: The Help by Kathryn Stockett
CD: 21 by Adele Amazon MP3: Born This Way by Lady Gaga DVD: Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 Amazon Instant Video: The
Help Watches: Timex T5J151 1440 Sports Digital Watch Jewelry:
Designer Inspired Silver Heart Charm Toggle Bracelet Clothing:
Levi's Men's 501 Jean Shoes: Crocs Classic Clog Beauty: Olay Pro-X
Advanced Cleansing System Health Personal Care: Philips 7310
Norelco Men's Shaving System Tools Home Improvement: Rayovac
Sportsman Xtreme 300-Lumen LED Lantern Automotive: Battery Tender
Junior 12V Battery Charger Baby: Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether
AmazonWireless:Samsung Galaxy S II (Verizon Wireless) Amazon
Appstore for Android: Angry Birds Rio (Ad-Free) Most Wished For
Products of 2011 The following are products added to Wish Lists and
registries most often by Amazon.com customers in 2011: Electronics:
Kindle Fire Toys: Angry Birds: Knock On Wood Game Video Games: Call
of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Sports Outdoors: Emergency Fire Starter
Home Kitchen: Cuisinart SmartStick 200-Watt Immersion Hand Blender
Books: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson Kindle Books: The Help by
Kathryn Stockett CD: 21 by Adele Amazon MP3: Born This Way by Lady
Gaga DVD: Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) Amazon
Instant Video: Crazy, Stupid, Love Watches: G-Shock X-Large
Military Series Watch Jewelry: Sterling Silver Marcasite and
Gemstone Colored Glass Heart Pendant Clothing: Levi's Men's 501
Jean Shoes: Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Top in Gold Metallic Beauty:
Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System Health Personal Care: Waterpik
Ultra Water Flosser Tools Home Improvement: Smith's PP1 Pocket Pal
Multifunction Sharpener Automotive: ResQMe Keychain Rescue Tool
Baby: Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether Amazon Appstore for Android:
Angry Birds Rio (Ad-Free) Most Gifted Products of 2011 The
following are popular products ordered as gifts by Amazon.com
customers in 2011 (based on total units sold): Electronics: Kindle
Fire Toys: Rorys Story Cubes Video Games: Just Dance 3 Sports
Outdoors: Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System DVD Set
Home Kitchen: KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer Books: Steve
Jobs by Walter Isaacson Kindle Books: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
CD: 21 by Adele Amazon MP3: Born This Way by Lady Gaga DVD: Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 Watches: LEGO Kids' Star
Wars Darth Vader Mini-Figure Alarm Clock Jewelry: 14k Yellow Gold
Plated "A Mother Holds Her Child's Hand For A Short While And Their
Hearts Forever" Open Heart Pendant Clothing: Gerber 5-Pack Onesies
Brand One Piece Underwear Shoes: Crocs Classic Clog Beauty: Olay
Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System Health Personal Care: Philips 7310
Norelco Men's Shaving System Tools Home Improvement: Smith's PP1
Pocket Pal Multifunction Sharpener Automotive: Wagan 12-Volt Heated
Seat Cushion Baby: Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether Most Loved
Products of 2011 The following are products that were reviewed most
positively byAmazon.comcustomers in 2011: Electronics:
Kindle Toys: Syma R/C Helicopter Video Games: Portal 2 Sports
Outdoors: Black Mountain Products Resistance Band Set Home Kitchen:
EatSmart Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scale Books: Unbroken: A
World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura
Hillenbrand Kindle Books: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins CD:
Il Volo by Il Volo Amazon MP3: Born this Way (Special Edition) by
Lady Gaga DVD: Soul Surfer Amazon Instant Video: Fat, Sick, Nearly
Dead Watches: Casio AWG100-1A G-Shock Multi-Band Solar Atomic
Analog Watch Jewelry: Tungsten Carbide Comfort Fit Flat Wedding
Band Ring Clothing: Mens Air Force A-2 Flight Leather Bomber Jacket
Shoes: ASICS Men's GEL-Nimbus 12 Running Shoe Beauty: NARS Orgasm
Blush Health Personal Care: Finger Pulse Oximeter Tools Home
Improvement: Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme 300-Lumen LED Lantern
Automotive: 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System Baby: Fisher-Price
Rainforest Jumperoo AmazonWireless:Droid Razr 4G by Motorola
(Verizon Wireless) Amazon Appstore for Android: Quell About
Amazon.com Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company
based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and
today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to
be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find
and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors
to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and
other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used
items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music Games; Digital
Downloads; Electronics Computers; Home Garden; Toys, Kids Baby;
Grocery; Apparel, Shoes Jewelry; Health Beauty; Sports Outdoors;
and Tools, Auto Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's
developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure
services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which
developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. The
new latest generation Kindle is the lightest, most compact Kindle
ever and features the same 6-inch, most advanced electronic ink
display that reads like real paper even in bright sunlight. Kindle
Touch is a new addition to the Kindle family with an easy-to-use
touch screen that makes it easier than ever to turn pages, search,
shop, and take notes - still with all the benefits of the most
advanced electronic ink display. Kindle Touch 3G is the top of the
line e-reader and offers the same new design and features of Kindle
Touch, with the unparalleled added convenience of free 3G. Kindle
Fire is the Kindle for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines,
apps, games and web browsing with all the content, free storage in
the Amazon Cloud, Whispersync, Amazon Silk (Amazon's new
revolutionary cloud-accelerated web browser), vibrant color touch
screen, and powerful dual-core processor. Amazon and its affiliates
operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk,
www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca,
www.amazon.cn, www.amazon.it, and www.amazon.es. As used herein,
Amazon.com, we, our and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and
its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Forward-Looking Statements This announcement contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from
management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related
to competition, management of growth, new products, services and
technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results,
international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims,
fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial
agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign
exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government
regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about
factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial
results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on
Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
Michael Kramer Named CEO and Director of First Security Group
Financial services veteran Michael Kramer has been named
chief executive officer and director of First Security Group, Inc.
(NASDAQ: FSGI). As previously announced on December 6, 2011, Mr.
Kramer was appointed as chief executive officer of FSGBank, N.A.,
the wholly-owned community-bank subsidiary of First Security.
FSGBank is a $1.1 billion bank based in Chattanooga, Tennessee with
31 full-service offices in eastern and middle Tennessee and
northern Georgia. Certainly 2011 has been a year of change and
transition for FSG, said First Security Group Lead Director Carol
H. Jackson. With this appointment, Mike can now lead the company in
all aspects. As a shareholder of FSG, I consider today an exciting
day as we can focus our complete attention on creating a
successful, profitable community bank. Mr. Kramer most recently was
managing director of Ridley Capital Group, a private
equity/merchant banking firm focused on financial service
companies. He has more than 20 years of executive leadership in
commercial and retail banking, correspondent banking, credit and
risk management, treasury management services, banking
operations/technology and market management. For the past decade he
has focused on operational and credit turnarounds in
super-community and community banks, and has worked extensively
with regulatory agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank and
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Mr. Kramer succeeds
Roger Holley, who resigned as CEO in April 2011. Mr. Kramer will
also serve as President of First Security and FSGBank as well as a
director of FSGBank, subject to regulatory non-objections. Every
day, I become more energized about the opportunity to create a
special and unique community bank for our customers, employees and
shareholders. With the combination of strong existing and select
new employee talent, we will provide superior service to our
customers as well as be active within our communities, Mr. Kramer
said. We look forward to 2012 and creating the next chapter for
FSGBank. As an inducement to Mr. Kramer joining First Security and
as a material term of his at-will employment agreement, he was
awarded 35,000 shares of First Security's common stock. The stock
closed at $1.78 on December 28, 2011. As a result of the grant,
First Security has approximately 1,684,000 issued and outstanding
shares. Prior to his tenure with Ridley Capital, Mr. Kramer was
president and CEO of Ohio Legacy Corporation, a bank holding
company based in Wooster, Ohio. During his five-year tenure, he led
a Board and management reorganization, executed a credit turnaround
strategy and balance sheet transformation, which resulted in the
recapitalization of the company by Excel Bancorp. From 1999 to 2004
he was chief operating officer and chief technology officer at
Evansville, Indiana-based Integra Bank Corporation, where he led a
team that transformed operating, technology and product platforms.
His teams built the banks Treasury Management, Electronic Banking
and Mortgage Banking businesses. Among other career highlights,
Mike led the correspondent banking practice at Cincinnati-based
Star Bank,N.A. (kna as US bank) building the practice into the
second largest Correspondent Bank in Kentucky and Ohio, was a
member of the Strategic Advisory Board for Fiserv/CBS from 2001 to
2004 and led various key initiatives with Deluxe Corporation, a
Fortune 500 financial services company. Mr. Kramer and his wife Meg
have been active on various boards in the communities in which
theyve lived including the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Main Street
Wooster, North Coast Young Life, Wooster Arts Jazz Festival and The
BioHio Research and Development Center Board. He earned his
undergraduate degree from Grove City College and has served there
as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship focusing on Banking and
Risk Management. Founded in 1999, First Security's community bank
subsidiary, FSGBank, has 31 full-service banking offices along the
interstate corridors of eastern and middle Tennessee and northern
Georgia. In Dalton, Georgia, FSGBank operates under the name of
Dalton Whitfield Bank; along the Interstate 40 corridor in
Tennessee, FSGBank operates under the name of Jackson Bank Trust.
FSGBank provides retail and commercial banking services, trust and
investment management, mortgage banking, financial planning and
Internet banking services (www.FSGBank.com).
chief executive officer and director of First Security Group, Inc.
(NASDAQ: FSGI). As previously announced on December 6, 2011, Mr.
Kramer was appointed as chief executive officer of FSGBank, N.A.,
the wholly-owned community-bank subsidiary of First Security.
FSGBank is a $1.1 billion bank based in Chattanooga, Tennessee with
31 full-service offices in eastern and middle Tennessee and
northern Georgia. Certainly 2011 has been a year of change and
transition for FSG, said First Security Group Lead Director Carol
H. Jackson. With this appointment, Mike can now lead the company in
all aspects. As a shareholder of FSG, I consider today an exciting
day as we can focus our complete attention on creating a
successful, profitable community bank. Mr. Kramer most recently was
managing director of Ridley Capital Group, a private
equity/merchant banking firm focused on financial service
companies. He has more than 20 years of executive leadership in
commercial and retail banking, correspondent banking, credit and
risk management, treasury management services, banking
operations/technology and market management. For the past decade he
has focused on operational and credit turnarounds in
super-community and community banks, and has worked extensively
with regulatory agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank and
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Mr. Kramer succeeds
Roger Holley, who resigned as CEO in April 2011. Mr. Kramer will
also serve as President of First Security and FSGBank as well as a
director of FSGBank, subject to regulatory non-objections. Every
day, I become more energized about the opportunity to create a
special and unique community bank for our customers, employees and
shareholders. With the combination of strong existing and select
new employee talent, we will provide superior service to our
customers as well as be active within our communities, Mr. Kramer
said. We look forward to 2012 and creating the next chapter for
FSGBank. As an inducement to Mr. Kramer joining First Security and
as a material term of his at-will employment agreement, he was
awarded 35,000 shares of First Security's common stock. The stock
closed at $1.78 on December 28, 2011. As a result of the grant,
First Security has approximately 1,684,000 issued and outstanding
shares. Prior to his tenure with Ridley Capital, Mr. Kramer was
president and CEO of Ohio Legacy Corporation, a bank holding
company based in Wooster, Ohio. During his five-year tenure, he led
a Board and management reorganization, executed a credit turnaround
strategy and balance sheet transformation, which resulted in the
recapitalization of the company by Excel Bancorp. From 1999 to 2004
he was chief operating officer and chief technology officer at
Evansville, Indiana-based Integra Bank Corporation, where he led a
team that transformed operating, technology and product platforms.
His teams built the banks Treasury Management, Electronic Banking
and Mortgage Banking businesses. Among other career highlights,
Mike led the correspondent banking practice at Cincinnati-based
Star Bank,N.A. (kna as US bank) building the practice into the
second largest Correspondent Bank in Kentucky and Ohio, was a
member of the Strategic Advisory Board for Fiserv/CBS from 2001 to
2004 and led various key initiatives with Deluxe Corporation, a
Fortune 500 financial services company. Mr. Kramer and his wife Meg
have been active on various boards in the communities in which
theyve lived including the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Main Street
Wooster, North Coast Young Life, Wooster Arts Jazz Festival and The
BioHio Research and Development Center Board. He earned his
undergraduate degree from Grove City College and has served there
as an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship focusing on Banking and
Risk Management. Founded in 1999, First Security's community bank
subsidiary, FSGBank, has 31 full-service banking offices along the
interstate corridors of eastern and middle Tennessee and northern
Georgia. In Dalton, Georgia, FSGBank operates under the name of
Dalton Whitfield Bank; along the Interstate 40 corridor in
Tennessee, FSGBank operates under the name of Jackson Bank Trust.
FSGBank provides retail and commercial banking services, trust and
investment management, mortgage banking, financial planning and
Internet banking services (www.FSGBank.com).
Equity Residential Files Motion in Proceedings Regarding Archstone
Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) today announced that in order
to defend its interests before the court, the company has today
filed a motion to intervene as a party in interest in the legal
proceedings between Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Bank of
America and Barclays Bank PLC regarding the sale to Equity
Residential of an interest in the entities that control Archstone,
a privately-held owner, operator and developer of multifamily
apartment properties. On December 2, 2011, Equity Residential
announced that it had entered into a contract to acquire, for
$1.325 billion, an approximate 26.5% ownership interest in
Archstone currently owned by affiliates of Bank of America and
Barclays Bank PLC. Closing of the acquisition is contingent on
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. not exercising its right of first
offer to acquire this interest from Bank of America and Barclays
Bank PLC at the same price as agreed to by Equity Residential, as
well as certain other closing conditions. On December 15, 2011,
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. sued Bank of America and Barclays
Bank PLC asking for, among other things, a preliminary injunction
preventing the sale of the Archstone interest to Equity
Residential. As Equity Residential was not named as a defendant in
this suit, the company must file this motion to intervene in order
to have status in this case and defend its interests. Equity
Residential is asserting no claims against or seeking any relief
from Bank of America and Barclays Bank PLC. Equity Residential does
not believe that the companys intervention in the case will create
any delays in the ongoing proceedings. The preliminary injunction
hearing requested by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. is scheduled for
January 5, 2012. Equity Residential has filed this motion in
anticipation of that event. Equity Residential is an SP 500 company
focused on the acquisition, development and management of high
quality apartment properties in top U.S. growth markets. Equity
Residential owns or has investments in 421 properties located in 15
states and the District of Columbia, consisting of 119,743
apartment units. For more information on Equity Residential, please
visit our website at www.equityapartments.com.
to defend its interests before the court, the company has today
filed a motion to intervene as a party in interest in the legal
proceedings between Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Bank of
America and Barclays Bank PLC regarding the sale to Equity
Residential of an interest in the entities that control Archstone,
a privately-held owner, operator and developer of multifamily
apartment properties. On December 2, 2011, Equity Residential
announced that it had entered into a contract to acquire, for
$1.325 billion, an approximate 26.5% ownership interest in
Archstone currently owned by affiliates of Bank of America and
Barclays Bank PLC. Closing of the acquisition is contingent on
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. not exercising its right of first
offer to acquire this interest from Bank of America and Barclays
Bank PLC at the same price as agreed to by Equity Residential, as
well as certain other closing conditions. On December 15, 2011,
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. sued Bank of America and Barclays
Bank PLC asking for, among other things, a preliminary injunction
preventing the sale of the Archstone interest to Equity
Residential. As Equity Residential was not named as a defendant in
this suit, the company must file this motion to intervene in order
to have status in this case and defend its interests. Equity
Residential is asserting no claims against or seeking any relief
from Bank of America and Barclays Bank PLC. Equity Residential does
not believe that the companys intervention in the case will create
any delays in the ongoing proceedings. The preliminary injunction
hearing requested by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. is scheduled for
January 5, 2012. Equity Residential has filed this motion in
anticipation of that event. Equity Residential is an SP 500 company
focused on the acquisition, development and management of high
quality apartment properties in top U.S. growth markets. Equity
Residential owns or has investments in 421 properties located in 15
states and the District of Columbia, consisting of 119,743
apartment units. For more information on Equity Residential, please
visit our website at www.equityapartments.com.
SunAmerica Closed-End Funds Announce Estimated Sources of Dividend Distributions
SunAmerica Focused Alpha Growth Fund, Inc. (NYSE: FGF) and
SunAmerica Focused Alpha Large-Cap Fund, Inc. (NYSE: FGI), (each a
Fund, and collectively, the Funds), today announced the estimated
amounts of the sources of: (i) the Funds fourth quarterly dividend
distributions of $0.33 per share of common stock with respect to
FGF and $0.58 per share of common stock with respect to FGI,
declared on December 7, 2011 and payable on December 29, 2011 and
(ii) the cumulative dividend distributions paid year-to-date. The
following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of
the dividend distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and the
Rules adopted thereunder. The table includes estimated amounts for
the fourth quarterly dividend distributions and the cumulative
dividend distributions paid year-to-date from the following
sources: net investment income; short-term capital gains; long-term
capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated amounts reflect
each Funds year-to-date cumulative experience through December 19,
2011 and the estimated percentages of net income, short-term and
long term capital gains and/or return of capital are applied
proportionately for both the quarterly and year-to-date dividend
distributions. The estimated composition of the dividend
distributions may vary from quarter to quarter because they may be
impacted by future income, expenses and portfolio realized gains
and losses on securities. FGF
Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Dividend Distribution per
share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Dividend
Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Year to Date
Cumulative Dividend Distributions per share ($)* Estimated
Amounts of Year to Date Cumulative Dividend Distributions per share
(%)* Net Investment Income $0.0000 0.00%
$0.0000 0.00% Short-Term Capital Gains $0.0000
0.00% $0.0000 0.00% Long-Term Capital Gains
$0.3268 99.04% $0.4754 99.04% Return of
Capital $0.0032 0.96% $0.0046 0.96%
Total (per common share) $0.3300 100.00%
$0.4800 100.00% FGI
Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Dividend Distribution per
share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Dividend
Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Year to Date
Cumulative Dividend Distributions per share ($)* Estimated
Amounts of Year to Date Cumulative Dividend Distributions per share
(%)* Net Investment Income $0.0000 0.00%
$0.0000 0.00% Short-Term Capital Gains $0.0000
0.00% $0.0000 0.00% Long-Term Capital Gains
$0.5784 99.73% $0.7280 99.73% Return of
Capital $0.0016 0.27% $0.0020 0.27%
Total (per common share) $0.5800 100.00%
$0.7300 100.00% ______________________ The amount payable by
the Fund for this fourth quarterly dividend distribution is higher
than the amounts payable by the Fund in the prior three quarters in
2011 because this fourth quarterly dividend distribution has been
increased to include an amount expected to satisfy the minimum
distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code). The Fund is expected to reorganize into an
open-end fund in January 2012. * Includes each Funds first three
quarterly dividend distributions of $0.05 per share paid on March
30, 2011, July 6, 2011 and September 26, 2011, respectively, as
well as each Funds fourth quarterly dividend distribution of $0.33
per share with respect to FGF and $0.58 per share with respect to
FGI, paid on December 29, 2011. Shareholders should not draw any
conclusions about a Funds investment performance from the amount of
this distribution or from the terms of the Funds dividend
distribution policy (the Distribution Policy), which is to make a
level dividend distribution each quarter to shareholders of its
common stock at a rate that is based on a fixed amount per share as
determined by the Funds Board of Directors, subject to adjustment
in the fourth quarter, as necessary, so that the Fund satisfies the
minimum distribution requirements of the Code. The Fund estimates
that it has distributed more than its income and net realized
capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be
return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when
some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back
to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily
reflect the Funds investment performance and should no be confused
with yield, income or profit. The amounts and sources of
distributions reported in this press release are only estimates and
are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final
determination of the source of all dividend distributions in 2011
will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the
amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon a Funds
investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and
may be subject to change based on tax regulations. Each Fund will
send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will
tell shareholders how to report these distributions for federal
income tax purposes. The following tables provide information
regarding each Funds total return performance based on net asset
value (NAV) over various time periods as well as the Funds
annualized and cumulative distribution rates. FGF
5-Year Average Annual Total Return on NAV as of 11/30/2011
3.51% Current Annualized Distribution Rate on
NAV1,2 6.86%
Year-to Date (1/1/2011 to 11/30/2011)
Cumulative Total Return on NAV -0.85%
Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2,3 2.49%
FGI 5-Year Average Annual Total Return
on NAV as of 11/30/2011 1.80% Current
Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV1,2 13.54%
Year-to Date (1/1/2011 to
11/30/2011) Cumulative Total Return on
NAV -1.70% Cumulative Distribution Rate on
NAV2,3 4.26% ______________________ 1 Based on
each Funds respective NAV as of November 30, 2011 and each Funds
most recent quarterly distribution of $0.33 with respect to FGF and
$0.58 with respect to FGI, declared on December 7, 2011. 2 The
amount payable by the Fund for this fourth quarterly dividend
distribution is higher than the amounts payable by the Fund in the
prior three quarters in 2011 because this fourth quarterly dividend
distribution has been increased to include an amount expected to
satisfy the minimum distribution requirements of the Code. The Fund
is expected to reorganize into an open-end fund in January 2012. 3
Based on each Funds respective NAV as of November 30, 2011;
includes each Funds first three quarterly dividend distributions of
$0.05 per share paid on March 30, 2011, July 6, 2011 and September
26, 2011, respectively, and each of FGFs and FGIs fourth quarterly
dividend distribution of $0.33 and $0.58 per share, respectively,
declared on December 7, 2011. While NAV performance may be
indicative of each Funds investment performance, it does not
measure the value of a shareholders investment in a Fund. The value
of a shareholders investment in a Fund is determined by the Funds
market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Funds
shares in the open market. Pursuant to an exemptive order (the
Order) granted to each Fund by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) on February 3, 2009, the Funds may distribute any
long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in
Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder.
Therefore, dividend distributions paid by the Funds during the year
may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital
gains and/or return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term
capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income
rates,may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend
income earnedby the Funds, to be taxed atlower
long-term capital gain rates. If the total distributions made in
any calendar year exceed investment company taxable income and net
capital gain, such excess distributed amount would be treated as
ordinary dividend income to the extent of the Funds current and
accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of the
earnings and profits would first be a tax-free return of capital to
the extent of the adjusted tax basis in the shares. After such
adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, the distribution would
constitute capital gain (assuming the shares are held as capital
assets). Shareholders will receive a notice (the Notice) with each
dividend distribution, if required by Section 19(a) under the 1940
Act, estimating the sources of such dividend distribution and
providing other information required by the Order. The Notice will
also be made available on the Funds website:
www.sunamericafunds.com. SunAmerica Focused Alpha Growth Fund is a
non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The
Funds investment objective is to provide growth of capital. The
Fund seeks to pursue this objective by employing a concentrated
stock picking strategy in which the Fund, through subadvisers
selected by SunAmerica Asset Management Corp. (SunAmerica),
actively invests primarily in a small number of equity securities
(i.e., common stocks) and to a lesser extent equity-related
securities (i.e., preferred stocks, convertible securities,
warrants and rights) primarily in the U.S. markets. Marsico Capital
Management, LLC (Marsico) is the large-cap stock subadviser and
BAMCO, Inc. (BAMCO) is the small- and mid-cap stock subadviser.
SunAmerica Focused Alpha Large-Cap Fund is a non-diversified,
closed-end management investment company. The Funds investment
objective is to provide growth of capital. The Fund seeks to pursue
this objective by employing a concentrated stock picking strategy
in which the Fund, through subadvisers selected by SunAmerica,
actively invests primarily in a small number of equity securities
(i.e., common stocks) and to a lesser extent equity-related
securities (i.e., preferred stocks, convertible securities,
warrants and rights) of large capitalization companies primarily in
the U.S. markets. Marsico is the large-cap growth stock subadviser
and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (BlackRock) is the
large-cap value stock subadviser. For more information about the
Funds, please visit www.sunamericafunds.com As of November 30,
2011, SunAmerica Asset Management Corp. managed and/or administered
approximately $42.0 billion of assets. Marsico Capital Management,
LLC, BAMCO, Inc. and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC are not
affiliated with SunAmerica Asset Management Corp. Investors should
carefully consider the each Funds investment objective, strategies,
risks, charges and expenses before investing. EACH FUND SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED AS ONLY ONE ELEMENT OF A COMPLETE INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
There is no assurance that Funds will achieve their investment
objectives. The Funds are actively managed and their portfolio
composition will vary. Investing in a Fund is subject to several
risks, including: Non-Diversified Status Risk, Growth and Value
Stock Risk (FGI only), Key Adviser Personnel Risk, Investment and
Market Risk, Issuer Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Emerging Markets
Risk, Income Risk, Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk
(FGF only), Liquidity Risk, Market Price of Shares Risk, Management
Risk, Anti-Takeover Provisions Risk and Portfolio Turnover Risk.
The price of shares of each Fund traded on the New York Stock
Exchange will fluctuate with market conditions and may be worth
more or less than their original offering price. Shares of
closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset
value, but may also trade at a premium. The payment of dividend
distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result
in a decrease in a Funds net assets. A decrease in a Funds net
assets may cause an increase in the Funds annual operating expenses
and a decrease in the Funds market price per share to the extent
the market price correlates closely to the Funds net asset value
per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect a
Funds investment activities to the extent that a Fund is required
to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to
the extent that a Fund must liquidate securities that it would not
have sold, for the purpose of paying the dividend distribution. The
Distribution Policy, may under certain circumstances, result in the
amounts of taxable distributions to exceed the levels required to
be distributed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(i.e., to the extent a Fund has capital losses in any taxable year,
such losses may be carried forward to reduce the amount of capital
gains required to be distributed in future years; if distributions
in a year exceed the amount minimally required to be distributed
under the tax rules, such excess will be taxable as ordinary income
to the extent loss carryforwards reduce the required amount of
capital gains in that year). The Funds Board of Directors has the
right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any
time without notice to shareholders. The amendment, suspension or
termination of the Distribution Policy could have a negative effect
on the Funds market price per share which, in turn, could create or
widen a trading discount. Shareholders of shares of the Funds held
in taxable accounts who receive a dividend distribution (including
shareholders who reinvest in shares of a Fund pursuant to the Funds
dividend reinvestment policy) must adjust the cost basis to the
extent that a dividend distribution contains a nontaxable return of
capital. Investors should consult their tax adviser regarding
federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable
in their particular circumstances.
SunAmerica Focused Alpha Large-Cap Fund, Inc. (NYSE: FGI), (each a
Fund, and collectively, the Funds), today announced the estimated
amounts of the sources of: (i) the Funds fourth quarterly dividend
distributions of $0.33 per share of common stock with respect to
FGF and $0.58 per share of common stock with respect to FGI,
declared on December 7, 2011 and payable on December 29, 2011 and
(ii) the cumulative dividend distributions paid year-to-date. The
following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of
the dividend distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act) and the
Rules adopted thereunder. The table includes estimated amounts for
the fourth quarterly dividend distributions and the cumulative
dividend distributions paid year-to-date from the following
sources: net investment income; short-term capital gains; long-term
capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated amounts reflect
each Funds year-to-date cumulative experience through December 19,
2011 and the estimated percentages of net income, short-term and
long term capital gains and/or return of capital are applied
proportionately for both the quarterly and year-to-date dividend
distributions. The estimated composition of the dividend
distributions may vary from quarter to quarter because they may be
impacted by future income, expenses and portfolio realized gains
and losses on securities. FGF
Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Dividend Distribution per
share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Dividend
Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Year to Date
Cumulative Dividend Distributions per share ($)* Estimated
Amounts of Year to Date Cumulative Dividend Distributions per share
(%)* Net Investment Income $0.0000 0.00%
$0.0000 0.00% Short-Term Capital Gains $0.0000
0.00% $0.0000 0.00% Long-Term Capital Gains
$0.3268 99.04% $0.4754 99.04% Return of
Capital $0.0032 0.96% $0.0046 0.96%
Total (per common share) $0.3300 100.00%
$0.4800 100.00% FGI
Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Dividend Distribution per
share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Dividend
Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Year to Date
Cumulative Dividend Distributions per share ($)* Estimated
Amounts of Year to Date Cumulative Dividend Distributions per share
(%)* Net Investment Income $0.0000 0.00%
$0.0000 0.00% Short-Term Capital Gains $0.0000
0.00% $0.0000 0.00% Long-Term Capital Gains
$0.5784 99.73% $0.7280 99.73% Return of
Capital $0.0016 0.27% $0.0020 0.27%
Total (per common share) $0.5800 100.00%
$0.7300 100.00% ______________________ The amount payable by
the Fund for this fourth quarterly dividend distribution is higher
than the amounts payable by the Fund in the prior three quarters in
2011 because this fourth quarterly dividend distribution has been
increased to include an amount expected to satisfy the minimum
distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Code). The Fund is expected to reorganize into an
open-end fund in January 2012. * Includes each Funds first three
quarterly dividend distributions of $0.05 per share paid on March
30, 2011, July 6, 2011 and September 26, 2011, respectively, as
well as each Funds fourth quarterly dividend distribution of $0.33
per share with respect to FGF and $0.58 per share with respect to
FGI, paid on December 29, 2011. Shareholders should not draw any
conclusions about a Funds investment performance from the amount of
this distribution or from the terms of the Funds dividend
distribution policy (the Distribution Policy), which is to make a
level dividend distribution each quarter to shareholders of its
common stock at a rate that is based on a fixed amount per share as
determined by the Funds Board of Directors, subject to adjustment
in the fourth quarter, as necessary, so that the Fund satisfies the
minimum distribution requirements of the Code. The Fund estimates
that it has distributed more than its income and net realized
capital gains; therefore, a portion of the distribution may be
return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when
some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back
to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily
reflect the Funds investment performance and should no be confused
with yield, income or profit. The amounts and sources of
distributions reported in this press release are only estimates and
are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final
determination of the source of all dividend distributions in 2011
will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the
amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon a Funds
investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and
may be subject to change based on tax regulations. Each Fund will
send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will
tell shareholders how to report these distributions for federal
income tax purposes. The following tables provide information
regarding each Funds total return performance based on net asset
value (NAV) over various time periods as well as the Funds
annualized and cumulative distribution rates. FGF
5-Year Average Annual Total Return on NAV as of 11/30/2011
3.51% Current Annualized Distribution Rate on
NAV1,2 6.86%
Year-to Date (1/1/2011 to 11/30/2011)
Cumulative Total Return on NAV -0.85%
Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2,3 2.49%
FGI 5-Year Average Annual Total Return
on NAV as of 11/30/2011 1.80% Current
Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV1,2 13.54%
Year-to Date (1/1/2011 to
11/30/2011) Cumulative Total Return on
NAV -1.70% Cumulative Distribution Rate on
NAV2,3 4.26% ______________________ 1 Based on
each Funds respective NAV as of November 30, 2011 and each Funds
most recent quarterly distribution of $0.33 with respect to FGF and
$0.58 with respect to FGI, declared on December 7, 2011. 2 The
amount payable by the Fund for this fourth quarterly dividend
distribution is higher than the amounts payable by the Fund in the
prior three quarters in 2011 because this fourth quarterly dividend
distribution has been increased to include an amount expected to
satisfy the minimum distribution requirements of the Code. The Fund
is expected to reorganize into an open-end fund in January 2012. 3
Based on each Funds respective NAV as of November 30, 2011;
includes each Funds first three quarterly dividend distributions of
$0.05 per share paid on March 30, 2011, July 6, 2011 and September
26, 2011, respectively, and each of FGFs and FGIs fourth quarterly
dividend distribution of $0.33 and $0.58 per share, respectively,
declared on December 7, 2011. While NAV performance may be
indicative of each Funds investment performance, it does not
measure the value of a shareholders investment in a Fund. The value
of a shareholders investment in a Fund is determined by the Funds
market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Funds
shares in the open market. Pursuant to an exemptive order (the
Order) granted to each Fund by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) on February 3, 2009, the Funds may distribute any
long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in
Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder.
Therefore, dividend distributions paid by the Funds during the year
may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital
gains and/or return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term
capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income
rates,may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend
income earnedby the Funds, to be taxed atlower
long-term capital gain rates. If the total distributions made in
any calendar year exceed investment company taxable income and net
capital gain, such excess distributed amount would be treated as
ordinary dividend income to the extent of the Funds current and
accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of the
earnings and profits would first be a tax-free return of capital to
the extent of the adjusted tax basis in the shares. After such
adjusted tax basis is reduced to zero, the distribution would
constitute capital gain (assuming the shares are held as capital
assets). Shareholders will receive a notice (the Notice) with each
dividend distribution, if required by Section 19(a) under the 1940
Act, estimating the sources of such dividend distribution and
providing other information required by the Order. The Notice will
also be made available on the Funds website:
www.sunamericafunds.com. SunAmerica Focused Alpha Growth Fund is a
non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The
Funds investment objective is to provide growth of capital. The
Fund seeks to pursue this objective by employing a concentrated
stock picking strategy in which the Fund, through subadvisers
selected by SunAmerica Asset Management Corp. (SunAmerica),
actively invests primarily in a small number of equity securities
(i.e., common stocks) and to a lesser extent equity-related
securities (i.e., preferred stocks, convertible securities,
warrants and rights) primarily in the U.S. markets. Marsico Capital
Management, LLC (Marsico) is the large-cap stock subadviser and
BAMCO, Inc. (BAMCO) is the small- and mid-cap stock subadviser.
SunAmerica Focused Alpha Large-Cap Fund is a non-diversified,
closed-end management investment company. The Funds investment
objective is to provide growth of capital. The Fund seeks to pursue
this objective by employing a concentrated stock picking strategy
in which the Fund, through subadvisers selected by SunAmerica,
actively invests primarily in a small number of equity securities
(i.e., common stocks) and to a lesser extent equity-related
securities (i.e., preferred stocks, convertible securities,
warrants and rights) of large capitalization companies primarily in
the U.S. markets. Marsico is the large-cap growth stock subadviser
and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC (BlackRock) is the
large-cap value stock subadviser. For more information about the
Funds, please visit www.sunamericafunds.com As of November 30,
2011, SunAmerica Asset Management Corp. managed and/or administered
approximately $42.0 billion of assets. Marsico Capital Management,
LLC, BAMCO, Inc. and BlackRock Investment Management, LLC are not
affiliated with SunAmerica Asset Management Corp. Investors should
carefully consider the each Funds investment objective, strategies,
risks, charges and expenses before investing. EACH FUND SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED AS ONLY ONE ELEMENT OF A COMPLETE INVESTMENT PROGRAM.
There is no assurance that Funds will achieve their investment
objectives. The Funds are actively managed and their portfolio
composition will vary. Investing in a Fund is subject to several
risks, including: Non-Diversified Status Risk, Growth and Value
Stock Risk (FGI only), Key Adviser Personnel Risk, Investment and
Market Risk, Issuer Risk, Foreign Securities Risk, Emerging Markets
Risk, Income Risk, Small and Medium Capitalization Company Risk
(FGF only), Liquidity Risk, Market Price of Shares Risk, Management
Risk, Anti-Takeover Provisions Risk and Portfolio Turnover Risk.
The price of shares of each Fund traded on the New York Stock
Exchange will fluctuate with market conditions and may be worth
more or less than their original offering price. Shares of
closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset
value, but may also trade at a premium. The payment of dividend
distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result
in a decrease in a Funds net assets. A decrease in a Funds net
assets may cause an increase in the Funds annual operating expenses
and a decrease in the Funds market price per share to the extent
the market price correlates closely to the Funds net asset value
per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect a
Funds investment activities to the extent that a Fund is required
to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to
the extent that a Fund must liquidate securities that it would not
have sold, for the purpose of paying the dividend distribution. The
Distribution Policy, may under certain circumstances, result in the
amounts of taxable distributions to exceed the levels required to
be distributed under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(i.e., to the extent a Fund has capital losses in any taxable year,
such losses may be carried forward to reduce the amount of capital
gains required to be distributed in future years; if distributions
in a year exceed the amount minimally required to be distributed
under the tax rules, such excess will be taxable as ordinary income
to the extent loss carryforwards reduce the required amount of
capital gains in that year). The Funds Board of Directors has the
right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any
time without notice to shareholders. The amendment, suspension or
termination of the Distribution Policy could have a negative effect
on the Funds market price per share which, in turn, could create or
widen a trading discount. Shareholders of shares of the Funds held
in taxable accounts who receive a dividend distribution (including
shareholders who reinvest in shares of a Fund pursuant to the Funds
dividend reinvestment policy) must adjust the cost basis to the
extent that a dividend distribution contains a nontaxable return of
capital. Investors should consult their tax adviser regarding
federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable
in their particular circumstances.
A.M. Best Assigns Ratings to Lion Reinsurance Company Limited
A.M. Best Co. has assigned a financial strength rating of A-
(Excellent) and issuer credit rating of a- to Lion Reinsurance
Company Limited (Lion Re) (Bermuda). The outlook assigned to both
ratings is stable. The ratings reflect Lion Res excellent initial
capitalization, conservative operating strategy and explicit
parental support. The ratings also consider Lion Res strategic role
as a captive reinsurer of ASSA Tenedora, S.A., a subsidiary of
Grupo ASSA, S.A., a publicly traded holding company on the Panama
stock exchange. Also inuring to the rating is a sound business
plan, upon which the profitability and liquidity measures of this
rating are based. The rating is supported by an amount of capital
that meets A.M. Bests requirements for newly formed companies as
measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Lion Re will
operate as a Bermuda-based reinsurer focused on writing a
combination of property, casualty, health and group life business
from affiliated insurers. These positive rating factors are
partially offset by execution risk due to the unproven start-up
nature of the company. Drivers that could lead to a positive
outlook or rating upgrade are stable underwriting performance, as
well as reduced overall net exposure over the next few years and
successful implementation of the business plan. Factors that could
lead to a negative outlook or a rating downgrade are material loss
of capital from either claims or investments, a reduced level of
capital that does not support the rating, or an increase in net
retention. Lion Res rating is tied to AM Bests internal assessment
of Grupo ASSA, S.A.; therefore, unfavorable operating performance
or material loss of capital could result in changes to the captives
rating. In addition, A.M. Best will closely monitor Lion Res
progress against its business plan, which was used to assess the
initial rating. Material and/or adverse deviation from this plan
would likely result in downward pressure on the initial rating.
A.M. Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk
transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the
United States and throughout the world. For current Bests Credit
Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative
insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive. The
principal methodology used in determining these ratings is Bests
Credit Rating Methodology -- Global Life and Non-Life Insurance
Edition, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Bests
rating process and highlights the different rating criteria
employed. Additional key criteria utilized include: Risk Management
and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies; Understanding
Universal BCAR; Catastrophe Analysis in A.M. Best Ratings; Rating
Members of Insurance Groups; Assessing Country Risk; and
Alternative Risk Transfer (ART). Methodologies can be found at
www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best
Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance
rating and information source. For more information, visit
www.ambest.com. Copyright 2011 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.
(Excellent) and issuer credit rating of a- to Lion Reinsurance
Company Limited (Lion Re) (Bermuda). The outlook assigned to both
ratings is stable. The ratings reflect Lion Res excellent initial
capitalization, conservative operating strategy and explicit
parental support. The ratings also consider Lion Res strategic role
as a captive reinsurer of ASSA Tenedora, S.A., a subsidiary of
Grupo ASSA, S.A., a publicly traded holding company on the Panama
stock exchange. Also inuring to the rating is a sound business
plan, upon which the profitability and liquidity measures of this
rating are based. The rating is supported by an amount of capital
that meets A.M. Bests requirements for newly formed companies as
measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Lion Re will
operate as a Bermuda-based reinsurer focused on writing a
combination of property, casualty, health and group life business
from affiliated insurers. These positive rating factors are
partially offset by execution risk due to the unproven start-up
nature of the company. Drivers that could lead to a positive
outlook or rating upgrade are stable underwriting performance, as
well as reduced overall net exposure over the next few years and
successful implementation of the business plan. Factors that could
lead to a negative outlook or a rating downgrade are material loss
of capital from either claims or investments, a reduced level of
capital that does not support the rating, or an increase in net
retention. Lion Res rating is tied to AM Bests internal assessment
of Grupo ASSA, S.A.; therefore, unfavorable operating performance
or material loss of capital could result in changes to the captives
rating. In addition, A.M. Best will closely monitor Lion Res
progress against its business plan, which was used to assess the
initial rating. Material and/or adverse deviation from this plan
would likely result in downward pressure on the initial rating.
A.M. Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk
transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the
United States and throughout the world. For current Bests Credit
Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative
insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive. The
principal methodology used in determining these ratings is Bests
Credit Rating Methodology -- Global Life and Non-Life Insurance
Edition, which provides a comprehensive explanation of A.M. Bests
rating process and highlights the different rating criteria
employed. Additional key criteria utilized include: Risk Management
and the Rating Process for Insurance Companies; Understanding
Universal BCAR; Catastrophe Analysis in A.M. Best Ratings; Rating
Members of Insurance Groups; Assessing Country Risk; and
Alternative Risk Transfer (ART). Methodologies can be found at
www.ambest.com/ratings/methodology. Founded in 1899, A.M. Best
Company is the world's oldest and most authoritative insurance
rating and information source. For more information, visit
www.ambest.com. Copyright 2011 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED.
Interfax Business Service 4th International IR Case Contest Results
Interfax Business Service, a subsidiary of Interfax
Information Services Group, together with the Securities Market
magazine, announced the results of the 4th international case
contest held among Investor Relations professionals from Russia and
the CIS. The winner, with 31.99 points, is the case study by IDGC
of Centre (RTS: MRKC). The second place, with 28.91 points, went to
Severstal (RTS: CHMF). The jury gave the third place, with 27.35
points, to a case study by LeaseIT. This year the contest was
dedicated to the topic of IR in the age of permanent crises. 5 case
studies, presented by the specialists from financial, metals and
mining, energy and agricultural industries, have taken part. Among
them were: The new format of holding an Analyst Investor Day by
Gazprom energoholding group of companies. 5 rules of Analyst
Investor Day or the IR event of the year by Gazprom energoholding,
The sale of corporate bonds by an issuer to retail investors the
first successful experience in Ukraine by LeaseIT, Ukraine,
Implementing an effective IR strategy aimed at attracting core
investors and raising company stock liquidity by IDGC of Centre, A
second pivot: how Avangard has become a public company twice in one
year by agricultural holding Avangard, Ukraine, Severstal: the
global change of image in the eyes of investors by Severstal.
According to Stanislav Martyushev, director general of Interfax
Business Service, the contest was being held in a situation where
the economy is still far from stable growth. These days domestic
issuers are actively borrowing while demand on the stock market
remains weak and the IPO/SPO activity is very weak, which, in turn,
directly affects the tasks that need to be solved by IR
departments. When there are virtually no deals made with stocks,
attention shifts to debt capital markets and work with ratings
agencies, he said. Thus, for example, one of the prize-winning case
studies, by LeaseIT, was dedicated to a bond placement. Young
professionals who will be getting acquainted with this years case
studies, besides getting to know IR methodology, will also be given
an additional coordinate system for solving unconventional tasks,
constantly faced by public companies, not only on the equities
market, Mr. Martyushev noted. Assessment of presented pieces was
based on 4 criteria: novelty, effectiveness, methodological value,
and subjective I like it or I dislike it expert assessment. The
solutions in the area of investor relations building were assessed
on a 4-point scale by 10 acknowledged IR professionals: Sergey
Klinkov, HMS Group (LSE: HMSG), Sergey Belyakov, MMC Norilsk Nickel
(MICEX-RTS: GMKN), Anna Sidorkina, Gazprom Neft (MICEX-RTS: SIBN),
Dmitry Ivanov, IBS Group (FRA: IBSG), Alexander Goldin, RusHydro
(LSE: HYDR), Viktor Szalkay, PIK Group (LSE: PIK LI), Ilya Popov,
Akron (LSE: AKRN), Denis Davydov, M.video (MICEX-RTS: MVID), Oleg
Goncharov, Magnit (LSE: MGNT), Irina Makarenko, INTER RAO UES
(MICEX: IRAO). All prize-winning case studies will be published in
the Securities Market magazine and used as training material by the
Institute for financial markets development in its investor
relations courses. All case studies are available for download on
Interfax Business Service website www.irconsulting.ru (Analytics
section) and may also be emailed on request made at ir@interfax.ru.
Annual case contest held among Investor Relations professionals
from Russia and the CIS was founded in 2008 by Interfax Business
Service and the Securities Market magazine, together with Financial
Communications and Investor Relations Association (ARFI), MICEX
Group and the Institute for financial markets development. In 2010
the contest acquired international status when London Stock
Exchange and British IR Society started supporting it. The total
number of IR case studies gathered over the 4 years of the contests
existence, is 54. Interfax Business Service is a subsidiary of
Interfax Information Services Group and specializes in providing
consulting services to companies in the area of investor relations
in Russia and the CIS. Interfax is uniquely positioned to provide
IR services: it has access to resources of the leading Russian
information agency, tight connections to Russian institutional and
individual investors. The company has experience in working with
issuers and investors across the whole spectrum of investor
relations tasks (investor and analyst base expansion, analyst
coverage improvement, preparation of documents for investor
communications, investment positioning, ratings advisory,
independent financial analytics, attracting of private share
financing to small and medium enterprises). The company has served
more than 80 clients from more than 10 industries in Russia,
Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. Interfax Business Service specialists
partake in consulting the Russian Ministry of Finance on foreign
debt and Russian sovereign credit rating maintenance issues. The
company has wide experience in dealing with all the biggest
international ratings agencies: Moodys, Standard Poors, and Fitch
Ratings.
Information Services Group, together with the Securities Market
magazine, announced the results of the 4th international case
contest held among Investor Relations professionals from Russia and
the CIS. The winner, with 31.99 points, is the case study by IDGC
of Centre (RTS: MRKC). The second place, with 28.91 points, went to
Severstal (RTS: CHMF). The jury gave the third place, with 27.35
points, to a case study by LeaseIT. This year the contest was
dedicated to the topic of IR in the age of permanent crises. 5 case
studies, presented by the specialists from financial, metals and
mining, energy and agricultural industries, have taken part. Among
them were: The new format of holding an Analyst Investor Day by
Gazprom energoholding group of companies. 5 rules of Analyst
Investor Day or the IR event of the year by Gazprom energoholding,
The sale of corporate bonds by an issuer to retail investors the
first successful experience in Ukraine by LeaseIT, Ukraine,
Implementing an effective IR strategy aimed at attracting core
investors and raising company stock liquidity by IDGC of Centre, A
second pivot: how Avangard has become a public company twice in one
year by agricultural holding Avangard, Ukraine, Severstal: the
global change of image in the eyes of investors by Severstal.
According to Stanislav Martyushev, director general of Interfax
Business Service, the contest was being held in a situation where
the economy is still far from stable growth. These days domestic
issuers are actively borrowing while demand on the stock market
remains weak and the IPO/SPO activity is very weak, which, in turn,
directly affects the tasks that need to be solved by IR
departments. When there are virtually no deals made with stocks,
attention shifts to debt capital markets and work with ratings
agencies, he said. Thus, for example, one of the prize-winning case
studies, by LeaseIT, was dedicated to a bond placement. Young
professionals who will be getting acquainted with this years case
studies, besides getting to know IR methodology, will also be given
an additional coordinate system for solving unconventional tasks,
constantly faced by public companies, not only on the equities
market, Mr. Martyushev noted. Assessment of presented pieces was
based on 4 criteria: novelty, effectiveness, methodological value,
and subjective I like it or I dislike it expert assessment. The
solutions in the area of investor relations building were assessed
on a 4-point scale by 10 acknowledged IR professionals: Sergey
Klinkov, HMS Group (LSE: HMSG), Sergey Belyakov, MMC Norilsk Nickel
(MICEX-RTS: GMKN), Anna Sidorkina, Gazprom Neft (MICEX-RTS: SIBN),
Dmitry Ivanov, IBS Group (FRA: IBSG), Alexander Goldin, RusHydro
(LSE: HYDR), Viktor Szalkay, PIK Group (LSE: PIK LI), Ilya Popov,
Akron (LSE: AKRN), Denis Davydov, M.video (MICEX-RTS: MVID), Oleg
Goncharov, Magnit (LSE: MGNT), Irina Makarenko, INTER RAO UES
(MICEX: IRAO). All prize-winning case studies will be published in
the Securities Market magazine and used as training material by the
Institute for financial markets development in its investor
relations courses. All case studies are available for download on
Interfax Business Service website www.irconsulting.ru (Analytics
section) and may also be emailed on request made at ir@interfax.ru.
Annual case contest held among Investor Relations professionals
from Russia and the CIS was founded in 2008 by Interfax Business
Service and the Securities Market magazine, together with Financial
Communications and Investor Relations Association (ARFI), MICEX
Group and the Institute for financial markets development. In 2010
the contest acquired international status when London Stock
Exchange and British IR Society started supporting it. The total
number of IR case studies gathered over the 4 years of the contests
existence, is 54. Interfax Business Service is a subsidiary of
Interfax Information Services Group and specializes in providing
consulting services to companies in the area of investor relations
in Russia and the CIS. Interfax is uniquely positioned to provide
IR services: it has access to resources of the leading Russian
information agency, tight connections to Russian institutional and
individual investors. The company has experience in working with
issuers and investors across the whole spectrum of investor
relations tasks (investor and analyst base expansion, analyst
coverage improvement, preparation of documents for investor
communications, investment positioning, ratings advisory,
independent financial analytics, attracting of private share
financing to small and medium enterprises). The company has served
more than 80 clients from more than 10 industries in Russia,
Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. Interfax Business Service specialists
partake in consulting the Russian Ministry of Finance on foreign
debt and Russian sovereign credit rating maintenance issues. The
company has wide experience in dealing with all the biggest
international ratings agencies: Moodys, Standard Poors, and Fitch
Ratings.
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