Category Archives: Finance

Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors releases publication on alternative investments

NEW YORK, N.Y., Nov. 23, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors has released a white paper discussing the role of alternative investments in a diversified portfolio. Many investors today are looking for new sources of diversification and uncorrelated sources of return. As a result, alternative investments have experienced significant growth, particularly among high-net-worth investors.

"There are many different types of alternative investments, each of which can serve different roles in a thoughtful asset allocation strategy," says James Fields, President of Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors. "A primary reason for including alternatives in a portfolio is to try and improve the risk/return profile. Other goals include enhancing overall returns or providing additional sources of income."

The introduction of liquid alternative funds has widened the access of alternative strategies to individual investors. Alternatives offered in a mutual fund structure are highly regulated, offer daily liquidity and typically allow lower minimum investment amounts.

As alternative strategies have increased in popularity and availability, more wealthy investors are considering whether an allocation to alternatives is appropriate for their portfolios. Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors' paper provides an introduction to the complex world of alternative investments and their role within a diversified portfolio, including the different types and the opportunities and risks associated with them.

More information: http://www.klingenstein.com/.

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Important Disclosures:

This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of a purchase of any security or investment. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before making any investment. Past performance is not indicative of comparable future results. All investments have inherent risks. Investors are urged to consider carefully whether such services in general, as well as the products or strategies discussed in the referenced material, are suitable to their needs. This material is distributed with the understanding that it is not rendering accounting, legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax advisor concerning such matters.

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NEWS SOURCE Klingenstein Fields Wealth Advisors :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Estate Planning Council of Cleveland Honored as 5 Star Council by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Nov. 17, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland will be recognized as a 5 Star Council by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils as a part of the Leonard H. Neiman and Walter Lee Davis, Jr. Council of Excellence Award program.

This honor was created in 2014 to recognize estate planning councils that have demonstrated a high level of achievement in areas critical to a successful membership experience.

"We are looking forward to the award ceremony scheduled on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 during the 52nd Annual NAEPC Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Conference on Amelia Island, Florida. The estate planning councils being recognized as 5 Star Councils provide a high level of member service and are contributing to the success of not only their members, but to the estate planning community as a whole," NAEPC President Jordon N. Rosen, CPA, AEP(R) said.

The Council of Excellence Award is named for two individuals who truly sought to strengthen the bond between NAEPC and its affiliated councils during their terms on the board. Walter Lee Davis, Jr. served as president of the association in 2008 and was instrumental in forming the Council Relations Committee, a group of volunteer members who are charged with being a liaison between affiliates and the national association. Leonard H. Neiman served the association as a board member for over fifteen years and worked tirelessly to gather information about estate planning councils from around the country.

About The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland:

The Estate Planning Council of Cleveland is a multi-disciplinary membership organization whose core belief is that the team concept of estate planning best serves the client. Attorneys, trust officers, accountants, insurance and financial planners, planned giving professionals, and allied professionals are admitted to membership. Founded in the 1930s, the council provides its over 425 members with a forum for networking and unparalleled education. The council is a member of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, the leading professional organization for estate planners, which provides its 1,800 Accredited Estate Planner(R) designees, and 260 affiliated local estate planning councils and their 29,000 members with ongoing education and a national forum for professional networking. Learn more at: http://www.epccleveland.org/.

For additional information contact: Michael T. Novak, CPA, PFS, AEP(R), President, Estate Planning Council of Cleveland, at mnovak@wellspringadvisorsllc.com or 216-367-0680.

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NEWS SOURCE Estate Planning Council of Cleveland :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

MCT Trading, Inc. Acquires Assets of PLar Analytics, LLC and PB Pacific Partners, LLC

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Nov. 12, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- MCT Trading, Inc. (MCT), a recognized industry leader in mortgage risk management providing pipeline hedging, best-execution loan sales and centralized lock desk services, announced that it has acquired certain key assets of PLar Analytics, LLC, a provider of financial models for mortgage bankers, and of PB Pacific Partners, LLC, which offers consulting services on capital markets and mortgage servicing.

The deal expands MCT's advisory services to include specialization in mortgage servicing rights (MSR) valuation business. This new MSR Services Group will be headed by Phil Laren, founder of PLar Analytics and PB Pacific Partners. MCT's acquisition includes certain key assets of PLar Analytics', PB Pacific Partner's customer base and its proprietary Enhanced Servicing Model (ESM). Mr. Laren is now a full-time employee at MCT.

"This deal is a natural fit for MCT. We have been utilizing the ESM model for over two years; it has multiple advantages over other valuation models," stated Curtis Richins, president of MCT. "With Phil Laren running our new MSR Services Group, we have expanded our service offerings, enabling us to deliver even more tangible value to our lender clients."

MCT clients will benefit immediately as a result of the acquisition with more granular analysis of the "retained" vs. "released best execution" decision-making process and access to the "best-in-class" MSR pipeline valuation services. MCT also intends to integrate PLar Analytics' ESM and MSR software with MCTlive!, its award-winning secondary marketing technology platform for real-time trading, analytics and best-execution.

"Given Mr. Laren's extensive capital markets experience and industry-leading knowledge of MSR valuation, he is well-equipped to effectively assist MCT's clients strategically and operationally as they evaluate retained execution opportunities," said Phil Rasori, COO at MCT. "He created a very sophisticated, proven valuation model. Our clients are looking to MCT for advice in selecting the best servicing partners and then implement best practices, which strengthens our value proposition for lenders."

"I am extremely excited to join the team at MCT and look forward to growing the MSR Services Group," said Laren. "Many lenders need specialized guidance in an effort to accurately value their servicing portfolios to maximize profitability and manage risk. They will need help in evaluation potential new partners, such as sub-servicers. The new group that we're establishing will be key in supporting existing MCT clients as they grow and in penetrating larger accounts."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

About MCT Trading:

MCT Trading (MCT) is a risk management and advisory services company providing independent analysis, training, hedging strategy and loan sale execution support to clients engaged in the secondary mortgage market. Founded in San Diego, California in May 2001, the company has expanded to include field sales and support offices in Philadelphia, Dallas, San Francisco and Charlotte. MCT is a recognized leader in the industry and currently supports more than 150 clients on the HALO (Hedging And Loan sales Optimization) Program. The company also develops and supports MCTlive!(TM), an award-winning real-time, trading and best-execution secondary marketing platform. MCT's LockCentral(TM) is the industry's largest outsourced centralized lock desk service. For more information, please visit http://www.mct-trading.com/ or call (619) 543-5111.

About PB Pacific Partners and PLar Analytics:

Founded in 2009, PB Partners, LLC is an established consulting firm focused on providing long-term capital markets advisory services for lenders. It developed an advanced, easy-to-use approach to mortgage servicing valuations called the Enhanced Servicing Model (ESM). PLar Analytics, LLC is a sister company to PB Partners that engineered a proprietary servicing solution that was licensed by lenders and vendors. It has a number of advantages not typically found in other servicing models. The founder of both companies, Philip Laren, is a well-respected mortgage banking professional in capital markets expertise.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joe Bowerbank
Profundity Communications, Inc.
949-378-9685
jbowerbank@profunditymarketing.com

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Twitter: @mcttrading

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NEWS SOURCE MCT Trading, Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Sunshine Capital, Inc. Announces New Controlling Interest In Company, New Business Plan and New Corporate Headquarters

PEMBROKE, Fla., Nov. 6, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Sunshine Capital, Inc. (Pinksheets-SCNP) today announced that controlling interest of its publicly traded common shares has been acquired by newly formed Delaware company, DIB Funding, Inc., which has ownership of the forthcoming diversified media company, Widjits, Inc. It is anticipated that Widjits Inc. will become its own publicly traded company and possible dividend shares will be issued to existing shareholders of Sunshine Capital, Inc. as of a future dividend date.

The current Board of Directors and Company management have tendered their resignations and current President and CEO, Mr. James Bartel, will stay on with the company as a board member. Mr. Bartel established the company as Sunshine Capital, Inc. in 1988. Mr. Bartel has made sure this deal would benefit his shareholders in that no reverse split would occur in this transaction.

The Widjits brand will be developed alongside strategic lines, beginning with a cartoon strip and then leveraging its properties in nine key areas: social media, publishing, advertising, animation, video, web services, retail, apps and gaming. Three-dimensional (3D) development will begin as soon as possible. Widjits will principally target the youth markets and position itself in the mobile space as well as on PCs.

The main goal of Sunshine Capital, Inc. will be to build shareholders' value. In the coming months shareholders can expect to see a vast array of changes, including additions to the management team, new Board of Directors' members and the implementation of a new business plan. The company believes that a dramatic change will come to both the revenue and bottom line of the company through strategic mergers and acquisitions.

The execution of the business plan will include Sunshine Capital, Inc. becoming a holding company for a diverse group of profitable private companies. The company believes that within one year it will acquire a large enough company with audited financials that will allow Sunshine Capital, Inc. to obtain a listing on a higher exchange such as the American Stock Exchange or NASDAQ.

Due to dramatic changes that are about to occur to Sunshine Capital, Inc. the company will be updating its information on OTCMarkets.com website and its new corporate website once some of these changes have taken place. The company will announce shortly who will be chosen to lead Sunshine Capital, Inc. as its President and CEO. The company is currently in final negotiations with an expert in mergers and acquisitions who has a stellar track record with public companies.

The current corporate headquarters in Nevada will change immediately to: 15800 Pines Blvd., Suite 3061, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027. The company's new corporate phone number will also change to (561) 877-1747. The company's current Nevada office will continue to operate its security consulting business.

Forward-Looking Statements:

The private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking information made on the company's behalf. All statements, other than statements of historical facts which address the company's expectations of source of capital or which express the company's expectations for future with respect to financial performance or operating strategies, can be identified as forward-looking statements. Such statements made by the company are based on knowledge of the environment in which it operates, but because of factors previously listed, as well as other factors beyond control of company, actual results may differ materially from expectations expressed in forward-looking statements.

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/sunshine-capital-inc-announces-new-controlling-interest-in-company-new-business-plan-and-new-corporate-headquarters-2015-1106-01.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Sunshine Capital Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

LeaseAccelerator to Host Educational Webinar on New Lease Accounting Standards

GREAT FALLS, Va., Nov. 5, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- LeaseAccelerator, the leader in Equipment Lease Management Software, announced today that it will be hosting a webinar on the forthcoming Lease Accounting Standard changes. The company's experts have been closely monitoring the latest proposals and comments on both FASB 842 and IFRS 16.

Designed for Fortune 500 companies that lease more than $100M in equipment, the webinar will educate attendees on the new standards as well as offer consultation on how to start preparing for the changes.

What: Preview of the New Lease Accounting Standards - FASB 842 and IFRS 16.

Key Topics will include:
* When will the new rules for equipment leasing go into effect?
* How will the FASB rules compare to IFRS?
* Will you have to keep two sets of books during the transition period?
* How will this affect key financial ratios such as profitability, EBITDA and Return on Assets?

How: Educational webinar with audience Q&A.

Who: Michael Keeler, CEO of LeaseAccelerator.
Bruce Conway, Vice President of Operations at LeaseAccelerator.

When: Thursday, November 12 at 1 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m. Pacific).

Where: Sign up for the webinar here: http://elm.leaseaccelerator.com/LeaseAccountingChangesWebinar.html .

During the webinar, lease accounting experts will outline a nine-step process for transitioning to the new standards. Additionally, the presenters will share lessons learned from early adopters who have already re-engineered their leasing programs.

About LeaseAccelerator:
LeaseAccelerator offers market-leading SaaS solution for Equipment Lease Management (ELM); delivering hard cost savings, compliance, and best practices to large, international lessees. LeaseAccelerator is the only solution that covers the entire leasing lifecycle, including: Capital Sourcing, saving 6-8 percent by driving down capital costs; Portfolio Management, saving 8-12 percent by improving end-of-term return performance; and Lease Accounting, enabling compliance with current and new FASB, IFRS, and SOX. Learn more at http://www.leaseaccelerator.com/.

Through LeaseAccelerator's Capital Sourcing marketplace, customers can access The Global Lessor Network (GLN), a community of more than 500 lessors around the world who compete to win our clients business. Using the GLN, global companies with a need for in-country leasing expertise and financing can identify and transact with local lessors. LeaseAccelerator supports transactions in 50 countries, spanning a wide variety of asset types: corporate aircraft, computers, construction, forklifts, furniture, IT, manufacturing, mining, networking, and transportation equipment. Lessors are encouraged to register at http://www.lessornetwork.com/.

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Twitter: @LeaseAccelerate

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NEWS SOURCE LeaseAccelerator :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Veros Home Valuation Annual Forecast is Strongest in More Than Two Years

SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 15, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Veros Real Estate Solutions (Veros), an award-winning industry leader in enterprise risk management, collateral valuation services and predictive analytics, today reports that residential market values will continue in a positive trajectory over the next 12 months, with overall annual appreciation rising to +3.6% from its Q2 forecast of 3.1%. The number of markets expected to increase in value is up to 94% from last quarter's 90%.

This is the strongest forecast appreciation that has been seen in nearly two years.

This insight comes from the company's most recent VeroFORECAST, a quarterly national real estate market forecast that combines multiple complex modeling strategies along with aggregated housing price index (HPI) data. The forecast modeling is used to project market price changes for the next two years, and discloses its findings for the12-month period ending September 1, 2016.

"Our Q3 VeroFORECAST continues to show strength for the next year increasing from last quarter's update," says Eric Fox, vice president of Statistical and Economic Modeling at Veros. "The top forecast markets continue to show double-digit appreciation. Top performing markets continue to confine themselves to California, Colorado, Florida, Washington, and Oregon. Florida is making a bit of a comeback and is buoyed by international buyers in many markets. Several Texas markets such as Dallas and Austin are still forecast to do well although there is definitely some weakening in markets impacted by the oil and gas industry such as Houston, Midland, and Odessa."

Low housing supply, an influx of population, and low unemployment rates continue to be common characteristics of the top forecast performing markets.

Although the next 12 months look to be strong and improving for the residential house price market, the longer time horizon is showing a bit of weakness. Fox continues, "Although the overall forecast is a strong +3.6% for the next 12 months, is softens significantly to +2.1% for months 13 to 24 in our forecast. The primary driver for this weakening is suspected tightening that the Fed will be doing which will likely cause mortgage interest rates to begin ticking upward. We don't see dramatic increases in interest rates. However, even a 25- or 50-basis point increase would be enough to cause consumers at the margin to drop out of the market to purchase a home, which will cause some softening overall. While we do see softening in the long-term, the overall market is still expected to appreciate. We don't see a repeat of the last downturn in 2007."

The weakest markets are again primarily in the Eastern part of the U.S. which has 23 of the bottom 25 markets. "The bottom forecast markets are still by and large in relatively small cities within the Eastern U.S. with poor economic conditions and general population declines often spanning decades. The good news for these markets is that all are characterized by slight depreciation of no more than one- to two-percent."

Projected Top Twenty-Five Markets*
1	SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND-FREMONT, CA	10.7%
2	SAN JOSE-SUNNYVALE-SANTA CLARA, CA	10.5%
3	DENVER-AURORA-BROOMFIELD, CO	10.3%
4	PORT ST. LUCIE, FL	10.0%
5	SEATTLE-TACOMA-BELLEVUE, WA	9.5%
6	PORTLAND-VANCOUVER-HILLSBORO, OR-WA	9.3%
7	BOULDER, CO	9.2%
8	GREELEY, CO	9.2%
9	FORT COLLINS-LOVELAND, CO	9.2%
10	DALLAS-FORT WORTH-ARLINGTON, TX	9.0%
11	SANTA CRUZ-WATSONVILLE, CA	8.9%
12	BEND, OR	8.8%
13	SEBASTIAN-VERO BEACH, FL	8.6%
14	BREMERTON-SILVERDALE, WA	8.6%
15	PALM BAY-MELBOURNE-TITUSVILLE, FL	8.5%
16	SANTA ROSA-PETALUMA, CA	8.1%
17	SALEM, OR	8.1%
18	NORTH PORT-BRADENTON-SARASOTA, FL	8.0%
19	AUSTIN-ROUND ROCK-SAN MARCOS, TX	8.0%
20	RENO-SPARKS, NV	8.0%
21	ORLANDO-KISSIMMEE-SANFORD, FL	8.0%
22	PALM COAST, FL	7.9%
23	MIAMI-FORT LAUDERDALE-POMPANO BEACH, FL	7.9%
24	OLYMPIA, WA	7.8%
25	TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG-CLEARWATER, FL	7.8%
Projected Bottom Twenty-Five Markets*
1	WICHITA FALLS, TX	-1.9%
2	LEBANON, PA	-1.7%
3	GADSDEN, AL	-1.7%
4	MARION, IN	-1.3%
5	BINGHAMTON, NY	-1.1%
6	ALEXANDRIA, LA	-1.1%
7	SCRANTON--WILKES-BARRE, PA	-1.0%
8	HATTIESBURG, MS	-0.9%
9	FAYETTEVILLE, NC	-0.8%
10	CUMBERLAND, MD-WV	-0.7%
11	CLEVELAND, TN	-0.7%
12	DOTHAN, AL	-0.6%
13	LYNCHBURG, VA	-0.6%
14	TORRINGTON, CT	-0.5%
15	ANNISTON-OXFORD, AL	-0.5%
16	POUGHKEEPSIE-NEWBURGH-MIDDLETOWN, NY	-0.3%
17	FLORENCE, SC	-0.1%
18	KINGSTON, NY	-0.1%
19	MACON, GA	0.1%
20	ATLANTIC CITY-HAMMONTON, NJ	0.2%
21	SUMTER, SC	0.3%
22	FLORENCE-MUSCLE SHOALS, AL	0.4%
23	FORT SMITH, AR-OK	0.4%
24	DECATUR, AL	0.5%
25	TRENTON-EWING, NJ	0.5%

*Markets demonstrated are for residential real estate in metro areas (typically greater than 100,000 residents) among single-family homes in the median price tier.

Additional forecasts and infographics for U.S. markets available to the press upon request.

About Veros Real Estate Solutions:

Veros Real Estate Solutions, a proven leader in enterprise risk management and collateral valuation services, uniquely combines the power of predictive technology, data analytics and industry expertise to deliver advanced automated decisioning solutions. Veros products and services are optimizing millions of profitable decisions throughout the mortgage industry, from loan origination through servicing and securitization. Veros provides solutions to control risk and increase profits including automated valuations, fraud and risk detection, portfolio analysis, forecasting, and next-generation collateral risk management platforms. Veros is headquartered in Santa Ana, Calif. For more information, please visit http://www.veros.com/ or call (866) 458-3767.

About Eric Fox, VP of Statistical and Economic Modeling:

Eric Fox received his M.S. in Statistics and B.S. in Mathematics and Economics from Purdue University, and has more than 22 years of industrial experience in statistical and econometric modeling, probabilistic life methodology development, statistical training, probabilistic design software development, and probabilistic financial/competitive analysis. Fox has published more than 20 technical papers on probabilistic and statistical methods.

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/veros-home-valuation-annual-forecast-is-strongest-in-more-than-two-years-2015-1015-03.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Veros Real Estate Solutions :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

PitBullTax Releases New Version of Fully Integrated IRS Tax Resolution Software

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Oct. 13, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- PitBullTax Software version 3.0 is now available. Designed for tax professionals who are seeking to take their tax resolution business to the next level, this new and more robust version packs one mean bite. With the available fully integrated IRS transcript delivery, analysis and reporting module, it continues to raise the bar as the nation's leading IRS tax resolution software for CPAs, enrolled agents and tax attorneys.

PitBullTax is offering a seven-day free trial so users can see first-hand how this new IRS tax resolution software version will help them unleash its power to put them in total control of their business and cases.

For the past five years PitBullTax listened to its customers and incorporated their feedback and ideas, as well as its own innovations and enhancements into a faster, smarter and more powerful version.

"Our software's proprietary logic has always promoted efficiency and aggressive advocacy," Jaime S. Buchwald, CPA and CEO of PitBullTax Software, says. "But now we put the previous version on massive steroids."

Version 3.0 supports all IRS resolution forms, handles complex calculations and prepares comprehensive supporting schedules. Some new features include: customizable modules, increased management analytics, enhanced scenario simulations and white labeling.

Tax pros who use PitBullTax Software Version 3.0 will be guided through a logical step-by-step approach to workflow; and be able to quickly evaluate whether their client is a more likely candidate for an Offer in Compromise, Installment Agreement, or Currently Not Collectible status.

This cloud-based IRS tax resolution software also easily prepares engagement letters, calculates suggested professional fees, provides expert tips and techniques, uses a consumer-friendly client questionnaire, allows for various billing options, and much more. Novices and pros alike will greatly benefit.

So, when the IRS attacks - bite back with PitBullTax Software Version 3.0.

About PitBullTax Software:

Currently with users in all 50 states, PitBullTax Software was developed by a dedicated team of professionals with more than 100 years of combined successful IRS collection resolution and information technology applications experience. This knowledge is embedded in the software's DNA to provide the best possible resolution for each IRS collection case.

Different packages are available - single user licenses and various multi-user licenses. There are no set up or maintenance fees; no contracts; no downloads; and free technical support. Licenses start at $89.97 per month.

For more information, visit: http://www.pitbulltax.com/.

TWITTER: @Pitbulltax

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NEWS SOURCE PitBullTax Software :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

KCLI: Shareholder Issues Letter to Board of Directors, Believes Proposed ‘Go-Private’ Transaction Structured Unfairly

NEW YORK, N.Y., Sept. 10, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- On September 9, 2015, Sherow Management, LLC, an outside shareholder, sent a letter addressed to Kansas City Life Insurance Co's Board Chairman in response to the Company's proposed "Go-Private" Transaction. Sherow believes the deal is unfair to outside shareholders and should be amended. Excerpts from the letter and a link to a copy follow.

Sherow Management, LLC
Eric Smallowitz
30 Broad Street, 14th FL
New York, NY 10004
646-480-4844

September 9, 2015

Mr. Robert Philip Bixby
Chairman of the Board
Kansas City Life Insurance Co.
3520 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111

Dear Mr. Bixby,
I write to you on behalf of shareholders regarding Kansas City Life Co's proposed stock registration termination transaction, detailed in the proxy dated 8/4/2015. In my opinion, the proposed 'go-private' transaction is wholly unfair to minority shareholders, both those small holders being offered an inadequate price of $52.50 per share & even more so to Institutional holders including Sherow Capital Partners, LP, represented in this letter by its General Partner. The Company's proposal would affect no positive change for holders of over 30% of outstanding stock but does in fact do significant harm to those holders.

I believe the Board of Directors did not fulfill its Fiduciary duty to protect minority shareholders' interests in crafting this proposal. The Board should immediately rectify this by fulfilling its obligation to maximize value for all Shareholders by instructing its Financial Advisors to fully explore all avenues for value creation. I urge fellow shareholders to clearly reject this proposal & force the Board to represent all Shareholders evenly.

Specifically, the go-private transaction is flawed & the Board's actions inadequate in many respects. First, the savings generated are insufficient to improve returns meaningfully. Second, remaining shareholders are left with no guarantee, nor any increased likelihood that the stock price now will trade closer to Management's own determined worth. The amount of shares to be bought in this transaction is small; on the contrary, KCLI's Board suspended its open market stock buyback with the announcement and has not detailed any capital return plan post the transaction's close. In fact, the proxy details many risks to going private to remaining shareholders including further reduced liquidity & even less transparency from management.

Third, the Board's duty is to all shareholders, not controlling family interest; any shareholder vote on going private should be a vote of only minority shareholders who stand to be left with a bulletin board listed stock issue. Fourth, the Independent Committee of the Board by its own admission did not explore all avenues of value creation for Shareholders, instead remained beholden to ensuring the lack of change of control from the current majority holder.

However, this transaction does in fact change the Company's capital structure in a meaningful way as well as its business operations going forward. The Company admits as much in the many risk factors detailed in the Proxy. Last, the price of $52.50 is inadequate relative to comparable transactions the past 24 months and does not reflect an accurate market valuation.

While I do not doubt the Board & Management's dedication to KCLI, I believe the Board has a made a poorly designed proposal & should change course on its own to benefit shareholder interests. I urge you to meet the Board's responsibility & examine all avenues of value creation.

Sincerely,
Eric Smallowitz
Principal
Sherow Management, LLC

Link to Letter: http://goo.gl/9dZ4TY

About Sherow Management:
Sherow Management, LLC is a New York Registered Investment Advisory focused on the Financial Sector. Sherow's proprietary method seeks to identify appropriate investment opportunities focused mainly on Small & Mid Cap Growth Financial Companies in early stages of their growth, including Regional and Community Banks. Founded in 2011, Sherow Management LLC currently has over $24mm AUM. Eric Smallowitz, the founder and principal of Sherow, has over 16 years of experience analyzing and trading U.S. Financial Companies.

More information: http://SherowManagement.com/.

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/kcli-shareholder-issues-letter-to-board-of-directors-believes-proposed-go-private-transaction-structured-unfairly-2015-0910-01.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Sherow Management LLC :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Bank of Southern California Announces Coachella Valley Advisory Board

PALM DESERT, Calif., Sept. 3, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Bank of Southern California, N.A. (OTCQB:FBBN / OTCMKTS:FBBN) announced the creation of its Coachella Valley Advisory Board. This board is comprised of prominent members of the business community in the Desert Cities region who will help increase the bank's presence and market awareness while providing valuable input to better understand the business needs in the Coachella Valley.

The newly appointed board members will advise and consult with the Bank's Executive Management team on product needs and banking issues related to the Valley's business community. The diverse 14-person board is made up of local business professionals with a broad range of experience.

"Our decision to create an Advisory Board in the desert shows the importance we place on better serving our clients in the Desert Cities area. Their insight of the Coachella Valley will help us as we continue to grow the bank in that market," commented Nathan Rogge, CEO of Bank of Southern California. "These members are respected business leaders and influential voices of the community and I am excited to be working closely with them as we continue to build Bank of Southern California's presence as 'The Desert's Community Bank' in that market."

Coachella Advisory Board Members:
- Robert Baltes, Owner, Baltes & Associates, CPAs
- David Baron, Partner, Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney, LLP
- Michael Berk, CEO, LUXE Electric Golf Cars and LUXE Water Solutions
- Mitch Blumberg, Senior Vice President, Desert Arc
- Michael Braun, Senior Vice President, Wessman Development
- Anthony Caronna, Managing Partner, Caronna & Johnson, LLP
- Dennis Freeman, President, Freeman Building & Consulting
- Evy Hanson, Owner, Leap Online Marketing
- Susan Harvey, Co-Owner, Desert Pacific Properties
- William Healey III, President and Owner, Healey & Associates, Certified Accountants and Consultants
- Maggie Montez, President, Lee & Associates
- Dr. Sam Reber, Director of Sports Medicine, S.T.A.R. Orthopedics
- Dr. Peter Scheer, Owner, The Mirage Center
- Sean Wood, President, SSW Mechanical Construction.

About Bank of Southern California:

A community bank, established in 2001, Bank of Southern California, N.A., with headquarters in San Diego, Calif., is locally owned and managed and offers a wide range of financial products to individuals, professionals, homeowner associations and small to mid-sized businesses. The Bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with their clients. With seven offices in San Diego County and the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, Bank of Southern California remains well-capitalized, with a growing deposit base and loan portfolio.

For more information, visit http://www.banksocal.com/ or call (858) 847-4780.

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NEWS SOURCE Bank of Southern California N.A. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

U.S. Government Approves EB-5 Investment for Caffe Primo San Diego

COSTA MESA, Calif., Aug. 24, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- PDC Capital Group announced that United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has approved an I-526 petition filed by an investor in a new Caffe Primo restaurant in San Diego.

An I-526 petition approval evidences that the investment made through the EB-5 program - in which foreign nationals may apply for a green card when they invest at least $500,000 in a U.S. business that creates 10 jobs - fulfills all legal requirements for the program.

Caffe Primo's San Diego location opened in July in the downtown area, within walking distance of the city's Gaslamp Quarter. Caffe Primo is a European-style gathering spot famous for its hand-made premium gelato, sorbetto and panini. Existing Caffe Primo restaurants are located in West Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles and Anaheim's Center Street Promenade.

"We are thrilled about the I-526 approval for Caffe Primo San Diego," said Richard Shinn, President of PDC Capital Group. "This is a wonderful project that will enhance the economic vitality of downtown San Diego and create new jobs, which is always the goal for EB-5 investment."

About PDC Capital Group: PDC Capital Group, LLC, is a private equity firm specializing in real estate development and financing including EB-5 investment projects. PDC identifies and helps develop investment opportunities for immigrant investors applying for U.S. permanent residency through the EB-5 visa program. Through its concierge service, PDC Capital Group assists immigrant investors to transition to life in the U.S. For more information, please visit http://www.pdccapitalgroup.com/.

Go to PDC Capital Group's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pdccapitalgroup .

Go to PDC's Twitter Feed: @PDCCapitalGrp - https://twitter.com/PDCCapitalGrp .

MEDIA CONTACT:
Derrick Walker
Director, Corporate Communications
949-342-7243
derrick@pdccap.com

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NEWS SOURCE PDC Capital Group LLC :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Residential Market Sustains Strength Predicted by Veros’ Latest 12-Month Forecast Update

SANTA ANA, Calif., July 9, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Veros Real Estate Solutions (Veros), an award-winning industry leader in enterprise risk management, collateral valuation services and predictive analytics, reports that the residential market continues in a positive trajectory, with a greater percentage of markets expected to increase in value over the next 12 months, moving upwards to 90% from last quarter's 86%. While still reflecting positive numbers, the latest VeroFORECAST also predicts declining growth in some Texas cities that are influenced by changes in the oil and gas industries.

The national forecast moved slightly lower to +3.1% annual appreciation, decreasing over the previous VeroFORECAST rate of 3.2%. It is the twelfth consecutive quarter in which the index has shown forecast appreciation, but with some flattening of the incline. This insight comes from the company's most recent VeroFORECAST, a national real estate market forecast for the 12-month period ending June 1, 2016, updated quarterly and covering 976 counties, 338 metro areas, and 13,548 zip codes.

The number of Texas cities in VeroFORECAST's top 25 has decreased this quarter and has seen an increase in the number of cities in the bottom 25. Additionally, there is a noticeable decline in the growth prediction for those areas that are impacted by changes in the oil and gas industries. For instance, Houston had an annual forecast of +7.6% last quarter but has seen that decline to +5.7% this quarter. Similar declines are seen in the Midland and Odessa areas while the Dallas and Austin areas maintain a steady spot in the top 25.

"Housing supplies in the top 5 markets remain tight and, coupled with price run-ups, affordability is becoming an issue," stated Eric Fox, Veros' vice president of statistical and economic modeling. "Conversely, the bottom markets continue to reflect the impact of decreasing population trends and continued high unemployment."

"We've noticed consistency in the forecast over the last several quarters, especially when compared to forecasts in the 2005-2006 timeframe when the market was forecast to 'overheat'," continued Fox. "During that time, we saw appreciation at levels of +25% or more in some of the strongest markets. Now our strongest markets have consistently been forecast to be in the +10% range over the last several quarters."

Projected Top Twenty-Five Markets*
1	San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	+10.5%
2	Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO	+10.3%
3	Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	+9.9%
4	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	+9.8%
5	Bend, OR	+8.7%
6	Port St. Lucie, FL	+8.7%
7	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	+8.5%
8	Naples-Marco Island, FL	+8.4%
9	Greeley, CO	+8.2%
10	Boulder, CO	+8.1%
11	Vallejo-Fairfield, CA	+8.1%
12	Palm Coast, FL	+8.1%
13	College Station-Bryan, TX	+8.0%
14	Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL	+7.9%
15	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	+7.8%
16	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	+7.8%
17	Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	+7.8%
18	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	+7.6%
19	Medford, OR	+7.5%
20	Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta, CA	+7.4%
21	Merced, CA	+7.3%
22	Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	+7.3%
23	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	+7.2%
24	Reno-Sparks, NV	+7.1%
25	Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	+7.1%
Projected Bottom Twenty-Five Markets*
1	Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ	-2.9%
2	Gadsden, AL	-2.2%
3	Bangor, ME	-1.9%
4	Terre Haute, IN	-1.8%
5	Jacksonville, NC	-1.7%
6	Alexandria, LA	-1.7%
7	Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH	-1.6%
8	Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	-1.6%
9	Lewiston-Auburn, ME	-1.4%
10	Pittsfield, MA	-1.3%
11	Greenville, NC	-1.2%
12	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	-1.0%
13	Greensboro-High Point, NC	-0.9%
14	Midland, MI	-0.9%
15	Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	-0.8%
16	El Paso, TX	-0.7%
17	Binghamton, NY	-0.6%
18	Torrington, CT	-0.5%
19	Kingston, NY	-0.5%
20	Dothan, AL	-0.5%
21	Sumter, SC	-0.4%
22	Jackson, TN	-0.4%
23	Montgomery, AL	-0.4%
24	Wichita Falls, TX	-0.4%
25	Lynchburg, VA	-0.3%

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/residential-market-sustains-strength-predicted-by-veros-latest-12-month-forecast-update-2015-0709-04.shtml.

Actor, Stuntman and Filmmaker Zak Lee Guarnaccia Launches Kickstarter for Martial Arts Action Feature KALM at Comic-Con

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 9, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Zak Lee Guarnaccia, Actor/Stuntman, Executive Producer at LightRow Pictures (www.lightrow.com), and Paul Lupi, Producer of Lupi Pictures, enter production of the feature film in the martial-arts, action-thriller genre entitled "KALM." Principal photography partially funding being raised on Kickstarter. The project will debut at the SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2015 (SDCC).

In addition, Guarnaccia will play an undisclosed role and produce a TV Pilot of Lupi Pictures "CENTRAL PARK WEST" to start in New York July 2015 written and produced by Paul Lupi with brother Daniel Lupi ("Lincoln," "The Master," "There Will Be Blood," "Catch Me If You Can," "Boogie Nights").

A story with extreme martial arts choreography, "KALM" is a bodyguard assigned to chauffeur a headlining exotic dancer to a desert town, when they get caught in the crossfire between warring drug lords.

LightRow Pictures developed the new action hero "KALM" and will exhibit at San Diego Comic-Con 2015 at Bella Fe Films and LightRow Pictures booth #1532. Bella Fe Films (www.bellafefilms.com) will produce "KALM," the comic book, and the graphic illustrations and postcards for collectors fans to promote the "KALM Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign."

"KALM" launched its new adventure in the crowd funding field on July 7, 2015 and invites action genre fans to help fund this highly-anticipated comic book and martial arts feature-length film at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lightrowpictures/kalm .

"KALM" has fantastic dangerous stunts, chases and explosions - it's a new, slick, martial arts action film with an "Italian spice" and crowd-funding supporters will help make it happen.

Guarnaccia says: "We pulled together a roster of great actors, stunt fighters, crew, and have a distributor of this genre attached working with us and making this project successful."

Guarnaccia's gritty film style and performance grabbed the attention of Paul Lupi whose company Lupi Pictures is now in talks to co-produce properties in the Lightrow roster.

Award-winning actor Zak Lee Guarnaccia's rugged looks, relentless style of martial arts, and experience in stunt-work and action choreography has lead to his reputation as "The Italian Jackie Chan."

"KALM" the comic book is written by Ken Mora, writer/producer of the spoof of Clint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" films entitled "Magnum Farce." The screenplay is written by a talented young writer Marc Guzman and boasts DGA director John Rogers on board to call the action. The production will create a distinct vision for "KALM" to be shot, principally, on a desolate stretch of road in the USA.

Guarnaccia's recent appearances include Pablo the henchman on the upcoming MARVEL TV Series "AGENT X" produced by Sharon Stone and FOX TV, "The LAST SHIP" on TNT and "NCIS Los Angeles" season 4 episode "Lokhay," and a coming nationally-aired Mercury Insurance Commercial.

LightRow Pictures concurrent projects "The Next Big Hit" ( https://www.facebook.com/TheNextBigHit ) features the unique genre mash-up of martial-arts and musical comedy, and the movie "Tinker and Snatch" another comic book and live martial arts action feature film is on the first row.

More information: http://www.lightrow.com/.

KALM Facebook fans: https://www.facebook.com/KALMfilm.

Facebook fans "I like ZLG Zak Lee Guarnaccia" https://www.facebook.com/LikeZLG.

Zak Lee Guarnaccia official website: http://www.zaklee.com/.

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To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/actor-stuntman-and-filmmaker-zak-lee-guarnaccia-lunches-kickstarter-campaign-for-martial-arts-action-feature-kalm-at-comic-con-2015-0709-03.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE LightRow Pictures :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

EPIC expands Employee Benefits Practice with the acquisition of Executive Financial, Inc. in Southern California

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 18, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today it has acquired Executive Financial, Inc., an employee benefits consulting firm specializing in executive benefits, life, and disability insurance strategies.

Founded in 1995 by Peter Lizotte, Los Angeles, Calif. based Executive Financial will considerably broaden the specialized brokerage and consulting services available to EPIC clients across the country and position the company for significant growth in the Executive Benefits segment.

"Peter and his team have built a terrific firm and practice," said Jim Gillette, EPIC Managing Principal in the Southern California Region. "Their addition is an exciting development in the continuing growth of EPIC. Our clients benefit significantly when we add top professionals with a unique and highly specialized practice who bring depth and expertise to our brokerage and consulting platforms."

Added Peter Lizotte, "As a part of EPIC, we now have access to best in class compliance, communication and wellness services, not only to support our existing clients but also to successfully compete for new business. Additionally, we are very excited about the opportunity to significantly expand our proprietary Executive Disability Income and Life insurance programs under the EPIC brand."

Since The Carlyle Group became the firm's major investment partner in December 2013, EPIC has completed nine strategic acquisitions/purchases, adding nearly 400 team members in multiple locations across the United States.

Peter Lizotte can be contacted at:
EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants
Address: 4601 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90010.
Phone: (323) 965-6408
Email: plizotte[at]executivefinancial.com.

About EPIC:

Headquartered in San Francisco, EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has nationwide presence with a depth of industry expertise across key lines of insurance, including commercial property and casualty, employee benefits, unique specialty program insurance, and private client services. Since its founding in 2007, EPIC has grown revenue from $5 million to $160 million through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions, and remains a fixture on the insurance industry's "Best Places to Work" lists. Its strategic partners include private equity firms The Carlyle Group and Stone Point Capital.

To learn more, visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/epic-expands-employee-benefits-practice-with-acquisition-executive-financial-inc-southern-california-2015-0518-03.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

EPIC Strengthens Auto Dealer Programs with the acquisition of Sorci Insurance Brokerage Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 12, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property & casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced today it has acquired Sorci Insurance Brokerage, Inc., a specialist in providing comprehensive Workers' Compensation Insurance services to New Car Auto Dealers in California.

Founded in 1979 by Tom Sorci, Los Gatos, Calif. based Sorci Insurance Brokerage will further broaden the specialized Workers' Compensation Insurance consulting services available to EPIC clients, particularly new car auto dealers - a long time area of expertise and focus for the firm. EPIC has been the licensed broker providing Workers' Compensation Insurance and Employee Benefits Programs to members of the California New Car Dealers Association since 2011.

"The addition of Tom and his team is an exciting development in the continuing growth of EPIC," said Curt Perata, EPIC Regional Director of Property & Casualty in Northern California. "Our clients benefit significantly when we add top professionals like the Sorci team with unique and highly specialized consulting skills and experience."

Tom Sorci added, "We are very proud of the fact that we have always adhered to the simple philosophy of doing what's in the best interest of the client, and extremely pleased that this philosophy aligns with EPIC's culture. As part of EPIC, we will have access to more resources, experienced professionals in multiple disciplines, and extensive insurance company relationships - all of which will benefit our clients."

Sorci went on to say, "The Sorci Insurance team has been together for more than twenty-five years and we are all very pleased that we will remain together as we join EPIC. Now united, the best is yet to come."

Since The Carlyle Group became the firm's major investment partner in December 2013, EPIC has completed eight strategic acquisitions/purchases, adding more than 300 team members in 14 new locations across the United States.

Tom Sorci can be contacted at:
EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants
15495 Los Gatos Blvd. #7, Los Gatos, CA 95032
877-356-3399
tom.sorci[at]epicbrokers.com.

About EPIC:

Headquartered in San Francisco, EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has nationwide presence with a depth of industry expertise across key lines of insurance, including commercial property and casualty, employee benefits, unique specialty program insurance, and private client services. Since its founding in 2007, EPIC has grown revenue from $5 million to $160 million through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions, and remains a fixture on the insurance industry's "Best Places to Work" lists. Its strategic partners include private equity firms The Carlyle Group and Stone Point Capital. To learn more, visit http://www.epicbrokers.com/.

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Arkansas Mutual to Join Constellation

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 8, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Arkansas Mutual Insurance Company announced today that it will be joining Constellation, a mutual holding company, and its family of companies. Arkansas Mutual is a provider of medical professional liability insurance for physicians, located in Little Rock; it will be the third Constellation member company, joining MMIC and UMIA. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Corey Little, Arkansas Mutual's President and CEO, said: "We're excited to join Constellation. Arkansas Mutual's policyholders will benefit from a larger, well capitalized company that has a similar physician-focused culture, and from resources such as patient safety programs, physician support programs, and health IT services. And Arkansas Mutual's established network in Arkansas will help the two companies expand more quickly in this state."

Combined, MMIC, Arkansas Mutual and UMIA insure more than 20,000 health care providers in 16 states. All three serve the entire health care spectrum: physicians, clinics, large hospitals and health systems, and outpatient and long-term care facilities.

"A partnership between Arkansas Mutual and Constellation will provide benefits for both sides," said Bill McDonough, President and CEO at Constellation. "By helping Arkansas Mutual expand, we will be able to offer more financial and risk management services in support of the health care community. Together we can create stronger systems and processes, and drive efficiencies."

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015 and is subject to customary due diligence, regulatory approvals and Arkansas Mutual policyholder approval.

The map illustrates the expanded reach of the newly combined companies (see image).

About Arkansas Mutual:

Arkansas Mutual Insurance Company provides stable, long-term professional liability insurance to enhance the strength of the health care community. We help protect the assets, financial integrity and reputation of our member policyholders. Arkansas Mutual Insurance Company is a physician owned and physician governed mutual insurance company that places its members' best interests first. Visit http://www.arkansasmutual.com/ .

About Constellation:

As a mutual holding company, Constellation offers the opportunity for policyholder-owned insurers and other organizations to band together for mutual advantage. Members and owners of Constellation can secure their future and long-term ability to serve policyholders and the medical community. Alternatively, companies may take advantage of Constellation network benefits through a contractual affiliation.

Visit http://ConstellationMutual.com/ or call 888-965-0503

*IMAGE (web): Send2Press.com/mediaboom/15-0507-constmap-500x375.jpg

TWITTER: @ArkansasMutual

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/arkansas-mutual-to-join-constellation-2015-0508-01.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Arkansas Mutual Insurance Company :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

California Ferret Enthusiasts Launch Crowdfunding Campaign for Ballot Initiative on National Ferret Day

LA MESA, Calif., April 1, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Tired of working and waiting for ferret legalization, which never comes despite thirty years of efforts - LegalizeFerrets.org is planning a ballot initiative to free our domestic ferrets from unnecessary and unfair regulation.

April 2 is National Ferret Day in the USA and California ferret lovers are using the occasion to launch a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo at http://igg.me/at/CLIFF/x/292522 .

The goal is to raise $100,000 to pay petitioners to help get the California Legalization Initiative for Ferrets (CLIFF) on the ballot.

Ferrets are legal in 48 states. Only Hawaii and California, along with some cities, most notably New York City continues to ban the pets.

"Reasons for banning ferrets are nonsense and don't hold up under scrutiny. An Environmental Report commissioned by LegalizeFerrets.org shows that concerns about ferrets going feral, attacking wildlife or children or any damage to the environment are unfounded," says Pat Wright of Legalize Ferrets. "But the report has never been read by the California Fish and Game Commission - although they rejected it as incomplete. A Public Records Request Act showed that no one at the Commission or Fish and Wildlife Dept. had read the document."

Appeals to regulators and legislators have fallen on deaf ears once again, and 2015 will not see any bill to legalize ferrets in the Golden State.

But new rules on the initiative process in California open up the possibilities. Fewer signatures are required and once we reach 25 percent of the required, we get in front of the California legislature.

"California ferret lovers believe we can also do a massive volunteer effort to collect signatures," adds Wright. "But no all-volunteer effort has ever gotten an initiative on the California ballot. We want to pay petitioners $100,000 to get us a quarter of the way there - and at least get us in front of the legislators."

Learn more about the organization at: http://legalizeferrets.org/ .

*IMAGE for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/15-0401-legalizeferr-300dpi.jpg .

TWITTER: @atthevets

For More Information, contact:
Pat Wright
LegalizeFerrets.org
619-303-0645 or cell 619-757-7426
CLIFFNotes@legalizeferrets.org

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/california-ferret-enthusiasts-launch-crowdfunding-campaign-for-ballot-initiative-on-national-ferret-day-2015-0401-05.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE LegalizeFerrets :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Protector Holdings Acquires Oasis South Insurance Services

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March, 31, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Protector Holdings, a joint venture of EPIC (Edgewood Partners Insurance Center) and Dowling Capital Partners, announced today the acquisition of Oasis South Insurance Services.

With 8 locations across California's San Diego County, Oasis South specializes in providing insurance services to Hispanic consumers, writing auto, motorcycle, RV, boat, homeowners and renters insurance coverage.

"With the addition of Oasis South to our Premier Insurance Services brand portfolio, we now have more than 30 Premier locations across California and the West," said Protector Holdings CEO Paul Areida.

Premier Insurance Services, acquired by Protector Holdings in 2013, targets the growing Hispanic Community in California, providing a wide range of insurance products and services specifically tailored to the cultural preferences of Latino consumers.

Areida added, "Respectfully and effectively serving the needs of the Hispanic community has enabled Premier to more than triple its customer base since June, 2013. The addition of Oasis South and the expansion of our operations in San Diego County is an important step in realizing our vision to become the premier provider of insurance services to the Latino marketplace in California and the West."

About Protector Holdings and Premier Insurance Services:

Protector Holdings was founded in June 2013 as a partnership between EPIC (Edgewood Partners Insurance Center), a retail property, casualty and employee benefits insurance broker/consultant; insurance-focused private equity firm Dowling Capital Partners (DCP); and Premier Insurance Services.

Premier Insurance Services specializes in providing a range of insurance products and services to the Hispanic market in the Western United States. Since its formation in 2004 with a single office in Bakersfield, Calif., Premier has added locations across the state and is now one of the largest non-standard automobile brokers in California.

For more information, visit: http://protectorholdings.com/ .

*LOGO for media: Send2Press.com/mediaboom/15-0204-Premier-300dpi.jpg

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/protector-holdings-acquires-oasis-south-insurance-services-2015-0331-002.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Protector Holdings :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Emilio N. Francisco, PDC CEO, Announces Acquisition of EB-5 Regional Center

COSTA MESA, Calif., March 27, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Emilio N. Francisco, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of private equity firm PDC Capital Group (www.pdccapitalgroup.com), announced the acquisition of ZGlobal Southern California EB-5 Investment Regional Center (http://zglobalregionalcenter.com).

The EB-5 visa is a federal program launched in 1990 that allows foreign nationals to apply for permanent residency in the U.S. in exchange for investing $1 million in a U.S. business. Each investment is required to generate at least 10 jobs.

ZGlobal has been designated by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to provide investment opportunities to foreign investors interested in participating in the EB-5 Investor Visa Program and obtaining green cards.

One advantage to designation as a regional center is that a regional center can claim indirect job creation resulting from investment projects. The ability to claim the creation of indirect jobs allows the applicant to more easily meet the EB-5 program job creation requirements.

PDC Capital Group is a private equity firm that specializes in real estate development projects funded through EB-5 visa investments.

"We are very excited about our partnership with ZGlobal Regional Center," said Emilio N. Francisco, Chief Executive Officer of PDC Capital Group. "Working through the center will give us a broader platform to connect with investors interested in our EB-5 projects."

About PDC Capital Group:

PDC Capital Group, LLC, is a private equity firm specializing in EB-5 investment projects. In identifying and executing new projects, PDC Capital Group's goal is success for three groups: success for investors, success for the community where the project is located, and success for its project partners. For more information, please visit http://www.pdccapitalgroup.com/ .

Go to PDC Capital Group's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pdccapitalgroup .

Go to PDC's Twitter Feed: @PDCCapitalGrp https://twitter.com/PDCCapitalGrp .

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/emilio-n-francisco-pdc-ceo-announces-acquisition-of-eb-5-regional-center-2015-0327-003.shtml.

Worldwide Telecommunications Industry Revenue to hit $2.4 Trillion in 2020, says Insight Research

DURANGO, Colo., March 10, 2015 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Insight Research projects that telecommunications services revenue worldwide will grow from $2.2 trillion in 2015 to $2.4 trillion in 2019. Insight's newly-released market analysis report, "The 2015 Telecommunications Industry Review: An Anthology of Market Facts and Forecasts" includes regional and service forecasts, assessment of key growth drivers, analysis of industry trends, network infrastructure and access technologies, future services, OSS/BSS and capex spending, and enterprise telecom markets.

Wireless subscriber growth compounded with rising smartphone and tablet traffic will raise global wireless revenues by 19 percent from current levels; while wireline revenues will rise only four percent as voice calls decline and users switch to mobile solutions.

"The path to sustained growth will be bumpy, fluctuating around a modest underlying rate for the next few years. The upturn in the major non-Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries - the US, European Union (EU), Japan, and 27 other developed countries-especially in Asia and particularly in China, is now a well-established source of strength for the global economy," says Bob Rosenberg, President of Insight Research.

"Consumer demand for the latest wireless devices and greater access bandwidth remains a key driver of telecommunications services growth, and the shift to Cloud-based solutions is starting to put new demands on network utilization," Rosenberg concluded.

An excerpt of this market research report, table of contents, and ordering information are online at http://insight-corp.com/reports/review15.asp .

The report is available immediately in electronic format (PDF) and can be ordered online. Visit our website at http://www.insight-corp.com/ or call 973-541-9600 for details.

Download the Executive Summary at: http://goo.gl/l8wofE .

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/worldwide-telecommunications-industry-revenue-to-hit-2-4-trillion-in-2020-says-insight-research-2015-0310-002.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Insight Research Corporation :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2015 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

$30 Billion U.S. Telecommunications Private Line Services Market Starts to Decline, says Insight Research Corp.

DURANGO, Colo., Nov. 3, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The $30 billion U.S. private line services market has finally entered a period of no growth, says a market analysis study from Insight Research. Private line had always been a growth market for telcos and has been tracked by Insight for more than 18 years showing steadily increasing revenue growth. Yet the market is expected to decline 2.3 percent over the next five years, as the shift to packet-based Internet services allow customers to get higher bandwidth at lower costs which, in turn, is putting downward pressure on private line revenues.

Private lines are leased point-to-point circuits that are used for a variety of applications, including connecting enterprise locations, backhauling cell towers to mobile switching centers, and providing video services to households and mobile devices. The new study, "Private Line and Wavelength Services, 2014-2019," provides an in-depth analysis of the four major market drivers that are actually increasing equivalent circuit counts, even as revenues decline.

"We have reached one of those unique periods where demand is rising yet revenues are in decline. Price erosion and the shift to lower unit pricing at higher bandwidth tiers are to blame," says Robert Rosenberg, President of Insight Research.

"This phenomena needs to be understood in the context of a mature market. Mature markets can be very profitable, and can remain viable for years or even decades-but mature markets do not exhibit growth," Rosenberg concluded.

"Private Line and Wavelength Services, 2014-2019" evaluates the total private line market and segments it by local and long distance private line service revenue, wholesale and retail private line revenue, revenue by type of carrier, revenue by T1, T3 or OC-n circuit class, as well as the number of T1, T3, and OC-n private lines sold. Estimates of wavelength revenues are also provided.

A free report excerpt, table of contents, and ordering information is available online at http://www.insight-corp.com/reports/pl14.asp. The full, 199-page report is available immediately in electronic format (PDF) and can be ordered immediately.

Visit our website ( http://www.insight-corp.com/ ) or call (973) 541-9600 for details.

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/30-billion-us-telecommunications-private-line-services-market-starts-decline-insight-research-corp-2014-11-1103-003.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Insight Research Corporation :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2014 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

Oceanside Jewelers announces the opening of Oceanside Pawn Shops

OCEANSIDE, Calif., June 12, 2014 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Master jeweler Chad Elliott of Oceanside Jewelers has expanded their award winning jewelry design storefront to now include Oceanside Pawnshops. Having applied for and received a pawnbroker's license from the State of California to offer pawn loans in exchange for personal jewelry, Oceanside Jewelers is pleased to expand its services as a pawn loan specialist in the area of gold, jewelry, diamonds, fine watches, diamonds, and gemstones of all types.

With an onsite master jeweler and a GIA (Gemological Institute of America) certified gemologist, this new distinction in added service benefit is a perfect fit for Oceanside Jewelers and the city of Oceanside itself. Oceanside pawnshops has launched a new website in support of this endeavor. The web site - oceansidepawnshops.com - contains helpful information regarding pawn loans, the valuation process, as well as the terms and qualifications of collateral loans.

Ever wonder how a jeweler's pawn loan is transacted? All pawnshops offer collateral loans on valuable items, and interest rates on all loans are regulated by the State of California. When a customer does not repay or renew the loan by an agreed upon date, the pawnshop keeps the items. Pawn loans are popular because of the speed and efficiency of the process compared to a bank loan, and they also allow the customer to recover their pledged items as opposed to selling them. This gives Oceanside Jewelers a wider and more flexible range of options in jewelry services to offer its customers and the Oceanside community as a whole.

"We like to consider ourselves a true jewelry pawn shop," says Elliott. "Our staff of professional jewelers and gemologists is highly knowledgeable about fine jewelry, precious gems, diamonds, diamond rings and diamond wedding rings for women, as well as fine watches. This allows us to give the best possible assessment of your fine jewelry."

About Oceanside Jewelers:

Oceanside Jewelers is a family owned and operated business located in the heart of downtown Oceanside at 222 North Coast Highway. Oceanside Jewelers has been providing honest and professional jewelry services with a focus on personal customer service for over 20 years. Award winning master jeweler Chad Elliott has designed and manufactured jewelry for many of the top designer brands, and many of these are worn by Hollywood's elite.

Customer education plays an important part of Oceanside Jewelers' sense of business and community. In pursuit of this, Oceanside Jewelers web site contains a wide range of helpful articles on jewelry craftsmanship, custom designing with diamonds and precious gemstones, traditional handcrafted jewelry construction, cutting-edge jewelry technology, and precious metal grading and selection.

For more information, visit: http://oceanside-jewelers.com/ or http://oceansidepawnshops.com/ .

MEDIA CONTACT:
Chad Elliott
Oceanside Jewelers
760-722-4950
info@oceanside-jewelers.com

To view the original version on Send2Press Newswire, visit: https://www.send2press.com/newswire/Oceanside-Jewelers-announces-the-opening-of-Oceanside-Pawn-Shops_2014-06-0612-001.shtml.

NEWS SOURCE Oceanside Jewelers :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (who is solely responsible for its accuracy) by and Copr. © 2014 Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

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