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| July 24, 2000 UniCapital
Saga--More Resignations/Cutbacks UniCapital Announces Executive Changes; Reduces Staff, Salaries MIAMI--(BUSINESS
WIRE)----UniCapital Corporation (NYSE:UCP) today announced that Robert J. New,
chairman of the board, and Edward Jaeckel, chief operating officer and chief credit
policy officer, are leaving the company. UniCapital also said that Jonathan New
has resigned as chief financial officer to pursue other interests. Tal Briddell, 58, UniCapital's chief executive officer, is expected to serve as the company's interim chairman of the board. Daniel Chait, 32, UniCapital's senior vice president and treasurer, will assume the additional responsibilities of interim chief financial officer. The company expects to fill the positions of chief operating officer and chief credit policy officer at a later date. In addition, UniCapital said that it has eliminated 38 positions and reduced the salaries of 11 senior-level employees. These changes will affect the company's Miami headquarters, its operational group in Portland, Ore. and selective support functions at UniCapital's various operating units. "We're moving quickly to reduce the company's operating expenses," Briddell said. "Once completed, the staff and salary reductions at headquarters are expected to save the company $4.2 million annually. These changes are expected to be fully implemented this week." UniCapital Corporation provides asset-based financing in strategically diverse sectors of the commercial equipment leasing industry. Headquartered in Miami, UniCapital originates, acquires, sells and services equipment leases and arranges structured financing in the big ticket, middle market, small ticket and computer and telecommunications segments of the commercial equipment leasing industry. For more information, visit UniCapital's Web site at www.unicapitalcorp.com. Certain statements contained in this press release (including, without limitation, statements regarding the expected savings that may be realized from staff and salary reductions and statements regarding the filling of vacant officer positions) may be deemed to be forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and should be read in conjunction with the risk factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those risk factors include, among others, limitations imposed by the Company's credit facilities, risks related to the need for additional capital, risks related to the Company's acquisition strategy, risks arising from the absence of combined operating history for the Company and its subsidiaries, risks related to internal growth and operating strategies, interest rate risks, risks related to fluctuations in quarterly operating results, risks related to consummating securitization transactions and other risks. These risks and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, results may vary as a result of factors set forth from time to time in the documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting such forward-looking statements. CONTACT: Jody Campbell UniCapital Corporation, Miami 305/899-5002 jcampbell@unicapitalcorp.com Irwin Lease Shows Loss, While Bank Overall Shows Profits The Corporation's leasing line of business, Irwin Business Finance ( www.irwinBF.com ), incurred a pre-tax loss of $0.9 million during the second quarter. The company, a recent start-up which began originating leases and loans early in the year, originated $32.4 million in leases in the quarter and had a portfolio at quarter-end of $50.8 million. The leases and loans have a weighted average yield of 10.7%. The company's 30-day and greater delinquency ratio was 1.28% as of June 30, 2000. Early in the third quarter, the company completed its acquisition of a 78% ownership position in Onset Capital Corporation, a Canadian small-ticket equipment leasing company. Complete Press Release at *******2 CIT PREDICTS ROBUST 2000 BUT DECLINE IN 2001 see ****1 for complete story. eLease Claims to Develop the Capital Equipment Leasing Industry's First Standardized Platform for Lease Process Automation SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)---eLease(TM) today announced eLease Platform(TM), the leasing industry's first standardized platform for developing and delivering lease process automation (LPA) solutions. eLease Platform(TM) allows companies to use the power of Web-based automation to streamline every aspect of the leasing process. "The capital equipment leasing industry is one of the last industries to automate," said Ivan Wolkind, CEO of eLease. "However, it's one of the ones that needs it the most. Automation can improve cost efficiencies by as much as 70 percent. It also allows businesses to perform information analysis never before possible, like real-time portfolio balancing and online equipment tracking. By developing a platform for automating all aspects of the lease process, eLease will be able to create solutions that bring the benefits of automation to every constituent in the capital equipment leasing industry -- whether they're lessees, financial service institutions or other principals in a lease, or capital equipment vendors offering leases. No one else can do that." The first product eLease developed and deployed using the eLease Platform was eLease Marketplace(TM), a business-to-business marketplace for companies that need to acquire capital equipment leases and lease lines. eLease Marketplace has been open since November 1999 and has transacted leases as large as $4.2 million. Going forward, eLease will utilize the Platform to develop and deliver Web-based leasing solutions that bring leasing functionality to any Web site, sales force, or back office lease process. Because acquiring a signature is an important part of the lease process, eLease Platform includes iLumin's Digital Handshake technology featuring Online Signing Room(TM), Digital Clerk(TM) and e-Cabinet(TM). eLease is the first Company in the capital equipment leasing industry to offer Digital Handshake. Digital Handshake With Digital Handshake, multiple parties can interact in a virtual room to complete a transaction quickly, legally and confidentially. Participants' identities are verified in advance and they can collaborate, edit, chat and, if necessary, apply multiple-party signatures in various places. Data is automated so that common field entries only need to be entered once. In place of reams of paper stored in drawers, documents are digitally indexed and archived, available for instant retrieval, viewing and auditing.\ Digital Handshake employs digital signatures, XML and Web-based technologies -- an industry first. With Digital Handshake, parties can run dissimilar operating systems, databases and applications. About eLease eLease provides lease process automation solutions for every constituent in the leasing process, including financial institutions, capital equipment vendors, and businesses that need to either offer or acquire leases. Using the eLease Platform(TM), eLease develops and delivers Web-based leasing solutions that add leasing functionality to any Web site, lease sales force automation solutions, configurable workflow solutions for back office lease processing and a business-to-business marketplace for acquiring capital equipment leases and lease lines. eLease is based in Sunnyvale, CA. Additional information can be found at the company's Web site www.elease.com. LeaseForum, Inc. Continues Rapid Growth With Opening of Maryland Office; Richard A. Marianetti Appointed Vice President, Corporate Sales, Middle Atlantic Region BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2000--LeaseForum, Inc., the only online commercial equipment leasing marketplace providing lessees an integrated suite of Web-based solutions for managing the leasing lifecycle, today announced the opening of its new office in Baltimore, Maryland. The Maryland office will service the leasing needs of large to mid-size companies throughout the Middle Atlantic Region. Richard Marianetti, former vice president of Transamerica Commercial Equipment Finance, will head up the Maryland office. Mr. Marianetti has more than 16 years of experience in equipment leasing and asset-based lending. While at Transamerica, he was responsible for establishing and servicing leasing clients in the technology, heavy equipment, manufacturing, transportation and material handling sectors. Prior to Transamerica, he was an account executive with Metlife Capital, where he focused on middle market equipment financing, real estate loans and off-balance sheet structures. Mr. Marianetti received his B.A. degree from Towson State University. "We are committed to providing unparalleled services," said Susan Franklin, president and CEO of LeaseForum. "The addition of Mr. Marianetti to our team of talented and experienced leasing and equipment management professionals insures that LeaseForum continues to provide comprehensive lease financing and asset management services to lessees nationwide." About LeaseForum Headquartered in Boston's financial district, LeaseForum is the only online commercial equipment leasing marketplace providing an integrated suite of Web-based solutions for managing the leasing lifecycle. LeaseForum enables lessees and lessors to originate leases, manage them across the enterprise and remarket off-lease or surplus equipment. For more information visit www.leaseforum.com or www.remarketxchange.com. CONTACT: LeaseForum, Inc. Susan S. Franklin (617) 443-9910 ssf@leaseforum.com or Donovan Group Philip O'Brien or Stephanie Fraleigh (508) 393-1433 pobrien@donovangroup.com sfraleigh@donovangroup.com 33 Leasing Companies Major Changes American
Business Leasing ( gone ) any corrections or additions, please let me know. Bulletin Board any comments, corrections, additions, or suggestions are greatly appreciated. BULLETIN BOARD ( These are postings for informational purposes. Any response, correction, addition, will be posted. We reserve the right to edit or delete any opinion that is not in goodtaste or is outright derogatory ). Universal
Capital reported by Citation Financial 7/19 Kit, my company, Citation Financial Group located in Fair Oaks, CA (Sacramento) is one of the companies having a problem with Universal Capital Services. They have not returned a Lessee's advance payment nor have they paid us our commisssion on a brokered transaction. I have sent documents to the NALEB attorney, who is following up on our complaint with UCS. We have also contacted a collection attorney in Florida. If you know of others who have been wronged by these people, please have them contact me. If you want all of the details I will be happy to e-mail them to you. We need to stop companies who make a bad name for the industry. Thanks, Allen
Greenberg Bruce Zwillinger, BSB, cuts off Universal Capital Service Bruce
Zwillinger, BSB, cuts off Universal Capital Service, Springhill, Florida informs
NAELB of their action. This company not returning money to lessee from deal funding
by BSB. Many attempts to get money returned to lessee, but many broker promises
by Universal Capital Service. Universal Capital Services
Source states Universal Capital Services, Springhill, Florida, took up-front fees
on deal and has not returned to lessee. Lessee is complaining to funding source.
This is the third complaint received on this. Source is trying to find out more
and request this be posted on bulletin board. Source will allow us to state name,
if this is not resolved. Parker Leasing $25,000
SD $29,000 first and last three months did not return money Parker Leasing and
Financing, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida no web site, no district attorney complaints,
advised to pull a D&B, find out who the secured parties are and if I can identify
them, will give them the person to call at the funding source to hear the full
story about what is happening. Parker Leasing and Financing refuses to return
commitment fee and first and last.
We
had been using the Dodson Group for overnight (Airborne) until recently. They
were charging us $8.75 per overnight (their cost to Airborne is $7.61, who cares,
they deserve a profit). But, in auditing our bills for the last 2 years we kept
noticing that we were being repeatedly charged $12.00 to $18.75 for overnight
on about 1/3 to 1/2 of the over nights. Initially, Dodson claimed "overweight",
so we researched further and discovered that most of the overcharges were on checks
going out overnight to vendors and brokers - no way this could be "overweight".
For the past year we have faxed and called Dodson repeatedly to get corrected
invoices - no one would even respond! So, we put them on notice that we would
not pay any more invoices until they corrected their over billing problem - they
never did. Their response was to turn us over to a collection agency! We are convinced
they purposely overcharged us, and probably every other client! Dodson does a
lot of biz with NAELB brokers, don't these brokers need to know about Dodson's
policy of quoting one price and charging another? Universal Finance / Universal Manufacturing Avoid
this company like the plague. I believe that if it is the same one they also run
companies under the name(s) Universal Manufacturing -(Vendor) & Universal Finance
(Credit repair company). I'll look up the e-mail I received on this a while back.
I think what the story was is that Universal Capital would submit a deal to funding
source, then if declined due to personal credit, Universal Finance would repair
credit then resubmit elsewhere. The vendor would be Universal Manufacturing who
would sell $2,000 computers for $40,000 invoice (just under F/S disclosure). Then
they split excess with lessee. Though I'm not sure about the Florida part. I'll
get back with the additional info ASAP. Universal Capital Do
you know anything about Univerasl Capital Services, Inc., in Spring Hill, Florida
34606. One of the lease brokers I work with is having trouble getting paid on
a deal. He thinks the company is owned by Jim and Anita Koper. Please let me know
if you hear anything. Thanks. 6/12 Metropolitan Mortgage Metropolitan Mortgage
and Sec in Washington had a division that funded the lesser credits. Well they
have stopped and are not honoring their approvals if they don't already have signed
docs. This was told to me by a broker in Arizona who has 10 deals sitting with
them and she is now scrambling to replace them. ******1 Aggregates Outlook Predicts Expansion in 2000, But a Slowdown in 2001; Soft housing market impacts industry LIVINGSTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2000--Although a strong economy and robust construction market will continue to drive growth within the aggregates mining industry during 2000, production is expected to level off in 2001 according to CIT Equipment Financing's 5th Annual Aggregates Mining Outlook. The Outlook was published this month by CIT Equipment Financing, a leading lender to the aggregates and construction industries, and predicts that in 2000, aggregates production will expand 2.7 percent to a record 2.99 billion short tons, while in 2001 production will essentially remain the same, experiencing only a slight increase of 0.1 percent. In 1999 aggregate production broke a record for the seventh consecutive year by expanding 2.7 percent to 2.93 billion short tons. "As has always been the case, aggregates growth is closely aligned to construction growth," said Michael Paslawskyj, vice president of economic research at CIT. "Consequently, as some sectors of the construction industry begin to level off in 2001 so will expansion within the aggregates market." Construction strong, but housing softens The Outlook predicts that construction will continue to expand and in 2000 set an all-time record with total activity reaching $564 billion. Of the three industry segments residential housing expenditures will lead the way with spending rising to a record $253 billion in 2000 but then dropping to $248 billion in 2001. "With mortgage rates up sharply, the segment is beginning to exhibit some softness," says Paslawskyj. "We expect housing starts to move down to 1.635 million units in 2000 and then to 1.540 million units in 2001." Paslawskyj believes that private non-residential construction spending will rise to $186 billion in 2001 or 6.2 percent above 1999, while public works spending (i.e. highway and public building construction) will increase to a record $133 billion in 2001 or 4.6 percent above last year's level. Segment breakdown Of the two aggregate sub-segments, both are expected to perform similarly with sand and gravel production rising 2.2 percent in 2000 to a record 1.24 billion short tons, while crushed stone production will increase 1.7 percent to a record 1.75 billion short tons. Due to a slow down in residential construction both segments are expected to level off in 2001. "A cooling of the aggregates market in 2001 should not be viewed negatively," says Paslawskyj. "On the contrary, it should be viewed from a `glass is half full' perspective. In other words, although growth will begin to slow, it will still remain at record levels." According to the Outlook, aggregate prices and productivity have also increased, with sand and gravel reaching a record $4.26 a short ton in 1999 and production hitting a record 33,624 short tons per employee during the same period. Likewise, crushed stone prices came in at $5.02 a short ton in 1999 - the second highest on record - and production reached a new high of 40,156 short tons per employee during the same period. CIT Equipment Financing offers companies a wide variety of financial solutions including equipment leasing and financing, loans for commercial real estate, construction financing, franchise financing, and Small Business Administration loans. It is a unit of The CIT Group (NYSE: CIT, TSE: CIT.U). With $53 billion in managed assets, The CIT Group (www.cit.com) is one of the nation's largest commercial and consumer finance organizations. For a complete copy of the 5th Annual Aggregates Mining Outlook, please contact Ann-Margret Crater, vice president of public relations at (973) 740-5411 or ann.crater@cit.com. CONTACT: Ann-Margret Crater Vice President, Public Relations *****2 Irwin Financial Corporation Announces Second Quarter Earnings COLUMBUS, Ind., July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Irwin Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: IRWN) today announced net income for the second quarter of 2000 of $8.5 million or $0.40 per share compared with $7.6 million or $0.35 per share a year earlier, an increase of 14.3%. Year-to-date, net income has totaled $17.0 million or $0.80 per share, an increase in earnings per share of 5.3%. Return on average equity in the second quarter was 20.4% and the return on average assets was 1.8%. Total net revenues in the quarter were $73.3 million, compared with $68.9 million in the second quarter of 1999, an increase of 6.4%. The quarter was marked by strong performance at the Corporation's home equity line of business, which largely offset significantly lower production and net income at its mortgage bank. Lines of Business Net income at the Corporation's mortgage banking subsidiary ( www.irwinmortgage.com ) totaled $3.8 million, a decrease of $1.8 million or 33.0% compared with second quarter 1999 earnings of $5.6 million. The decline principally reflected decreased loan production, due to higher interest rates. Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2000 declined 22.7% from the year-earlier period. Mortgage loan originations totaled $1.1 billion, down $0.5 billion or 32.9% from a year earlier. However, this was a $0.2 billion or 25.3% increase compared with the first quarter of 2000. Refinanced loans accounted for 12.7% of originations in the second quarter, compared with 26.5% a year earlier. Loans for the purchase of new and existing homes declined $0.2 billion or 20.3%, year-over-year. The company's owned mortgage servicing portfolio totaled $10.3 billion as of June 30, 2000, a year-over-year decrease of 4.2%, reflecting the company's decision to sell selected portions of the portfolio to take advantage of increasing values as interest rates have risen. The capitalized value of the company's servicing portfolio increased to $133.0 million as of June 30, 2000, compared with $129.6 million a year earlier, a 2.6% increase, reflecting positive valuation adjustments, reflecting slower prepayment speeds. The current on- and off-balance sheet economic value of the servicing portfolio totaled $222.0 million as of June 30; $89.0 million greater than the capitalized value. The Corporation's home equity lending business (www.ihe.com) earned $3.9 million, ($6.5 million pre-tax), in the second quarter, compared with $3.3 million pre-tax a year earlier, a 95.7% pre-tax improvement. Home equity loan and line of credit originations and acquisitions totaled $211.5 million in the second quarter, an increase of $112.3 million or 113.1% compared with a year earlier. The company's owned portfolio of home equity loans and lines of credit totaled $1.1 billion at quarter-end, compared with $0.7 billion a year earlier, an increase of 54.5%. The improvement in net income was primarily the result of a $3.4 million increase in the value of existing interest-only strips from slower prepayments as well as a $5.8 million increase related to the gain on sale of loans, resulting from greater securitization volume and loan origination income. Of the company's $10.2 million total gain on sale of loans in the second quarter, $4.3 million or 41.9% came from recognition of fees and points. Total loans sold during the quarter were $224.6 million compared with $85.2 million a year earlier. Net income for the commercial banking line of business ( www.irwinunion.com ) totaled $1.6 million in the second quarter, a decrease of $0.2 million or 11.0% from a year earlier, principally reflecting increased interest expenses. The bank's loan portfolio of $873.3 million increased $286.6 million, or 48.8% year-over-year, reflecting its successful entry into metropolitan markets in the Midwest. The net interest margin for the Bank was 4.27%, compared with 4.99% a year earlier reflecting higher cost sources of funds and an allocation from the holding company of interest-bearing capital during the second quarter. Prior to this inter-company allocation which has no consolidated effect, the Bank's net margin declined 45 basis points compared with a year earlier. The Bank's net charge-offs totaled $337 thousand during the second quarter, compared with $201 thousand a year earlier. The Bank's 30-day and greater commercial loan delinquency was 0.68% as of June 30, 2000, compared with 0.61% a year earlier. The Corporation's leasing line of business, Irwin Business Finance ( www.irwinBF.com ), incurred a pre-tax loss of $0.9 million during the second quarter. The company, a recent start-up which began originating leases and loans early in the year, originated $32.4 million in leases in the quarter and had a portfolio at quarter-end of $50.8 million. The leases and loans have a weighted average yield of 10.7%. The company's 30-day and greater delinquency ratio was 1.28% as of June 30, 2000. Early in the third quarter, the company completed its acquisition of a 78% ownership position in Onset Capital Corporation, a Canadian small-ticket equipment leasing company. Irwin Ventures ( www.irwinventures.com ), the Corporation's venture capital subsidiary, lost $0.1 million in the second quarter, reflecting operating expenses. The company added a third portfolio investment in the second quarter as a minority investor in Seattle-based DocuTouch, a leading provider of digital certification infrastructure. The company's investment portfolio has a $12.4 million carrying value and a $3.6 million cost basis. Balance Sheet The Corporation's assets totaled $2.0 billion as of June 30, 2000, a $0.4 billion increase from a year earlier, principally reflecting an increase in commercial loans and leases. Loans held for sale declined 6.2%, from $579.7 million to $543.7 million, reflecting lower first mortgage originations. Nonperforming assets (including other real estate owned of $2.5 million) were $6.5 million or 0.33% of total assets as of June 30, 2000, down from $9.6 million or 0.59% of total assets a year earlier. The 2000 figure includes a change in accounting classification to reflect management's intent to sell non-performing residential mortgage loans on a flow basis, rather than managing them as part of a loan portfolio. Prior to the third quarter of 1999, all nonperforming loans held at the mortgage subsidiary were included in the nonperforming assets category. With the change, these nonperforming loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or market. The Corporation's allowance for loan losses totaled $10.1 million as of June 30, 2000, compared with $9.8 million a year earlier. The ratio of allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.07%, compared with 1.60% a year earlier reflective of the growth of the portfolio and the reclassification noted above. The ratio of allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans rose from 122% to 247%, principally reflecting the classification change. The Corporation had $172.8 million in shareholders' equity as of June 30, 2000, an increase of 13.1%. Shareholders' equity as of June 30, 2000, was $8.17 per common share, a year-over-year increase of 15.2%. The Corporation's Tier 1 Leverage Ratio and Total Risk-based Capital Ratio were 12.1% and 11.2%, respectively, compared with 12.3% and 12.7% a year earlier. Irwin Financial Corporation ( www.irwinfinancial.com ) is an interrelated group of specialized financial services companies. The Corporation, through its five subsidiaries -- Irwin Mortgage Corporation, Irwin Home Equity Corporation, Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company, Irwin Business Finance, and Irwin Ventures Inc. -- provides a broad range of consumer and commercial financial services in selected markets nationwide. This press release contains forward-looking statements and numbers that arise from calculations based on management's expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions. These statements and estimates include but are not limited to projections of business strategies and future activities, but are not guarantees of future performance and involve uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual future results may differ materially from what is projected due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in interest rates or in the economies served by the Corporation, competition from other financial service providers, unanticipated difficulties in expanding the Corporation's businesses, availability of appropriate investment opportunities, legislative or regulatory changes, or governmental changes in monetary or fiscal policies. For additional explanation of various factors that may affect our future results, refer to the section of MD&A in the Corporation's 10-K which is on file with the SEC. IRWIN FINANCIAL CORPORATION Selected Consolidated Financial Highlights
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