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September 19, 2001 Headlines---- BalboaCapitalBitesme.Com---View for Yourself Microfinancial Reports Dividend-- http://www.geocities.com/leasescamm/ eLessors Networking Association Opens Registration Streamline Sales Tax Conference Up-Date Certified Financial Institute Oct 4-6 and Exam, Auburn, WA Dun & Bradstreet Up-Date #### denotes press release ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virus New < Code Red Virus> is not destructive except that it is clogging up the internet as it sent back and forth to web sites via java. Microsoft has a patch for it, go to www.microsoft.com/downloads. All the popular anti-virus programs have a patch or it is their new pattern to download.
When downloaded it may also bring down web servers and thus e-mail. Several leasing companies have been affected, such as FirstCorp, Portland, among many others who are having difficulty. <PE_NIMDA.A> Risk rating: Virus type: File Infector Destructive: No Aliases: <NIMDA.A, W32/Nimda.A@mm, CV-5, Minda, Concept Virus, Code Rainbow>
Description: This worm uses three modes for propagation. It spreads via email, network shares, or through servers with IIS installed using the IIS Web Directory Traversal exploit. When spreading through mail, it typically arrives with the attachment readme.exe. It drops the file mepXXXX.tmp.exe in the C:\Windows\Temp directory, which is an eml format mail. This temp file contains the file attachment sent by the worm _________________________________________________________________ San Francisco Meeting Cancellation Notice Equipment Leasing Association September 20, 2001 Meeting Cancelled at The Westin San Francisco Airport San Francisco, CA for details, go to: www.elaonline.com ____________________________________________________________________ The following company has many complaints, as per: http://www.geocities.com/leasescamm/ _________________________________________________ ### ########################## # ################## MicroFinancial Inc. --MFI-- Announces Quarterly Dividend
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 19, 2001--The Board of Directors of MicroFinancial Inc. (NYSE: MFI) voted to pay a dividend of $0.05 per common share, payable on or before October 15, 2001 to holders of record of MFI common stock as of September 28, 2001. This dividend is the same as the previous quarters, and has increased from 045 the same quarter last year. "This is the twenty-sixth consecutive quarterly dividend since we started paying them in July of 1995," says Richard Latour, Executive Vice President, COO and CFO. "We are proud of our long track record of earnings and dividends. During our more than 15 years of operations we have seen good economic times, adverse economic environments, tight capital markets and periods of very high liquidity in the economy. MFI has prospered in all of these," adds Mr. Latour. MicroFinancial Inc. (NYSE: MFI), headquartered in Waltham, MA, and with additional locations in Woburn, MA, Newark, CA and Herndon, VA., is a financial intermediary specializing in leasing and financing for products in the $500 to $10,000 range. The company has been in operation since 1986 and has been profitable each year since 1987. Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In addition, words such as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "views, " and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect the management's view only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure that it will be able to anticipate or respond timely to changes which could adversely affect its operating results in one or more fiscal quarters. Results of operations in any past period should not be considered indicative of results to be expected in future periods. Fluctuations in operating results may result in fluctuations in the price of the Company's common stock. For a more complete description of the prominent risks and uncertainties inherent in the Company's business, see the risks factors described in documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACT: MicroFinancial Inc. Richard F. Latour EVP and COO, CFO 781-890-0177 Richard.Latour@Leasecomm.com ##### ######################################### BalboaCapital Bites Me.com http://www.leasingnews.org/images/Jerry/Welcome.htm ( you may copy and paste on your browser to see a reproduction of the site that the Balboa Capital attorney made Jerry Gonzalez take off the internet ). This story is more about the right of a customer/consumer to air his views and seek information from others. There certainly is a dispute here, and perhaps it is a civil matter that the plaintiff does not have the money to pursue. Our story basically centers around his right to air his opinion, done in the manner of asking a question. The person who has been a spokesman for Balboa Capital, who did not want to be named, only reaction to the story was to asked to be unsubscribed. At his request, we have done so. We also will keep confidential his comments and who he is, at his specific request. We have requested a comment from Balboa Capital. Readers were not surprised at the story on BalboaCapitalbitesme.com: “I worked for them and saw many unprofessional and questionable illegal activities, in my opinion. I ask you, is it ironic that the President of Balboa drove, at one time, a Porsche with a license plate that read "FMV". Because they continually would "lose" the $1 buyout addendum and then the lease was an automatic FMV. I literally heard senior rep.'s brag about files that they had pulled the addendum from. Their practices need to end. “
Name With Held In response to your posting of the article - BALBOABITESME.com from Jerry Gonzalez - I offer the following opinion for your readers: As a former employee (Salesman) of Balboa Capital, who worked closely with principals Byrne and Giffin, I can offer my opinion based on my personal experience. My experience is that these "strong arm" tactics of Balboa's are designed, implemented, encouraged and acknowledged from the top down I could write an "anti-thesis" on leasing ethics.... Needless to say, such tactics by Balboa with regards to both the Lessee's agreement and his website are not a surprise. I consider them to be common practice. This bait and switch $1.00 / FMV / 12-month extension practice is only 1 snowflake in a BLIZZARD of unethical tactics and treatment of customers and employees. Perhaps Mr. Jerry Gonzalez erred by placing the Balboa trademark on his sight, but I see no violation with out it. My experience has been that you are able to judge a company by speaking with those who have left. Talk to any ex-Balboa employee, there are too many to count, and you will get the same response regarding the bully repertoire. The majority of salesmen that leave Balboa receive "strong" messages in the form of letters, or other, from their attorneys, in what can be construed as a non-compete scare tactic to stay out of the leasing industry or subject yourself to a costly lawsuit. Most are too scared to challenge. To avoid the wasted resources of having to defend myself with a lawyer after receiving a "stock" legal letter from their attorney or notification that Balboa is suing me I ask that you post this anonymously. Thank you. note: A suggestion to Mr. Jerry Gonzalez would be to incur the cost and time involved in purchasing UCC filings (many resellers of this info)with Balboa as the secured party and contact them to conduct a "survey" of satisfaction. Also, check archives of LA Times and Wall Street Journal. - class of '96 “I have heard this Balboa Capital story many times over...All Amplicon disciples. I doubt Balboa will respond to your request. Eric S. is no longer there (Genesis Capital) and there must be 100's of law suits with the same story, but different names. The 180 day clause was HUGE when selling against them a few years back and I have many (maybe 20) people in my database that have had the same 'luck' as Mr. Gonzalez. Some customers that I have now are only customers of mine because I alerted them to the 180 day clause before their 180th day. They were able to write a letter telling Balboa that they'd give them a $BUCK$ and therefore, guarded against a 12 month renewal. From what I know now, the 180 day clause has been removed from Balboa's lease. The sooner companies like Balboa stop using similar tactics, the sooner that the leasing industry will be recognized as a respectable industry. Keep up the good work!” Name Withheld Please Leasing News has several others, with much stronger suggestions and observations, which we do not want to print. I have shared some of them with a person high up at Balboa Capital and they are quite personal and specific. We definitely would like to present both sides to this story, and have solicited an official response as we do agree that all we have heard is one side so far. We definitely want to print the other side, and have requested it for several days. All leasing companies get complaints as all business do, too. Perhaps Balboa is not the “same” company it was a few years ago, or maybe it is. Change does happen and it bothers me to have a one-sided story. editor. _______________________________________________________________ eLessors Networking Association Opens Registration for New Association The eLessors Networking Association (eLNA) has opened new member registration from its Web site at http://www.elessors.com. Early registration discounts will be provided thru October 31, 2001. Traditional industry associations have been slow to embrace the evolving "eLeasing" markets, maintaining a division between the technology sectors and financial service sectors. By combining these two business sectors, the diversity of eLNA's base will provide members with enhanced representation and networking opportunities. eLNA's goal is to create a national community of technology and equipment leasing professionals, more representative of the new "eLeasing" industry! eLNA's executive and corporate memberships will include both industry leaders and smaller pre-IPO companies in a variety of business segments, ranging from hardware and software providers, web designers, consultants, ISP's, telcos, banks, financial services and legal firms. For additional information, please visit http://www.elessors.com. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## ##################### ################### Tyco International Ltd. Reiterates Earnings Guidance for Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002
PEMBROKE, Bermuda, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Tyco and its employees express their deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those injured and killed during the attacks last week. Tyco International Ltd (NYSE: TYC, BSX: TYC, LSE: TYI) is today reiterating the earnings guidance that was disseminated during last week's analyst meeting. Tyco is comfortable with earnings per share estimates of $2.77-$2.78 for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, and $3.45 for fiscal 2002. These estimates are based on existing accounting rules. Upon adoption of Staff Accounting Bulletin #101, related to revenue recognition, and Financial Accounting Standards Board #142, related to goodwill amortization, the Company indicated that its estimate for fiscal 2002 will be $3.70. Comparably stated using the new accounting rules, the Company is comfortable with earnings estimates of $0.72-0.73 per share for the first fiscal quarter of 2002. Tyco had previously outlined an earnings range of $3.20 to $3.65 per share (with $3.45 being the most likely) for fiscal 2002 depending upon the strength of the end markets for the Electronics industry. Under the new accounting rules, this range becomes $3.45 to $3.95 per share (with $3.70 being the most likely). ABOUT TYCO INTERNATIONAL LTD. Tyco International Ltd. (NYSE: TYC, LSE: TYI, BSE: TYC) is a diversified manufacturing and service company. Tyco is the world's largest manufacturer and servicer of electrical and electronic components; the world's largest designer, manufacturer, installer and servicer of undersea telecommunications systems; the world's largest manufacturer, installer and provider of fire protection systems and electronic security services and the world's largest manufacturer of specialty valves. Tyco also holds strong leadership positions in medical device products, financing and leasing capital, plastics and adhesives. Tyco operates in more than 100 countries and had fiscal 2000 sales of $28.9 billion. #### ############################ ######################### Updated Notice to our Valued D&B Customers After the tragic events of September 11, many of you expressed concern for our D&B New York City associates. All of the D&B associates who worked at the World Trade Center are safe. Sadly many others were not as fortunate. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all of you who suffered the loss of a loved one. To assist in the recovery efforts and to help businesses resume operations, we are continuing to monitor the newswire, press releases and web sites in order to update our database and provide you with the latest information. Last week, D&B made special on-site inspection visits to assess the operational status of businesses in the affected area. At the World Trade Center (zip code 10048), we have determined that 1,292 businesses were impacted by the attack. The following numbers of businesses located in zip codes below 14th Street in New York City have been determined to be free to resume commercial activity as of September 17. Zip Codes Number of Businesses Free to Resume Business Activity 10002 3,978 10004 2,255 10005 2,286 10007 1,672 (North of Reade St, East of Broadway and North of Battery Place) 10012 5,917 10013 8,805 10014 4,711 10038 4,302 10041 65 We are preparing a special page on dnb.com to provide you with information on the changes we've made to our database. This special page will be updated on a regular basis. Please visit http://www.dnb.com where you can learn more about the facts we are gathering to update our database with the latest information and special events for the impacted New York City businesses. For those of you who may want to contact D&B directly to provide updates about your business, alternative contact details or information about other affected businesses, we have established the following email address: mailto:newinformation@dnb.com Lastly, the associates of D&B want you to know that we value the partnership we have with you and the business community. We also want to reaffirm our commitment to assisting you and your business, particularly during this difficult time. Please feel free to contact us (1.800.234.3867) and let us know where we can help. This message has been sent by Dun & Bradstreet If you would prefer not to receive further messages from this sender, please click on the following link and confirm your request: Mailto:K-8-732167-2994140-2-2077-US2-0B8DF739@xmr3.com You will receive one additional e-mail message confirming your removal. _______________________________________________________________ Certified Financial Institute Oct 4-6 and Exam, Auburn, WA We are right on target for fundings and our application volume is up slightly. While I know we are all experiencing slowdown and set backs due to the terrorist activities from last week and the changes in our economy, I feel that the backbone of America is made up of small businesses and the need for you and your services will be stronger. There are going to be lots of challenges ahead. My modus operandi is to not lessen, but increase. Increase my daily contacts. Increase my level of service to my brokers and their staff. Increase my knowledge base, so I can better plan for the future. If you haven't signed up for the CLP Institute, Oct 4,5,6 & CLP exam on Oct 7, held at Financial Pacific, and you plan to attend, please register on-line at uael.org. Please also let me know, so I can inform the facilitator. He will send you the book and materials you will need for the class. |