Main Street Power, Clean Power Finance and a subsidiary of New York investment bank Morgan Stanley are partnering to finance as much as $300 million worth of residential solar power leases in Arizona and California. A syndicate of banks Zions Bancorporation partner Zions Energy Link being the first are providing debt financing for for MySolar, the solar lease facility.

Leasing, as opposed to outright purchase, of a solar power system can drastically reduce the upfront cost of having a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system installed. There have been solar lease programs out there offering to do so for zero down and a series of monthly payments. As many as 1/3 of US homeowners can save money by financing a residential solar power system via a lease or Power Purchase Agreement structure, according to the partners.

Main St. Meets Wall St.

Through the MySolar program, monthly savings from the clean, renewable electricity the rooftop solar power systems produce will flow through to the homeowner. Boulder, Colorados Main St. Power will own the rooftop systems, selling the surplus power they produce on to grid providers.

“The MySolar program will be the largest residential solar investment facility in the nation and can help save consumers millions of dollars in electricity payments, create thousands of solar jobs and further the easy adoption of solar for thousands of homeowners around the country,” said Jonathan W. Postal, Main Street Power senior vice president.

Clean Power Finance finds and qualifies homeowners for the residential leases through a network of some 1,550 local solar energy professionals who make use of its online CPF Tools solar sales software platform, taking a cut of the lease payments. MySolar is the third solar lease program the San Francisco provider has launched. It now has some $500 million in project financing available for residential solar leases.

Founded in 2007, Kleiner, Caulfield amp; Byers (KPCB), Claremont Creek Ventures, Clean Pacific Ventures, Google Ventures and Sand Hill Angels have also invested in the young company. Thus far, Clean Power Finance has facilitated more than $1 million in residential solar project financing per day in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Morgan Stanley subsidiary MS Solar Solutions Corp. (MSSS) will benefit by purchasing the tax credits for which the residential solar energy systems qualify. http://www.morganstanley.com/about/newsroom.html “We are excited about the opportunity to be part of this solar investment facility,” said Martin Mobley, vice president, Morgan Stanley. “Clean Power Finance provides outstanding market access, underwriting and asset management services for solar institutional investors.”

New solar leasing intermediaries like Clean Power Finance have quickly established themselves as leading agents for growing adoption of residential solar power systems. They are solar and clean energy finance pioneers in that they are establishing a new conduit that taps into investment capital amassed by banks and other institutional investors, directing it to networks of local solar energy systems professionals and individual homeowners.

Tags: Financing

Richmont Holdings, a closely held
company that invests in consumer brands, is arranging financing
to make a bid for Avon Products Inc. (AVP), said two people familiar
with the matter.

Richmont has hired financial advisers and is well along
toward assembling a bid, said the people, who declined to be
identified because the matter isn’t public.

Avon, the world’s largest direct cosmetics seller, rejected
a $10 billion bid from Coty Inc. last month, saying the offer
was too low and the company was undertaking a turnaround. Avon
held its shareholder meeting in New York today, and new Chief
Executive Officer Sheri McCoy told attendees that stabilizing
the business is her top priority.

The appointment of Avon’s new CEO hasn’t dissuaded
Richmont, which would continue Avon’s global direct-selling
model, said one of the people.

Richmont founder and Chairman John Rochon served as CEO of
Mary Kay Inc., a door-to-door cosmetics seller that awarded its
signature pink Cadillacs to top representatives. Richmont
attempted to take over Avon in the late 1980s and early 1990s,
during Rochon’s tenure at Mary Kay, acquiring 22 percent of its
stock at the time.

Richmont’s plans now may depend in part on Coty’s next
move, said one person.

Avon didn’t respond to Coty’s April 30 deadline to consider
further talks, a Coty adviser said yesterday.

Family-owned Richmont was founded 25 years ago, according
to its website.

Fortune magazine reported that Richmont was preparing a bid
last month.

To contact the reporters on this story:
Lauren Coleman-Lochner in New York at
llochner@bloomberg.net;
Jeffrey McCracken in New York at
jmccracken3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Robin Ajello at
rajello@bloomberg.net

Tags: Financing

May 6, 2012

FINANCING FUN: Tourism bureau sets bond record; sets strategic plan for the future

Bureau says its now filing annual audit reports

By BRADEN LAMMERS

braden.lammers@newsandtribune.com
The News and Tribune

Sun May 06, 2012, 10:06 AM EDT

Tags: Financing

TORONTO, ONTARIO, May 04, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –
Valencia Ventures Inc.

/quotes/zigman/317298 CA:VVI
0.00%

(“Valencia” or the
“Company”) is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously
announced private placement of 10,000,000 common shares (the
“Shares”) at a price of $0.05 per Share for gross proceeds of
$500,000 (the “Offering”). The Shares issued pursuant to the Offering
are subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian
securities laws. The Company expects to use the proceeds for working
capital purposes.

About Valencia

Valencia is a Canadian resource company with common shares that trade
on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol VVI.

Forward – Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this press release contains
“forward-looking information” under applicable securities laws.
Except for statements of historical fact, certain information
contained herein constitutes forward-looking information, including
statements with respect to the proposed use of proceeds from the
Offering, management’s assessment of Valencia future plans and
operations, which statements are based on Valencia’s current internal
expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs, which
may prove to be incorrect. Some of the forward-looking information
may be identified by words such as “expects” “anticipates”,
“believes”, “projects”, “plans”, and similar expressions. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue
reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking
information necessarily involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, which may cause Valencia’s actual performance and
financial results in future periods to differ materially from any
projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by
such forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to: liabilities inherent in mine
development and production; geological, mining and processing
technical problems; Valencia’s inability to obtain required mine
licenses, mine permits and regulatory approvals required in
connection with mining and mineral processing operations; title
matters; foreign operations issues; local community issues;
competition for, among other things, capital, acquisitions of
reserves, undeveloped lands and skilled personnel; incorrect
assessments of the value of acquisitions; changes in commodity prices
and exchange rates; currency and interest rate fluctuations; various
events which could disrupt operations and/or the transportation of
mineral products, including labour stoppages and severe weather
conditions; the demand for and availability of rail, port and other
transportation services; and management’s ability to anticipate and
manage the foregoing factors and risks. There can be no assurance
that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual
results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Valencia undertakes no obligation to
update forward-looking information if circumstances or management’s
estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable
securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance
on forward-looking information.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United
States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under
the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933
Act”), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold
within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S.
persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent such
registration or an applicable exemption from such registration
requirements.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER
(AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE)
ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

Contacts:
Valencia Ventures Inc.
Frederic W.R. Leigh
President and CEO
fleigh@forbesmanhattan.com

SOURCE: Valencia Ventures Inc.

mailto:fleigh@forbesmanhattan.com

Copyright 2012 Marketwire, Inc., All rights reserved.

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CA:VVI

Valencia Ventures Inc.

CA

: Canada: TSX Venture

$
0.04

0.00
0.00%

Volume: 20,080
May 4, 2012 12:00a

P/E RatioN/A
Dividend YieldN/A

Market Cap$5.38 million
Rev. per EmployeeN/A

Financial Glossary

Words used in this article:

Tags: Financing

 U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper were praised for singling out the Windsor-Detroit project as a model for the future.Photograph by: Starley
, Wikimedia Commons

LEIPZIG, GERMANY – A future multi-billion dollar bridge in Canada found itself at the centre of a discussion at a transportation forum here. But it was not the replacement for the Champlain Bridge.

John Horsley, a former transport official in the Clinton administration, hailed the replacement project for the Ambassador Bridge between Detroit and Windsor as the “breakthrough that will make financing possible” for such large infrastructure deals.

It was all the more remarkable, said Horsley, now executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, because the span is a bi-national effort.

“What we learned from that is not to wait anymore for federal financing,” he told the closing panel of the fifth annual International Transportation Forum.

“You just can’t wait for tax revenues to fund major highways and bridges anymore.”

Toll financing like the one that will help pay for the future Montreal bridge over the St. Lawrence is an inescapable reality from now on, he said.

Even bonds are not enough to finance multi-billion projects in many instances, he said

Horsley praised U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper for singling out the Windsor-Detroit project as a model for the future.

“That’s very interesting in a time of economic crisis.”

But he added that it does not relieve federal governments of overall responsibility for large infrastructure projects.

They must not only fund a significant portion upfront, but also co-ordinate between and mediate with local and regional authorities, which must remain the primary definers and deciders of their region’s needs.

And in the current debate between the benefits of austerity measures versus stimulatory spending for cash-deprived governments, Horsley said that “those who want to cut spending don’t understand the difference between spending and investments.”

Catherine Ross, director of the Georgia Institute of Technology and an internationally recognized transportation expert, also noted the template of the “bridge to the future.”

“It is the busiest U.S.-Canada crossing and an important example for the future,” said Ross. “Planning must transcend national and political boundaries.”

Efficient transportation and the seamless flow of people and goods are important now, with the world’s 40 “mega-regions” like Hong Kong- Shenzhen, Nagoya-Tokyo, Sao-Paulo-Rio de Janeiro and Nigeria-Benin-Togo accounting for only 18 per cent of the world’s population but 66 per cent of economic activity.

However, their importance will surge as urban dwellers grow from half of the world’s population currently to about 70 per cent by 2050, Ross said.

In a brief interview with reporters later, Horsley called the $8 billion U.S. appropriation for high-speed rail “an embarrassment,” but still much better than the $2.5 billion earmarked before.

Alain Flausch, the Belgian secretary-general of UITP, a transport organization, said that his country’s constitutional problems in the last two years “to some extent showed a society can work without a government.”

But he added that “seriously, inter-provincial squabbles have stalled some vitally needed infrastructure projects.”

Ross put up a satellite picture of the world at night, with lights showing the planet’s population concentration. Canada was almost totally dark from just north of the U.S. border.

fshalom@montrealgazette.com

Tags: Financing

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By Klaus Brune

FRANKFURT -(MarketWatch)- U.K. tour operator Thomas Cook PLC Saturday said it secured an extension to existing credit facilities worth GBP1.4 billion, giving the debt-laden tourism company more time to work on a turnaround plan.

Thomas Cook said the new refinancing agreement extended maturities until May 31, 2015, mostly at higher interest rates, from previous expiry dates between 2013 and 2014. In addition, the group said it will retain the proceeds of planned disposals to increase liquidity.

The company has been struggling for more than a year amid continued economic uncertainty in Europe and the disruption to holiday travel caused by political upheaval in North Africa and the Middle East which has weighed on the U.K. travel company’s trading and squeezed margins.

Thomas Cook reported a wider pretax loss of GBP151.7 million in the three months to Dec. 31 compared with a loss of GBP99.3 million a year earlier despite a 3% rise in revenue to GBP1.86 billion as operating expenses climbed 10% to GBP482.1 million.

The poor results followed an 11th-hour settlement with lenders in November to provide GBP200 million emergency funding and further relax financial covenants. Some 5% of the debt was held in the form of warrants. In return, Thomas Cook agreed to a moratorium on acquisitions and a limit on capital spending.

On Saturday, Thomas Cook said it is “at an advanced stage” in the negotiations to sell and lease back between 17 and 19 aircraft as part of its effort to boost liquidity. After having received “a good level of… interest” for its Indian business, “a number of ” interested parties are now taking a closer look at the books of the Indian unit.

Thomas Cook said its plan to turn around the U.K. business, announced in February, is “underway and progressing well,” without elaborating further. It said it sees further potential to build on the solid performance of its Northern and German businesses, for instance with increasing online distribution and further cost control.

At the same time, it is looking at the “disappointing” business performance in Canada, Russia and France, saying it sees “substantial scope” to improve the results of these businesses.

Financial Glossary

Words used in this article:

Tags: Financing

SHANGHAI — Chinas banking regulator has asked banks, in principle, not to lend more money to local government financing vehicles over the next few years, according to new guidelines governing such loans, the China Business News reported Monday.

Chinas local governments are usually barred from borrowing from banks directly. Instead, they often set up companies to raise money for costly infrastructure projects. Concerns about their ability to repay their debts have been growing as slowing domestic economic growth and a cooling housing market have weakened their financial strength.

There were 10,468 local government financing vehicles at the end of the third quarter last year, with loans totaling CNY9.1 trillion ($1.44 trillion), according to the report.

About 35% of the outstanding debt of such vehicles will come due in the next three years, the report cited Shang Fulin, head of China Banking Regulatory Commission, as saying.

The new guidelines also require banks to report on the status of their loans to local government financing vehicles. They will also have to work out plans covering debts that are due by the end of the year with such vehicles and report the plans to the CBRC by the end of April, the report said.

Copyright copy; 2012 Dow Jones Newswires

Tags: Financing

Ahmed Al-Mahwiti from Hodeida was a recipient of a micro-finance business loan. His small business started from a humble YR 5,000 investment, but after a number of loans he was able to expand his business to have capital of over YR 1 million.

Al-Mahwiti, an owner of a grocery store in Hodeida, is one of those who has benefited from micro-financing. He received initial funding of YR 150,000 from the Al-Kuraimi Exchange company, to be payed back in monthly installments.

Micro-financed business projects and micro-finance institutions have recently been flourishing through loans provided by banks and exchange companies.

The Yemeni economist, Ali Al-Wafi told the Yemen Times that micro-finance for small business is an effective economic strategy, which creates job opportunities and reduces poverty and unemployment.

“It is considered a key finance stream for large, medium and small businesses to increase their production,” he said.

“Where the public and private sector are not able to provide new career opportunities, micro-finance for small business projects are part of the solution to unemployment and poverty,” Al-Wafi added.

After the first loan, Al-Mahwiti saw the improvement in his grocery business and decided to borrow another YR 200,000. This he invested in buying new products to sell in his store. The final loan was for YR 300,000, which he paid back over eight months in monthly installments. The total interest he paid on the final loan was YR 40,000, which equates to a rate of interest of under 14 percent.

Al-Mahwit’s business began as a small shop made of zinc his father started near their house with an initial outlay of YR 5,000. It was successful, and its capital grew to over YR 200,000. He decided to visit the Al-Kuraimi micro-finance company to finance the development of the store and purchase a lot of equipment. With the financing to expand, he was able to grow his store to a value of YR 1,200,000.

“I thank God that Al-Kuraimi company was able to assist us. The income and capital of the grocery store have been improving. The customers used to come to buy supplies, however, the store didn’t always have those those supplies in stock,” Al-Mahwiti said to the Yemen Times. This is what prompted him to approach the Al-Kuraimi company on an ongoing basis.

Al-Mahwiti obtained a diploma in micro-finance business projects five months ago, coming first in his class. “This study helped me a lot and I learned many practical skills through it,” he said.

The Hodeida branch of the Al-Kuraimi Exchange company has funded several small business projects in the governorate. A large number of people who otherwise had no financial support have benefited from these business projects. For many it has allowed them to establish their own projects and fulfill dreams they would not have been able to achieve without this financial backing.

The director of the Al-Kuraimi Exchange company in Hodeida, Hamdi Al-Shamiri, says that the company has funded a lot of commercial and industrial micro-finance projects such as restaurants, groceries, internet cafes, and other shops. Fixed assets are purchased for shops such as refrigerators, computers, and foodstuffs. The recipient provides a quotation for items they would like to purchase. After doing a feasibility study of the potential recipient, gaining a guarantee and making sure the recipient understands the repayment schedule, the company then purchases the items for the business, whilst making a small profit for granting the finance.

Al-Mahwiti expressed to the Yemen Times his satisfaction with the great improvement in his income that has been able to help him support his father and three brothers. He hopes that he will be able to expand his small business into a much larger business in the future. He pointed out that the interest Al-Kuraimi charged him is less than other companies that offer to finance small businesses.

“Now my income has started to improve, I’m planning to get married soon,” he said.

Apart from the much needed financing, Al-Mahwiti puts the success of his grocery store down to the special care he takes of his customers. “I do not want to lose a single client. I help customers and even provide them free home delivery.”

Tags: Financing

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J., Mar 16, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) –
Authentidate Holding Corp.

/quotes/zigman/85552/quotes/nls/adat ADAT
+2.87%

, a provider of secure web-based software applications and telehealth products and services for healthcare organizations, announced that it has completed a $4.0 million secured loan financing with certain accredited investors. The group of investors included three Authentidate board members, Mr. J. David Luce, Mr. John J. Waters, and Mr. O’Connell Benjamin, who is also the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, as well as Mr. William Marshall, Chief Financial Officer of Authentidate. In connection with the financing the company issued approximately $4.0 million of senior secured promissory notes and approximately 6 million warrants to the investors. The notes are not convertible into equity securities and no interest is due on the notes. The notes are due and payable on the earlier of the ten month anniversary of the issue date or the completion of a subsequent financing as defined in the investor agreements. The warrants are exercisable for 54 months commencing six months from the issue date at an exercise price of $0.67 per share.

Ben Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer of Authentidate, stated “We are pleased to have raised these additional funds which will be used primarily for general business and working capital purposes, including the anticipated rollout of our telehealth project with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and, if necessary, to redeem our preferred stock. We appreciate the continued support from the investors that participated in this financing and we believe that the proceeds from this financing will enable us to continue to focus on growing our business.”

For further details, see the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2012.

This release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state. The securities were offered and sold in a private placement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Such securities were offered and sold only to accredited investors and have not been registered under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws.

About Authentidate Holding Corp.

Authentidate Holding Corp. is a provider of secure web-based software applications and telehealth products and services that enable healthcare organizations to coordinate care for patients and enhance related administrative and clinical workflows. Our products and services enable healthcare organizations to increase revenues, reduce costs and enhance patient care by eliminating paper and manual work steps from clinical and administrative processes. Our ExpressMD telehealth solution combines Electronic House Call, an FDA 510(k) cleared in-home patient vital signs monitoring system, with a web application that streamlines patient monitoring. Delivered as Software as a Service (SaaS), customers only require an Internet connection and web browser to access our web-based applications thereby utilizing previous investments in systems and technology. The company’s healthcare customers and users include leading homecare companies, health systems, physician groups and governmental entities. These organizations utilize the company’s products and services to coordinate care for patients outside of acute-care.

For more information, visit the company’s website at
www.authentidate.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. When used in this release, the words “believe,” “anticipate,” “think,” “intend,” “plan,” “will be,” “expect,” and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements regarding future events and/or the future financial performance of the company are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events or the actual future results of the company to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the availability of any needed financing, the company’s ability to implement its business plan for various applications of its technologies, the impact of competition, the management of growth, and the other risks and uncertainties that may be detailed from time to time in the company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the company will be achieved.

Authentidate and Inscrybe are registered trademarks of Authentidate Holding Corp. ExpressMD is a trademark of ExpressMD Solutions, LLC. All other trade names are the property of their respective owners.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire,
www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: Authentidate Holding Corp.

CONTACT: For: Authentidate Holding Corp.
Investor Contacts:
Robert Schatz
Wolfe Axelrod Weinberger Assoc. LLC
(212) 370-4500; (212) 370-4505 fax

(C) Copyright 2010 GlobeNewswire, Inc. All rights reserved.

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ADAT

Authentidate Holding Corp.

US

: UTP NASD

$
0.68

+0.02
+2.87%

Volume: 33,203
April 13, 2012 4:00p

P/E RatioN/A
Dividend YieldN/A

Market Cap$37.96 million
Rev. per Employee$76,460

Tags: Financing

Financing a car in Canada? Car leasing and financing service for expats offered by ExpatRide. When trying to get an auto loan in Canada as a newcomer, it can be very frustrating not having a Canadian credit score (Beacon score).

Tags: Financing