Marketwire - Personal Finance
Marketwire - Personal Finance

• Market Regulation Services Notice: Halt; Luxell Technologies Inc
  TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 24, 2007) - Regulatory halts have been imposed for the following issues today: /T/ Company Luxell Technologies Inc TSX Symbol LUX Reason BCSC Cease Trade Order Halt Time 8:17a.m. EST /T/
• Canadian Shoppers Expected to Spend $1.2 Billion on Boxing Day
  TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 24, 2007) - While more than five million Canadians plan to go Boxing Day shopping, bargain hunters may face fewer crowds on December 26 in comparison to previous years. Twenty-three percent of holiday shoppers anticipate making purchases on Boxing Day - 17 percent less than last year and the lowest recorded average since 2002. Conducted by Omnitel, results from the ninth annual Visa Canada gift-giving survey also reveal that Boxing Day shoppers expect to spend 29 percent less this year ($233 versus last year's national average of $328)(i).
• Les consommateurs canadiens prévoient dépenser 1,2 milliards de dollars pendant les soldes d'après Noël
  Les résultats du sondage de Visa Canada sur le don de cadeaux révèlent que 23 % des consommateurs canadiens planifient magasiner pendant les soldes d'après Noël, mais qu'un pourcentage légèrement supérieur espèrent passer du temps avec leur famille et leurs amis.
• Abode Mortgage Holdings Corp. Reports 2007 Results
  VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 21, 2007) - December 21, 2007 - Abode Mortgage Holdings Corp. (TSX VENTURE:ABD) today announced its financial results for the year ending August 31, 2007. The company recorded a loss of $4,711,176. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS - Funded loans worth $140.6 million for 155 days of operations - Net revenues, excluding gain on sale for the year were $3.6 million - Operating and set up costs were $7.9 million for the year This decrease in annual earnings primarily relates to building the infrastructure during the start up phase of the Company as well as the costs associated to obtain the organizations funding infrastructure. The bulk of these costs are concentrated in legal and commitment fees to acquire the warehouse lines, staffing infrastructure and a reorganization of senior management within the year to stream line the business. The Company commenced full operations in Western Canada starting in February 2007. Management expanded it
• 1st Century Bank Forms Bank Holding Company
  

  Common Stock Begins Trading on OTC Bulletin Board Under New Symbol FCTY

• Baymount Announces Closing of $2M Private Placement Offering
  TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 21, 2007) - NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES BAYMOUNT INCORPORATED ("Baymount" or the "Company")(TSX VENTURE:BYM) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced offering of common shares. Baymount has accepted subscriptions for an aggregate of 20,181,000 Common Shares at a price of $0.10 per share for gross proceeds of $2,018,100. The offering was completed on a non-brokered basis, with fees in the aggregate amount of $54,467 being paid to certain registered firms as compensation for their assistance with the offering. In accordance with applicable securities laws, the foregoing common shares are subject to a four-month hold period that will expire on April 22, 2008.
• Trident IV to Acquire Majority Interest in Asset Allocation & Management
  

  GREENWICH, CT--(Marketwire - December 21, 2007) - Stone Point Capital, the manager of the Trident Funds, today announced that Trident IV, L.P. has acquired a majority interest in Asset Allocation & Management (AAM), a fixed income asset management firm that specializes in providing investment management services to the insurance industry. A partnership managed by KBW Capital Partners is acquiring a minority interest in AAM alongside Trident. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

• Pinetree Capital Ltd. Acquires Common Shares of VIQ Solutions Inc.
  TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 21, 2007) - Pinetree Capital Ltd. (TSX:PNP), announces that, through a series of transactions ending on December 20, 2007, it acquired ownership of 779,500 common shares ("Common Shares") of VIQ Solutions Inc. ("VIQ") through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange representing approximately 1.1% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of VIQ as of December 20, 2007. As a result of this transaction, Pinetree holds, as at December 20, 2007, 7,279,500 common shares of VIQ, including the Common Shares or approximately 10.0% of all issued and outstanding common shares as at December 20, 2007.
• Vorstellung der neuen, mehrsprachigen Website von Service Credit Union
  

  PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE--(Marketwire - December 21, 2007) - Heute wurde die neue Website der Bank Service Credit Union vorgestellt, die sich an ihre Kunden auf der ganzen Welt richtet. Mehr als 100.000 Kunden können nun unter „servicecsu.org“ Bankgeschäfte überall auf der Welt vollständig über das Internet abwickeln. Um den Kundenservice sowohl in New England, dem Hauptsitz der Kreditgenossenschaft, in Deutschland, wo das Unternehmen über 14 Filialen in Militärbasen der US-Armee und der -Luftwaffe verfügt, sowie für Militärangehörige auf der ganzen Welt zu verbessern, entwickelte Service Credit Union eine virtuelle Niederlassung. Diese steht den Kunden in den drei wichtigsten Sprachen Englisch, Spanisch und Deutsch zur Verfügung.

• OMERS Capital Partners Acquires Give and Go(R) Prepared Foods
  TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 21, 2007) - OMERS Capital Partners ("OCP") the private equity arm of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System ("OMERS"), one of Canada's largest pension funds, has purchased Give and Go(R) Prepared Foods Corp., the North American market leader in premium indulgent thaw-and-serve sweet baked goods. The company is best known for its high quality line of Two-Bite(R) portion-controlled products. "Give and Go(R) is the market leader in the attractive in-store bakery industry. The management team has created an outstanding portfolio of premium brands and quality products supported by an unparalleled innovative product development capability," said Paul G. Renaud, President & CEO of OMERS Capital Partners. "We look forward to working with management to continue the profitable growth the company has enjoyed."
• Market Regulation Services Inc.: Halt, Fury Explorations Ltd.
  VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 21, 2007) - The following issue(s) have been halted on the TSXV today: /T/ Company: Fury Explorations Ltd. TSXV Symbol: FUR Reason: Request of company pending news Halt Time: 14:54:00 EST /T/
• New Brunswick Government Announces Enhancement of Labour-Sponsored Venture Capital Program-GrowthWorks Atlantic Ltd.
  FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwire - Dec. 21, 2007) - GrowthWorks(i) announced today it is pleased with the New Brunswick Government's recent decision to approve amendments to legislation which will make it easier for individuals to invest in GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund through RSPs. "This is a very positive step for the Fund in New Brunswick," said Tom Hayes, President & CEO of GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund. "It is encouraging to work with this government as they bring about changes that will make it easier for people in New Brunswick to invest and re-invest in the Fund. Of course this will also likely result in increased capital for New Brunswick businesses making it a win for both investors and entrepreneurs in New Brunswick."
• TrustMark Auto Group, Inc.: Change in Officers
  VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 21, 2007) - TrustMark Auto Group, Inc. (the "Company") (CNQ:AUTO) announces that John Jardine has resigned as CFO of the Company and David Nickel, CEO, President and a Director of the Company has consented and been appointed to act as CFO in his place. TrustMark is engaged in the business of providing franchise quality products and services to independent used vehicle dealers who enter into licensed dealer agreements with the Company. Further information on the Company and its business is available at www.trustmarkauto.com.
• Market Regulation Services Inc.: Halt, Sawhill