Finance company rating agency closes

The demise of many finance companies in the past two years has led to the demise of a company that rates them.

Axis Ratings, a New Zealand owned credit rating agency that focused on the non-bank sector, is shutting up shop in part because business has dried up and also because it has to get accreditation itself.

To continue in this business we need confidence that, when the current upheaval in the market settles, there will be sufficient companies still funding out of the retail market to make a viable business out of credit ratings," managing director Ron Keene said.

The company was closing even though upcoming changes in Reserve Bank Amendment Act No 3 will require finance companies to be rated to gain Reserve Bank approval as registered deposit takers.

Axis Ratings itself requires accreditation as an approved rating agency to continue to rate finance companies and has been pondering how to get this.

"We saw the reality of strong support from an international rating company as essential to meet the Reserve Bank's requirements.

"In the event, Rapid Ratings International Inc, of whom we are a technology licensee, was not able to direct its attention to the New Zealand market at this time to give us the support required to satisfy the Reserve Bank's accreditation requirements," Mr Keene said.

Axis Ratings will continue to support and monitor ratings it has in the market until their expiry, but will not be undertaking any further rating assignments.

Gloom descends on US finance executives

America’s economy sunk to a four-year low amid mounting concern over high oil prices, waning consumer demand and inflation, according to a study. The findings, which are to be released on Friday, follow a spate of US economic data and corporate earnings reports in recent weeks that fuelled fears of a recession and damped hopes of an easing of the financial crisis.
Chief financial officers has also faded this year, and in the second quarter touched its lowest point since June 2004, a survey by Financial Executives International and Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business showed.
Least half of those surveyed believed that the price of crude oil would climb to at least $160 a barrel in six months, or about a third higher than where it traded Thursday.
Economists hold a bleaker outlook for the second half of this year than was the case even three months ago.”
However, the study also showed that more than two-thirds of the 200 CFOs surveyed remained optimistic about their own companies’ prospects. Some even planned to increase technology and capital spending in the next year.
The steadiness in CFOs’ outlook toward their own companies may reveal that they are adapting to the turmoil and taking appropriate actions within their organisations,” said John Elliott, dean of the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College.

Strategic Finance freezes funds

rugby union chairman Jock Hobbs is a director - are negotiating with the company's struggling Australian owner, Allco HIT, to buy the business.
The bid is being supported by an offshoot of Halifax Bank of Scotland.

The consortium claimed the buyout would secure Strategic's long-term future and reduce its reliance on retail investors to fund its lending on property developments.

It had been expected the sale would be concluded about the middle of next month. But Strategic told the Stock Exchange yesterday there had been "a further material decline in the property finance market and reinvestment rates" by investors.

Earlier this year Strategic had about 20,000 investors.

Negotiations with Allco HIT were continuing, but the proposed capital structure for the company as part of the ownership change would have to be considered by investors, the company said.

Suspending repayments would protect the position of investors while the purchase negotiations were completed, it said.

Credit rating agency Axis revealed yesterday that Strategic had asked for its rating to be withdrawn earlier this week.

Bank of the Carolinas Corporation Reports Second Quarter Financial Results

Aug 01, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ ----Bank of the Carolinas Corporation (Nasdaq: BCAR), today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2008.

For the three-month period ended June 30, 2008, the Corporation incurred a net loss of $259,000, as compared to net income of $592,000 in the second quarter of 2007. Diluted income (loss) per share was ($.07) for the second quarter of 2008 compared to income of $.15 for the comparable quarter of 2007. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2008, the Bank reported a net loss of $264,000 compared to net income of $1,372,000 for the same six-month period of 2007. Diluted income (loss) per share amounted to ($.07) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2008 compared to income of $.35 per diluted share for the same period of 2007.

In discussing the Company's results, Robert Marziano, President and CEO, stated, "We are very disappointed with our results, not only for the second quarter, but year-to-date in 2008. This is a trying economic environment, and our results reflect that. Along with many of our peers, Bank of the Carolinas has experienced increased levels of non-performing assets over the last year. However, based on our best determination of current market values, our bank has written down these assets to realizable amounts, reserved for potential losses and we remain well-capitalized. While excessive land development and construction credits have proven troublesome to the industry, these loans at Bank of the Carolinas remain relatively stable at a modest 14.6% of our portfolio."

Addressing liquidity and expense control, Marziano continued, "As evidenced by a $19.7 million increase in our savings balances at June 30, 2008 compared to June 30, 2007, a key focal point for our bank is to increase core funding so that we are less dependent on volatile liabilities and, therefore, less sensitive to interest rate swings. Additionally, we have reduced and will continue to reduce costs where doing so does not adversely impact our ability to serve our loyal customers. We regard our customers as our greatest asset."

The Company's non-performing assets were $14.4 million at June 30, 2008, or 3.6% of outstanding loans. While the reported amount is at a historically high level, it is inflated by the inclusion of one credit relationship of approximately $4.9 million for which 75% of any loss incurred by the Bank is guaranteed by the US Department of Agriculture. Presently the Bank expects no significant loss with regard to that particular credit. Excluding this credit, non-performing assets would amount to $9.5 million, or 2.3% of outstanding loans.

Principal factors leading to the decrease in net income for the three and six-month periods ended in 2008, relative to 2007, were a decline in the Company's net interest income, an increase in the provision for loan losses and increased non-interest expense. For the six-month period ended in 2008, the net interest margin declined to 2.75% from 3.35% in 2007. For the six- month period ended June 30, 2008, approximately $197,000 or 15.0% of the decline in our net interest margin was attributable to the loss of income associated with non-accrual loans. The increase in the provision for loan losses of $621,000 for the six-months ended June 30, 2008 relative to 2007 was related to additions to specific reserves for impaired loans the Company identified. While non-interest expense overall was stable from the first to second quarters of 2008, for the comparable six-month periods, 2008 non- interest expense increased approximately $1.1 million over 2007 levels. Salaries and benefits increased $761,000, occupancy expense increased $141,000 and other non-interest expense increased $204,000 for the current year period. The increased salary and benefit and occupancy expense levels are comprised of normal salary adjustments plus increased staffing and occupancy costs associated with two banking offices opened in mid-2007. The Company experienced growth in non-interest income of 9.7% and 7.7%, respectively, for the three and six month periods in 2008 versus 2007.

Total assets at June 30, 2008 amounted to $511.9 million, an increase of 12.1% when compared to the June 30, 2007 amount of $456.9 million. Net loans increased 14.1% over the prior year to $402.2 million, while deposits grew to $414.3 million, a 7.1% increase. The allowance for loan losses was 1.12% of total loans as of June 30, 2008, and the ratio of annualized net charge-offs to average loans was 0.40%.

Bank of the Carolinas Corporation is the holding company for Bank of the Carolinas, a state chartered bank headquartered in Mocksville, NC with offices in Advance, Asheboro, Cleveland, Concord, Harrisburg, King, Landis, Lexington and Winston-Salem. Common stock of the Company is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol BCAR.

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by federal securities laws. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections. Bank of the Carolinas Corporation undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this press release.