CINCINNATI, May 14, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — In response to the FDA’s approval of Prevacid OTC(R) 24HR, The Procter & Gamble Company issued the following statement:

“Prilosec OTC(R) is the #1 doctor and pharmacist recommended over-the-counter heartburn remedy in the U.S.,” said Tim Brown – General Manager, P&G Personal Health Care North America. “Procter & Gamble built the OTC PPI market and since 2003, millions of consumers have made Prilosec OTC their frequent heartburn remedy of choice. We don’t expect that to change given our strong record of providing all day and all night heartburn relief with just one pill a day.”

Procter & Gamble (P&G) is a leader in gastrointestinal health and is committed to meeting the needs of its consumers with innovative digestive wellness treatments, including top-selling brands such as ALIGN(R), ASACOL(R), METAMUCIL(R), PRILOSEC OTC(R) and PEPTO-BISMOL(R).

About PRILOSEC OTC

PRILOSEC OTC is the #1 Doctor recommended acid reducer+ and Pharmacist recommended OTC Heartburn medicine++, the first of a class of OTC heartburn medicines that treats frequent heartburn with just one pill a day, unlike most over the counter heartburn medication. Prilosec OTC is the only OTC leading heartburn medicine that can work for 24 hours with one pill a day by directly shutting down many acid pumps in your stomach when used as directed for 14 days for the treating of frequent heartburn. PRILOSEC OTC is the #1 selling OTC heartburn medicine* on the market. For more information about PRILOSEC OTC, visit www.prilosecotc.com. PRILOSEC OTC is available over-the-counter through an alliance between P&G and AstraZeneca.

About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. P&G has one of the strongest portfolios of quality, leadership brands in consumer health and wellness, including Actonel(R), Align(R), Always(R), Asacol(R), Crest(R), Enablex(R), Metamucil(R), Oral-B(R), Pepto-Bismol(R), Prilosec OTC(R), Scope(R), Tampax(R), and Vicks(R), in addition to its trusted consumer brands, including Ariel(R), Braun(R), Bounty(R), Charmin(R), Dawn(R), Downy(R), Duracell(R), Folgers(R), Gillette(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Iams(R), Lenor(R), Mach3(R), Olay(R), Pantene(R), Pampers(R), Pringles(R), Tide(R), Wella(R), and Whisper(R). The P&G community consists of over 135,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

Contact:
P&G Health Care External Relations
Carlos Taveras
513-622-4645
Taveras.cm@pg.com

MS&L Worldwide
Robyn Finker
212-468-3879
Robyn.Finker@mslworldwide.com

++ Pharmacy Times, OTC Supplement, June 2007

* Wolters Kluwer Health, Wolters Kluwer Health Physician Recommendation Audit (April 2004-June 2007, Acid Reducer Category). Data on file.

SOURCE Procter & Gamble

More information on Procter & Gamble

Free, Downloadable FIBER-pe-dia Helps Them Raise the Grade

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., May 27, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ — The importance of fiber to overall health is well documented, yet more than nine out of 10 American adults and children do not get enough fiber(1). Why? According to a recent Kellogg Company survey, the answer may be two-fold. Consumers don’t know where to find fiber, and mistakenly believe products that tout “whole grain” provide it.

“The consumer confusion around fiber and whole grains is staggering,” says Nelson Almeida, vice president, global nutrition for Kellogg Company. “Survey results highlight the fact that even people who are trying to improve their diets may be failing to do so because of this confusion.”

FIBER-pe-dia Helps Raise the Grade

“Fiber brings big benefits. Yet only five percent of Americans get enough of it,” said nationally recognized dietitian Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN. “Confusion about how to find foods with fiber likely contributes to America’s fiber deficit.”

To help consumers better understand fiber and choose foods that offer its important health benefits, Kellogg Company has teamed up with Bonci to offer FIBER-pe-dia: A comprehensive look at fiber. This online report provides consumers with knowledge they need to incorporate good sources of fiber into their diets. FIBER-pe-dia also clearly explains how fiber can be beneficial to a healthy weight, digestive health and heart health, as well as the important role fiber plays in helping to keep children’s digestive systems healthy so they can absorb nutrients. It is available online, along with other helpful tools, at www.kelloggsnutrition.com or www.fiber-pedia.com.

Flip for Fiber

According to the Kellogg survey, nearly 70 percent of American adults are making an effort to increase the amount of fiber in their diet by eating more “whole grains.” Of those surveyed who see the words “whole grain” on a food package, 75 percent assume the product is either a good or excellent source of fiber. But as it turns out, this isn’t always the case. The fiber content of whole-grain foods can vary greatly. Not all foods made with whole-grain ingredients are good (at least three grams) or excellent (at least five grams) sources of fiber. And some fiber-rich foods do not contain whole-grain ingredients at all.

“Along with Kellogg Company’s FIBER-pe-dia, flipping to the Nutrition Facts Panel can help people understand how to find foods that provide fiber, which is the first step in bridging America’s fiber gap,” said Bonci.

Survey results also show that consumers expect foods “made with whole grains” to provide digestive-health benefits (63 percent) and help reduce cholesterol (47 percent). In reality, the powerhouse nutrient in whole grain that is consistently linked to these and other health benefits is fiber(2). With this information, it’s easy to see why consumers are confused about which foods to eat to increase their fiber intake.

“Kellogg is taking a leadership role in helping consumers understand how to get more fiber in their diets. Cereal is a great way to do so, and Kellogg has more ready-to-eat cereals that are at least a good source of fiber than any other food company(3), including All-Bran, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran and Frosted Mini-Wheats,” said Almeida.

Kellogg was founded more than a century ago with a philosophy that encouraged people to improve their health. The company introduced its first fiber cereals, Kellogg’s Bran Flakes and All-Bran, in 1915 and 1916 respectively, and Kellogg’s Raisin Bran in 1942.

With 2008 sales of nearly $13 billion, Kellogg Company is the world’s leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit-flavored snacks, frozen waffles and veggie foods. The Company’s brands include Kellogg’s(R), Keebler(R), Pop-Tarts(R), Eggo(R),

Cheez-It(R), All-Bran(R), Mini-Wheats(R) Nutri-Grain(R), Rice Krispies(R), Special K(R), Chips Deluxe(R), Famous Amos(R), Sandies(R), Bear Naked(R), Kashi(R), MorningStar Farms(R), Gardenburger(R) and Stretch Island(R). Kellogg products are manufactured in 19 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit www.kelloggcompany.com. Kellogg Company’s Corporate Responsibility report including its approach, progress and future direction in the marketplace, workplace, environment and community can be found at http://www.kelloggcompany.com/CR. For information on Kellogg Company’s commitment to nutrition, visit www.kelloggsnutrition.com.

(1) Mosfegh, Alanna; Goldman, Joseph; and Cleveland, Linda. 2005. What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-2002: Usual Nutrient Intake From Foods as Compared to Dietary Reference Intakes. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.

(2) LSRO Report: Whole Grain Intake and Cardiovascular Disease and Whole Grain Intake and Diabetes: A Review, November 2008. http://www.lsro.org/articles/WholeGrainIntake.html

(3) Based upon 80.7% share of cereal category according to IRI, 52 weeks ending 2/22/09.

SOURCE Kellogg Company

http://www.fiber-pedia.com

More information on Kellogg’s

As online whitepages directories become obsolete, consumers require the next generation of people search technologies to find and connect with people.

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 19 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Intelius Inc., a leading information commerce company, announced that it will fully integrate recently acquired Spock, a top people search engine with advanced technology that simplifies and categorizes search results, into the Intelius network. Together with Intelius’ proprietary semantic technology, the company will link billions of online and offline records from public databases, professional databases, social networking profiles and other sources to instantly categorize and connect people by creating comprehensive profiles of individuals.

The acquisition extends Intelius’ leadership position in the people search space and advances its efforts to introduce the next generation of people search services for consumers and businesses. According to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), more than one in five American homes only has wireless telephones. This number increases over 40% for people in their 20’s and is further accentuated as these individuals do not have any listings in white pages. As trends continue to see the reduction of landline phones combined with the increasing number of people moving in the US, online whitepages directories are outdated, obsolete and unable to answer the basic questions around people search for consumers.

“Consumers have struggled to find an accurate and comprehensive people search solution that can respond to the needs of locating and connecting people in our evolving society,” said Naveen Jain, Co-Founder and CEO of Intelius. “The combination of Intelius and Spock technology will provide the first end-to-end integrated solution that gives consumers access to the largest people search network online.”

“Combining Intelius’ sophisticated information commerce capabilities with Spock’s people search technology makes a lot of sense in today’s digital environment where people demand rich, accurate and authentic information at their fingertips,” said Ken Elefant, founding partner at Opus Capital and Spock investor. “The integration of Spock adds another dimension to Intelius’ people search capabilities, creating the most robust information destination for information on people and we’re very excited about the prospects.”

People Search has become one of largest uses of the internet today. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 53% of adult internet users have searched for information about people. Reasons for searching range from casual curiosity and reconnecting with people from the past to professional networking and researching romantic interests.

Together, Intelius and Spock average nearly 40 million unique visitors per month and will bring consumers access to information synthesized from more than an estimated 250 billion data points. This combination will allow people to search and locate almost anyone within the context that they know them, creating the most advanced and comprehensive people search engine on the Internet.

ABOUT INTELIUS Intelius is a leading information commerce company providing businesses and consumers with information to empower the decision-making process for peace of mind and security. To date, Intelius has gained more than eight million unique customers who use Intelius’ information to reconnect and protect their loved ones, businesses and assets. Intelius’ services include background checks, people search services, comprehensive employment screening services and an award-winning identity theft prevention product, IDWatch. Intelius is one of the top 100 most trafficked sites on the Internet, according to comScore/Media Metrix. For more about Intelius screening products and services, visit http://hr.intelius.com. For more about Intelius’ business, news and policies, visit www.intelius.com/corp.

ABOUT SPOCK

Founded in 2006 by Jay Bhatti and Jaideep Singh, Spock is a people search engine that organizes information around people to enable discovery and learning. With the vision of indexing everyone in the world, Spock is adding millions of people to its index everyday through its search engine technology and through community contribution. Spock’s offices are located in Silicon Valley.

SOURCE Intelius

Additional Information on Intelius and Spock

MIDDLETON, Wis., Apr 30, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — On Friday, May 1, 2009, thousands of girls across the country will stand up and speak out against bullying as part of American Girl’s national Stop the Bullying Day. Inspired by American Girl’s 2009 Girl of the Year Chrissa, Stop the Bullying Day will celebrate kindness and friendship, while giving girls the skills to deal with bullying and bossiness in a positive way. Stop the Bullying Day events will take place nationwide at American Girl retail locations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York. Select schools and community groups are also joining in the effort, including Kappa Delta, a national sorority with over 200,000 members, that will host over 60 events with local Girl Scout troops throughout the U.S.

Stop the Bullying Day events will include a 30-minute program based on American Girl’s advice book, Stand Up for Yourself & Your Friends written by clinical social worker Patti Criswell. The facilitated program will take participants through engaging lessons and activities to help them identify and stand up to bullying. After the program, attendees will sign American Girl’s anti-bullying pledge–promising to stand strong, speak out, and be a good friend–as well as participate in fun craft activities and receive free souvenirs that serve as powerful reminders to put an end to bullying.

B-roll footage of this event is available for downlink at the following times and coordinates: Thursday, April 30 at 3-3:30p.m. EDT and Friday, May 1 at 7-7:30a.m. and 11-11:30p.m. EDT.

Gal 3C/21C

36 mhz (analog)

4120 Horz

Help line: 612.330.2771

About American Girl

American Girl Brands, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT)(www.mattel.com). Since 1986, the company has devoted its entire business to celebrating girls ages 3 to 12. American Girl encourages girls to dream, to grow, to aspire, to create, and to imagine through a wide range of insightful books, age-appropriate and educational products, and unforgettable experiences. To learn more about American Girl or to request a free catalogue, call 1-800-845-0005 or visit www.americangirl.com.

MAT-AG

SOURCE: American Girl Brands, LLC

American Girl
Stephanie Spanos
608.836.4848, ext. 4496

Mattel in the news:

Unique microthin cuff designed to reduce micro-aspiration, a known cause of VAP

(Roswell, Ga. – May 20, 2009) – Kimberly-Clark Health Care announced the presentation of data related to the Kimberly-Clark Microcuff Adult Endotracheal (ET) Tube at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) meeting in San Diego this week. The study, conducted at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, demonstrated a 43 percent reduction in the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) when using the Microcuff ET Tube.

“Micro-aspiration is a known cause of VAP, and we believe the use of a thin-cuffed ET tube, such as Microcuff, can significantly reduce this risk,” said lead investigator Dr. Robert Hyzy, associate professor of internal medicine and director of the Critical Care Medicine Unit at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Mich. “VAP is a complex issue, and our study was designed to be very comprehensive. We implemented Microcuff house-wide to ensure virtually every intubated patient in our ICUs received the tube for a 12-month period and then compared VAP rates to those of the prior 12 months.”

The results found that with the use of the Microcuff ET Tube, the incidence of VAP was reduced 43 percent to 2.8 episodes per 1000 vent days versus 5.3 episodes per 1000 days with a standard ET tube.

“The results of this study are an important advance in the prevention of VAP,” said Lynne Kelley, M.D., vice president and senior medical director for Kimberly-Clark. “Kimberly-Clark is committed to the fight against health-care-associated infections and believes technologies, such as Microcuff, can help save patients’ lives and reduce costs to our health care system, which is increasingly important during this economically challenging time.”

The Microcuff ET Tube has a unique microthin polyurethane cuff designed to minimize the leakage of potentially infectious secretions into the lungs, which can cause serious complications such as VAP. The microthin cuff has the added clinical benefit of effectively sealing the trachea at lower cuff pressures, thereby reducing the risk of tracheal trauma.

Ventilator-associated Pneumonia
Ventilator-associated pneumonia is one of the top three infection concerns of clinicians today; it may account for up to 60 percent of all deaths from health-care-associated infections (HAIs) in the United States. Approximately 8 to 28 percent of critical care patients develop VAP, which has a mortality rate of 20 to 33 percent and is estimated to generate an increased cost of $20,000 to $40,000 per incident. A leading cause of VAP is micro-aspiration of potentially infectious secretions through gaps in the endotracheal tube cuff. The cuff seal is the final barrier that protects the lungs from aspiration of potentially infectious oropharyngeal secretions.

To learn more about the Kimberly-Clark Microcuff Endotracheal tubes, visit www.kchealthcare.com/microcuff.

Kimberly-Clark in the Health Care Environment
Around the world, medical professionals turn to Kimberly-Clark for a wide portfolio of solutions that improve the health, hygiene and well-being of their patients and staff. As part of their healing mission, caregivers rely on Kimberly-Clark to deliver clinical solutions and educational resources that they can depend on to prevent, diagnose and manage a wide variety of health-care-associated infections. This more than $1 billion global enterprise of Kimberly-Clark Corporation holds the No. 1 or No. 2 market share position in several categories, including infection control solutions, surgical solutions, pain management and digestive health. And throughout the care continuum, patients and staff alike trust Kimberly-Clark medical supplies and devices, KLEENEX tissues, Kimberly-Clark professional skin care products and SCOTT towels for day-to-day needs. For more information, visit http://www.kchealthcare.com.

Kimberly Clark in the News:

OKLAHOMA CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Several Love’s employees have chosen to support Feed The Children as part of a company-wide initiative entitled “Making a Difference from the Heart,” which provided $450 to each corporate employee to donate to a non-profit organization in the greater Oklahoma City area. Corporate employees were able to donate to their gifts to the non-profit organization of their choice. The donation of $2,700 has been earmarked to be used in future backpack deliveries in Oklahoma as part of Feed The Children’s educational program.

“I believe that Feed the Children is an organization that has always strived to make this world a better place,” said Kyle Sloan, rebate program coordinator at Love’s. “I appreciate that the organization is driven by a Christian leader that started out with a mission to feed the hungry, and has never faltered from that mission. I am thankful to have an organization to donate to that is always seeking to provide items that are tangible and non-tangible to those in need all around the world.’”

“I decided on Feed The Children because I wanted an organization that I knew for sure was honest and that helped children,” said Donna Curlee, payroll representative with Love’s. “I have two wonderful children of my own and it has always hit a sad part in my heart when I think about the children that are out there that haven’t got food to eat, plus the other things children need. I thank God that he has allowed me to have the ability to give them what they need and want to give back to the ones who get the opportunity to go out and help precious, innocent children.”

“We are so grateful for Love’s and the employees who chose Feed The Children to designate their funds to,” said Larry Jones, founder and president of Feed The Children. “Their donation will be used for Feed The Children’s education program in Oklahoma. Feed The Children is committed to nourishing the minds and bodies of children in need and this program distributes books and supplies.”

About Feed The Children

Founded in 1979 by Larry and Frances Jones, Feed The Children is consistently ranked as one of the 10 largest international charities in the U.S., based on private, non-government support. Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disasters. In FY 2007, Feed The Children distributed more than 135 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families in all 50 states and internationally, supplementing almost 800,000 meals each day. For more information, please visit

www.feedthechildren.org
www.larryjones.tv
www.givingisgood.org
www.feedthechildren.org/abandonedbabies

Contacts:
Feed The Children
Tony Sellars, 405-945-4077
Cell: 405-313-9890
Director of Communications
tony.sellars@feedthechildren.org

Love’s Travelstops and Country Stores and Feed the Children in the news:

Four-Part Program Helps Girl Scouts Build Skills

WASHINGTON, DC, May 4, 2009 – There was laughter and leadership, but most importantly there was learning for D.C. area Girl Scouts during the first-ever GEICO DASHBoard patch event held recently at GEICO headquarters.

The all-day event, sponsored by the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital and GEICO, brought together close to 100 Girl Scouts from the greater Washington D.C. area to learn about vehicle maintenance, how to be a safe driver and passenger and tips on bicycle safety.

The event was part of a comprehensive road skills, auto care and driving safety series, designed to help the girls earn the new GEICO Road Safety Patch. Once the classes are completed and the Girl Scouts sign an honor code agreement, they are eligible for the patch which shows they have learned how to make smart decisions on the road.

“Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death among teens age 13 – 19,” said Rynthia Rost, GEICO vice president. “GEICO is working hard to educate teens on road and vehicle safety through our teen safe driving program and by partnering with great organizations like the Girl Scouts.”

At the inaugural GEICO kick-off, the girls rotated between interactive sessions, learning auto care techniques like how to change a vehicle tire, bike safety and the dangers of distracted and drunk driving. Officers from the Montgomery County Police Department were able to give the girls a first-hand experience of how alcohol affects driving ability through its Gator-AID demonstration. The girls wore “Fatal Vision Goggles” while operating a specially designed tractor to simulate the dangers of drinking and driving. WJLA news reporter Cynne Simpson also presented WJLA’s Drive to Stay Alive Teen Driving Assembly seminar.

“The real-life experiences that the girls had during these sessions will hopefully make them think twice about the decisions they make before getting behind the wheel,” said Lidia Soto-Harmon, Girl Scout deputy executive director.

The event was the first of its kind for the Council and the Girl Scouts. Upcoming DASHBoard Road Safety events include an Auto Care Day in Fredericksburg, Va., and a Road Safety Fair in Chantilly, Va. The GEICO DASHBoard patch will soon be available in Atlanta and Chicago as part of the Girl Scout’s ongoing effort to empower young women to be car and road savvy.

About Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital
Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital (GSCNC) is a non-profit organization with over 82,000 members, including 58,000 girls in 4,500 troops throughout the District of Columbia, six counties in Maryland and five counties in Northern Virginia. To get involved, visit our Web site at www.gscnc.org.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the third-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States based on 2008 market share data as reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, March 2009. It provides auto insurance coverage for 9 million policyholders and insures more than 15 million vehicles.

In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available.

As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial strength by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to www.geico.com.

More GEICO News:

January 16, 2009 11:40 AM ET: The Board of Directors of Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund LOR has authorized the Fund to declare today a monthly dividend distribution of $0.1167 per share on the company’s outstanding common stock. The dividend is payable on February 23, 2009 to shareholders of record on February 11, 2009. The ex-dividend date is February 9, 2009.

Portfolio data as of December 31, 2008 including performance, asset allocation, top 10 holdings, sector weightings, regional exposure, and other Fund characteristics have been posted on Lazard Asset Management’s website, www.Lazardnet.com.

The Fund’s objective is total return, through a combination of dividends, income, and capital appreciation. The Fund’s net assets are invested in a portfolio of approximately 60 to 90 world equity securities, consisting primarily of the highest dividend-yielding stocks selected from the current holdings of other accounts managed by Lazard Asset Management. The equity portfolio is broadly diversified in both developed and emerging market countries and across the capitalization spectrum. The Fund seeks enhanced income by investing in short duration (typically below one year) emerging market forward currency contracts and other emerging market debt instruments.

An indirect subsidiary of Lazard Ltd LAZ, Lazard Asset Management LLC (LAM), the Fund’s investment manager, offers a range of equity, fixed-income, and alternative investment products worldwide. As of September 30, 2008, LAM and affiliated asset management companies in the Lazard Group managed more than $113 billion worth of client assets. For more information about LAM, please go to www.Lazardnet.com.
Lazard World Dividend & Income Fund
Media:
Judi Mackey, 212-632-1428
judi.mackey@lazard.com
or
Investor:
Ben Wulfsohn, 800-828-5548
ben.wulfsohn@lazard.com

Additional Lazard News:

Survey fielded in partnership with behavioral economist Dan Ariely explores what behaviors distinguish successful savers from the rest

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 6 /PRNewswire/ — In the face of the most difficult economic environment in decades, more than 80 percent of American consumers indicate they are more conscious of their spending habits today compared to the beginning of 2009, according to a national survey released today by Bank of America and Dan Ariely, Duke University professor of Behavioral Economics and author of Predictably Irrational.

The Bank of America Consumer Purchasing and Savings Habits(1) survey found a new culture of thrifty spenders is emerging to make every dollar stretch further. Comparison shopping, seeking more advice prior to purchasing and taking advantage of discount and reward programs are some of the more notable behavioral changes that have allowed consumers to put more money into personal savings.

Behaviors Linked to Achieving Saving Goals

Consumers engaging in the following smart purchasing behaviors seem to be better able to save than they could three months ago:

* Doing more research and comparison shopping prior to making a purchase (75 percent of those saving more vs. 69 percent of those saving less)
* Seeking more advice to make sure what they buy is the best product for them (62 percent of those saving more vs. 42 percent of those saving less)
* Dining in more often (79 percent of those saving more vs. 70 percent of those saving less) and entertaining at home (67 percent of those saving more vs. 54 percent of those saving less)
* Taking advantage of their bank’s online and mobile tools (e.g., eAlerts, online bill pay) to have a better handle on day-to-day finances (45 percent of those saving more vs. 37 percent of those saving less)
* Taking advantage of rewards clubs and programs with retailers (44 percent of those saving more vs. 38 percent of those saving less)
* Taking advantage of credit card rewards programs (34 percent of those savings more vs. 27 percent of those saving less)

“We’re seeing consumers increasingly trying to make smarter purchasing decisions and trying to achieve their savings goals,” said Dan Ariely, Duke University professor and author of Predictably Irrational. “What we also see is that consumers who are successful at saving are the ones who are taking the time to pause before they shop and leveraging the tools available to help them save. What is somewhat puzzling is that not all consumers are taking what seem to be very simple steps toward saving.”

While consumers are doing what they can to curtail spending, there are many who are still finding it difficult to save extra cash. Managing day-to-day expenses and findings ways to save represent the biggest financial challenges Americans are facing in today’s economy (40 percent).

Tools for the Thrifty Spender

Nine in ten Americans use discounts and promotions to assist in their shopping needs, with nearly 60 percent spending more time than ever before looking for such deals. Increasingly, consumers are turning to the Web to locate discounts and coupons (37 percent); the average consumer spends more than one hour online searching for these deals. Forty-five percent of those surveyed would likely take advantage of a centralized shopping Web site that offers routine savings for shopping at major retailers’ Web sites. With the launch of the Add It Up(TM) program, a new, secure online shopping site that offers such an advantage, Bank of America is helping customers stretch their dollars further.

In keeping with Bank of America’s commitment to helping Americans make the most of their finances, the company recently announced the launch of the Add It Up(TM) program. The secure online shopping Web site allows enrolled customers to earn up to 20 percent cash back on their purchases at more than 300 online retailers. Customers with a current Bank of America credit or check card who are enrolled in online banking can register for free through the Add It Up Web site at http://www.bankofamerica.com/additup. Since its inception in November 2008, Add It Up customers have earned more than $220,000 cash back.

“Managing everyday finances has become increasingly important for many Americans and, at Bank of America, we understand that consumers are looking for new, creative and efficient ways to save,” said David Owen, Checking and Debit executive for Bank of America. “We are pleased to offer tools like Add It Up and Keep the Change, which allow our customers to save more while they make their everyday purchases.”

Tools for the Wise Saver

The survey also confirmed that Americans are continuing to struggle with saving money. Only four in ten say they are saving more than they did three months ago, and among those who are saving less, 65 percent of respondents are putting less towards general savings accounts and 26 percent of respondents are putting less towards retirement savings accounts.

Bank of America’s signature savings tool, Keep the Change, allows customers a convenient way to save while spending on everyday purchases. Keep the Change is a savings account feature tied to a customer’s Bank of America check card that rounds up all purchase amounts to the nearest dollar and transfers the difference from a checking account to a savings account. Since the program launched in October 2005, Bank of America customers have accumulated more than $2.2 billion in savings. By using both Add It Up and Keep the Change, Bank of America customers can receive the combined value of spending less and saving more everyday.

For more information on Add It Up(2), Keep the Change and additional, current Bank of America offers, visit www.bankofamerica.com.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 55 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 6,100 retail banking offices, more than 18,500 ATMs and award-winning online banking with nearly 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

www.bankofamerica.com

1. Administered a 22-question, telephone survey to 1,000 adult Americans. Interviews were conducted by Braun Research from March 23 to March 27. Results are reported at the 95percent confidence level with a margin of error of 4.4percent. Results are weighted, and projectable to, the general U.S. adult population.

2. Participating retailers and offers are subject to change. You must have either a Bank of America Check Card or Credit Card and be enrolled in Online Banking to be eligible for participation in the program. Redemption of accrued cash back rebates occurs in accordance with program Terms and Conditions, generally monthly when a minimum of $5.00 cash back has been earned. Program is not available to Online banking customers in WA or ID and select military bank customers. Select MyExpression(TM) credit cards, co-brand check cards, Business credit cards and other accounts are not eligible for participation in the program. Additional restrictions apply. For complete details see Terms and Conditions at www.bankofamerica.com/additup.

Tom Kelly Joins Blackstone
Posted by guest in Uncategorized on 05 4th, 2009| icon3No Comments »

New York, April 27, 2009. The Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX) today announced that Tom Kelly
has joined the firm as a Managing Director in its Corporate Advisory Group to head a new
initiative to provide private capital fundraising services to a broad variety of businesses and
corporations. These fundraisings will include private placements of equity and debt for privately-
held and publicly-traded corporate clients. Mr. Kelly will be based in Blackstone’s Menlo Park
office.

“We believe that this is a very opportune time to enter this business,” said Ivan Brockman, a
Senior Managing Director at Blackstone and Head of the firm’s West Coast Advisory Business,
“Current markets are dislocated, or even shut, for conventional public financings. Clients are
looking to their advisers to help them raise capital in innovative and non traditional ways. We
expect that this will be both an area of growth and opportunity for Blackstone.”

“I am delighted to be joining the exceptional team of professionals at Blackstone,” added Mr.
Kelly. “Its independence, reputation and global capabilities uniquely position it to assist corporate clients in accessing the private capital markets.”

Mr. Kelly was previously a Managing Director at KEMA Partners, which provides investment banking and advisory services to emerging growth companies. Before that, he headed the Private Capital Group at Montgomery & Co and prior to that, he headed West Coast Private Equity Placements for Banc of America Securities in San Francisco. He was previously an investment banker focused on private equity placements with Merrill Lynch and Robertson Stephens. Mr. Kelly has an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with 1st Class Honors from Bradford University in the United Kingdom.

About The Blackstone Group
Blackstone is one of the world’s leading investment and advisory firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, the companies we advise and the broader global economy. We do this through the commitment of our extraordinary people and flexible capital. Our alternative asset management businesses include the management of corporate private equity funds, real estate funds, funds of hedge funds, credit-oriented funds, collateralized loan obligation vehicles (CLOs) and closed-end mutual funds. The Blackstone Group also provides various financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions advisory, restructuring and reorganization advisory and fund placement services. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com.

Contact:
Blackstone Public Affairs
212-583-5263
publicaffairsny@blackstone.com

The Blackstone Group® L.P.
345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
212 583-5000

More Blackstone Group Information:

  • Ex-UBS Executive Is Joining Blackstone Group
  • Time magazine profile of Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman
  • Steve Schwarzman and his Blackstone team
  • Kennedy Center profile of Steve Schwarzman.
  • Profile of Steve Schwarzman on the Academy of Achievement.

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