PRESS RELEASE

State Securities reaches £150m milestone !

 Key points :

• £50m growth in three years
• ‘One-stop-shop’ approach to business finance helps increase popularity in broker marketplace

Tuesday, 02 October 2007: Asset based lender, State Securities plc, is pleased to announce it has achieved the milestone of £150 million outstandings in the UK SME market. This figure shows exceptional growth from the £100m accomplishment in August 2004.

State Securities is owned by Five Arrows Leasing Group. The company began with just two staff in 1980, and has grown to seventy-nine employees, with a head office in Southampton and regional offices in Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and Preston.

State Securities is acknowledged as an experienced innovator for providing workable, cost-effective finance solutions, particularly in situations that traditional finance companies avoid. The range of services available is extensive, including asset finance from £10k to £5m, commercial mortgages from £100k to £5m, Small Firms Loan Guarantee in conjunction with advancing asset based finance, factoring and turnaround finance.

Andrew Bullard, Sales Director said of the achievement, “The majority of business generated comes via State Securities network of finance brokers based around the country with whom we have built up excellent open and honest relationships*. Unlike some other financiers, we can boast a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach to finance supported by our own in-house services, including legal and asset valuation teams. This enables us to put together smooth transactions with swift turnaround times which has helped excel our growth and popularity in the market place”.

State Securities is a Patron of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) and a member of The Finance and Leasing Association (FLA).

For more information, contact : Andrew Bullard, Sales Director, tel 01489 775618 or visit www.statesecurities.co.uk

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*State Securities broker research project, June07

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Notes to Editors :

State Securities

State Securities has over 26 years experience assisting business customers who are looking to raise finance for the acquisition of new or used assets, along with the re-financing of assets already owned by the business. It also provides commercial mortgages for properties including factories, warehouses, offices and retail outlets and factoring for State Securities type customers to help improve their cash management and to assist in trying to provide a complete finance package.

State Securities supports a wide range of clients, including public and private limited companies, partnerships and sole traders, and can also help companies that have difficulty in raising finance in a short period of time, for example new start businesses. Additionally, it specialises in assisting businesses in company or individual voluntary arrangements.

Registered Head Office : State Securities plc, Burlington House, Botleigh Grange Office Campus, Grange Drive, Hedge End, Southampton, Hants SO30 2AF, t 01489 775600.

Visit www.statesecurities.co.uk