PRESS RELEASE

Appointment of new Southern Commercial Mortgage Manager for State Securities

Key point:

• New Commercial Mortgage Manager brought in to generate further commercial mortgage business in the south

Thursday, September 20, 2007– Asset-based lender State Securities has strengthened its sales force with the appointment of Steve Dixon as Commercial Mortgage Manager for the Southern region. Steve’s extensive role will include business development activities to grow the company’s commercial mortgage book; to create and maintain introducer and customer relationships and the assessment of new mortgage applications.  Steve will be supported by two Account Managers, Karen Shutler (currently on maternity leave) and Martin Fox.

Steve has wide-ranging expertise, bringing with him 21 years experience of working in banking and finance. The past 16 of these have been spent as Associate Director with Hampshire Trust plc, a private bank, where he was Head of the Property Lending department, responsible for Commercial Mortgages, Development Finance and Bridging.

Commenting on his appointment, Steve said, “I am looking forward to the fresh challenges that will come from joining a forward thinking organisation such as State Securities. The company has been established in the Asset Finance market for many years and having more recently added Commercial Mortgages to its product range, I can see a great opportunity to bring my experience to bear in growing significantly this aspect of the business”.

State Securities offers a range of commercial mortgages to clients who are looking to purchase or refinance a property in England or Wales. Loan amounts are from £100,000 to £5 million. Mortgage solutions are tailor-made to cater for the demands of individual’s business requirements and can be offered in conjunction with its extensive range of other finance products.

Visit www.statesecurities.co.uk/commercial-mortgages or tel 01489 775633 (or Bromsgrove 01527 558410) for further information.

-ENDS-

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