EX-99
3
exhibit99.txt
PRESS RELEASE DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 2004
Exhibit 99.1
The First American Corporation MATRIX BANCORP
[graphic omitted] [graphic omitted]
Contact: NEWS FOR
Thomas A. Klemens IMMEDIATE
Sr. Executive Vice President & RELEASE
Chief Financial Officer
(714) 800-4401
FIRST AMERICAN ACQUIRES MAJORITY INTEREST IN
MATRIX ASSET MANAGEMENT
-Addition Completes First American's Full Suite of Default Outsource Services-
SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 13, 2004 - The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF),
the nation's largest data provider, and Matrix Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTXC)
today announced that First American has acquired a 75 percent equity ownership
interest in its subsidiary, Matrix Asset Management, in exchange for a
combination of cash and notes totaling approximately $15 million. The
transaction will be immediately accretive to First American.
Established in 1995, Matrix Asset Management is the nation's second largest
asset-management outsource company. Matrix offers asset disposition and default
management services on foreclosed properties to mortgage bankers, investment
bankers and financial institutions across the United States.
"Asset management services are an important element of offering a complete
default management solution", said Parker S. Kennedy, president and chief
executive officer of The First American Coropration. "The demand for outsourced
default management services is growing rapidly as large and middle-tier mortgage
lenders are increasingly looking to streamline their operations and have complex
services managed by experts. Matrix's strong reputation and client base offer
tremendous growth opportunities for our default-related businesses, and will
also help to drive additional business to our title and property valuation
operations".
First American is the nation's number-one provider of outsourced default
services, and Matrix Asset Management is a valuable addition as it completes
First American's suite of default products and services. With approximately $320
million in assets under management, Matrix will maintain its central operations
center in Denver.
Kenneth Blevins, president of Matrix Asset Management said, "This is an
excellent move for our customers and helps to position our company for continued
growth. First American is the market leader in providing a comprehensive set of
default and mortgage origination services. By joining with First American, we
-more-
First American Acquires Majority Interest in Matrix Asset Management
Page 2-2-2
can deliver great value to our customers while offering them an expanded line of
related products and services including First American's industry-leading
product bundles".
Dennis J. Gilmore, executive vice president of First American stated: "The
addition of Matrix Asset Management gives us the ability to provide our clients
with individual services or complete end-to-end solutions. Matrix's solid and
experienced team of professionals and central location make it ideal to support
First American's default-related services and real estate-owned (REO) property
management needs nationwide".
Matrix Bancorp, which will retain a 25 percent interest in Matrix Asset
Management, is a unitary thrift holding company headquartered in Denver with
subsidiaries conducting operations primarily in Colorado, Arizona and Texas.
"Matrix Bancorp is working hard to strengthen shareholder value as we
streamline our company and focus on our core businesses", said Rick Schmitz,
chief executive officer of Matrix Bancorp. "We have great faith in Matrix Asset
Management and the upside potential for the company as it is now paired with
First American. It was important to us that we maintain a minority interest in
the company so that our shareholders can continue to participate in the unit's
growth."
The First American Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that traces its
history to 1889. As the nation's largest data provider, the company supplies
businesses and consumers with information resources in connection with the major
economic events of people's lives, such as getting a job; renting an apartment;
buying a car, house, boat or airplane; securing a mortgage; opening or buying a
business; and planning for retirement. The First American Family of Companies,
many of which command leading market share positions in their respective
industries, operate within six primary business segments, including: Title
Insurance and Services, Speciality Insurance, Mortgage Information, Property
Information, Credit Information and Screening Information. With revenues of
$6.21 billion in 2003, First American has 29,000 employees in approximately
1,800 offices throughout the United States and abroad. More information about
the company and an archive of its press releases can be found at
www.firstam.com.
===============================================================================
Certain statements made in this press release regarding First American,
including those related to the driving of additional business opportunities, are
forward looking. Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause results to differ
materially from those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the
forward-looking statements include: interest rate fluctuations; changes in the
performance of the real estate markets; access to public reocrds and other data;
general volatility in the capital markets; changes in applicable government
regulations; consolidation among the company's significant customers and
competitors; the company's continued ability to identify businesses to be
acquired; changes in the company's ability to integrate businesses which it
acquires; and other factors described in the company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The forward-looking stataements speak only as of the date
they are made. The company does not undertake to update forward-looking
statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the
forward-looking statements are made.
-more-
First American Acquires Majority Interest in Matrix Asset Management
Page 3-3-3
Certain statements contained in this press release regarding Matrix Bancorp that
are not historical facts, including, but not limited to, statements that can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "expect,"
"anticipate", "predict", "believe", "plan", "estimate" or "continue" or the
negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
The actual results of the future events described in such forward-looking
statements in this press release could differ materially from those stated in
such forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially are: third party claims or actions in relation to
the ongoing or future bankruptcies of the Company's customers; interest rate
fluctuations; level of delinquencies; defaults and prepayments; general economic
conditions; competition; government regulation; possible future litigation; the
actions or inactions of third parties, and actions or inactions of those that
are parties to the existing or future bankruptcies of the Company's customers or
litigation related thereto; unanticipated developments in connection with the
bankruptcy actions or litigation described above, including judicial variation
from existing legal precedent and the decision by one or more parties to appeal
decisions rendered; the risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in the
annual report and in the Company's current report on Form 8-K, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2001; and the uncertainties set
forth from time to time in the Company's periodic reports, filings and other
public statements.
###

EX - 99 3 exhibit99 . txt PRESS RELEASE DATED SEPTEMBER 13 , 2004 Exhibit 99 . 1 The First American Corporation MATRIX BANCORP [ graphic omitted ] [ graphic omitted ] Contact : NEWS FOR Thomas A . Klemens IMMEDIATE Sr . Executive Vice President & RELEASE Chief Financial Officer ( 714 ) 800 - 4401 FIRST AMERICAN ACQUIRES MAJORITY INTEREST IN MATRIX ASSET MANAGEMENT - Addition Completes First American 's Full Suite of Default Outsource Services - SANTA ANA , Calif . , Sept. 13 , 2004 - The First American Corporation ( NYSE : FAF ) , the nation 's largest data provider , and Matrix Bancorp , Inc . ( Nasdaq : MTXC ) today announced that First American has acquired a 75 percent equity ownership interest in its subsidiary , Matrix Asset Management , in exchange for a combination of cash and notes totaling approximately $ 15 million . The transaction will be immediately accretive to First American . Established in 1995 , Matrix Asset Management is the nation 's second largest asset - management outsource company . Matrix offers asset disposition and default management services on foreclosed properties to mortgage bankers , investment bankers and financial institutions across the United States . " Asset management services are an important element of offering a complete default management solution " , said Parker S . Kennedy , president and chief executive officer of The First American Coropration . " The demand for outsourced default management services is growing rapidly as large and middle - tier mortgage lenders are increasingly looking to streamline their operations and have complex services managed by experts . Matrix 's strong reputation and client base offer tremendous growth opportunities for our default - related businesses , and will also help to drive additional business to our title and property valuation operations " . First American is the nation 's number - one provider of outsourced default services , and Matrix Asset Management is a valuable addition as it completes First American 's suite of default products and services . With approximately $ 320 million in assets under management , Matrix will maintain its central operations center in Denver . Kenneth Blevins , president of Matrix Asset Management said , " This is an excellent move for our customers and helps to position our company for continued growth . First American is the market leader in providing a comprehensive set of default and mortgage origination services . By joining with First American , we - more - First American Acquires Majority Interest in Matrix Asset Management Page 2 - 2 - 2 can deliver great value to our customers while offering them an expanded line of related products and services including First American 's industry - leading product bundles " . Dennis J . Gilmore , executive vice president of First American stated : " The addition of Matrix Asset Management gives us the ability to provide our clients with individual services or complete end - to - end solutions . Matrix 's solid and experienced team of professionals and central location make it ideal to support First American 's default - related services and real estate - owned ( REO ) property management needs nationwide " . Matrix Bancorp , which will retain a 25 percent interest in Matrix Asset Management , is a unitary thrift holding company headquartered in Denver with subsidiaries conducting operations primarily in Colorado , Arizona and Texas . " Matrix Bancorp is working hard to strengthen shareholder value as we streamline our company and focus on our core businesses " , said Rick Schmitz , chief executive officer of Matrix Bancorp . " We have great faith in Matrix Asset Management and the upside potential for the company as it is now paired with First American . It was important to us that we maintain a minority interest in the company so that our shareholders can continue to participate in the unit 's growth . " The First American Corporation is a Fortune 500 company that traces its history to 1889 . As the nation 's largest data provider , the company supplies businesses and consumers with information resources in connection with the major economic events of people 's lives , such as getting a job ; renting an apartment ; buying a car , house , boat or airplane ; securing a mortgage ; opening or buying a business ; and planning for retirement . The First American Family of Companies , many of which command leading market share positions in their respective industries , operate within six primary business segments , including : Title Insurance and Services , Speciality Insurance , Mortgage Information , Property Information , Credit Information and Screening Information . With revenues of $ 6.21 billion in 2003 , First American has 29,000 employees in approximately 1,800 offices throughout the United States and abroad . More information about the company and an archive of its press releases can be found at www.firstam.com . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Certain statements made in this press release regarding First American , including those related to the driving of additional business opportunities , are forward looking . Risks and uncertainties exist that may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in these forward - looking statements . Factors that could cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the forward - looking statements include : interest rate fluctuations ; changes in the performance of the real estate markets ; access to public reocrds and other data ; general volatility in the capital markets ; changes in applicable government regulations ; consolidation among the company 's significant customers and competitors ; the company 's continued ability to identify businesses to be acquired ; changes in the company 's ability to integrate businesses which it acquires ; and other factors described in the company 's Annual Report on Form 10 - K for the year ended December 31 , 2003 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission . The forward - looking stataements speak only as of the date they are made . The company does not undertake to update forward - looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward - looking statements are made . - more - First American Acquires Majority Interest in Matrix Asset Management Page 3 - 3 - 3 Certain statements contained in this press release regarding Matrix Bancorp that are not historical facts , including , but not limited to , statements that can be identified by the use of forward - looking terminology such as " may " , " expect , " " anticipate " , " predict " , " believe " , " plan " , " estimate " or " continue " or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology , are forward - looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 , and involve a number of risks and uncertainties . The actual results of the future events described in such forward - looking statements in this press release could differ materially from those stated in such forward - looking statements . Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are : third party claims or actions in relation to the ongoing or future bankruptcies of the Company 's customers ; interest rate fluctuations ; level of delinquencies ; defaults and prepayments ; general economic conditions ; competition ; government regulation ; possible future litigation ; the actions or inactions of third parties , and actions or inactions of those that are parties to the existing or future bankruptcies of the Company 's customers or litigation related thereto ; unanticipated developments in connection with the bankruptcy actions or litigation described above , including judicial variation from existing legal precedent and the decision by one or more parties to appeal decisions rendered ; the risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in the annual report and in the Company 's current report on Form 8 - K , filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14 , 2001 ; and the uncertainties set forth from time to time in the Company 's periodic reports , filings and other public statements . # # #
O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-Parties.BUYING_COMPANY I-Parties.BUYING_COMPANY O O O O B-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY I-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY I-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-Parties.BUYING_COMPANY I-Parties.BUYING_COMPANY O O O O O O O O O O O O B-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY I-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY I-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-Parties.BUYING_COMPANY I-Parties.BUYING_COMPANY O O O O B-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY I-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY I-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-Generic_Info.ANNUAL_REVENUES I-Generic_Info.ANNUAL_REVENUES O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-Parties.BUYING_COMPANY I-Parties.BUYING_COMPANY O O O O B-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY I-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY I-Parties.ACQUIRED_COMPANY O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O