Los Angeles, CA; New York City, NY; and Miami, FL -- September 15, 2005. SageGroup Strategies announces that it has formed a special Division to help Hispanic companies to get out of trouble and/or to transition into being larger, stronger, larger-management-team-run, well-financed ongoing companies.

SGS is the USA's and world's largest Professional Troubled-Company Specialist firm, with over 600 professionals based in over 60 offices located in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia.

This Division was formed mainly in recognition of the large, dynamic, and rapidly-growing Hispanic business community and marketplace within the USA. The USA Hispanic marketplace consists of about 40 million people (even without including illegal immigrants and Puerto Rico) controlling $700 billion in purchasing power. This population grew almost 80% from 1990 to 2003, more than four times the national overall growth rate, and this trend continues. Hispanics are the largest ethnic minority in the USA, consisting already of about 14% of the USA population, with much higher percentages in California and many other states. While this marketplace has historically grown most rapidly because of new immigration, it is losing its immigrant character and melding more into the mainstream culture as more and more Hispanics are born and raised within the USA.

The Hispanic business community has also been growing rapidly and becoming more involved in the mainstream business world in the USA. There are over 1.6 million Hispanic companies in the USA, an increase of over 30% just since 1997. These companies are the largest group of minority-owned companies within the USA. Concurrently, there has also been rapid growth in the numbers of Hispanic professionals and professional firms, such as attorneys, CPAs, business brokers, investment bankers, and many others.

"SageGroup Strategies is very capable and focused on helping Hispanic companies to get out of trouble and/or to transition into being larger, stronger, well-financed, management-team-run ongoing companies," stated Jesus Arce, a SGS Hispanic Companies Division Co-Manager who concurrently manages his own Northern California business brokerage firm (www.AvisaBusinessBrokers.com). "The Hispanic marketplace and business community are becoming more and more important, as I've witnessed much as a member of them and of related organizations such as the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the National Society of Hispanic MBAs."

This giant USA marketplace is the largest Hispanic market except for Spain itself, attracting major interest worldwide. Latin American and other foreign companies and investors are very interested in entering into the USA's Hispanic marketplace and business community through acquisitions, mergers, strategic alliances, stock purchases, and other forms of business transactions and relationships. SageGroup is very knowledgeable and capable in guiding and facilitating these activities, including because of SageGroup's strong experience in the USA, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. Latin American companies are especially focused on the USA Hispanic marketplace, reasons including that 2004 was Latin America's best single-year growth period in 25 years, with USA imports from South and Central America in 2004 being about 25% higher than the prior year. Latin American companies have many products that they want to bring to the US Hispanic and general marketplaces, especially products (e.g., food and entertainment) which have a cultural connection.

"SageGroup Strategies has long been focused on the Hispanic business community, especially in helping troubled Hispanic companies," reported Larry Lindsey, a SGS Hispanic Companies Division Co-Manager with over 35 years' experience as a troubled-company specialist, executive, venture capitalist, financier, and entrepreneur, including in over 300 troubled-company situations. "SGS has helped many troubled Hispanic companies, including those in the publication, construction, HVAC, and various other industries. And, SGS has developed business relationships with quality Hispanic firms and professionals. SGS has now formed its Hispanic Companies Division as a way to increase its Hispanic involvements and activities. And, this week was especially chosen for this announcement, reasons including that: a) September 15 is the first day of the USA's Hispanic Heritage Month, plus is the anniversary of the date of independence of the five Central American countries of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Costa Rica; b) September 16 is Mexico's Independence Day; and c) September 18 is the anniversary of Chile's independence."

"Catholicism and other religious faiths are very important within the Hispanic marketplace and business community," added Chaplain Alvin McKinley, a SGS Hispanic Companies Division member and a dedicated religious and spiritual professional for over 40 years. "Accordingly, as SGS Religious Sector Division Co-Manager, I especially look for situations where the two SGS Divisions can work together to enhance the combined help that they can provide to troubled Hispanic companies directly, thus also helping others indirectly."

The SGS Hispanic Companies Division has at least one representative in every SGS Office worldwide. For maximum confidentiality, initial inquiries from Hispanic companies and their representatives can be directed to Larry Lindsey, a SGS Managing Director and a SGS Hispanic Companies Division Co-Manager, at SGS's International Coordination Office, phone number (510) 865-2480.