11/19/02 National Private/Public Liaison Group Formed to Help Economic Development Agencies with Their Major Troubled-Companies Problems

Alameda, CA - November 19, 2002 - SageGroup Strategies, Inc. announces that it has formed a national EDA Liaison Group to help Economic Development Agencies with troubled companies, a major tragedy nationally. SageGroup is the largest Professional Troubled-Company Specialist firm nationally and internationally, with over 30 offices nationally.

Economic Development Agencies are entities formed by state, county, and city governments in order to help their business communities operate optimally as part of their governmental jurisdictions. The EDAs have been swamped with troubled companies during the past couple of years because of the severely troubled economy, the terrible 9/11 repercussions, steep stock market decline, crises in many industries, and other harsh reasons.

"SageGroup offers several major benefits for the EDAs and their communities," stated Larry Lindsey, a SGS Managing Director based at the firm's National Coordination Office in Alameda, CA. "One major SGS benefit is that we save troubled companies from collapsing, helping them to move forward and grow and develop further. A second major SGS benefit is that we save jobs, increase employment, and decrease unemployment. And, a third major SGS benefit is that the governments' tax revenue base is strengthened and enlarged, allowing for higher tax revenues to be used to maintain and improve the communities without higher tax rates."

As part of improving the private/public liaison activities and working relationships, SageGroup has agreed to base a EDA Liaison Group member in each of SageGroup's current, pending, and planned SGS Offices throughout the country. "SageGroup has launched a major new National Expansion Plan, with the intention to increase its offices nationally from 32 currently, to 50 by the end of 2002, and 120 by the end of 2003, with ultimate plans to have a SGS Office in most of the 300+ metropolitan areas nationally," Mr. Lindsey added.

Chuck White, a SGS Senior Director and SGS San Diego Office Co-Manager, stated that SageGroup is already in discussions with several Economic Development Agencies, including those at the state, city, and other levels. "SageGroup has committed to proactively work with these agencies throughout the country," said Mr. White. "As one example, SageGroup has committed that it will open a local SageGroup Office in any community that will help it to obtain at least a working address and local phone number to begin operations. Since most SageGroup work is done on the troubled companies' premises, in hotel rooms, or by phone and email from a distance, SageGroup actually doesn't need local office space to begin operations," Mr. White explained.

SageGroup brings to each office its powerful large group of professionals, who are experts at helping troubled companies get out of trouble and move forward. SageGroup's staff includes over 500 highly-qualified specialists, such as:

Although SageGroup has EDA Liaison Group members throughout the country, it is well recognized that this is a very sensitive, complex, and confidential area. Accordingly, for maximum confidentiality and effectiveness, all initial inquiries from Economic Development Agencies and troubled companies are directed to Larry Lindsey, a SGS Managing Director at SGS's National Coordination Office, phone number (510) 865-2480.

ABOUT SAGEGROUP STRATEGIES
SageGroup Strategies is the largest Professional Troubled-Company Specialist firm in the United States and the world. Besides being very experienced and knowledgeable, SageGroup emphasizes being very discreet, working with absolute confidentiality and behind the scenes whenever necessary. As part of its strict confidentiality policies, SageGroup has never disclosed or publicized the names of its clients. More information about SageGroup Strategies is available at: www.SageGroupStrategies.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
David Lawrence
National Coordination Office
SageGroup Strategies, Inc.
1370 Third Street, Suite 110
Alameda, CA 94501
(510) 865-2480 Phone
(510) 865-6654 Fax
SGS@SageGroupStrategies.com