What's New

 

9/2/2003
LANDAMERICA TO ACQUIRE MORTGAGE CREDIT REPORTING COMPANY
RICHMOND VA

LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:LFG), a leading provider of real estate transaction services, has acquired 100% of the stock of INFO1 Holding Company, Inc. (INFO1), the fourth largest independent mortgage credit reporting provider in the nation. The transaction was effective as of August 31, 2003.

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, INFO1 employs state-of-the-art technology to deliver credit information products to mortgage lenders, brokers and other businesses in the mortgage industry. INFO1 reported assets in excess of $7.4 million at June 30, 2003 and gross revenues of $30.9 million for the first six months of 2003. INFO1's results are expected to be immediately accretive to LandAmerica. LandAmerica has agreed to pay approximately $47 million in cash to acquire 100% of the outstanding stock of INFO1.

"We are delighted to be joining the LandAmerica team," says Kenneth Goins, president of INFO1. "Backed by LandAmerica's rock-solid financial reputation and many resources, INFO1 can now offer our mortgage customers a top menu of real estate offerings."

Charles H. Foster, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of LandAmerica, sees the acquisition as good for LandAmerica as well. "This is a great move for LandAmerica and INFO1, but the real winners here are our customers. This acquisition represents a key part of our strategy to expand LandAmerica's service offerings beyond title insurance. Ultimately, our goal is to provide our customers with a turn-key, one stop solution to all of their real estate transaction needs."

The company will sponsor a conference call for analysts and shareholders on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the transaction. Those wishing to participate in the conference call should dial 1-888-577-8993 prior to the beginning of the call and provide the conference operator with the pass code "LandAmerica". Also, the call will be simultaneously broadcast over the internet via LandAmerica's web site, under the Financial Info section. Additionally, an audio archive of the call can be accessed two hours after the completion of the live call via LandAmerica's web site.

Historical interim financial information of INFO1 Holding Company, Inc. included in this release is not necessarily indicative of INFO1's financial position or results of operations for a future quarterly or annual period.

The company cautions readers that the statements contained herein regarding the company's future business plans, operations, opportunities or prospects, including any factors which may affect future earnings, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management's current knowledge and assumptions about future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. For more details on factors that could affect expectations, see the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc.

LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc., headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a leading provider of title insurance and a broad range of real estate-related products and services. LandAmerica, through its subsidiaries Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation and Transnation Title Insurance Company, services its residential and commercial customers with more than 700 offices and a network of 10,000 agents throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America. More information about the company and an archive of its press releases can be found at www.landam.com.

INFO1 Completes Acquisition of Advanced Credit Technologies, Inc.
--Texas-based Credit Reporting Company Becomes Part of National Company--


ATLANTA, Sept. 12, 2002 - INFO1 Holding Corp., (INFO1) an information technology company and a nationwide provider of credit information for the mortgage industry, announced the acquisition of San Antonio-based Fuchs-Little, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Advanced Credit Technology, Inc. effective September 1, 2002. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Fuchs-Little, Inc, which operates as Advanced Credit Technologies, Inc. ("ACT"), is a regional credit reporting company focused on the south central U.S. market with operations in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. ACT was already an affiliate of INFO1, Inc. and used INFO1's technology platforms.

CEO of INFO1 Ken Goins, said, "The acquisition of ACT further strengthens INFO1's geographic presence across the U.S. With approximately 15 percent of all the U.S. credit reporting market in Texas, we believe the ACT acquisition will significantly strengthen our presence there and in the surrounding states. We believe that combining the human and technical assets of ACT and INFO1 will allow us to leverage the assets of the combined companies while continuing to provide the highest level of service and technology to our customers."

Jim Fuchs, former CEO of ACT, said, "We are pleased to officially join forces with INFO1. Being part of one of the largest independent credit reporting companies in the U.S. is very rewarding for us, and our customers will benefit by having a national provider behind all our products and services." The business combination marks the completion of a long-term business relationship that ACT and INFO1 began in 1994.

"We believe in INFO1's business philosophy," Don Little, former vice president of ACT, added, "we think the formal business combination of our companies will provide us the best opportunity for growth by using our resources in the best manner to serve our clients."

INFO1 Holding Company, Inc. Successfully Completes Business Combination
--New Company Formed by a Technology and Three Credit Reporting Companies--

ATLANTA, May 1, 2002 - INFO1 Holding Company, Inc. (INFO1), an information and technology company and a nationwide provider of credit information for the mortgage industry, announced the formal acquisition of Lender's Credit, Inc. (Los Angeles), Southern Mortgage Reporting, Inc. (Atlanta) and Credit Decisions, Inc. (New York) and a majority interest in INFO1, Inc. (Atlanta) into one new company, INFO1.

Co-Chairman of INFO1 John Stanton said, "We have just completed a major step in our company's evolution by officially changing our previous business relationship into a new nationwide, consolidated company under the new INFO1 brand. This is especially rewarding for us because of the years of hard work leading the way to this event."

INFO1 Co-Chairman Kyle McMahan said, "We believe the new combined business will give us greater clarity and force in the marketplace to provide our customers with the best service and technology the industry has to offer. It is hard to believe, but this was the vision that John and I had when we began working together on this back in 1993."
INFO1, Inc. was initially formed as a stand-alone technology company to provide a common technology platform for regional credit reporting companies. Today INFO1 provides its technology and customer service to many different companies nationwide.


Al Connizzo, EVP and COO of INFO1, said, "The business combination was undertaken to take advantage of the potential benefits derived from the combined assets and human capital of the organizations." INFO1 CEO Ken Goins, added, "We believe this business combination will allow our company to leverage operational synergies, solidify a national focus and brand, improve our competitive position and provide our company access to capital for possible acquisitions and business expansion opportunities. We are genuinely excited about the opportunities created by this new phase of our business."

About INFO1
INFO1 Holding Company, Inc., an information technology company, is one of the four largest independent credit information providers to the mortgage industry. The company has established a national network of consumer reporting agencies that provide credit information and other related services including Flood Certifications, Business Reports and Tax Return Verifications to mortgage and banking clients. INFO1 provides credit information using advanced electronic data exchange in XML, X12 and other standard and proprietary formats over secure Internet and Private Wide Area Network connections.

INFO1 is an approved vendor to Fannie Mae's Desktop Underwriter®/Desktop Originator® via the MORNETPlus Network. It is also approved for Freddie Mac Loan Prospector® Credit, GMAC-RFC AssetWise® and ALLTEL's Interview®/InterAct® via the Interchange™ network.


For more information on INFO1 or its products, contact Ken Goins at 770.416.6877, e-mail kgoins@info1team.com, or write 6010 Dawson Blvd., Norcross, Ga. 30093.

New California Credit Score Disclosure Law 
effective July 1, 2001

 

As you may know, amendments to the California Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act were passed last year and take effect on July 1, 2001.  

To review a copy of the Bill click here.  Please note to view this you will need Adobe Acrobat, if you'd like to download this program please click here.

In general, the amendments require the consumer reporting agency and lender:

bullet Disclose any credit score utilized in making a lending decision for a California resident.
bullet Disclose the key factors making up the score for the California resident.
bullet Disclose the California resident's rights under the law.


As a service to our clients, we have attached a sample form addressing these disclosures. This is only a sample and you should seek your own legal counsel prior to disseminating this important information to California residents.  Note that the information should be given to all consumers residing in California, not just those to whom you decline credit.  As such, this disclosure is separate and in addition to your Adverse Action Notices as required by section 1785.20 of the Act.  This form should be given to the consumer "as soon as reasonably practicable" after receiving the credit report.  The law does not define "as soon as reasonably practicable", however, we encourage you to provide it within a day or two of receiving the report.

To view the sample disclosure form, please click here.

Landamerica Credit Services Debuts Landamerica Credit Services Online, Browser-based Credit Reporting Services 
SAN FRANCISCO(BUSINESS WIRE)April 17, 2001 


National Credit Information Provider Offers Product Via Internet 

Landamerica Credit Services, a nationwide provider of credit information for the mortgage industry, introduced Landamerica Credit Services Online, a Web browser-based credit reporting product, for the mortgage industry. 

Landamerica Credit Services Online gives mortgage bankers and brokers instant access to applicants' multi-bureau, merged credit reports via the Internet. Designed to enhance workflow automation software products, INFO1 Online's multiple electronic loan origination system (LOS) interfaces allow this service to transport data directly from popular point-of-sale vendors into the consumer information query fields. In addition, mortgage professionals can populate LOS applications with the data from the INFO1 Online credit report. Other benefits of the browser-based credit reporting service include simple remote credit queries, easily accessed online help tabs, no constraints on data entry and rapid return on credit information. 

"Landamerica Credit Services Online was designed with workflow efficiency in mind," said John Simon, Landamerica Credit Services's vice president of Information Services. "All the data entry fields are on a single screen, and since all reported data is stored in the Atlanta data center, no storage back up capabilities are needed. Likewise, all the information validation is performed on the client side of the application so there are no annoying little red asterisks telling you to reenter data." 

According to Landamerica Credit Services, great precautions have been placed within the system. Multi-level security applications control access to high level functions based on seniority and title. Queries can only be made by a valid, logged-on and recorded user. The system automatically logs users out after periods of inactivity and forces password changes every 90 days. INFO1 Online is a TruSecure Certified Web application and has been approved for use by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. 

"Landamerica Credit Services Online is a Web application that performs like proprietary software," said Ken Goins, President of Landamerica Credit Services. "Our goal is to provide the most comprehensive and efficient credit reporting data in the mortgage industry. Landamerica Credit Services Online is a clear example of our commitment to that goal.
"

INFO1's Bixby Reelected Co-Chair of MISMO's Credit Reporting Group 

SAN FRANCISCO(BUSINESS WIRE)April 17, 2001

Bixby to speak at MISMO XML Session at MBA Tech Show.  INFO1, a nationwide provider of credit information for the mortgage industry, announced that Mike Bixby, E-data Coordinator for INFO1, has been reelected co-chair of Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization's (MISMO) Credit Reporting Workgroup. 

Bixby was also elected to the Credit Reporting seat on MISMO's Governance Committee last year. 

The Credit Reporting Workgroup is responsible for the recently published version 1.1 XML Standards Guide, the document that standardizes technology and communication for credit reporting in the mortgage industry. Bixby is also the author of the Credit Reporting Implementation Guide, the publication that instructs the mortgage industry on implementing the Version 1.1. 

"Mike has been an integral part of the Landamerica Credit Services Team," Ken Goins, president of Landamerica Credit Services, said, "and is the reason we have been ahead of the curve in terms of XML technology. INFO1 is proud to share his skill and knowledge with the rest of the industry through his participation in MISMO." 

The Credit Reporting Workgroup conducts conference calls bi-weekly, holds bi-monthly meetings and sponsors workshops every trimester to develop data exchange standards and protocol. On March 12- 13, 2001, the Workgroup met with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in Washington, D.C. to discuss version 2.0 of the XML Standards Guide. On Wednesday, April 18, Bixby will be on the MISMO-a-Go-Go panel at MBA's Technology Show, DiscoTech. In addition to discussing MISMO as an organization, Bixby will specifically address application of the XML standards. 

"It is an honor to be re-elected to this position," Bixby said, "and to lead a peer group with members from other credit reporting agencies. I have seen firsthand how XML and XML standardization have improved Landamerica Credit Services's capabilities, and I see the importance of bringing that to the industry."  

Consumers Gain Immediate and Full Access to Credit Score Used by Majority of U.S. Lenders

Equifax/Fair, Isaac Partnership Gives Consumers First Access to FICO Credit Scores

ATLANTA and SAN RAFAEL, Calif., March 19, 2001 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax (NYSE: EFX - news) and Fair, Isaac and Company, Inc. (NYSE: FIC - news) today launched Score Power(TM), the only online credit score delivery service for consumers that delivers Fair, Isaac's FICO credit risk score -- the most widely used score in lending. This service represents a nationwide first for consumers who now have immediate, on-demand access to their FICO score via the Internet. Consumers also receive their Equifax Credit Profile(TM) (on which the FICO score is based) and a personalized analysis of the score along with suggestions for improving and maintaining it.

Consumers can order Score Power(TM) online at www.equifax.com or www.myfico.com. The introductory price for Score Power(TM) is $12.95, representing an additional $4.45 above the price of the Equifax Credit Profile(TM) when accessed online. Once consumers order Score Power(TM) online and provide identifying information to ensure privacy, the information is delivered online within seconds and will remain available to the consumer online for 30 days from the order date.

``The strength of Score Power(TM) lies in the combination of our information -- the largest and most reliable repository of consumer data in the world -- with Fair, Isaac's credit score formula -- the most accepted formula among lenders for calculating credit scores,'' said Tom Chapman, Equifax chairman and CEO. ``This announcement reaffirms our commitment at Equifax to enlighten, enable and empower consumers with superior tools to manage their personal finances.''

``This is the best service out there for any consumer who truly wants to understand his or her credit standing,'' said Tom Grudnowski, Fair, Isaac CEO. ``Only Score Power(TM) delivers the industry standard FICO score driven by Equifax consumer information, with an easy-to-understand explanation of the score, how it is derived, and steps consumers can take to actively maintain or improve their score over time. Score Power(TM) is the first joint service for consumers to be offered by our companies even though we have been long- standing partners in creating credit risk management products for lenders.''

The FICO score is used to make billions of credit decisions each year, including more than 75 percent of mortgage loan originations. In addition, more than 70 of the nation's 100 largest financial institutions rely on the FICO score to determine an individual's credit worthiness.

The companies recently signed a multi-year agreement to develop innovative credit services for consumers such as Score Power(TM). The agreement represents a continuation of consumer initiatives by both companies. Equifax was the first credit-reporting agency to offer consumers online access to the Equifax Credit Profile(TM) and has recently launched Equifax Credit Watch(TM), which protects consumers against the devastation of identity theft by notifying them within 24 hours of any change to their credit file. Fair, Isaac has led an industry shift in developing more accessible and informative credit scoring criteria -- decisioning factors and steps that consumers can take to improve financial health and credit standing.

 ID Theft: "When Bad Things Happen to Good People"  Federal Trade Commission Article February 2001

Dispute Resolution in 72 Hours of Less for Credit Report Errors Via INFO1's New Bureau Direct Service

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2000--INFO1, a nationwide provider of credit information for the mortgage industry, introduced a new service for mortgage brokers and bankers at the MBA National Convention in San Francisco, Bureau Direct™.

Through this service, borrower's erroneous credit information can be manually updated at each of the Big Three credit information repositories (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) in 72 hours or less.  According to Landamerica Credit Services, correcting information at the repository level is the only way to affect a borrower's credit score.  Bureau Direct™ facilitates this correction process by reducing processing time to a few days, while relieving the borrower and broker/lender of shepherding the required paperwork through proper channels at each of the repositories.  After a borrower's credit report has been updated, a new credit score may be immediately requested.

Patrick Stanton, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Landamerica Credit Services, said, "Mortgage professionals know that time is money and that credit scores can make or break deals.  Bureau Direct™ addresses both concerns.  Our clients love it and their borrowers are thrilled to have information permanently corrected on their credit files."

Previously, dispute of erroneous credit information was a lengthy process.  Bankers and brokers would often lose potential loans as borrowers struggled for weeks or months to rectify erroneous credit information.  This struggle often resulted in the credit reporting company offering a supplement to the borrower's credit file, which does nothing to change the initial credit score.

Now, through Landamerica Credit Services's Bureau Direct™ product, the process is much shorter and more effective.  The lender provides Landamerica Credit Services with a letter from the creditor.  Landamerica Credit Services verifies the information in the letter and processes the Bureau Direct™ for a manual update of the consumer's credit report.  A new report can then be pulled with the borrower's updated credit information and FICO score.

Kyle McMahan, chairman of INFO1, said, "This new product combines an unmatched 72-hour or less turn around time with Landamerica Credit Services's brand of superior customer service, making Bureau Direct™ a true solution for mortgage brokers and bankers interested in increasing their numbers of approved borrowers."

INFO1 Introduces Broker's Secondary Guide

New Orleans--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 26, 2000-- INFO1, a nationwide provider of credit information for the mortgage industry, introduced a new product for mortgage brokers, the Broker Secondary Guide, at the National Association of Mortgage Broker's (NAMB) annual convention June 24-26.  Published through the ICON Advisory Group in Dallas, Texas, INFO1 is now the exclusive marketer of this noted industry wholesale rate sheet comparison guide.

The Broker Secondary Guide is a subscription-based, state-specific wholesale rate sheet comparison that is faxed to customers every business day at 1 p.m. C.S.T.  The guide, which is organized in an easy-to-read format, lists rates on most types of mortgages by state, allowing brokers to make an apples-to-apples comparison of all major wholesale lender's rates.  According to Landamerica Credit Services, an industry need to bring order to the 50 or 60 rate sheets brokers receive every day spawned the creation of the document.

Larry Canup, president of the ICON Advisory Group, said, "Many mortgage brokers and wholesale lenders believe the Broker Secondary Guide is the benchmark for the industry.  Consequently, the demand for the guide has steadily risen since it's inception, prompting us to begin searching for a partner that would have the connections and solid reputation in the industry to market the guide.  We found the perfect match in Landamerica Credit Services."

Additional benefits of the guide include, quick responses to rate and price questions from realtors and prospective clients, a 24-hour forecast of mortgage rates and recommendations on whether to lock or float for another day, daily analysis of fixed rate and balloon products, and an accurate comparison of conforming and jumbo mortgage loan rates and products.

Kyle McMahan, chairman of Landamerica Credit Services, said, "The Broker Secondary Guide provides relief for brokers that are tired of reviewing rate sheets the old-fashioned and time-consuming way.  Additionally, now that the product is being distributed by Landamerica Credit Services, the guide will be backed with the same great customer service and customer care that comes with any purchase of an Landamerica Credit Services product.  In fact, it's guaranteed."

The subscription price for the guide is $69.95 per month for the first state and $30.00 per month for each additional state.  The guide comes with a satisfaction guaranteed certificate.  The Broker Secondary Guide is the latest edition to Landamerica Credit Services's ancillary product suite.  These include flood zone determinations, Tax Return Verifications, and consumer credit reports.

LandAmerica Credit Services Corporate Office
2 Concourse Parkway
Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: 800-394-7672 Fax: 800-486-1760



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