Medallion Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: TAXI), a specialty finance company
with a leading position servicing the taxicab industry and other niche
markets announced today that, through a special purpose subsidiary, it
renewed its commercial paper conduit facility agreement administered by
Citicorp North America, Inc. for an additional 364 days. The facility
covers taxicab medallion lending in New York City as well as Boston,
Chicago and other cities throughout the United States.
Andrew Murstein, President of Medallion Financial stated, “We are very
pleased with this transaction and our continued relationship with
Citibank. In this turbulent credit environment, to not only renew a
facility, but to do so on very favorable terms is a testament to our
outstanding credit quality. Taxi medallions have been one of the best
asset classes to lend against in the United States for more than 50
years, and we are proud to be an industry leader.”
Brian O’Leary, Medallion Financial’s Chief Operating and Chief Credit
Officer, stated, “Over the last several years, medallion prices have
increased more than 30%. Our current portfolio of managed medallion
loans exceeds $560,000,000 and has a loan to value of under 50%. The
taxi industry often thrives in a market environment like the one we are
currently in for many reasons, such as additional manpower to drive
taxis, mandated availability of credit card acceptance in every taxi,
and corporate cutbacks on limos and black car services. Medallion prices
in New York city are currently at record highs with a purchase contract
for a medallion just being signed for over $725,000 for a corporate
medallion.”
About Medallion Financial
Medallion Financial Corp. is a specialty finance company with a
leading position in the origination and servicing of loans financing the
purchase of taxicab medallions and related assets. The Company
also originates and services loans in other commercial industries and
its wholly-owned portfolio company Medallion Bank also originates and
services consumer loans. The Company and its subsidiaries have
lent over $3 billion to the taxicab industry and other small businesses.
Please note that this press release contains forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties relating to business performance,
cash flow, costs, sales, net investment income, earnings, and growth.
Medallion's actual results may differ significantly from the results
discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause
such a difference include, but are not limited to, those factors
discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Medallion’s 2007
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
At The Company:
Medallion
Financial Corp.
Andrew M. Murstein, President
Larry D. Hall,
CFO
1-212-328-2100
1-877-MEDALLION
or
At
Zlokower Company:
Public Relations
Harry
Zlokower/Dave Closs
1-212-447-9292