Commerical Lenders Can Increase Decision-Making Efficiency And Create A More Profitable, Lower-Risk Loan Portfolio

Charlotte, N.C., July 17, 2001 -- Omega Performance, the global leader in performance improvement solutions for financial services organizations, announced today the availability of its enhanced Commercial Loans to Business (CLB) performance improvement solution for commercial lenders. Widely recognized as the industry's leading training solution for developing commercial lending skills, CLB is designed specifically to improve lender performance, increase decision-making efficiency, and create a more profitable, lower-risk loan portfolio.

With this new version, Omega builds on CLB's proven core principles to offer enhanced usability, additional delivery options, and more streamlined and user-friendly content that reflects the latest business trends and risk drivers affecting commercial borrowers, including technology, globalization, operations and management. In addition, CLB continues to offer the industry tools for investigating and interpreting borrower information, resulting in smarter and faster loan decisions, and fewer loan losses.

"We have used CLB to train hundreds of our commercial relationship managers, and have found CLB to be a functional and valuable program for increasing their skill and performance," said Scott Hoover, vice president and credit training manager for Wells Fargo. "Through our extensive credit training program, we equip our team members with the skills they need to provide outstanding service to our middle-market customers. The CLB program content and case materials provide us the data critical to maintaining the quality of our credit portfolio. We're excited to deploy this new version of CLB and about Omega's continued commitment to our industry," said Hoover.

New features of CLB include updated participant and leader materials; fresh content that reflects today's trends and issues; online diagnostic assessment, resources and automated tools; four flexible delivery options; and pre-testing and post-testing modules. Lending institutions can choose from four flexible delivery options, including print self-study; print self-study plus workshop; workshop only; and on-line.

In addition, CLB can help lenders understand businesses more thoroughly and thus determine if borrowers may require other financial solutions. As a result, an institution can strengthen its customer relationship management efforts by identifying new, potential revenue opportunities – an innovative approach to addressing the total customer relationship.

"CLB continues to be the industry standard for developing commercial lenders' analytical skills and judgment," said Vicki Martell, vice president for Omega Performance. "Now, we've applied our clients' input over the past year to make the best training program in the business even better by adding contemporary risk issues and more flexible delivery options. It's fresh, current and easy to use," added Martell.

The newest version of CLB is now available. Each of the four delivery options includes specific instructions for implementing the course materials. CLB is ideally suited for entry-level and mid-career commercial lenders and credit analysts; credit administration staff; loan review staff; and management trainees. The training has also proven effective for officers in international lending; regional loan administration; credit policy; business development; and other departments that support the commercial lending function.

About Omega Performance
Omega Performance has enabled more than 2,500 firms worldwide to drive and sustain improved business results. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Informa plc (INF on the London Stock Exchange), the leading international provider of specialist information and services for the academic and scientific, professional, and commercial business communities. Informa has over 150 offices in more than 40 countries and employs over 7,000 staff around the world. Omega Performance is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., USA, with major offices in Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.