Charley

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The toll free number, 1-800-COMPANY, was acquired today by a document filing company that forms corporations, LLCs and trusts for $10 million. The associated website that promotes the company's services, www.1800company.com, was recently launched as well.

The acquiring party is associated with Companies Incorporated (www.companiesinc.com) a corporation and LLC formation service that started business in 1977. The toll free number and website will be operated under newly formed 1-800-COMPANY, LLLP based in Santa Clarita, Calif. Santa Clarita touches the northern border of Los Angeles. 1-800-COMPANY, LLLP will be managed by Lincoln International Services, Inc. established in 1908. The 1908 company was acquired from a federal attorney who recently retired from the company formation business.

"We are excited about the new brand," says CEO Kevin Wessell. "1-800-COMPANY® is a memorable brand name that, promoted properly, will breed in instant recognition and will allow us to serve more customers."

Mr. Wessell adds, "We acquired the company that holds the toll free number along with an associated domain name and the trademark. Then we acquired additional relevant domain names. Now we have all pieces of the puzzle in place. Just to clarify," Wessell adds, "the larger transaction was between two of our companies for tax reasons and to set a value on the brand. So, we acquired the individual pieces from various outside parties for a hefty sum but a bit less than the numbers that are being tossed about in the media. We see a tremendous growth of the enterprise with the addition of this valuable new brand."

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IAmAllanShore

The real purchase value was obviously much, much less than $10mm. The value reported is an internal number that is being used for tax purposes and a way to shelter liability as well as to value the brand/IP in addition to and yet separate from that of the business.

A good example of a similar structure would be Arby's (Everyone's favorite IP bully ) - the TM/Copyright notice will always be in the form of: "TM and C Arby's IP Holder Trust" which was formed by a move of the IP into a new company.

Can't beat the PR, but it is 90% hype, at least

-Allan

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