Hilco and Active International Announce Strategic Alliance to Broaden Product Offerings and Financial Solutions for Clients

NORTHBROOK, Illinois and PEARL RIVER YORK, New York, February 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- Alliance Provides Clients with Additional Flexibility and Disposition Options for Excess Assets

Jeffrey B. Hecktman, Chairman and CEO of Hilco Trading, LLC, ("Hilco") and Alan S. Elkin, Co-Founder and CEO of Active International, ("Active") today announced a strategic alliance between the companies to market corporate trading services, worldwide.

Under terms of the alliance, Hilco and Active will contribute their financial resources and intellectual capital to generate new corporate trading business opportunities, establish a presence in new markets and develop new services based on the corporate trading model.

Companies with surplus and undervalued assets are able to sell them through a corporate trading transaction and recover full value where they might otherwise recover only partial value through traditional asset disposition methodologies. Central to a corporate trade transaction is the "trade credit," which has the same dollar value as cash and is used to purchase advertising media or ordinary course business goods and services.

"We have long known and respected Active for their corporate trading expertise, which Hilco can now offer alongside or, in many cases, in combination with our existing platform of asset monetization solutions. Hilco's ability to maximize asset value for clients will increase substantially," said Jeffrey Hecktman.

"Active's business model is built on a foundation of delivering value and Hilco is known as the leader in their industry by delivering value through best-in-class services. Together, we will be the only global source for delivering a fully-integrated and flexible platform of asset monetization strategies," said Alan Elkin.

Collectively, Active and Hilco already have established offices in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the U.K., France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Australia, Japan and Dubai. Based on the strength of their combined service offerings and extended capabilities, the two enterprises are uniquely positioned to expand their service offerings, providing a more diversified suite of financial solutions designed to meet a wider range of client needs.

About Hilco

Hilco (Hilco Trading, LLC) is a diversified financial and operational services firm whose principal competency is understanding and monetizing the value of business assets, including retail, consumer and industrial inventory, machinery and equipment, real estate, accounts receivable and intellectual property. Through an integrated platform of more than 20 business units in North America and Europe, Hilco helps companies and their professional advisors derive the maximum value for said assets through appraisals, asset disposition and acquisition services, private equity investment and consulting services. Hilco serves retailers, wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, private equity firms, hedge funds, investment banks, law firms, turnaround professionals, accounting professionals, bankruptcy trustees and receivers. For more information, visit: http://www.hilcotrading.com.

About Active International

Active International is a global corporate trade company that helps companies leverage assets for multi-platform media, marketing, retail, travel, shipping and freight solutions. Using our widely accepted trade credits, brands around the world purchase mission-critical services and products from within our expansive offerings. As the industry leader, Active has delivered a strategic advantage and measurable results to its clients for 26 years. http://www.activeinternational.com.

    
    Contact:

    Hilco Trading
    Richard L. Kaye
    Executive Vice President
    +1-847-418-2711
    rkaye@hilcotrading.com

    Active International
    Jim Porcarelli
    Chief Strategy Officer
    +1-845-732-8700
    JPorcare@activeinternational.com