The Needlers Foundation raises funds to assist and support the needs of children who require sophisticated neurological treatments and skull restructuring but would otherwise not be able to get this care. The Foundation is totally non-denominational and has assisted children locally and around the world from numerous cultures.

A New Membership gathering will be held July 13th at Arnos Restaurant at 5:30-7:30; please RSVP to join and to learn more about The Needlers Foundation.                    

RSVP to:

Jack Hendler

President, The Needlers Foundation

Co-CEO, Avalon Net Worth

212-278-8200

jhendler@avalonnetworth.com

Zurich, Switzerland – June 2, 2016: Balluun Ltd (“Balluun”), a Swiss based B2B technology company, announced today that it has signed a binding agreement with a leading consortium of high profile institutional investors (the “Investors”), led by Global Emerging Markets (“GEM”) granting Balluun a CHF 40 million committed Share Subscription Facility (the “SSF”) as of the date Balluun lists its common shares on the SIX Swiss Exchange, which is expected to be completed in Q4 2016.

Arranged $50 Million Private Equity Raise for North American Recovery Management, with intention to acquire a decommissioned paper mill in Maine. The company is in the business of acquiring improvements to commercial real estate assets, managing the demolition, and selling its commodity contents to generate profits. (Link)

KPMG Makes Significant Contribution to WomenCorporateDirectors

Avalon Securities is pleased to announce that its client, WomenCorporateDirectors (WCD), the largest global community of women corporate board directors with 3,500+ members serving on more than 7,000 boards around the world, is now the WomenCorporateDirectors Education and Development Foundation, Inc. (the WCD Foundation), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. To make this possible, U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP (KPMG), purchased the assets of WCD and contributed them to the WCD Foundation. This contribution, along with increased pro-bono services to be provided by KPMG, marks an expansion for WCD and its capabilities.

“KPMG is making this investment because we embrace the WCD Foundation’s focus on increasing boardroom diversity and advancing leading practices in corporate governance – areas our organization is committed to as well,” said KPMG U.S. Chairman and CEO Lynne Doughtie. “This development -- a continuation of our long-standing relationship with WCD -- will help propel the growth of the WCD Foundation, enabling it to expand its resources and influence in the global business community.”

Susan Stautberg will remain Chairman and CEO of the WCD Foundation. The WCD Foundation will be based in West Palm Beach, FL. “At this point, we are poised for the next level of growth,” said Stautberg, co-founder of WCD and CEO of the WCD Foundation. “In our 15-year history, WCD has become a highly sought-after destination for business leaders seeking to improve their knowledge and skills, and our WCD members and our corporate sponsors and research partners around the world want us to scale up.”

Stautberg continued, “With the support of KPMG – which has been a global lead sponsor of WCD for the past ten years – the WCD Foundation can strengthen its mission to advance best practices in corporate governance, and expand our vision of placing more women on boards and supporting them once they are in the boardroom.”

Under this new structure, the WCD Foundation will expand the existing WCD resources to benefit members and support growth in a number of areas: Increased support of WCD’s 70 chapters worldwide, with seven to eight more chapters to come in the next year. Last year alone, WCD added more than 500 members and launched new chapters from Mongolia, Spain, Kenya and Guatemala to four new chapters in the U.S. More educational and networking events for directors – such as WCD’s prominent Global Institute and other regional Institutes in Asia, Europe, and the Americas – as well as an expansion of OnBoard Bootcamps and other programs for new directors.

Lynda Davey, CEO of Avalon Securities, noted that “we were extremely honored to be selected as WCD’s exclusive financial advisor. We are especially pleased that the transaction structured with KPMG will allow WCD’s continued growth and the creation of increased services for its worldwide members.”

KPMG’s commitment to women’s leadership

KPMG’s support of the WCD Foundation represents a continuation of KPMG’s long-standing relationship with WCD in numerous areas, including chapter launches, global and regional Institutes, event programming, and thought leadership. KPMG partners and professionals have been active in providing support to WCD chapters in more than 60 cities. Most recently, KPMG sponsored the development of the 2015 WCD Thought Leadership Council report on Family Business Governance and the inaugural Family Business Governance Institute held in New York in May. KPMG will become the Global Lead Sponsor of the WCD Foundation.

“We’re excited about the possibilities this development creates for WCD and its members throughout the world,” said KPMG Global Chairman John Veihmeyer. “We remain committed to continuing to help the WCD Foundation expand internationally, providing increased opportunities for women to serve on boards across the globe.”

Continued commitment from additional corporate sponsors Spencer Stuart, JPMorgan Chase, Coca-Cola, Diligent, Marsh & McLennan, McGraw Hill, and Pearl Meyer & Partners are a number of companies who will continue their sponsorship and support to the WCD Foundation.

“Each month, WCD’s momentum is growing,” said Stautberg. “We are making a significant and measurable impact on getting more women into board seats, as board chairmen and nominating committee heads are coming to us for leads on qualified directors. And, just as important, we are providing a much-needed community of fellow women directors – both in regions with a longer history of having women on boards as well as in countries where women directors are truly pioneers.”

“As women around the world gain more presence in corporate boardrooms, the additional resources brought through this development uniquely position the WCD Foundation to deliver even more strategic value to its members,” commented Julie Hembrock Daum, North American Board Practice Leader at Spencer Stuart, a global sponsor of the WCD Foundation and its upcoming global board survey.

“Pearl Meyer values our relationship with the WCD Foundation and continues to benefit from the opportunity to network with its members and to share ideas and new thinking about best practices in corporate and compensation governance,” said Melissa Means, Managing Director at Pearl Meyer, which is a sponsor for WCD’s Thought Leadership Council reports, including the 2014 report on executive compensation.

About WomenCorporateDirectors Education and Development Foundation, Inc. (WCD)

The WomenCorporateDirectors Education and Development Foundation, Inc. (The WCD Foundation) is the only global membership organization and community of women corporate directors, with more than 3,500 members serving on more than 7,000 boards. A 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the WCD Foundation has 70 chapters around the world, with seven more to launch over the next year. The aggregate market capitalization of public companies on whose boards WCD Foundation members serve is over $8 trillion. In addition, WCD Foundation members serve on numerous boards of large private and family-run companies globally.

WCD Foundation membership provides a unique platform for learning from the intellectual capital of accomplished women from around the world, and the WCD Foundation’s mission is to increase courage, candor, inclusion, and cohesion in the boardroom.

The WCD Foundation has 70 global chapters, located in Arizona, Atlanta, Beijing, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Chile, Cleveland, Colombia, Columbus, Dallas/Fort Worth, Delhi, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greater Colorado, Greater New Mexico, Guatemala, Gulf Cooperation Council, Hanoi, Hawaii, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Houston, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kansas City, Kenya, London, Los Angeles/Orange County, Malaysia, Melbourne, Mexico, Milan, Minnesota, Mongolia, Morocco, Mumbai, Netherlands, New York, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern California, North Florida/South Georgia, Panama, Peru, Philadelphia, Philippines, Quebec, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, San Diego, Sao Paulo, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, South Africa, South Florida, Spain, Switzerland, Sydney, Tampa, Tennessee, Toronto, Turkey, Washington, D.C, and Western Canada.

For more information visit www.womencorporatedirectors.comor follow us on Twitter @WomenCorpDirs, #WCDboards.

About KPMG LLP

KPMG is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, providing innovative business solutions and audit, tax and advisory services to many of the world’s largest and most prestigious organizations.

KPMG is the fastest growing Big Four professional services firm in the United States and is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. For the eighth time in nine years, KPMG was named one of the country’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” by Fortune magazine, advancing 17 spots on this prestigious annual list to become the highest ranked of any Big Four firm. KPMG LLP is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity with a global network of 162,000 professionals serving clients in 155 countries. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.

Our people share a sense of purpose in the work we do, and a strong commitment to community service, diversity and inclusion, and eradicating childhood illiteracy.

Learn more at www.kpmg.com/us.

About Avalon Net Worth

Avalon Net Worth and Avalon Securities, its FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, confidentially provide clients the quality and technical expertise of a major investment bank while maintaining the personal service and efficiency of a boutique firm. Since 1992, Avalon Securities has worked with high caliber, committed business owners, senior executives and entrepreneurs as they have expanded businesses, re-capitalized or re-organized firms, sold or purchased companies, and gained liquidity for themselves and their shareholders. Our clients have ranged from mid-market private companies to Fortune 500 companies to early stage firms. We are located in mid-town Manhattan with a domestic and international network of offices and representatives.

Avalon Net Worth's professionals combine over 300 years of investment banking, operating experience and investing insight. Our executives are major firm veterans who have identified and enhanced value for shareholders in a broad range of industries. As client advocates we have helped clients through many market cycles. We encourage you to contact us to discuss your individual situations and requirements.

To join Jack and play at this outstanding course or just donate to this great cause, please visit:http://www.needlers.org/NYC-Long-Island-Golf-Charity-Children-2015.html

The Needlers Foundation is a not-for-profit philanthropic organization, which contributes exclusively to children’s charities. It was founded approximately 50 years ago by a group of garment center executives to benefit children in need. The Needlers primary goal is raising funds and bringing awareness to benefit pediatric neurosurgery and to help sick and underprivileged children. Today, its membership includes those in allied industries as well as lawyers, CPAs, bankers, doctors and health care professionals who have helped raise millions of dollars for children’s charities.

Avalon Net Worth is pleased to announce that our client Scott Kay, Inc., a prominent designer of Fine Bridal and Fashion Jewelry for women and men, has been acquired by Frederick Goldman, Inc.

Avalon Net worth Co-CEO Lynda Davey to speak at the Women in the Boardroom event held Tuesday, November 18th from 3-6PM. (Link)

Los Angeles, California - We congratulate William Nix for his role as Executive Producer of the highly anticipated animated motion picture, Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet.

Avalon Securities is pleased to announce that our client Soft-Tex International, Inc. has received an equity investment from Hudson Ferry Capital.

New York, NY - (Press Release) - Hudson Ferry Capital is pleased to announce that it made an investment in Soft-Tex International, Inc. ("Soft-Tex") on May 16, 2014. (Link)

Avalon Net Worth is pleased to announce that our client Thro, Ltd., a producer of pillows, throws and other soft home products, has been sold to the Home Décor Companies, a portfolio company of Linsalata Capital Partners.

By EVAN CLARK

A PIECE OF JONES: The would-be bidders for pieces of The Jones Group Inc. are lining up, but the process — which is being run by Citi — is still focused on selling the entire apparel and footwear businesses separately or the whole company outright. Toronto-based Sherson Group, a longtime licensee of Jones' Nine West footwear brand, has hired investment bank Avalon Net Worth to pursue an acquisition of the moderate footwear business, which includes Nine West, Bandolino and other brands.

"They've engaged us to get to Jones and see whether we're able to extract that piece," said Jack Hendler, president of Avalon. "They want to make sure it falls into the right hands."

The licensee has some company in the wings. Delta Galil Industries Ltd. is also believed to be interested in buying the Gloria Vanderbilt business. And a source close to the situation said, "Every garmento in New York has come out of the woodwork" wanting a part of the company. The source cautioned that not all of the expressions of interest are credible.

FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Wet Seal, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTSLA), a leading specialty retailer to young women, announced the appointment of four new members to its Board of Directors and the appointment of Lynda J. Davey as Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors also established chairmen and members for the Nominating and Governance, Compensation and Audit committees of the Board.

New Board Members

Effective October 4, 2012, four new Directors joined the Company's Board of Directors: Dorrit M. Bern, Lynda J. Davey, Mindy C. Meads and John S. Mills. Today, Ms. Davey was appointed the Chairman of the Board. The newly appointed Directors filled four vacancies created by the resignations of Harold D. Kahn, Jonathan Duskin, Sidney M. Horn and Henry D. Winterstern. The new Directors joined continuing members Kathy Bronstein, John D. Goodman and Kenneth M. Reiss.

Lynda J. Davey has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avalon Group Ltd, a boutique investment bank, and Avalon Securities Ltd, one of the few woman-owned FINRA and SEC-registered broker-dealers, since she co-founded the companies in 1992. Prior to Avalon, Ms. Davey was President of Tribeca Corp., a merchant bank, and worked at Salomon Brothers Inc. Ms. Davey currently serves on the board and chairs the Audit Committee of the Girl Scouts Council of Greater New York and is a Manager of Verite Capital Partners, LLC, a private investment fund. She also served on the Advisory Council of Wells Fargo's Capital Finance Group and its predecessor entity, the Paragon Capital Retail Group. She has previously served as a board member and Chairman of the Audit Committee for ICTS International, and as a board member of Tuffy Associates Corp., Jane Cosmetics, and Textus Industries, Inc. In addition, Ms. Davey was a founding member of the Advisory Board of the Fashion Institute of Technology's Center for Design Innovation.

Ms. Davey commented, "On behalf of the all of the Company's new Directors, we are very pleased to be joining the Board of Directors of Wet Seal and look forward to working with the other members of the Board to assist in developing a strategic plan that will rejuvenate sales and improve profitability. Wet Seal has a strong heritage in the junior and young contemporary retail spaces, with a significant opportunity to achieve strong sales and earnings growth over the long term with the right leadership in place. With the inclusion of new members, the Board of Directors possesses extensive backgrounds in the apparel retail industry, including in the areas of operations, finance and merchandising, as well as experience in turnaround situations. I strongly believe that, collectively, we have the qualifications necessary to put Wet Seal on the path to recovery."

Dorrit M. Bern served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Charming Shoppes, Inc. from 1995 to 2008. During her tenure Ms. Bern grew the corporation from a $1 billion single-channel, bricks-and-mortar retailer, to a $3 billion multi-channel corporation. Prior to that time, Ms. Bern was Group Vice-President of women's apparel and home fashions for Sears, Roebuck and Co. Ms. Bern served on the board of directors of Southern Company, Brunswick Corporation and OfficeMax Inc. In addition, Ms. Bern was a trustee for Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, a REIT specializing in shopping malls and power centers in the eastern United States.

Mindy C. Meads held the position of President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Aeropostale, Inc. from 2007 to 2010, where she reinvigorated the merchandise assortment, strengthened the fashion value equation and led the development and successful launch of "P.S.," Aeropostale's Kids Division. Prior to this, Ms. Meads served as Chief Executive Officer of Lands' End, the apparel retailer that is now a division of Sears Holding Corporation. Prior to that time, Ms. Meads held a variety of executive merchandising and operating positions at Lands' End, Sears, Gymboree, The Limited and R.H. Macy's. She is a former director of the Federal Reserve Board for the 7th District (Chicago) and currently serves on the board of directors of Mela Sciences, Inc. and is a member of The Committee of 200, America's Women Business Leaders.

John S. Mills has served as President of SDE, a consulting firm that specializes in the retail sector, store operations and growth strategies, since 2006. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Chairman of the Board of G and G Stores Inc., a specialty retailer focused on teenage women. Prior to this, Mr. Mills served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Aeropostale Inc. From 1994 to 1998, he held several executive positions in operations for Federated Specialty Stores. Mr. Mills has served as a private advisor to Cerberus Capital and Rosewood Capital and currently serves on the boards of directors of Marc Ecko Enterprises, and VILLA, Inc., an apparel and footwear retailer.

Board Committee Chairmen and Members

Ms. Meads has been appointed chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board, which includes Ms. Bronstein, Mr. Reiss and Mr. Goodman as members.

Ms. Bern has been appointed chairman of the Compensation Committee of the Board, which includes Ms. Bronstein, Mr. Mills, Ms. Davey and Ms. Meads as members.

Lastly, Mr. Reiss will continue to serve as the chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board, which includes Ms. Bern, Mr. Goodman and Mr. Mills as members.

NEW CASTLE, Del. -- ScripsAmerica Inc. (OTCBB:SCRC), a leading supplier of prescription, OTC and nutraceutical drugs, today announced that the Company has secured $1,000,000 in financing which it will use to develop, manufacture and distribute its RapiMed brand of children's pain reliever and other core business products.

ScripsAmerica has concurrently entered into two financing agreements with Development 72, LLC in order to acquire $1,000,000 in total funding. Development 72, LLC is a Florida-based private equity fund managed by Board Member of ScripsAmerica, Andrius Pranskevicius, that is focused on funding high potential companies in the Healthcare and Information Technology industries,

The first agreement entered into by ScripsAmerica is a four-year term $500,000 loan promissory note issued by Development 72, LLC while the second is a purchase order financing agreement that will be used to purchase orders of the Company's core business products. Purchase order financing involves a third party finance company paying for production, materials and 'work in progress' in exchange for a standard fee. This type of financing will allow ScripsAmerica to finance up to 100% of its supplier costs, enabling the Company to deliver more and larger orders.

CEO of ScripsAmerica, Bob Schneiderman, stated, "ScripsAmerica is very pleased to secure the funding necessary to ensure a successful product launch of RapiMed, currently slated for the first quarter of next year. The terms of this financing demonstrate the confidence that Development 72 has in our RapiMed line due to its unique rapid melting technology and ScripsAmerica's subsequent ability to generate revenue upon its launch."

"The company can now implement the most effective strategies for the development, manufacturing and marketing of RapiMed leading up to the launch without cash constraints, enabling us to grow faster and focus on meeting market demand. This financing also enables ScripsAmerica to direct its own cash resources and profit from product sales into other business areas such as marketing and new product development in the future," continued Schneiderman.

(Crain's New York Business) - In a looming liquidation, all 19 locations—including eight Manhattan stores that each exceed 10,000 square feet—will be up for grabs. The end comes after 51 years in business. (Link)

(Press Release) - Two well known Mid Market M&A firms do for themselves what they have done for many others; Merge to create Strategic Strength!

Avalon Group Ltd., a twenty year old investment bank and strategic advisory firm, and Net Worth Solutions, a well established 20 year old consumer goods and retail merger and acquisition firm, announced that they have reached an agreement to merge. The combined firm will operate under the Avalon registered broker dealer umbrella to provide additional financial services and operating expertise to both public and private fashion, retail and consumer product companies. Net Worth has long been a leading advisor in the retail and fashion space, comments Lynda Davey, Avalon CEO and Founder. I've had the pleasure of partnering with them in the past and look forward to a very successful future as we move forward as one.

Net Worth Solutions has been advising both healthy and stressed companies in M&A transactions for over 20 years. Notable transactions include Buster Brown Shoes, Bill Blass Outerwear, Joan & David, New York Laundry and the sale of Warnaco's White Stage brand to Wal-Mart Stores.

Avalon Securities, Avalon's FINRA registered broker dealer has enhanced shareholder value by completing private placements and strategic M&A and restructuring assignments for both public and private companies. Avalon's team brings both extensive financial skills and specific operating knowledge to transactions in the health services, life sciences, energy, retail, distribution, media, consumer product, manufacturing, hospitality and financial services industries. Avalon's clients have included Reliance National Insurance, Cubic Energy (NYSE:CUB), ICTS International NV (ICTSF.OB), and Cytomedix, Inc. (CMXI.OB) as well as household names such as London Fog, Jane Cosmetics, Frederick's of Hollywood (NYSE:FOH) and Tempur-Pedic International (NYSE:TPX). It's going to be an exciting journey being with Avalon, adds Net Worth Founder and President, Jack Hendler. I look forward to leveraging the broad industry knowledge of Lynda's team to better assist our fashion and retail clients. It permits us to bring private placement services to the public and private companies operating in the Fashion Community worldwide. About Net Worth Solutions, Inc.

Net Worth Solutions, Inc., a fashion and retail M&A firm advising healthy and stressed companies seeking liquidity transactions or strategic partnerships, was formed to give business owners the security and confidence of working veterans who bring operational and financial expertise to engagments. The firm expanded services include brand management licensing. . Net Worth interfaces with business owners and CEOs, acquisition groups, corporate finance contacts, commercial and investment bankers, and numerous other deal resources. These contacts provide access to an extensive network of transaction information.

(WWD) - Investment bank Avalon Group and advisory firm Net Worth Solutions Inc. struck a deal to merge and become Avalon Net Worth... (Link)

(FOOTWEAR NEWS) - "Golden Gate is a great private-equity firm," said Jack Hendler, president... (Link)

The American National Standard Institute (ANSI) announced today the release of the "Standardization Roadmap for Electric Vehicles", developed by the Institutes Electric Vehicles Standards Panel (EVSP). The "Standardization Roadmap" assesses the standards, codes, and regulations, as well as conformance and training programs, needed to facilitate the safe mass deployment of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure in the United States.

Avalon MD Peter Blumen is cited as a contributor to that report.

(WWD) - "They have a creative idea, and they just put it in the line whether or not it's realistic. They just go for it," said Jack Hendler, president... (Link)