Just as your pulse is checked during a routine physical, free cash flow is used as an indicator of a company's health. It equals the cash brought in from operations minus the money needed to pay the bills. Think about leftover money in your checking account after you pay this month's bills.

Investors and analysts see this leftover money as a gauge of a company's ability to perform. It is available for transactions such as handing out dividends and working on new products.

Some argue free cash flow is wrongly overshadowed by the emphasis often placed on earnings. Earnings numbers can be manipulated and don't always tell the whole story -- and earnings don't mean much if there's nothing left over after a company pays its expenses. Even if you bring in a six-figure salary, but no money left after paying the bills, are you in great financial shape?

You don't have to be Einstein to figure out free cash flow. To calculate the number, subtract the company's expenditures and dividends from its operating cash flow.

If the free cash flow is written in red ink, it doesn't necessarily signal curtains. This is common for young companies looking to grow. It also could be a result of heavy investments, which in the long run could be worth a standing ovation.

Home / Markets / Industries / Technology

Monday, October 06, 2008

Leverage Inc. Announces Success and Value of Bankruptcy Insurance Policy During Economic Downturn

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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. & SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct 06, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----RBID.com Inc.'s (Pink Sheets:RBDC) new business affiliate, Leverage Inc., today announced the remarkable media attention garnered and consumer value of their bankruptcy insurance policy. Leverage's(R) bankruptcy insurance policy guarantees that all gift cards with a verifiable balance purchased through LeverageCard.com can be exchanged for a gift card of the same value from Leverage's(R) merchant network in the event of the retailer's bankruptcy.

Since the initial announcement of their policy, Leverage(R) has secured press in significant publications relating to the innovative consumer offering, including The Wall Street Journal, KNBC.com, the Orange County Register, and TheStreet.com. Leverage has also seen a significant increase in gift card revenue following the implementation of the policy. Consumer benefits like this combined with other upcoming business and charity partnerships should enable Leverage to achieve mid six-figure revenues by the end of 2008 and mid seven-figure revenues in 2009 from gift card sales alone.

"We are delighted with the amount of press coverage we've received due to our bankruptcy insurance policy, but more so thrilled that we can provide a service of such value to consumers," said Mark Roberts, CEO of Leverage Inc. "During difficult economic times, we at Leverage(R) believe it's important to supply consumers with a means to utilize everything in their wallet. We feel people shouldn't have to suffer when retailers declare bankruptcy -- they have the right to use their hard-earned dollars, not lose them."

"One of the reasons we enjoy working with Leverage(R) is because they are relentlessly creating innovative and practical ways to bring value to their users and build customer loyalty," states Alan Rothman. "We project that this is the type of approach to business that will continue to propel Leverage(R) to the forefront of the retail and commerce sector, further increasing their value to our shareholders."

About Leverage Inc.

Leverage Inc. provides a free personal web application for users to manage their offers and savings, gift cards, and loyalty/rewards programs online. Leverage(R) customers have access to a single application that allows them to purchase, track and exchange gift cards, earn interest on gift card balances with complimentary bankruptcy insurance, manage loyalty and reward programs, and receive highly targeted offers and savings from retailers. Furthermore, Leverage(R) allows businesses to deliver offers and marketing messages in a non-interruptive and completely transparent way at the very moment customers are preparing to shop.

Privately held and based in Santa Ana, California, Leverage Inc. can be found at https://www.LeverageCard.com.

About RBID.com

RBID.com, Inc. (http://www.rbid.com) is a financial IT and marketing company. RBID also facilitates the acquisition, commercialization, promotion and protection of emerging patented and/or proprietary technologies. RBID.com, Inc. has the exclusive US and European licensing and distribution rights to the home budgeting software, Simply Budgets (www.simplybudgets.com).

"SAFE HARBOR"

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933, and are subject to Rule 3B-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All Statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and other results and further events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: RBID.com, Inc.

 RBID.com, Inc., Newport Beach, CA Mairead Howe, 1-949-851-4733 mairead@rbid.com or
   Leverage Inc., Santa Ana, CA 1-949-863-9344 pr@leveragecard.com