Robert P. Liscouski Joins Viscount Systems' Board of Directors

BURNABY, British Columbia, Sep 14, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Viscount Systems Inc. VSYS +8.80% a high technology supplier of security systems and software, today announced the addition of Robert P. Liscouski to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Liscouski is currently a partner at Secure Strategy Group, LLC and serves on the board of several public and private security companies. He was the first Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection for the Department of Homeland Security, serving from March 2003 to February 2005, reporting directly to then Secretary Tom Ridge. He commanded over a $500 million annual budget and was responsible for coordinating authority over the protection of all sectors of the nation's physical and cybersecurity infrastructure, including energy, food, water, public health, transportation, and hazardous materials, as well as key assets such as national monuments, nuclear power plants, and dams. His private sector experience includes Chief Information Officer for The Coca-Cola Company and V.P., Law Enforcement Division, for ORION Scientific Systems. Mr. Liscouski's government experience includes 11 years with the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State and five years criminal investigative experience as a homicide and narcotics investigator in Bergen County, N.J. He is a Senior Fellow at the Center of Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. and is an advisor to the U.S. Government on technology matters. Mr. Liscouski holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, and a Masters of Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Stephen Pineau, Viscount Systems' Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Robert Liscouski is a superior addition to our Board. His experience and profile in the security industry, at the highest levels of the government and private sector, will bring enormous value to our Company. We are honored that he has agreed to join our Board of Directors."

Mr. Liscouski remarked, "I am pleased and excited to join the Board of Directors of Viscount Systems. After spending several months reviewing the company's products, I have concluded that Viscount's technologies are the future of merging physical and IT security systems. I look forward to assisting the company by introducing business opportunities that leverage its technology and intellectual property."

About Viscount Systems

Viscount Systems Inc., designs unified software platforms for building security and emergency planning. The company was recently awarded the 2011 Convergence Solution of the Year by the Security Industry Association (SIA) and the Platinum Award for Emergency Response and Gold Award for Access Control at GOVSEC 2011. Additional information on Viscount's products may be obtained on-line at http://www.viscount.com .

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of Viscount Systems Inc., nor shall there be any sale of any such security in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

Forward looking statements: This press release and other statements by Viscount Systems Inc. may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act with respect to the outlook for earnings and revenues, other future financial or business performance, strategies and expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "estimate," "position," "assume," "potential," "outlook," "continue," "remain," "maintain," and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or similar expressions.

Stable Yard Security

Financial statements are available from the company's registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2002, which may be viewed at www.sec.gov or the company's web site www.viscount.com under the heading "Investor Relations". For further information, or to be placed on email NEWS ALERT please e-mail to investors@viscount.com or call Foothills Group, San Jose Ca 888-516-7415, www.foothillsgroup.com .

Higher property insurance not related to recent wildfires

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) -

Higher homeowners insurance rates may be in store. State farm, the state's largest insurer, is requesting rate hikes and changes to deductibles, but according to state insurance regulators disasters are not a direct link to higher rates.

"Some people might fear that their rates will go up because of recent disasters, but the truth is those kinds of events are averaged in over the long haul," says Jerry Hagins, with the Texas Department of Insurance.

On the heels of numerous natural disasters, State Farm plans to increase homeowner rates an average of 9.6 percent in October and enact a one percent deductible starting in December.

Volume and cost of claims are factors, but not from the most recent fires.

"For instance, in the spring we had a rash of wildfires and , of course, the Texas hail storms and for those events State Farm paid claims totaling more than $350-million," says Kevin Davis, a State Farm Spokesperson.

Right now a house insured for $200,000 with a $1,000 deductible and a $10,000 claim would collect $9,000. After the 1 percent deductible, only $8,000 would be collected.

The premium changes depend on lots of variables including home construction type, age, and claim experience.

"About 43% of our customers' policy holders will actually not see any changes or any natural decreases in their homeowners bill, their actually premium," says Davis.

The changes are not necessarily industry wide. Each company's financial strength varies.

State farms' proposed changes are currently under review by Texas Insurance Regulators.

Insurance professionals advise consumers to have annual reviews with their agent, no matter what company carries the homeowners insurance.

Fixed and offset deals go on offer from Abbey

Abbey for Intermediaries has launched an offset and a five-year fixed-rate mortgage, its managing director has said.

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The flexible offset mortgage has a rate of 2.95 per cent, which is equivalent to the Bank of England base rate plus 2.45 per cent, according to Miguel Sard.

It has a £995 fee and a loan-to-value ratio of up to 75 per cent for homebuyers and remortgagers. It also allows overpayments, underpayments, payment holidays and offers a funds facility.

The five-year fixed-rate mortgage has a 3.99 per cent rate at 75 per cent LTV and a £495 fee.

However, the rates range from 3.79 per cent for deposits of at least 30 per cent, to 5.69 per cent for an LTV ratio of 85 per cent.

Both products come with AFI’s homebuyer or remortgage solution. The homebuyer solution offers borrowers the a free standard mortgage valuation and £250 cashback on completion, while the remortgage solution offers a free standard mortgage valuation, and either free legal fees or £250 cashback on completion.

Lee Fisher, director for Lancashire-based Fisher and Company Financial Services, said the rates were competitive and the offset product was particularly attractive because interest rates are so low.

He said: “The only downside with offset deals is that they sometimes come with a higher fee or rate. However, offset mortgages are often a good option, and can be particularly useful for self-employed clients who might have a large sum of money in the bank, perhaps to pay a future tax bill.”

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