“U.S. Restaurant Industry Update” Featured on CIT`s “Executive Spotlight” Series

NEW YORK–(Business Wire)–
Fast-casual restaurants and large chains are positioned for growth and
investment, while traditional casual restaurants and smaller chains face a more
challenging financial picture, according to Bob Bielinski, Managing Director,
Corporate Finance – Restaurant Industry Practice for CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT),
a leading provider of financing to small businesses and middle market companies.
This is just one of the insights Bielinski offers in “U.S. Restaurant Industry
Update,”the latest in a series of in-depth executive Q&As featured in CIT`s
“Executive Spotlight” series (http://executive-spotlight.cit.com).

Bielinski explains the restaurant industry`s important role in the U.S. economy,
saying, “On any given day, more than 130 million people are served by the
foodservice industry in America. Restaurant industry jobs are critical entry
level positions and provided a first job for more than 25% of adults in America.
According to the National Restaurant Association, the industry employs
approximately 12.7 million people or 9% of the U.S. workforce.”

He goes on to identify which restaurant concepts are finding it easiest to
obtain capital, noting, “Fast-casual brands have not had a problem raising
capital, as long as the type of capital (debt or equity) is appropriate for the
company`s stage of development. I think that consumers are looking for higher
quality product and more convenience in their lives; thus the rise of
fast-casual concepts. There are many chains in the fast-casual space that have
tremendous growth potential and several larger ones with enough stores to
provide assurance to lenders of getting repaid.”

Individuals interested in receiving future updates on CIT via e-mail can
register at http://newsalerts.cit.com

About CIT

Founded in 1908 and headquartered in New York City, CIT (NYSE: CIT) is a bank
holding company with approximately $45 billion in finance and leasing assets
that provides financial products and advisory services to small and middle
market businesses. Operating in more than 50 countries across 30 industries, CIT
provides an unparalleled combination of relationship, intellectual, and
financial capital to its customers worldwide. CIT maintains leadership positions
in small business and middle market lending, factoring, retail finance,
aerospace, equipment and rail leasing, and vendor finance. www.cit.com

CIT MEDIA RELATIONS:
C. Curtis Ritter, 212-461-7711
Vice President
Director of External Communications & Media Relations
Curt.Ritter@cit.com
or
CIT INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Ken Brause, 212-771-9650
Executive Vice President
Ken.Brause@cit.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Clarke’s fate as T20 skipper to be decided next week

Melbourne, May 19 (ANI): Michael Clarke’s future as Australia’s Twenty20 captain will be decided next week, after his dismal performance with the bat during the World Cup in the Caribbean.

Victoria captain Cameron White, who led his side to the Big Bash title, is being tipped to be the new Australian Twent20 skipper after incumbent Clarke’s tenure comes under review over his suspect batting in the shortest version of the game.

Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch’s first job when he returns home from the Caribbean will be to hold a telephone conversation with his fellow selectors to pick Australia’s three teams for a tour of Britain, including the squad for two Twenty20 games against Pakistan.

That meeting is likely to be held at the weekend, The Age reports.

Clarke is sure to face further scrutiny of his tenure as a Twenty20 batsman and captain after his admission that the selectors “will have to have a look at my performances”, which he conceded were “not up to scratch”.

Clarke is favoured to assume the Test and one-day leadership when Ricky Ponting retires, but the issue of his Twenty20 form has become so sensitive that Cricket Australia officials have refused to discuss it until the selectors name captains for the England tour, which also includes two Tests against Pakistan and five one-dayers against England, the paper said.

Clarke has conceded that his position must come under review following Australia’s seven-wicket loss to archrivals England. He finished with 92 runs in the tournament at 15.33. White on the other hand scored 180 runs at 45, with a strike rate of 146.34 compared with Clarke’s strike rate of 80.7.

It is a difficult consideration for the selectors because of Clarke’s astute leadership and excellent winning record as captain. But his not holding his place in the Twenty20 team as a batsman is proving to be a critical weakness. (ANI)

‘Brain music’ may help treat insomnia, fatigue

Washington, Apr 25 (ANI): Every brain composes a soundtrack. Its tempo and tone differ, depending on mood and frame of mind. Now, researchers at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) believe that the cerebral music can help in dealing with insomnia and fatigue in the aftermath of a stressful experience.

The Dept of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S and T) has begun a study into a form of neurotraining called “Brain Music” that uses music created in advance from listeners’ own brain waves to help them deal with common ailments that stem from stressful environments.

The concept of Brain Music is to use the frequency, amplitude, and duration of musical sounds to move the brain from an anxious state to a more relaxed state.

“Strain comes with an emergency response job, so we are interested in finding ways to help these workers remain at the top of their game when working and get quality rest when they go off a shift,” said S and T Program Manager Robert Burns.

“Our goal is to find new ways to help first responders perform at the highest level possible, without increasing tasks, training, or stress levels,” the expert added.

If the brain “composes” the music, the first job of scientists is to take down the notes, and that is exactly what Human Bionics LLC of Purcellville, VA does. Each recording is converted into two unique musical compositions designed to trigger the body’s natural responses, for example, by improving productivity while at work, or helping adjust to constantly changing work hours.

The compositions are clinically shown to promote one of two mental states in each individual: relaxation – for reduced stress and improved sleep; and alertness – for improved concentration and decision-making. Each 2-6 minute track is a composition performed on a single instrument, usually a piano.

The relaxation track may sound like a “melodic, subdued Chopin sonata,” while the alertness track may have “more of a Mozart sound,” says Burns. (It seems there’s a classical genius-or maybe two genii-in all of us.

After their brain waves are set to music, each person is given a specific listening schedule, personalized to their work environment and needs. If used properly, the music can boost productivity and energy levels, or trigger a body’s natural responses to stress.

The music created by Human Bionics LLC is being tested as part of the S and T Readiness Optimization Program (ROP), a wellness program that combines nutrition education and neurotraining to evaluate a cross population of first responders, including federal agents, police, and firefighters. (ANI)