ADA, Okla., April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the
recent announcement of the proposed merger acquisition by MidOcean
Partners, Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE: PPD) will march into
the 2011 International Convention in Oklahoma City, April
7-9 with an ambitious agenda that focuses on both the future
of the company and its history as a pioneer of the U.S. legal
service plan industry.
"This is a pivotal year for Pre-Paid Legal Services," said PPD
Founder and Chairman of the Board Harland C. Stonecipher. "Over the
past 39 years Pre-Paid Legal has established itself as both a
leader in the legal service plan industry and as a company that
offers individuals the opportunity to own their own business," he
said.
"As we look toward the fourth decade, Pre-Paid Legal will
continue to provide quality legal services to the public while
pursuing our corporate mission of 'equal justice under the law,'"
Stonecipher said.
Among the highlights for the 2011 event, will be a series of
presentations by MidOcean Partners' executives concerning plans for
the company following the completion of the acquisition.
In addition, Jim Stovall,
president of Narrative Television Network, and the co-producer of
the film, "The Lamp," will discuss the film and how PPD will
utilize the production in charity fundraising events over the
coming months. Stovall will be joined on stage by Oscar winner
Lou Gossett Jr., who stars in the
film. Chairman Stonecipher has a cameo role in the film, along with
CEO Steve Forbes of Forbes magazine
and CEO Paula Marshall of the Bama
Companies.
An estimated 11,000 PPD independent sales associates and guests,
along with attorneys from PPD's 38 independent provider law firms,
will attend the event at the Cox Convention Center. Dignitaries who
will address the attendees include: U.S. Congressman (Oklahoma's 4th District) Tom Cole, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt.
The 2011 International Convention marks the 11th time the event
has been hosted in the capital city. Mayor Mick Cornett, who in past years has appeared
before the Pre-Paid Legal conferees, once again welcomes the
attendees to Oklahoma City.
"Pre-Paid Legal is a home-grown Oklahoma success story and I welcome the
company's associates from throughout the U.S. and parts of
Canada to Oklahoma City. Each year, the company stages
one of Oklahoma City's largest
conventions, adding millions of dollars to the city's economy,"
Mayor Cornett said.
The PPD International Convention is an annual event organized to
offer training and development activities to help associates
develop specific sales and recruitment skills and to recognize
associate success in business development.
Pre-Paid Legal has approximately 600 employees at its corporate
headquarters in Ada and an
additional 50 employees in Antlers and 80 employees in Duncan.
About PPD
We believe our products are one of a kind, life events legal
service plans. Our plans provide for legal service benefits
provided through a network of independent law firms across the U.S.
and Canada, and include unlimited
attorney consultation, will preparation, traffic violation defense,
automobile-related criminal charges defense, letter writing,
document preparation and review and a general trial defense
benefit. We have an identity theft restoration product we think is
also one of a kind due to the combination of our identity theft
restoration partner and our provider law firms. More information
about us and our products can be found at our homepage at
http://www.prepaidlegal.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release, other than purely historical
information, regarding our future plans and objectives and expected
operating results, dividends and share repurchases and statements
of the assumptions underlying such statements, constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements
contained herein are based on certain assumptions that may not be
correct. They are subject to risks and uncertainties incident to
our business that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks
and uncertainties are described in the reports and statements filed
by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including (among
others) those listed in our Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K.
Please refer to pages 20 - 23 of our 2010 Form 10-K for a more
complete description of these risks. Additionally, these risks and
uncertainties may include changes in associate recruitment and
member retention. We undertake no duty to update any of the
forward-looking statements in this release.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the merger, Pre-Paid will prepare a proxy
statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC"). When completed, a definitive proxy statement and a
form of proxy will be mailed to Pre-Paid's shareholders. BEFORE
MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, PRE-PAID'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO
READ THE PROXY STATEMENT REGARDING THE MERGER CAREFULLY AND IN ITS
ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE
PROPOSED MERGER. Pre-Paid's shareholders will be able to obtain
without charge, a copy of the proxy statement (when available) and
other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC's website
at www.sec.gov. Pre-Paid's shareholders will also be able to
obtain, without charge, a copy of the proxy statement and other
relevant documents (when available) by directing a request by mail
or telephone to Pre-Paid Legal, Attn: Randy
Harp, One Pre-Paid Way, Ada,
Oklahoma 74820, telephone: (580) 436-1234, or the investor
relations section of the Company's website:
http://www.prepaidlegal.com/newCorp2/investor/investor_home.html
SOURCE Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.