Richmond, Virginia • July 1, 2003 – Tranzon LLC, a nationwide auction and accelerated marketing firm, has expanded its business in the U.S. southeast with the addition today of Tranzon Hagen.

Kim Hagen, president and CEO of Hagen Auction, in Carrollton, GA, now serves as regional president of Tranzon Hagen, which will concentrate on commercial, residential, agricultural and industrial real estate auctions as well as resort property auctions in the Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

Unlike many national auction and accelerated marketing firms that operate out of one or only a limited number of offices, Tranzon has a strategy centered on a team of professionals operating in the regional markets they serve. This local-national strategy provides Tranzon clients with the benefits of regional expertise supported with the resources of a national company with a proven track record of generating high numbers from the auctions they handle.

Hagen’s credentials are strong and add further value to the Tranzon team. He has established himself as an expert in land, timber and agricultural real estate and as a leading auctioneer and auction-marketing professional in the country.

Currently, he is president of the Board of Governors of the Auction Marketing Institute and is simultaneously serving a term as ex-officio member of the board of directors for the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). Other leadership positions in the auction industry include terms on the board of directors of the NAA as well as the North Georgia vice presidency of the Georgia Auctioneers Association.

The auction expert additionally serves as an instructor for the CAI designation of the Auction Marketing Institute and is a real estate instructor for the Mendendall School of Auctioneering in High Point, NC. Prior industry teaching posts include serving as an instructor for the Auction Marketing Institute’s Accredited Auctioneer Real Estate designation and the Graduate Auctioneer designation.

Kelly Hagen joins her husband in the business handling the marketing/ advertising side. A former paralegal with concentrated experience in bankruptcy law and creditor’s rights, Hagen knows the inner workings of bankruptcy courts – a valued asset for clients including trustees, banks and creditors. She holds a real estate sales associate license and serves as an instructor for the GAA designation of the Auction Marketing Institute. Additionally, she is an Accredited Auctioneer in Real Estate and is an involved member of the National Auctioneer’s Auxiliary.

Another key member of the Tranzon Hagen team is Freddy Rogers who has primary responsibilities for the Alabama market. Rogers has more than 30 years of experience in the auction industry and has been with Hagen since 1996. He has experience serving the U.S. Marshall Service, Bankruptcy Courts, the Small Business Administration, Financial Institutions and Trusts and Estates. Other members of the Tranzon Hagen team include Roger Jahn in the Atlanta metropolitan area, Thomas Spratt in South Carolina and Chris Brown in the Charlotte metropolitan area.

The Tranzon Hagen team has a large number of current auction assignments already in process for Tranzon including a major auction of convenience stores and service stations in Albany, Georgia, on July 9; properties of the U.S. Marshal Service in Clanton, Alabama up for auction July 2; several commercial buildings owned by a long-time businessman in Laurens, South Carolina scheduled for auction on August 6 plus the auction on August 19 of a former healthcare rehabilitation facility in Lancaster, SC; a number of Georgia residential properties for a national realty company including a townhouse in Roswell, GA slated for auction July 17, and a commercial property sale for a national lender in Smyrna, GA on August 7; as well as additional properties for southeastern financial institutions.

A number of these auctions are conducted in tandem with other Tranzon partners, taking advantage of Tranzon’s infrastructure and its knowledgeable, local experts as well.

According to Jeff Levin, president of Tranzon LLC, “Kim Hagen and his outstanding team are a key addition to Tranzon as we build out our national company. Having a noted industry leader like Kim on our team expands our ability to provide outstanding, professional service to Tranzon clients. Evidence of the huge synergies between Tranzon and Hagen can be seen in the work we are already doing together.”

Kim Hagen says, “By joining Tranzon we can now serve the needs of our clients even better, no matter the location of the property. Tranzon offers a broad arena of expertise in selling all types of real estate and business assets throughout the United States. I am very pleased to be part of a team with that depth of experience and reputation for providing excellent results for clients nationwide.”

The Hagens reside with their five children in Carrollton, GA.

Tranzon LLC now has 11 member companies that together conducted auctions, sealed bid sales and liquidations in 32 states and the District of Columbia last year. Tranzon professionals specialize in providing real estate and business asset and liquidation auction and accelerated marketing services to corporations, financial institutions, trustees, individuals and estates throughout the U.S.