The Pink Sheets are coming of age in perhaps one of the better moves they've made in years. As a ... effort to create more ... and ... OTC markets, Pink Sheets LLC, ... the

The Pink Sheets are coming of age in perhaps one of the better moves they've made in years. As a continuing effort to create more transparent and efficient OTC markets, Pink Sheets LLC, announced the launch of Pink Sheets News Service, an innovative publishing tool for OTC issuers last October. The news service allows dior handbags issuers to publish in real-time their news releases and financial reports on www.pinksheets.com, the leading source of information for OTC Markets.

Some on Wall Street speculate that PLINK was developed in response to the changes taking place at the Bulletin Board's new BBXchange (www.bbxchange.com) which was slated to open in January and is now delayed until the end of the year as regulators debate its rules and governance.

The BBX is a proposed new marketplace that will eventually take the place of the OTC Bulletin Board (OTCBB). The BBX will appeal to many of the same companies that are currently quoted on the OTCBB, but will be a higher quality market. These changes, while an advantage to many companies, are also a call to action for the Pink Sheets if it is to compete.

When the BBX does go into affect many companies will not elect to join, instead they're expected to move to the Pink Sheets were reporting requirements are not as strict.

What's prompting those decisions are rules relating to corporate governance that require audit committees and more independent directors. For smaller companies the costs associated with complying to those rules are too much to bare. Instead, many will elect to switch to the Pink Sheets.

With many companies undecided on switching exchanges, some dior outlet on Wall Street speculate that Mr. Coulson's move into expanding his services at that time were very coincidental to his desire to gain market share over the BBX. Some brokers believe it took opportunity rather than integrity to see the Pink Sheets LLC finally offer a means for brokers and shareholders alike to access news and information. Axcess Business News wonders if Mr. Coulson would have been so quick to announce Plink had he known the BBX's launch would be delayed.

Cromwell Coulson, Chairman & CEO of Pink Sheets LLC, in a press release issued Oct 16 2002 said, "OTC issuers will now be able to reach their stock holders and the interested public with their corporate information and investors will be empowered to make more informed decisions. By improving the availability of information, we hope to bolster the integrity and growth of OTC markets."

Investor concerns over the lack of information about companies that trade in the Pink Sheets has been growing for some time and while those latest improvements were well received, to some its not enough. Mr. Ian Park, a college student in Florida who had been swindled in a penny stock scheme was frustrated over the lack of concern by regulators - and Mr. Coulson, to dior borse improve the OTC market's reporting requirements. He formed a grass roots organization he called "Project Penny" and began soliciting the Securities and Exchange Commission, the NASD and Mr. Coulson to consider adopting more stringent disclosure rules.

Mr. Coulson was quoted in response to Ian Park's plea for help as stating, "I agree that it is important for regulators to review the rules applying to OTC trading as part of the BBX becoming a listed exchange and there are areas which should be improved immediately, such as the immediate need for short position reporting and disclosure for all OTC equities, but more importantly, regulators should put in place a process to deal with needs that arise over time."

Axcess Business News has been covering Project Penny and Mr. Park's grass roots organization extensively (see, Stock Fraud, Swindles and the American Way). Over time, Project Penny has gotten support from Congressmen, influential securities lawyers and thousands of individuals who want improved disclosure and recently even the Securities and Exchange Commission is beginning to listen to Mr Park. Perhaps Mr. Coulson is beginning to listen as well.

In response to the Pink Sheets LLC's news service that helps shareholders and brokers alike obtain news on companies, Mr. Park of Project Penny (otcfraud.com) said, " The Pink Sheets has been receiving continued pressure from organizations such as mine that are demanding significant improvements and changes be made to the Pink Sheets. I believe w