Thus the underpinning of our nations continuing economic success story. However, for lenders still dependant on the vagaries of the capital markets for routine funding, these are indeed unsettling and uncertain times. Availability and cost of funds on a continuing basis are problematic at best. Fortunately, FMAC has been able to successfully and fully participate in this robust national economy and, more importantly, successfully meet the growing demands of the retail petroleum industry, by a strategic alliance with a highly liquid and well capitalized partner. Impact by the current turmoil in the capital markets on FMAC has been essentially a non-event, that is, little noticed for FMAC and our customers.
Capital continues to be abundant, flexible and competitively priced for FMAC customers.
FMAC approaches the millennium with confidence and optimism. Our confidence and optimism stems from our strategic alliance with BVCC and the essentially unlimited capital resources FMAC can reliably deliver to the retail petroleum industry. We have successfully insulated our customers from the turmoil others are experiencing in today's capital markets. Capital markets is a place FMAC visits at our convenience not of necessity. Securitization remains an option for FMAC, but only as securitization presents itself as the better option for our customers and stockholders.