The Series 24 Preferred Shares will yield 6

Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned Sets Record SalesMONTVALE, N.J., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reportedDecember sales of 18,507 vehicles, bringing the company's total 2008 volume to225,128, an 11.2 percent decrease over the annual sales record set last year.(LOGO: http:// )The C-Class was the volume leader for the year with sales of 72,471 vehicles,a 13.8 percent increase over last year.The company's M-Class SUV continuedto be a popular choice with buyers in 2008, with a 1.3 percent increase insales (34,320 vs 33,879 units). Separately, through the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned (MBCPO) program,MBUSA sold 6,589 vehicles in December 2008.This boosted the MBCPO year-endtotal to 64,654 units, a 26.9 percent increase over last year's MBCPO sales.Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible forthe sales, marketing and service of all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products inthe United States. For more than forty years, MBUSA has taken pride in itscommitment to the customer by providing superior quality luxury vehiclescoupled with outstanding customer support.

More information on MBUSA and itsproducts can be found at and USASales - December 2008Model Dec '08 Dec '07 Monthly YTD 2008 YTD 2007 Yearly - - - - - - - - C-CLASS 6,090 6,899 -11.7 72,471 63,701 13.8- - - - - - - - -E-CLASS 3,464 6,126 -43.5 38,576 48,950-21.2- - - - - - - -S-CLASS 1,075 2,374 -54.7 17,787 26,081-31.8- - - - - - -CL-CLASS147 353 -58.42,7333,672-25.6- - - - - -SL-CLASS263 532 -50.65,4646,126-10.8- - - - - - -CLK-CLASS 1,047 1,232 -15.0 10,844 15,009-27.8- - - - - - - -SLK-CLASS 285 528 -46.04,9417,270-32.0- - - - - - - -CLS-CLASS 569 759 -25.05,7757,906-27.0- - - - - - - - -R-CLASS 539 1,340 -59.87,733 13,031-40.7- - - - - - - - -M-CLASS 2,761 3,962 -30.3 34,320 33,8791.3- - - - - -G-CLASS 128 138-7.29311,152-19.2- - - - -GL-CLASS2,139 3,026 -29.3 23,328 26,396-11.6- - - -SLR 1061041.9- -Maybach 119156-23.7- - -GRAND TOTAL18,50727,269 -32.1225,128253,433-11.2- - -SOURCEMercedes-Benz USATracy Darchini, Mercedes-Benz USA, 1-201-573-4734, or Toll-Free,1-888-MBNEWS-1. Amidst the Montreal Canadiens' well publicized goaltending controversy, one constant seems to have arisen every time the Habs hit the ice: strong goaltending.Jaroslav Halak has been outstanding as of late, but it should not be forgotten that Carey Price was having a strong run as well before he faltered against the New Jersey Devils and the Minnesota Wild.It remains that the Canadiens don't actually have a clear-cut number one. However, when one of them does achieve that title, it will remain just that: a title. Both Halak and Price are number one goaltenders, so the pecking order is based on current performance.Jacques Martin has made a point of going with the goaltender that will give him the best chance to win, and that mentality seems to have rubbed off on the young duo.In the grand scheme of things, not only is this competition making both goalies better, but it has also made the Montreal duo one of the best in the National Hockey League.While neither goalie sports an astonishing goals against average, they both have respectable save percentages that are above .910.It must also be noted that the Canadiens have been the most penalized team in the league, while managing to remain in the top ten in penalty killing percentage.This ability to fend off power play after power play can be directly traced back to Price and Halak, who's strong play has been one of the main reasons for the team's success while shorthanded.Halak is near the top of the league in shorthanded save percentage, while Carey Price ranks lower, but his contributions are important nevertheless. Price's superb puck handling skills are a godsend on the penalty kill, as he has dumped the puck into the opposition's end on many occasions.When a team is shorthanded, even if the oppositions' power play isn't getting many shots off, there is a lot of puck movement and the goalie must be able to follow the play.This can lead to fatigue, so it is even more astonishing to see how Halak and Price have managed to continue to provide strong goaltending in shorthanded situations.So where exactly do these guys rank when it comes to goaltending duosSurely one of the strongest in the NHL right now would be Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi, or Johan Hedberg and Ondrej Pavelec.

Another strong duo is Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask in Boston.A duo that has disappointed thus far in the season has been Jonas Hiller and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. While Giguere has picked up his game as of late, much more was expected from both goaltenders.With the exception of Hedberg and Pavelec, the other two duos have the benefit of playing behind stronger defenses, and also see less time on the penalty kill. So were there to be an actual ranking of the league's best goaltending tandems, there is no doubt that Halak and Price would find themselves in the top ten.Unfortunately, this pairing might not exist anymore by the end of the season, as Halak has made it clear that he wants to be play more, even if it means that he will be traded.As for Price, more regularity in playing time might be beneficial for his confidence, as he is still in the development stages of his career.Both Price and Halak's inner competitiveness doesn't seem to have affected their rather neutral relationship, although it'd be a stretch to say that they're buddies.This inner competition might not exactly be what either goalie would like, but it hasbenefited the Canadiens to the point where they still matter in the standings, something that might change if the duo is broken up.. MONTREAL, QUEBEC, Jan 05 (MARKET WIRE) National Bank of Canada ("National Bank") (TSX: NA) today announced thatit has entered into an agreement with a group of underwriters led byNational Bank Financial Inc. for an issue on a bought deal basis of 5million non-cumulative 5-year rate reset first preferred shares series 24(the "Series 24 Preferred Shares"), at a price of $25.00 per share, toraise gross proceeds of $125 million.National Bank has also granted the underwriters an option to purchase, onthe same terms, up to an additional 3 million Series 24 Preferred Shares.This option is exercisable in whole or in part by the underwriters at anytime up to two business days prior to closing. The maximum gross proceedsraised under the offering will be $200 million should this option beexercised in full.The Series 24 Preferred Shares will yield 6.60 annually, payablequarterly, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of NationalBank, for the initial period ending February 15, 2014.