[ASTA FUNDING LOGO] Exhibit 99.2
NASDAQ: ASFI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT:
Stephen D. Axelrod, CFA
Mitchell Cohen, CFO Alisa Steinberg (Media)
ASTA FUNDING, INC. WOLFE AXELROD WEINBERGER ASSOC. LLC
(201) 567-5648 (212) 370-4500; (212) 370-4505 (Fax)
steve@wolfeaxelrod.com
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ASTA FUNDING DECLARES SPECIAL $0.40 CASH DIVIDEND
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ, SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 -- ASTA FUNDING, INC., (NASDAQ: ASFI),
A LEADING CONSUMER RECEIVABLE ASSET MANAGEMENT AND LIQUIDATION COMPANY, is
pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved the distribution of
a special cash dividend of $0.40 per share to shareholders. This dividend will
be paid on November 1, 2006 to shareholders of record on September 29, 2006.
This payout will be in addition to Asta's regular quarterly dividend payment of
$0.04 per share.
Mr. Gary Stern, President and Chief Executive Officer of Asta Funding, stated,
"This special cash dividend is a direct result of the Asta's strong financial
performance as reported over the last few quarters and has concurrently opened
an opportunity for the Board to reward our shareholders. We are extremely
pleased with our ability to return this type of value to our shareholders and,
together with our ongoing quarterly dividend, continues to differentiate Asta
Funding from its competitors."
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ABOUT ASTA FUNDING, INC.
Based in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, ASTA FUNDING, INC., is a leading consumer
receivables asset management company that specializes in the purchase,
liquidation and management of performing and non-performing consumer
receivables. Asta generates revenues and earnings primarily through purchase and
collection of performing and non-performing consumer receivables. For additional
information, please visit our Web site at www.astafunding.com.
Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in
this news release are "forward-looking" statements (as defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.) Although Asta Funding, Inc. believes
the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon
reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that its expectations will be
realized. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from Asta Funding, Inc.'s
expectations. Factors that could contribute to such differences include those
identified in Asta Funding, Inc.'s Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2005, and those described from time to time in Asta Funding,
Inc.'s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, news releases
and other communications, including that Asta may not be able to purchase
consumer receivable portfolios at favorable prices or on sufficiently favorable
terms or at all. Asta Funding, Inc.'s reports with the Securities and Exchange
Commission are available free of charge through its website at
www.astafunding.com.
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210 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
(201) 567-5648, (201) 567-2203 fax