The well-respected, publicly traded venture capital firm, Hanson Gray and Company (HGCP), has issued a press release announcing the results of an independent research report carried out by by the reputable research firm, TSC (also known as TheStreet, thestreet.com).  TSC has a solid background working with venture capital investors, portfolio managers, account executives and various institutions.  Looking favorably on HGCP, the report has raised their equity rating of HGCP at a time in which the company is knee-deep in some exciting poker gambling action.

The poker tournament is in its final stages of preproduction, now working out the particulars with an unnamed broadcast partner and various event sponsors to get the tournament televised.  The tournament aims to bring together fifty of the world's top players, and has already received commitments from Annie Duke, Phil Laak, and actress/poker champ, Jennifer Tilly.  Called the North American Poker Tour, it will fall under the management of HGCP's subsidiary, NAPP, which oversees, manages and televises high profile poker events.  Also coming soon will be the anticipated International Poker Association (IPA).

HGCP President, Frank Weber, attributed the equity raising by TSC to the company's ventures in the poker market.  In addition to expressing his pleasure of having the company's stock upgraded, Weber went on to say that the company has aggressively been pursuing to profit from the poker industry, and that their exploits will be capitalized in 2006-2007 when they air their poker games on US National Television.  Weber also reinforced their sponsorship of the VH1 Classic Rock & Roll Charity Poker Tournament, which will surely get them in the spotlight with big players in the media industry.