IMAP Expands Its Middle-Market Leadership With Morgan Joseph

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - February 4, 2009) - IMAP and Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc., a full service investment bank, announced today that New York City-based Morgan Joseph has been selected as a participant in IMAP's global network of merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory firms. Approximately 60 partner firms in 40 countries worldwide actively work through IMAP to help their clients achieve their merger and acquisition objectives.

"We have found that IMAP firms have an unwavering determination and commitment to the success of their clients' transactions, and we look forward to working with them on a variety of projects," said John F. Sorte, President and CEO of Morgan Joseph.

"We are very pleased to welcome the Morgan Joseph advisors into the IMAP group," said Mark Esbeck, IMAP President. "The name of Morgan Joseph, alone, signifies a history of financial expertise and success." Company founders John A. Morgan, JP Morgan's great grandson, and Frederick H. Joseph, formerly CEO of Drexel Burnham Lambert, are among the most respected in the M&A community, he said.

"Every business day, an IMAP advisor is closing a deal somewhere in the world," added Esbeck. "We are able to accomplish this through the strong partnerships and dedication of our member firms, which we believe represent some of the highest quality M&A work in the world. Everything we do is solely for the benefit of our clients."

According to Esbeck, IMAP is more than just a network of M&A advisory firms; IMAP offers insider knowledge with global reach. Its specialized industry groups, including automotive, business outsourcing, construction, food, energy and power, healthcare, information technology, and retail and consumer brands, are vested in local business communities in which they operate. This local expertise provides insight into transaction processes, valuations and market developments that enable IMAP to uniquely identify buyer and seller prospects to meet virtually any client request, said Esbeck.

As evidence of its success, IMAP member firms completed more than 250 transactions with an aggregate transaction value of more than $11 billion in 2008. Sixty-four of these transactions were cross-border closings that involved collaboration between member advisors to connect buyers and sellers throughout the world.

About IMAP

IMAP is an exclusive global organization of leading merger and acquisition advisory firms. Formed in 1973, IMAP is composed of nearly 60 firms with more than 100 offices in 40 countries including North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, Australia, and Asia. IMAP member firms completed more than 250 transactions in 2008 with an aggregate transaction value of more than $11 billion. IMAP advisors provide strategic merger, acquisition, divestiture and related corporate finance services. Sellers of mid-size companies and corporate acquirers alike rely upon IMAP for essential local market knowledge and industry expertise delivered with unparalleled global reach. More information is available at www.imap.com.

About Morgan Joseph

Morgan Joseph & Co. Inc., a full service investment bank, provides financial advisory and capital raising services including M&A and restructuring advice, and equity and debt private placements and public offerings. In addition, Morgan Joseph provides research and trading for institutional clients. Morgan Joseph's staff of over 160 includes more than 85 investment bankers, who are highly experienced professionals mostly from major Wall Street firms and intimately familiar with the issues facing middle market companies. More information is available at www.morganjoseph.com.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: For IMAP: David Gutierrez (312)780-7204 dgutierrez@dresnerco.com For IMAP: Jennifer Jameson (312)780-7241 jjameson@dresnerco.com For Morgan Joseph: Steven S. Anreder (212)532-3232 steven.anreder@anreder.com