RSM EquiCo Capital Markets Leads Negotiations as Imperial Headwear Acquires Merge Left


COSTA MESA, Calif., June 11, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Headwear Inc., a portfolio company of investment firm MCG Global LLC, has acquired Merge Left Inc.

RSM EquiCo Capital Markets LLC initiated the transaction, led the negotiations and acted as the exclusive advisor to Merge Left.

Merge Left Founder and President Jon Saferstein said, "I am thrilled to join forces with Imperial in order to take my company to the next stage of its natural evolution as a leader in the industry. Sharing best practices across both organizations will generate benefits for all of our customers and the cross-marketing and promotional opportunities have already been met with enthusiasm in the market."

A team of RSM EquiCo Capital Markets professionals contributed to the successful close of this transaction. John Dorey, senior managing director, David Burke, vice president, and Jacob DuBois, associate vice president, led the deal team.

About RSM EquiCo Capital Markets

RSM EquiCo Capital Markets LLC (www.rsmequico.com) is a global provider of investment banking services to private and public companies with annual revenues of up to $1 billion. The firm's services include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, recapitalizations, capital raising, fairness opinions and restructurings. RSM EquiCo Capital Markets, which offers in-depth expertise in 12 distinct industry sectors, brings together companies, capital and creativity on a national and international scale to help clients achieve their personal and strategic objectives.

RSM EquiCo Capital Markets is affiliated with RSM McGladrey Inc., a professional services firm providing accounting, tax and business consulting. Both firms are units of H&R Block Inc. (NYSE:HRB), the world's preeminent tax services provider.

RSM EquiCo Capital Markets' international headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, Calif. It also has offices in Chicago, Boston, New York and London. The firm is a member of FINRA and SIPC.

About Merge Left Inc.

Merge Left, based in Gardena, Calif., is a premier value-added distributor of caps, t-shirts and other types of apparel to the collegiate and military markets. The company typically prepares the product's artwork design, sources the materials from suppliers, and applies the embroidery (e.g., the university's logo) and the company's branded label. The collegiate market represents approximately 60 percent of the company's revenue, while the military market comprises 30 percent. Management estimates its products are present in 90 percent of college bookstores in the United States. Merge Left also targets the golfing and resort markets.

About Imperial Headwear Inc.

Imperial Headwear (www.imperialheadwear.com) is a leading headwear manufacturer and marketer focused primarily on the sports field, particularly golf or the "green grass" channel. Founded in 1916 and located in Denver, Colo., Imperial manufactures products that are sold in 89 of the top 100 golf courses in the United States, and the company has been a valued partner of the PGA and USGA for more than 15 years. In its three years of ownership, MCG Global has expanded the company's base business into new segments such as corporate, outdoor/resort and private label. MCG Global (www.mcgglobal.com) is a private equity firm sponsoring leveraged-buyout acquisitions and growth-capital investments in undervalued middle-market companies with active involvement in post-closing strategic direction and operational improvement. MCG Global is based in Westport, Conn.


            

Coordonnées