José María Aznar to Deliver Keynote Address at IMAP's Fall 2009 Global M&A Symposium in Istanbul, Turkey

SARASOTA, FL--(Marketwire - August 11, 2009) - IMAP, an exclusive global organization of leading merger and acquisition (M&A) advisory firms, has announced that former Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar will deliver the keynote address at IMAP's Fall 2009 Global M&A Symposium. Aznar's speech will set the tone for the symposium, which will be attended by senior-level delegates from private equity groups, corporate development officers, global M&A attorneys and M&A transaction advisers. The symposium will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, at the Çiragan Palace Kempinski Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, and will focus on the importance of cross-border collaboration in today's global business environment.

During his two terms as prime minister of Spain, from 1996 to 2004, Aznar instituted a period of economic and social reform by liberalizing markets and privatizing industry. His efforts led to the creation of nearly 5 million jobs and a significant year-over-year increase in Spain's gross domestic product, propelling Spain to the eighth largest economy in the world. Today, he serves on the advisory boards of several global organizations, and shares his strategies for creating cross-culture economic opportunities as a public speaker.

"It is my pleasure to participate in IMAP's Global M&A Symposium, which exemplifies cross-cultural collaboration at its finest," said Aznar. "In today's global economy, businesses must learn to operate in a new framework that transcends borders and cultures. With such a diverse group of members from more than 40 countries, IMAP is at the forefront of facilitating connections between companies and cultures worldwide."

"We are very excited that José María Aznar will be the keynote speaker for our Global M&A Symposium," said Mark Esbeck, IMAP President. "In addition to Mr. Aznar's keynote address, IMAP's symposium will feature high-level panel discussions and presentations by influential business leaders, as well as one-on-one access to senior-level M&A professionals from across the globe."

A panel discussion titled, "The Global M&A Transaction Circa Fall 2009 -- A 360-Degree Perspective," will focus on evaluating and optimizing cross-border M&A transactions through a sharing of industry expert perspectives. Expert panelists will include Middle East and European business leaders from M&A-focused businesses specializing in financial services, retail and energy markets and representing the corporate, private equity, legal and advisory segments of the M&A industry. The panel will be moderated by noted British business-development author David Kean.

To register for the symposium, view a schedule of events or make hotel reservations, visit www.imapconferences.com.

About IMAP

IMAP is an exclusive global organization of leading merger and acquisition advisory firms. Formed in 1973, IMAP is composed of 55 offices in nearly 40 countries throughout North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, Australia and Asia. In 2008, IMAP advisers completed 252 transactions, with an aggregate transaction value of more than $13 billion. IMAP advisers 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. Every business day, somewhere in the world, an IMAP adviser is completing an M&A transaction. More information is available via the Internet at www.imap.com.

Contact Information: Media Contacts: Sara DeNio (312) 780-7223 sdenio@dresnerco.com Jennifer Jameson (312) 780-7241 jjameson@dresnerco.com