Alvarez & Marsal Transaction Advisory Group Continues Expansion of National Practice.

M&A Advisor Kent Willetts Joins as a Managing Director and National Practice Leader; Several Professionals Join Group in Chicago Office

NEW YORK -- Alvarez & Marsal Transaction Advisory Group, LLC, an affiliate of the leading independent global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal, announced that Kent Willetts, formerly a partner with the private equity transaction services practice of KPMG, has joined as a managing director and national practice leader. He is based in Chicago.

Mr. Willetts, who will lead the group's rapidly expanding Midwest practice, which serves private equity firms, hedge funds and corporate acquirers, joins managing directors Nick Alvarez, Jack McCarthy and Paul Aversano, the three other national practice leaders who are based in New York. Also joining the Chicago office are Christian Mangelsen, formerly of Ernst & Young, and Robert Sallmann, formerly of PricewaterhouseCoopers, as senior associates.

Mr. Willetts specializes in providing financial due diligence advisory services to private equity firms and their portfolio companies. Bringing more than a decade of experience in mergers and acquisitions, he has advised clients on over 200 acquisitions, including international opportunities in Europe and Latin America. Mr. Willetts' primary areas of expertise include analyzing quality of earnings, evaluating cash flows in terms of key business drivers, structuring transactions, accounting for mergers and acquisitions, assessing SEC reporting requirements, critiquing valuation models, and reviewing purchase agreements. He assists clients throughout all phases of an acquisition, from pre-deal evaluation during an auction through post-deal purchase price adjustment support.

"Kent is an accomplished M&A advisor with an outstanding reputation among the private equity and strategic investor community," said Bryan Marsal, co-CEO of Alvarez & Marsal. "As the group's resident national practice leader in the Midwest Region, his knowledge and guidance will serve as key assets in bringing the firm's financial due diligence and operational services to all segments of the highly active private equity and investment market."

Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Willetts was a partner with the private equity transaction services practice of KPMG LLP in Chicago. Before that, he was with the transaction advisory services practice of Arthur Andersen in Chicago and, earlier, was with the audit practice of Arthur Andersen in Toledo, Ohio.

A certified public accountant (CPA) licensed in Illinois and Ohio, Mr. Willetts earned a bachelor's degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Illinois CPA Society, and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Mr. Mangelsen has significant accounting and financial analysis experience in buy-side, sell-side and post-transaction matters for both private equity firms and strategic buyers. Prior to joining A&M, he was a senior associate with the transaction advisory services practice of Ernst & Young, LLP. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance, with a concentration in accountancy, from the University of Iowa. He is a fall 2007 candidate for a master's degree in business administration, with concentrations in finance and accounting, from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Mr. Sallmann has a strong background in accounting and financial analysis. He specializes in providing buy-side financial due diligence services to private equity and strategic buyers and advises businesses on quality of earnings, purchase price adjustments and working capital requirements. Prior to joining A&M, he was with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, where he most recently served as a senior associate in the transaction services practice in Chicago, and has worked with the firm's assurance and business advisory services practice in both Chicago and San Jose. Mr. Sallmann holds a bachelor's degree in finance and international business from Indiana University.

Alvarez & Marsal Transaction Advisory Group

For more than 20 years, Alvarez & Marsal has set the standard for working with organizations to solve complex problems, boost performance and maximize value for stakeholders.

Alvarez & Marsal's Transaction Advisory Group works with private equity firms, hedge funds and corporate acquirers to identify and maximize value at every point in the transaction lifecycle. Seamlessly integrating the firm's deep operational heritage with world-class finance, accounting and business consulting expertise, A&M works closely with clients to make informed investment decisions as well as improve the performance of assets they already own - providing independent and objective analysis that goes well beyond routine due diligence.

With a team of seasoned professionals based in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America, Alvarez & Marsal's suite of professional services includes: Turnaround Management, including Performance Improvement, Turnaround Advisory, Crisis & Interim Management, Risk Management Advisory, Creditor Advisory and Claims Management; Business Consulting; Real Estate Advisory; Dispute Analysis & Forensics; Corporate Finance; Tax Advisory; and Transaction Advisory.

For more information, visit www.alvarezandmarsal.com.