B. Riley & Co. Announces its Third Annual Investment Conference; West Coast's Premier Showcase for Small Cap Companies.

Business Editors

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2002

B. Riley & Co., California's pre-eminent research-driven institutional brokerage firm, today announced details of the firm's Third Annual Investment Conference. The all-day event takes place on Thursday, March 14, 2002 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Los Angeles Airport and features presentations by some of California's most exciting small cap companies.

This year's conference will feature over 30 companies spanning the technology, retailing, apparel and medical device industries.

"Our annual Investor Conference continues to expand, as we think that we have a broad sampling of the very best companies in California," said Bryant Riley, Chief Executive Officer of B. Riley & Co. "The small cap universe continues to be the best place to find names with attractive valuations. Our mission has been to unearth undiscovered companies that we believe have the potential to deliver strong equity appreciation for our institutional clients. We're now entering our third year and the roster of presenting clients has been expanded to include thirty-three companies that we think represent some of the best investment opportunities in our region."

Riley continued, "This event provides a unique platform for presenting companies to showcase their stories to key investment professionals, who in turn are able to get an up-front look at some of California's most dynamic small-cap growth opportunities."

The following companies are scheduled to present:

Adaptec                  (ADPT) Data Storage: Connectivity
Advanced Digital Info    (ADIC) Data Storage
Alliance Semiconductor   (ALSC) Semiconductors
Ashworth                 (ASHW) Apparel: Golf & Sports Lifestyle
Cadiz                    (CLCI) Water & Agriculture
Charlotte Russe Holding  (CHIC) Retail: Gen Y Apparel
Curative Health Services (CURE) Healthcare: Services
Datum                    (DATM) Telecom Equipment
Elite Information Group  (ELTE) Software: Professional Services
                                 Automation
FileNET                  (FILE) Software: Document & Content
                                 Management
Guitar Center            (GTRC) Retail: Music Equipment
Harman International     (HAR)  Consumer Electronics & Automotive:
                                 Telematics
JAKKS Pacific            (JAKK) Toys & Video Games
JNI                      (JNIC) Data Storage: Connectivity
Keynote Systems          (KEYN) Internet Services
MSC.Software             (MNS)  Software: Product Life-Cycle
                                 Management
National RV Holdings     (NVH)  Recreational Vehicles
Navigant International   (FLYR) Outsourcing: Corporate Travel
                                 Management
Oak Technology           (OAKT) Digital Media: Optical Storage Chips
Orthologic               (OLGC) Medical Devices
Pacific Sunwear          (PSUN) Retail: Gen Y Apparel
PCTEL                    (PCTI) Broadband Equipment: Wired/Wireless
                                 Connectivity
Pinnacle Entertainment   (PNK)  Gaming: Casino Operator
Pinnacle Systems         (PCLE) Video Equipment/Storage
Quiksilver               (ZQK)  Apparel: Alternative Sports Lifestyle
Rambus                   (RMBS) Semiconductors
REMEC                    (REMC) Broadband Equipment: Wireless
                                 Communications
Resonate                 (RSNT) Software: e-Business
Roxio                    (ROXI) Digital Media: Optical Storage
                                 Software
Titan                    (TTN)  Defense & IT: Technology Incubator
Universal Electronics    (UEIC) Consumer Electronics: Digital,
                                 Interactive TV
Vans                     (VANS) Apparel & Footwear: Alternative Sports
                                 Lifestyle
ViaSat                   (VSAT) Broadband Equipment: Wireless
                                 Communications

All interested parties should visit www.brileyco.com for further information and conference registration. Alternatively, clients of the firm may simply contact their B. Riley & Co. representative to register. (Institutional investors who do not currently have a B. Riley & Co. rep may call Jeremy Nowak at 888-295-0155.) For media inquiries and press credentials only, contact David Watson of Coffin Communications Group at 818-789-0100. Finally, CCBN will be webcasting select presentations over its institutional network.

B. Riley & Co. is a Southern California-based firm providing research and trading ideas primarily to institutional investors. Founded in 1997, the Company has forged a reputation for providing proprietary, unbiased, fundamentals-driven analyst coverage of companies that are "off the radar screen" of most Wall Street firms. Over the past five years, the firm's model portfolio has generated annualized returns of better than 35%.