Dan Conway Named Managing Director, FocalPoint Partners LLC.

LOS ANGELES -- Seasoned Senior Lender's Arrival Enhances Resources for Capital Raising Transactions at Burgeoning Investment Banking Firm

Top-level banking veteran Dan Conway has been named Managing Director, FocalPoint Partners LLC, the Los Angeles-based independent investment banking firm focusing on advising and structuring transactions for middle-market companies. The announcement was made today by Duane K. Stullich, FocalPoint Partners Co-Founder and Managing Director.

The addition of Conway, who was formerly Vice President, Senior Business Development Officer, Fleet Capital Corporation, significantly enhances FocalPoint Partners' growing executive ranks as well as its resources for capital raising transactions. FocalPoint, recently completed the acquisition of The Walking Company by Big Dog Holdings, Inc. and the divestiture by Pierre Fabre SA (France) of Physicians Formula to Summit Partners.

FocalPoint Partners was established last year by leading finance strategists Stullich, Nishen Radia and Michael Levin. Stullich has extensive experience advising middle market companies and was a key contributor to the establishment of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin's corporate finance department. Stullich was also a co-founder of Murphy Noell Capital. Radia worked for Merrill Lynch in London, Hong Kong and New York and prior to that, worked for SocGen Investment Banking in London. Levin has a wealth of retail and restructuring experience having worked as a lawyer, financial advisor and principal for Newmark Global Investment Advisors, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners. He was the Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Levin Group, a highly specialized retail advisory organization.

"Dan's broad expertise in senior lending will benefit our clients tremendously," stated Stullich. "Often, we are called upon to facilitate interim and long-term debt in complex transactions and Dan's network of providers will give our client's flexible solutions."

During his tenure at Fleet Capital Corporation, Conway originated, structured and underwrote asset-based and cash flow commercial loans for companies in varied industries. His extensive network of capital providers include asset-based and cash flow lenders, mezzanine debt providers, junior secured or Term B debt providers, leasing companies, factors, and hedge funds. He also has provided securitization products and high-yield debt, with many transactions completed in conjunction with mergers and acquisitions and financial restructurings, including bankruptcy sales and reorganizations, working with private equity firms, bank group members, junior capital providers, bond holders and other constituents.

Prior to joining Fleet Capital in 1998, Conway led many successful transactions at NationsBank, GMAC Commercial Services, and Barclays Business Credit. He started his career at Deloitte and Touche in Los Angeles where he earned his CPA certification. Conway holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Southern California where he was selected for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma in recognition of high scholastic achievement.

FocalPoint Partners LLC is an independent investment bank, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, raising capital (both debt and equity), and financial restructurings. The firm's primary focus is on middle-market companies headquartered in the United States, operating with revenues between $5 million and $250 million in a diverse range of industries. FocalPoint is managed by seasoned veterans with backgrounds in law, public accounting, senior lending, private equity and investment banking at leading national and international firms. The firm's goal is to provide unbiased, innovative financial advice by taking the time to truly understand the needs of its clients and then devising a strategy that best fits those objectives. More information is available at: www.focalpointllc.com.