David W. Johnson Joins Ziegler.

CHICAGO -- Ziegler announced today that David W. Johnson will join the firm, as of March 2, 2009, as a Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of the Healthcare Finance practice, focusing specifically on non-profit hospital financing, and will share in the leadership responsibility for the practice. In this role, Mr. Johnson will continue to position Ziegler's Healthcare Finance practice as a leader and work to identify and attract new clients that could benefit from Ziegler's innovative financing solutions.

David Johnson is a senior healthcare investment banker with over 20 years of experience and has senior managed more than $30 billion of financing transactions for U.S. health systems. He is experienced in all aspects of the financing process and is the architect of a comprehensive software package that evaluates the credit profile and corporate debt capacity of health care systems. Additionally, Mr. Johnson is a thought leader in the field of healthcare finance and has published many papers including, "The U.S. Health System: A Product of American Values and History," co-written by Dean Nancy Kane of the Harvard School of Public Health.

Donald A. Carlson, Ziegler Vice Chairman and senior healthcare banker, notes, "David Johnson is a great addition to the Ziegler team. His experience and thought leadership in the industry will allow him to provide our healthcare clients with invaluable insight into industry trends."

About Ziegler:

Ziegler (symbol: ZGCO) is a multi-faceted boutique investment firm providing investment banking, asset and wealth management, as well as alternative investment opportunities for institutional and individual investors. In 1902, Ziegler began building its reputation for financing healthcare facilities, senior living communities, religious organizations, schools and most recently, renewable energy projects. As Ziegler continues to expand and innovate, its core strategy remains the same - advancing health, wealth and well-being through tailored financial solutions.

Nationally, Ziegler's Capital Markets is ranked as one of the leading investment banking firms for non-profit healthcare and senior living providers, as well as religious institutions and schools.

Ziegler Wealth Management (retail brokerage) encompasses investment and consulting services for individuals, families, business owners and institutions nationwide.

Ziegler's alternative investing activities include raising and deploying capital through private investment funds with investment objectives related to the real estate, services and technology sectors of the healthcare and senior living industries.

Ziegler Capital Management, LLC provides institutional money management products and services as well as separate account management and mutual fund sub-advisory services.