Jack Rodman Becomes Senior Advisor to Westport Capital Partners LLC.

Leading Distressed Asset Advisor will source real estate and distressed asset investments in China

WESTPORT, Conn. -- Westport Capital Partners LLC, a real estate investment firm specializing in the opportunistic real estate arena, announced today that it has retained Jack Rodman as a senior advisor, effective February 7, 2007. Rodman will focus on sourcing distressed asset and opportunistic real estate investment opportunities for the firm in Asia, with an emphasis on China.

"We are honored and delighted to have Jack join our firm. We look forward to his contributions as we continue to grow our business, particularly in Asia where he has significant experience," said Westport Capital Partners founder Russel S. Bernard. "Although China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world today, the real estate markets there are inefficient. We see significant long-term opportunities in China, including distressed asset and value-add opportunities where we can employ our skills to generate outstanding returns for our investors."

In 2006, the firm acquired an underperforming office and retail asset in Macau, together with a local operating partner, and is implementing a value-add strategy. The firm will continue to seek similar types of investment opportunities in China.

"I have known several of the Principals at Westport Capital Partners for more than 15 years and have tracked their success in building a first class real estate investment company. I am looking forward to crossing over from the real estate advisory business to direct acquisition of real estate investments in China," said Rodman.

Mr. Rodman, 60, is retiring from Ernst & Young at the end of January 2007, where he worked for 37 years as a real estate consultant and NPL advisor in Asia. In 2002, Business Week Magazine honored him with its prestigious "Star of Asia" Award for his cutting-edge work in opening up the distressed asset markets throughout Asia, most notably Japan in 1997 and China in 2001. Mr. Rodman has worked for Central Banks and major financial institutions in Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan and China as a financial advisor charged with selling portfolios of nonperforming loans and real estate projects. Since 2002, he has lived in Beijing, where he pioneered the NPL and 'settled asset' (foreclosed real estate properties) portfolio sales on behalf of three of the Big Four Chinese Banks and three of the Big Four Asset Management Companies disposing of more than 100 billion RMB of distressed assets. He is the author of two international studies: Japanese Investment in US Real Estate and the Global Nonperforming Loan Report which track cross border foreign capital flows between Asia and the United States.

About Westport Capital Partners

Founded in late 2005, Westport Capital Partners LLC provides domestic and international investment opportunities to institutional and private clients. Headquartered in Westport, CT, the firm also has offices in Los Angeles. Westport Capital Partners has built an outstanding team of real estate professionals, many of whom worked with Mr. Bernard previously.