Linux Developer to Speak, More Than 35 Companies to Present at D.A. Davidson & Co. Tech Conference for Investors.

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. -- D.A. Davidson & Co., the largest full-service investment firm based in the Northwest, today announced that the keynote speaker at the firm's 5th Annual Technology Conference will be Linus Torvalds, the Finnish software engineer who developed what became the Linux family of operating systems. In addition, the conference will allow top executives and institutional investors to hear about major technology trends and innovations from more than 35 companies.

The D.A. Davidson conference begins Thursday, Feb. 22, and continues through noon Friday, Feb. 23, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Phoenix, Ariz. Torvalds will speak during the luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 22.

The conference will feature more than 35 companies representing a variety of technology industries. Among others, presenters will include key executives from: Atheros Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHR), Axcelis (Nasdaq: ACLS), Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq: BRCM), C-COR Inc. (Nasdaq: CCBL), Cadence Design Systems (Nasdaq: CDNS), Cascade Microtech Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCD), Digimarc (Nasdaq: DMRC), DTS Inc. (Nasdaq: DTSI), Electro Scientific Industries (Nasdaq: ESIO), FEI Company (Nasdaq: FEIC), Genesis Microchip (Nasdaq: GNSS), Ikanos (Nasdaq: IKAN), Intevac Inc. (Nasdaq: IVAC), Lattice Semiconductor (Nasdaq: LSCC), Macrovision (Nasdaq: MVSN), Magma Design Automation (Nasdaq: LAVA), Mas Tec Inc. (NYSE: MTZ), Mentor Graphics (Nasdaq: MENT), Micron Technology Inc. (NYSE: MU), MontaVista (a private company), PDF Solutions (Nasdaq: PDFS), Photon Dynamics (Nasdaq: PHTN), Photronics (Nasdaq: PLAB), RadiSys Corporation (Nasdaq: RSYS), SeaChange International (Nasdaq: SEAC), Semitool (Nasdaq: SMTL), Silicon Image (Nasdaq: SIMG), STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), Synaptics Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNA), Synopsys (Nasdaq: SNPS), Syntax-Brillian Corp. (Nasdaq: BRLC), Ultratech (Nasdaq: UTEK), Veeco Instruments (Nasdaq: VECO), Volterra Semiconductor (Nasdaq: VLTR), Wind River Systems (Nasdaq: WIND) and Zoran Corporation (Nasdaq: ZRAN).

"With technology as one of D.A. Davidson's focus industries, we're very pleased to be able to have these top companies, along with a truly outstanding keynote speaker, available to our clients at this conference," said Doug Woodcock, Director of Equity Capital Markets for D.A. Davidson.

D.A. Davidson's Equity Capital Markets Group provides a full complement of corporate and institutional services. The firm's award-winning institutional research team provides research on public companies in key sectors. The firm's research is supported by professional sales and trading, including market making. D.A. Davidson also is a leading Northwest-based underwriter of public offerings and provides a full suite of other investment banking services.

About D.A. Davidson & Co.

Founded in 1935, D.A. Davidson is a full-service investment firm with offices in 16 states. D.A. Davidson is operated by the Davidson Companies, an independently owned financial services holding company based in Montana. Also part of Davidson Companies are Davidson Trust Co., a wealth management and trust operation; Davidson Investment Advisors, a professional money management firm; and Davidson Fixed Income Management, a registered investment adviser providing money management and other fixed income services.