Stephen J. Miles and Craig A. Korte Join Goldsmith Agio Helms.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Goldsmith Agio Helms is pleased to announce that Stephen J. Miles and Craig A. Korte have joined the firm in its Chicago office. Mr. Miles and Mr. Korte were previously with Brown, Gibbons, Lang & Company ("BGL"), a Chicago based investment bank.

Goldsmith Agio Helms Managing Partner Jack P. Helms commented, "As our firm continues to grow nationally and internationally, we remain committed to the middle market. Both Steve and Craig have spent their entire careers advising middle market companies, and bring proven investment banking skills to our team. We are very excited to have these two gentlemen join Goldsmith Agio Helms as we continue to build on the success of our rapidly growing Chicago office."

Mr. Miles has more than 12 years of experience, advising middle market companies on merger and acquisition transactions, debt and equity placements, and corporate restructurings. Mr. Miles has worked with private equity groups, entrepreneurs, and major corporations and has built diversified banking experience in the general industrial and manufacturing sectors.

Mr. Miles previously served as a managing director and principal at BGL. While at the firm he was involved in some of its largest and most complex cross-border M&A and corporate restructuring assignments. Prior to BGL, Mr. Miles held positions at Morgan Keegan & Company, a Southeastern based investment bank, and Nations Bank. Mr. Miles earned his Masters of Business Administration degree from the Olin School of Business at Washington University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accountancy from the University of Missouri.

Mr. Korte's background includes nine years of corporate finance and investment banking in the middle market, advising clients on numerous M&A and capital-raising transactions.

Prior to accepting the position at Goldsmith Agio Helms, Mr. Korte served as a director at BGL where he focused primarily on the firm's M&A and private placement activities, gaining experience in a broad range of industries. Previously, Mr. Korte was an associate with NationsBanc Montgomery Securities, LLC where he concentrated on leading leveraged and debt capital placements. Mr. Korte received his Masters of Business Administration degree from the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University.

Goldsmith Agio Helms is the largest independent middle market investment banking firm in the United States. The firm provides M&A advisory services, private placements of debt and equity, distressed advisory and restructuring services, and special purpose valuations and fairness opinions through its offices in Minneapolis, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London. For more information, visit the firm's website at www.agio.com.