2007 M&A Awards

Winners Announced at the Middle-Market M&A Awards Gala

Venture Capital and Private Equity Pioneer, David T. Morgenthaler received

2007 Lifetime Achievement Award

December 14, 2007, New York:

The M&A Advisor revealed the winners of its 6^th Annual Middle-Market M&A Awards competition during a black-tie gathering held at the Hudson Theatre in New York City. The evening was hosted by Alexis Glick, vice president and anchor of Fox Business News.

Among the coveted award winners were, Steven McLaughlin, managing partner of Financial Technology Partners from San Francisco, named Dealmaker of The Year; the sale of Ria Envia, Inc. to Euronet Worldwide, Inc, nominated by Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, won the Deal of the Year award. Strategic Acquisition of the Year award went to the acquisition of Stride Rite Corp. by Payless ShoesSource, Inc, nominated by Financo, Inc.

David T. Morgenthaler, founding partner of Morgenthaler, received the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his body of work in private investing and for his triumphant efforts in Washington to reverse the capital gains taxation policies. Addressing the gala’s attendees of over 200 leading mergers and acquisitions professionals, Mr. Morgenthaler cautioned that the industry “has an image problem,” and urged investment firms to actively engage in the political process.

Firm Awards were won by Marlin & Associates (Investment Banking Firm of the Year); Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP (Law Firm of the Year), Sun Capital Partners, Inc. (Private Equity Firm of the Year) Crowe Chizek and Company, LLC (Due Diligence/Valuation Firm of the Year) and LexisNexis (Product of the Year, for its M&A Acquisition Tool).

Total of 26 awards were presented to dealmakers and firms in the middle-market mergers and acquisitions industry. The winning deals were selected by a panel of independent judges from among 132 competing finalists, representing 52 firms.

“Our mission is to acknowledge the performance of those M&A firms and professionals whose work is marked by creativity, resourcefulness, business savvy and benefits the industry overall.” said Roger Aguinaldo, chief executive of The M&A Advisor and founder of the awards program.

Complete List of 2007 Middle-Market Awards Winners is Attached.

About The Awards Program:

The M&A Advisor organizes series of unique awards serving the mergers and acquisitions, financing and distressed/turnaround industries. The Awards recognizes top-performing professionals and firms whose activities set the standard and are of benefit to the industry.

Nomination submission is free and open to any industry participant. The submitted nomination forms are verified for authenticity and the finalists are selected from among the qualified nominees. Winners of the Awards are chosen by an independent panel of judges. Judges are enlisted from the ranks of industry professionals encompassing finance, academics, journalists, consultants and service providers.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 Turnaround Awards.

About The M&A Advisor:

The M&A Advisor is a progressive information services provider for executives in the mergers and acquisitions, distressed investing, and related financial industries. The company founded 10 years ago, offers insights into middle-market mergers and acquisitions activities. The company produces series of conferences and celebrates contributions made by the professionals and firms through its unrivaled, independently judged awards program. The M&A Advisor also publishes the M&A Alerts, a weekly newsletter distributed electronically to over 36,000 subscribers.

For information, please contact us by email: info@maadvisor.com

Or by phone at: 718-997-7900.

www.maadvisor.com