Lowenstein Sandler PC Continues to Top National League Table for Law Firms Representing Lead Investors in PIPEs

20 August 2006

Lowenstein Sandler PC today announced that PrivateRaise.com has ranked the firm among the nation's top five law firms for the amount of Private Investments in Public Equity (PIPEs) transactions handled on behalf of lead investors through the second quarter of 2006. The firm's Specialty Finance Group ranks second among all law firms representing lead investors in deals that raise more than $10 million.

"We continue to be delighted with our high national ranking in the upper end of this rapidly growing corporate finance market place," said Steven E. Siesser, Chair of Lowenstein Sandler's Specialty Finance Group. "We are delighted with our high ranking, and we also are beginning to see the rewards of our efforts to expand our practice in Europe, having closed four deals this year for European issuers."

The Specialty Finance Group's representation of investment banks as placement agent has outpaced its work for lead investors, having represented these banks in more than fifteen PIPE and Registered Direct transactions to-date in 2006 valued at $300 million. The Specialty Finance Group regularly interacts with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nasdaq, Amex and the NASD in the course of these transactions. In addition, the Group has assisted numerous issuers with primary and secondary underwritten offerings in excess of $200 million, during this period.

About PrivateRaise.com

PrivateRaise.com (http://www.privateraise.com) research firm provides comprehensive market intelligence and analysis pertaining to private placements of equity and equity-linked securities executed by public companies. The firm rates activity of placement agents, legal counsel and leading investors based on the number of PIPE transactions representing lead investors.

About Lowenstein Sandler's Specialty Finance Group

Lowenstein Sandler's Specialty Finance Group provides corporate, regulatory and transactional counseling to clients involved in public and private equity and debt financing. The group is focused on representing investment funds, investment banks, issuers and underwriters in public and private equity and debt finance transactions, including PIPEs, registered directs, underwritten offerings, and mezzanine and private equity transactions.

About Lowenstein Sandler PC

Lowenstein Sandler PC is a nationally recognized law firm with more than 245 attorneys providing a full range of legal services to clients ranging from small public and privately held companies to Fortune 500 corporations. The firm has received top honors for its Litigation, Corporate and Environmental Law practices by the Chambers USA Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers. With offices in New York and New Jersey, the firm provides a full range of legal services to business and industry.

Media Contacts:

Kim Dreyer, Lowenstein Sandler

973-422-6444, kdreyer@lowenstein.com

Jennifer Grant, Rubenstein Public Relations

212-843-8060, jgrant@rubenstein.com

Source: prnewswire

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