W. Robert Gold and Walter W. Nielsen Join FOCUS' Chicago Office as Managing Directors

Business Wire,  May 14, 2008  

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CHICAGO & WASHINGTON -- FOCUS LLC, a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition, divestiture and corporate finance services, announces that W. Robert Gold and Walter W. Nielsen have joined the firm's Chicago office as managing directors.

"Both Robert and Walter bring strong transaction and direct operating experience to the growing Chicago office," said Fred Floberg, Midwest regional managing director of FOCUS LLC. "Now more than ever, mid-market companies need solid advisors to help support business decisions made in our current economy."

With more than 15 years of transaction experience, Gold owned a legal practice primarily focused on tax, corporate and securities matters with a concentration on structuring businesses and transactions through partnerships and other flow-through entities. Clients included family-held and middle market enterprises - from start-ups in nascent industries to mature companies in established markets.

Prior to that, Gold served as director of legal affairs for Ocean Tomo, LLC, an intellectual property merchant banc, where he was responsible for all legal issues facing the company including regulatory, real estate and employment matters. Previously, Gold practiced law with Sachnoff & Weaver (now Reed Smith) as a partner in the tax group. He also worked at Schiff, Hardin & Waite and Shefsky & Froelich.

For nearly 20 years, Nielsen formed and directed Midwest Property Advisors, LLC, providing integrated consulting, development, equity and debt financing, legal and brokerage services to clients owning investment-grade real estate assets. Nielsen handled complete IRS Section 1031 like-kind exchange transactions from the sale negotiations through closing the purchase of qualifying replacement properties.

Previously, as president and chief operating officer of Financial Investment Advisors, Inc., Nielsen was responsible for managing multi-billion dollar portfolios held by large state pension plans. As senior vice president of The Balcor Company division of Shearson-Lehman Bros., Nielsen oversaw the national pre-acquisition underwriting function, construction group, re-financings and the fund valuations liaison with national investment services and the brokerage industry for all public and private limited partnerships.

Prior to The Balcor Company, Nielsen was vice president and general counsel at the holding company for Inland Steel Company's real estate group where he was responsible for numerous transactions and operations as he transitioned from the inside counsel role to general management. Nielsen was also an attorney with the Chicago law firm McBride, Baker, Wienke & Schlosser where he practiced in the areas of civil litigation, real estate and general business transactions.

Following active service as an officer in the U.S. Navy, Nielsen began his business career at the Harris Bank in Chicago where he headed the group that set up the marketing and operating programs for the introduction of all correspondent bank charge cards systems in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan (now MasterCard).

About FOCUS LLC

FOCUS LLC provides a range of middle market investment banking services with an emphasis on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and corporate finance. FOCUS is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. FOCUS specializes in business units with transactions or revenues in the $5-300 million range, serving entrepreneurs, corporate owners and various types of investors across a broad range of industries, throughout the U.S. and worldwide. FOCUS bankers are seasoned operating and financial executives with extensive transaction experience. Securities transactions conducted by Wm. H. Murphy & Co., Inc. registered Broker Dealer member FINRA/SIPC. For more information on FOCUS, visit www.focusbankers.com.

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