Chicago, IL & Washington, DC (November 12, 2007) -- FOCUS, LLC, a national middle market investment banking firm providing merger, acquisition and corporate finance services, announces Philip R. Clarke III has joined FOCUS as a managing director in the MidWest office.

According to Fred Floberg, Regional Managing Director, “Phil has more than thirty years experience in providing investment banking and financial advisory services to middle market companies in both public and private market transactions. He has long-standing and deep relationships in the Chicago business community generally and in the financial services industry in particular.  Phil will bring a valuable added perspective to the firm. His addition is another step in our growth strategy and will allow us to expand our services in the Midwest region.  We are pleased that he has joined the FOCUS team.”

Prior to joining FOCUS, Mr. Clarke co-founded and was a manager of Shikaakwa Partners LLC, a firm specializing in providing financial consulting and merger and acquisition advisory services to private and closely-held middle market companies.  Clarke gained other investment banking and merger and acquisition experience at Prairie Advisors, LLC, Heller Financial Advisors, ABN AMRO Incorporated and The Chicago Corporation.  His industry experience includes consumer and business products and services as well as capital goods and telecommunications.

Mr. Clarke currently serves as president of a privately-held consumer services business.  He is an investor in and provides both operating and financial consulting services to a residential housing and marina development company.  He is also President of the Board of Trustees of the Asheville School, a private secondary institution in Asheville, North Carolina.

About FOCUS

FOCUS, LLC provides a range of middle market investment banking services across the U.S. with an emphasis on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and corporate finance. FOCUS is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco.   FOCUS specializes in transactions for entities with $5-300 million in revenues, serving entrepreneurs, corporate owners and various types of investors across a broad range of industries, throughout the US and worldwide.  All FOCUS partners are seasoned operating and financial executives with extensive transaction experience. For more information on FOCUS, visit www.focusbankers.com.