Svoboda, Collins L.L.C. Completes Sale of SmithBucklin

Chicago, IL – June 29, 2005 – Svoboda, Collins L.L.C. announced today that it has sold its equity investment in Chicago-based SmithBucklin Corporation to SmithBucklin employees through a newly established Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

SmithBucklin employees now own 100 percent of the company’s stock. SmithBucklin is the world’s largest association management and professional services company providing full-service management and function/project-specific services to more than 185 trade associations, professional societies, technology user groups and government institutes/agencies. Founded in 1949, the Company employs 585 professionals specializing in all phases of association activity including executive management, member and chapter administration, convention and trade show management, marketing and branding, Web services, education and programs, government relations and financial management. SmithBucklin manages more than $200 million in annual client budgets from offices in Chicago, Washington, DC, and St. Louis.

Svoboda, Collins and Mesirow Financial acquired SmithBucklin in August 2002 in partnership with company President and CEO Henry S. Givray. “SmithBucklin has enjoyed tremendous success under the leadership of Givray and the company’s management team over the last three years,” said John Svoboda, Senior Managing Director at Svoboda, Collins. “This serves as a great example of what we aim to achieve in our investments: a partnership with an excellent management team in a market leadership position in which we work with them to grow their businesses by delivering outstanding products and services to their marketplaces. The SmithBucklin ESOP creates a ‘win-win’ for Svoboda, Collins, Mesirow Financial and the entire SmithBucklin team.”

“We had known Henry S. Givray from one of our earlier investments, and when he approached us with the idea of buying SmithBucklin, we were very excited,” said Dan Howell, Senior Managing Director of Mesirow Financial’s Private Equity group. “It has been our pleasure to work with Henry and his outstanding team for the past three years, and this sale is a great outcome for all involved.”

Givray, who had previously worked at SmithBucklin from 1983 to 1996 and who rejoined the company as CEO in 2002 upon the acquisition by Svoboda, Collins and Mesirow Financial, will continue with SmithBucklin as President and CEO. “We appreciate and value the strong partnership, support and guidance Svoboda, Collins and Mesirow Financial have provided during the past three years,” said Givray. “The sale of SmithBucklin will allow us to continue on the path we have set for the company, and there will be no changes in our management team, client services, operations, or business strategy as a result of the transaction.”

About Svoboda, Collins L.L.C.

Svoboda, Collins L.L.C. is a Chicago-based private equity firm with $150 million of committed capital. Founded in 1998, Svoboda, Collins identifies, invests in and helps build excellent businesses in its targeted business niches: value-added distribution, business services and consumer products and services. For more information, please visit www.svoco.com.

For more information about SmithBucklin, please visit www.smithbucklin.com.