Brean Murray, Carret & Co. Expands Global Presence; On the Ground Research on Chinese Equities Launched Via Opening of Beijing Office

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Brean Murray, Carret & Co. has established a presence in Beijing, bringing over three decades of research, brokerage and investment banking expertise to mainland China.

With a base in Beijing, our analysts can conduct insightful, hands-on research on the growth industries across mainland China. Our international expansion allows us to better serve our corporate and institutional clients in both the U.S. and China. Our diligent analytical approach yields unique insights and compelling investment opportunities in Chinese high-growth firms traded on U.S. exchanges.

While the top large cap U.S-listed Chinese companies are heavily followed by Wall Street, there is a clear need for thorough equity research and investment services focused on the smaller to mid-size companies. Brean Murray, Carret & Co. is moving quickly to become the first boutique investment firm to offer comprehensive proprietary research in the China region. With a rapidly growing middle class and a mushrooming population of tech-savvy consumers, the Chinese economy, particularly the technology sector, offers dramatic growth opportunities.

Our research team bridges the Pacific with our New York-based analysts working closely with our Chinese Beijing-based analysts. Our face-to-face access to Wall Street perfectly balances our hands-on analysis of mainland Chinese companies. This unique, bi-continental strategy enables us to provide comprehensive analysis of U.S.-listed Chinese companies, unmatched by our peers. Brean Murray, Carret & Co. strives to be our clients' first call for timely, comprehensive ideas on Chinese small- to mid-cap equities.

"Launching this quality China effort marks another significant stage in the firm's ongoing rapid growth," said Bill McCluskey, CEO of Brean Murray, Carret & Co. "We are proud to offer our institutional clients these distinctive value-added capabilities", added Gary M. Giblen, Managing Director/Director of Research.

The Brean Murray, Carret Beijing office is located in the China World Trade Center, Unit 1318, Tower 1, Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue, Ph. 86.10.65050998, and is comprised of four Chinese research professionals working directly with US based lead analyst, Michael Tieu. The China research staff reports to Gary Giblen, Managing Director/Director of Research at Brean Murray, Carret & Co.

Brean Murray, Carret & Co., (www.breanmurraycarret.com) is a full service institutional research, investment banking, brokerage and asset management firm with $3 billion in combined assets under management. The firm specializes in small-cap growth companies.