Ascendiant Capital Group LLC Ascendiant Securities LLC; Member FINRA & SIPC

Transcription

1 about Ascendiant Capital Group LLC Ascendiant Securities LLC; Member FINRA & SIPC Investment capital and strategic guidance for publicly traded, emerging growth companies

2 about Established in 2001, Ascendiant provides investment capital and strategic guidance to publicly traded, emerging growth companies based in the United States and selected foreign markets. Ascendiant Capital Group LLC is a direct equity investor in small-cap and micro-cap publicly traded companies. Ascendiant Securities LLC, an investment bank, is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a broker-dealer, and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Ascendiant Structure Ascendiant Capital Group, LLC Principal Investing Placement Agent Ascendiant Capital Partners, LLC Ascendiant Opportunity Fund, LLC Ascendiant Securities, LLC Direct investor in public companies seeking growth capital. Direct investor in profitable private and public companies seeking growth capital. Investment bank registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and a member of the FINRA & SIPC.

3 investment capital Ascendiant Capital Group LLC Ascendiant Capital Group LLC is a direct equity investor in publicly traded, emerging growth companies based in the United States and selected foreign markets. Ascendiant targets equity investments in small-cap and micro-cap publicly traded companies listed on the NYSE, NYSE Amex, NASDAQ, and the OTC markets, as well as selected foreign exchanges such as the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, and the Australian Securities Exchange. Ascendiant invests its proprietary capital across a wide spectrum of industry sectors, and provides funding for a variety of purposes. Ascendiant Securities LLC Ascendiant Securities LLC, an investment bank, is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Ascendiant Securities LLC provides placement agent and related advisory services to publicly traded emerging growth companies as well as institutional and accredited investors. During the past five years, Ascendiant Securities has completed over 60 financing transactions representing over $200 million, ranking Ascendiant Securities among the most active investment banks for small-cap and micro-cap companies, according to Sagient Research Systems and Private Raise. Capital for publicly traded emerging growth companies

4 recent transactions Page 1 of 4 $10,000,000 At-The Market Offering $3,000,000 Equity Commitment $5,000,000 Equity Commitment Debt Financing $1,300,000 $2,550,000 Debt Purchase $650,000 $728,000 $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $5,000,000 $3,000,000 $600,000 Equity Commitment Equity Commitment Equity Commitment Equity Commitment Equity Commitment Desert Communications, Inc $400,000 $8,700,000 $6,475,000 $4,200,000 $4,000,000 $2,016, Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1600, Irvine, California USA Telephone (949) Facsimile (949) All Rights Reserved.

5 recent transactions Page 2 of 4 Desert Communications, Inc $1,827,5000 $1,680,000 $731,250 $500,000 $12,100,000 $1,800,000 $2,050, $1,500,000 $24,940,000 $1,000,000 $7,571,667 $1,300,000 $2,750,000 Registered Direct $1,000,000 $1,375,000 $275,000 $10,000,000 $15,000,000 Acquisition

6 recent transactions Page 3 of 4 $7,200,000 $5,000,000 $500,000 $400,000 $5,750,000 $1,250,000 Acquisition $2,750,000 $3,131,000 $500,000 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 $3,150,000 $1,000,000 Acquisition Acquisition 2008 _2008 $4,000,000 $2,250,000 $3,420,000 $3,500,000 $300,000 $1,850,000

7 recent transactions Page 4 of 4 $8,000,000 $4,500,000 $1,200,000 $3,400,000 $1,200,000 $2,200,000 $5,500,000 $1,100,000 $3,500,000

8 ascendiant advisory Business Strategy The Ascendiant team has many years of experience starting, managing, and operating companies as well as providing them with investment capital and strategic advice. Ascendiant assists its portfolio companies and clients with business strategy, including new product development, business development, and sales and marketing planning. Road Shows Ascendiant organizes institutional road shows for its public portfolio companies. The objective is to increase a company s visibility and exposure within the financial and investment community to achieve and maintain a fair market value for the company s publicly common stock, as well as to enhance and maintain trading volume and liquidity for shareholders. In addition to investment capital, Ascendiant provides strategic guidance and support to its portfolio companies and clients. Research Coverage Through Ascendiant s relationships with prominent, independent sell-side analysts, public companies have an opportunity for research coverage that will help elevate their visibility in the investment community. For public companies that are not yet able to garner independent research coverage, Ascendiant can make introductions to reputable analysts that offer research reports on a paid for basis. Market Making As an SEC registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, Ascendiant Securities LLC has relationships with other FINRA member firms that serve as market makers for public companies. Mergers & Acquisitions Over the years, the Ascendiant team has participated in hundreds of transactions involving mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. For its portfolio companies typically working on the buy-side, Ascendiant seeks to assist with the identification and qualification of targets and the negotiation, structuring, due diligence, and closing of transactions. Going Public For private companies that are seeking to become public, Ascendiant assists with going public transactions including reverse mergers and direct registrations. Both are alternatives to underwritten initial public offerings. Introductions Ascendiant s portfolio companies and clients benefit from introductions Ascendiant makes to other professional advisory firms. Through years of experience working in the small-cap and micro-cap markets, Ascendiant has interacted with a large number of attorneys, accountants, auditors, market makers, research firms, investor relations firms, and other consultants that specialize in support services for public companies.

9 Mark Bergendahl and Bradley Wilhite - Founders and Executive Managing Directors principals Mr. Bergendahl and Mr. Wilhite founded Ascendiant Capital Group LLC, which is a direct equity investor in publicly traded, emerging growth companies, and Ascendiant Securities LLC, an investment bank registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a broker-dealer and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Additionally, Mr., Bergendahl and Mr. Wilhite founded two special purpose investment entities - Ascendiant Opportunity Fund I, LLC and Ascendiant P.E.T. Partners, LLC. Mr. Bergendahl has over twenty years of experience as a private investor, and in the development of early stage and high growth companies. He has managed a broad array of businesses from inception, through all phases of growth, to exit. Prior to founding Ascendiant in 2001, Mr. Bergendahl served as Chief Executive Officer of Redfield, Taylor & Associates, Inc., a private investment firm focused on emerging Mark Bergendahl growth companies, Managing Partner of Edie -Wig-BB, a California investment partnership, President of Gloria Marshall Figure Salons, Pty. Ltd., a national retail services weight loss company in Australia, comprised of 83 retail centers and 520 employees. Mr. Bergendahl also served as a Founding Director and private investor in Odyssey Sports, Inc., a golf equipment company which developed the Odyssey putter that attained #1 market share in the world, and was later sold for $130 million cash to Callaway Golf (NYSE: ELY). He began his professional career in the corporate finance department of Oppenheimer & Company, now CIBC World Markets, which has received recognition as the top-ranked equity research firm in North America. Mr. Bergendahl is a graduate of the Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, and maintains FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, and 79 securities registrations. Mr. Wilhite has over twenty years of experience providing financing and advice to early stage, emerging growth, and lower middle market companies. He is skilled in a variety of equity and debt financing structures, business strategy, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to founding Ascendiant in 2001, Mr. Wilhite had a decade of management experience with two of the nation's leading Bradley Wilhite commercial banking organizations, First Union Corporation (now part of Wells Fargo & Company; NYSE: WFC) and Fourth Financial Corporation (now part of Bank of America; NYSE: BAC). Mr. Wilhite served as a commercial banker providing financing to early stage, emerging growth, and lower middle market companies, and he directed several lines of business, managed successful product launches, and led merger and acquisition teams. Additionally, Mr. Wilhite previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of a publicly traded golf equipment manufacturing company. Mr. Wilhite earned a Master s degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelor s degree in Business Administration from Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Wilhite also completed post-graduate training at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in Chicago, Illinois, and maintains FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, and 79 securities registrations Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1600, Irvine, California USA Telephone (949) Facsimile (949) All Rights Reserved

10 team Ascendiant s professional financial executives have successfully started, financed, managed, invested in, acquired, and sold businesses across a variety of industry sectors. Dr. Brian Davies Managing Director - Life Sciences Adam V. Anthony Senior Vice President Scott Arnold Vice President Michael Natter Managing Director Allen Blankenship Managing Director Dr. Davies is responsible for identifying and researching prospective investment opportunities with an emphasis in the Life Sciences, Biotechnology, Medical Diagnostics, and Medical Devices sectors. Mr. Anthony serves Ascendiant Capital Group LLC as a Senior Vice President, and is responsible for the oversight, leadership, and development of early stage and high growth businesses that are funded and supported by the firm. Mr. Arnold is responsible for researching and identifying prospective investment opportunities for Ascendiant Capital Group, LLC across a wide variety of industry sectors. Mr. Natter is responsible for identifying and researching prospective investment opportunities for Ascendiant Capital Group, LLC. Mr. Blankenship is responsible for identifying and researching prospective investment opportunities for Ascendiant Capital Group, LLC. Kellee Bergendahl Portfolio Manager Anthony Diamos Financial & Operations Principal Lena McCulloch Accounting Manager Natalie Dygert Office Manager Ms. Bergendahl is responsible for researching prospective investment opportunities for Ascendiant Capital Group LLC, as well as completing investment transactions and managing relationships with portfolio companies. Mr. Diamos is responsible for Ascendiant Securities, LLC s financial reporting as it pertains to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA. Ms. McCulloch is responsible for Ascendiant's accounting and financial systems and reporting. Ms. Dygert is responsible for the firm s office operations and administration Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1600, Irvine, California Telephone (949) Facsimile (949) All Rights Reserved.

11 legal information INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES This brochure ( the brochure ) is designed for informational purposes only and does not constitute, (i) a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial instrument or to provide any investment advice or service, (ii) an official confirmation of any transaction, or (iii) an official, definitive, or binding statement of Ascendiant. COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS This brochure contains proprietary content which is the property of Ascendiant. Except as maybe expressly authorized, no information or material contained in this brochure may be reproduced, transmitted, displayed or commercially exploited without written consent. "Ascendiant" is a registered trademark and service mark. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY The information provided on this brochure is "AS IS" and is subject to change at any time. Ascendiant does not guarantee the accuracy, validity, timelessness, completeness or suitability of any information or data made available to you. Ascendiant also disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, warranties of title, non-infringement, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. REGULATORY STATUS Ascendiant Securities LLC is registered as a broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and is a member of the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation).

12 contact Ascendiant Capital Group LLC Ascendiant Securities LLC; Member FINRA & SIPC