Denver, Colorado, December 18, 2008 — The M&A Advisor, a leading information publisher for middle-market mergers and acquisitions and finance professionals, announced the 2008 winners for the 7th Annual Middle-Market M&A Awards at a gala held December 15th at the Hudson Theatre in New York City. The Middle-Market M&A Awards Gala honored the deal-teams and deal-makers whose successful transactions set the standard for the industry. 220 finalists representing 66 firms were chosen in 35 categories.

JD Ford & Company was named a finalist for two minor awards: Retail Manufacturing/Distribution Deal of the Year and Consumer and Retail Products Deal of the Year, and was selected as the winner of in the major deal award category Corporate/Strategic Acquisition of the Year. This award was based on JD Ford’s role in arranging the acquisition of Humm Foods, Inc. (dba Lärabar) by General Mills.

“It is an honor to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of JD Ford & Company,” said Roger Aguinaldo, CEO and Publisher of the M&A Advisor. “They have set an industry standard for their influential deals in middle-market investment banking.”

“JD Ford & Company is honored to receive this award and to have had the pleasure of representing Humm Foods (dba Lärabar) in this significant transaction”, said Joe Durnford, CEO and Sr. Managing Director at JD Ford & Company. “It is a great pleasure,” he adds, “to have the opportunity to serve highly successful entrepreneurs like Lara Merriken of Lärabar. We take pride in our goal of helping great business owners transition their companies and their lives into new stages.”

JD Ford & Company is a specialized Investment Bank offering sophisticated solutions to public and privately companies in a variety of industries including consumer products, specialty retail, building products, and specialized services. Since the Firm’s founding in 1996, JD Ford & Company has consistently provided clients operating throughout all phases of the business cycle with a wide variety of professional services, including: Strategic & Financial Advisory Services, M&A Transaction Services, Business Valuation Services, and a wide array of Financing Solutions. JD Ford & Company leverages its extensive experience and proprietary processes, vast network of connections and unique expertise to guide business owners through a variety of transitional events. For more information please visit www.jdford.com.

The M&A Advisor’s 7th Annual Awards Gala honors excellence in deal-making for transactions between $10 million and $1 billion in deal-value. Since 1998, The M&A Advisor has been connecting professionals in the mergers and acquisitions, distressed investing and related financial services industries through its timely market data, conferences, newsletters, online community and by recognizing the best deal makers in the country.

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