Myrtle Beach, South Carolina & Miami, Florida, April 2, 2007—Robert M. Clinger III, founder of Highland Global, a premier strategic advisory and business valuation firm in the Southeast, has successfully completed the education and review process with the Institute of Business Appraisers (IBA) to earn the designation of Certified Business Appraiser (CBA).

In the announcement, Highland Global spokesman, Sebastian G. Peréy commented, “The Certified Business Appraiser designation is the most coveted valuation designation in the profession. In earning the CBA designation, Mr. Clinger has met the IBA’s rigorous standards of professionalism, expertise, and integrity in the field of business valuation and becomes one of six valuation professionals in South Carolina to have earned the CBA designation. Few valuation professionals offer the depth of knowledge,

experience

and understanding of business valuation theory and application as those who have earned the Certified Business Appraiser designation.”

Certified Business Appraisers provide business valuation services to the accounting and legal communities as well as owners of privately-held businesses. Certified Business Appraisers possess extensive practical experience that has been gained through extensive education, peer review, and dealing with the complexities involved in valuations in various contexts.

To be awarded the CBA designation, the candidate is required to successfully complete educational requirements, testing, and peer review through the IBA. Requirements to earn the designation include holding a business degree from an accredited institution of higher education, possessing a prerequisite understanding of business valuation theory and practice, and demonstrating a minimum of 10,000 hours of prior work experience in business valuation. The candidate must also complete in-depth IBA coursework covering various aspects of valuation theory and application, methodology, and report writing and pass a comprehensive examination. The final step in earning the Certified Business Appraiser designation is the successful completion of the rigorous peer review of two demonstration reports submitted by the candidate.

To maintain his CBA designation, Mr. Clinger will be required to obtain continuing professional education in business valuation and participate in periodic peer review programs aimed at promoting quality and adherence to IBA standards.

Business valuations are most commonly required in conjunction with the purchase or sale of a business, succession planning, buy/sell agreements, charitable contributions, estate and gift taxes, and initial public offerings. Valuations may also be necessary in legal situations such as business disruption, dissenting shareholder actions, divorce, and partner disputes.

About The Institute of Business Appraisers—The Institute of Business Appraisers, founded in 1978, is the oldest professional society devoted to the valuation of privately-held businesses. The IBA is a pioneer in business appraisal education and professional accreditation. Since its founding, the IBA has grown into a nationally recognized organization with over 3,000 members. The goals of the IBA include increasing awareness of business valuation as a specialized profession, ensuring that the services of qualified, ethical appraisers are widely available, expanding the available body of knowledge regarding the theory and practice of business valuation, developing and providing essential industry information, programs and services for members, and impacting national policy and law affecting the business valuation community. More information on the Institute of Business Appraisers may be found at the IBA website, http://www.go-iba.org.