The Braff Group and Managing Director Chuck Gaetano
Named as Finalists for Middle Market M&A Awards

Pittsburgh, PA, December 1, 2008—The M&A Advisor, a leading information publisher for middle-market mergers and acquisitions and finance, announced the 2008 finalists for the 7th Annual Middle-Market M&A Awards Gala. 

The Braff Group was named as a finalist for Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year, and for Health Care Deal of the Year, for the firm’s representation of Carmichael’s Cashway Pharmacy in its divestiture to SunLink Health Systems.  Additionally, Chuck Gaetano, Braff Group Managing Director for Home Infusion Therapy and Specialty Pharmacy, was named a finalist for Deal Maker of the Year.

The Middle-Market M&A Awards Gala honors the deal-teams and deal-makers that have closed M&A transactions and firms whose activities set the standard for the industry.  220 finalists representing 66 firms were chosen in 35 categories. Winners will be announced at the black tie gala, which is being held on Monday, December 15th at the historic Hudson Theatre in New York City.

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

The Braff Group has won Health Care Deal of the Year three times.

In 2004, the firm was awarded the Life Sciences (Biotech/Healthcare) Deal of the Year for its representation of LifePlus, a regional home care provider based in Raymond, NH. In 2005, the firm received the award for its representation of Northwestern Memorial’s Homecare Division, Chicago, IL . And in 2006, The Braff Group earned the distinction for its representation of Canadian Valley Medical Solutions, Oklahoma City, OK.

Additionally, The Braff Group has been named a finalist for Boutique Investment Banking Firm of the Year four consecutive years.

“We are honored to be recognized once again alongside some of the most accomplished middle market investment banking firms in the nation,” commented Dexter W. Braff, President of The Braff Group.  “It marks our sustained commitment to providing the very best in merger and acquisition advisory services.  In addition, we are delighted that Chuck Gaetano has been named a finalist for Deal Maker of the Year.  Throughout his career at The Braff Group, Chuck has proven to be an extremely tenacious and patient dealmaker, completing nearly 50 transactions.  Moreover, from a merger and acquisition perspective, he has become a dominant player in the home infusion and specialty pharmacy merger and acquisition markets.”

About The Braff Group
The Braff Group is the leading investment banking firm specializing in the home health care, hospice, infusion therapy, specialty pharmacy, health care staffing, and home medical equipment market sectors.  The firm provides an array of transactional advisory services including sell side representation, debt and equity recapitalizations, strategic planning, and valuation.  Since being founded in 1998, The Braff Group has completed more than 130 transactions.

About the M&A Advisor
Since 1998, The M&A Advisor has been connecting professionals in the mergers and acquisitions, distressed investing and related financial industries through its leading conferences and awards galas, M&A Alerts newsletter and online community.