BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 09/22/09 -- Imperial Capital, LLC will host its inaugural Middle Market Consumer Summit on October 14th, 2009 at The Montage Beverly Hills Hotel. Over 20 leading private and public branded consumer companies will discuss growth strategies, consumer trends and brand positioning in the current market environment.

The conference will feature a panel on current consumer buying trends with leading consumer trends forecaster Tristan Coopersmith from CAA's consumer research arm The Intelligence Group, consumer industry executive Tom Davin, CEO of Panda Restaurant Group and Board Member of Oakley Inc., and Mary Ross Gilbert, CFA, from Imperial Capital's Institutional Research Group. There will also be a lender panel addressing current and prospective credit markets featuring senior representatives from major lending institutions, including GE Capital, CIT and Crystal Capital, as well as Steve Tanner, EVP and CFO of Real Mex Restaurants.

Christy Lowe and Nicole Fry from Imperial Capital's Consumer Products Investment Banking team will also provide a macroeconomic outlook for the consumer sector as well as M&A and financing trends.

Company participants include:

Claridge Natural Foods              Rubio's Restaurants, LLC
Control4 Corporation                Skullcandy, Inc
Emu Australia, Inc.                 Sonora Mills Foods, Inc. (Pop chips)
Gilchrist & Soames, Inc.            Sport Chalet, Inc.
Horny Toad Activewear, Inc.         Taco Bueno
Hudson Jeans                        The FRS Company
Juice Beauty                        The Gorilla Glue Company
JAKKS Pacific Inc.                  The Gymboree Corporation
Klipsch Audio                       Universal Electronics Inc.
Mastro's Restaurants, LLC

Sheppard Mullin and Grant Thornton are co-sponsors of the conference.

For further information about the conference, please visit: http://www.imperial-mmcs.com.

About Imperial Capital, LLC

Imperial Capital, LLC is a full-service investment banking firm offering debt and equity financing, sell-side and buy-side mergers and acquisitions advisory, financial restructuring and recapitalization advisory services. Imperial Capital's Consumer Products team is focused on providing middle market companies with sound advice and superior execution under any market condition and is active in all sectors of the Consumer segment, including Apparel, Footwear & Accessories, Consumer Electronics, Food & Beverage, Household Products, Restaurants and Retail. Imperial Capital, LLC is a member of FINRA (www.finra.org) and SIPC (www.sipc.org). Visit Imperial Capital, LLC at http://www.imperialcapital.com.

About Sheppard Mullin

Sheppard Mullin is a full-service AmLaw 100 firm with more than 560 attorneys in 11 offices located throughout California and in New York, Washington, D.C. and Shanghai. Founded in 1927 on the principle that the firm would succeed only if its attorney delivered prompt, high quality and cost-effective legal services, Sheppard Mullin provides legal counsel to U.S. and international clients. Middle market companies turn to Sheppard Mullin to handle a full range of corporate and technology matters, high stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. Visit Sheppard Mullin at www.sheppardmullin.com.

About Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International, one of the six global accounting, tax and business advisory organizations. Through member firms in 110 countries, including 50 offices in the United States, the partners and employees of Grant Thornton member firms provide personalized attention and the highest quality service to public and private clients around the globe. Visit Grant Thornton LLP at www.GrantThornton.com.

Press:
Anna Halloran Jacob
SVP, Marketing & Communications
Imperial Capital, LLC
Tel: 310-246-3675
Email Contact

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