NEW YORK (March 5, 2003) – Media merchant bank Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS) has expanded its core partnership with the elevation of Gerry Benford (age 64), Marco Sodi (age 44), and Scott Troeller (age 34) to partner. The expansion of the VSS partnership is a significant milestone in the nearly 22 year history of the firm, which now numbers approximately 80 people in its New York and London offices.

All three will continue to be actively involved with both the firm’s private equity affiliate, VS&A Communications Partners, and its longstanding investment banking activities in the media and communications industries. The three executives join current VSS name partners John Veronis, John Suhler and Jeffrey Stevenson. Messrs. Veronis and Suhler founded the firm in 1981; Mr. Stevenson, who joined the firm in 1982, became a name partner in 2000.

Gerry Benford has been with Veronis Suhler Stevenson since 1989, during which time he has been a General Partner with the firm’s private equity group. Prior to joining the firm, he was with Warner Communications for 17 years. Marco Sodi joined VSS in New York in 1988 and was active in developing its international business before opening the firm’s London office in 2000. Scott Troeller, formerly with J. P. Morgan, joined VSS in 1996, originally leading many initiatives in its investment banking practice before becoming part of VS&A Communications Partners III, the firm’s $1 billion private equity fund, in which he, at age 32, was named a General Partner in 2000.

The addition of Messrs. Benford, Sodi and Troeller to the partnership “enhances VSS’s progress as an integrated merchant banking firm providing private capital and financial advisory services to the media industry and increases the opportunities and growth potential available to everyone at VSS,” said the firm in announcing the promotions. “Messrs. Benford, Sodi and Troeller have made a substantial contribution to our business and each has served as a proven senior leader in the firm over many years.”

Veronis Suhler Stevenson is a leading independent merchant bank dedicated to the media, communications and information industries. VS&A Communications Partners III, LP (Fund III) is the third private equity fund managed by Veronis Suhler Stevenson. Capitalized at $1 billion, it is one of the largest private equity funds dedicated exclusively to investments in the media, communications and information industries. Together with Fund III's predecessor funds, VS&A Communications Partners have invested in 30 platform companies across media segments; the realized and unrealized enterprise value of these investments total approximately $5 billion.

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