COSTA MESA, Calif. - February 24, 2004 -- RSM EquiCo, a leading global investment banking firm for the private middle market, has added a veteran dealmaker to its Chicago office. Kevin Keuper has joined RSM EquiCo Capital Markets LLC, the firm's broker-dealer subsidiary, as managing director.

"RSM EquiCo's continuing growth and success is reflected in our ability to attract experienced, talented professionals such as Kevin Keuper," said Robert Byczek, senior managing director and head of the firm's Chicago office. "We're thrilled to have someone of Kevin's stature join our dealmaking team. Of course, our clients are the real beneficiaries."

Mr. Keuper has more than 17 years experience in the financial services and investment banking fields. Prior to joining RSM EquiCo, he was managing director of Legacy Capital Advisors LLC, a financial advisory firm that served middle-market, emerging growth and small-cap public companies in a wide range of industries. Before that he was a senior vice president and portfolio manager at Heartland Advisors Inc., where his responsibilities included marketing and management of high net worth and small institutional account portfolios.

He previously spent more than 12 years at Duff & Phelps, a specialty investment banking and financial advisory firm. He held a variety of senior-level positions with the firm, including managing director; president of Duff & Phelps Securities Co.; and senior vice president of Duff & Phelps Investment Research Co. His prior experience includes sales and marketing positions with Hewlett Packard, Xerox Computer Services and Burroughs Corporation.

Mr. Keuper received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Valparaiso University and a master's degree in business administration from Illinois Benedictine College.

About RSM EquiCo

RSM EquiCo, Inc. specializes in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and corporate finance for private middle-market businesses. RSM EquiCo is part of RSM McGladrey Business Services, a business segment of H&R Block. Based in Costa Mesa, Calif., RSM EquiCo has more than 400 professionals and support personnel with additional offices in Chicago and London. For more information, visit www.rsmequico.com.