MCLEAN, VA (January, 2002) - The McLean Group LLC is pleased to announce the New Year's Eve sale of its client, The Aaron Group, to Champion Exposition Services. The Aaron Group is a full-service trade-show exposition firm located in Washington, DC.

The McLean Group assisted the management of The Aaron Group in identifying and contacting prospective acquirers, analyzing valuations and negotiating the terms of the sale. Toby Aaron, President and CEO of The Aaron Group, considered several potential buyers before determining that Champion would provide the best fit and greatest potential for his firm.

Mr. Aaron stated, "Above and beyond the 'hard,' technical M&A support, what I most appreciated about The McLean Group bankers was their advice in the 'soft,' more subjective realms. They were able to assure, advise and make predictions based on their many years of M&A experience. There are probably a good number of investment banks out there that can handle the technicalities of an M&A deal, but I doubt there are more than just a few that provide the level of care and concern I enjoyed while working with The McLean Group."

Founded by Mr. Aaron in 1984, The Aaron Group is unique among exposition service contractors. While large enough to manage hundreds of nationwide meetings, events and trade shows annually, this service-minded company remained small enough to care passionately about providing exceptional service to its clients. Its merger with Champion will allow The Aaron Group to continue its excellent record of client service.

About The McLean Group
The McLean Group is a privately owned investment bank that provides merger and acquisition (M&A), business valuation, capital formation, corporate finance and litigation support services to clients generating from $5 million to $300 million in annual revenues.