Baird Venture Partners: Adds Layden, Robertson as operating partners

MILWAUKEE, December 16, 2011 – Baird Venture Partners (“BVP”), the U.S.-based venture capital fund of Baird Private Equity, announced today that Donald W. Layden, Jr. and Frederick A. Robertson, MD have joined as Operating Partners. Layden and Robertson will work with BVP’s sector-focused teams in sourcing, evaluating and overseeing portfolio company investments, further strengthening its operationally oriented approach to investing in smaller, high growth companies. Layden will be based in BVP’s Milwaukee office and Robertson will be based in Madison.

Don Layden will work with BVP to source, evaluate and oversee investment opportunities in the Business Services sector, with a particular emphasis on financial technology, business process outsourcing and healthcare services companies. Previously, Layden was President of the International Group and Senior Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Strategy, General Counsel and Secretary of Metavante. While there, he was instrumental in structuring the spin-off from Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (NYSE:MI) in 2007, a transaction in which Metavante became a public company. He also successfully negotiated the merger of Metavante Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:MV) into Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS) in October 2010. He serves on the boards of Firstsource Solutions, Online Resources, TxVia and Catholic Financial Life. Layden graduated from Marquette University and received his JD with honors from Marquette University Law School. Active in the Milwaukee community, Layden serves on the boards of United Way, Alverno College, Milwaukee Art Museum, Summerfest, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, Schools That Can Milwaukee, Nativity Jesuit Middle School and Three Harbors Council of the Boy Scouts. He also serves nationally on the boards of the Consuelo Foundation and Ways to Work.

“We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Don and have him join as a member of our team,” said Benedict Rocchio, BVP Partner. “Don brings a wealth of experience and relationships from the business services sector and we look forward to working closely with him to continue identifying and supporting great companies.”

Frederick Robertson will work closely with the BVP life sciences team. Robertson recently retired as Chief Executive Officer and Director of TomoTherapy Inc. Prior to joining TomoTherapy, Robertson served in a variety of roles in the medical field including Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Marquette Medical Systems, and later as Chief Clinical Officer of GE Medical Systems. He also previously held management positions with Marquette Medical Systems, including President and Chief Executive Officer. Robertson received his MBA from San Diego State University and earned his MD from University of Wisconsin Medical School. He serves on the University of Wisconsin Foundation Board of Directors and the Morgridge Institute for Research Board of Trustees.

“Fred is a proven senior healthcare executive who will be a valuable addition to our life sciences investment effort and seasoned mentor to a number of our portfolio company CEOs,” said Pete Shagory, BVP Partner. “We are extremely pleased to bring a successful executive like Fred onto our team and benefit from his clinical and business experience.”

The addition of Layden and Robertson is the latest development in an active year for Baird Private Equity. The group has made 13 new investments and completed 6 exits in the U.S., Europe and Asia, year to date. New investments include Wisconsin companies Montage Talent and Digi-Star, announced in the past few weeks.

About Baird Venture Partners

Baird Venture Partners, the U.S.-based venture capital fund of Baird Private Equity, makes venture capital investments in early and expansion stage business services and life sciences companies. Baird Venture Partners leverages its in-depth sector knowledge, experienced investment team and network of relationships to serve as a value-added partner for its portfolio companies.

Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group of Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), makes venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments in smaller, high potential companies in the United States through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners, in China through Baird Capital Partners Asia, and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe. Baird Private Equity has a global team of investment and operations professionals across the United States, Europe and Asia, including a team of operating professionals in Asia. Baird Private Equity and its affiliates have raised and managed over $2.8 billion in capital and invested in more than 250 companies since the 1980s. For more information, please visit http://www.bairdventurepartners.com.

For more information, contact:

Angela Pittman Taylor

Baird Public Relations

414-298-1902