BAIRD CAPITAL PARTNERS AND BAIRD VENTURE PARTNERS SPONSOR 3rd ANNUAL ASIAN PRIVATE EQUITY & VENTURE FORUM CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO

CHICAGO, May 17, 2007 — Baird Capital Partners (BCP) and Baird Venture Partners (BVP), respectively the U.S.-based buyout and venture capital funds of Baird Private Equity, will sponsor the third annual Asian Private Equity & Venture Forum titled “Asian & US Midcap Dealmakers: Opportunities For Market Access, Technology and Productivity.  The conference is scheduled for June 4-6 at the Conrad Hotel in Chicago. A number of institutional investors, limited partners, corporate CEOs and senior private equity fund managers are expected to attend the event, which is organized by the Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ), Asia’s primary private equity and venture capital news source.


BCP has sponsored the conference since 2005, the first time the global event was held in the Midwest. Both BCP and BVP invest in the United States but are supported by a sizeable operating team in China and India focused on facilitating and executing Asia sales & distribution, sourcing, and manufacturing opportunities for portfolio companies.


“We know firsthand that companies must respond proactively to global opportunities in order to be competitive in this global market,” said Paul J. Carbone, Director of Baird Private Equity and Managing Partner of BCP and BVP. “Our presence in Asia and our experienced team support our portfolio companies as they proactively build the international relationships and networks critical to their success.”


The event will feature presentations and panel discussions on topics relating to the competitive threats and commercial opportunities Asia presents for middle market companies in the Midwest. Carbone, BVP Partner Peter Shagory, and BCP Principal Brett Tucker will be participating on panels during the conference. The list of highly-regarded speakers also includes dinner keynote speaker Adlai E. Stevenson III, former U.S. Senator and Chairman, Midwest US-China Association, who will address attendees at the June 5 conference dinner.


For more information about the conference and registration please visit the AVCJ website at www.asianfn.com.


Now in their 20th year, the Global Asian Venture Forums are the world’s leading conferences on Asian private equity and venture capital. Held in top venues across Asia, North America and Europe, the Global Asian Venture Forums have become “The Meeting Place” for Asia’s top private equity investors, fund managers, corporate VCs, and financial professionals.


About Baird Private Equity
Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group affiliated with Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), makes venture capital, change-of-control and growth equity investments in the United States through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe and Granville Baird Ltd, an affiliated fund manager that invests in Germany.  With more than 40 investment professionals in the United States and Europe and over 20 operating professionals in Asia, Baird Private Equity has raised and managed $1.8 billion in capital. Baird Private Equity’s operating resources in China and India, located in four offices, focus on facilitating and executing Asia sourcing, manufacturing and distribution opportunities for portfolio companies.  The group’s investments are supported by Baird’s full range of financial advice, operating expertise and industry research, providing a unique full-service approach to the entire private equity investment process. For more information, please visit www.bairdprivateequity.com.