Costello Discusses Value and Financing Options at National Restaurant Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Decosimo’s Mike Costello Addresses National Restaurant Association in Chicago
Presentations focused on Value Maximization, Transition Planning and Financing Options for the Restaurant Industry

(May 24, 2010)– Decosimo Advisory Services Principal D. Michael Costello, CPA•ABV•CFF, CFE, ASA, addressed leading restaurant industry executives during the National Restaurant Association Annual Conference in Chicago May 20-21. Mr. Costello’s presentations were focused on options available to restaurant owners as they look for strategic ways to maximize value for growth or for positioning their businesses for sale or change in ownership.

Mr. Costello’s presentation titled "Value and Transition Planning for the Restaurant Industry" addressed the key value drivers for restaurants; what has happened to the value of restaurants in general during the recession; and how to determine the value of a restaurant. This presentation also focuses on transition planning for restaurant ownership and how understanding value can aid the transition planning process.

A second presentation titled "Restaurant Financing Options" focused on the basics of financing and how value affects the ability to finance. This presentation also provided an in-depth look at how the financial meltdown affected the availability of financing for restaurants, as well as assessed how restaurants may increase their chances of obtaining favorable financing. Lastly, the presentation discussed the different types of financing available to restaurants and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each type of financing.

Mr. Costello is a Principal and Director of Litigation Services with Decosimo Advisory Services, a division of the public accounting firm Joseph Decosimo and Company PLLC that offers business valuation, litigation support and transaction advisory services. He is also a Managing Principal of Decosimo Corporate Finance, LLC. Mr. Costello is a CPA certified in financial forensics, a certified fraud examiner, an accredited senior appraiser and a consultant with more than 28 years of training and experience in business valuations, business acquisitions and divestitures and related fields. Mr. Costello's experience includes extensive consulting work and testimony in tax, accounting, financial, economic, and business issues of commercial litigation, with emphasis on business valuation, economic damage and forensic accounting issues.

About the National Restaurant Association
Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 945,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of nearly 13 million employees.

About Decosimo
Founded in 1971, Joseph Decosimo and Company, PLLC (Decosimo) is a nationally recognized firm, perennially ranked as a Top 100 accounting and business advisory services firm. The regional firm has eight offices in the United States and Cayman Islands, with approximately 300 professionals and staff. Each of Decosimo’s offices provides a full range of accounting and advisory services to a wide array of industries. Additionally, Decosimo is an independent firm associated with Moore Stephens International Limited. With more than 351 member firms and a total of 630 offices spanning 98 countries, the Moore Stephens association and Decosimo provide clients access to a matchless depth of resources and expertise.