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Jeffrey S. Balkin has over 30 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance. Mr. Balkin began his career as a financial analyst at Edwards & Hanly (since merged into Smith Barney). He subsequently joined the firm�s corporate finance division and became intimately involved in public underwritings of small to medium-sized companies, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, valuations of closely-held companies, and private placements of debt and equity securities. During the 1970�s, Mr. Balkin served as Vice President Corporate Development for Aer Lingus Irish International Airlines in charge of its North American mergers and acquisitions program. He also became involved in many Aer Lingus international projects. Among other accomplishments, Mr. Balkin completed the $60 million acquisition of the hotel chain now known as Omni Hotels and within five years expanded the chain through acquisition to a $250 million international hotel company. During the early to mid-1980�s, Mr. Balkin served as Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer in the United States for the York-Hannover Group of international companies. At York-Hannover, he was primarily responsible for the growth, development and financing of the U.S. subsidiaries engaged in hotel acquisitions, development and management; real estate development of office buildings, resorts, condominiums, nursing homes and shopping centers; and, venture capital transactions in various industries including steel fabrication and finance. He also handled the restructuring and workouts of various of the company�s properties and portfolio companies. In the late 1980�s and 1990�s, Mr. Balkin was a partner in a real estate investment banking boutique specializing in complex, creative and innovative real estate financing and advisory services. He has been a director of several public and private companies and a member of the American Finance Association, the Financial Analysts Federation, the New York Society of Securities Analysts, the American Real Estate Society, and the National Realty Club. Mr. Balkin received a B.A. in Economics from Queens College and a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree in Finance from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He has postgraduate and advanced training in law and accounting. | 