<body.content> <block> <p>AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Investors and venture capitalists from across the nation will meet once again in Houston for the fourth annualSouthwest Bio Venture Conference & Symposium, presented jointly by CN Group and Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute. The conference, to be held December 9 and 10 at the Hyatt RegencyDowntown will feature approximately 15 of the best life science, biotech, medical and healthcare prospects for venture capital investment in Texas and the Southwestern United States. Approximately300 attendees, representing some of the country’s leading venture capital firms, angels, and strategic corporate investment executives, are expected to attend. The conference begins on Tuesday,December 9 with panel discussions, keynotes, exhibition area preview, and a kick-off reception and ends on Wednesday, December 10 with a full day of company presentations, a keynote speaker anddisplays in the exhibition area.</p> <p>”We anticipate participation from some of the nation’s best known and most active venture capital firms,” said David Gerhardt, Managing Director,CN Events. “Attending individuals will represent billions of dollars of investable capital.” According to Gerhardt, presenting companies at the 2003 conference hail from Texas and the Southwest, andrepresent a variety of companies that specialize in life science, biotech, medical and healthcare. The finalists were chosen from a selection committee from more than 100 applicants.</p><p>Twenty-three companies who have presented at previous CN Group conferences in 2003, either through their own efforts or indirectly as a result of these conferences, have raised more than$148 million in venture capital, representing approximately 17% of this year’s funding in Texas to date.</p> <p>”The success of Southwest Bio Venture is its ability to bring together themost promising companies looking for capital, venture investors, key sponsors, and industry professionals to meet the needs of the biotech and life science industry in the region,” states TomKowalski, President of Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute. “Venture firms will come to Houston from all over the state and the country to be exposed to promising companies representing adynamic source of new opportunities.”</p> <p>An impressive group of sponsors continues year after year to support the Southwest Bio Venture Conference & Symposium. Host sponsorsinclude Ernst & Young, Gray Cary, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Pannell Kerr Foster of Texas PC and Vinson & Elkins. Programsponsors of the conference include BakerBotts LLP, CBIZ Valuation Group, Comerica, Koch Ventures, JETRO- Houston, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati,British Consulate General of Houston and Synergos.</p> <p>About Capital Network Events</p> <p>CN Events produces the nation’s leading Venture Capital and Private Equity andAngel Investor conference bringing together growth companies with investors. Through continued growth and thought leadership, CN Events has become the de facto standard for venture and private equityconferences. CN Events is one of three distinct, synergistic businesses held by CN Group, which provides a range of services to selected growth companies. The scope of services includes:</p><p style=”pre” id=”pre1″> Merger and Acquisition Advisory
Corporate Management
Production of Premier Private Equity and Venture Capital Conferences
Financial Advisory
For more information please visit <a>http://www.cngroupllc.com/</a> .
About Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute </p> <p>The Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI) is a public policy research organization, whose members consist of biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies, academic and private research institutions, chambers of commerce, and local and regional economic development foundations.</p> <p>The mission of THBI is to research, develop and advocate policies that promote life science innovation in Texas. For more information, visit <a>http://www.thbi.com/</a> .</p> <p style=”pre” id=”pre2″> Media Contact:
Patti D. Hill
BlabberMouth Public Relations
(512) 528 – 0201
<virtloc idsrc=”dummy” value=”dummy”>[email protected]</virtloc> </p> <datasource>CN Group</datasource> </block> <block class=”contact”> <p>CONTACT: Patti D. Hill of BlabberMouth Public Relations,<br/>+1-512-528-0201, or <virtloc idsrc=”dummy” value=”dummy”>[email protected]</virtloc> </p> </block> <block class=”website”> <p>Web site: <a>http://www.cngroupllc.com/</a><br/><a>http://www.thbi.com/</a> </p> </block> </body.content>
