MCNEIL WILSON/LAIRD CHRISTIANSON TO ACQUIRE STARR SEIGLE COMMUNICATIONS

HONOLULU, HI -- March 9, 2007 -- McNeil Wilson Communications, Inc., (MWC) and its sister company Laird Christianson Advertising, Inc., (LCA) announced today the signing of an agreement to acquire Starr Seigle Communications, Inc. (SSC).

The asset purchase will be handled through a newly formed holding company of which Dennis Christianson will be CEO. The terms and price of the transaction, as well as the conditions to closing, were not disclosed.

The joining of these prominent Hawaii agencies with industry leading practices in advertising, public relations, research and interactive will create the largest full-service marketing company in the islands, with annual gross capitalized billings of over $90 million and more than 140 employees. No client conflicts or employee layoffs are anticipated.

"We are in the process of creating a marketing powerhouse that will deliver substantial value for our clients and new opportunities for our employees," said David McNeil, a founding partner in MWC and chairman of the new holding company. "Starr Seigle is a tremendous agency with a great legacy. A major benefit of this union will be the impressive capabilities and talented people that are being brought together in a single organization."

Representative clients of the new company will include Marriott International, Hawaiian Airlines, American Savings Bank, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Kaiser Permanente, Symantec, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Centex Destination Properties, Na Hoku Jewelers, Sony Hawaii, and the Kauai Visitors Bureau.

"This is about serving clients better, now and in the future," said Christianson, who will also become president of LCA. "Expectations have never been higher. Clients want more accountability, and that's why readily accessible research is so important. They want unlimited web capability, and our combined interactive divisions will provide it. They want the deepest bench possible in strategic, creative and media capabilities, and seamless integration between public relations and advertising. We will be able to deliver all of this."

With origins tracing back to 1956, Starr Seigle is comprised of two corporations: Starr Seigle Communications, Inc., the advertising and public relations practices, which have approximately 35 employees; and StarrTech Interactive and QMark Research, which are incorporated as SSC Communications, Inc., and employs approximately 25 staff. The company is headquartered in the American Savings Bank Tower and has an office in Guam. MWC/LCA is acquiring both corporations.

David Koch, president and CEO of SSC, will become a director of the new enterprise and will carry the title of executive vice president of LCA. "Our reputation has been built on comprehensive and fully-integrated communications. Combining our companies will take this discipline to a higher level as every practice is top-tier within Hawaii and our tourism specialty far reaching in experience and clientele. We're totally energized by the move and look forward to working as a team to deliver inspired client programs.

Phil Wood, veteran creative director and 2006 AAF Silver Medal winner, will be a shareholder in the new holding company and executive vice president of LCA. Other senior executives of Starr Seigle who will become shareholders in the holding company are Barbara Ankersmit, president of QMark, Mary Fastenau, president of StarrTech and Noelle Baker, who will become a senior vice president of LCA.

David Wilson, vice chair of the new company and co-founder and president of MWC, said, "We recognize that present-day marketing requires far more sophisticated programs that incorporate all communications components. This acquisition presents an unparalleled opportunity to deliver from a single platform business, marketing and technology solutions, from strategy through implementation."

The new entity will have four operating subsidiaries: McNeil Wilson Communications Public Relations, Laird Christianson Advertising, QMark Research, and StarrTech Interactive. (Starr Seigle Advertising will be absorbed into Laird Christianson Advertising and StarrPR will be incorporated into McNeil Wilson Communications. Tapestry Interactive, a division of LCA, will fold into StarrTech.)

Buck Laird, co-founder and outgoing president of LCA will become managing director of the holding company with primary responsibility for combining operations. Coincidentally, Laird was senior vice president at Starr Seigle McCombs prior to teaming up with McNeil and Wilson in 1989. "I have had experience with both companies and view this amalgamation as combining excellence with excellence. Our goal isn't so much about integrating our organizations as it is to leverage the strength of each, to pool our resources in order to make investments in the right people and the services that our clients need the most," he said.

McNeil, Wilson, and Laird credit Christianson for initiating and leading the talks with Koch that began over a year ago. "Each of the partners in both companies has had a role in this transaction, but this is the vision of Dennis Christianson who has worked tirelessly to make it happen," said McNeil.

Sennet Capital, LLC, a Honolulu-based merchant bank that provides advisory services and private equity financing for middle market and emerging growth companies was retained by both parties to help manage the transaction.

John Bower, managing partner of Sennet, said, "From the outset, we saw this as a marriage made in heaven. It brings together an esteemed group of senior marketing professionals who have known each other for years, respect each other's work, and enjoy a good chemistry. The result will be an ambitious, multi-faceted and entrepreneurial agency with no boundaries to its capabilities. Businesses in Hawaii will reap the benefits of this alliance."

"Sennet Capital has been pivotal in this transaction," said Christianson. "Having such a experienced team of professionals, with broad resource and expertise in finance and acquisitions, is invaluable to all parties involved."

Subject to meeting the terms of the agreement, the transaction is expected to close by mid-April 2007. Operations of the two companies should be fully integrated within 90 days of the closing.

About McNeil Wilson Communications (MWC)

Founded in Honolulu by David McNeil and David Wilson in December l982, MWC is celebrating its 25th year of business. The firm has been ranked as the largest public relations firm in Hawaii for most of the past decade and offers expertise in travel and tourism, corporate and public affairs, advocacy campaigns, government relations and crisis management. In 2006, MWC won 15 awards at the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Hawaii Chapter banquet, including "Best of Show" for the third consecutive year. The firm's clients include the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, Hawaiian Airlines, American Savings Bank, Marriott International, Kauai Visitors Bureau, Architects Hawaii, Hawaii Superferry, Hawaii Community Foundation, Kapalua Bay, Kauai Lagoons, Prince Resorts Hawaii, Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association, Waikoloa Beach Resort, Polynesian Cultural Center, Atlantis Adventures, USS Missouri Memorial Association, Sea Life Park by Dolphin Discovery and JTB Hawaii.

About Laird Christianson Advertising (LCA)

In l989, McNeil Wilson Communications co-founded Laird McNeil Wilson Advertising with Buck Laird. The agency became Laird Christianson Advertising in 1993 when Dennis Christianson joined as a partner. LCA has won numerous national and local honors for its work including Pele Award Best-In-Show in four of the past five years. Christianson was recognized as Hawaii's Advertising Man of the Year in 2004 and Laird has received the prestigious Silver Medal from the American Advertising Federation. Major clients include Marriott Lodging International, Marriott Vacation Club International, Centex Destination Properties, Prince Resorts Hawaii, Kauai Visitors Bureau, Kauai Lagoons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, and Na Hoku Jewelers. LCA is a member of Worldwide Partners, a network of 75 independent agencies operating in 90 markets in more than 40 countries and the tenth largest advertising organization in the world.

About Starr Seigle Communications (SSC)

Allan Starr founded A.D. Starr Advertising in 1956. In 1983 the merger of Starr McCombs Koch with Seigle Rolfs & Wood created the largest marketing communications in the state for nearly two decades. ProComm Public Relations was acquired in 1988 to later become StarrPR. In 1996, from within the company, Mary Fastenau initiated the beginnings of StarrTech Interactive; now the largest online marketing communications practice in Hawaii. Also, in 1996, Barbara Ankersmit joined SSC to found the top-tier research company, QMark Research & Polling with offices in Hawaii and Guam. SSC's branding practice, StarrMark Brand & Strategy was launched in 2005 by managing director, Noelle Baker. Major SSC clients include Hawaiian Airlines, American Savings Bank, Kaiser-Permanente, Longs Drugs, Hawaii Superferry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts -- Hawaii, Sony Hawaii, Roberts Hawaii, and Pearlridge Center. Out of state clients include the Guam Visitors Bureau, Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau and the software giant, Symantec.