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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE) - GlobalOptions Group, Inc. (OTCBB: GLOI), a leading provider of domestic and international risk management services, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of James Lee Witt Associates, LLC (JLWA), based in Washington, D.C., for $6 million in cash and stock, the assumption of $2 million of debt and certain liabilities and an earn out based upon achieving certain revenue goals. In 2005, JLWA generated approximately $12.2 million in revenue. Separately, GlobalOptions Group has completed a $12.5 million debt financing to fund the acquisition and for general working capital purposes.
According to Dr. Harvey W. Schiller, chairman of GlobalOptions Group, the acquisition is a transformational event for the company. "James Lee Witt Associates brings unparalleled expertise in disaster management, helping to round-out the menu of services we now can offer clients across the country and around the world. With the acquisition complete, we are well on our way towards building the premier global risk management company through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth and reaching our target revenue run rate of $100 million as GlobalOptions enters 2007."With the completion of the acquisition, GlobalOptions has expanded its capabilities and offices in ten states (AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, MI, NY, PA, TN, and TX) as well as Washington D.C. JLWA will remain a division of GlobalOptions, with James Lee Witt remaining as President and CEO of JLWA.Founded in 2001, JLWA is a public safety and crisis management consulting firm based in Washington, D.C. with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Little Rock, and Sacramento. Led by James Lee Witt, the FEMA Director under President Clinton, JLWA has unrivaled experience and hands-on knowledge of public safety, disaster response, continuity of operations, and emergency management issues.Most recently, JLWA was retained by the State of Louisiana to help Governor Blanco on disaster recovery matters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. James Lee Witt is also the CEO of the International Code Council (ICC), a 50,000-member association dedicated to building safety. It develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools.JLWA's management team and staff include some of the nation's most notable and experienced disaster management experts, such as General Wesley Clark, one of the nation's most distinguished retired military officers, who formerly served as NATO Supreme Allied Commander; and Rodney Slater, who formerly served as U.S. Secretary of Transportation.JLWA's clients include the nation's premier universities, hospitals, governments, and a variety of Fortune 500 companies including those in the insurance, transportation, entertainment, finance, utilities, and emergency management industries. JLWA has advised government leaders, including governors, members of Congress, administration officials, and state and local elected officials, on emergency management policies and programs. www.wittassociates.com Burnham Hill Partners served as placement agent in connection with the debt financing. Burnham Hill Partners is a division of Pali Capital, Inc. a New York based registered broker dealer.About GlobalOptions Group, Inc.GlobalOptions Group, with main offices in New York and Washington D.C., is a provider of high-end risk assessment and mitigation services to Fortune 1000 corporations, governmental organizations and high-profile individuals throughout the world. GlobalOptions also recently entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held SafirRosetti, based in New York, for $13 million in cash and stock and the assumption of certain liabilities. The transaction, which is subject to financing and other conditions, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2006. The two new acquisitions will bring the number of GlobalOptions employees to nearly 200 with offices in 14 cities in 11 states and Washington D.C.GlobalOptions' services currently include risk management and security, investigations and litigation support, and crisis management. These engagements take GlobalOptions staff around the world and are typically highly-sensitive engagements where GlobalOptions is interacting with senior leaders in corporations and governments. Its overall mission is toentify, evaluate, assess, prevent and correct issues that may threaten people, organizations or strategic initiatives for corporations or governments. www.globaloptionsgroup.com Statements in this press release regarding the company's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. The company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1994, and as such, speak only as of the date made. To the extent the content of this press release includes forward-looking statements, they involve various risks and uncertainties including the successful integration of the businesses of SafirRosetti and James Lee Witt Associates and the continued successful implementation of the company's business strategy.Certain of these risks and uncertainties will be described in greater detail in GlobalOptions' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. GlobalOptions is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.