David Abrams, Executive Director and Sports Venue Financing Specialist ( Boca Raton ). Mr. Abrams will be joining Merrill Lynch in Boca Raton as an Executive Director in May 2006. Abrams previously worked a similar position at Morgan Stanley from May 2003 through March 2006. He has over nineteen years of experience in investment banking as a lead banker for numerous public and private entities including the financing of stadiums, arenas, tennis facilities, golf courses, and other sports venues. In the arena of stadium finance, he has most recently advised Houston NFL Holdings in the financing of an NFL expansion franchise (Houston Texans) and domed stadium (Reliant Stadium). Also, he has acted as financial advisor to the City of Jacksonville in the issuance of 1994, 1995 and 1997 series of Capital Improvement Revenue Bonds totaling $111 million for the benefit of the newly renovated NFL Jacksonville Jaguars’ facility (Alltel Stadium). In 1996 and 2000, Mr. Abrams completed, through the Dade County Industrial Development Authority, remarketings and substitution of an existing letter of credit with one provided by Societe Generale in the refinancing of Pro Player Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins and Florida Marlins. Mr. Abrams advised the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the lease negotiations and the funding of Raymond James Stadium. All of the above-mentioned NFL venues have hosted or will host a Super Bowl and are regarded as the best facilities in the NFL.

Mr. Abrams has acted as lead banker to Dade County, Florida on its initial offering of $70 million Professional Sports Franchise Facilities Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 1992 to fund the construction of the USTA Lipton International Tennis Facility, as well as improvements to the Miami Arena, the Orange Bowl, and the Homestead Sports Complex. Mr. Abrams has worked on the $1.1 billion purchase of the Madison Square Garden Companies including Madison Square Garden, the New York Knickerbockers and Rangers. He has served as an advisor to a client in the bidding for an existing NBA franchise and arena in the Midwest; and provided the initial financing analysis for the Pepsi Center, home to the NBA Nuggets and NHL Avalanche. Additionally, Mr. Abrams advised the Florida Panthers in their negotiations with Broward County, Florida regarding the funding of a new NHL and multi-purpose arena located in the City of Sunrise, Florida. Mr. Abrams has advised the New York Islanders NHL franchise in its negotiations with Nassau County regarding a new arena. Mr. Abrams is also a frequent speaker at sports facility financing symposiums, and is an Adjunct Professor of Finance in the Sports MBA Program at Florida Atlantic University. Mr. Abrams has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University.