1. Inquiries to securities lawyers.

2. Inquiries to accounting firms experienced in underwriting of initial public offers of securities.

3. Interviews and meetings with investment banking firm professionals.

4. Telephone calls or meetings with personnel of firms listed on an investment banking firm's transaction/client list.

5. Telephone calls or meeting with industry peers who have dealt with investment banking firms.

6. Telephone calls or meetings with commercial bankers involved in corporate finance.

7. Inquiries to venture capital firms.

8. Financial trade publications such as Institutional Investor and Corporate Finance, particularly periodic publications with directories of investment banking firms, as well as the Securities Industry Association's Securities Industry Yearbook and Standard & Poor's Security Dealers of North America.

9. A telephone call to the NASD Regulation's Public Disclosure program at (800) 289-9999 to ascertain whether a particular investment bank or any of its professionals has been the subject of disciplinary action.

10. Brochures and Internet web sites distributed or offered by investment banking firms.