Emerald Asset Management Holds Annual Groundhog Day Investment Forum

Emerald Asset Management will hold it’s Seventeenth Annual Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum on Thursday, February 4, 2010 at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia. “Energy and passion are hallmarks of the Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum,” said Emerald Founder and CEO, Joseph E. Besecker. “The core theme of the Forum will be ‘Where Do We Go From Here? – Post Crash & Recovery’ as we discuss key issues facing investors and corporate executives in 2010, including the prospects for a recovering economy and its implications for the credit and equity markets, the outlook for regulatory reform in the financial services industry, and dealing with the mounting pension fund crisis,” added Mr. Besecker.

The Forum will showcase investment opportunities in some of the Mid-Atlantic region’s fastest growing companies, as well as industry leaders from across the country. Senior management teams from over 20 public and private companies are scheduled to make formal presentations during concurrent sessions. The Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum provides a unique opportunity for portfolio managers, analysts, and investment industry professionals to interact with senior executives representing a wide array of industries including financial services, consumer goods, life sciences, technology, utilities, and infrastructure. In addition, analysts from Emerald will be sharing their views on the most compelling growth opportunities for the coming year.

The Seventeenth Annual Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum will also feature the tenth annual presentation of the “E-3” Awards. The E-3 (Emerald, Entrepreneurial and Excellence) Award presentations will recognize corporate leaders from both the public and private company sectors who exemplify entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence.

This year’s Forum is being sponsored by Pepper Hamilton LLP, Forward Management, Janney Montgomery Scott, Patriot Financial Partners, Sturdivant & Co., Boenning & Scattergood, Inc., KeystoneCare, Metro Bank, and Trout, Ebersole & Groff LLP.

Emerald Asset Management is a diversified investment services company that operates through its three subsidiary Advisors: Emerald Advisers, Inc., Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust and Emerald Fixed Income Advisers, LLC. With over $1.5 billion in assets under management, Emerald Advisory Services offers a series of research-driven investment products through institutional separate accounts and sub-advising mutual funds, including the Forward Growth Fund (HSPGX), and the Forward Banking & Finance Fund (HSSAX) within the Forward Funds Group. Emerald is headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and operates satellite offices in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Additional information on the Forum, including registration information, can be found at http://www.teamemerald.com/groundhog.

2010 Emerald Groundhog Day Investment Forum Public Company Presenters:

Alliance Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: ALNC)

Aqua America (NYSE: WTR)

Beneficial Mutual Bancorp (NASDAQ: BNCL)

Black Box Corp. (NASDAQ: BBOX)

Bryn Mawr Bank Corp. (NASDAQ: BMTC)

Carriage Services (NYSE: CSV)

Delcath Systems (NASDAQ: DTCH)

Internet Capital Group (NASDAQ: ICGE)

Provident NY Bancorp (NASDAQ: PBNY)

Schweitzer-Mauduit (NYSE: SWM)