August 5, 2008

Ziegler Announces MEDmarketplace.com, Inc. Investment

Chicago, IL (August 5) --- Ziegler HealthVest Partners, LP – a venture capital fund investing in early- to middle-stage healthcare services, healthcare information technology and wellness companies – announced its Series A investment in MEDmarketplace.com – an innovative healthcare services company, which sponsors a Web-based marketplace for used and unwanted medical equipment.

MEDmarketplace.com, Inc. is a Florida-based company that provides a web-based exchange for the buying and selling of used and unwanted medical equipment. The MEDmarketplace.com Web site enables healthcare providers and others, on a business-to-business level, to connect with healthcare providers who desire to sell items from their medical equipment inventory. This type of technology enables providers to reallocate equipment so it is utilized in the most effective setting.

Co-founders of MEDmarketplace.com, Vincent Baratta and John Baratta, identified a need in the marketplace to fill a gap in the medical equipment industry and in 2002 created this innovative Web site and business model. States Vincent Baratta, "We are committed to the success and excellence of MEDmarketplace.com and believe the investment by Ziegler HealthVest will assist in this mission of excellence."

Ziegler will join the MEDmarketplace.com board.

About Ziegler HealthVest Partners

Ziegler’s HealthVest Partners is a private equity fund that invests in early- to middle-stage healthcare services, healthcare information technology and wellness companies.

About Ziegler

The Ziegler Companies, Inc. (symbol: ZGCO) is a growth-oriented boutique investment banking and investment services firm with a primary focus in the healthcare, senior living and church and school sectors. Operations encompass capital markets (capital advisory services, bond underwriting, mortgage banking, institutional sales and trading) wealth management, including asset management and investment services, and alternative investments.

Nationally, Ziegler Capital Markets is ranked as one of the leading investment banking firms for not-for-profit healthcare and senior living organizations, as well as religious institutions and schools.

Ziegler Wealth Management (retail brokerage) encompasses investment and consulting services for individuals, families, business owners and institutions. It operates a network of financial advisors throughout the nation.

Ziegler's alternative investing activities include raising and deploying capital through private investment funds with investment objectives related to the real estate, services and technology sectors of the healthcare and senior living industries.

Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry and the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy.

Press Contact:

Contact:  Tom Armor
Company:  MEDmarketplace.com
Phone:  954-491-5111
Email:  tom.armor@medmarketplace.com