Miller Buckfire Lewis & Co., LLC today announced that it has completed its spin-off from Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, Inc. The new 40-member firm is owned and controlled by Henry S. Miller, Kenneth A. Buckfire, and Martin F. Lewis as well as the firm's senior professionals, all of whom were previously members of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein's financial restructuring group.
 
With over 20 active engagements, Miller Buckfire Lewis is one of the leading investment banks focused on providing strategic and financial advisory services in large-scale corporate restructuring transactions. The firm's current clients include: Kmart Corporation, Polaroid Corporation, Sunbeam Corporation, Level (3) Communications, ICG Communications, Huntsman Corporation, Laidlaw, Inc., PSINet, and Polymer Group.
 
"The spin-off is complete, and we are experiencing strong demand for our services across multiple industries," said Mr. Miller, the firm's chairman. "As an independent firm, we are now able to provide financial advisory services to a much broader array of clients. "
 
"Our transition was seamless due to the support of our clients and the dedication of our professionals. We would like to thank our former colleagues at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein for their support during the transition, and we look forward to continuing our close working relationship with them."
 
Clients of Miller Buckfire Lewis will continue to have access to the merger and acquisition and capital raising capabilities of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, one of world's leading investment banks, through a strategic alliance between the two firms. Miller Buckfire Lewis has also completed its move into new headquarters and has been licensed as a broker-dealer by the NASD.
 
Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein's financial restructuring group spun-off into Miller Buckfire Lewis in order to serve a broader array of clients, including those involved in chapter 11 cases in which Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein or Dresdner Bank is a creditor.
 
About Miller Buckfire Lewis & Co., LLC:
 
Miller Buckfire Lewis is a leading independent investment banking boutique providing strategic and financial advisory services in large-scale corporate restructuring transactions, with a key focus on developing out-of-court solutions to capital structure problems. The firm's professionals have successfully restructured more than $120 billion in debt. Services provided by Miller Buckfire Lewis include valuation and debt capacity analysis, business plan development, capital structure design, plan formulation and negotiation, and private equity and debt placement services to financially troubled companies and their constituents. The 40-member firm is based in New York. Additional information about Miller Buckfire Lewis can be found at http://www.mblco.com.