NewStar Financial Adds Two Senior Bankers


BOSTON, March 17, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NewStar Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:NEWS) announced today the addition of two new senior bankers to its direct origination platform covering the middle market and leading private equity firms active in that segment. Ross Catlin has joined the Company's Darien office and Thad Johnson has joined the Company's Chicago office as Managing Directors.

Mr. Catlin will be responsible for loan origination on the East Coast. He brings 15 years of experience originating and structuring senior and subordinated debt financing to middle market companies backed by leading private equity sponsors. Mr. Catlin most recently served as a Managing Director of FirstLight Financial Corporation's Middle Market Sponsor Finance Group. Prior to joining FirstLight, Mr. Catlin was a Managing Director in Bank of Ireland's Leveraged Finance Group.

Mr. Johnson will lead NewStar's loan origination efforts in the Midwest and West Coast regions. Mr. Johnson most recently served as a Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Capital's ("MLC") syndications and capital markets team responsible for pricing, structuring and distributing leveraged finance and asset based transactions. Prior to joining MLC, Mr. Johnson was a Director in the Acquisition Finance group of Fleet Securities focused on leveraged loan origination from private equity sponsors.

"I am excited to welcome two high-caliber bankers to the team," said David Dobies, Head of Middle Market Origination for NewStar Financial. "Both Ross and Thad bring to NewStar a powerful combination of long term relationships in our target market, deep execution and credit experience and a solid background in the capital markets. Their experience and credit expertise are exceptionally valuable during times of uncertainty and will help reinforce our position in the marketplace as a reliable, sophisticated credit partner."



 Mr. Ross Catlin
 9 Old Kings Highway South, 4th Floor
 Darien, CT 06820-5900
 P 203.716.8414
 rcatlin@newstarfin.com.

 Mr. Thad Johnson
 101 North Wacker Drive
 Suite 2011
 Chicago, IL 60606
 P 312.525.8136
 tjohnson@newstarfin.com

About NewStar Financial, Inc.:

NewStar Financial (Nasdaq:NEWS) is a specialized commercial finance company focused on meeting the complex financing needs of companies and private investors in the middle markets. The Company specializes in providing senior secured debt financing for the acquisition or recapitalization of mid-sized companies and commercial real estate. NewStar originates loans directly through a team of experienced, senior bankers organized around key industry and market segments. The Company targets 'hold' positions of up to $20 million and selectively underwrites or arranges larger transactions for syndication to other lenders. NewStar is headquartered in Boston MA and has regional offices in Darien CT, Chicago IL, and Charleston SC. For more detailed transaction and contact information, please visit our website at www.newstarfin.com.

The NewStar Financial, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4044



            

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