PORTLAND, Ore. – (June 28 2007) – Minneapolis-based Marquette Financial Companies has formed a new company here to pursue opportunities in the healthcare lending field and has hired Martin D. Golden, a veteran healthcare lender, to lead it.

Marquette Healthcare Finance will provide asset-based financing to healthcare organizations nationwide in the lower middle market. The company will serve a wide array of healthcare clients, including hospitals, home healthcare agencies and long-term care facilities with financing needs from $1 million to $15 million. Marquette Healthcare Finance will provide revolving lines of credit, secured term loans and real estate financing. The new business is backed by the $2.6 billion Marquette Financial organization and is located at One World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon Street, Portland.

Golden brings 15 years of experience in healthcare lending to his role as executive vice president and managing director of Marquette Healthcare Finance. Most recently, he served as managing director of Healthcare Finance for Wells Fargo Foothill in Portland, where he led the nationwide development of healthcare lending.

In his new role with Marquette Healthcare Finance, Golden will be responsible for the start-up, development and management of Marquette’s nationwide healthcare lending practice.

“I am delighted to be joining an organization that has such a great reputation in the lending arena,” Golden said. “The migration of many lenders towards larger clients has left the smaller middle market underserved and has created a tremendous growth opportunity.”

“As the Baby Boom generation ages, demand for healthcare has expanded exponentially and will continue to do so in the future,” said Jim Casper, Marquette Financial’s group head of commercial finance lending. “We believe that Marty’s broad industry expertise, combined with the Marquette focus on outstanding customer service, will ensure that we capitalize on this opportunity.”

Prior to his post with Wells Fargo, Golden was senior vice president, west region team leader, for GE Healthcare Financial Services, based in San Francisco. He also had stints in healthcare lending with Credit Lyonnais and the Toronto-Dominion Bank, both in New York City. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

About Marquette Financial Companies
Marquette Financial Companies is a $2.6 billion privately held financial services company owned by the Carl Pohlad family in Minneapolis, Minn. Marquette Financial has a nationwide presence with consumer, commercial finance, residential construction lending and commercial real estate financing. Pohlad family holdings also include significant interests in the beverage, entertainment and real estate industries, as well as the ownership of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball team. For more information, visit www.marquette.com.

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