PRINCETON, NJ, August 31, 2006 – WithumSmith+Brown Global Assurance (WS+B GA), a division of WithumSmith+Brown Certified Public Accountants and Consultants (WS+B), today announced it has received the 2006 Practice Innovation Award from Practical Accountant Magazine for creating a unique and efficient methodology to support public and private mid-market entities. The award also recognized WS+B GA for creating its original SOX¹²³ product and a separate Private Equity Division geared to address the needs of private equity backed middle market entities.

Published in the September issue, 'The Fifth Annual Practical Accountant Innovation Awards' are voted by the magazine’s editorial staff and recognize firms for taking a lead in developing new or improved services and promoting efficiency. WS+B GA’s Private Equity Services Division and its original SOX¹²³ methodology offer an experienced source of subject matter experts that provide hands-on support along with an innovative methodology that streamlines compliance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and provides cost-effectiveness through its scalable and customized model.

“We wanted to create a unique, scalable methodology for SOX compliance that meets the needs of middle market companies, whether public or private,” said Thomas A. Basilo, Chairman and CEO of WithumSmith+Brown Global Assurance. “We are honored to receive an award that recognizes us for the value we offer clients.”

Headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey WS+B GA was created to answer the growing demand for dedicated support and advanced capabilities in obtaining SOX compliance while also offering an extensive collection of other internal audit/risk assurance related services. SOX¹²³ was developed by WS+B GA to provide a highly customized service that addresses the specific needs and particular issues of private entities. SOX¹²³ assists clients with key business processes, sub-processes, operational systems, risks and controls in order to improve or create an ordered control environment suited in size and complexity to the nature and size the business.

“Receiving this award is an acknowledgement of the effort we have placed in creating a service that is original in approach,” said Basilo. “Since many of us at the firm have entrepreneurial backgrounds, we can relate to the pressures and limitations many private companies experience and have strived to deliver a personalized and efficient process that gives clients the most for their investment.”

About WithumSmith+Brown Global Assurance, LLC.

WS+B GA is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey and provides counsel and project support for corporate governance, risk assessment and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance services and other internal audit related services. The firm serves a diverse clientele ranging from public middle-market companies to pre-IPO and private equity / venture capital-backed corporations. WS+B GA offers clients innovative methodologies that are entrepreneurial in spirit resulting in a customized approach stressing hands-on, personalized service. For more information please visit www.wsbga.com.