—(BUSINESS WIRE)—April 9, 2008— Product innovation and industry leadership are key drivers behind a company's merger & acquisition (M&A) strategy. This is reflected in the 400 M&A deals that have closed over the past four years.

However, prior to every M&A deal, companies invest heavily in research and analysis to target the right business and technology, determine market opportunities and hidden potentials that would add value for shareholders. Companies must exhaustively research past and contemporary innovations and patent portfolios to discover emerging trends and new uses for products, as well as gage the competitive landscapes.

At TRIZCON, Invention Machine's certified innovation master Jim Belfiore, will share best practices on how global manufacturers use innovation methodologies to plan their M&A strategy more accurately and at lower costs. He will also demonstrate how innovation technology helps predict technology evolution and market trends, target the right companies and validate their growth opportunities, all of which make the pre-M&A process more reliable and sustainable.

WHAT:    Best practice for driving M&A and investment opportunities
          with innovation technology

WHO:     Jim Belfiore, Director of Innovation Practices, Invention
          Machine Corp.

WHEN:    Tuesday, April 15, 2008
         5:00 p.m. EST

WHERE:   TRIZCON 2008
         Kent Student Center, Room 204
         Kent State University
         Kent, Ohio

CONTACT: To schedule one-on-one interviews or for additional
          information, please contact:
         Parna Sarkar
         psarkar@invention-machine.com
         (617) 305-9250, ext. 3305
         or
         Bethany LoMonaco
         bethany_lomonaco@lpp.com
         (781) 782-5836

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Contact:

Invention Machine
Parna Sarkar, 617-305-9250, ext. 3305
Email Contact
or
Bethany LoMonaco, 781-782-5836
Email Contact