Merriman Curhan Ford Receives Closure on SEC Matter

SEC Order Makes No Finding or Allegation of any Fraudulent Activity Beyond Former Retail Broker

• Press Release
• Source: Merriman Curhan Ford Group, Inc.
• On 1:22 pm EST, Tuesday November 10, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Merriman Curhan Ford Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MERR - News) today announced that it has received a Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) administrative order in connection with the unethical conduct of a former retail broker, David "Scott" Cacchione, from approximately March 2006 to April 2008.

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The order makes no finding or allegation of any fraudulent activity involving anyone in the firm other than Cacchione. His actions in committing the fraud were not authorized by the firm. Cacchione was part of Merriman Curhan Ford's now disbanded retail business, which, even at its peak, represented roughly 1% of the firm's revenue. Cacchione was terminated by Merriman Curhan Ford once the fraud came to light in May 2008.

"We are pleased to put this 18-month matter behind us, and view the SEC's administrative order as a very constructive conclusion," said Jon Merriman, co-founder and chief executive officer of the firm's holding company, Merriman Curhan Ford Group, Inc. "The firm co-operated fully with the SEC's investigation of Scott Cacchione and consented to the SEC's order without admitting or denying the findings."

Merriman Curhan Ford recently split its legal and compliance functions and added personnel to ensure continued disciplined compliance, which included the hiring of:

• Michael C. Doran as general counsel; and
• Howard Bernstein as chief compliance officer.

"We are excited to get back to building our business," said Peter Coleman, chief executive officer of the broker-dealer subsidiary of Merriman Curhan Ford. "Our team has seen volume pick up in all business areas of the firm since our strategic transaction closed in September 2009, and we look forward to continuing our positive momentum into 2010."

About Merriman Curhan Ford

Merriman Curhan Ford (NASDAQ: MERR - News) is a financial services firm focused on fast-growing companies and the institutions that invest in them. The company offers high-quality investment banking, equity research, institutional services and corporate & venture services, and specializes in five growth industry sectors: CleanTech, Consumer, Media & Internet, Health Care, Natural Resources and Technology. For more information, please go to www.mcfco.com.

Note to Investors

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements based on our current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties. This release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to buy any securities of the Company. Forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially from those stated or implied in such forward-looking statements, due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include the risk factors disclosed in our Form 10-K/A filed on April 30, 2009 and our Forms 10-Q filed on May 15 and August 11, 2009. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future and can be identified by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. We assume no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Form 10-K/A filed on April 30, 2009 and Forms 10-Q filed on May 15 and August 11, 2009, together with this press release and the financial information contained herein, is available on our website by going to www.mcfco.com and clicking on "Investor Relations."

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