FirstCom Corporation (fka FCLX)

[Drillbit]

Wednesday August 23, 5:21 pm Eastern Time
Press Release
FirstCom Corp. Adds Lehman Bros. Executive to Management Team
Mickey Schleien Named V.P. - Corporate Development and Acting CFO
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 2000--FirstCom Corporation (Nasdaq:FCLX - news), an emerging next generation telecommunications carrier with facilities based fiber optic networks in Chile, Peru and Colombia which is in the process of merging with AT&T Latin America, has appointed Mickey M. Schleien, CFA, --formerly senior vice president at Lehman Brothers--as vice president, corporate development and acting CFO.

Schleien will be a key advisor to the senior executive team on merger and acquisition matters as well as on strategic planning and capital raising, and will report directly to FirstCom's chairman, president and CEO, Patricio Northland.

Schleien, a Bolivian native and U.S. citizen, has amassed extensive experience in the financial and communications sectors throughout the Latin American region during his tenure in some of the country's most respected investment banking organizations.

``I am very pleased to welcome Mickey into the FirstCom family as he brings the right combination of financial and communications sector experience at a critical time,'' stated Northland. ``His knowledge and understanding of both the U.S. financial markets and of the Latin American communications business, as well as proven strategic counsel, will help us to quickly identify and seize appropriate new opportunities, consistent with our growth strategy. ''

While at Lehman Brothers, Schleien covered the telecommunications service sector in Latin America where he evaluated telcos in the wireline, wireless, and data businesses to support the firm's institutional clients and investment banking activities. Here, he was instrumental in taking several noteworthy Latin American companies through their IPOs and other strategic transactions, including Telefonos de Mexico, Grupo Iusacell and Conecel, among others, as well as completing the bond offering for Brazil's Telesp.

Schleien also worked with Morgan Stanley and Union Bank of Switzerland. A Chartered Financial Analyst, Schleien holds an MBA in Finance from Loyola-Marymount University and a B.S. in Chemistry from University of California in Los Angeles.

About FirstCom Corporation

FirstCom Corporation operates as a publicly traded (NASDAQ: FCLX - news) competitive local exchange carrier in four major metropolitan business centers in Chile, Colombia and Peru. With annual revenues in 1999 of $38MM and approximately 650 employees at year-end, FirstCom owns and operates a technologically advanced, fiber optic IP/ATM backbone-network and provides a wide range of integrated communications services

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The foregoing statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause AT&T Latin America and FirstCom's actual results or outcomes to be materially different from those anticipated and discussed in this press release. Except for historical information contained in this press release, the matters discussed contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors detailed in the definitive proxy statement described below, which readers are urged to read carefully in assessing the forward-looking statements contained herein. In connection with the FirstCom/AT&T Latin America merger, FirstCom has filed a definitive proxy statement and AT&T Latin America has filed a registration statement on Form S-4. We urge investors and security holders to read the definitive proxy statement and registration statement before they make a decision concerning the merger. Security holders may obtain a free copy of those documents and other documents filed by FirstCom Corporation at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov <http://www.sec.gov>. In addition, documents filed with the SEC by FirstCom may also be obtained from FirstCom Corporation by directing such request to FirstCom Corporation, 220 Alhambra Circle, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, Attention: General Counsel, Thomas C. Canfield [phone]. The members of the board of directors of FirstCom Corporation are Patricio E. Northland, George Cargill, Andrew Hulsh and David Kleinman. As of the date hereof, there are no other ``participants in the solicitation,'' within the meaning of Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Information concerning the directors is set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC. This announcement is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to purchase or a solicitation of consent with respect to any Senior Notes.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:

FirstCom Corporation, Miami
Maria Pis-Dudot, 305/459-6362 (office)
[e-mail]
or
Brainerd Communicators, New York
Leonardo Santiago, 212/986-6667 (office)
[e-mail]


Email this story - View most popular stories emailed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Quotes and News: FirstCom Corp (NasdaqSC:FCLX - news)
Related News Categories: telecom

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------