Piper Jaffray Continues to Expand its Health Care Franchise in the United Kingdom

MINNEAPOLIS and LONDON, May 10  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Piper Jaffray Companies (PJC) United Kingdom subsidiary, Piper Jaffray Ltd., is pleased to announce the expansion of its health care business in the UK with the additional hires of two investment bankers and two research analysts. The new dedicated health care personnel will increase the firm's presence in the UK and provide enhanced services for clients.

"We are thrilled to have these new professionals join our team as we strive to expand our services to health care clients in the UK," said David Wilson, chief executive officer of Piper Jaffray Ltd. "These four individuals will provide valuable expertise in both investment banking and research, which will enable us to continue to grow our franchise."

Joining Piper Jaffray are Neil Mackison and Rupert Winckler in investment banking. Mackison is a managing director and previously was the head of European Health Care Investment Banking at ING. He joins the firm with more than 18 years of experience in corporate finance, focusing on the UK health care sector. Mackison has a degree in chemistry from Kings College and is qualified as a chartered accountant at Coopers and Lybrand in London. Winckler is an associate investment banker and also joins from ING, where he was part of the health care investment banking. He has a degree in biochemistry from Oxford University.

In research, Sally Bennett and Richard Parkes join the firm as senior research analysts, covering biopharmaceutical companies. Bennett was a director at ING Wholesale Bank, where she was part of the biotechnology research team. She holds a medical degree from the University of Manchester. Parkes previously was a vice president at ING Wholesale Bank, where he was part of the biotechnology research team. He has a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Piper Jaffray has had a presence in London since 1987 and Piper Jaffray Ltd. was established in 1998. Last year, the firm announced the strategic hire of 14 health care professionals in investment banking, sales, trading and research, nearly doubling the size of its presence in the United Kingdom. In addition, Piper Jaffray Ltd. commenced trading as a member firm of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) late last year and acts in a principal and agency capacity and as a market maker in UK domestic securities. The firm currently makes a market in 31 London Stock Exchange Full and AIM-listed companies.

Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE:PJC) is a focused securities firm dedicated to delivering superior financial advice, investment products and transaction execution within selected sectors of the financial services marketplace. The company currently operates through two primary revenue-generating segments: Capital Markets and Private Client Services. The sale of the company's Private Client Services branch network, announced April 11, 2006, currently is pending. The company's Capital Markets business generates revenue through two groups: Corporate and Institutional Services and Public Finance Services. Through its chief operating subsidiary in the U.S., Piper Jaffray & Co., the firm has served corporations, government and non-profit entities, institutional investors and the financial advisory needs of private individuals since 1895. With headquarters in Minneapolis, Piper Jaffray currently has approximately 2,800 employees in 107 offices in 23 states across the country and in London. The firm's UK operating subsidiary, Piper Jaffray Ltd., is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. For more information about Piper Jaffray, visit us online at http://www.piperjaffray.com/ . 

DATASOURCE: Piper Jaffray Companies



CONTACT: Susan Beatty, Media Relations of Piper Jaffray & Co.,

[phone], or, David Bick of Holborn, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.piperjaffray.com/

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