MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 18, 2014-- Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC), a leading investment bank and asset management firm, today announced that Chris Collins has joined the firm as a principal in its biotechnology investment banking group. His experience includes more than 14 years in financial services including 12 years focused on the biotechnology industry. He will be based in the firm’s San Francisco office.

“Our market-leading healthcare platform provides strategic advice and capital raising capabilities in one of the most transformative and important industries in the global economy,” commented Chad Abraham, global co-head of investment banking and capital markets. “We see a tremendous opportunity in the biotechnology sector and Chris is an instrumental addition to our growing coverage team.”

Collins joins the firm from Citigroup, where he was a director in the healthcare investment banking group focused on biotechnology companies. He previously worked at Credit Suisse, CPC Capital Management, Frazier Healthcare Ventures and Morgan Stanley.

Collins has represented biotechnology clients in transactions with an aggregate transaction value exceeding $24 billion, including over $13 billion of mergers and acquisitions and over $11 billion of capital markets transactions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University and a master’s degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a CFA® charterholder.

“We’ve focused on strategically growing our biotech investment banking franchise for several years and have made significant headway in market share gains and revenue growth. We are very pleased to add Chris to our team. His unique background and industry relationships make him a highly valuable advisor to our clients and our platform,” said Bob DeSutter, head of Piper Jaffray healthcare investment banking.

Collins added, “Piper Jaffray has a longstanding reputation as the investment bank of choice for healthcare companies. I look forward to being part of one of the most respected and established teams in the business.”

Piper Jaffray has a global healthcare investment banking and capital markets team of more than 50 professionals. Since 2007, the team has represented clients in 318 transactions with an aggregate value of $54 billion. In addition, the firm’s 10 healthcare senior research analysts cover a broad spectrum of sectors, including biotechnology, medical technology, specialty pharmaceuticals, drug discovery, medical diagnostics, life science tools and healthcare services, including information technology and alternate site providers.

About Piper Jaffray

Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE: PJC) is an investment bank and asset management firm headquartered in Minneapolis with offices across the U.S. and in London, Hong Kong* and Zurich. Securities brokerage and investment banking services are offered in the United States through Piper Jaffray & Co., member NYSE and SIPC, and in Europe through Piper Jaffray Ltd., authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Asset management products and services are offered through three separate investment advisory affiliates registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Advisory Research Inc., Piper Jaffray Investment Management LLC and PJC Capital Partners LLC.

The CFA® is a registered trademark owned by CFA Institute.

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Piper Jaffray Companies
Pamela Steensland, 612-303-8185
pamela.k.steensland@pjc.com