NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 2008--Piper Jaffray today announced it has expanded its investment research health care team with the addition of Andrew Fein as a senior research analyst. He will be based in New York and provide coverage of companies in the biotechnology sector.

Fein joins Piper Jaffray from Collins Stewart where he was previously a managing director and senior equity analyst covering the biotechnology sector. His prior experience includes covering biotech companies as a senior analyst at Leerink Swann, and as a biotech analyst at Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology and history from Yale University and also pursued a medical degree at the New York University School of Medicine. Fein has received "Honorable Mention" in Institutional Investor's annual poll since 2002.

Caroline Tao and Sarah Chu will also join Fein on the biotechnology team in New York as research associates. Tao and Chu both received bachelor's degrees in brain and cognitive science from MIT and previously worked for Collins Stewart.

In addition, Manisha Narasimhan will join the broader biotechnology team at Piper Jaffray as a research associate. She was previously a consultant at Campbell Alliance where she was responsible for developing strategies for pharmaceutical and biotech clients. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Madras, a master's degree in molecular biology from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. from the New York University School of Medicine.

"Andrew and our new research associates bring significant industry knowledge and research excellence to Piper Jaffray, helping us to further strengthen our research expertise in the biotechnology sector and build our health care franchise at the firm," says Joel Denney, head of investment research at Piper Jaffray.

In addition to research expertise in the biotechnology sector, Piper Jaffray provides coverage of companies in the following health care sectors: health care services, medical technology, medical diagnostics, specialty pharmaceuticals, and drug discovery. The firm is also one of the most active underwriters for growth companies in the health care sector and has been ranked as a top equity underwriter in the sector since 2004(a).

(a)Source: Dealogic & Piper Jaffray Equity Capital Markets

About Piper Jaffray

Piper Jaffray Companies is a leading, international middle-market investment bank and institutional securities firm, serving the needs of middle-market corporations, private equity groups, public entities, nonprofit clients and institutional investors. Founded in 1895, Piper Jaffray provides a comprehensive set of products and services, including equity and debt capital markets products; public finance services; mergers and acquisitions advisory services; high-yield and structured products; institutional equity and fixed-income sales and trading; and equity and high-yield research. With headquarters in Minneapolis, Piper Jaffray has 25 offices across the United States and international locations in London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Piper Jaffray & Co. is the firm's principal operating subsidiary. (NYSE: PJC) (http://www.piperjaffray.com)

Since 1895. Member SIPC and FINRA.

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SOURCE: Piper Jaffray