MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 8, 2008--Piper Jaffray & Co. further strengthened its public finance banking presence on the East Coast with the addition of Mark Piscatelli as a senior public finance banker. Piscatelli, who specializes in municipal financings, will be based out of a newly established office in Hartford, Ct. and will work with an existing team of public finance bankers in Boston to build the firm's public finance business in Connecticut and other states in New England.

With more than 17 years of investment banking experience, Piscatelli joins Piper Jaffray from Wachovia Bank where he previously worked as a director of municipal products specializing in underwriting bond transactions and derivative structures. Prior to Wachovia Bank, he was a vice president of investment banking for Fleet Securities, Inc. Piscatelli has extensive experience with diverse clients ranging from state and local governments, hospitals, and colleges and universities.

"Mark's experience with managing diverse clients throughout the Northeast and structuring all types of fixed and variable rate bond issues will allow us to grow our public finance banking platform and further develop client relationships in Connecticut and on the East Coast," said Frank Fairman, head of public finance services at Piper Jaffray.

Piscatelli earned a bachelor's and a master's degree in business administration from The University of Connecticut.

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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             Rob Litt, 612-303-8266 (Media Relations)

    SOURCE: Piper Jaffray & Co.