MINNEAPOLIS, May 20, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Piper Jaffray announced today that nine of its senior research analysts were honored with eleven total awards in the 2010 FT/StarMine Global Analyst Awards. The analysts represent the firm's healthcare, consumer, technology and telecommunication sectors. This is highest number of awards that the firm has received in the analysis. The awards recognize the most outstanding stock pickers, earnings estimators and brokers in the United States, Europe and Asia.

To determine the award winners, StarMine measures performance based on the returns of the analysts' buy/sell recommendations, as well as the accuracy of their earnings estimates. For the 2010 awards, only the performance of recommendations and estimates on companies based in the United States, Europe and Asia for the calendar year 2009 were considered.

The following analysts received awards for estimating earnings of companies in the U.S.:

• Thomas Gunderson ranked no. 6 overall for estimating earnings--among all U.S. firms and sectors. He also ranked no. 3 in the Healthcare Equipment & Supplies sector
• Robert Napoli ranked no. 1 in the Consumer Finance sector
• Anthony Gikas ranked no. 2 in the Leisure Equipment & Products sector
• Christopher Larsen ranked no. 3 in the Wireless Telecommunication Services sector

The following analysts received awards for estimating earnings of companies in Europe:

• Sam Fazeli ranked no. 2 in the Biotechnology sector
• Richard Parkes ranked no. 3 in the Biotechnology sector
• Graeme Clark ranked no. 3 in the Wireless Telecommunication Services

The following analysts received awards for stock picking in the U.S.:

• Robert Napoli ranked no. 1 in the each of the Diversified Financial Services and Consumer Finance sectors
• Mark Marostica ranked no. 2 in the Diversified Consumer Services sector
• Neely Tamminga ranked no. 2 in the Specialty Retail sector

Both Napoli and Gikas have received a FT/StarMine award every year since 2004. Napoli specializes in financial technology and diversified financial companies. Gikas follows companies in the consumer & leisure products and consumer entertainment sectors, and has co-authored numerous industry reports on consumer products, green trends, fitness industry and media & entertainment.

This is Tamminga's third FT/StarMine award. She focuses on specialty retailing: women's apparel & accessories, and personal products.

"This recognition is a great example of how our investment research team is dedicated to continually providing Piper Jaffray clients with proprietary and unique research, as well as high-quality stock analysis across various industries," said Bob Peterson, head of global equities. "Congratulations to our senior research analysts for their top-tier performance."

About Piper Jaffray

Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE: PJC) is a leading, international investment bank and institutional securities firm, serving the needs of corporations, private equity groups, public entities, nonprofit clients and institutional investors. Founded in 1895, Piper Jaffray provides a broad set of products and services, including equity and debt capital markets products; public finance services; financial advisory services; equity and fixed-income institutional brokerage; equity research and fixed income analytics; and asset management services. Piper Jaffray headquarters are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with offices across the U.S. and in London and Hong Kong. Piper Jaffray & Co. is the firm's principal operating subsidiary. (www.piperjaffray.com)

Since 1895. Member SIPC and FINRA.

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SOURCE: Piper Jaffray Companies

Piper Jaffray Companies
Investor and Media Relations
Jennifer A. Olson-Goude, 612-303-6277