NEW YORK, Apr 14, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Piper Jaffray & Co. (NYSE: PJC) will significantly strengthen its media, entertainment and telecommunications investment banking capabilities with the addition of four new senior bankers, Robert Cockburn, Gregory Dawkins, Michael Hirsch and Peter Lombard. As a team, they will bring more than 50 years experience in the industry and join Mark Leavitt, managing director and head of the media, entertainment and telecommunications group, in building the firm's expertise in the sector.

Cockburn will join Piper Jaffray in April, and Dawkins and Lombard will join the firm in June, as managing directors from Jefferies & Company Inc.'s media and communications group. Hirsch will join as a principal in May from media investment banking at Jefferies. Each of them holds a bachelor's and master's degree in business administration.

"As industry veterans, each of our new senior bankers brings significant experience to Piper Jaffray in guiding clients in this dynamic and converging industry," said Jon Salveson, head of investment banking at Piper Jaffray. "This team has a proven track record and offers our firm the ability to hit the ground running in assisting clients with the significant growth and acquisition opportunities that are available in the sector."

Cockburn, Dawkins and Hirsch will be based in the Piper Jaffray New York office, while Lombard will work out of the Boston office. The team will report to Leavitt.

Piper Jaffray also announced it has hired vice president Mary Megan Peer; associates Matthew Guimbarda and Peter Mavrovitis; and analysts Alex Leb and Sean Wilder, also from Jefferies, to further extend the firm's media, entertainment and communications expertise.

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) (www.piperjaffray.com)

Since 1895. Member SIPC and FINRA.

(C) 2008 Piper Jaffray & Co., 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 800, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-7020

SOURCE: Piper Jaffray & Co.

Piper Jaffray
Investor Relations
Jennifer Olson-Goude, 612-303-6277
or
Media Relations
Rob Litt, 612-303-8266