SAN FRANCISCO, Sep 07, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Piper Jaffray (NYSE: PJC), announced today that it has strengthened its west coast technology team with the addition of four senior investment bankers. Michael Kim will join as a managing director in October, focusing on software investment banking. Deepak Chugh, principal, has joined the firm to focus on the electronics sector. In addition to these hires, two senior technology bankers will relocate and join the west coast technology team to provide additional coverage and execution capabilities. Michael Hirsch, managing director, will continue to focus on the internet and digital media sector. Greg Klancher, vice president, will focus on the electronics and internet sectors. All four individuals will be based in San Francisco.

"The west coast is a critical market and enhancing our technology banking presence with talent of this caliber is a strategic priority for Piper Jaffray," commented Mark Leavitt, global head of the technology, media and telecommunications team.

"We are excited to have Michael (Kim) and Deepak join our team as they bring significant experience as lead advisors on a broad range of transactions," added Marc Steifman, head of west coast technology. Michael (Hirsch) has an established, successful track record in the internet and digital media space with Piper Jaffray. His move, along with Greg's, highlights our commitment to building the west coast technology team."

Michael Kim joins Piper Jaffray from Stone Key Partners LLC, a technology-focused mergers and acquisitions and strategic advisory boutique, where he was a managing director and co-founder. He brings 16 years of technology investment banking experience serving middle-market and Fortune 500 clients, including enterprise software and services companies, and the private equity and venture capital communities. Representative clients include IBM, Oracle, Unisys and BBN Technologies. Previously, Michael was with Bear Stearns and Morgan Stanley.

Deepak Chugh joins Piper Jaffray from Deutsche Bank Securities where he worked with the semiconductor investment banking team. He brings over 10 years of experience in the technology field, in investment banking, as well as technology and business development activities.

Piper Jaffray has a global technology, media and telecommunications investment banking and capital markets team of 40 professionals. Since 2006, the team has represented clients in 155 transactions with an aggregate value of $24 billion. In addition, the firm has 12 senior research analysts, covering 185 TMT companies across the internet, software, communications, semiconductor, capital equipment and hardware, services, and media and entertainment industries.

About Piper Jaffray
Piper Jaffray is a leading middle-market investment bank and asset management firm serving clients in the U.S. and internationally. Proven advisory teams combine deep product and sector expertise with ready access to global capital. Founded in 1895, the firm is headquartered in Minneapolis and has offices across the United States and in Hong Kong, London and Zurich. http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.piperjaffray.com&esheet=6853157&lan=en-US&anchor=www.piperjaffray.com&index=4&md5=7c1597f7eaa86a178d7acaf4e718324a

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SOURCE: Piper Jaffray Companies

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