TWPG Thomas Weisel Prtns Grp (MM)

Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWPG), a global growth-focused investment bank, announced the addition of two professionals in its Investment Banking group. Aaron Hill has joined the firm as a Managing Director and Head of Telecom Investment Banking and Keith Sipes has joined the firm as a Director in Investment Banking focused on media.

"We continue to execute on our strategy of hiring senior talent and the addition of these two highly qualified professionals expands our existing technology practice, a core focus of the firm. Aaron and Keith bring client relationships and extensive transactional experience with respect to both equity financings and mergers and acquisitions to our platform. Aaron is a key addition as he expands our Telecom practice through his dedicated focus on small- and mid-cap growth companies. We are pleased Aaron will be leading this effort. Keith's addition to our West Coast media team broadens our senior coverage in an area where we are experiencing an increase in activity," said Brad Raymond, Co-Head of Investment Banking at Thomas Weisel Partners.

Mr. Hill has spent 25 years as an investment banker most recently at Cowen and Company, where he was Head of Telecom for the past three years. Prior to Cowen, he spent 16 years at UBS. Mr. Hill received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College. He is based in the firm's New York office.

Mr. Sipes has more than 13 years of banking experience and was previously with Merrill Lynch & Co. for over a decade, where he most recently spearheaded a dedicated Media & Telecom origination effort focused on West Coast opportunities. Mr. Sipes also worked at Lazard Freres & Co. LLC focused on Media & Telecom M&A. Mr. Sipes received his MBA from Columbia Business School and his undergraduate degree from Colgate University. He is based in the firm's San Francisco office.

About Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc.

Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. is an investment bank, founded in 1998, focused principally on the growth sectors of the economy. Thomas Weisel Partners generates revenues from three principal sources: investment banking, brokerage and asset management. The investment banking group is comprised of two disciplines: corporate finance and strategic advisory. The brokerage group provides equity and convertible debt securities sales and trading services to institutional investors, and offers brokerage, advisory and cash management services to high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients. The asset management group consists of: private equity, public equity and distribution management. Thomas Weisel Partners is headquartered in San Francisco with additional offices in Baltimore, Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, New York, Portland, Toronto, London and Zurich. For more information, please visit www.tweisel.com.

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