Burrill & Company Launches Investment Research With Addition of Respected Team of Analysts

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - August 01, 2012) -

Burrill & Company today said it will commence publishing institutionally-focused investment research as part of an expansion of its merchant banking activities. Reni Benjamin and Elemer Piros will join Jason Zhang as Managing Directors of Research and initiate coverage for Burrill Merchant Banking on high quality, development stage therapeutics companies as well as providing in-depth sector analysis of important therapeutic areas.

“Throughout our history, Burrill & Company has sought to provide a global perspective on the life sciences,” says G. Steven Burrill, CEO of Burrill & Company, a diversified global financial services firm focused on the life sciences. “Reni, Elemer, and Jason are not simply stock pickers, but bring to Burrill a deep understanding of our industry, keen analysis, and unique insight into the forces and trends shaping the landscape for life sciences companies and investors.”

Benjamin joins Burrill from Rodman & Renshaw, where he served as a Managing Director and Senior Biotechnology Analyst since 2003. He has expertise in small- and mid-cap companies in the oncology and stem cell sectors and has previously been ranked among the top analyst by StarMine for recommendation performance and earnings estimate accuracy. Prior to that, he served as an associate analyst in Needham & Company’s biotechnology equity research department. He earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a B.S. in biology from Allegheny College.

Piros also joins Burrill from Rodman & Renshaw, where he served as a Managing Director and Senior Biotechnology Analyst since 2002. He has ranked among the top analysts in various surveys, including ranking as the top biotechnology analyst by The Wall Street Journal in 2006 and by the Financial Times in 2010 based on stock portfolio performance. Prior to that, he served as a senior biotechnology analyst at Ladenburg Thalmann, and a biotechnology research analyst with Spear, Leeds & Kellogg/Goldman Sachs. Before serving as an analyst, Piros spent eight years conducting research in biophysics, biochemistry, and molecular biology at Cornell University and the University of California, Los Angeles. He holds a Ph.D. in Neurosciences from UCLA, a B.S. in biology from UCLA, and a B.S. in mathematics and technology from Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest.

Previously, Burrill & Company announced the appointment of Jason Zhang as a Managing Director of Research. Zhang has more than 16 years of experience on Wall Street and in the biopharmaceutical industry. Most recently he served as a Managing Director and Senior Analyst at BMO Capital Markets. Zhang ranked third in the 2009 Financial Times Star Mine Awards for the biotechnology industry and ranked fifth in the 2009 Wall Street Journal Best On The Street Stock Analysts for biotechnology. He holds an MBA from The Kelly School of Business at Indiana University; a Ph.D. in Cell, Molecular, and Neurosciences/Botanic Sciences from University of Hawaii, an M.S. in Plant Pathology from China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; and a B.S. in Plant Protection from Central China (Hubei) Agricultural University. Prior to working on Wall Street, Dr. Zhang worked as a postdoctoral scientist at Eli Lilly.

“Our entry into research is transformational for Burrill Merchant Banking,” says Stephen Hurly, CEO of Burrill Merchant Banking. “The team we’ve assembled will help us expand the services we offer, provide greater value to the clients we serve, and help institutional investors gain valuable insight into high quality companies that often don’t get the attention they deserve on the Street. The Burrill & Company Merchant Banking Group now has all the cornerstones of a high quality, full-service investment bank; Institutional Sales & Trading, thorough and insightful research, and experienced investment bankers.”

About Burrill Merchant Banking
Burrill Merchant Banking provides life sciences companies with access to financial resources through global capital and a blend of complementary financial advisory services on public or private financings and cross-border transactions, including M&A, strategic partnerships, spinouts, and public and private capital raising. It provides companies enhanced access to public market investors through its Institutional Equities business. Our team has extensive experience and a global comprehensive network to help life sciences companies access capital and strategic partners build their businesses.

About Burrill & Company
Founded in 1994, Burrill & Company is a diversified global financial services firm focused on the life sciences industry. With $1.5 billion in assets under management, the firm’s businesses include venture capital/private equity, merchant banking, and media. By leveraging the scientific and business networks of its team, Burrill & Company has established unrivaled access and visibility in the life sciences industry. This unique combination of resources and capabilities enables the company to provide life sciences companies with capital, transactional support, management expertise, insight, market intelligence, and analysis through its investments, conferences, and publications. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company oversees a global network of offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. For more information visit: www.burrillandco.com.

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