LOS ANGELES and MINNEAPOLIS, July 29, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Significantly adding to its depth in investment banking for technology companies, The Mercanti Group announced today that Steve Rickman has joined the firm as a Managing Director. Rickman most recently served as Managing Director and Co-head of the Software and Internet Mergers and Acquisitions team for U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray.
Rickman teams with a select group of senior banking executives drawn from the ranks of major national and international firms that, through The Mercanti Group, are focused on providing strategic investment banking services to middle market companies and private equity firms in technology, consumer and retail, health care, manufacturing and services. At Mercanti, Rickman will concentrate on Software, Internet Marketing, eCommerce, and Technology Services companies. He also will focus on the firm's Health Care practice.
"Steve is incredibly talented and his depth of experience in technology and health care is a great fit for the needs we see in our marketplace," said James D'Aquila, managing director of The Mercanti Group. "Having worked with Steve during his days in investment banking for RBC Dain Rauscher, I am pleased to be rejoining with him in our focus on providing the highest level of banking services to small and middle market companies."
During his years with Piper Jaffray and RBC Dain Rauscher, Rickman's transaction experience encompassed cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and capital raising including initial public and follow-on offerings, PIPEs and convertible debt. In the technology arena, his clients have included Alta Vista, Autodesk, Borland (youCentric), Buy.com, Digital Impact, Dreamworks, The Learning Company, Microsoft, Roxio and Vicinity. His healthcare and medical device experience includes work with such companies as Diametrics Medical, Orthologic, Possis Medical, Rochester Medical, Theragenics and Urologix.
Rickman earned an MS degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA in Finance from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. Prior to his investment banking career he worked as an aeronautical engineer specializing in advanced jet fighter design.
About The Mercanti Group
The Mercanti Group, founded in 2001, is a boutique investment bank focused on providing Merger & Acquisition, Capital Raising and Strategic Advisory services to middle market companies, private equity firms and individual business owners. Mercanti predominantly concentrates on four primary industries: consumer and retail, technology, health care, and manufacturing and services. For more information on The Mercanti Group, please visit the website at www.mercantigroup.com, or contact them at 612.333.0130 (Minneapolis office) or 310.444.0130 (Los Angeles office).
Photo of Mr. Rickman available upon request by calling Dawn Madison at PondelWilkinson MS&L at 323-866-6081.
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