PlacementTracker Publishes 2011 PIPE Market League Tables

SAN DIEGO, April 6, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sagient Research Systems, a leading publisher of independent research for the financial services and institutional investment communities, today announced that Rodman & Renshaw, LLC ranked as the number one most active investment bank and Hudson Bay Capital Management L.P., ranked as the number one most active institutional investor in the U.S. PIPE market during the first quarter of 2011.

Sagient Research also announced that Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference, LLP ranked as the number one most active issuer counsel, Greenberg Traurig, LLP ranked as the number one most active investor counsel, and Weinstein Smith, LLP ranked as the number one most active placement agent counsel in the U.S. PIPE market during the first quarter of 2011.

PlacementTracker, a flagship product of Sagient Research Systems, is well recognized as the leading provider of research, data, and analytics covering the PIPE market.

Commenting on the activity in the PIPE market, William Shephard, Senior Analyst at PlacementTracker said, "During the first quarter of 2011, a total of $7.59 billion was raised in 302 transactions (of this amount, 16 transactions totaling $109.2 million have been announced but not yet closed as of 04/06/11). These figures represent a decrease compared with the first quarter of 2010; however, if you exclude three $1 billion plus transactions last year (including the $6.5 billion General Growth Partners restructuring), the Q1 2011 market was roughly equal with respect to the number of transactions and dollar volume. That said, certain areas of the market have seen a marked up tick. There has been a 31% increase in the number and 56% increase in the commitment amount for Structured Equity Line/At-the-Market financings. We congratulate all of the active members of the PIPE community for continued success in 2011. Most of these firms are long-time clients of PlacementTracker, and we are dedicated to providing them with access to data on our ever-changing industry."

PlacementTracker's dynamically updating League Tables are available online at: http://www.placementtracker.com/pt/leaguetables.cfm.

Investment Banking rankings exclude all 144-A Offerings, Equity Lines of Credit, Rights Offerings, Bought Deals, and all PIPE transactions conducted by foreign issuers that trade in the U.S. on the Pink Sheets. On transactions where an investment banking firm has acted solely as Financial Advisor, that transaction has been excluded from that firm's ranking. Co-agented transactions award full transaction credit to all agents participating (regardless of status of lead agent or co-agent). Data is for closed transactions reported as of 04/04/11.

Investment Banking rankings exclude all 144-A Offerings, Equity Lines of Credit, Rights Offerings, Bought Deals, and all PIPE transactions conducted by foreign issuers that trade in the U.S. on the Pink Sheets. On transactions where an investment banking firm has acted solely as Financial Advisor, that transaction has been excluded from that firm's ranking. Co-agented transactions award full transaction credit to all agents participating (regardless of status of lead agent or co-agent). Data is for closed transactions reported as of 04/04/11.

Investor rankings exclude all 144-A Offerings, Equity Lines of Credit, Rights Offerings, Bought Deals, and all PIPE transactions conducted by foreign issuers that trade in the U.S. on the Pink Sheets. Investors classified as Corporate Investors and Insurance Companies have been excluded from this ranking. Data is for closed transactions reported as of 04/04/11.

Legal counsel rankings exclude all 144-A Offerings, Equity Lines of Credit, Rights Offerings, Bought Deals, and all PIPE transactions conducted by foreign issuers that trade in the U.S. on the Pink Sheets. Data is for closed transactions reported as of 04/04/11.

Legal counsel rankings exclude all 144-A Offerings, Equity Lines of Credit, Rights Offerings, Bought Deals, and all PIPE transactions conducted by foreign issuers that trade in the U.S. on the Pink Sheets. Data is for closed transactions reported as of 04/04/11.

Legal counsel rankings exclude all 144-A Offerings, Equity Lines of Credit, Rights Offerings, Bought Deals, and all PIPE transactions conducted by foreign issuers that trade in the U.S. on the Pink Sheets. Data is for closed transactions reported as of 04/04/11.

About Sagient Research Systems

Sagient Research Systems is a publisher of specialized research and data. We develop, produce, and sell proprietary research products to global enterprises, including investment banks, mutual and hedge funds, pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and government agencies. Our business strategy is to continue to leverage our development, technology, and marketing expertise to solidify our position as a leading provider of independent research. In each of 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010, Sagient Research was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies. For more information, please visit the Sagient Research Systems website at www.sagientresearch.com.

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