Sagent Advisors Adds Mark Kessel as Senior Advisor

NEW YORK, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sagent Advisors Inc. announced today that Mark Kessel has become a Senior Advisor to the firm.  Mr. Kessel, a co-founder of Symphony Capital LLC, a private equity firm which focuses on biopharmaceutical companies, will assist Sagent's expanding healthcare practice from its New York office.

Sagent has built a significant healthcare practice over the last six months with its acquisition of the life sciences team at Montgomery Marshall Healthcare Partners led by George Montgomery and Keith Marshall, Ph.D. and the addition of Carin Fradin in medical technology and Shruthi Kinkead in healthcare services.  Mr. Kessel, who specializes in structuring product development investments in the biopharmaceutical sector, will complement the efforts of the Sagent healthcare teams in its San Francisco and New York offices.

"We are fortunate to have someone of Mark's breadth, experience and reputation adding to our practice," said Hal Ritch, Sagent Advisors' Chief Executive Officer, who has been a colleague of Mr. Kessel for the past thirty years.  "Our clients are continually seeking out independent advice and innovative solutions to ensure their growth and success.  Mark's expertise will be a great asset to the Sagent team and our clients."

Before founding Symphony Capital in 2002, Mr. Kessel was the Managing Partner of Shearman & Sterling, where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm.  He also has extensive experience in M&A, public and private financings, as well as other advisory assignments.  Mr. Kessel continues to be a partner of Symphony Capital LLC, and is a director of Dynavax Technologies Corporation and OXiGENE, Inc.  In addition, he is a director of the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, a director of Fondation Sante and was a director of the Biotechnology Industry Organization for a number of years.

"I look forward to assisting the healthcare practice where clients can receive trusted, independent advice from a firm of experienced professionals," added Mr. Kessel.

Mr. Kessel received a B.A. with honors in Economics from the City College of New York and a J.D. magna cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law.

ABOUT SAGENT ADVISORS INC.

Sagent Advisors is an independent, privately-owned investment bank that provides financial advisory and capital raising solutions to clients in connection with mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and other strategic financial transactions.  Having completed over 100 transactions for its clients with an aggregate value of approximately $50 billion, Sagent provides broad industry and product sector expertise through its offices in the U.S. in New York, Charlotte, Chicago and San Francisco, and globally through its alliance with Daiwa Securities Capital Markets in Asia and DC Advisory Partners in Europe.  Sagent Advisors offers a unique combination of powerful global relationship networks, strong industry and execution expertise, and senior attention on every client transaction.

SOURCE Sagent Advisors Inc.