U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Strengthens Equity Capital Markets Research Platform, Firm Hires Eric Larson as Co-Head of Equity Research Department

    MINNEAPOLIS, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing on its quest to become
 the top-growth company investment bank, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray recently
 strengthened its research platform with the strategic hire of Eric Larson as
 co-head of the Equity Research department.  Larson brings with him extensive
 industry experience, including 14 years as a Wall Street research analyst.
 During those years, Larson was named as an Institutional Investor All-America
 research analyst for 10 consecutive years in the packaged food sector and was
 a two-time Wall Street Journal All-Star ranked analyst.  Prior to joining U.S.
 Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Larson spent four years as a senior vice president of
 investor relations at General Mills in Minneapolis and was most recently a
 financial consultant for Nistevo.com in Eden Prairie, Minn., a
 business-to-business internet company focused on collaborative logistics.
     Larson will join the firm's Equity Capital Markets Operating Committee and
 will report to Bob Peterson, Head of Equity Research.  Larson and Peterson
 will share responsibility for leadership, direction and industry focus of the
 research division within Equity Capital Markets.
     Larson says the culture at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray was a key driver in
 his decision to join the firm.
     "I'm really excited to be part of an organization that 1) has set an
 achievable goal -- 'to become the top-growth company investment bank, and 2)
 has the desire and determination to succeed and achieve that goal," said
 Larson.  "This is a team on the rise, with talented people who want to win.
 The enthusiasm within the organization is contagious."
     "Eric comes to us with a very impressive background, having spent several
 years as a top-ranked Wall Street analyst and a leader in his industry," said
 Robert W. Peterson.  "We are thrilled to have him become part of this team and
 look forward to leveraging his expertise within our department and across the
 entire platform."
     Prior to his years at General Mills, Larson was a senior research analyst
 at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter for four years covering companies in the
 packaged food, agribusiness and food services sector.  During his time at
 Morgan Stanley in New York, Larson was the lead analyst on 15 food, food
 service and beverage initial public offerings including Nabisco, Dr. Pepper,
 J.P. Foodservice and American Italian Pasta Company. Larson was also a senior
 packaged food and agribusiness analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston in New
 York for five years and was involved in every major food industry
 consolidation deal during 1989 and 1992, which includes: Pillsbury/Grand
 Metropolitan, Kraft and Philip Morris, RJR Reynolds, Philip Morris and General
 Foods, Quaker Oats and Anderson Clayton.
     Larson received his bachelor's of business administration degree with
 majors in accounting, finance and risk management from the University of
 Wisconsin at Madison in 1978.  He went on to earn his master of
 science-finance degree from Madison in 1980.  In addition, Larson has been a
 chartered financial analyst (CFA) since 1985.
     U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based
 U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:   USB), provides a full range of investment products and
 services to businesses, institutions and individuals.  The company's
 investment banking business has grown exponentially in the last several years
 by focusing on the needs of growth companies in the health care, technology,
 financial institutions, consumer and industrial growth sectors.  U.S. Bancorp
 Piper Jaffray has a national reputation for its expertise in fundamental
 research and equity and debt financing.  U.S. Bancorp offers a comprehensive
 range of financial solutions through U.S. Bank, First American Asset
 Management, U.S. Bancorp Libra Investments and U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray.
 Securities products and services offered through U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray,
 Inc., member SIPC and NYSE, Inc., a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp.
 
                     MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
                http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X06969224
 
 

SOURCE  U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.

    MINNEAPOLIS, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing on its quest to become
 the top-growth company investment bank, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray recently
 strengthened its research platform with the strategic hire of Eric Larson as
 co-head of the Equity Research department.  Larson brings with him extensive
 industry experience, including 14 years as a Wall Street research analyst.
 During those years, Larson was named as an Institutional Investor All-America
 research analyst for 10 consecutive years in the packaged food sector and was
 a two-time Wall Street Journal All-Star ranked analyst.  Prior to joining U.S.
 Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Larson spent four years as a senior vice president of
 investor relations at General Mills in Minneapolis and was most recently a
 financial consultant for Nistevo.com in Eden Prairie, Minn., a
 business-to-business internet company focused on collaborative logistics.
     Larson will join the firm's Equity Capital Markets Operating Committee and
 will report to Bob Peterson, Head of Equity Research.  Larson and Peterson
 will share responsibility for leadership, direction and industry focus of the
 research division within Equity Capital Markets.
     Larson says the culture at U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray was a key driver in
 his decision to join the firm.
     "I'm really excited to be part of an organization that 1) has set an
 achievable goal -- 'to become the top-growth company investment bank, and 2)
 has the desire and determination to succeed and achieve that goal," said
 Larson.  "This is a team on the rise, with talented people who want to win.
 The enthusiasm within the organization is contagious."
     "Eric comes to us with a very impressive background, having spent several
 years as a top-ranked Wall Street analyst and a leader in his industry," said
 Robert W. Peterson.  "We are thrilled to have him become part of this team and
 look forward to leveraging his expertise within our department and across the
 entire platform."
     Prior to his years at General Mills, Larson was a senior research analyst
 at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter for four years covering companies in the
 packaged food, agribusiness and food services sector.  During his time at
 Morgan Stanley in New York, Larson was the lead analyst on 15 food, food
 service and beverage initial public offerings including Nabisco, Dr. Pepper,
 J.P. Foodservice and American Italian Pasta Company. Larson was also a senior
 packaged food and agribusiness analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston in New
 York for five years and was involved in every major food industry
 consolidation deal during 1989 and 1992, which includes: Pillsbury/Grand
 Metropolitan, Kraft and Philip Morris, RJR Reynolds, Philip Morris and General
 Foods, Quaker Oats and Anderson Clayton.
     Larson received his bachelor's of business administration degree with
 majors in accounting, finance and risk management from the University of
 Wisconsin at Madison in 1978.  He went on to earn his master of
 science-finance degree from Madison in 1980.  In addition, Larson has been a
 chartered financial analyst (CFA) since 1985.
     U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based
 U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:   USB), provides a full range of investment products and
 services to businesses, institutions and individuals.  The company's
 investment banking business has grown exponentially in the last several years
 by focusing on the needs of growth companies in the health care, technology,
 financial institutions, consumer and industrial growth sectors.  U.S. Bancorp
 Piper Jaffray has a national reputation for its expertise in fundamental
 research and equity and debt financing.  U.S. Bancorp offers a comprehensive
 range of financial solutions through U.S. Bank, First American Asset
 Management, U.S. Bancorp Libra Investments and U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray.
 Securities products and services offered through U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray,
 Inc., member SIPC and NYSE, Inc., a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp.
 
                     MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here
                http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X06969224
 
 SOURCE  U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.

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