LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - January 21, 2009) - As part of a significant expansion program, Imperial Capital, LLC ("Imperial") began 2009 with several key new hires intended to quickly expand its existing bank debt expertise. Imperial announced that three Senior Vice Presidents, David Martin, Nancy Unrath and Christopher Jacobs, joined its Institutional Sales and Trading Group in Los Angeles and New York alongside an existing fully integrated team of Research Analysts, Senior Settlement Professionals and Legal Counsel. "The bank debt market has changed dramatically over the past twelve months," said Jason Reese, CEO of Imperial Capital Group, LLC. "We are adding additional expertise to better serve our institutional clients in this dynamic market."

Imperial has bolstered its bank debt product coverage with the hiring of a Bank Debt Analyst, David Martin, and two Bank Debt Salespeople, Nancy Unrath and Chris Jacobs. Martin recently rejoined Imperial as a Senior Vice President, Institutional Research from Highland Capital Management, LP as a Portfolio Manager covering the telecom and media sector. Martin spent time earlier in his career with Imperial in its Corporate Finance and Research Groups. "Returning to Imperial represents a great opportunity to take advantage of my experience in analyzing and managing portfolios of bank debt. The Imperial platform and team are exceptionally well-positioned to provide excellent value added bank debt research and trading services to our clients," said Martin.

In addition, Unrath joined Imperial as a Senior Vice President in the Institutional Sales and Trading Group to provide leveraged loan sales experience. Prior to Imperial, Unrath was a Managing Director at Credit Suisse in its Syndicated Loan Group. She joined Credit Suisse when the firm merged with Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, where she had been a salesperson in its loan syndications group. Unrath also previously worked in leveraged loan groups with Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch Asset Management, Security Pacific Merchant Bank and Citibank. "I am impressed with the level of commitment Imperial has dedicated to their bank debt efforts and I look forward to utilizing my bank debt experience in order to promote the Firm's expansion," said Unrath.

Jacobs also joined Imperial as a Senior Vice President in the Institutional Sales and Trading Group, adding additional bank debt sales and sourcing coverage. For the past ten years, Jacobs was a Vice President in Credit Sales with JP Morgan Chase. Prior to JP Morgan Chase, Jacobs worked in Syndications and Sales positions with The Fuji Bank and The Bank of New York. "I am excited to join Imperial as a part of the Firm's robust recruiting efforts and believe the Firm's unique platform positions us perfectly to optimize bank debt opportunities for our clients in a complex environment," said Jacobs.

Complementing strong Institutional Sales, Trading and Research Teams at Imperial, the Firm has also been expanding its Corporate Finance Group which now includes over 50 professionals. In addition to its full service Financing and M&A advisory capabilities, the Firm has an exceptionally capable Restructuring Group that is well-positioned to serve clients in today's challenging market environment.

About Imperial Capital, LLC

Founded in 1997, Imperial Capital (www.imperialcapital.com) is a full-service institutional securities brokerage and investment banking firm based in Los Angeles, with offices in New York, San Francisco, and Whitefish, Montana. The firm currently employs over 150 professionals and offers a wide range of sophisticated, value-added products and services to institutional investors and middle market companies. Imperial Capital specializes in the research and sales and trading of high yield and distressed debt securities, bank debt, convertible bonds, preferred stocks, and equities. Imperial Capital's investment banking group provides M&A, capital raising, restructuring and recapitalization advisory, valuation, fairness, and solvency opinions and strategic market advisory services to middle market companies.