MEMPHIS, Tenn. (January 11, 2011) – Morgan Keegan announced the hire of two new consumer investment bankers, Mike Grady as managing director and Ryan Fischer as senior vice president. Both formerly with Jefferies & Co., Grady and Fischer will join Morgan Keegan’s consumer investment banking group and lead its retail and restaurant practices, respectively.
“With nearly 40 years of combined experience, Mike and Ryan have significant industry knowledge and an impressive list of contacts,” said Rob Baird, executive managing director and president of Morgan Keegan’s Investment Banking division. “They are two well-respected and talented bankers who will play key roles in our efforts to expand the firm’s consumer practice.”
Grady has more than 25 years of banking experience with a focus on retail and apparel companies. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he has broad-based expertise in a variety of capital markets transactions, including mergers and acquisitions as well as public and private equity and fixed income offerings.
Fischer has more than 12 years of investment banking experience advising clients on equity and debt capital market transactions as well as mergers and acquisitions. He has executed transactions for some of the restaurant industry’s leading operators, including left book-runner on the last two IPOs in the sector. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Fischer received his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.
The addition of Grady and Fischer strengthens a consumer practice that already enjoys extensive coverage by Morgan Keegan’s equity research group. With a niche focus on the consumer restaurant and retail industries, the consumer group provides a full range of advisory services to multiple retail and restaurant segments.
“With restaurant and retail operators emerging from market lows leaner and more focused than ever before, Morgan Keegan is well positioned for growth,” said Scott Garfinkel, managing director and head of the consumer group. “These senior-level hires exemplify Morgan Keegan’s all-around commitment to build the strongest consumer practice in the middle market.”
About Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc., one of the nation’s largest regional full-service brokerage and investment banking firms, is the securities brokerage arm of Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF). Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Morgan Keegan serves individual and institutional investors in over 300 offices in 19 states. Additional information about Morgan Keegan and Regions — a member of the S&P 100 Index — can be found here and at www.regions.com.
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