Imperial Capital, LLC Names Robert Wagner as Managing Director Adding Significantly to Its Aerospace & Defense Banking Expertise

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - February 18, 2009) -

Imperial Capital, LLC ("Imperial") has bolstered its aerospace and defense industry coverage effort with the hiring of Robert Wagner as a Managing Director in the Corporate Finance Group. Wagner's experience and successful track record over many years in the industry integrates well with Imperial's existing defense and security practice. Wagner will team with Michael McManus, an Imperial Managing Director to expand Imperial's presence in the sector. "With the addition of Robert, Imperial now features an accomplished and experienced aerospace and defense industry team," said Jason Reese, CEO of Imperial Capital Group, LLC. We look forward to Robert's contribution in this key business segment."

Prior to Imperial, Wagner co-founded the Aerospace and Defense practice at Wachovia Securities where he led numerous M&A and capital raising transactions for a broad range of aerospace and defense industry suppliers and prime contractors. Prior to joining Wachovia, Wagner spent over 10 years with CIBC in New York and Los Angeles specifically in leveraged finance, sponsor focused recapitalizations and international corporate finance. "The Imperial platform is perfectly suited to assist middle-market aerospace and defense industry participants with advice and capital through this difficult period for the economy generally and aviation in particular. Our ability to focus on the needs of our clients, not the needs of our balance sheet allows Imperial to provide uncompromised advice to its clients.

Wagner will partner with Michael McManus in the expanded effort. McManus, who joined Imperial in 2007, has had a robust career in the middle-market defense and security sector. Prior to Imperial, McManus served as a Managing Director with USBX, Inc. where he focused on such industries as defense, security and government services. Prior to this, McManus was with Jefferies Quarterdeck where he focused on the aerospace, defense and government services sectors specializing in public company M & A and financing transactions. McManus began his investment banking career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and is a former U.S. Army officer and a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. "I am excited to have Robert join the team at Imperial," said McManus. "We've already begun introducing our expanded A&D effort to Imperial's client base and the response has been very positive. I'm looking forward to rolling the effort out on an industry-wide basis over the coming weeks and months."

"The addition of Robert to the aerospace and defense sector team is a significant value-add to our Corporate Finance Group," said John E. Mack III, Managing Director and Co-Head of Corporate Finance. "We look forward to his integration in the team as we execute Imperial's significant growth plan."

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.