Adds five institutional sales and trading professionals to enhance focus on high yield and investment grade corporate debt, and strengthen firm’s underwriting and distribution capabilities
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — B. Riley FBR, Inc., a leading full service investment bank and wholly-owned subsidiary of B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY), today announced that it has expanded its Fixed Income Capital Markets platform. As part of this effort, the firm has added five sales and trading professionals who specialize in high yield and investment grade corporate debt. These new additions include Dyke Minix, Brendan Laird, Deepak Devaraj, Seamus Laird, and Vesta Marks.
B. Riley FBR’s Fixed Income Capital Markets division offers a broad array of investment, trading, analytic and underwriting services for banks, credit unions, trust departments, registered investment advisors, insurance companies, healthcare providers, municipalities, funds and pensions. The new additions are a part of the firm’s strategic growth initiative to expand its product offerings by strengthening its sales and trading platform and underwriting capabilities. To facilitate this initiative, the firm has added an institutional corporate trading desk to focus on trading and distribution in high yield and investment grade corporate debt as well as leveraging the firm’s network to assist companies with public debt.
“We’re pleased to welcome Dyke, Brendan, Deepak, Vesta, and Seamus to B. Riley FBR,” said Andy Moore, CEO of B. Riley FBR. “Our Fixed Income Capital Markets division offers an array of investment and funding services. With the addition of an institutional corporate trading desk and these experienced professionals, we are uniquely positioned to leverage the brand we’ve established in equities across fixed income, and to better assist companies with a full range of financing solutions.”
“I’m excited to have these talented professionals join our team,” said Dan Leland, Senior Managing Director, Fixed Income Capital Markets. “The knowledge and experience this team brings to the firm amplifies our already-strong high yield and investment grade corporate trading and sales capabilities. I look forward to leveraging their deep understanding of this industry and further strengthening our business.”
Dyke Minix joins as Managing Director, Credit Trading and Sales. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Minix served as a credit trader and Head Retail Trader at Hilltop Securities, specializing in institutional and correspondent clearing for both investment grade and high yield credit. Additionally, he previously served as Account Manager at Valubond. Mr. Minix graduated from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business with a BS in Marketing.
Brendan Laird joins as Managing Director, where he will be focused on institutional fixed income sales and trading. He previously served as a credit sales-trader at Hilltop Securities and is a former United States Marine. Mr. Laird earned his BA in Political Science from John Carroll University and a JD from John Marshall Law School.
Deepak Devaraj joins as Director, focusing on institutional fixed income sales and trading. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Devaraj served as an institutional fixed income trader at Southwest Securities. Additionally, he previously started a food truck company, The Grilled Cheese Truck, which was subsequently sold to private equity group, Trilogy Capital Partners. Mr. Devaraj earned his BS in Business Administration from Texas A&M University.
Seamus Laird joins as Vice President, focusing on institutional fixed income sales and trading. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Laird served as credit sales trader at Hilltop Securities and an analyst at ULINE, a privately-owned B2B distributor. Mr. Laird earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame.
Vesta Marks Jr. joins as Electronic Trading Systems Administrator specializing in portfolio management, investment analysis, portfolio construction, and risk management. He previously served as Executive Director and Portfolio Manager at Palmer Square Capital Management LLC, and as Portfolio Manager at Semper Capital Management. Mr. Marks earned a BS in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
About B. Riley FBR, Inc.
B. Riley FBR, Inc. is a leading investment bank which provides corporate finance, research and sales and trading to corporate, institutional and high net worth individual clients. Investment banking services include initial, secondary and follow-on offerings, institutional private placements and merger and acquisitions advisory services, and corporate restructuring. The firm is nationally recognized for its highly ranked proprietary equity research.
About B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:RILY)
B. Riley Financial, through its subsidiaries, provides collaborative financial services and solutions tailored to fit the capital raising and financial advisory needs of public and private companies and high net worth individuals. The company operates through several wholly-owned subsidiaries, including B. Riley FBR, a full-service investment bank and institutional brokerage; Great American Group, a leading provider of asset disposition, appraisal, corporate advisory and valuation services; GlassRatner, a specialty financial advisory services and consulting firm; B. Riley Wealth Management, B. Riley Asset Management and B. Riley Alternatives, which offer investment management to institutional and high net worth investors; Great American Capital Partners, which originates and underwrites senior secured loans for asset-rich companies; and B. Riley Principal Investments, which invests in or acquires companies and assets with attractive return profiles.
Media Contact:
Jo Anne McCusker
B. Riley Financial
Media Relations
jmccusker@brileyfin.com
(646) 885-5425