Sagent Snares Wachovia Tech Bankers

David Bain and Michael Wilkins have joined M&A advisory Sagent Advisors as managing directors, in the firm’s telecom, tech and media practice. They previously were with Wachovia Securities. Bain oversaw Wachovia’s tech M&A practice, while Wilkins ran Wachovia’s Internet, digital media and Internet infrastructure I-banking group. Also joining Sagent as an associate is Trent Read.

PRESS RELEASE

Sagent Advisors, a leading independent M&A advisory firm, announced today that David Bain and Michael Wilkins have joined the firm as Managing Directors, further expanding the firm’s technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) advisory business. Messrs. Bain and Wilkins, who join the firm today, will open Sagent’s new office in San Francisco. Also joining the San Francisco office is Trent Read, as an Associate. The announcement follows Sagent’s recent expansion into Charlotte, North Carolina, where it hired a team of bankers, and Chicago, where it hired longtime Citigroup banker William Kohr to open its office there in February.

Hal Ritch, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sagent Advisors, said: “I am very pleased to welcome David and Michael to Sagent as we expand our firm’s geographic footprint into San Francisco, one of the nation’s leading technology hubs. The addition to our team of David as Head of Technology M&A and Michael as Head of Internet and Digital Media, along with Ron Eliasek as Head of Software & Systems in our new Charlotte office, significantly increases Sagent’s expertise and commitment to the important and high-growth TMT sectors at a time when technology and media industry clients are asking for increasingly sophisticated advice.”

“I have been very impressed with the expertise and integrity of the professionals on the Sagent platform and am pleased to be able to help the firm establish a West Coast presence,” said Mr. Bain. “I am very excited about the opportunity to lead the firm’s Technology M&A practice and am looking forward to working with my new colleagues at Sagent in providing high quality, independent advice.”

Mr. Bain, 42, who will head the San Francisco office, most recently served as Managing Director and Head of Technology Mergers and Acquisitions for Wachovia Securities in San Francisco. During his tenure there, he was primarily involved in originating and executing M&A transactions in the software, storage, IT services, communications equipment, semiconductors, Internet and digital media technology sub-sectors. While at Wachovia, Mr. Bain completed several technology M&A transactions, including sales of companies to technology consolidators such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, EMC and Oracle, strategic buysides for companies such as Parametric Technology Corp, Blackboard, AMCC and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, and a variety of transactions involving leading financial sponsors. Over the course of his investment banking career, Mr. Bain has advised on over 100 transactions, including several cross-border situations. Prior to joining Wachovia, Mr. Bain worked at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in San Francisco as a Managing Director and Co-Head of Global Technology Investment Banking and previously worked at Lehman Brothers in technology mergers & acquisitions in New York and London. He received his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Wilkins, 35, most recently served as Head of Internet, Digital Media and Internet Infrastructure Investment Banking at Wachovia Securities. While there, he was principal coverage officer and execution team leader for clients across the online advertising and marketing, digital media content, e-commerce and internet infrastructure sectors. During his career, Mr. Wilkins has completed more than 70 M&A, public and private equity, and fixed income securities deals, including recent transactions with CNET, Multiview, Quinstreet, Switch & Data and ThePlanet. Prior to joining Wachovia, Mr. Wilkins worked at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein in San Francisco and London where he was a Director and Head of Communications Technologies and Multimedia Investment Banking. Prior to that, he worked at J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

ABOUT SAGENT ADVISORS INC.

Sagent Advisors Inc. is an independent, privately owned investment bank dedicated to providing clients with high-quality M&A and other strategic financial advice. Sagent Advisors has no lending, trading, research or other structural conflicts —providing its clients with only Pure Advice™. Companies hire Sagent Advisors for the firm’s experience, industry knowledge and senior attention. With offices in New York and Chicago, the firm’s managing directors average over 20 years in the investment banking industry and provide dedicated, hands-on involvement across client projects. For more information: www.sagentadvisors.com