Jefferies Expands Global Event Driven Equities Trading

Jefferies announced today the appointment of Chris Blackburn as Head of European Event Driven Sales and Trading within the firm’s Equities Group. In his new role based in London, Mr. Blackburn will be responsible for directing sales, trading and analysis of European equities involved in mergers and acquisitions, distressed and other special situations related to corporate transactions and restructurings. He joined Jefferies in 2008 and has eleven years of experience in Financial Services, including nine years at Lehman Brothers in London, where he directed the Event Driven Trading Desk.

The addition of a European Event Driven Desk furthers the ongoing expansion of Jefferies’ global sales and trading capabilities across equities and fixed income. The equities group, which is focused on the global sales, sales-trading, trading and research of equity securities, consists of more than 700 professionals in the US, Europe and Asia.

Also joining Mr. Blackburn on the new Event Driven Desk in London are Mark Brodie, who joins as a Senior Vice President and Trader, Roderick Manalo, who joins as a Senior Vice President and Desk Analyst, and Holger Klees, who joins as a Senior Vice President and Institutional Salesperson.

"The addition of the European Event Driven Desk led by Chris Blackburn and resulting Global Event Driven Team will enhance the level of service that Jefferies provides to our clients,” commented Stephen Grahling, Head of Global Event Driven at Jefferies. "This group’s structure as a truly integrated, global team differentiates Jefferies from the approach taken by other investment banks and allows us to better and more seamlessly serve our institutional clients.”

"This new product will be part of Jefferies’ established equity offering rather than a stand-alone business, distinguishing us from our peers. We have taken this approach because it is what our clients have requested,” said Hamish MacLellan, Head of International Equity Sales.

Jason Griffith, Head of Global Equities at Jefferies, added, "The establishment of the Global Event Driven Team is evidence of Jefferies’ commitment to building out our international capabilities as we look to leverage our expanded offering and provide enhanced service to our sales and trading clients. We are confident that Chris and our new partners will make meaningful and immediate contributions to our global equities platform.”

Mark Brodie joins Jefferies with more than 13 years of Event Driven Trading experience, including ten years at Bear Stearns/J.P. Morgan. Roderick Manalo joins with more than six years of Event Driven Desk Analyst experience at Deutsche Bank and Citigroup. Holger Klees joins with 13 years of Event Driven Sales experience at Pali International, Lehman Brothers and Dresdner Kleinwort.

Jefferies, a major global securities and investment banking firm, has served companies and their investors for more than 45 years. Jefferies & Company, Inc. is the principal US operating subsidiary of Jefferies Group, Inc. (NYSE: JEF: jefferies.com), and Jefferies International Limited is the principal UK operating subsidiary. Jefferies International Limited, a UK-incorporated company, is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority.