NEW YORK, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Madison Williams and Company, an integrated capital markets and advisory firm, announced today the formal launch of a focused Healthcare Investment Banking and Research business. Madison Williams recently completed a management buyout of the principal capital markets business from Sanders Morris Harris Group (Nasdaq: SMHG) in December 2009. The new firm already has a leading franchise in the Energy sector, and is quickly establishing its presence in healthcare with key new hires.

Robert Gaynor and Jim Love have been hired as Managing Directors in Healthcare Banking. In addition to these senior professionals, the firm plans to add additional hires to join an already highly talented group of mid and junior level investment banking professionals. "Madison Williams now has the core talent it needs to be an industry leading healthcare group," said Rob Gaynor. "We believe that by taking a client first approach to the business - offering unparalleled industry knowledge, sound strategic advice, a full suite of products and creative, unbiased thinking - our clients will place significant value on what Madison Williams brings to the table."

James Kumpel and David Moskowitz have been hired as Managing Directors in Research. Mr. Kumpel recently launched coverage of the Healthcare Information Technology and Patient Centric Care sectors, including an industry theme piece: "Transformational Healthcare: Changing Care Delivery and Harnessing Technology for Lower Cost and Better Outcomes." Mr. Moskowitz most recently was the Director of Research at Caris & Company, overseeing the activities of 14 Analysts while covering the specialty pharmaceutical industry.

"At Madison Williams, our goal is to find great people that we can build businesses around," said Madison Williams President and Chief Executive Officer William Sprague. "Talented people make great companies, and Gaynor, Love, Kumpel and Moskowitz will pave the way for a terrific future for us."

About Robert Gaynor

Robert Gaynor has more than 20 years of experience in the business, covering multiple sectors of the healthcare universe. Prior to joining Madison Williams, Mr. Gaynor was most recently at Oppenheimer & Co., and previously led the healthcare banking effort at FBR Capital Markets, where he oversaw all aspects of the business. Mr. Gaynor also previously worked at Deutsche Bank and Hambrecht & Quist.

About Jim Love

Jim Love brings over 25 years of experience and was most recently Group Head of the Healthcare Investment and Corporate Banking Group at BMO Capital Markets. While there, Mr. Love was responsible for building and managing the group where he led significant growth in its client base. Previously, Mr. Love was a Partner at MTS Health Partners and Merrill Lynch.

About James Kumpel

James Kumpel has been a healthcare services equity research analyst since 1997. His coverage areas have focused on healthcare information technology, pharmaceutical services, senior care, disease management and patient centric care. Additionally, Mr. Kumpel has analyzed and published on healthcare REITs, pharmacies and distributors. At his previous firm, FBR Capital Markets, Mr. Kumpel led the healthcare services research effort and garnered three Starmine awards: #1 in excess returns and #2 in earnings accuracy in 2007 and #1 in earnings accuracy in 2008.

About David Moskowitz

David Moskowitz, RPh. was most recently Director of Research at Caris & Company, where he maintained coverage in the specialty pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Caris, Mr. Moskowitz was Head of Healthcare Research at FBR Capital Markets, where he led the build out of FBR's healthcare research platform and provided coverage of both large-cap pharmaceutical and specialty pharmaceutical companies. Prior to FBR, he worked at UBS Warburg covering specialty pharmaceuticals, and before that was a biotechnology analyst for Standard and Poor's. Mr. Moskowitz practiced as a registered pharmacist in various hospital and retail settings before entering the financial services industry.

About Madison Williams

Madison Williams is a privately held, integrated capital markets and advisory firm, offering investment banking, equity and fixed income sales, trading and research services to institutional and corporate clients. Headquartered in New York, the firm has 80 employees in five major offices, including New York, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco and New Orleans. Madison Williams (formerly the capital markets business of SMH Capital) was recently spun out of Sanders Morris Harris Group (Nasdaq: SMHG) in a management-led buyout. For more information about Madison Williams, contact 212-317-2707, or log on to http://www.madisonwilliams.com.

SOURCE Madison Williams