Lazard Middle Market Advisory Expands in Industrials and Energy

CHICAGO & HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Lazard Middle Market, a subsidiary of Lazard Ltd LAZ, announced today an expansion of its industrials and energy coverage with two senior hires and a new office in Houston. James S. Conniff and John J. Bresnahan have joined Lazard Middle Market as Managing Directors, focused on engineered industrials and oilfield services, respectively. Mr. Conniff will be based in Chicago and Mr. Bresnahan in Houston. They will work closely with Lazard's Midwest Investment Banking Industrials and Power and Energy groups.

“These new hires expand our model of deep sector expertise and national leadership in specialty sectors in the middle market,” said David Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of Lazard Middle Market. “Jim has a deep understanding of engineered products and process control equipment and will work closely with Lazard's broader industrials and oil and gas advisory businesses. John has unique expertise in oilfield services and equipment, and will be highly coordinated with Lazard's established energy practice in Houston.”

Mr. Conniff has more than 20 years of experience advising clients on a wide range of financial and strategic matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate divestitures, fairness opinions, anti-raid/defense strategy, equity and debt capital raising and other strategic assignments. Prior to joining Lazard Middle Market, Mr. Conniff was a Managing Director in the industrials practice at Robert W. Baird & Co. in Chicago. Previously he was at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he had coverage responsibility for Midwest industrial clients.

Mr. Bresnahan has more than 12 years of energy-sector middle market mergers and acquisitions advisory experience, including sell-side and buy-side engagements, corporate divestitures, recapitalizations, private placements and strategic advisory assignments. Prior to joining Lazard Middle Market, Mr. Bresnahan was a Managing Director at BlackArch Partners and head of its Houston office. Previously, he was at Edgeview Partners and Harris Williams & Co. His advisory experience has included a significant focus on energy sector equipment manufacturers and service providers.

About Lazard Middle Market Advisory

Lazard's middle market advisory practice provides substantive financial and strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and capital raising to mid-sized companies through Lazard Middle Market LLC, a subsidiary of Lazard Ltd LAZ. Its senior professionals bring deep sector expertise and important CEO and senior board-level relationships in their focus industries, leveraging the global resources of Lazard, which has 800 advisory professionals operating in 43 cities across 27 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America. For more information, please visit www.lazardmm.com.