Stifel and Sidoti Enter Into a Strategic Joint Venture

ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwired - Jan 12, 2015) - Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) and Sidoti & Company, LLC today announced that they have entered into a strategic joint venture that will bring corporate finance solutions to Sidoti's clients. Stifel is a premier, full-service investment bank offering equity, debt and strategic advisory solutions to clients and Sidoti is a leading institutional equity research firm focused on small- and micro-cap, publicly-traded companies. Additionally, in connection with the joint venture, Stifel has entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which it will purchase, in a private placement, 10% of the number of shares of common stock offered in Sidoti's proposed initial public offering.

"We are excited to partner with Sidoti who has extensive relationships with small- and micro-cap companies. We look forward to providing corporate finance solutions to Sidoti's client base," said Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel.

Peter Sidoti, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Sidoti & Company, stated, "As we continue to grow, a key element of our strategy is offering a full range of services to our corporate clients. Stifel's success in growing its investment banking capabilities is impressive. They have a unique position in the marketplace and will be a great collaborator in this effort."

Stifel Company Information
Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifel's broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated; Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC; and Century Securities Associates, Inc., and in the United Kingdom and Europe through Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Limited; and Oriel Securities Limited. The Company's broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank & Trust offers a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. offers trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Company's web site at www.stifel.com.

Sidoti Company Information
Sidoti & Company, LLC, founded in 1999, is Wall Street's preeminent provider of equity research focused on undiscovered, profitable companies at a market capitalization of less than $3 billion. The Company's coverage universe comprises nearly 500 companies across a range of industries. Its approach affords institutional investor clients an exclusive combination of high-quality research, a small- and micro-cap company focused nationwide sales effort, broad access to corporate management teams and extensive trading support. The Company's experienced sales force and trading desk serve nearly 500 institutional clients in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Additionally, Sidoti acts as an underwriter, dealer, placement agent or initial purchaser in securities offerings for issuers for which we provide research coverage.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The information contained in this press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements in this release not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on various assumptions. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements. Material factors and assumptions could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.