ST. LOUIS, MO and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Dec 20, 2012) -  Stifel Financial Corp. (NYSE: [ SF ]) and Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC today announced an agreement whereby Stifel has acquired 100 percent of Miller Buckfire, effective immediately. 

"Ken Buckfire and his team comprise the preeminent franchise in restructuring advisory, and we are excited that Miller Buckfire is now a full partner of Stifel," said Ronald J. Kruszewski, Chairman, President, and CEO of Stifel Financial Corp. "We have been very pleased with the success of our strategic alliance. The decision to combine presented the logical next step following our initial investment a year and a half ago."

Victor Nesi, Co-Head of the Institutional Group at Stifel Financial, added, "As we continue to build our investment banking capabilities, bringing our two firms together enables us to efficiently provide capital markets and investment banking services to clients with special financing needs, such as those historically provided by Miller Buckfire."

"Through our combination with Stifel, we are confident we have the right platform from which we can continue to provide our clients with intelligent and creative restructuring advice to companies with unique financial challenges," said Kenneth A. Buckfire, Chief Executive Officer of Miller Buckfire. "Operating as part of Stifel will further enable us to provide a full range of capital markets solutions to our clients. My partners and I look forward with great optimism as we enter this new combination with Stifel."

Stifel Financial 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 clients are served through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated in the U.S., through Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. in Canada, and through Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited in the United Kingdom and Europe. 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 Financial, please visit the Company's website at [ www.stifel.com ].

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 report not dealing with historical results are forward-looking and are based on various assumptions. The forward-looking statements in this report 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.