Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. Investigates Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. Buyout

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announces that it is investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Thomas Weisel Partners Group, Inc. (“TWPG” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TWPG) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law related to the Company’s entry into an agreement to be acquired by Stifel Financial Corp. (“Stifel”) (NYSE: SF) in a transaction valued at approximately $300 million. ( http://www.rigrodskylong.com/news/TWPG).

Under the proposed agreement, TWPG shareholders will receive 0.1364 shares of Stifel common stock for each share of TWPG common stock they own or approximately $7.60 per share based on Stifel’s closing stock price on April 23, 2010. The investigation concerns whether TWPG’s board of directors failed to adequately shop the Company and obtain the best price possible for TWPG’s shareholders before entering into the agreement with Stifel. Upon the completion of the merger, Stifel’s Chairman and CEO, Ronald J. Kruszewski, and TWPG’s Chairman and CEO, Thomas Wilson Weisel, will be Co-Chairmen of the Board.

As recent as January 26, 2010, the Company reported its fourth quarter and year-end 2009 results wherein TWPG disclosed an increase of total net revenues of 91% in the fourth quarter of 2009. Indeed, Mr. Weisel commented, “[o]ur fourth quarter revenues were higher than any quarter in the last two years and reflect a strong rebound in investment banking revenues.” Mr. Weisel further stated, “[t]hroughout the last two years, we have taken the necessary steps through opportunistic hires and significant expense reductions to position the firm for future profitability. With the capital markets environment improving and our focus on top-line growth, we see this period as an inflection point in our business.”

If you own the common stock of TWPG and purchased your shares before April 25, 2010, if you have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or if you wish to discuss these matters or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Seth D. Rigrodsky, Esquire or Noah R. Wortman, Case Development Director, of Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 919 N. Market Street, Suite 980, Wilmington, Delaware, by telephone at [phone], or by e-mail to [e-mail].

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., with offices in Wilmington, Delaware and Garden City, New York, regularly litigates securities class, derivative and direct actions, shareholder rights litigation and corporate governance litigation, including claims for breach of fiduciary duty and proxy violations in the Delaware Court of Chancery and in state and federal courts throughout the United States.