(BLACK PR WIRE) OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2008--Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. was recently recognized as the top investment firm in the U.S. by Black Enterprise Magazine.

In the June 2008 issue, Black Enterprise Magazine ranked Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. as number 1 based on the firm's exceptional performance during 2007.

"We are very excited that Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. was recognized for our strong performance as a book-running senior manager of municipal bonds," said Napoleon Brandford, III, chairman of Siebert Brandford Shank & Co.

"We gauge our performance against the major Wall Street firms based on our book-running transaction business, which excludes co-senior and co-managed deals," he added.

Siebert Brandford Shank & Co.'s accomplishment, as acknowledged by Black Enterprise, represented a steady rise after being ranked highest by the magazine for the first time in the company's 11-year history.

According to Bloomberg and Securities Data Corp., the firm has served as book-running manager on 14 out of the 20 largest bond transactions senior managed by minority-and women-owned business enterprises.

In March, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. made history by senior managing the largest municipal bond transaction by a minority and women-owned firm after the completion of a $1.75 billion general obligation bond for the state of California.

"Each year for the past ten years, we have moved up in the industry's book-runner rankings for investment banks. We are even more excited with the prospect for this year. We anticipate 2008 will be another record year for the firm," Brandford said.