Highland Capital Partners Adds Keith Benjamin as General Partner
Top-Ranked Internet Analyst from Robertson Stephens to Join Firm
BOSTON, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Highland Capital Partners announced today that Keith Benjamin, former Senior Internet Analyst and Managing Director at Robertson Stephens, has joined the firm as a General Partner. In addition, the two firms announced that they are exploring a strategic marketing relationship to further develop Internetstocks.com, the leading Internet investment research site.
(Photo: newscom.com ) "Keith brings to Highland over sixteen years of experience in research and investment banking at a top tier firm. He has an unsurpassed financial understanding of the Internet sector and we're extremely pleased to have him," said Bob Higgins, Managing General Partner at Highland.
"Keith has consistently been one of the top Internet research analysts, providing strategic counsel and financial expertise to many of the leading public and private companies. With the addition of Keith, we strengthen our team and further extend the expertise we can deliver to our portfolio companies," said Dan Nova, also a Managing General Partner at Highland.
Prior to joining Highland, Mr. Benjamin was Senior Internet Analyst and Managing Director at Robertson Stephens, where he followed a broad range of emerging media and entertainment companies that exploit new technologies. While assisting the firm in establishing its position as a leading investment bank for Internet companies, Mr. Benjamin helped take public and/or has followed most of the franchise Internet companies, including Amazon, America Online, Ask Jeeves, CNET, eBay, eToys, Excite@Home, MapQuest.com, Priceline, SportsLine.com, Stamps.com, StarMedia, TicketMaster Online CitySearch, and Yahoo! Inc.
While at Robertson Stephens, Mr. Benjamin was also responsible for launching Internetstocks.com, a leading online resource for institutional and retail investors. It is expected that Mr. Benjamin will continue to play a significant role in Internetstocks.com as part of his new position with Highland.
"Highland's track record particularly over the last several years in the Internet space has been simply outstanding," stated Keith Benjamin. "I'm very excited about joining the firm and the opportunity to apply my experience and expertise working directly with CEOs and their teams to help grow great companies."
Before Robertson Stephens, Mr. Benjamin spent eight years at Silberberg, Rosenthal & Co., primarily doing investment research. He became a partner there before moving on to Ladenburg, Thalmann in 1991, where he was an entertainment and gaming analyst. He holds a B.S. in Economics and Management and an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University. Keith is also a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the San Francisco Society of Security Analysts.
"Having worked directly with both Keith and Highland in the past, this is a highly synergistic fit that will help further expand Highland's position as one of the top venture firms to work with," said Rob Wrubel, President and CEO of Ask Jeeves. "Keith brings an exceptional background and the requisite skills necessary to help entrepreneurs build successful Internet companies. Highland Capital and Robertson Stephens have worked together in a highly professional way to transition coverage of Ask Jeeves to Robertson analyst Michael Graham. We are very pleased with the way the firms are managing the event."
"Keith is an outstanding professional, and we wish him much success in his new role at Highland," stated Robertson Stephens CEO Mike McCaffery. "He has been a valued member of our firm for the past six years, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership with him. We are also excited about the opportunity to expand our relationship with Highland Capital Partners, a leader in financing Internet companies."
About Highland Capital Partners Founded in 1988, Highland Capital Partners is a leading venture capital firm focused on building companies in the Internet/E-commerce, communications, information technology and medical markets. With over $500 million dollars under management, Highland has worked with such firms as ANDA Networks, Ask Jeeves, Avid Technology, Be Free, Bolt Media, CheckFree, eToys, LivePerson, Lycos, Mainspring, MapQuest, Medscape, NextCard, Quote.com, RoweCom, Send.com, WebLine Communications and Wit Capital. For additional information, visit the company's web site at www.hcp.com or call 1-617-531-1500.
SOURCE Highland Capital Partners
-0- 10/04/1999
/CONTACT: Michael Gaiss of Highland Capital Partners, 617-531-1517,
mgaiss@hcp.com/
/Photo: NewsCom: newscom.com
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/Web site: hcp.com
CO: Highland Capital Partners
ST: Massachusetts
IN: FIN
SU: PER
DP -- NEM045 -- 8669 10/04/1999 10:02 EDT prnewswire.com
:SUBJECT: MA
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