WestPark Capital Launches New Life Sciences Division, Hires Two Senior Managing Directors, Robert Keyser and R. Douglas Armstrong, Ph.D. to Lead New Venture

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WestPark Capital, Inc., the Los Angeles-based international investment banking company, has hired Robert Keyser and R. Douglas Armstrong, Ph.D. to head up their new Life Sciences Division. The new division will be called Tekesta Capital Partners. The division’s focus and specialization will be in assisting small and micro-cap public companies with capital strategies and raises, providing guidance and leadership for both institutional fund and retail investor based financings.

“We are excited about the opportunities this new division creates”

“We are excited about the opportunities this new division creates,” states Richard Rappaport, CEO of WestPark Capital, Inc. “Through the expertise of Robert and Doug, as well as our internal team and platform, we can now service life science issuers effectively and efficiently while bringing exciting investment alternatives to our growing base of institutional and retail clients.”

Mr. Keyser is well known with over 25 years of experience in all aspects of the securities industry and having led and founded several private companies including Dawson James Securities, Inc., where he was the CEO. He is also a founding partner of Auxol Capital LLC, a life science investments company, and most recently was the CEO for LifeTech Capital, a Division of Aurora Capital LLC, where under his leadership the firm raised over $60 million for public life science companies. During his career, Mr. Keyser has also held various securities firm management positions including Head of Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Regional Sales Manager and Branch Manager, with leadership positions in retail and institutional sales, operations, underwriting and syndication, compliance and all general brokerage services.

Dr. Armstrong has over 25 years of life science industry and finance experience, with emphasis on early stage and emerging growth companies. He is a seasoned and diverse life science operational and banking executive, including serving as the CEO of TyraTech and Aastrom Biosciences where he has also Chairman of the Board, leading both through development and implementation of capital strategies as well as initial public offerings. Additionally, he has personally led over $300 million in financings through capital raises, PIPE and other structured deals including strategic partnering transactions with capital investment. Dr. Armstrong has also served at the chairman or board level of multiple public and private companies, including the advisory board of a venture capital fund. He is a founding partner of Auxol Capital LLC, a life science investments company, and was most recently a member of the senior management team for LifeTech Capital. Dr. Armstrong holds a Ph.D. degree in Pharmacology from the Medical College of Virginia, and a BA degree in Chemistry from the University of Richmond.

WestPark expects the new division to be a significant player in the small to mid-sized financing of Life Sciences companies.

About WestPark Capital

In November 2010, WestPark Capital was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the “Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies,” in Los Angeles. The company ranked 16 on the list and was only one of two financial services companies to earn a position in the highly regarded annual survey. WestPark Capital, Inc., (www.wpcapital.com) specializes in taking companies public. It is a full-service national and international investment bank focused on emerging growth sectors such as healthcare, software, technology, biotechnology, financial services, manufacturing, consumer products, and media and telecom industries, among other categories.

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