Ladenburg Thalmann Appoints George Oka as Vice President, Head of Corporate Development

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS, LTS PrA) announced today that George Oka has been appointed Vice President, Head of Corporate Development. In his new role, Mr. Oka will cover enterprise initiatives, data analytics, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and capitalization strategies. Mr. Oka will serve as a member of the Ladenburg Thalmann Executive Committee and will be based in Ladenburg’s New York office.

Richard Lampen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ladenburg, said, “As an industry veteran with extensive experience in investment banking, George is positioned to enhance Ladenburg’s standing as a leader in the independent brokerage and advisory services sector, while also capitalizing on opportunities to broaden our other capabilities and expertise. We are pleased to welcome him to our team.”

Mr. Oka said, “I am excited to work alongside Ladenburg’s talented management team to evaluate corporate strategies intended to drive value for shareholders and position Ladenburg for long-term success.”

Mr. Oka joins Ladenburg with over 14 years of experience in investment banking and financial services. Mr. Oka previously served as Senior Vice President at Jefferies Finance LLC, a joint venture between Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company and Jefferies LLC. In this role, Mr. Oka led the structuring, origination and execution of leveraged loan transactions for leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, refinancings and dividend recapitalizations across multiple sectors. He also previously served as Vice President in the Financial Institutions Group at Jefferies LLC, where he completed a variety of mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt transactions across multiple financial sectors, including specialty finance, broker-dealers and diversified holding companies.

Mr. Oka received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Marketing from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University.

About Ladenburg

Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE MKT: LTS, LTS PrA) is a publicly-traded diversified financial services company based in Miami, Florida. Ladenburg’s subsidiaries include industry-leading independent broker-dealer firms Securities America, Inc., Triad Advisors, Inc., Securities Service Network, Inc., Investacorp, Inc. and KMS Financial Services, Inc., as well as Premier Trust, Inc., Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management Inc., Highland Capital Brokerage, Inc., a leading independent life insurance brokerage company, and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., an investment bank which has been a member of the New York Stock Exchange for over 135 years. The company is committed to investing in the growth of its subsidiaries while respecting and maintaining their individual business identities, cultures, and leadership. For more information, please visit www.ladenburg.com.

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future financial performance and future growth. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, including the Department of Labor’s rule and exemptions pertaining to the fiduciary status of investment advice providers to 401(k) plan, plan sponsors, plan participants and the holders of individual retirement or health savings accounts, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the Company’s business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include those set forth in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and other factors detailed from time to time in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. Further, investors should keep in mind that the Company’s quarterly revenue and profits can fluctuate materially depending on many factors, including the number, size and timing of completed offerings and other transactions. Accordingly, the Company’s revenue and profits in any particular quarter may not be indicative of future results. The Company is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Source: Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc.