Canaccord Adams today announced that it is building up its efforts in the U.S. alternative financing area, including private placements, convertible debt, mezzanine debt and sale/lease back transactions.

The firm also announced the hiring of managing director Rudy Scarito to work in the investment banking group where she will be responsible for originating, structuring and placing equity, debt and hybrid securities for both public and private corporate issuers. As part of this expansion, the firm also made two internal appointments. Adam Lyon, managing director, and Brian O’Connor, vice president, are now responsible for executing and distributing alternative financing transactions to the institutional client base.

“We are very pleased to welcome Rudy to our investment banking practice where her knowledge and experience will play an integral role in capitalizing on the opportunities within the small to mid-cap growth market. We are committed to growing our alternative financing practice and being involved in exciting opportunities that lie ahead,” said Kevin Dunn, president & CEO of Canaccord Adams Inc.

Jamie Brown, head of US investment banking for Canaccord Adams, added, “The Private Investment into Public Equity market is a vital asset class for the small to mid-cap market that we serve. Thus, our expanded focus on alternative financings is integral to servicing the needs of our clients and extending our leadership position in North America.”

Prior to joining Canaccord Adams, Scarito held several senior jobs in financing and, at different times in her career, oversaw the private placement groups at Legacy Partners Group LLC, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and Tucker Anthony Inc. Over the last 10 years, Scarito has focused her efforts on middle-market companies with valuations of $500 million and below. She also worked as a portfolio analyst at Goldman Sachs Asset Management and in mergers & acquisitions and equity capital markets at Lehman Brothers. She earned an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and a BA from Dartmouth College.

Lyon has served as Canaccord Adams’ managing director and head of sales and trading for the West Coast. Prior to joining the firm in 2002, he was managing director of institutional sales at Furman Selz, ING and ABN AMRO in San Francisco. He earned an MBA in finance from San Francisco State and graduated with a BA from UC Berkeley. He is a CFA charterholder.

O’Connor has served as a vice president in Canaccord Adams’ institutional equity sales group, where he has been responsible for accounts in the New York and Boston markets. Since joining the firm in 2000, O’Connor has developed extensive relationships with various funds with multiple investment strategies. Prior to joining Canaccord Adams, he spent three years at The Boston Company’s Private Wealth Management group in sales and underwriting. He received his BA from the College of the Holy Cross.