New York, August 22, 2008—Shearman & Sterling represented Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. (“Mizuho CB”) and Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. (collectively, “Mizuho”) in their investment in and strategic alliance with Evercore Partners Inc. Mizuho CB agreed to purchase from Evercore $120 million principal amount of senior unsecured notes due 2020 and warrants to purchase 5,454,545 shares of Evercore Class A Common Stock at $22.00 per share, representing approximately 14.7% of Evercore’s total equity, for an aggregate purchase price of $120 million in cash. In addition, subject to the joint approval by Evercore and Mizuho of each allocation of Mizuho’s capital, Mizuho may invest up to $150 million in Evercore-affiliated funds. Evercore, Mizuho and The Bridgeford Group, Inc. also entered into a new strategic alliance agreement strengthening their U.S.–Japan cross-border strategic alliance announced in 2006, which will expand the M&A relationship and form a steering committee to jointly review certain investment opportunities.

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. is the corporate banking subsidiary, and Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd. is the securities subsidiary, of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., which is one of the largest financial institutions in Japan. Evercore Partners Inc. is a leading boutique investment bank.

Principal M&A attorneys involved in the transaction are Tokyo-based partner Ken Lebrun and Tokyo-based associates Brian Wheeler, Kokoro Motegi and Chika Hirata. Other Shearman & Sterling attorneys involved in the transaction are partners Peter Lyons (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Robert Evans III (New York-Capital Markets), Bradley Sabel (New York-Asset Management), Barney Reynolds (London-Asset Management), and Donald Lonczak (Washington, D.C.-Tax), counsel Charles Gittleman (New York-Capital Markets), and associates Carl McCarthy (New York-Capital Markets), Azad Ali (London-Asset Management), Andrew Kelly (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Yasmine Chubin (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), and Christian Gloger (New York-Asset Management).