New York, January 15, 2008—Shearman & Sterling represented Mizuho Corporate Bank in its purchase of 12,000 shares of preferred stock, worth $1.2 billion, from Merrill Lynch & Company. Mizuho will be a passive investor and will have no rights of control.

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. is the corporate banking subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., which is Japan's second largest financial group. Merrill Lynch is one of the world's leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies, with offices in 38 countries and territories and total client assets of almost $2.0 trillion.

Principal M&A attorneys involved in the transaction are partners Stephen Besen (NY-MA) and Ken Lebrun (TK-MA) and associates Andrew Noreuil (NY-MA), Brian Wheeler (TK-MA) and Kevin Roggow (NY-MA). Other Shearman & Sterling attorneys involved in the transaction are Robert Evans III (NY-CM/AM), Carl McCarthy (NY-CM/AM), Bradley Sabel (NY-AM), Christian Gloger (NY-AM), Thomas Wilner (WA-LT), Robert LaRussa (WA-LT), Don Lonczak (WA-TX), Barney Reynolds (LO-EF) and Azad Ali (LO-EF).

For additional information contact:
Ron Brandsdorfer | New York | T +1.212.848.5081 |