BEST INVESTMENT BANKS - 2008 | Global Finance

New York, July 7, 2008 – Global Finance announces its selection of the World’s Best Investment Banks 2008 to be published in its September 2008 issue. Country winners were selected in 23 countries.

IIndustry sector winners were chosen in ten categories. Best legal advisers were named globally and in six regions. Goldman Sachs was chosen as the Best Investment Bank globally.

Global Finance editors, with input from industry experts, used a series of criteria to arrive at their selections. These included market share, number and size of deals, customer service and advice,structuring capabilities, distribution network, efforts to address market conditions, innovation, pricing, and after-market performance of underwritings. Deals announced or completed in the last three quarters of 2007 or the first half of 2008 were considered. Winners will be honored in an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. in October.

“The last 12 months have been some of the most difficult ever for investment bankers,” said Global Finance publisher Joseph D. Giarraputo. “But many institutions made heroic efforts to continue to provide the best possible services to their clients, and we salute them.”

DEALS OF THE YEAR

Best Equity Deal – PetroChina IPO

Lead Underwriters: China International Capital, China Citic Securities, UBS Securities

Best Debt Deal - $9 billion GlaxoSmithKline bonds

Joint Bookrunners: Citi, JPMorgan, Lehman Brothers

Best M&A Deal - Sabic-GE Plastics

Advising acquirer: Citi Advising target: Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers