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.”

GLOBAL
Best Investment Bank Goldman Sachs
Best Equity Bank Merrill Lynch
Best Debt Bank Citi
Best M&A; Bank Goldman Sachs
Best Up-and-Comer Falcom Financial Services
Most Creative Citi

PRIVATE EQUITY
Global GS Capital Partners
North America TPG
Western Europe CVC Capital Partners

SECTORS

Consumer JPMorgan
Financial Institutions Morgan Stanley
Health Care Goldman Sachs
Industrial/Chemicals Citi
Media & Entertainment Morgan Stanley
Oil & Gas Merrill Lynch
Power Merrill Lynch
Real Estate Credit Suisse
Technology Goldman Sachs
Telecom Merrill Lynch

LEGAL ADVISERS
Global Sullivan & Cromwell
North America Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Meagher & Flom
Western Europe Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Asia Morrison & Foerster
Central & Eastern Europe White & Case
Latin America Simpsom Thacher & Bartlett
Middle East/Africa Baker & McKenzie

NORTH AMERICA
Best Investment Bank Goldman Sachs
Best Equity Bank Merrill Lynch
Best Debt Bank Merrill Lynch
Best M&A; Bank Goldman
Sachs
Country Awards
Canada BMO Capital Markets
US Merrill Lynch

WESTERN EUROPE
Best Investment Bank Deutsche Bank
Best Equity Bank JPMorgan
Best Debt Bank Deutsche Bank
Best M&A; Bank Deutsche Bank
Country Awards
France BNP Paribas
Germany Deutsche Bank
Italy Mediobanca
Netherlands Rabobank
Nordic Countries Handelsbanken Capital Markets
Portugal Millennium bcp
Spain Santander
Switzerland UBS
United Kingdom JPMorgan Cazenove

ASIA
Best Investment Bank Citi
Best Equity Bank UBS
Best Debt Bank Citi
Best M&A; Bank UBS

Country Awards
Australia Macquarie Bank
China/Hong Kong China International Capital
India ICICI Securities
Indonesia Mandiri Sekuritas
Japan Nomura
South Korea Samsung Securities
Taiwan Chinatrust

LATIN AMERICA
Best Investment Bank Citi
Best Equity Bank Credit Suisse
Best Debt Bank Citi
Best M&A; Bank Citi
Country Awards
Argentina Merrill Lynch
Brazil Banco Itaú
Mexico Banamex

CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE
Best Investment Bank UniCredit
Best Equity Bank Deutsche Bank
Best Debt Bank UniCredit
Best M&A; Bank Morgan Stanley
Country Awards
Russia Renaissance Capital
Turkey Garanti Securities

MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA
Best Investment Bank Samba Financial Group
Best Equity Bank Samba Financial Group
Best Debt Bank DeutscheBank
Best M&A; Bank Citi

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