NEW YORK, March 1 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network– White …

NEW YORK, March 1 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network– White & Case’s fast-growing M&A practice ranked second worldwide among all law firms in the number of completed M&A deals in 2004, according to an updated compilation by Thomson Financial issued February 9, 2005.

White & Case earned its ranking by successfully closing 280 M&A
transactions in 2004, or approximately one deal every business day of the
year.

“As one of the world’s most active law firms in M&A transactions, White &
Case regularly takes the lead in devising creative deal structures and
planning and implementing strategies for both acquirers and potential
acquisition targets,” said John M. Reiss, co-head of the Firm’s Global M&A
practice. “Clients also benefit from our global reach and vast cross-border
capabilities when it comes to going private transactions and private equity
matters.”

Among the M&A transactions the Firm handled in 2004 were:

* Bacardi Acquisition of Grey Goose Vodka. White & Case advised Sidney
Frank Importing Co., Inc. on its sale to Bacardi of the Grey Goose
Vodka business, which consists of the Grey Goose brand, its
manufacturing centre in Cognac, France, and the land on which the
centre is situated.
* NUI Sale to AGL Resources. White & Case advised New Jersey gas utility
NUI in its sale to AGL Resources for $827 million.
* Recapitalization of Associated Materials. White & Case represented
Harvest Partners, Inc. and Associated Materials, a Harvest portfolio
company in connection with a $975 million recapitalization of AMH and
sale of a 50 percent equity interest in AMH to affiliates of Investcorp
International Inc.
* Shinsei Bank Ltd. Acquisition of Aplus Co. White & Case represented
Shinsei Bank Ltd., Japan’s eighth-largest bank, in its successful $592
million bid for Aplus Co., a Japanese consumer finance company.
* Warner Chilcott Sale. White & Case advised the management team of
pharmaceuticals company Warner Chilcott in its $3.1 billion acquisition
by an investment group led by funds managed or advised by Bain Capital
Partners LLC, DLJ Merchant Banking III, Inc., J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC
and Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.

“Despite the weak American dollar, US companies have been investing
heavily overseas, particularly in Asia, and we expect that to continue in
2005. That makes our cross-border experience particularly attractive to
corporations, private equity firms and other investors,” said Timothy B.
Goodell, co-head of White & Case’s Global M&A group.

White & Case’s Global M&A practice consists of more than 300 lawyers
throughout its network who advise multinational industrial and service
businesses, private equity firms and major commercial and investment banks in
structuring and completing domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions,
leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and equity investments. The Firm has vast
experience advising clients on complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions.

About White & Case
White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with nearly 1900 lawyers
practicing in 38 offices in 25 countries. Global Counsel consistently ranks
White & Case among the top global law firms.

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