Lazard Ltd : Lazard Appoints Bill White Chairman, Houston Financial Advisory

- Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy and Houston mayor bolsters Lazard's growing energy practice -

Lazard Ltd (NYSE: LAZ) today announced that Bill White, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy, energy executive and three-term Houston mayor, has been appointed Chairman of Lazard Houston, effective immediately.

"Bill's distinguished career in public service and in the private sector has proven his effectiveness as a leader," said Antonio Weiss, Global Head of Investment Banking of Lazard. "Our clients and our global energy practice will benefit from his tremendous insight, experience and relationships."

Lazard has recently bolstered its global Energy Group with senior-level hires. In February, Mark Renton, a 25-year veteran and former Vice-Chairman, Global Energy of Citigroup, joined the firm as a Managing Director, focused on mergers and acquisitions and strategic matters in the international oil and gas sector. In May, David Cecil, former Managing Director and Co-Head of Scotia Waterous (USA), the oil and gas arm of Scotiabank, joined Lazard as a Managing Director, Financial Advisory, and Head of its North American Exploration and Production sector.

Mr. White has extensive experience in the energy industry. Prior to being elected as mayor of Houston in 2003, he served for six years as Chief Executive Officer of WEDGE Group, a firm that built successful upstream and downstream service companies. As Deputy Secretary and chief operating officer of the Department of Energy, Mr. White led initiatives to spur the initial interest in deep water leasing and to expand the use of natural gas for power generation. Mr. White also has served on the boards of numerous public energy companies.

Before 1993, Mr. White practiced law with Susman Godfrey. In the late 1970s he helped craft legislation to deregulate oil and gas prices.

He received the prestigious Profile in Courage award presented by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation for his leadership in helping victims of Hurricane Katrina. He is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Texas School of Law.

About Lazard

Lazard, one of the world's preeminent financial advisory and asset management firms, operates from 42 cities across 27 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Central and South America. With origins dating back to 1848, the firm provides advice on mergers and acquisitions, strategic matters, restructuring and capital structure, capital raising and corporate finance, as well as asset management services to corporations, partnerships, institutions, governments and individuals. For more information on Lazard, please visit www.lazard.com.

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