Published: June 18, 2008

David Handler and David St. Jean Join Centerview Partners

NEW YORK, June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Centerview Partners announced that David Handler and David St. Jean, two highly respected investment banking veterans, have joined the firm as partners to jointly lead the expansion of its investment advisory practice in the technology and telecommunications sector. Mr. Handler will join Centerview'sNew York office and Mr. St. Jean will be based inLos Angeles.

Messrs. Handler and St. Jean have collaborated for many years on various high-profile assignments. Both of them were most recently managing directors at UBS and co-headed the firm's technology investment banking unit in the Americas. Prior to joining UBS in 2006, Messrs. Handler and St. Jean worked together at Bear, Stearns & Co.'s global communications technology and software group. Both bring more than 20 years of experience and together have completed numerous transactions across the technology, telecommunications and internet sectors.

Since its founding in 2006, Centerview has established itself as a trusted advisor and has been involved in important mandates for a wide range of publicly traded companies and privately owned firms. "We are excited to have these experienced and trusted bankers on our team," said Blair Effron, a Centerview founding partner. "This represents the next stage of our evolution to provide superior advisory services to our clients across a broad range of industries."

Mr. Handler said, "In today's rapidly changing markets our clients demand truly independent strategic advice based upon long-term relationships and trust, which are common values that drew us to Centerview."

Some of the key financing and advisory assignments Messrs. Handler and St. Jean have led include Cisco Systems' $6.9 billion acquisition of Scientific Atlanta; Redback Networks' $2.1 billion sale to Ericsson; the $1.9 billion acquisition of AFC by Tellabs, Inc.; Itron Inc.'s $1.7 billion acquisition of Actaris; Huawei Technologies' divestiture of its 3Com Corp. venture in 2006. They have also provided investment banking services to other notable clients such as Xerox Corp., Avaya, Inc. and Lucent Technologies.

"We share a common approach and vision with Centerview's partners and look forward to joining this team to provide high-level advice to our clients," said Mr. St. Jean.

Also joining Messrs. Handler and St. Jean, is Bryan Spielman, a former managing director at UBS' technology group. Mr. Spielman has been appointed as a partner based inNew York.

About David Handler

David Handler is a former UBS managing director and joint head of technology investment banking in the Americas. Prior to joining UBS in 2006, he was a senior managing director at Bear Stearns and was responsible for the firm's global communications technology and software group. Mr. Handler attended New York University's Stern School of Business where he earned both his Bachelor's and MBA degrees.

About David St. Jean

David St. Jean is a former UBS managing director and joint head of technology investment banking in the Americas. Prior to joining UBS in 2006, Mr. St. Jean founded Bear, Stearns & Co.'s communications technology investment banking practice, which he built into one of the leading advisory franchises on Wall Street. He received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his MBA from the University of California at Berkeley.

About Bryan Spielman

Bryan is a Managing Director in UBS' Global Technology Group primarily responsible for covering the communications technology sector. Prior to joining UBS, Bryan was a Managing Director at Bear Stearns in the Global Communications Technology and Software Group. He received an M.B.A. in Finance from New York University and a B.A. in Philosophy and Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.

About Centerview Partners

Centerview Partners, based inNew York, operates an investment banking advisory practice and a private equity business. The advisory business specializes in independent advice and other client services capitalizing on the experience of its principals. The firm provides senior-level counsel to both domestic and international clients. Members of the firm have experience in a range of industries including the consumer products, financial services, food and beverage, entertainment and media, general industrial and retail sectors. The private equity business has an operational excellence focus and targets its investments in consumer-oriented industries.

Contact:

Steven Lipin, Brunswick Group, 212-333-3810

SOURCE Centerview Partners

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