KIC in $2 Billion Investment in Merrill Lynch

January 15, 2008

Cleary Gottlieb is representing the Korea Investment Corporation in its $2 billion investment in Merrill Lynch & Co. The deal marks the latest example of capital injections into major financial institutions by sovereign wealth funds.

KIC will invest $2 billion in Merrill Lynch’s 9% mandatory convertible preferred stock, which converts into common shares two years and nine months from the closing.

KIC is the sovereign wealth fund of South Korea and was established in 2005. This transaction represents KIC’s largest investment to date.