LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lazard Ltd (NYSE:LAZ) announced today that Spiro Youakim has joined the
firm as a Managing Director and a senior member of the firm's global
Metals & Mining financial advisory team. Based in London, Mr. Youakim
joined Lazard from Citigroup, where he was a Managing Director and Head
of European Metals & Mining investment banking.
“Spiro is a highly respected investment
banker, having advised on some of the most significant and
transformational deals in the metals and mining sector,”
said Charles Ward III, President of Lazard. “His
specialist skills and industry knowledge will be of tremendous benefit
to our clients.”
Mr Youakim, 40, recently advised on a number of major transactions,
including Mittal Steel's acquisition of Arcelor; Severstal's
acquisitions of Rouge Steel and Lucchini and its equity offering in
November 2006; Gerdau's acquisition of Quanex; and the sale by Anglo
American of Highveld Steel & Vanadium to Evraz.
“This is a strong addition to our team in
London and we are delighted to add a banker of Spiro Youakim's stature
to our business," said William Rucker, CEO of Lazard London and Deputy
CEO of Lazard's European Investment Banking business. “He
brings enormous experience as a senior banker in the metals and mining
sector.”
Mr Youakim will work with Lazard’s global
Metals & Mining team, which has recently advised on such announced and
completed transactions as BHP Billiton's proposed merger with Rio Tinto;
Quanex’s spin off of its aluminum building
products division and subsequent sale to Gerdau; the merger of ZiniFex
with Oxiana; Rank Group's acquisition of Alcoa’s
aluminum packaging assets; and the sale of Minnesota Steel to Essar
Steel Holdings.
Mr Youakim began his investment-banking career in 1991 at Credit
Lyonnais, and in 1996 joined Schroders, which ultimately became part of
Citigroup. He was promoted to Managing Director at the end of 2005.
About Lazard
Lazard, one of the world’s preeminent
financial advisory and asset management firms, operates from 40 cities
across 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, Central
and South America. The firm provides advice on mergers and acquisitions,
restructuring and capital raising, 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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