Francisco Rey Joins Blackstone's Corporate Advisory Group

The Blackstone Group today announced that Francisco Rey has joined
the firm's corporate advisory group as a Senior Managing Director. Mr.
Rey will be located in Blackstone's London office. While Francisco
will focus on the European communications industry, he will also help
expand the advisory practice in the sector to the Middle East and Asia
and complement Blackstone's efforts in media and technology.

Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Rey spent 15 years advising clients
at Merrill Lynch, where he worked on some of the largest and most
complex transactions in the broad communications sector. Most recently
he headed Merrill Lynch's TMT practice for Southern and Eastern Europe
and the Middle East.

John Studzinski, Senior Managing Director, said; "We are delighted
to have someone of Francisco's stature and experience join our
Corporate Advisory team. He brings valuable expertise to the firm's
growing international advisory group."

Mr. Rey holds a BA and MS in Economics and Law from University of
Deusto in Spain and received an MBA from Columbia University School of
Business.

About The Blackstone Group

The Blackstone Group is a leading global alternative asset manager
and provider of financial advisory services. Its alternative asset
management businesses include the management of corporate private
equity funds, real estate opportunity funds, funds of hedge funds,
mezzanine funds, senior debt funds, proprietary hedge funds and
closed-end mutual funds. The Blackstone Group also provides various
financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions
advisory, restructuring and reorganization advisory and fund placement
services.

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www.blackstone.com
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