Announcement of Inauguration of Nishimura & Asahi

July 2, 2007

We are pleased to announce that Nishimura & Partners and the International Division (Kokusai Bumon) of Asahi Law Offices integrated on July 1, 2007 to create "Nishimura & Asahi."

As leading law firms in Japan, Nishimura & Partners and the International Division of Asahi Law Offices have respectively been engaged in a wide range of domestic and international corporate legal matters, such as M&A, financial transactions, litigation, insolvency and intellectual property, to name but a few. Recent social and economic structural changes and fundamental reforms of basic legal systems in Japan have brought an increasing number of large-scale and complex activities which require the support of law firms with a high level of expertise, strategic mobility and a comprehensive arsenal of human resources in a wider range of fields. Nishimura & Asahi has been established to respond to this situation more effectively. The wealth of knowledge and experience accumulated by both firms as well as the diverse talents and skills of their human resources will be united as a fully-integrated organization. Thus, the new firm will dramatically enhance its ability to provide the highest quality legal services focusing on the area of corporate legal affairs.

Nishimura & Asahi has 325 lawyers as at the time of its inception, and will take the lead in legal practice as the largest law firm in Japan. We will endeavor to bolster our reputation as an internationally accredited and respected firm, consistent with first-class law firms overseas. As legal professionals, we are also committed to contributing to the development of a fair and just society. We would be honored to receive your continued support and patronage.

The contact details of Nishimura & Asahi will remain the same as those of the former Nishimura & Partners, as set out below.

Nishimura & Asahi
Ark Mori Building, 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6029, Japan
(Main Reception: 28th Floor)
Telephone:+81-(0)3-5562-8500
Facsimile:+81-(0)3-5561-9711~9714
URL:http://www.nishimura.com

Contact for further information:
Public Relations Department
+81-3-5562-8353 (Direct)
info@nishimura.com