(JETRO) JETRO Organizes Private Equity in Japan Conference in NYC on March 20, 2002


NEW YORK--Mar. 15, 2002

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) New York will organize a conference entitled "Private Equity in Japan" on March 20, 2002.

This event will be held without charge, however, space is limited and preference will be given to investors and financial and service professionals and journalists. Registrations will be accepted by return e-mail or through the contact listed below. All other individuals will be admitted on a space available basis, however, related materials will be made available online after the event for future reference. A confirmation will be forwarded to all participants by fax or e-mail before the event.

PRIVATE EQUITY IN JAPAN

Wednesday, March 20, 2002
8:00 am to 2:00 pm
The University Club
1 West 54th Street (5th Ave. and 54th St.)
New York, NY
(Business dress)

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

Timothy Collins, CEO, Ripplewood Holdings
Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Chairman and CEO, WL Ross & Co.

PANELISTS INCLUDE:

John Baily, President, Swiss RE Capital Partners
Arnold Chavkin, Executive Partner, JP Morgan Partners
Jonathan Colby, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group
Steven Costabile, Head of Private Equity Funds Group, AIG Global Investment Corporation
John Flannery, President and CEO, GE Equity
Tatsuo Kawasaki, Partner, Unison Capital Partners
Shunichi Maeda, President, MC Capital Inc.
Nobuo Matsuki, CEO and Managing Partner, Schroder Ventures KK
Tomoya Shiraishi, Group Officer, Structured Investment Group, JAFCO
Paul Slawson, Managing Principal, East Point Capital Management
Tatsuya Terazawa, Special Advisor to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Gillian Tett, The Financial Times
Dean Yoost, CEO, PricewaterhouseCoopers Financial Advisory Services (Japan)

"PRESIDER: Mark Mason, Center on Japanese Economy and Business, Columbia Business School

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

8:00 Registration and Coffee 8:30 Opening Remarks
8:40 Panel One: Viewpoints of the Institutional Investor
9:40 Panel Two: Industry Perspectives
10:40 Coffee Break
11:00 Financial Services Keynote: Wilbur Ross, Chairman and CEO, WL Ross & Co., LLC
11:30 Panel Three: Transaction and Operational Issues
12:30 Luncheon
1:00 Luncheon Keynote: Timothy Collins, CEO, Ripplewood Holdings LLC
1:35 Closing Remarks
2:00 Adjourn

"The Japanese economy in many ways mirrors the United States in the early 1980s, when private equity investment helped to dramatically enhance corporate efficiency and profitability", commented Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., Chairman and CEO, WL Ross & Co., LLC. "To those that are willing to do their homework and to make the commitment needed to understand and address the needs and concerns of Japanese business, consumer and other important stakeholders, the potential is enormous."

"In Japan, foreign direct investment is still generally viewed as start-up and greenfield transactions rather than private equity, which involves the purchase of existing assets," noted Ken Katayama, Director, Public Affairs, JETRO New York. "This event is designed to explore the views of institutional investors who have been focusing on this area, to develop a better understanding of both the opportunities and problems they are facing." "

To submit your reservation request, please reply by return e-mail or contact:

Kurt Swihart JETRO New York
Tel. 1-212-997-0414
E-mail: Kurt_Swihart@jetro.go.jp

For more information or to register online, please refer to: http://www.jetro.org/newyork/special/index.html Please note that a confirmation will be forwarded to you via fax or e-mail in advance of the event.

This material is published and disseminated by JETRO New York in coordination with KWR International, Inc., E-mail: kwrintl@kwrintl.com. JETRO New York is registered as an agent of the Japan External Trade Organization, Tokyo, Japan and KWR International, Inc. is registered on behalf of JETRO New York. This material is filed with the Department of Justice where the required registration statement is available for public viewing.