Mizuho Arranges First-Ever Latin American Ninja Loan

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - March 17, 2008) - Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. ("Mizuho") announced today that it has successfully closed a three-year, US$50 million Ninja loan, syndicated in Japan, for the Inter-American Investment Corporation ("IIC"). This financing represents the first time a Ninja loan has been arranged for a Latin American entity, a milestone for the region in accessing Japan's financial markets.

"We are pleased to announce this landmark financing for IIC," said Mitsuhiro Nagahama, Managing Executive Officer and Head of the Americas for Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. "Mizuho expects this transaction to open the door to future Japanese syndications for Latin American entities."

Ricardo Rico, Treasury Officer at IIC, added, "This transaction helps us diversify our source of financing, further promotes economic development in Latin America and strengthens the relationship with Japan, an important partner in the growth of private enterprise in the region. In addition, Mizuho's knowledge and experience in the Ninja loan market has contributed to the success of this operation."

A Ninja loan, a structure pioneered by Mizuho, is a cross-border syndicated loan from Japan for a non-Japanese borrower. This financing represents the first time a Ninja loan has been arranged for a Latin American entity without credit enhancement in Japan. Mizuho acted as Mandated Arranger and Agent on the transaction. Lenders include Mizuho, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., Tokyo Branch, and a Japanese regional bank.

The arrangement of this loan follows Ninja loans arranged by Mizuho in 2007 for clients in the U.S., including Parker Hannifin Corporation, Lehman Brothers and Johnson Controls.

Mizuho is the market leader in syndicated loans in Japan. In 2007, Mizuho was the #1 Mandated Arranger and Bookrunner of syndicated loans in Japan, with 632 deals totaling more than US$59 billion in proceeds, and a 30.7% market share(1). Mizuho has the largest loan syndication group in Japan, with approximately 240 professionals.

IIC plans to use the loan for general corporate purposes.

About the Inter-American Investment Corporation

The Inter-American Investment Corporation is a multilateral financial institution that is a member of the Inter-American Development Bank ("IDB") Group. It provides financing (in the form of equity investments, loans, guarantees, and other instruments) and advisory services to private enterprises in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IIC's mission is to promote the economic development of its regional member countries by encouraging the establishment, expansion, and modernization of private enterprises, particularly those that are small and medium in size. For more information on the IIC's activities, please visit www.iic.int.

About Mizuho

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. provides financial and strategic solutions for the increasingly diverse and sophisticated needs of clients, focusing its efforts on serving major corporations, financial institutions, and public sector entities. A relationship management approach to serving clients enables Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., together with affiliates including Mizuho Securities, to develop customized solutions in areas such as corporate and structured finance, investment banking, transaction banking and risk management. With offices in more than 20 countries, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. offers clients both localized service and the extensive reach of a global business network. Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. is a subsidiary of the Japan-based Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: MFG), one of the largest financial services companies in the world, with total assets of more than US$1.3 trillion, as of September 30, 2007.

(1) Source: Thomson Financial.

Contact Information: For further information, contact: Seth Martin Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. 212-282-3867