Latham & Watkins advises the Qatar Investment Authority in strategic alliance between The State of Qatar and NYSE Euronext

NYSE Euronext will purchase a 25% stake in the DSM for $250m in cash which represents the largest investment ever made by NYSE Euronext in a foreign exchange.

The State of Qatar will retain ownership of the remaining 75% of the DSM through the Qatar Investment Authority.

The closing of the transaction is expected to take place early during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Latham & Watkins LLP represents the Qatar Investment Authority in this transaction.

"We are extremely pleased to be part of this historic transaction.

We have been able to play a role in the establishment of a major financial market, one of the burgeoning sectors in the region.

This strategic deal complements our broad experience in international financings, energy and infrastructure joint ventures and cross-border M&A for Gulf area clients,"

said Latham & Watkins corporate partner Edward Sonnenschein.

The Latham corporate team was led by New York partners Edward Sonnenschein and Adel Aslani-Far, together with London partner Alexandar Hamilton.

The corporate team also included London partner Michael Bond and associates Piero D'Agostino and Rory Negus, Middle East counsel Craig Stoehr, Paris partners Charles-Antoine Guelluy and Nicolas Bombrun, Los Angeles associate Jocelyn De Guzman and New York associates Eli Hunt and Michael Ingrassia.

Advice was also provided by New York partner William Voge on finance; Washington, D.C. partner John Huber and Los Angeles partner Scott Hodgkins on securities; and New York partner David Raab, London partners Daniel Friel and Sean Finn, and Paris partner Olivia Rauch-Ravise and associate Jerome Commercon on tax.