Francisco Rey Joins Blackstone’s Corporate Advisory Group

London, October 18, 2007: 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.
www.blackstone.com

Contact:
John Ford
The Blackstone Group
New York
Tel: +1 212 583 5559
ford@blackstone.com