New Guinne - Soros does not like De Combret

h. François de Combret

François de Combret, born July 12, 1941 in Paris, is an investment banker,

a former partner at Lazard, "managing director" of FC Finance.

Valedictorian at the entrance to the prestigious ENA (1963), François de

Combret in 1967 became Magistrate of the Court of Auditors.

In 1971, he was called as a counselor in the Office of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Minister

of Economy and Finance, which he followed at the Presidency of the Republic in 1974.

He remained with the President for the duration of the seven-year term, first as a

counselor for economic and industrial affairs and then as Deputy Secretary General of

the Elysee.

After the 1981 presidential election, François de Combret is recruited by the bank

Lazard. He spent three years in New York (1982-1985); he met Bernard Arnault,

chairman of LVMH, and managed with Lazard the takeover of Boussac group. He was

appointed Managing Partner of Lazard in Paris, where he held office for over 20 years

(1985-2005).

During this period, he is primarily responsible for advising France Telecom, Renault, and

Aerospace privatization, and participated in numerous merger and acquisition, such as

the creation of EADS and Safran, the Renault-Nissan alliance or YSL acquisition by PPR.

In 2005, at the sale and the IPO of Lazard, François de Combret left Lazard to UBS (2006-

2009), and Calyon Crédit Agricole CIB (2010-2011), before creating the company

financial advisory FC Finance, where he is "managing director".

Francois de Combret sits on the Supervisory Board of the French company which was

involved in the Guinea first round of the elections, SAGEM. De Combret is also a board

member of the holding company which owns SAGEM, the SAFRAN GROUP.

De Combret has been a key negotiator and advisor of Alpha Condé on the

controversial Settlement Agreement with Rio Tinto, involving the $700 million

payment to the Government of Guinea.

Sources have alleged that George Soros does not like Francois de Combret and has

attempted to sideline him from influencing the President on State or Mining

Matters.54

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