UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) October 14, 2009

 

 

Lazard Ltd

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

Bermuda

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

001-32492		98-0437848
(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

Clarendon House, 2 Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda		HM 11
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

441-295-1422

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

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Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On October 14, 2009, Bruce Wasserstein, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lazard Ltd, passed away.

The Board of Directors of Lazard has named Steven J. Golub, Vice Chairman of Lazard Ltd, as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. For a list of the positions and offices held by Mr. Golub, see “Executive Officers of the Registrant” contained in Lazard Ltd’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.

A copy of the press release issued by Lazard Ltd is being filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Report on Form 8-K:

 

99.1

Press Release issued on October 14, 2009.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: October 14, 2009

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

99.1	Press Release issued on October 14, 2009.

Exhibit 99.1

 

Media contacts:		Investor contacts:
Judi Frost Mackey, +1 212 632 1428		Michael J. Castellano, +1 212 632 8262
judi.mackey@lazard.com		Chief Financial Officer
Richard Creswell, +44 207 187 2305		Investor Relations, 1 212 632-2685
richard.creswell@lazard.com		or +1 877 266 8601
		investorrelations@lazard.com

Lazard Chairman & CEO Bruce Wasserstein, age 61, Dies

NEW YORK, October 14, 2009 – Bruce Wasserstein, Chairman and CEO of Lazard Ltd (NYSE: LAZ), has passed away at the age of 61. Mr. Wasserstein had been hospitalized in serious condition for an irregular heartbeat. The exact cause of death has not yet been determined.

The Board of Directors issued the following statement: “We are shocked and greatly saddened by the passing of Bruce Wasserstein. He was a visionary leader, a devoted father to his children and a good friend. At Lazard, he has put into place a long-term strategy as well as a broad and deep leadership team, in whom we have confidence and who will sustain his vision. His commitment to his clients was legendary. Lazard’s Board of Directors, and the many people he worked with and mentored over the years, mourn his loss. We extend our sympathies to his family, particularly his wife and children, who meant the world to him.”

The Board of Directors of Lazard has named Steven J. Golub, Vice Chairman of Lazard Ltd as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Golub, 63, has been with the firm since 1984, where he has served in various senior leadership positions, including CFO and Chairman of Lazard’s Financial Advisory business.

Mr. Wasserstein is survived by his wife and his children. He was pre-deceased by his parents.

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements.” In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as “may”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential” or “continue”, and the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only our belief regarding future results, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The information set forth in this press release is, in part, based upon information and statements provided to us by third parties.

These factors include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 1A “Risk Factors,” and also disclosed from time to time in reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K including the following:

 

•

A decline in general economic conditions or the global financial markets;

 

•

Losses caused by financial or other problems experienced by third parties;

 

•

Losses due to unidentified or unanticipated risks;

 

•

A lack of liquidity, i.e., ready access to funds, for use in our businesses; and

 

•

Competitive pressure.

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Lazard Ltd is committed to providing timely and accurate information to the investing public, consistent with our legal and regulatory obligations. To that end, Lazard and its operating companies use their websites to convey information about their businesses, including the anticipated release of quarterly financial results, quarterly financial, statistical and business-related information, and the posting of updates of assets under management in various hedge funds and mutual funds and other investment products managed by Lazard Asset Management LLC and its subsidiaries. Monthly updates of these funds will be posted to the Lazard Asset Management website (www.lazardnet.com) on the third business day following the end of each month. Investors can link to Lazard and its operating company websites through www.lazard.com.

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