Mizuho Securities USA Launches Coverage on the Healthcare Services Sector

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jul 14, 2011) - Mizuho Securities USA Inc. ("MSUSA"), the U.S. broker-dealer subsidiary of the global Mizuho Financial Group, today announced the launch of coverage of six stocks in the Acute Care sector by Ann Hynes, Senior Healthcare Services Analyst.

"The expansion of research coverage with such an experienced and highly-regarded analyst as Ann further demonstrates our commitment to build a world-class franchise in healthcare research," stated Carmine J. Grigoli, MSUSA's Director of Research and Chief Investment Strategist. "The new Healthcare Services coverage adds to our established industry expertise in Life Sciences and Diagnostics, Medical Supplies and Devices, and Biotechnology."

Note: Please see below for important disclosures and analyst certification information.

Ms. Hynes, who will be based in Boston, brings nearly 14 years of experience in the healthcare services industry to MSUSA. Prior to Mizuho, Ann worked as a Senior Research Analyst at Caris & Company, FTN Equity Capital Markets and Leerink Swann, where she covered the healthcare services universe, including acute care hospitals, post-acute facilities, hospice, ambulatory surgery centers, pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs), clinical laboratories and retail pharmacies. At Leerink Swann, Ann was a senior member of a health care research team that was named "Best of the Boutiques" by Institutional Investor in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. She began her Wall Street career at Cowen and Company, where she spent six years as part of the healthcare services team. More recently, she placed third in Starmine's 2011 Annual Awards for stock recommendations in the Health Care Provider & Service sector. Ms. Hynes holds an MBA from Boston College, Carroll School of Management and a BS from Fairfield University.

Robert Betack, Executive Managing Director and Head of the Equity Division at MSUSA, added, "Ann's appointment to our research team complements the continued build of our U.S. institutional sales and trading product offerings in cash equities, convertibles and ETFs."

Disclosures
The disclosures for the companies mentioned above as well as the disclosures for Mizuho Securities USA Inc. entire coverage universe can be found at https://msusa.bluematrix.com/sellside/Disclosures.action or obtained by contacting EQSupervisoryAnalystUS@us.mizuho-sc.com or via postal mail at Equity Research Editorial Department, Mizuho Securities USA Inc., 320 Park Avenue, 12th Floor, New York NY, 10022.

About Mizuho Securities USA Inc.
Mizuho Securities USA Inc. is a U.S. registered broker-dealer headquartered in New York City, with offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hoboken (NJ), Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and London (UK). MSUSA provides a wide range of fixed income and equity securities products and investment banking services to institutional clients. MSUSA is one of only 20 firms designated as a Primary Dealer in U.S. Government and Agency securities. MSUSA also is a U.S. registered futures commission merchant ("FCM") and a member of most international futures exchanges. MSUSA's parent company, Mizuho Securities Co., Ltd., is a top-tier, full-service, Japanese securities firm and a core member of the Mizuho Financial Group. http://www.mizuhosecurities.com.

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: MFG), based in Japan, is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, offering a broad range of financial services including banking, securities, trust and asset management, credit card, private banking services, and venture capital through its group companies. The group has approximately 49,000 staff working in more than 770 offices inside and outside Japan, and total assets of over $1.9 trillion as of March 31, 2011. Its core global corporate banking entity, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., has offices throughout the U.S., the Americas, and the world, providing financial and strategic solutions to major corporations, financial institutions and public sector entities. For more information, please visit http://www.mizuho-fg.co.jp/english/