Bank of America Business Capital provides $35 million in acquisition financing to Lion Copolymer, LLC

November 29, 2005– Bank of America Business Capital, one of the world’s largest asset-based lenders, announced today that it provided a $35 million asset-based loan to Lion Copolymer, LLC, a company established by private equity group Lion Chemical Capital, LLC. The financing will be used to acquire the assets of the Styrene Butadiene Rubber business unit of DSM Copolymer, Inc., a Dutch chemical conglomerate. The loan will also be used for working capital needs. Bank of America is providing treasury management products and services.

"We were pleased that Bank of America Business Capital was able to leverage the necessary resources within Bank of America to meet our financing needs,” said Lion Chemical Capital managing director Peter De Leeuw. “This financing provides us with the liquidity to purchase a business that has a highly qualified management team and workforce, and is a strong competitor in an improving industry.”

“Knowledge of Lion Copolymer and the chemical industry allowed us to deliver a total financial solution that maximized the client’s borrowing power,” said Joyce White, president, Bank of America Business Capital. “Lion Copolymer gains added financial flexibility to pursue strategic opportunities and drive long-term growth"

Based in Houston, TX, Lion Chemical Capital, LLC (www.lionchemicalcapital.com) is a private equity firm investing in premier businesses operating in the chemical and related industries. Target investments are highly selective and possess key attributes such as market and technological leadership and strong management.

Headquartered in the Netherlands, DSM Copolymer, Inc. (www.DSM.com) is active worldwide in life science products, performance materials and industrial chemicals. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end-use markets and applications, including human and animal nutrition and health, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, the automotive industry, coatings, the construction industry and the electrics & electronics market. DSM is a leading world player in many of the markets in which it operates and has plants and facilities on every continent.

Based in Baton Rouge, LA, the Styrene Butadiene Rubber business unit of DSM Copolymer, Inc. is a manufacturer of synthetic rubber. Styrene Butadiene Rubber is the most widely used type of synthetic rubber in the world, and is used primarily in the manufacture of tires. Other applications include conveyor belts, vibration dampers, and footwear.

Bank of America Business Capital is one of the world’s largest asset-based lenders, with 21 offices serving the United States, Canada and Europe. It provides companies with senior secured loans, cash management, interest rate, precious metals and foreign exchange risk management, and a broad array of capital markets products. Visit www.bofa.com/businesscapitalnews for more information.

Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving more than 38 million consumer and small business relationships with more than 5,800 retail banking offices, more than 16,700 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 14 million active users. Bank of America is the No. 1 overall Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the United States and the No. 1 SBA lender to minority-owned small businesses. The company serves clients in 150 countries and has relationships with 97 percent of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies and 79 percent of the Global Fortune 500. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Contact Information

Andrew Schwartz

Bank of America Business Capital

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