NORWALK, CT – June 29, 2009 — GE Capital, Corporate Finance today announced it provided a $100 million asset-based credit facility to Monrovia Nursery, one of the world’s largest producers of container grown plants. The loan will be used for working capital needs. GE Capital Markets served as co-lead arranger.

Founded in 1926, Azusa, CA-based Monrovia has been a GE Capital client since 2004. Monrovia grows more than 20 million container-grown plants in 2,000 varieties and ships plants to independent garden centers nationwide. The company has introduced some 300 exclusive varieties, holding more than 200 patents and trademarks.

“GE Capital continues to provide us with the liquidity we need to meet our business objectives,” said Tyler Page, CFO of Monrovia Nursery. “Especially in this environment, having a lender who truly understands our business and delivers on what they promise is extremely valuable.”

“We work closely with customers to provide the financing they require to support their working capital needs,” said Tom Quindlen, president and CEO of GE Capital, Corporate Finance. “Significant commitment levels and certainty of execution means timely access to capital for our borrowers.”

About GE Capital, Corporate Finance
GE Capital, Corporate Finance is one of the largest providers of asset-based, cash flow and structured loans and leases for mid-size and large U.S. businesses. Financing supports working capital, growth, acquisitions, turnarounds and balance sheet optimization in key sectors: Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Transportation, Chemicals & Plastics, Corporate Aircraft, Financial & Business Services, Food, Beverage & Agribusiness, Government Finance, Marine, Metals & Mining, Paper, Packaging & Forest Products, Retail, Technology & Electronics. Visit gelending.com/clnews.

About GE Capital

GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. GE (NYSE: GE) is Imagination at Work – a diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world’s toughest problems. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at ge.com.

PRESS CONTACTS
Ned Reynolds
+1 203 229 5717
+1 203 837 0699 (mobile)
ned.reynolds@ge.com

Jeff Wilson
+1 203 229 1887
Jeffrey.Wilson@ge.com

Session to examine breach response best practices and the cost to corporations of being unprepared

NORWALK, Conn., – 05-14-2009 — Affinion Security Center, a leading provider of identity theft protection and data breach resolution services, today announced that it will co-host a thought leadership panel with CSO magazine focused on the legal, public relations and privacy issues associated with data breaches. This live Webcast on Thursday, May 28th, 2009, 2:00 pm EDT will bring together legal, privacy and public relations experts to discuss the devastating effects of data breaches on corporations, including loss of business, reputational damage and legal issues. The panel will also focus on how companies can better prepare for a breach incident in order to mitigate damages.

To register for the complimentary webcast, visit www.csoonline.com/webinar/pressrelease

The panel will address:
* How a data breach can quickly impact a business and its customers, partners, employees and prospects
* Best practices for managing a data breach
* How a preemptive data breach response plan can mitigate reputational damage, legal ramifications and loss of business
* Recommendations, tips, lessons-learned, and examples of the key elements that constitute an effective data breach plan

Bob Bragdon, Publisher of CSO magazine will moderate the panel of experts, composed of the following industry leaders:

Chris Pierson, Senior Vice President and Chief Privacy Officer, Citizens Financial Group, is responsible for developing and implementing the company’s privacy compliance program across all business lines, including Citizens and Charter One banks.

Lisa Sotto, Partner, Hunton & Williams LLP, heads the firm’s Privacy and Information Management Practice. Ms. Sotto assists clients in identifying and managing risks associated with privacy and information security issues.

Michael Fox, Senior Managing Director of ICR, Inc, a leading financial communications consulting firm, provides strategic financial communications services to a broad spectrum of clients. His work has included crisis communications counsel for both retail and payment processors victimized in recent high-profile data breaches.

Tom Rusin, President & Chief Executive Officer, Affinion Security Center leads all aspects of the group’s identity protection services, a market that Affinion has been active in for over 35 years. ASC’s capabilities encompass a broad range of protection, monitoring, resolution and support services, for corporations and individuals.

To register for the webinar, please visit: www.csoonline.com/webinar/pressrelease

For more information please visit www.affinionsecuritycenter.com
Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/asc_info

About BreachShield
In 2007, Affinion Security Center launched BreachShield, a full service, rapid response data security breach response and delivery program. National and multi-national enterprises, including those in the financial, retail and travel industries, partnered with BreachShield data breach solutions. Since 2007, BreachShield services have been offered to over five million individuals whose identities have been compromised by a data breach. For more information, please visit www.breachshield.com. For help responding to an incident, please call our 24/7 Hotline at 1-800-350-7209.

About Affinion Security Center
Affinion Security Center, a division of Norwalk, Connecticut-based Affinion Group, is a global leader in providing identity protection and data security solutions to corporations and individuals. For over 35 years Affinion Security Center has been powering many of the world’s leading personal data protection and breach resolution solutions offered by local, national and multi-national enterprises in the financial, retail and travel industries. The company currently protects over 7 million subscribers with services including IdentitySecure, PrivacyGuard, PC SafetyPlus and Hotline, and serves enterprise and government agencies with the data breach preparation and response tool, BreachShield. Affinion Security Center is part of the steering committee of the Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel (IDSP).

HARTFORD, Conn. – (Business Wire) The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) announced today that it has commenced a discretionary equity issuance plan pursuant to which it will offer shares of its common stock from time to time for aggregate sales proceeds of up to $750 million. In addition, the company announced today that it would participate in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program (CPP), subject to completion of documentation with the U.S. Treasury. The Hartford received notice of preliminary approval to participate in CPP on May 14, 2009, in the amount of approximately $3.4 billion.

“With our strategic review complete, we are continuing to take actions to build shareholder value,” said Ramani Ayer, The Hartford’s chairman and chief executive officer. “In this continued, uncertain economic environment, our decisions to participate in CPP and to access the equity market represent important steps in enhancing our financial strength and implementing our long-term capital plan.”

The Hartford intends to use net proceeds of sales under the program for general corporate purposes, including the possible repurchase of outstanding debt. “Today’s decisions will further bolster our capital base and provide additional financial flexibility. The discretionary equity issuance will allow us to be opportunistic in raising capital while reducing our financial leverage,” said Lizabeth Zlatkus, The Hartford’s chief financial officer.

About The Hartford

Celebrating nearly 200 years as a trusted partner, The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) is an insurance-based financial services company that serves households and businesses by protecting their assets and income from risks. The company is a Fortune 500 company that is recognized widely for its service expertise and as one of the world’s most ethical companies. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at www.thehartford.com.

About The Offering

Sales of common stock under the discretionary issuance program will be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise at prevailing market, or negotiated, prices at the time of such sales. Goldman Sachs will act as the company’s sales agent for the offering.

The Hartford has an existing automatic shelf registration statement (including a base prospectus) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and will file a prospectus supplement related to the equity issuance plan described above. Prospective investors should read the registration statement (including the base prospectus), the prospectus supplement and other documents The Hartford has filed with the SEC for more complete information about The Hartford and the offering before investing. Investors may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the sales agent will arrange to send investors the base prospectus and prospectus supplement if requested by contacting Goldman, Sachs & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 85 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004, telephone: 866-471-2526, fax: 212-902-9316, email: Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.

HIG-F

Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. In particular, the amount and terms of future sales under the equity issuance plan described above, if any, are not yet known. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued.

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
Media:
Shannon Lapierre, 860-547-5624
Shannon.Lapierre@thehartford.com
or
Investors:
Rick Costello, 860-547-8480
Richard.Costello@thehartford.com

PURCHASE, N.Y. – January 12, 2007 – Beginning in February, Pepsi-Cola will reach out to consumers in a different way than ever before. Pepsi will connect with consumers via a global brand restyle – a 360-degree marketing campaign that will be reflected all over the world on TV, radio, in print, packaging and online.

The first, most visible piece of this effort will be new package graphics for Pepsi-Cola that change every few weeks to reflect themes close to the hearts of teens and young adults, such as sports, music, fashion and cars. The new graphics will be on more than eight billion Pepsi-Cola cans, bottles and cups throughout the world.

The iconic Pepsi globe logo and name lettering will remain the same – as will Pepsi’s great taste – but the background graphics will change every few weeks, marking the first time Pepsi has altered its look so frequently. In its 109-year existence, Pepsi-Cola’s look has changed just 10 times, but this year alone, it will change more than 35 times. This steady rotation of designs reflects the fast, ever-changing interests of the elusive “millennial” generation.

Not only will the packages look different, but they’ll be different. Pepsi bottles, cans and cups will give consumers access to exclusive online content, games, contests and sweepstakes through unique web addresses on each of the designs.

Pepsi’s global brand restyle will be highlighted in new thematic ad campaigns. The TV, print and out-of-home advertising will utilize the iconic Pepsi globe in whole new ways to represent the fun, optimistic, and youthful spirit that consumers have long associated with Pepsi. The restyle will come to life in-store with merchandising, account-specific promotions and point-of-sale materials that will showcase an array of packaging representing the wide range of design graphics.

* Examples of the upcoming packaging designs and promotions: In the U.S., the first can, titled “Your Pepsi,” will link to a website inviting consumers to help design a Pepsi billboard ad which will run in New York City’s Times Square in April.
* Consumers in the U.S. will also have a chance to design a special paint scheme for NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon’s car that will race later this year.
* In many international markets, designs will link to websites that enable consumers to create music and video that they can share with others.
* Consumers will also have access to packaging designs by some of the biggest names in sports and music.

“On the surface, this might look like a packaging update, but it’s much more than that. We’re changing the way we interact with consumers – and now we’re doing it on their terms,” said Cie Nicholson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Pepsi-Cola North America. “When people pick up a Pepsi, they’ll be getting much more than a great tasting cola. They’ll be getting a passport to the things they enjoy most.”

“We’ve learned that young people embrace change and seek discovery, connectedness, personalization and multiculturalism. We believe this restyle touches on all these trends,” said Ron Coughlin, chief marketing officer, PepsiCo International. “Now our consumers will have a different experience each time they buy a Pepsi.”

About Pepsi Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America (www.pepsi.com) is the refreshment beverage unit of PepsiCo, Inc., in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. brands include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Jazz, Pepsi ONE, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Pepsi Lime, Mountain Dew, Diet Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Code Red, Mountain Dew LiveWire, Sierra Mist, Sierra Mist Free, Mug, Tropicana Twister Soda, Aquafina, Aquafina FlavorSplash, Aquafina Sparkling, Quaker Milk Chillers, Dole single-serve juices, Tropicana Juice Drinks, IZZE and SoBe. The company also makes and markets North America’s best-selling ready-to-drink iced teas and coffees, respectively, via joint ventures with Lipton and Starbucks.

U.S. Media Contact:
Nicole Bradley
Pepsi-Cola North America
(914) 253-2964

International Media Contact:
Liz Derham
Freud communications
+44 (0)20 7580 2626

Pepsi-Cola in the news

New Interactive Community Web sites Provide Leading Tools Giving Customers A Voice to Share Insights, Personal Experiences and Make Smarter Purchasing Decisions

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Sears Holdings today announced the launch of its innovative interactive platforms, the
MySears and MyKmart Communities (http://www.mysears.com and http://www.mykmart.com).

MySears and MyKmart allow customers to share their insights, experiences and product reviews by creating a two-way dialogue between the retailers and their customers through discussion forums, blog entries, ratings, reviews, polls and surveys, and an exciting new idea suggestion area and
platform to leave comments. The MySears and MyKmart Communities demonstrate each store’s commitment to interacting with and responding to customers as it has done throughout its 125 year history.

The MySears and MyKmart Communities’ launch supports Sears Holdings’ belief in the power of community and in creating new and better ways to engage its customers, associates and vendors who are invited to register, create a profile, upload photos, share their personal experiences and
ideas, and connect with each other. Members help Sears and Kmart as well as fellow customers by writing product reviews, participating in discussions and contributing ideas. In fact, the newly-launched Ideas feature invites members to contribute recommendations which are then commented on by other members and ultimately considered for implementation by Sears Holdings’ management. Nearly all content on the MySears and MyKmart Communities will be written and contributed by customers.

“The ability to engage and interact with our customers is key to both our mission and our future,” said Rob Harles, vice president, Community, Sears Holdings. “The MySears and MyKmart social networking communities offer customers a highly-versatile venue to connect with other like-minded individuals and get informed advice on their purchases. In addition, it gives them the platform to have their voices heard and help us make vital improvements to our stores and services.”

The MySears and MyKmart Communities are highly integrated with Sears.com and Kmart.com to offer customers a richer shopping experience. Both Sears.com and Kmart.com feature reviews and discussions generated from the Communities. Likewise, the MySears and MyKmart Community Web sites enable customers to view all of Sears and Kmart’s online product offerings, read and write product reviews, browse the site by categories and purchase products without leaving the MySears and MyKmart Community sites.

Membership in the MySears and MyKmart Communities is free. Following a soft launch in June 2008 under the Web site sk-YOU.com, the MySears and MyKmart Communities have quickly attracted a large and growing membership of more than 200,000.

The MySears.com and MyKmart.com platforms were developed by Viewpoints Network, a social technology and media company that is focused on building online communities that help consumers make smarter purchase decisions.

ABOUT SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation’s fifth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics
and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands’ End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday
products, which are offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart. We are the nation’s largest provider of home services, with more than 12 million service calls made annually. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation.

For more information, visit Sears Holdings’ Web site at
http://www.searsholdings.com.

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation

Web site: http://www.mysears.com http://www.mykmart.com

http://www.searsholdings.com

CONTACT: Carolyn Goldberg of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR,
+1-212-367-6947, carolyn.goldberg@eurorscg.com, for Sears; or Tom
Aiello of Sears Holdings, +1-847-286-7387, taiell1@searshc.com

More information on Sears Roebuck and Co

MONTERREY, Mexico – (Business Wire) CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX), announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell its Australian operations to Holcim Group for approximately A$2.02 billion. The agreement is subject to fulfillment of various closing conditions, including confirmatory due diligence, regulatory approvals and funds from buyer financing being disbursed, among others. The maximum period of time to meet all closing conditions is six months.

CEMEX is one of the leading producers of aggregates, ready-mix concrete and concrete pipe in Australia. The assets to be divested consist of 249 ready-mix concrete plants, 83 aggregates quarries and 16 concrete pipe and products plants – a total of 348 facilities located throughout Australia. These operations generated revenues and EBITDA in 2008 of approximately A$1.86 billion and A$313 million, respectively. The sale also includes CEMEX’s 25% stake in Cement Australia. Cement Australia’s has an annual production capacity of 5.1 million tons of cement, including the expansion under construction in the Gladstone plant, and its assets include four cement plants and one grinding mill.

BBVA, BNP Paribas, Citi, HSBC, Santander and The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc, are acting as financial advisors to CEMEX in this transaction.

This divestment is part of CEMEX’s overall strategy to improve its financial flexibility, which includes:

* Implementation of US$900 million in recurrent cost savings;
* Rationalization of capital expenditures; and
* Reduction of its total debt, and improvement of its debt profile.

CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through its efforts to pursue innovative industry solutions and efficiency advancements, and to promote a sustainable future. For more information, visit www.cemex.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of CEMEX to be materially different from those expressed or implied in this release, including, among others, changes in general economic, political, governmental and business conditions globally and in the countries in which CEMEX does business, changes in interest rates, changes in inflation rates, changes in exchange rates, the level of construction generally, changes in cement demand and prices, changes in raw material and energy prices, changes in business strategy, and various other factors. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. CEMEX assumes no obligation to update or correct the information contained in this press release.

CEMEX
Media Relations:
Jorge Pérez, (52-81) 8888-4334
or
Investor Relations:
Eduardo Rendón, (52-81) 8888-4256
or
Analyst Relations:
Luis Garza, (52-81) 8888-4136

More information on CEMEX:

Kroger’s “Bringing Hope to the Table” Campaign to Drive $4 Million in Food and Funds to Local Food Banks

CINCINNATI, Ohio, June 1, 2009 – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) is inviting customers to help hungry people in their own communities by joining in “Bringing Hope to the Table®,” a two-week campaign that runs through June 13.

With the help of numerous vendor partners, “Bringing Hope to the Table” is expected to generate $4 million dollars in cash and food donations to assist 80 local food banks in communities where Kroger’s customers and associates live and work. These food banks are members of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.

Every time customers purchase participating items in any of Kroger’s family of stores through June 13, they will be showing their support for food banks in their own community. Participating items will be marked with yellow shelf tags to indicate their pledge to support “Bringing Hope to the Table”.

“Food banks and hunger agencies across the country are facing unprecedented demand. In fact, 1 in 8 Americans struggle from hunger each year and the numbers are growing. Through ‘Bringing Hope to the Table’, our customers, associates and vendors can drive funds to food banks to help hungry people who are our neighbors,” said Lynn Marmer, Kroger’s group vice president of corporate affairs and a member of the board of Feeding America.

Beginning May 31, customers can learn more about local hunger relief volunteer opportunities and receive valuable coupons from some of their favorite brands by visiting www.bringinghopetothetable.com. More than $20 in coupon offers are available to download directly to their shopper card – all from partners involved in the program who are helping to fight hunger in the communities served by Kroger family stores.

“Every $1 donated helps provide enough grocery products for 7 meals. We deeply appreciate Kroger’s long-standing commitment to food banks across the country and the generous support of Kroger’s customers, employees and vendors to help feed those who struggle with hunger every day,” said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive officer of Feeding America.

About Feeding America:
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information, please visit www.feedingamerica.org.

About The Kroger Co.
Kroger, one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains, employs more than 326,000 associates who serve customers in 2,481 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 31 states. Kroger operates stores under two dozen local banner names including, Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry’s, King Soopers, Smith’s, Dillons, QFC and City Market. In addition, Kroger associates serve customers in 771 convenience stores, 385 fine jewelry stores and 781 supermarket fuel centers the Company operates. Kroger also operates 40 food processing plants in the U.S. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives, and local schools and grassroots organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about the Company, please visit www.kroger.com.

# # #

Contacts:

Media:
Meghan Glynn (513) 762-1304

InInvestors:
Carin Fike (513) 762-4969

COLUMBUS, Ohio – June 10, 2009 – Huntington Bancshares Inc. today announced the appointment of Kevin Blakely as senior executive vice president and ,a href=”http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=110505″>chief risk officer. In this role, he will be responsible for risk oversight across the company. The appointment will become effective in early July.

Blakely replaces Jim Nelson, Huntington’s chief risk officer since 2004, who indicated earlier this year his desire to return to Chicago for family reasons.

“Huntington recognizes the crucial role strong risk oversight plays in our business,” said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen D. Steinour. “Kevin Blakely is well known in the industry as an early pioneer of establishing enterprise-wide risk management practices and has a very good record of enhancing corporate governance and risk management processes. We are very pleased to have Kevin’s expertise and leadership in this critical role. Kevin will directly report to me.”

“I am delighted to join Huntington and become part of a well-run team of professionals who have the expertise and vision to position the bank for growth,” said Blakely. “Huntington’s recent successful equity issuance is just another example of how Huntington is laying the groundwork for the future.”

Blakely most recently served as president and chief executive officer of The Risk Management Association. There he often represented the financial services industry on matters of financial risk management. Blakely also held multiple risk positions at KeyCorp beginning in 1990 where he established several measures to more effectively manage risks and improve governance practices. Bringing nearly 35 years of financial services experience, he began his career at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) where he held a variety of management positions. Kevin’s last role at the OCC was deputy comptroller for special supervision. Blakely earned a BS degree in finance from Southern Illinois University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

Steinour commented, “Kevin will succeed Jim Nelson, who is returning to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago as of June 15. We appreciate Jim Nelson’s leadership and guidance in managing the risk role for Huntington. We all respect Jim for his expertise and his contributions to Huntington over the past several years. We wish him and his family well.”

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $52 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Huntington has more than 143 years of serving the financial needs of its customers. Through our subsidiaries, including our banking subsidiary, The Huntington National Bank, we provide full-service commercial and consumer banking services, mortgage banking services, equipment leasing, investment management, trust services, brokerage services, customized insurance service program, and other financial products and services. Our over 600 banking offices are located in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Huntington also offers retail and commercial financial services online at huntington.com; through its technologically advanced, 24-hour telephone bank; and through its network of almost 1,400 ATMs. The Auto Finance and Dealer Services group offers automobile loans to consumers and commercial loans to automobile dealers within our six-state banking franchise area. Selected financial service activities are also conducted in other states including: Private Financial Group offices in Florida and Mortgage Banking offices in Maryland and New Jersey. International banking services are available through the headquarters office in Columbus and a limited purpose office located in both the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong.

Analysts
Jay Gould
(614) 480-4060 Media
Jeri Grier
(614) 480-5413
Jim Graham
(614) 480-3878 Maureen Brown
(614) 480-5512

Huntington Bancshares in the news:

Accellent, Biomet, Dollar General, SunGard and HCA set goals for improved environmental performance

(New York, NY – June 10, 2009) Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) today announced specific environmental efforts for the five newest companies participating in the Green Portfolio Project, KKR’s partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Accellent Inc., Biomet Inc., Dollar General Corporation, SunGard Data Systems Inc. and HCA Inc. Each of the companies have evaluated their impacts on environmental performance, identified opportunities for improvement and will implement these changes to achieve their goals for environmental sustainability. Once implemented, these changes will help managers to cost-effectively improve efficiency and reduce waste, while addressing the environmental impacts of their business.

“The first priority of our limited partners is to maximize investment returns, but most also recognize the importance of improving environmental performance. Our work with EDF and our portfolio companies is proving that environmental management can help create real value and drive the returns that help fund retirement pensions and other important needs,” said Ken Mehlman of KKR.

Specific company initiatives include:
Accellent is one of the largest providers of fully integrated outsourced manufacturing and engineering services to the medical device industry. Accellent’s 2009 goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities. To do this, Accellent is:

* Establishing a GHG baseline for its facilities
* Measuring GHG emissions on an absolute and productivity basis (GHG emissions/dollar revenue)
* Setting annual goals to reduce GHG emissions

Biomet designs and manufactures orthopedic medical devices and other products used primarily by surgeons and medical specialists. Biomet’s goal for 2009 is to reduce GHG emissions from its facilities. To do this, Biomet is:

* Establishing a GHG baseline for its facilities
* Measuring GHG emissions on an absolute and productivity basis (GHG emissions/dollar revenue)
* Setting annual goals to reduce GHG emissions

Dollar General is a general merchandise retailer, carrying everyday consumable products and other home, apparel and seasonal items. Dollar General’s goals for 2009 are to reduce GHG emissions and waste from its operations (stores, distribution centers, transportation network and office space). To do this, Dollar General is:

* Establishing GHG and waste baselines for its operations
* Measuring GHG emissions and waste on an absolute and productivity basis (GHG emissions/dollar revenue and cubic yard of waste/dollar revenue)
* Setting annual goals to reduce GHG emissions and waste

SunGard is one of the world’s leading software and IT services companies with approximately 20,000 employees. SunGard’s goal for 2009 is to improve efficiency and reduce GHG emissions from its facilities. To do this, SunGard is:

* Establishing a GHG baseline for its facilities
* Measuring GHG emissions on an absolute and productivity basis (GHG emissions/dollar IT revenue)
* Setting annual goals to reduce GHG emissions by improving the energy efficiency of its offices and data centers

HCA is one of the leading healthcare services organizations in the United States. It is comprised of 163 hospitals and various outpatient facilities in 20 states and England. HCA is in the process of developing a strategic approach to its environmental and sustainability goals.

KKR’s investment and operating executives will continue their collective efforts in working with EDF and the portfolio companies to achieve their goals.

As part of their first of its kind partnership between a private equity firm and an environmental organization, KKR and EDF have worked since May 2008 to develop and test a set of analytic tools and metrics to help companies improve in several key environmental performance areas, including greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water, forest resources and priority chemicals.

The pilot phase of the project yielded successful results for U.S. Foodservice Inc., PRIMEDIA Inc. and Sealy Corporation, which together already saved $16.4 million and prevented more than 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2008.

Throughout 2009, KKR and EDF will continue to work together to extend this program across KKR’s U.S. portfolio. Already, KKR has launched a Web site that provides sample tools, best practices and case studies for cost-effectively improving environmental performance to promote action among its portfolio companies.

To drive broader change across the private equity and other industries, the tools and best practices developed through the partnership will be available through the EDF Innovation Exchange. In the fall of 2009, KKR and EDF will provide another public update on the progress of the partnership.

About Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co
Established in 1976, KKR is a leading global alternative asset manager. The Firm’s franchise is sponsoring and managing funds that make investments in private equity, fixed income and other assets in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Throughout its history, KKR has brought a long-term investment approach, focusing on working in partnership with management teams of its portfolio companies and investing for future competitiveness and growth. Funds that KKR sponsors include traditional private equity funds, and KKR Private Equity Investors, L.P. (NYSE Euronext Amsterdam: KPE), a permanent capital fund that invests in KKR-identified investments; two credit strategy funds, KKR Financial Holdings LLC (NYSE: KFN) and the KKR Strategic Capital Funds, which make investments in debt transactions; and separately managed accounts focused on a variety of asset classes. KKR has offices in New York, Menlo Park, San Francisco, Houston, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tokyo, Mumbai and Sydney. More information about KKR is available at: www.kkr.com

Ken Mehlman, Head of Global Public Affairs at KKR
Ken B. Mehlman joined KKR in 2008 and is Head of Global Public Affairs. Prior to joining KKR, Mr. Mehlman was a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld with a bi-partisan practice in legislative and regulatory counseling. He previously served in high level positions on Capitol Hill and the White House, including as Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Campaign Manager of President Bush’s successful re-election campaign. Mr. Mehlman graduated with a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Contact:
Peter McKillop or Kristi Huller, KKR
212.750.8300
media@kkr.com

TOWSON, Md., April 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The Black & Decker Corporation (NYSE: BDK) announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share of the Corporation’s outstanding common stock payable June 26, 2009, to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 12, 2009. This represents a reduction from the $0.42 quarterly dividend paid by the Corporation since 2007.

Nolan D. Archibald, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Black & Decker has paid a dividend consistently since 1937, and remains committed to returning cash to its stockholders through regular dividends. In today’s uncertain and challenging economic environment, however, we believe it is important to preserve liquidity. By lowering the dividend to $0.12 per quarter, we will reduce cash outflows by $54 million in 2009. This action, along with lower capital expenditures and tighter working capital management, will strengthen our balance sheet, improve our credit metrics and provide greater financial flexibility. It is consistent with the conservative financial approach we have taken throughout the credit crisis, including our recent bond offering. While a dividend reduction was not an easy decision to make, we are confident that it is in the best long-term interest of our stockholders.”

This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. For a more detailed discussion of the risks and uncertainties that may affect Black & Decker’s operating and financial results and its ability to achieve the financial objectives discussed in this press release, interested parties should review the “Risk Factors” sections in Black & Decker’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.

Black & Decker is a leading global manufacturer and marketer of power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement products, and technology-based fastening systems.

SOURCE The Black & Decker Corporation

CONTACT: Mark M. Rothleitner, Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer, or Roger A. Young, Vice President, Investor and Media Relations, +1-410-716-3979, both of The Black & Decker Corporation

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