Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with more than 4,800 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia with fiscal 2009 annual sales of more than $26.3 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's Web site at http://www.riteaid.com.

SOURCE: Rite Aid Corporation

Rite Aid Corporation 
INVESTORS: 
Chris Hall 
717-214-8834 
or investor@riteaid.com 
or 
MEDIA: 
Karen Rugen 
717-730-7766

"The NHRP is one of the proprietary foreclosure prevention programs we use in addition to the federal government-sponsored Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)," said Jack Schakett, credit loss mitigation strategies executive for Bank of America Home Loans. "Through this and other programs, Bank of America has provided relief through completed and trial modifications to more than 600,000 customers since the beginning of last year."

In October 2008, three months after acquiring Countrywide Financial Corporation, Bank of America announced it had reached agreement with state attorneys general on the NHRP, an innovative program to provide loan modifications to Countrywide customers with loan products that Bank of America discontinued upon acquiring the company. Nearly 400,000 homeowners across the country were identified as potentially eligible for modifications under the NHRP guidelines.

According to the most recent NHRP progress report, between December 1, 2008, when the bank initiated its outreach to potentially eligible borrowers, and September 30, 2009:

    --  Mortgage modification offers were made to 143,271 homeowners.
    --  80,875 customers received mortgage relief under the guidelines of the
        NHRP program, representing potential aggregate principal and interest
        savings of $1.6 billion.

The report states that more than 19,500 other NHRP-eligible borrowers entered trial modifications under the federal government's HAMP from the time the program was inaugurated earlier this year through the end of the third quarter. In the six weeks following the close of the reporting period, more than 35,000 additional NHRP-eligible homeowners entered the HAMP trial period, which demonstrates continued strong program momentum, added Schakett.

In addition to loan modifications across the country, the NHRP agreement also provides relocation assistance and foreclosure relief programs in 41 participating states and the District of Columbia.

The third-quarter progress report shows that Bank of America has provided more than $40 million in relocation assistance to customers and tenants in eligible properties that have gone to foreclosure, under terms of the agreement.

The bank has allocated up to $150 million to participating states to provide foreclosure prevention programs and financial relief for eligible borrowers who went into default shortly after taking out a qualifying loan and lost their homes. Letters have been sent to borrowers who are eligible for a relief payment, and a third-party administrator will begin issuing checks in the first quarter of 2010.

Bank of America

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 approximately 53 million consumer and small business relationships with 6,000 retail banking offices, more than 18,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with more than 29 million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to more than 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients in more than 150 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

www.bankofamerica.com

SOURCE Bank of America

http://www.bankofamerica.com

About LP

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation is a leading manufacturer of quality engineered wood building materials including OSB, structural framing products, and exterior siding for use in residential, industrial and light commercial construction. From manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada, Chile and Brazil, LP products are sold to builders and homeowners through building materials distributors and dealers and retail home centers. Founded in 1973, LP is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under LPX. For more information, visit www.lpcorp.com.

SOURCE: Louisiana-Pacific Corporation

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation 
Media Relations: 
Mary Cohn, 615.986.5886 
or 
Investor Relations: 
Becky Barckley or Mike Kinney, 615.986.5600

An audio webcast will be presented live and can be accessed, along with supporting materials, through the Ashland website at www.ashland.com. The replay will be available within three hours of the live presentation and will be archived on Ashland's website until Dec. 18. Supporting materials will be available for 12 months. Copies of the presentation can also be requested by sending an e-mail to investor_relations@ashland.com or by calling 859-815-4454.

Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provides specialty chemical products, services and solutions for many of the world's most essential industries. Serving customers in more than 100 countries, it operates through five commercial units: Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients, Ashland Hercules Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials, Ashland Consumer Markets (Valvoline) and Ashland Distribution. To learn more about Ashland, visit www.ashland.com.

SOURCE Ashland Inc.

http://www.ashland.com