Barclays Deals: Moelis & Company Acquires Leading Investment Manager Gracie Credit Business Wire NEW YORK

-- September 28, 2010 Moelis & Company and Gracie Credit today announced that they have entered into an agreement for Moelis & Company to acquire the management companies of Gracie Credit (Gracie), a leading multi strategy credit manager. The acquisition will expand Moelis & Companys Asset Management platform and enable Gracie to benefit from the added resources and global reach of a larger organization. Following closing of the transaction, expected in November of this year, Gracie will operate as a separate business within Moelis & Company. Established in 2004 by Managing Partner Daniel Nir, Gracie has approximately $2 billion in assets under management and targets investment opportunities across the entire spectrum of credit products and markets. Mr. Nir and partners James Palmisciano, Manbir Singh, Michael Robertson and Alex Koundourakis lead a team of 30 employees, including 18 investment professionals. The partners have worked together for the past five years. Gracie will continue to operate from its current location and expects no changes in its investment team. In connection with the transaction, each of the Gracie partners has entered into a long-term employment agreement with economic incentives and other provisions designed to keep the investment team intact and focused on Gracie's investment mandate. The Gracie investment management team will remain independent and operate autonomously from Moelis & Company. Terms of the transaction were not otherwise disclosed. We are committed to building a premier Asset Management business at Moelis & Company with the same client focus that we have demonstrated in our Investment Banking business, said Ken Moelis, Chief Executive Officer of Moelis & Company. The acquisition of Gracie significantly enhances our platform for institutional clients seeking top-tier investment solutions and further expands our business activities. This acquisition is consistent with our strategic goal to build a leading global investment bank that can best serve clients and build long-term, trusted relationships. Chris Ryan, Managing Director of Moelis & Company, added, Gracies highly qualified management team brings an impressive track record to our Asset Management platform. Their commitment to clients makes for a great fit with Moelis & Company. We look forward to lending our support to the business.

Gracie is very pleased to join Moelis & Company, said Dan Nir. Joining forces with a world class financial services firm will provide significant, long-term benefits to our organization. James Palmisciano, Chief Investment Officer of Gracie, added, The transaction will maintain our current leadership, continuity and vision while further enhancing our ability to deliver for our clients. This unique partnership will also enable us to retain our talented team and keep them appropriately incentivized to continue delivering strong returns to our investors for years to come. Our entire team is looking forward to achieving a new level of success with Moelis & Company. Moelis & Company is acting as its own financial adviser and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as Moelis & Companys legal adviser for the transaction. Barclays Capital is acting as financial adviser and Bingham McCutchen LLP is acting as legal adviser to Gracie. About Moelis & Company Moelis & Company, named Best Global Independent Investment Bank in 2010 by Euromoney, is a global investment bank that provides financial advisory and asset management services to a broad client base, including corporations, institutions and sovereigns. With over 400 employees, Moelis & Company serves its clients through offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.moelis.com. About Gracie Credit Established in 2004, Gracie Credit has approximately $2 billion in assets under management and targets investment opportunities across the entire spectrum of credit products and markets. Gracie Credit is based in New York and does not have a website. Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6445556&lang=en Multimedia Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6445556 Contact: Media Contacts: Moelis & Company Pen Pendleton, 212-883-4573 pen.pendleton@moelis.com or Gracie Credit

Sard Verbinnen & Co Paul Caminiti/Dan Gagnier, 212-687-8080 gracie@sardverb.com -0- Sep/28/2010 1:05 GMT

Discover Financial Services to Acquire $4.2 Billion of Private Student Loans and the Ongoing Business of The Student Loan Corporation Business Wire RIVERWOODS, Ill. -- September 17, 2010 Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS): * Transaction expected to provide earnings accretion of approximately $.09 per share in 2011 * Acquisition expands Discovers market presence and origination capabilities in private student loans Discover Financial Services (NYSE:DFS) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire The Student Loan Corporation (SLC) for $600 million, or $30 per share. Separately and immediately prior to the closing of Discovers transaction, SLC will sell $28 billion of assets to Sallie Mae and $9 billion of assets to Citibank. Discover will acquire $4.2 billion of private student loans and related assets at an 8.5% discount, along with $3.4 billion of SLCs existing asset-backed securitization debt funding. The amount to be paid by Discover for the private student loan assets is subject to a post-closing purchase price adjustment between Discover and Citibank, which owns 80% of SLCs outstanding common stock. The private student loan business is an important part of Discovers direct banking strategy, and this acquisition will enhance our competitive position in private student loan originations, said David Nelms, chairman and chief executive officer of Discover. The transaction is expected to be immediately profitable for our shareholders. Nelms added, The acquisition gives us a team with expertise in all functional areas of student loans and an outstanding network of relationships with colleges and universities that complements our own. SLC has 52 years of experience in serving schools, students and families nationwide. The company is a top-three originator of private student loans and owns studentloan.com, an industry-leading website. The transaction is expected to close by the end of calendar year 2010 and does not require approval by Discovers shareholders. About Discover Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a direct banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company operates the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers personal and student loans, online savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money market accounts

through its Discover Bank subsidiary. Its payment businesses consist of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance in more than 185 countries and territories. For more information, visit www.discoverfinancial.com. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the companys management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: unexpected difficulties or delays in executing the proposed transactions; the companys ability to successfully transition and integrate the new business, including operations, technology, marketing; the companys ability to maintain relationships with schools, vendors and parties related to the transaction; the companys ability to retain key employees; the companys ability to execute on expense-reduction initiatives related to the new business; the impact of current, pending and future legislation, regulation and regulatory and legal actions, including new laws and rules related to student loans, financial regulatory reform and bankruptcy; the actions and initiatives of current and potential competitors; and the companys ability to manage its credit risk. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and there is no undertaking to update or revise them as more information becomes available. Additional factors that could cause the companys results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found under Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2009 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 31, 2010, which are filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov). Contact: Discover Financial Services Investors: Craig Streem 224-405-3575 craigstreem@discover.com or Media: Jon Drummond 224-405-1888 jondrummond@discover.com -0- Sep/17/2010 13:05 GMT Window of the Eagle Ford Shale Play NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY MARKETWIRE

FOR: Talisman Energy Inc. TSX SYMBOL: TLM NYSE SYMBOL: TLM October 10, 2010 Talisman Energy Acquires Material Position in the Liquids Rich Window of the Eagle Ford Shale Play CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Oct. 10, 2010) - Talisman Energy Inc. (TSX:TLM) (NYSE:TLM) today announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire additional properties in the Eagle Ford shale play in south Texas. Talisman and Statoil have agreed on a joint-venture to acquire 97,000 net acres of high-quality, liquids rich Eagle Ford shale properties from Enduring Resources

06MA: American Intnl Group: AIG Enters into Agreement to Sell Star and Edison Life Companies UK Regulatory Announcement NEW YORK American International Group, Inc. (AIG) today announced a definitive agreement to sell its Japan-based life insurance subsidiaries, AIG Star Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (AIG Star) and AIG Edison Life Insurance Company (AIG Edison), to Prudential Financial, Inc., for a total purchase price of $4.8 billion, comprising $4.2 billion in cash and $0.6 billion in the assumption of third-party debt. AIG will retain and continue to grow its general insurance business in Japan. The AIG Star and AIG Edison companies have been an important part of the AIG family. Their strength and potential generated significant interest in the capital markets, and given our obligations to the U.S. government, AIG had to consider any resulting bids carefully, said Robert Benmosche, AIG Chief Executive Officer. In addition to receiving a compelling offer, we are pleased to have found a buyer who unequivocally supports AIG Stars and AIG Edisons long-standing commitment to outstanding customer service and innovative product offerings for the benefit of policyholders. The sale of AIG Star and AIG Edison represents another step in AIGs program to repay U.S. taxpayers and a key milestone in achieving a complete exit of government support over time. AIG Star and AIG Edison offer life, medical and annuity products to individuals and groups through their captive agent, independent agent, corporate and bancassurance channels. Together, the companies have approximately 10,400 employees, including about 7,800 company career agents, as well as 5,500 independent agents. Goldman, Sachs & Co. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisors and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu served as legal advisors to AIG on this transaction.

The transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approval, and is expected to close in the first calendar quarter of 2011. As a result of the sales agreement, AIG expects to take a non-cash pretax goodwill impairment charge of approximately $1.2 billion in the third quarter. About American International Group, Inc. AIG is a leading international insurance organization with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG companies serve commercial, institutional, and individual customers through one of the most extensive worldwide property-casualty networks of any insurer. In addition, AIG companies are leading providers of life insurance and retirement services around the world. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the stock exchanges in Ireland and Tokyo. CONTACT: American International Group, Inc. News Media Lauren Day (O) +1 212-770-3141 (C) +1 917-297-4374 or Investor Community Teri Watson +1 212-770-7074 Contact: American Intnl Group -0- Sep/30/2010 8:15 GMT

PGI Enters Into Definitive Agreement to be Acquired by Blackstone PR Newswire CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 4 CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Polymer Group, Inc. (PGI) (OTC Bulletin Board: POLGA/POLGB) today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an affiliate of Blackstone Capital Partners V L.P. This transaction is the result of the strategic review process initiated by PGI on April 7, 2010, and is expected to close prior to the end of the first quarter of 2011. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080903/CLW036LOGO-b ) (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080903/CLW036LOGO-b ) PGI's chief executive officer, Veronica (Ronee) M. Hagen, stated, "The sale to Blackstone is the culmination of our strategic review process and we believe that this transaction represents the best value alternative available to our stockholders. Blackstone is committed to supporting our strategy of continued growth and investment in proprietary capabilities in our markets around the globe. The leadership team and all of the employees of PGI are excited to begin the next chapter at PGI and to maintain our position as a global industry leader."

Chinh E. Chu, a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone, added, "Polymer Group is an attractive company because of its leading position in the nonwovens industry and its strong footprint in high growth developing markets. The Company has a talented management team, which we believe has much to achieve with our support and financial resources." As a result of the transaction, each holder of outstanding shares of PGI common stock will be entitled to receive up to $18.16 in cash for each share. A portion of the aggregate purchase consideration totaling $64.5 million, or approximately $2.91 per share, will be deposited in an escrow account at closing and will be available to cover potential tax liabilities, costs and expenses related to the application of the "personal holding company" (PHC) rules of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in accordance with the definitive agreement. PGI's most recent financial statements reflected a liability for uncertain tax positions associated with the PHC issue of approximately $24.5 million. However, PGI has initiated discussions with the IRS to request a series of rulings on the PHC issue, and the actual tax liability related to the PHC issue, whether higher or lower than the amount reflected on PGI's financial statement, will be determined based on the results of such process. As a result of the reserve of the escrow funds, each holder of outstanding shares of PGI common stock will be entitled to receive approximately $15.25 at closing, and will be entitled to receive its ratable share of any additional amounts if and when released from the escrow fund in accordance with the definitive agreement. The board of directors of PGI, acting on the recommendation of a special committee consisting of independent members of PGI's board of directors, has unanimously approved and declared advisable the definitive agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners L.P. and certain of its affiliates, the holders of approximately 63.4% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of PGI common stock, executed a written consent adopting and approving the definitive agreement and the transaction shortly after the execution of the definitive agreement by the parties thereto. No additional stockholder action is required. The transaction will be financed through a combination of debt and equity commitments, and is not conditioned upon the consummation of such financing. Completion of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including, among other things, expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and receipt of consents required under certain foreign merger control laws. Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP and Blackstone Advisory Partners L.P. acted as legal and financial advisor, respectively to PGI. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC acted as financial advisor to PGI's special committee and issued a fairness opinion with respect to the transaction. Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. acted as legal advisor to PGI's special committee. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal advisor to Blackstone. About Polymer Group, Inc.

Polymer Group, Inc., one of the world's leading producers of nonwovens, is a global, technology-driven developer, producer and marketer of engineered materials. With the broadest range of process technologies in the nonwovens industry, PGI is a global supplier to leading consumer and industrial product manufacturers. The company operates 14 manufacturing and converting facilities in nine countries throughout the world. Further information is available at www.polymergroupinc.com . About The Blackstone Group The Blackstone Group is one of the world's leading investment and advisory firms. Its alternative asset management businesses include the management of private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge funds, credit-oriented funds, collateralized loan obligation vehicles (CLOs) and closed-end mutual funds. The Blackstone Group also provides various financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions advisory, restructuring and reorganization advisory and fund placement services. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com . Safe Harbor Statement Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are 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, that involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements include: the completion of the sale transaction as described herein, the outcome of settlement discussions with the IRS regarding the final amount of the potential tax liabilities and payments, general economic factors including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates, foreign currency translation rates, consumer confidence, trends in disposable income, changes in consumer demand for goods produced, and cyclical or other downturns; cost and availability of raw materials, labor and natural and other resources and the inability to pass raw material cost increases along to customers; changes to selling prices to customers which are based, by contract, on an underlying raw material index; substantial debt levels and potential inability to maintain sufficient liquidity to finance our operations and make necessary capital expenditures; inability to meet existing debt covenants or obtain necessary waivers; achievement of objectives for strategic acquisitions and dispositions; inability to achieve successful or timely start-up on new or modified production lines; reliance on major customers and suppliers; domestic and foreign competition; information and technological advances; risks related to operations in foreign jurisdictions; and changes in environmental laws and regulations, including climate change-related legislation and regulation. Investors and other readers are directed to consider the risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities

and Exchange Commission, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Additional Information In connection with the Merger, the Company will prepare an information statement to be filed with the SEC that will provide additional important information concerning the Merger. When completed, a definitive information statement will be mailed to the stockholders of the Company. The Company's stockholders will be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the information statement (when available) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov . The Company's stockholders will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the information statement and other documents relating to the Merger (when available) upon written request to Polymer Group, Inc., 9335 Harris Corners Parkway, Suite 300, Charlotte, North Carolina 28269 or by calling (704) 697-5100, or from the Company's website, http://www.polymergroupinc.com . Polymer Group, Inc. For media inquiries, please contact: Cliff Bridges Global Marketing and HR Communications Director (704) 697-5168 bridgesc@pginw.com For financial inquiries, please contact: Dennis Norman Chief Financial Officer (704) 697-5186 normand@pginw.com Blackstone Group, L.P. Peter Rose Managing Director, Public Affairs (212) 583-5871 rose@blackstone.com SOURCE Polymer Group, Inc. Website: http://www.polymergroupinc.com Contact: Media, Cliff Bridges, Global Marketing and HR Communications Director, +1-704-697-5168, bridgesc@pginw.com, or Financial inquiries, Dennis Norman, Chief Financial Officer, +1-704-697-5186, normand@pginw.com, both of Polymer Group, Inc.; Peter Rose, Managing Director, Public Affairs of Blackstone Group, L.P., +1-212-583-5871, rose@blackstone.com -0- Oct/04/2010 16:38 GMT

SASKATOON, Canada, August 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. ("PotashCorp") today announced that its Board of Directors has received and unanimously rejected an unsolicited proposal from BHP Billiton Limited ("BHP Billiton") to enter into a transaction under which BHP Billiton

would acquire PotashCorp for US$130 per share in cash. PotashCorp's Board of Directors thoroughly reviewed BHP Billiton's unsolicited proposal with the assistance of its independent financial and legal advisors and concluded that the proposal is grossly inadequate and it is not in the best interests of its shareholders for PotashCorp to enter into discussions with BHP Billiton. "The PotashCorp Board of Directors unanimously believes that the BHP Billiton proposal substantially undervalues PotashCorp and fails to reflect both the value of our premier position in a strategically vital industry and our unparalleled future growth prospects," said PotashCorp Chairman Dallas J. Howe. "After careful consideration, and in the interest of transparency, our Board determined to proactively disclose BHP Billiton's unsolicited, non-binding proposal to our shareholders. We believe it is critical for our shareholders to be aware of this aggressive attempt to acquire their company for significantly less than its intrinsic value. The fertilizer industry is emerging from the recent global economic downturn, and we feel strongly that PotashCorp shareholders should benefit from the current and potential value of

The Carlyle Group Completes Acquisition of NBTY, Inc. for $4 Billion PR Newswire NEW YORK and RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Oct. 1 NEW YORK and RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group and NBTY, Inc., a leading global manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements, today announced that Carlyle has completed its $4 billion acquisition of NBTY. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, NBTY's stockholders are entitled to receive $55.00 in cash, without interest, less any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of NBTY common stock owned by them. As a result of the merger, NBTY's common stock will no longer be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Stockholders of record will receive a letter of transmittal and instructions on how to surrender their shares of NBTY common stock in exchange for the merger consideration. Stockholders of record should wait to receive the letter of transmittal before surrendering their shares. Equity capital for the transaction came from Carlyle Partners V, a $13.7 billion U.S. buyout fund, and Carlyle Europe Partners III, a euro 5.4 billion European buyout fund, and debt financing was provided by a syndicate of banks led by BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse. BofA Merrill Lynch and Centerview Partners LLC served as financial advisors to NBTY, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as legal advisor to NBTY. Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse served as financial advisors to Carlyle, and Latham & Watkins LLP served as Carlyle's legal advisor. About NBTY, Inc. NBTY is a leading global vertically integrated manufacturer, marketer and distributor of a broad line of high-quality, value-priced nutritional

supplements in the United States and throughout the world. Under a number of NBTY and third party brands, the Company offers over 25,000 products, including products marketed by the Company's Nature's Bounty ( www.NaturesBounty.com ), Vitamin World ( www.VitaminWorld.com ), Puritan's Pride ( www.Puritan.com ), Holland & Barrett ( www.HollandAndBarrett.com ), Rexall ( www.Rexall.com ), Sundown ( www.SundownNutrition.com ), MET-Rx ( www.MetRX.com ), Worldwide Sport Nutrition ( www.SportNutrition.com ), American Health ( www.AmericanHealthUS.com ), GNC (UK) ( www.GNC.co.uk ), DeTuinen ( www.DeTuinen.nl ), LeNaturiste ( www.LeNaturiste.com ), SISU ( www.SISU.com ), Solgar ( www.Solgar.com ), Good 'n' Natural ( www.goodnnatural.com ), Home Health ( www.homehealthus.com ), Julian Graves, Ester-C ( www.Ester-C.com ) and Natural Wealth ( www.naturalwealth.com ) brands. NBTY routinely posts information that may be important to investors on its web site. About The Carlyle Group The Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset manager with $90.6 billion of assets under management committed to 66 funds as of June 30, 2010. Carlyle invests across three asset classes private equity, real estate and credit alternatives in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America focusing on aerospace & defense, automotive & transportation, consumer & retail, energy & power, financial services, healthcare, industrial, infrastructure, technology & business services and telecommunications & media. Since 1987, the firm has invested $61.2 billion of equity in 983 transactions. The Carlyle Group employs more than 880 people in 19 countries. In the aggregate, Carlyle portfolio companies have more than $84 billion in revenue and employ more than 398,000 people around the world. www.carlyle.com Contact: Harvey Kamil Carl Hymans NBTY, Inc. G.S. Schwartz & Co. President & Chief Financial Officer 212-725-4500 631-200-2020 carlh@schwartz.com SOURCE NBTY, Inc. Website: http://www.nbty.com Contact: Harvey Kamil, President & Chief Financial Officer, NBTY, Inc.; or Carl Hymans, G.S. Schwartz & Co., +1-212-725-4500, carlh@schwartz.com -0- Oct/01/2010 13:22 GMT