Bank of Ireland announces the opening of its Chicago office and the expansion of its Corporate Banking business

9 June 2008 – Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking today announces the expansion of its international business with the opening of a representative office in Chicago. The Bank’s continuing expansion in the US is part of the stated strategy to significantly reposition the Group’s geographic earnings profile.

The Chicago office will strengthen the Bank’s Corporate Banking franchise across the Midwest region. The new teams will focus on originating and arranging private equity sponsor backed transactions across a range of sectors including healthcare.

Tom Hayes, Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking commented: “We are pleased to announce the expansion of our leveraged finance business into the MidWest. Despite recent market turmoil we have confidence that these new teams will help us deliver on our ambitious growth plans as we seek to build on the success that we have already achieved in the US”.

Bank of Ireland already has a well established and highly respected leveraged finance teams operating in Stamford, Connecticut and Los Angeles, California. It has provided financing for private equity sponsored deals across the US and has been Lead Arranger on a number of high profile deals including: the recently announced $4.1B Convatec acquisition by Avista Capital and Nordic Capital; AEA Investors’ acquisition of Houghton International; Harbour Group’s acquisition of Tritex Corporation; and The Jordan Company’s acquisition of Haas TCM, Inc.

Ends

Contact:

Anne Mathews
Media Relations Manager
Group Corporate Communications
Bank of Ireland
Tel: 01 604 3836
Mobile: 087 246 0358

Carol Gregory
Marketing Manager
Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking
Tel: 01 604 4091

Note to Editors:

Bank of Ireland’s Acquisition Finance team was established in 1996 as a specialist acquisition/leveraged finance unit, engaged in arranging, underwriting and participating in acquisition/leveraged finance transactions in Ireland, the UK, Continental Europe and the US. The team is involved in all aspects of acquisition finance including management buy-outs and buy-ins, leveraged buy-outs, leveraged corporate acquisitions, public to privates, capital reconstructions and capital expansions. It produces innovative and value added solutions and the comprehensive product offering includes senior debt and mezzanine finance.