DLJ Merchant Banking Partners completes acquisition of Total Safety U.S., Inc.

December 8, 2006

DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, a private equity investment affiliate of Credit Suisse, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Total Safety U.S., Inc. (“Total Safety” or the “Company”) from H.I.G. Capital LLC.  Total Safety is the leading outsourced provider of mission-critical safety services and equipment to the refining, petrochemical, upstream and general industrial markets.  Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Total Safety serves a diverse global customer base either on-site or through one of its 27 regional centers.  The Company combines a comprehensive suite of safety products for sale or rent with a range of value added services to offer facilities a single outsourced solution for their safety needs.  The Company’s primary products include respiratory protection equipment, gas detection and monitoring devices, fire suppression equipment and general training services.  Within each of the product lines, the Company provides a variety of services including repair, inspection and preventative maintenance that improve safety compliance levels.  The Company, with approximately $110 million in annual sales, has recently accelerated its growth profile through geographic expansion and strategic acquisitions.  Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. 

Total Safety U.S., Inc. was formed in December of 1994 to serve the safety needs of the oil and gas industry worldwide.  Over several years, the Company transformed itself through internal growth and acquisitions to become the industry leader in a comprehensive array of safety services in a variety of end markets.  Shortly after the Company acquired Well Safe, Inc. in April 2004, a new management team was put in place to execute a growth strategy.  Under the management team’s leadership, the Company has expanded the breadth of its product and service offerings and its geographic reach with the goal of transforming Total Safety into the premier global provider of integrated safety strategies and solutions for hazardous environments.

“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the current management team of Total Safety to continue to expand the Company’s footprint.” said Susan Schnabel, a partner at DLJ Merchant Banking Partners.  “As the leading provider of outsourced safety services, Total Safety is uniquely positioned in the marketplace with significant growth opportunities going forward.”

“DLJ Merchant Banking is an ideal partner for Total Safety as we continue to grow our Company both organically and through acquisitions.  The entire Total Safety team looks forward to continuing our recent momentum and stands committed to ensuring the safe wellbeing of workers worldwide” said David Fanta, CEO of Total Safety. 

About Total Safety

Total Safety, based in Houston, Texas, is the world’s leading global provider of integrated safety strategies and the products necessary to support them—offering solutions such as safety training, turnaround safety support, fire services and engineered system design.   Total Safety has the people, programs, and processes to deliver the industry’s best safety equipment and services tailored to your specific business needs. From refining and petrochemical facilities to offshore drilling platforms, Total Safety provides the equipment and support you need to keep your people safe and your operations profitable. With more than 40 locations worldwide from Africa to the Americas, Total Safety stands committed to ensuring the safe wellbeing of workers worldwide.  Please visit www.totalsafety.com for more information.

About DLJ Merchant Banking Partners

DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (DLJMB) is a leading private equity investor that has a 21-year record of investing in leveraged buyouts and related transactions across a broad range of industries. DLJMB, with offices in New York, London and Los Angeles, is part of Credit Suisse's Alternative Investments business ("AI"), one of the largest alternative asset managers in the world with more than $108 billion of assets under management. AI asset management activities are comprised of a diverse family of funds, including private equity, leveraged buyouts, mezzanine, real estate, secondary funds and fund of funds, as well as the businesses covering hedge funds (both direct and fund of funds), leveraged loan and collateralized debt obligation investment programs, core real estate funds, and quantitative investment and volatility management products.

About Credit Suisse

As one of the world's leading banks, Credit Suisse provides its clients with investment banking, private banking and asset management services worldwide. Credit Suisse offers advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients globally, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is active in over 50 countries and employs approximately 40,000 people. Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group, is a leading global financial services company headquartered in Zurich. Credit Suisse Group's registered shares (CSGN) are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com

In its asset management business, Credit Suisse offers products across the full spectrum of investment classes, ranging from equities, fixed income, and multiple asset-class products to alternative investments such as real estate, hedge funds, private equity and volatility management. Credit Suisse's asset management business manages portfolios, mutual funds, and other investment vehicles for a broad spectrum of clients ranging from governments, institutions, and corporations to private individuals. With offices focused on asset management in 18 countries, Credit Suisse's asset management business is operated as a globally integrated network to deliver the bank's best investment ideas and capabilities to clients around the world.

Contact:

Total Safety U.S., Inc.

Michael J. Boling, Chief Financial Officer

Phone:  713.353.7100