กรุงเทพฯ--23 ส.ค.--Asian Banker Bank of America Corporation announced it has made an investment in Countrywide Financial Corporation, the largest mortgage lender in the United States. Bank of America will invest $2 billion in the form of a non-voting convertible preferred security yielding 7.25 percent annually. The security can be converted into common stock at $18 per share. "We believe that in the current turmoil the stock market has been underestimating the value in Countrywide's operations and assets," said Kenneth D. Lewis, Bank of America chairman and chief executive officer. "This investment reflects our confidence in their business and recognizes the importance of the company in providing home financing across the country. We hope this investment will be a step toward a return to more normal liquidity in the mortgage markets. Countrywide has a strong mortgage origination business and it services the mortgages of one in seven American households." -- www.theasianbanker.com (August 23 2007)--