Clearview Capital, LLC

Clearview Capital Equity Fund II Reaches Final Close at $70,000,000
August 30, 2002

Clearview Capital, LLC today announced that it has concluded fund raising for Clearview Capital Equity Fund II. "By adding $30,000,000 in our second closing to the $40,000,000 we raised last December, we have positioned ourselves to add more leading companies to the three we acquired in Fund I," said Calvin A. Neider, co-managing partner of the firm. "Together with the co-investment appetite of our limited partners, the majority of whom are wealthy individuals and families, we are quite comfortable in our ability to acquire companies in our $20,000,000 to $150,000,000 sales target range." Clearview invested $39,000,000 from Clearview Capital Equity Fund I in three companies that now have total sales in excess of $250,000,000.

Clearview is an aggressive acquirer of North American manufacturing and service businesses known for partnering with management teams and providing strategic and operational advice while maintaining management autonomy. Although Clearview's principals have investment and managerial experience in a variety of industries, the firm is particularly interested in manufacturing, including food processing and plastics, industrial services, outsourcing, for-profit education and branded consumer products.

"With fund-raising now complete we're very happy to be able to focus exclusively on adding to and developing our portfolio," said James G. Andersen, co-managing partner. "It's our goal to add one or two strong platform companies to the portfolio every year." Clearview's current portfolio includes American Furniture Manufacturing, the fastest growing upholstered furniture company in the country, Compression Polymers Group, the world leader in thick, flat plastic extrusions, and VIA, Inc., an office seating manufacturer known for its quick turn capability.

Clearview expects to bring the expertise and network of its limited partners to bear on all aspects of its business from sourcing acquisitions to adding value to the portfolio. Clearview's limited partners include successful entrepreneurs, investors and industry executives with experience that spans banking, plastics, beverages, food processing, media, packaging, pharmaceuticals, general manufacturing, and a host of other disciplines. "When we combine the base of knowledge and expertise of our limited partners with the experience of Clearview's general partners and staff, we believe we have more to offer to the management of an acquired company than most private equity firms," says Andersen.