TricorBraun Acquires Columbia Packaging

Columbia Packaging has become a part of TricorBraun, with immediate access to all of TricorBraun’s broad and flexible resources.

07/08/08 TricorBraun and Columbia Packaging jointly announce TricorBraun’s acquisition of Columbia Packaging, a Vancouver, British Columbia-based Canadian distributor of rigid packaging.

Columbia Packaging was founded in 1995 by Larry West servicing various beverage industries and has since expanded to specialize in packaging for other markets, such as healthcare and sports nutrition. “We are excited about the growth potential of our business in Canada and the additional options and resources that will be available to our customers and personnel as we join the TricorBraun team,” said Mr. West, President and CEO of Columbia Packaging.

TricorBraun, founded in 1902 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is the leading full service specialty distributor of outsourced rigid packaging solutions in North America, with over 32 North American and international locations. TricorBraun provides a broad assortment of rigid packaging containers and related components including plastic and glass bottles, sprayers, dispensers, closures, pails, tubes, drums and other associated items as well as comprehensive package design, engineering and development services, global sourcing and logistics management. TricorBraun’s customers participate in a broad range of end-markets including personal care, healthcare, household and industrial chemicals, food and wine.

Columbia Packaging has become a part of TricorBraun, with immediate access to all of TricorBraun’s broad and flexible resources including:

* 32 local and international locations to deliver personal, professional and efficient customer service
* full service design, engineering and mold production centers in Chicago, Buffalo, Los Angeles and Guangzhou China
* industry leading global sourcing
* industry leading logistics management
* proprietary packaging database featuring more than 32,000 items
* more than 3,500 TricorBraun molds
* operationally excellent organization structure that benefits customers and suppliers alike

“We are very pleased to welcome Columbia to the TricorBraun family,” said Keith J. Strope, President and Chief Executive Officer of TricorBraun. “Our two companies share a common culture and a passion for innovation in the packaging business. Together, we are committed to providing our customers a comprehensive array of rigid packaging options designed and engineered to deliver success. We are excited about the opportunity to team with Columbia Packaging to grow our collective business in Canada.”

TricorBraun’s ownership group is led by an affiliate of Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC, a Chicago-based private equity firm, management and Goldman Sachs. Financing for the acquisition was provided by TricorBraun’s bank group led by GE Capital Corporation.