Three Cities Research, Inc. is a private equity firm formed in 1976 to invest capital in medium sized businesses operating in established industries. TCR is the investment advisor to several capital pools totaling in excess of $650 million. Presently, the firm is investing the $452 million Three Cities Funds III, which was organized in 1999.

TCR organizes transactions that involve a change of control and where the firm's involvement can lead to improvements in operating performance and accelerated growth. TCR and its investment partners are comfortable holding their equity interest in growing companies for extended periods. TCR focuses in particular on difficult to do deals, and is willing to undertake transactions requiring new management. TCR uses very little leverage, and prefers focusing on building value.

The firm is managed by a partnership that has broad experience in private equity investing. TCR's stability is evidenced in part by the long time our partners have worked together.

Harvest Partners is a private equity investment firm with a long track record of building value in businesses and generating attractive returns on investment. Harvest currently has approximately $1 billion of committed capital under management, with additional funds available from our investors.

Harvest focuses on the acquisition of profitable medium-size companies and the financing of growing businesses. Harvest seeks well-positioned manufacturing, specialty services, and value-added distribution companies with revenues of $100 to $500 million located in the United States and Western Europe. Harvest is well known for its expertise in structuring multinational buyouts.

Since 1981 Harvest has sponsored and provided equity financing to over 60 companies, many of which are now leaders in their industries.

As of June 30, 2002 Harvest has eleven portfolio companies with total sales of $3 billion employing 14,000 people in 30 countries.