Announcing the acquisition of Colby Manufacturing Corporation

July, 10, 2007

Lake Forest, IL (July 10, 2007) — RoundTable Healthcare Partners (“RoundTable”), an operating-oriented private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, announced today that its portfolio company Aspen Surgical Products, Inc. (“Aspen”) has acquired Colby Manufacturing Corporation ("Colby"). Colby, based outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a leading specialty producer of single-use infection control products serving primarily operating rooms and other critical care environments. Colby was founded in 1991 by owners Aaron Heintz and Kathy Feuerman, who will remain with the business to aid in the transition. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Colby is the fourth transaction by Aspen in 2007. Earlier this year Aspen acquired Ultracell Medical Technologies, Inc. (“Ultracell”), Precision Dynamics Corporation’s Skin Marker Product Line (“PDC”) and Entaco Limited’s Surgical Needle Business (“Entaco”). Ultracell, based in North Stonington, CT, specializes in the manufacturing of PVA and cellulose ENT and Ophthalmology products. PDC manufactures a variety of skin markers for use in hospital settings for positive identification of a patient, sample or specimen. Entaco manufactures surgical needles.

“Colby, as well as Ultracell, PDC and Entaco, are strategic and complementary acquisitions for Aspen,” said Joseph F. Damico, a Founding Partner of RoundTable and Chairman of the Board of Aspen. “Together they contribute to Aspen’s goal of building a surgical product platform with which to address the growing needs of the operating room. Furthermore, Colby improves Aspen’s sales reach and increases the depth of their product portfolio.”

“We are excited about the combination of Aspen and Colby,” said Greg Pritchard, Chief Executive Officer of Aspen. “Colby’s high quality products better position Aspen to assist customers in controlling excess fluid in the operating room. We are pleased to have worked with RoundTable on all four successful acquisitions.”

In addition to assisting Aspen management in the evaluation and execution of these acquisitions, RoundTable helped finance the transaction with an incremental investment from its $200 million captive subordinated debt fund (the “Capital Fund”), which makes fixed rate subordinated debt investments alongside the equity investments of RoundTable’s equity funds. Additional financing was provided through an amendment to Aspen’s senior credit facilities, led by GE Healthcare Financial Services with National City Bank as co-documentation agent and participant in the facility.

RoundTable’s investment strategy targets companies in the healthcare industry that fall within the expertise and experience of the firm’s operating and transaction principals. Aspen is RoundTable’s tenth platform investment and the third from RoundTable’s $500 million Fund II. Aspen represents the first investment from the Capital Fund.


Reference Media:


Announcing the acquisition of Colby Manufacturing Corporation