TA Associates' Portfolio Company Douglas Laboratories Acquired by Atrium Biotechnologies for Approximately $92 Million

Business Wire, Dec 8, 2005

BOSTON -- TA Associates, a leading private equity and buyout firm, today announced the sale of a portfolio company, Pittsburgh-based HVL Inc., whose main brand is Douglas Laboratories. Canadian-based Atrium Biotechnologies Inc. (TSX: ATB.sv) acquired Douglas for approximately $92 million. Atrium is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of value-added products for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, chemical and nutrition industries. TA Associates invested in HVL in 1997.

Founded in 1955, Douglas Laboratories directly markets some 960 products to approximately 10,000 healthcare practitioners, such as physicians, chiropractors, naturopaths, nutritionists and osteopaths. The company also sells supplements via distributors that work with health professionals. Douglas, which has approximately 250 employees, markets its products under various well-known brand names, including Douglas Laboratories, Advanced Medical Nutrition Incorporated (AMNI), Health Yourself and Intelligent Health. In addition to manufacturing and marketing its own exclusive brand name supplements, Douglas also designs and manufactures products for others in the industry.

"It has been a pleasure working with the experienced management team at Douglas," said Roger Kafker, a Managing Director at TA Associates, and a former member of HVL's Board of Directors.

Jacqueline C. Morby of TA Associates and a board member of HVL stated, "Douglas has experienced rapid growth and is recognized throughout the industry for exceptional quality and innovative products. We are confident the strategic combination of Atrium and Douglas will prove very beneficial to both companies and their customers."

"We are excited to join Atrium and continue our mission of providing the highest quality nutritional products and exceptional customer service," said Doug Lioon, Chief Executive Officer of HVL, Inc. "TA Associates has played an important role in our continued growth and in advising us in this transaction. It has truly been a great long-term partnership."

TA Associates has more than 37 years of investing experience, focusing on profitable, growth-oriented companies. The firm has extensive expertise in the consumer sector. Its prior investments in this sector include Jenny Craig, Lumber Liquidators, PowerBar, Smith Alarm Systems, Tempur-Pedic International and United Pet Group.

Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal counsel for TA Associates.

TA Associates

Founded in 1968, TA Associates is one of the largest and most experienced private equity firms. With offices in Boston, Menlo Park and London, the firm manages over $6 billion in capital and has invested in more than 360 companies. TA Associates provides growth equity capital, leveraged recapitalization and management buyout financing primarily for technology, financial and business services, consumer and healthcare businesses. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com.

Safe harbor statement under the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements made in connection with this release which are not historical fact, such as forward-looking statements concerning future financial performance and growth, involve risk and uncertainties. Such statements are subject to various factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements represent the best judgment of TA Associates as of the date of this release. TA Associates disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements.