Mesirow Financial Advises Innovative Folding Carton Company in its Sale to Multi Packaging Solutions

CHICAGO, April 8, 2008 — Mesirow Financial, Inc. announced today that it acted as exclusive financial advisor to Innovative Folding Carton Company, Inc. ("Innovative"), a portfolio company of ICV Capital Partners, LLC ("ICV") and 21st Century Group, LLC ("21st Century"), in its sale to Multi Packaging Solutions, Inc. ("MPS"), a portfolio company of BSMB.

Mesirow Financial conducted a targeted marketing process, involving a limited number of prospective strategic and financial buyers, and marks the firm's fourth pharmaceutical packaging deal in two years. The process generated significant interest and an attractive value for the business was obtained. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Mesirow Financial played an integral role in executing a targeted marketing process, identifying a strong group of potential buyers that would allow Innovative to continue to grow," said Shawn Smith, CEO of Innovative. "The Mesirow Financial team worked closely with Innovative and ICV in this transaction and, in MPS, found a strategic partner with a national footprint whose strengths and capabilities are highly complementary to those at Innovative."

Based in South Plainfield, NJ, Innovative is a leading manufacturer of high-quality folding cartons, promotional packaging and digital labels for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, health & beauty, medical device and cosmetics industries. Innovative's cGMP certified facility in South Plainfield, NJ, features offset, flexographic and digital printing technologies and a full range of finishing equipment. More information on Innovative can be found at www.innovativecps.com.

ICV Capital Partners, LLC is a private investment firm located in New York, NY with over $440 million in committed capital focused on acquiring leading lower middle-market companies. Founded in 1998, ICV partners with management teams and ownership groups to fund buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, going private transactions and growth capital investments. Additional information can be found at www.icvcapital.com.

Co-founded in 1998 by John L. Ware and the partners of HM Capital Partners (formerly Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, Incorporated), 21st Century Group, LLC is a Dallas, Texas, based private equity firm focused on creating value by employing a prudent investment discipline to generate long term, consistent returns. With $160 million of committed capital, 21st Century makes equity investments in companies within industry sectors such as basic manufacturing, distribution, service, and media. In addition to capital, the partners of 21st Century provide significant operational experience and financial expertise to the management partners who operate each portfolio company. Additional information can be found at www.21stcenturygroupfund.com.

BSMB invests private equity capital in compelling buyouts, recapitalizations and growth capital opportunities alongside superior management teams. Since its formation in 1997, BSMB has been an investor in 67 portfolio companies. BSMB manages over $5 billion of private equity capital. More information about BSMB is available at www.bsmb.com.

Mesirow Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. Founded in 1937, it is an independent, employee-owned firm with $31.4 billion in assets under management and more than 1,100 employees in 30 locations across the country and in London. With expertise in Investment Management, Investment Services, Insurance Services, Investment Banking, Consulting and Real Estate, Mesirow Financial strives to meet the financial needs of institutions, public sector entities, corporations and individuals and was named one of Chicago's Best Places to Work by Crain's Chicago Business in 2008. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, the firm posted $451 million in revenue, with more than $238 million in capital. For more information about Mesirow Financial, visit its Web site at www.mesirowfinancial.com.

For more information, contact: Julie Liedtke, Mesirow Financial, 312-595-7902.

 

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