Palladium Equity Partners Announces Investment in ATC Panels

    NEW YORK, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Palladium Equity Partners, LLC today
 announced that it has made a significant minority investment in Aconcagua
 Holdings, owner of ATC Panels, a fast-growing producer of particleboard,
 low density fiberboard, medium density fiberboard, high density fiberboard
 and thermally fused melamine panels. ATC Panels employs approximately 600
 individuals throughout North America and is headquartered in Moncure, NC.
     David Perez, Managing Director of Palladium, said, "We are excited to
 partner with ATC Panels and its parent company Aconcagua Holdings, a proven
 industry leader which is bringing a high level of quality, innovation and
 service to the North American market. Their business strategy of
 modernizing mills to integrate them with value-added operations is unique
 and compelling," he added.
     "We are pleased to have established a partnership with such a reputable
 firm as Palladium Equity Partners," said Juan Obach, chairman of ATC
 Panels. "Their support reinforces our position as a preeminent player in
 the composite panels market and their involvement will allow us to continue
 to grow both organically and through select acquisitions in pursuit of our
 goal to be the premier supplier of value-added products."
     This is the third investment of Palladium Fund III, which closed in
 March 2006 with $520 million of committed capital and the second investment
 by Palladium to be announced this month.
     ATC Panels
     ATC Panels is owned by Aconcagua Holdings, named after the highest
 mountain in the western hemisphere, located in the Andes Mountains in Chile
 and Argentina. Aconcagua Holdings was formed in May 2004 and is owned by
 several Chilean investors, who until 2002 controlled the largest wood panel
 manufacturer in Latin America. With five acquisitions in the last year, the
 company is aggressively seeking acquisition opportunities in the North
 American wood panel industry. For more information about ATC Panels and its
 products, visit http://www.atcpanels.com.
     Palladium Equity Partners, LLC
     Palladium Equity Partners, LLC, based in New York, is an investment
 firm focusing on middle market companies in sectors including financial and
 business services, healthcare, retail, food, manufacturing and media.
 Palladium has a particular focus on companies well-positioned to capitalize
 on the fast-growing U.S. Hispanic market. The principals have invested more
 than $1 billion of equity in over 30 portfolio companies during the last
 two decades. Formed in 1997, Palladium currently has committed equity
 capital in excess of $750 million. For more information about Palladium
 Equity Partners, visit http://www.palladiumequity.com
     Contacts:
 
     ATC Panels                        Palladium Equity Partners
     Ben Arens / Allison Kurtz         David Lilly / Laura Walters
     L.C. Williams & Associates        Kekst
     312/565-3900 or 800/837-7123      212-521-4800
 
 

SOURCE Palladium Equity Partners, LLC