ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Dura Automotive Systems and Global Automotive Systems have received national certification as a Women's Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Women's Business Enterprise Council – Great Lakes Certification Committee, a regional certifying partner of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

"The certification of Dura Automotive Systems and Global Automotive Systems represents two of the largest companies certified by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council over the past 12 years," said Michelle Richards, president of the Women's Business Enterprise Council – Great Lakes.

WBENC's national standard of certification implemented by the Great Lakes Certification Committee is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and a site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women. According to the WBENC, by including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier/vendor diversity programs.

"We are pleased to receive this important certification by WBENC and we are honored to be a part of this great organization that promotes and fosters growth for women-owned businesses," said Lynn Tilton, founder and CEO of Patriarch Partners, whose investment funds are majority owners of Dura Automotive Systems and Global Automotive Systems. "We look forward to building a more expansive relationship with WBENC as we certify more of our portfolio companies and build our own diversity programs within our businesses, creating a network of depth and breadth."

DURA is the largest independent designer and manufacturer of driver control systems and a leading supplier of structure and trim products for the global automotive industry. Global Automotive Systems is a leading manufacturer of metal formed automotive products.

About Dura Automotive Systems:

DURA, a Patriarch Partners company, is a leading independent designer and manufacturer of driver control systems, seating control systems, glass systems, engineered assemblies, structural door modules and exterior trim systems for the global automotive industry.  DURA markets its automotive products to every North American, Asian and European original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and to many leading Tier 1 automotive suppliers. DURA is headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan with more than 10,000 employees in 33 manufacturing operations in 17 countries. Information about DURA and its products is available on the internet at www.duraauto.com.

About Global Automotive Systems:

Global Automotive Systems LLC (GAS) is a manufacturer of metal-formed automotive products. Core capabilities include stamping, roll forming and stretch bending as well as the manufacture of tubular products and welded assemblies. Headquartered in suburban Detroit, the Company was formed in 2005 to acquire certain assets of several bankrupt companies, resulting in a business with 7 North American facilities and over 900 employees. www.globalautosys.com.

About Patriarch Partners, LLC:

Patriarch Partners is a vertically integrated distressed private equity firm with robust in-house operational turnaround expertise. Patriarch Partners, LLC ("Patriarch"), founded in 2000, was built upon a proprietary patented financial model designed to manage and monetize the distressed portfolios of financial institutions. Patriarch has since evolved into a global investment firm that concentrates on direct investments in stressed and distressed businesses, managing funds with over $7 billion of equity and secured loan assets with equity investments in more than 70 companies, and controlling interests in approximately two-thirds of these.  For more information, please visit www.patriarchpartners.com.

About WBENC:

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council is the nation's largest third party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC is a resource for the more than 700 US companies and government agencies that rely on WBENC's certification as an integral part of their supplier diversity programs. www.wbenc.org/.

SOURCE Patriarch Partners

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