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CATTERTON PARTNERS AND THE LANG COMPANIES FORM PARTNERSHIP
Multi-Million Dollar Catterton Investment Will Fuel Expansion of Social Expressions Brand

Greenwich, CT (November 20, 2003) -- Catterton Partners, a private equity firm, has established a partnership with Robert A. Lang and his family in the formation of a new entity which will consolidate the wholesale and retail assets of The Lang Companies. Lang is a leading consumer product family of brands based in Delafield, WI, that sells calendars, cards, home décor products and collectibles primarily through specialty retail stores.

“We are pleased to be Bob Lang’s partner. The Lang Brand is truly an innovative leader in the social expression and home décor industries. Bob Lang and his creative team are proven product developers who think in full merchandising concepts that address consumers’ tastes and preferences for high quality, design-driven functional products,” said J. Michael Chu, Managing Partner of Catterton Partners.

Lang founded the business in 1982; producing and selling calendars to specialty retailers. Lang has numerous proprietary relationships with world-renowned artists, who create signature Americana and folk oriented themes that are synonymous with the brand name. Today, Lang sells more than 4,000 products in the United States and Canada through specialty retailers as well as directly to the consumer.

“This investment, partnership and new business structure give us the capital and expertise to aggressively market and grow our paper, home décor and collectible businesses,” said Robert Lang, who will continue as Chief Executive Officer.

GLC Securities Corp., the broker-dealer affiliate of New York investment banking firm Gruppo, Levey & Co., was the financial adviser to Lang on the transaction.

Source: The Lang Companies