Chicago – Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC (“CHS”) announced that Kranson Holdings, Inc. (dba “TricorBraun”) acquired Ryco Packaging Corporation (“Ryco”), a nationwide rigid packaging distributor based in Omaha, Nebraska. Kranson Holdings, Inc. is a portfolio investment of CHS Private Equity V LP, a $1.3 billion investment fund formed in 2005.

Ryco was founded in 1985 by Carl Riekes, continuing three generations and over a century of family tradition in the packaging industry. Ryco distributes a broad range of plastic, glass and metal containers, closures and related components. The company supplies rigid packaging to several end markets including food, animal health, household and industrial chemicals, personal care and healthcare.

Carl Riekes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ryco said, “We are excited about the additional options and resources that will be available to our customers and personnel as we join the TricorBraun team.”

Founded in 1902, TricorBraun is the leading full-service specialty distributor of outsourced rigid packaging solutions in North America. TricorBraun provides a comprehensive offering of more than 32,000 rigid packaging containers and related components as well as comprehensive package design, engineering and development services, global sourcing and logistics management. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, TricorBraun leverages the capabilities of a global network of over 600 suppliers to meet the unique packaging requirements of a diversified base of 9,000 customers. The company serves a variety of end markets including personal care, healthcare, household and industrial chemicals, food and wine. For additional information about TricorBraun, please refer to the company’s website at www.tricorbraun.com.

Ryco has become part of TricorBraun and has access to TricorBraun’s broad and flexible resources including:

• Three full-service design and engineering centers
• Industry-leading global sourcing
• Superior logistics management
• Over 3,500 TricorBraun molds
• Proprietary packaging database featuring more than 32,000 items
• Operationally excellent organizational structure that benefits customers
   and suppliers alike

Keith J. Strope, President and Chief Executive Officer of TricorBraun, said, “We are very pleased to welcome Ryco to the TricorBraun family. Our companies share a common culture and a long, rich history in the packaging business. Together, we are committed to providing our customers with a comprehensive array of rigid packaging options engineered to deliver success.”

The acquisition of Ryco represents TricorBraun’s ninth strategic acquisition since 1996 and second in 2007. Ryco fits well with TricorBraun’s strategy of acquiring select packaging distribution businesses with attractive growth potential. Management at TricorBraun and CHS remain highly active in identifying additional acquisition candidates to add to the TricorBraun platform.

CHS is a Chicago-based private equity firm specializing in private equity investments and recapitalizations of middle market companies in partnership with management. CHS has formed five private equity funds and currently manages over $2.5 billion of capital. For additional information about CHS, please refer to the firm’s website at www.chsonline.com.