B-Line Acquired by Lone Star Funds

B-Line LLC, a leading specialty finance firm based in Seattle, announced today that it has been acquired by Lone Star Funds of Dallas, TX. The transaction closed Tuesday, September 19, 2006. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Lone Star acquired 100 percent of B-Line's equity from Golden Gate Capital, which acquired its stake in the company in 2003, B-Line's founder Bill Weinstein — who will be leaving the company — and other minority investors.

"All of us at B-Line are very excited by this partnership with Lone Star Funds, whose debt expertise is a logical and strategic complement to our business," Ed Barton, B-Line's Chief Financial Officer said. "We will use that expertise and additional resources to strengthen our core offering of purchasing and servicing bankrupt consumer receivables and to solidify our leadership in the industry."

According to Len Allen, Head of Lone Star Funds U.S. Operations, "Lone Star believes in and is committed to B-Line's business model and strategy and intends to work with the company and allocate the necessary resources to ensure its continued growth and success."

B-Line's senior management and staff will remain with the company.

About B-Line

B-Line, LLC ("B-Line") is a leading specialty finance firm in the United States. Since its founding in 1997, B-Line has purchased and serviced more than $45 billion of bankruptcy receivables. B-Line purchases secured and unsecured consumer debt included in both chapter 7 and chapter 13 cases throughout the nation.