PETMATE ANNOUNCES SALE OF COMPANY AND NAMES NEW CEO
Acquisition by Wind Point Partners and New CEO Makes Way for Growth

Arlington, TX (January 21, 2011) – Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc., d/b/a Petmate (“Petmate” or “the company”) announced today the sale of the company by Westar Capital to Wind Point Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm.

Petmate, headquartered in Arlington, Texas, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of innovative, high-quality, non-consumable pet products. The company will continue to operate under its current corporate umbrella after the acquisition.

Wind Point Partners specializes in middle market leveraged buy-outs and has completed over 80 acquisitions since 1983. The purchase of Petmate is Wind Point’s first in the pet product industry and will position Petmate for continued growth through additional acquisitions and new product development.

“Petmate has enjoyed a long, 50-year history in the pet products industry, dedicating our resources to providing consumers with the solutions they need to care for their pets. Looking to the future, this strong foundation will allow Petmate to benefit from the new growth opportunities that Wind Point Partners offers,” says Larry Rembold, CEO of Petmate. “I know the company is looking forward to an exciting period of high activity and rapid value creation under the new leadership of Wind Point Partners.”

Immediately following the sale of the company, Joe Messner will be taking over as CEO of Petmate.

Joe, who most recently held the position of President and CEO of Bushnell Outdoor Products from 1998 to 2008, has more than 20 years of experience in the consumer products industry. During his tenure at Bushnell, Joe was instrumental in accelerating growth and innovation through marketing-driven brand initiatives, new product development and acquisitions. Prior to that, Joe held key senior leadership positions at First Alert and Bausch & Lomb. 

“I am very happy to be joining the Petmate organization,” says Messner. “Petmate is an established brand built on a long history of superior customer service, diverse product offerings and a dedication to the health and happiness of pets. I see potential to build from this solid platform for further growth and diversification which will allow Petmate to continue to build strong customer partnerships and increase consumer loyalty. We are entering an exciting time in the history of Petmate, and I am glad for this opportunity to be a part of it.”

ABOUT PETMATE
Committed to the wellbeing of pets and the world they live in, Petmate is the trusted authority in smart solutions for devoted pet parents and discerning retailers alike. Sound advice and high quality products that are innovative, safe, practical and fun are Petmate hallmarks, as shown in our complete lines of: kennels, dog houses, bedding, litter maintenance, feeding and watering solutions, toys, collars and leads, and pet accessories. We at Petmate have pets too, and we are driven to create a healthy, happy life for your pets and ours. Petmate products can be found at pet supply stores nationwide. Call 1-877-PETMATE or visit www.petmate.com for more information.

ABOUT WIND POINT PARTNERS
Wind Point Partners is a private equity investment firm based in Chicago, Illinois with $2.5 billion of capital commitments in active funds. Wind Point focuses on partnering with top caliber CEOs to acquire middle market businesses with a clear path to value creation. Additional information about Wind Point is available at www.windpointpartners.com.