Golden Gate Forms Building Products Platform

Golden Gate Capital has entered into a partnership agreement with Kevin O’Meara, former president and COO of Builders FirstSource Inc., to explore strategic investments in the building products industry. No financial terms were disclosed for the effort, which will focus on opportunities in the manufacturing sector.

PRESS RELEASE

Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm with $9 billion under management, announced today that it has entered into a partnership with building products industry veteran Kevin O’Meara. Together, Golden Gate and O’Meara will explore a range of strategic investments in the building products industry, with emphasis on opportunities in the manufacturing sector.

Kevin O’Meara most recently served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Builders FirstSource, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of structural building materials. O’Meara co-founded Builders FirstSource in 1998 as its Chief Financial Officer, growing the company organically and through acquisition to over $2 billion in revenues at its peak. Prior to joining Builders FirstSource, O’Meara was the Vice President, Strategic Planning and Business Development at building materials manufacturer Fibreboard Corporation. O’Meara’s background also includes positions at management consulting firm, Bain & Company, as well as two private investment firms. O’Meara, a C.P.A., holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. (economics) and B.B.A. (accounting) from Southern Methodist University.

“We are excited about our partnership with Kevin. In the wake of the unprecedented decline in housing, we believe his blend of operating and strategic experience will make us uniquely qualified to capitalize on significant opportunities in the sector. The flexible, long-term nature of our fund will give us the unique ability to invest up and down the capital structure, including debt and equity securities. We are confident that our partnership with Kevin will enable Golden Gate Capital to become a leading investor in the building products industry,” said Rajeev Amara, a Managing Director of Golden Gate Capital.

Kevin O’Meara added, “Golden Gate has the capital and strategic vision necessary to take full advantage of the tremendous investment opportunities emerging from the current housing downturn. I am excited about this partnership and look forward to bringing my building products industry experience to Golden Gate’s team.”

About Golden Gate Capital

Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with approximately $9.0 billion of capital under management. Golden Gate is dedicated to partnering with world-class management teams to invest in change-intensive, growth businesses. The firm targets investments where there is a demonstrable opportunity to significantly enhance a company’s value. The principals of Golden Gate have a long and successful history of investing with management partners across a wide range of industries and transaction types, including leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures and spin-offs, build-ups and venture stage investing. For more information, visit www.goldengatecap.com.