ACAS American Capital, Ltd.

Goldsmith Agio Helms is pleased to announce the completed sale of its client, NPC, Inc. ("NPC"), a New Hampshire-based manufacturer of rubber pipe to manhole connectors, to American Capital Strategies Ltd. (NASDAQ:ACAS). NPC was a portfolio company of The Riverside Company ("Riverside"). HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TRANSACTION Dale Stohr, Principal of American Capital, remarked, "NPC, the largest manufacturer of pipe to manhole connectors in the U.S., provides American Capital with a very attractive investment opportunity. We were attracted to the Company because of its leading position in a growing market." Randy Snyder, President of NPC said, "The timing of the transaction is excellent. NPC is entering a new phase of growth as our customers, primarily pre-cast concrete pipe manufacturers, are experiencing increased demand for our products as a result of the aging U.S. infrastructure." Bob Fitzsimmons, Managing Partner of Riverside noted, "We were delighted to own NPC for over 5 years and help take part in its growth during that period of time. We will miss the NPC management team and wish American Capital all our best in achieving a successful investment." Jerry Caruso, a managing director and partner at Goldsmith Agio Helms commented, "We are delighted to assist Riverside in this divestiture. The sale of NPC represents the 52nd successful transaction in our Plastics and Rubber Group and reinforces our position of the leading M&A firm in this industry segment." THE COMPANY NPC (www.npc.com) is the nation's largest manufacturer of rubber pipe to manhole connectors for sanitary and storm-sewer pipeline systems. The Company services pre-cast concrete manufacturers who primarily sell their products to municipalities. NPC's flexible connectors provide an essential and critical watertight seal between inlet and outlet pipes and concrete manholes. THE BUYER American Capital is a publicly traded buyout and mezzanine fund with capital resources of approximately $5.4 billion. American Capital invests in and sponsors management and employee buyouts, invests in private equity buyouts, and provides capital directly to private and small public companies. American Capital provides senior debt, mezzanine debt and equity to fund growth, acquisitions, and recapitalizations. THE SELLER The Riverside Company is the largest private equity firm focused on the small end of the middle market and is one the industry's most experienced leveraged buyout investors. Riverside specializes in premier companies with enterprise values of less than $100 million, and partners with strong management teams to build companies through acquisitions and value added growth. Since 1988, the firm has invested in 96 transactions with a total value of $2.1 billion, sales of $2 billion, EBITDA of $200 million and 10,000 employees. Its current portfolio numbers 31. ABOUT GOLDSMITH AGIO HELMS Goldsmith Agio Helms (www.agio.com) is one of the nation's leading investment banking firms providing financial advisory services to middle market businesses. The firm's services include mergers and acquisitions, private placements of debt and equity, distressed advisory and restructuring, and valuations and fairness opinions. The firm operates internationally from its offices in Minneapolis, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London.