News

August 2, 2002

Norwest Mezzanine Partners Invests $17.0 Million in Home Care Supply, Inc.

Norwest Mezzanine Partners invested $17.0 million of second-lein senior debt inHome Care Supply, Inc. (“HCS”), the largest privately held U.S. provider of home medical equipment and other home healthcare supplies to homebound and ambulatory patients.  HCS is the fifth largest provider nationwide, and is among the largest in the regions that it serves.  HCS management, along with Harvest Partners and Davis, Tuttle Venture Partners, formed HCS in early 1998 to build a leading company in the home healthcare supply industry.  HCS management believed that the combination of an extensive medical supply background, favorable industry characteristics, proven business execution skills, and a strong capital base would create a large, very profitable business with significant intrinsic value.

Harvest Partners served as the private equity sponsor on this transaction. Visitwww.harvpart.com for more information.

NMP Contact: Neal Sette, 612-215-1689, nsette@nmp.com

Norwest Equity Partners (NEP) is a leading middle market investment focused on partnering with business owners and building companies into industry leaders. With a reputation for quality investments and exceptional financial returns since 1961, NEP manages nearly $5 billion of capital through a series of equity and mezzanine funds. Offering creative and flexible transaction solutions through management buyouts, recapitalizations and growth financings, NEP seeks $30-$150 million equity investment opportunities for growing and profitable companies within the agriculture, applied technology, business services, consumer products and services, distribution, healthcare and industrial industry sectors. NEP is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota; please visit nep.com for more information.