May 11, 2001 - Blackford Capital is proud to announce the acquisition of Quality Imaging Products, "QIP". Quality Imaging Products, based in Lake Forest, California, is a leading provider of remanufactured printer cartridges. Blackford Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on acquisitions of middle market manufacturing companies.

"Quality Imaging Products provides a strong base from which to build the leading remanufactured cartridge company in the imaging supplies industry," explains Martin Stein, President of Blackford Capital. "We are very impressed with the management and industry expertise of QIP President and Founder Jim Steiner, and we are looking forward to working with Mr. Steiner as QIP continues to grow."

Quality Imaging Products is a national leader in the field of toner cartridge and inkjet cartridge remanufacturing. QIP offers more than 100 different types of MICR, copier, and inkjet cartridges. QIP's 160 employees remanufacture 40,000 cartridges per month and stock an inventory of 20,000 finished goods for immediate shipment. The company has appeared on the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing private companies for four years in a row, having grown 800% during that time.

"Over the course of our eleven year history, we have established strong relationships with customers nationwide, " explains Jim Steiner, QIP President. "We want to continue to offer our customers the best products and services in the industry. We have a great company that is ready to take the lead in the industry, and we believe that with the help of Blackford Capital, we are now in an ideal position to achieve our goals."

Martin Stein will take a leave of absence from Blackford Capital to join QIP as the company's CEO and help lead the company's growth strategy. Prior to working with Blackford Capital, Mr. Stein worked as a consultant with Mercer Management Consulting where he developed growth strategies for Fortune 500 clients such as Sears, Dow Chemicals, Searle Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, and PacifiCare Health Systems. Mr. Stein has experience in a variety of different industries including plastic injection molding, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial equipment, packaging, retail, health care, and home furnishings. Previously, Mr. Stein worked as a consultant with the Council for Excellence in Government where he implemented private sector management strategies to improve the organizational efficiency of various executive branches of the federal government such as the Department of Labor, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Energy. Mr. Stein has published three Harvard Business School cases. He received his BA, with honors, from the University of Chicago, where he was a College Honors Scholar, and he received his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Blackford Capital is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on acquisitions of middle market manufacturing companies. Its Limited Partners include Tim Solso, Chairman and CEO of Cummins Engines, the world's largest manufacturer of diesel engines; Steve Wheelwright, former Senior Associate Dean, Harvard Business School; Adrian Slywotzky, Vice President, Mercer Management Consulting, and selected by IndustryWeek as one of the six most influential thinkers in business today along with Peter Drucker, Bill Gates, Andrew Grove, Michael Porter, and Jack Welch; and Michael O'Connell, Managing Director and President of Anhalt, O'Connell & Steffanci, an investment management firm with over $800 million under management.

For more information, visit www.qip.net, www.blackfordcapital.com, or contact Martin Stein at (949) 334-0374.