Transamerican Auto Parts Acquires Four Wheel Drive Hardware

Transamerican Auto Parts Company, LLC and its affiliatedentities (collectively, "Transamerican Auto Parts") are pleased toannounce the acquisition of Four Wheel Drive Hardware, LLC ("FourWheel Drive Hardware" or the "Company"). Founded in 1977, theColumbiana, Ohio based Four Wheel Drive Hardware is a leading catalogand internet retailer of Jeep aftermarket parts and accessories. Inaddition, through its Performance Products division, Four Wheel DriveHardware is a leader in Porsche, Mercedes, Toyota truck and domestictruck aftermarket parts and accessories. Terms of the transaction werenot disclosed.

Senior management of Four Wheel Drive Hardware, led by PresidentBarry Ryan, will continue to lead the Company after the acquisition.

"Transamerican Auto Parts is one of the largest automotiveaftermarket parts and accessories companies in the country, and withthe addition of Four Wheel Drive Hardware and Performance Products,they will now be a leader in the automotive aftermarket for Jeeps,Porsches, and Mercedes," said Barry Ryan, President of Four WheelDrive Hardware.

"Our entire organization is excited about this acquisition," saidGreg Adler, CEO of Transamerican Auto Parts. "Four Wheel DriveHardware has done a terrific job in the catalog and internet Jeepbusiness. Transamerican started in the Jeep business in 1961, and thisacquisition brings us back to our roots. We see tremendous synergiesbetween both of our great organizations, and we look forward to takingadvantage of these opportunities."

"Four Wheel Drive Hardware is a great fit with Transamerican AutoParts," said Bo Arlander, Senior Managing Director of BSMB, the leadinvestor that provided the equity for the transaction. "We lookforward to growing the businesses and achieving synergies in thiscombination."

Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal counsel to Transamerican AutoParts.

About Transamerican Auto Parts:

Founded in the fall of 1961, Transamerican Auto Parts is a leadingparticipant in aftermarket parts and accessories for light trucks,Jeeps, sport utility vehicles, and other four-wheel drive vehicles.The Company sells tires and wheels, suspension systems, drivetrains,accessories, and other products (i) to consumers through 45 retaillocations in 17 states under the 4 Wheel Parts Performance Centersname, (ii) to more than 4,000 wholesale customers, including specialtyauto parts stores, tire and wheel stores, repair and garage shops,internet retailers and jobbers under the Transamerican Wholesale name,and (iii) to consumers and businesses through mail order and internetoperations under the 4 Wheel Parts Wholesalers name. The Company alsooperates a manufacturing business that sells tires and wheels,suspension systems and accessories under the Pro Comp brand name, boththrough the Company's own distribution channels as well as throughthird parties. Transamerican Auto Parts is currently majority-owned byBear Stearns Merchant Banking, the private equity affiliate of TheBear Stearns Companies, Inc. (NYSE: BSC).

About Four Wheel Drive Hardware:

Founded in 1977 in Columbiana, Ohio, Four Wheel Drive Hardware isa leading catalog and internet retailer of Jeep, Porsche, Mercedes,Toyota truck and domestic truck aftermarket parts and accessories. TheCompany offers Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokeeaftermarket parts and accessories through its "4WD" catalogs andwebsite (www.4WD.com), and the Company offers Porsche, Mercedes,Toyota truck and domestic truck parts and accessories through its"Performance Products" catalogs and website(www.performanceproducts.com).

About BSMB:

BSMB, the private equity affiliate of The Bear Stearns Companies,Inc., (NYSE: BSC) invests private equity capital in compellingleveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and growth capital opportunitiesalongside superior management teams. BSMB is currently investing its$1.5 billion institutional private equity fund. Since its inception in1997, BSMB has been an investor in over 40 portfolio companies acrossa broad range of industries. In addition to Transamerican Auto Parts,recent investments by BSMB include: ACA Capital Holdings, Balducci's,CamelBak Products, Cavalry Investments, New York & Company, Reddy Ice,Seven For All Mankind, Stuart Weitzman and Vitamin Shoppe. Moreinformation about BSMB can be found at www.bsmb.com.