Trivest Affiliate Directed Electronics, Inc. Acquires Assets of ADS Technologies, Inc.

    MIAMI--Dec. 2001--Trivest, Inc., through its affiliate Directed Electronics, Inc. ("Directed"), today announced that it has acquired certain assets of ADS Technologies, Inc. ("ADST" or the "Company"), a privately held designer and marketer of automotive loudspeakers, amplifiers, and electronic components. Directed, with the No. 1 position in security and convenience systems for the automotive aftermarket, significantly expands its existing audio business with the addition of ADST.
    ADST markets its audio products under the Orion(R), a/d/s(R), and Precision Power(R) brand names. The Company's products are sold through mobile electronics and stereo shops, regional retailers and international distributors. With sales of approximately $18 million, ADST will continue to operate from its Phoenix-based headquarters.
    Jim Minarik, CEO of Directed, stated, "One of our key initiatives at Directed, in addition to maintaining our number one position in vehicle security and remote start, is to rapidly grow our audio segment. The acquisition of these well-known brands, along with many of the talented people who have played integral roles in their past success, will be the key components in our overall strategy to become a major player in the audio business in the years ahead."
    Troy D. Templeton, Trivest's Senior Managing Director, said, "After our July 2000 acquisition of Clifford Electronics, Inc., we were committed to a mobile electronics build-up around the Company's flagship Viper(R) and Clifford(R) brand names. The addition of ADST provides the Directed platform with world-class brands, a strong international presence and access to audio management talent. This transaction represents a critical step in our strategy to build our business both internally and externally through complementary add-on acquisitions."
    Directed, located in Vista, California, is the largest designer and marketer of consumer brand name automobile security and convenience systems with sales of approximately $120 million. Registered in the ISO 9001 & QS 900 International quality standards, Directed holds the No. 1 market share in the industry and markets its products under the Viper(R), Clifford(R), Python(R), Sidewinder(R), Avital(R) and AC Delco(R) brand names. In addition, Directed markets a complete line of automobile audio speaker and amplifiers as well as installation products.
    Trivest, Inc., a private investment firm, is a leading provider of equity for middle market corporate acquisitions, recapitalizations and growth capital financings. Since its founding in 1981, Trivest has sponsored more than 105 acquisitions and recapitalizations, totaling approximately $2.0 billion in value. Trivest recently closed its third institutional investment fund, Trivest Fund III, with $316.1 million in total commitments. For more information, please visit http://www.directed.com, http://www.adst.com, and http://www.trivest.com.