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Palladium Equity Partners, LLC Enters Into Tentative Agreement With Vehicle Lighting, Inc. to Sell Ownership of Guide Corporation's Parent Company

17 January 2001

Palladium Equity Partners, LLC Enters Into Tentative Agreement With Vehicle Lighting, Inc. to Sell Ownership of Guide Corporation's Parent Company

    PENDLETON, Ind., Jan. 17 Palladium Equity Partners, LLC
and Vehicle Lighting, Inc. announced today that the companies have entered
into a tentative agreement, under which Vehicle Lighting will acquire from
Palladium ownership of the parent company of Guide Corporation, North
America's leading supplier of exterior automotive lighting systems.  Terms of
the transaction were not disclosed.  The transaction is expected to be
completed in February 2001.
    Vehicle Lighting, Inc. is an entity established by B.N. Bahadur, one of
the founders and principals of BBK, Ltd., of Southfield, Mich.  BBK is one of
the nation's leading turnaround management and consulting firms.  Mr. Bahadur
owns several other automotive suppliers and has been a consultant to major
manufacturers and lending institutions in the industry for the past 25 years.
    Palladium Equity Partners, LLC is a private investment firm founded in
1997 by experienced operating executives and investment professionals.  Over
the last 15 years, the principals have invested $770 million in 24 companies
and generated $1.8 billion in returns. Currently, the firm manages over
$400 million of equity capital through Palladium Equity Partners II, L.P. and
co-investment agreements.  Palladium seeks to provide superior risk-adjusted
returns to its investors and to maintain the highest standards of excellence
and integrity.  Palladium's website is http://www.palladiumequity.com.
    Guide Corporation is North America's leading supplier of exterior
automotive lighting systems, including both forward and signal lighting.
Guide's manufacturing facilities are located in Anderson, Ind., Monroe, La.,
and Monterrey, Mexico.  The company's corporate offices and its Engineering
Technical Center are both located in Pendleton, Ind.  In addition, Guide
operates a Customer Support Center in Madison Heights, Mich.  Guide has
3,100 employees worldwide and recorded 1999 sales of approximately
$600 million.  For more information, visit the Company's website at
http://www.guidecorp.com.