Desso’s New Owner Has Plans for Growth

Amsterdam, The Netherlands--June 4, 2007--In a move designed to consolidate and expand the activities of Desso Sports Systems in the North American market, the connection between Desso and Armstrong World Industries was ended in April. In its place a majority shareholding in the Company has been acquired by NPM Capital N.V., an Amsterdam, Netherlands, based investment firm.

Newly appointed Desso CEO Stef Kranendijk states: "At Desso Sports Systems we are proud of our reputation as the leading manufacturer and installer of high quality sports surfaces. This latest move means we have the resources and commitment to build even further on our strong position in Europe and the North America market. It also allows us to focus even more diligently on developing our market leading technology and innovation for the benefit of our current and future US customers."

Desso Sports Systems manufactures and markets the patented Desso GrassMaster reinforced natural grass system and a range of 100% synthetic turf products for football, soccer, hockey and multi-purpose use. Customers include NFL teams such as the Denver Broncos, GreenBay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Denver Broncos Desso GrassMaster pitch was awarded "Pitch of The Year" by the STMA in 2005.

Active in the sports surfaces business for over 25 years, Desso has been a constant innovator - for example, pioneering and introducing the use of monofilament fibers for infill systems in the early 1990s to provide superior performance, durability and longevity.

Unlike many other players in the sports surfaces business, who claim to steer the value chain of synthetic turf, Desso is a vertically integrated company with a wide range of expertise and experience. The company is involved in every aspect of R&D, fiber extrusion and turf production, installation and maintenance.

NPM Capital focuses on Dutch companies in general and in particular on companies that have a strong growth strategy and that are led by enterprising managers. In many instances these companies are either already market leader in a certain (niche) market or have the potential to attain this position. NPM Capital is a division of SHV Holdings. SHV employs 35,000 people and sales in 2006 were 15.1 billion Euro. For more information about NPM Capital, please visit the website www.npm-capital.com.

Desso Sports Systems is the European leader in sports surfaces. The company manufactures over 30 million square feet of synthetic turf for football, tennis, hockey, rugby and American Football yearly. The Belgian based headquarters include a production plant of synthetic turf (R&D, yarn extrusion, tufting & finishing). Since its start 27 years ago, over 500 million square foot of Desso synthetic turf has been installed. Desso Sports Systems is represented in the USA by Surface Solutions North America.

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