EMPORIA, KS – Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation announced today that it has acquired the assets of F3 Brands, the leading provider of oil drains, drain pans, lifting aids and automotive ramps. F3 is the non-fuel containment business of Blitz USA. The combination of F3 and Hopkins’ FloTool^® brand of oil change accessory products represents the most comprehensive assortment of do-it-yourself solutions in the fluid management category available.

“This acquisition improves our ability to provide a complete range of products for both our customers and do-it-yourself consumers across North America,” said Bradley T. Kraft, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hopkins. “Our FloTool brand of innovative, task-specific funnels makes fluid transfer easier for all of the different automotive, farm, marine, and power-sport applications. Adding F3’s product offering creates a complete line for the DIY’er,” added Kraft.

“We’re very excited to be a part of the Hopkins family of brands,” said Grant Kernan, President of F3 Brands. He added, “Hopkins has an outstanding reputation in the industry and the combination of our respective capabilities creates a one-stop shop for fluid management products.”

In addition to the oil change products, Hopkins acquired the innovative 2X4 Basics™ line of storage, organization and lawn and garden kits.

Hopkins will maintain the manufacturing facility located in Miami, OK. The oil change related products will be unified under the FloTool brand name and the automotive ramps will continue to bear the RhinoRamp^® mark.

This is the second acquisition by Hopkins in the fluid management category in the past six months. In October 2011, Hopkins acquired Mr. Funnel^®, a range of simple but effective portable fuel filters that remove water, dirt and debris from all types of fuels.

About Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation
Headquartered in Emporia, Kansas, Hopkins is a leading manufacturer and marketer of quality, innovative specialized towing products and functional accessories for the automotive and recreational vehicle aftermarkets. Hopkins markets its products under a number of well-recognized brand names, including: Flo-Tool^® Fluid Handling Products, Hopkins Towing Solutions^® Trailer Wiring & Brake Control Products, Sub-Zero^® Snow & Ice Tools, Carrand™ Vehicle Cleaning Products, Go Gear^® Mobile Solutions, nVISION^® Vehicle Safety Products, Vortex™ High Performance Mud Guards and Juice™ Booster Cables. For 59 years, the company has been guided by the philosophy that its products will deliver meaningful innovation, performance and value to the consumer. ONCAP invested in Hopkins in June 2011.

About ONCAP
ONCAP, in partnership with operating company management teams, invests in and builds shareholder value in North American small and mid-sized companies that are leaders in their defined market niche and possess meaningful acquisition and organic growth potential. ONCAP is the mid-market private equity platform of Onex, one of North America’s oldest and most successful investment firms committed to acquiring and building high-quality businesses in partnership with talented management teams. For more information on ONCAP, please visit www.oncap.com.

For more information:
Mike Williams
Vice President, Marketing
(620) 340-8403
mike.williams@hopkinsmfg.com

Bradley T. Kraft
President
(620) 340-8405
brad.kraft@hopkinsmfg.com