Portsmouth, NH -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/17/2010 -- Baird Capital Partners (BCP), the U.S.-based buyout fund of Baird Private Equity, announced today that its portfolio company Backyard Discovery has acquired Sheds USA, a leading provider of wooden backyard sheds in North America. The acquisition combines the No. 1 market share leader in the wooden play set industry with the No. 3 market share leader in the wooden backyard shed industry, creating the global leader in the wooden backyard products industry. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1994 and based in Portsmouth, N.H., Sheds USA distributes, installs and services garden, tool, and storage sheds sold primarily to Home Depot, Costco, BJ's, and Sears. The company's differentiated customer service-focused business model has enabled Sheds USA to serve as Home Depot’s sole wooden sheds supplier in the Northeastern United States for over ten years.

Backyard Discovery was established in 2007 through the BCP-backed merger of Backyard Adventures and Leisure Time Products, two longtime leading outdoor recreation product providers. Based in Pittsburg, Kansas, Backyard Discovery is one of the world's leading producers of wooden residential outdoor play sets and other backyard products under the following brand names: Create-N-Adventure™, Adventure Playsets™, Backyard Adventure™, Leisure Time Products™ and Backyard Builders™. Backyard Discovery products are sold through nationwide retailers including Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Toys-R-Us, BJ's, and through independent dealers across the country.

Sheds USA's customer service-focused business model, which is often touted as the best in the wooden products industry, is a strong fit with Backyard Discovery's customer-centric culture," said Ron Scripsick, CEO of Backyard Discovery. "This partnership will allow us to further expand our product set into the backyard market, and leverage both companies’ capabilities in developing the best products and customer service for the retail channel and end consumer."

About Baird Capital Partners
Baird Capital Partners, the U.S.- based buyout fund of Baird Private Equity , invests in lower middle-market companies in the business services, manufactured products and healthcare sectors. Established in 1989, Baird Capital Partners leverages its deep sector knowledge, experienced investment team and extensive operating resources to drive value in its portfolio companies. Baird Capital Partners is supported by operating resources in China (Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai) and India (Bangalore), focused on facilitating and executing Asia sourcing, manufacturing and distribution strategies for Baird Capital Partners' portfolio companies. For more information, please visit http://www.bairdcapitalpartners.com

Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group of Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird), makes venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments in smaller, high potential companies in the United States through Baird Venture Partners and Baird Capital Partners, in China through Baird Capital Partners Asia, and in Europe through Baird Capital Partners Europe. Baird Private Equity has a global team of investment and operations professionals in nine offices across the United States, Europe and Asia, including a team of operating professionals in Asia. Baird Private Equity and its affiliates have raised and managed over $2.7 billion in capital and invested in more than 240 companies since the 1980s. For more information, please visit http://www.bairdcapitalpartners.com

About Sheds USA
Based in Portsmouth, N.H., Sheds USA builds a wide range of solid, reliable storage shed solutions including backyard wooden and vinyl storages sheds that feature Smart Siding, pine siding and even cedar. More than 150,000 customers use Sheds USA storage solutions for everything from storage sheds , car garages , tool sheds , heavy equipment storage, garden hutches ,potting sheds and even barns.

Sheds USA has an impeccable reputation for top-notch service and reliability and the company stands by every claim it makes. Every Sheds USA shed includes delivery of materials and a team of expert installers for the seamless installation of your shed. We stand by our quality workmanship, standards and materials with the best warranty in the industry. No one makes affording, owning and maintaining a quality shed easier than Sheds USA. For more information, please visit us on the Web at http://www.shedsusa.com or reach us by phone at 800-441-8489.