European Capital Receives Proceeds of euro 131 Million From the Spotless Group Exit

ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey, April 28, 2010 - European Capital Limited ("European Capital") announced today that it has
received proceeds of euro 131 million from the exit of the Spotless Group.

Created in 2005, Spotless Group is a pan-European group of top household
care brands that was majority owned by AXA Private Equity and employs
approximately 300 people. In November 2005, European Capital initially
provided euro 35 million to support AXA Private Equity's buyout of Eau
Ecarlate, a supplier of branded fabric and home care products to the French
retail market. European Capital's investment took the form of mezzanine bonds
and equity. Subsequent to this initial investment, European Capital invested
an additional euro 63 million in mezzanine bonds and equity to support
several add-on acquisitions by Spotless Group: the Household Products
Division of Guaber, a supplier of branded fabric, insecticides and home care
products in the Italian market, Punch Industries Group, an Irish manufacturer
of fabric, shoe and home care products, Eparcyl, a French provider of branded
biological activators for septic tanks and Dylon, a UK provider of branded
fabric dyes.

In April 2010, funds advised by BC Partners purchased Spotless Group.
This purchase led to the repayment of European Capital's mezzanine bonds and
to the sale of our shareholdings, generating proceeds of euro 131 million,
representing a 15% annual mezzanine rate of return and a 21% annual equity
rate of return. European Capital realized a euro 14 million equity gain from
the transaction.

"Spotless Group, the first mezzanine transaction of our Paris office, has
been a remarkable investment for European Capital," said Ira Wagner,
President of European Capital Financial Services. "European Capital has been
pleased to partner with AXA Private Equity in five transactions involving
Spotless Group, representing a cumulated investment of euro 98 million."

"We are pleased to have supported Spotless Group and its outstanding
management team in its ambitious pan-European growth strategy," said Stephane
Legrand, Director of European Capital Financial Services. "It exemplifies the
long term commitment we customarily make to our portfolio companies and
private equity partners."

"European Capital proved to be a reliable, hands-on and reactive
partner," said Philippe Poletti, AXA Private Equity Head of LBO Mid Cap
Funds. "We appreciated their ability to support Spotless Group in its
acquisitions in various European countries and in different currencies."

"European Capital's long term, sustained and expert support have been
instrumental in the achievement of Spotless Group's strategic growth plan,"
said Pierre Le Tanneur, Chairman and CEO of Spotless Group. "We valued their
contribution in helping us create this large pan-European household products
group with leading market positions in niche market segments across Europe."

For more information about European Capital's investment in the Spotless
Group, please go to
www.europeancapital.com/our_portfolio/companies/spotless_group.html.

ABOUT EUROPEAN CAPITAL

European Capital is an investment company for pan-European equity,
mezzanine and senior debt investments with euro 1.3 billion in assets under
management. It is managed by European Capital Financial Services (Guernsey)
Limited ("ECFSG" or the "Investment Manager"), a wholly-owned affiliate of
American Capital Ltd.

ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL

American Capital Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS) is a publicly traded private equity
firm and global asset manager with US$12.7 billion(1) in capital resources
under management. American Capital, both directly and through its asset
management business, originates, underwrites and manages investments in
middle market private equity, leveraged finance, real estate and structured
products. Founded in 1986, American Capital currently has eight offices in
the U.S., Europe and Asia. For further information, please refer to
www.americancapital.com.

ABOUT AXA PRIVATE EQUITY

Founded in 1996, AXA Private Equity, an AXA Investment Managers company,
is a diversified private equity firm with US$25 billion of assets managed or
advised and eight offices in Paris, Frankfurt, London, New York, Singapore,
Milan, Zurich and Vienna. For further information, please refer to
www.axaprivateequity.com.

ABOUT BC PARTNERS

BC Partners is a leading private equity firm with advised funds of euro
10 billion. Established in 1986, BC Partners has played an active role in
developing the European buy-out market for over 20 years. The firm operates
as an integrated team through offices in Europe and North America to acquire
and develop businesses and create value in partnership with management. Since
inception, BC Partners has invested in 71 companies with a total enterprise
value of approximately euro 66 billion.

(1) As of December 31, 2009.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The statements
regarding expected results of European Capital and/or American Capital are
subject to various factors and uncertainties, including the uncertainties
associated with the timing of transaction closings, changes in interest
rates, availability of transactions, changes in regional, national or
international economic conditions, or changes in the conditions of the
industries in which European Capital and/or American Capital has made
investments.

    Contact: European Capital Financial Services Limited
    Tel: + 33(0)1-40-68-06-66

    Ira Wagner, President
    Tristan Parisot, Managing Director
    Stephane Legrand, Director
    Guillaume Peroz, Investment Director

Ira Wagner, President; Tristan Parisot, Managing Director; Stephane Legrand, Director; Guillaume Peroz, Investment Director, all of European Capital Financial Services Limited,
+33-0-1-40-68-06-66