European Capital Receives Proceeds of euro 66.8 Million from Three Exits

By European Capital Limited, PRNE
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey, January 13 - European Capital Limited ("European Capital") announced today that it has
received proceeds of euro 66.8 million from the exit of three portfolio
companies.

"We are pleased to announce the sale of MW Brands' senior subordinated
debt, the repayment of Orangina Schweppes' senior subordinated debt and the
repayment of Simple Health & Beauty's second lien, senior subordinated debt
and PIK loan," said Nathalie Faure Beaulieu, Regional Managing Director of
European Capital Financial Services.

MW BRANDS

The sale of euro 7.2 million of senior subordinated debt from MW Brands
represented a 14% annual rate of return. European Capital initially provided
funding to support the acquisition of MW Brands from Heinz in July 2006,
investing euro 6.1 million in senior subordinated debt alongside equity
sponsor Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking.

MW Brands is a producer of seafood, specializing in tuna based products
and also selling a comprehensive range of salmon, mackerel, sardines, seafood
spreads and other seafood products. The company's core brands include John
West
, Petit Navire, Parmentier and Mareblu, and its products are mainly sold
in the UK, France, Italy, Ireland and the Netherlands. The company is
headquartered in France.

For more information about European Capital's investment in MW Brands, go
to www.europeancapital.com/our_portfolio/companies/mw_brands.html.

ORANGINA SCHWEPPES

European Capital originally provided funding to support the
recapitalization of Orangina Schweppes in August 2006, investing euro 7.6
million
in senior subordinated debt alongside equity sponsors Lion Capital
and The Blackstone Group International. In November 2009, Suntory Holdings, a
Japanese beverage maker, purchased Orangina Schweppes. This purchase led to
the repayment of our senior subordinated debt, generating proceeds of euro
8.7 million
, representing a 12% annual rate of return on our original
investment.

Orangina Schweppes is a European group specialized in the manufacturing,
distribution and sale of soft drinks, with a strong presence in local
markets. The company's core brands include Orangina, Schweppes, Oasis, Trina,
Pulco and La Casera, and its products are sold in over 60 countries. The
company is headquartered in France and employs nearly 2,500 people.

For more information about European Capital's investment in Orangina
Schweppes, go to
www.europeancapital.com/our_portfolio/companies/orangina.html.

SIMPLE HEALTH & BEAUTY

European Capital originally provided funding to support the refinancing
of Simple Health & Beauty (formerly Accantia Health & Beauty) in June 2007,
investing 35 million pounds Sterling in second lien, subordinated debt and
PIK loan alongside equity sponsor Duke Street Capital. In December 2009,
Alberto Culver Business, a US based beauty business, purchased Simple Health
& Beauty. This purchase led to the repayment of our second lien, senior
subordinated debt and PIK loan, generating proceeds of 45 million pounds
Sterling
, representing a 14% annual rate of return on our original
investment.

Simple Health & Beauty is a skincare and toiletries business that owns
Simple, the UK's pre-eminent brand of skincare and toiletries products
developed especially for sensitive skin. The company is based in West
Midlands, UK
and its products are mainly sold in the UK and Republic of
Ireland
.

For more information about European Capital's investment in Simple Health
& Beauty, go to
www.europeancapital.com/our_portfolio/companies/accantia_health.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 is a publicly traded private equity firm and global
asset manager with US$12 billion 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.

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: +44-20-7539-7000

    Ira Wagner, President
    Nathalie Faure Beaulieu, Regional Managing Director, Northern Europe
    Matthew Gordon Clark, Director, UK Mezzanine
    Jerry Tebbutt, Director, UK Mezzanine

Ira Wagner, President, Nathalie Faure Beaulieu, Regional Managing Director, Northern Europe, Matthew Gordon Clark, Director, UK Mezzanine, Jerry Tebbutt, Director, UK Mezzanine, +44-20-7539-7000, all of European Capital Financial Services Limited

YOUR VIEW POINT
NAME : (REQUIRED)
MAIL : (REQUIRED)
will not be displayed
WEBSITE : (OPTIONAL)
YOUR
COMMENT :