European Capital's Sponsor Finance Group Invests €43 Million In Three New Portfolio Companies

USA - English

• USA - Nederlands
• USA - Deutsch
• USA - Français

ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- European Capital Limited ("European Capital") announced today that it has made investments totalling €43 million in three new companies in the second quarter of 2012. The investments were led by the London and Paris offices of European Capital Financial Services Limited ("European Capital Services"), the sub-investment manager of European Capital.

"We are very pleased to partner with preeminent European private equity firms and financial institutions to add three leading middle market companies to European Capital's diversified portfolio of investments," declared Ira Wagner, President of European Capital Services. "Despite the volatility in the market, we believe that European Capital's ability to provide flexible financing solutions ranging from mezzanine and unitranche to majority and minority equity investments as well as our multi-currency capabilities make European Capital an attractive investment partner.  We remain focused on originating high quality investments across Europe."

Iceland Food Group Limited
In April 2012, European Capital invested €5 million of senior term debt in Iceland Food Group Limited ("Iceland") supporting the company's management buyout led by a group of lenders, including Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Nomura and RBS.    

Founded in 1970, Iceland is the UK's leading retail specialist offering frozen, chilled and grocery products in the value-end of the food retail market.  The company has over 800 stores located throughout the UK.

The FDS Group

In May 2012, European Capital invested 26 million Euro equivalents in the multi-currency (including USD, CAD$ and EUR) unitranche bonds supporting The FDS Group's refinancing, which occurred in November 2011, and the acquisition of Canadian company AGS Group, Inc. ("AGS"), which occurred in January 2012.

The FDS Group, majority owned by Eurazeo PME, is an international market leader in the manufacturing and distribution of high-end sealing solutions, serving oil and gas industries, power generation (including nuclear), chemical and petrochemical industries, in both emerging and developed markets throughout the world. The company has its own manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Germany and China, in addition to an extensive network of licensed manufacturers.

AGS Group, Inc. is a leading supplier of gaskets, fasteners, pipe supports and instrumentation to the fast-growing Canadian market.

Financial Services Company

In May 2012, European Capital invested 10 million pounds sterling in a unitranche package supporting the refinancing of a financial services business.  Two other banks also invested in the refinancing. 

The company is majority owned by a UK mid-market private equity firm and is the market leader in its field in the UK.

Since its inception, European Capital has invested €3.4 billion in 100 companies in Europe.  For more information on European Capital's portfolio, go to http://www.europeancapital.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html. 

ABOUT EUROPEAN CAPITAL

European Capital is an investment company for pan-European equity, mezzanine and senior debt investments with €1.2 billion in assets under management. European Capital is a wholly-owned affiliate of American Capital, Ltd. ("American Capital"). It is managed by European Capital Financial Services (Guernsey), a wholly-owned affiliate of American Capital, and its subsidiary and sub‑investment manager, European Capital Services. European Capital Services has offices in London and Paris. As of 31 March 2012, European Capital Services had 5 investment teams with 20 investment professionals and employed 26 support staff. European Capital and its affiliates will consider senior and mezzanine debt investment opportunities from 10 million to 40 million in either euros or sterling and up to 100 million for One Stop Buyouts®. For further information, please refer to www.EuropeanCapital.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL

American Capital is a publicly traded private equity firm and global asset manager.  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.  American Capital has $101 billion in assets under management and seven offices in the U.S. and Europe. American Capital and its affiliates will consider investment opportunities up to $500 million.  For further information, please refer to www.AmericanCapital.com.

Contact:
Nathalie Faure-Beaulieu +44 (0)20 7539 7000
Tristan Parisot + 33 (0)1 40 68 06 66

SOURCE European Capital Limited