European Capital Announces Departure of UK Managing Director

St. Peter Port, Guernsey (ots/PRNewswire) -

European Capital Financial Services Limited ("European Capital"),
the sub-investment manager of European Capital Limited (LSE: ECAS),
announced the departure of Simon Henderson, Managing Director, UK
Buyouts, effective May 1. Mr. Henderson is leaving the firm to pursue
time with his family.

"We thank Simon for his efforts on behalf of European Capital and
we wish him well in the future," said Ira Wagner, President, European
Capital Financial Services Limited. "We are continuing to develop
both our buyout as well as our mezzanine operations in Europe under
the strong and experienced leadership of our Regional Managing
Directors -- Jean Eichenlaub for Southern Europe and Nathalie Faure
Beaulieu for the UK and Northern Europe. The UK Buyouts team, now led
by Giles Cheek and Alex Morey, will report to Nathalie Faure Beaulieu
in London. We continue to be an active investor in Europe -- having
completed four add-on acquisitions for our buyout portfolio in the
first quarter of this year as well as five mezzanine investments."

"It has been tremendously rewarding building a new franchise over
the last three years and firmly establishing European Capital on the
map for mid market buyouts in the UK," said Mr. Henderson. "My
departure will allow others to flourish and the firm will go from
strength to strength. The One Stop Buyout(TM) model is an outstanding
concept and a very powerful differentiator."

In the first quarter of 2008, European Capital invested a total
of euro 142 million in five companies, compared to euro 267 million
invested in ten companies in the first quarter of 2007. European
Capital raised over euro 520 million in capital in the first quarter
of 2008, compared to euro 47 million raised in the first quarter of
2007 and euro 518 million in all of 2007. In addition, European
Capital realized euro 115 million from investments in the first
quarter of 2008, compared to euro 163 million in the first quarter of
2007 and euro 707 million in all of 2007; a portion of these funds
are available for reinvestment.

ABOUT EUROPEAN CAPITAL

European Capital is a publicly traded investment company for
pan-European equity, mezzanine and senior debt investments with
capital resources of approximately euro 2.8 billion (US$4.4 billion).
It is managed by European Capital Financial Services (Guernsey)
Limited ("ECFSG" or "the Investment Manager"), a wholly-owned
affiliate of American Capital Strategies, Ltd ("American Capital").

European Capital invests in and sponsors management and employee
buyouts, invests in private equity buyouts and provides capital
directly to private and public companies headquartered predominantly
in Europe. European Capital generally invests between euro 5 million
and euro 500 million per transaction in equity, mezzanine debt and
senior debt to fund growth, acquisitions and recapitalizations.

The investment objective of European Capital is to provide
investors with dividend income and the potential for share value
appreciation by investing in debt and equity investments in private
and public companies headquartered primarily in Europe. European
Capital seeks to achieve this through pursuing the following types of
investments:

European Capital One Stop Buyouts(TM)

Through our One Stop Buyouts(TM), European Capital provides
equity, mezzanine debt and senior debt as the lead investor in the
buyout of private and public companies.

Mezzanine Direct with Sponsors

European Capital provides one stop financing of subordinated debt
and equity for buyouts sponsored by private equity firms where
European Capital is either the sole or lead mezzanine debt investor.

Syndicated Mezzanine and Senior Debt

European Capital provides mezzanine financing for buyouts
sponsored by private equity firms where European Capital is neither
the sole nor lead mezzanine or senior debt investor.

Direct Investments

European Capital provides subordinated debt and equity financing
directly to private and public companies, which is used for growth,
acquisitions or recapitalizations, and investing in structured
finance vehicles.

Companies interested in learning more about European Capital's
flexible financing should contact Nathalie Faure Beaulieu at
+44-(0)20-7539-7000 in London, Jean Eichenlaub at
+33-(0)1-40-68-06-66 in Paris, Robert von Finckenstein at
+49-(0)-69-71-71-297-0 in Frankfurt, or Luis Felipe Castellanos at
+34-91-423-27-60 in Madrid, or visit the website at
http://www.EuropeanCapital.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL

American Capital is the only private equity fund and the largest
alternative asset management company that is a member of the S&P 500.
With US$19 billion in capital resources under management, American
Capital is the largest U.S. publicly traded alternative asset
manager. American Capital, both directly and through its global asset
management business, is an investor in management and employee
buyouts, private equity buyouts, and early stage and mature private
and public companies. American Capital provides senior debt,
mezzanine debt and equity to fund growth, acquisitions,
recapitalizations and securitizations. American Capital and its
affiliates invest from US$5 million to US$800 million per company in
North America and euro 5 million to euro 500 million per company in
Europe.

As of March 31, 2008, American Capital shareholders have enjoyed
a total return of 490% since the Company's IPO -- an annualized
return of 18%, assuming reinvestment of dividends. American Capital
has paid a total of US$2.3 billion in dividends and paid US$27.17
dividends per share since going public in August 1997 at US$15 per
share.

Companies interested in learning more about American Capital's
flexible financing should contact Mark Opel, Senior Vice President,
Business Development, at +1-800-248-9340, or visit
http://www.AmericanCapital.com or http://www.EuropeanCapital.com.

Performance data quoted above represents past performance of
American Capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results
and the investment return and principal value of an investment in
American Capital will likely fluctuate. Consequently, an investor's
shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original
cost. Additionally, American Capital's current performance may be
lower or higher than the performance data quoted above.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The
statements regarding expected results of 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 American Capital has made
investments.

Web site: http://www.AmericanCapital.com
http://www.EuropeanCapital.com

ots Originaltext: European Capital Financial Services Limited
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Ira Wagner, President, +44-20-7539-7000, or Brian Maney, Corporate
Communications, +1-301-951-6122, both of European Capital Financial
Services Limited; or Shona Prendergast, Penrose Public Relations,
+44-20-7786-4888, for European Capital Financial Services Limited


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