European Capital Invests Euro 28 Million in International Electronics and Engineering

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

ECAS S.a.r.l, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of European
Capital Limited (LSE: ECAS) ("European Capital"), announced today
that it has invested euro 28 million in International Electronics and
Engineering S.A. ("IEE"), a leading and innovative developer of
safety-critical sensing solutions for the automotive industry. The
investment supports Apax Partners' recapitalization of IEE. ECAS
S.a.r.l invested mezzanine debt in IEE, which was arranged and
underwritten by Allied Irish Banks.

"We are excited to once again work with Apax Partners, a leading
private equity firm," said Jean Eichenlaub, Southern Europe Regional
Managing Director, European Capital Financial Services Limited
("European Capital Services"). "Apax's expertise in technology and
its history with IEE make this a promising investment. We look
forward to helping IEE, the leading player in a specialized sensing
systems market, in its development."

In the first quarter of 2008, European Capital invested a total
of euro 140 million in six 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. European Capital has assisted in the
refinance or syndication of more than euro 297 million of senior debt
for its portfolio companies in the last twelve months.

For more information about European Capital's portfolio, go to
www.EuropeanCapital.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html

"IEE has a proven track record and strong customer relationships
with all major car manufacturers," said Stephane Legrand, Director,
European Capital Services. "The market for IEE's products continues
to grow as automotive safety regulations tighten across the world. As
an innovator and first-mover in its market, IEE is in an excellent
position to improve its market share in both the U.S. and Europe."

"IEE's history of developing innovative applications for the car
safety industry and growing its market share, as well as its
impressive financial record and long-term contractual agreements with
OEMs, are strong indicators of IEE's future growth potential," said
Olivia Reveilliez, Manager, European Capital Services. "IEE's state
of the art technological development centers contribute to its
specialized expertise."

IEE is a world leading innovative developer of specialized
sensing systems. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Luxembourg, the
Company has operations in Europe, the U.S. and Asia and employs over
1,200 people worldwide. IEE is a global leader in automotive safety
sensing systems for occupant detection and classification. The
Company offers solutions for pedestrian protection and is developing
sensing systems for advanced driver assistance applications and for
active safety systems. IEE also develops smart input systems for car
interiors. Its LuSense business unit develops and markets sensing
solutions for consumer electronics such as mobile phones and MP3
players. LuSense also develops foot pressure sensing mats for medical
applications. IEE is entering into markets such as Public and
Commercial Infrastructure, Automation and Logistics and Medical and
Healthcare with unique sensing solutions for people counting, luggage
classification, parcel detection and patient surveillance.

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. 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 Jean Eichenlaub at
+33-(0)-1-40-68-06-66 in Paris, Nathalie Faure Beaulieu at
+44-(0)-20-7539-7000 in London, 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
www.EuropeanCapital.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL

American Capital Strategies Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS), with US$19
billion in capital resources under management, is an affiliate of
European Capital and a member of the S&P 500. It is the largest U.S.
publicly traded private equity fund and the largest publicly traded
alternative asset managers. 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.

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.

Web site: http://www.europeancapital.com
http://www.americancapital.com

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

Contact:
Stephane Legrand, Director, or Olivia Reveilliez, Manager,
+33-(0)-1-40-68-06-66, or Marie Bal, Communications Manager,
+33-(0)-1-40-68-68-66, all of European Capital Financial Services
Limited


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