European Capital Invests 22 Million Euro in Global Design Technologies

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 22 million euro in Global Design Technologies
("GDT"), the leading world provider of swaged permanent fittings for
the aerospace industry. The investment was led by the Paris office of
European Capital Financial Services Limited ("European Capital
Services"), the sub-investment manager of European Capital. European
Capital's investment supports the buyout of GDT by Bridgepoint
Capital SAS ("Bridgepoint") and takes the form of the purchase of a
second lien facility.

"We are delighted to be investing in Bridgepoint's buyout of GDT,
a world leading supplier of aerospace components," said Jean
Eichenlaub, Managing Director of European Capital Services Paris
branch. "This is the first time that European Capital Services' Paris
office has worked with Bridgepoint, a pre-eminent European private
equity sponsor. We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding
partnership."

"GDT is the market leading supplier of swaged permanent fittings
for the aerospace industry, an attractive market secured by strong
intellectual property protections, extensive certification
requirements, and sole sourcing preferences," said Jacques Pancrazi,
European Capital Services Paris branch Director. "At the same time,
GDT has responded to the cyclicality of the aerospace industry by
successfully diversifying into the US power market."

"The Company has longstanding relationships with its major
customers resulting from its consistent high quality and customer
satisfaction," said Alexandre Bruyelle, European Capital Services
Paris branch Manager. "Anticipated synergies between the French and
U.S. entities such as consolidation of purchasing, capacity sharing
and lean manufacturing, are likely to improve already excellent
margins while selective acquisition opportunities promise to further
increase value."

Founded in 2005 when Deutsch Metal Components of the US and
Permaswage of France were combined, GDT is the world's leading
manufacturer of swaged permanent fitting systems for rigid tubing and
pipes used on aircraft for the transport of hydraulic fluids, fuel,
oxygen and pneumatic air. GDT designs, manufactures and sells swaged
permanent fittings, the tooling required to install the fittings and
other related products. The Company also sells permanent fittings and
tooling to US utilities for distribution bars, cabling and grounding
applications in power sub-stations. GDT sells directly and through
distributors. Its major customers include Airbus, the US Government,
Lockheed Martin and Boeing as well as four out of the top five U.S.
utility companies. Headquartered in Paris, France, the Company has
manufacturing facilities in Gardena, CA, and Les Clayes-sous-Bois,
France. It has more than 600 employees.

ABOUT EUROPEAN CAPITAL

European Capital is a publicly traded company for pan-European
equity, mezzanine and senior debt investments with capital resources
of approximately 2.3 billion euro (US$3.2 billion). 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 10 million euro and 500 million
euro per transaction in equity, mezzanine debt and senior debt to
fund growth, acquisitions and recapitalizations.

European Capital has invested over 1.7 billion euro (US$2.4
billion) in the last twelve months, 1.4 billion euro (US$1.9 billion)
year to date and 425 million euro (US$601 million) quarter to date.
For more information about European Capital's portfolio, go to
http://www.ECAS.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html .

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 or Simon
Henderson at + 44-(0)20-7539-7000 in London, Robert von Finckenstein
at +49-(0)69-7171-2970 in Frankfurt, or Luis Felipe Castellanos at
+34-91-745-99-63 in Madrid, or visit the website at
http://www.EuropeanCapital.com .

ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL

American Capital Strategies Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS) is an affiliate of
European Capital and the only alternative asset management company
that is a member of the S&P 500. With US$16 billion in assets under
management(1), including in externally managed funds, American
Capital is the largest U.S. publicly traded private equity fund and
one of 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 5 million euro to 500 million euro per company in
Europe.

ABOUT BRIDGEPOINT CAPITAL

Bridgepoint is a leading European private equity manager with a
25-year track record of investing in European companies valued up to
1 billion euro through a network of offices in the UK, France,
Germany, Italy, the Nordic region, Poland and Spain. In the last ten
years, Bridgepoint has completed more than 150 transactions with a
total value of 18 billion euro. Bridgepoint's portfolio companies in
France include Alain Afflelou, a French and Spanish optical retailer;
Groupe Moniteur, the leading French provider of services and
information to the construction, public works and architectural
industries; and Moliflor, a casino operator.

(1) Assets Under Management is an estimate of internally and
externally managed assets as of August 31, 2007 and does not include
any fair value adjustments subsequent to June 30, 2007.

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:
Jean Eichenlaub, Managing Director, Jacques Pancrazi, Director,
Alexandre Bruyelle, Manager, or Marie Bal, Communication Manager, all
of European Capital Limited, +33-(0)1-40-68-06-66


	hier anmelden...