European Capital and American Capital Jointly Invest US$85 Million in the Qioptiq Group

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

European Capital Limited (LSE: ECAS) ("European Capital"),
announced today that it has invested US$57 million in the Qioptiq
Group, a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of
high-precision optical solutions for the defence, medical and
industrial markets. The investment was led by the Paris office of
European Capital Financial Services Limited ("European Capital
Services") and supports Candover's recapitalisation of Qioptiq.
European Capital invested mezzanine debt in Qioptiq, which was
arranged and underwritten by The Royal Bank of Scotland and
Unicredit. In addition to the US$57 million investment by European
Capital, its affiliate American Capital Strategies, Ltd. (Nasdaq:
ACAS) ("American Capital") invested US$28 million in the transaction.

"European Capital successfully teamed up with American Capital to
provide this dollar denominated investment," said Ira Wagner,
President of European Capital Services. "The ability to fund in
Euros, Pounds Sterling and Dollars is another one of European
Capital's many competitive advantages."

"We are excited to partner with Candover, a leading private
equity fund in Europe," said Jean Eichenlaub, Regional Managing
Director Southern Europe of European Capital Services. "Qioptiq is
recognised as a worldwide technology and quality leader in the
high-precision optics market. Its exceptional management team has
demonstrated its ability to achieve outstanding growth, both
organically and through strategic acquisitions."

European Capital has invested over euro 1.6 billion (US$2.5
billion) in the last twelve months, euro 301 million (US$466 million)
year to date and euro 133 million (US$205 million) quarter to date.
European Capital has assisted in the refinance or syndication of euro
296 million (US$462 million) of senior debt for its portfolio
companies in the last twelve months, euro 604 million (US$943
million) inception to date and raised over euro 520 million (US$802
million) in capital and realised euro 115 million (US$177 million)
from investments. For more information about European Capital's
portfolio, go to www.EuropeanCapital.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html

"Qioptiq enjoys a superlative reputation for quality and
extremely strong customer loyalty in a sector with very high barriers
to entry," said Tristan Parisot, Director, European Capital Services.
"Qioptiq is poised for sustained and accelerated growth driven by the
continual need for higher-precision optical solutions in the defence,
biomedical and industrial instrumentation markets and by the
identification of promising acquisition opportunities."

"Qioptiq's strong research and development capabilities, its
highly qualified and loyal staff and its state of the art production
facilities enable it to respond quickly and efficiently to the unique
needs of its customers around the world," said Guillaume Peroz,
Manager, European Capital Services. "Qioptiq has successfully
established commanding market positions and commercial presences in
Europe, the U.S. and Asia."

Founded in 2005 as a spin-off of the high-tech optics division of
Thales, Qioptiq is a world leading developer of high precision
optical systems. Supported by Candover, Qioptiq expanded its
geographical reach and product offering through the acquisition of
Linos in 2006, a leading German manufacturer of high precision optics
for the European medical and industrial markets, and of Pointsource
in 2008, a leading UK-based producer of fiber optic laser solutions
used in biomedical and commercial applications. The Company has
operations in Europe, Asia and the U.S. and employs over 2,400 people
worldwide. Qioptiq's products are used in a broad array of industries
including defence, biomedical and industrial solutions. The Company
achieved 2007 revenues in excess of US$350 million, proforma of the
acquisition of Pointsource, completed in 2008.

"We highly value European Capital's strong commitment to Qioptiq
and its confidence in our vision and strategy for the Company," said
Benoit Bazire, CEO, Qioptiq. "We look forward to working together on
the future development of Qioptiq with Candover and European
Capital."

"European Capital has proven itself a dependable and speedy
partner," said Cyril Zaire, Director, Candover. "We hope to
strengthen our relationship with the dedicated team at European
Capital as we work together to grow Qioptiq and in support of future
opportunities."

ABOUT EUROPEAN CAPITAL

European Capital is a publicly traded investment company for
pan-European equity, mezzanine and senior debt investments with
current capital resources of approximately euro 2.8 billion (US$4.4
billion). It is managed by European Capital Financial Services
(Guernsey) Limited ("ECFSG"), an indirect wholly-owned affiliate of
American Capital Strategies Ltd. ECFSG, together with its wholly
owned subsidiary European Capital Financial Services Ltd ("ECFS"), is
referred to as the "Investment Manager". ECFS has offices in Paris,
London, Frankfurt and Madrid. As of 31 March 2008 the Investment
Manager had 44 investment professionals and 66 support staff.

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 primarily 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 recapitalisations.

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 debt and equity financing 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 and senior 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 debt and equity financing directly to
private and public companies, which is used for growth, acquisitions
or recapitalisations, 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
www.EuropeanCapital.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL

American Capital Strategies Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS) is the only
private equity fund and 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,
recapitalisations and securitisations. 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.

ABOUT CANDOVER

Candover is a leading private equity investment group in Europe.
Since 1980, Candover has invested in 135 buyouts totaling euro 42
billion. With offices in London, Madrid, Milan and Paris, Candover
has invested in eleven European countries. Over the last two years,
European Capital's London office supported Candover's acquisitions of
Ferretti, Capital Safety and Hilding Anders.

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.americancapital.com
http://www.EuropeanCapital.com

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

Contact:
Jean Eichenlaub, Regional Managing Director Southern Europe, or
Tristan Parisot, Director, or Guillaume Peroz, Manager,
+33-(0)1-40-68-06-66, or Marie Bal, Communications Manager,
+33-(0)1-40-68-68-66, all of European Capital Limited