European Capital Invests US$25 Million in Groupe Unipex

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

European Capital Limited (LSE: ECAS) ("European Capital"),
announced today that its subsidiary ECAS S.a.r.l. has invested US$25
million in Groupe Unipex (formerly Atrium Innovations' active
ingredients and specialty chemicals division), a global firm
specializing in the manufacture and distribution of active
ingredients, specialty and base chemicals for the cosmetic,
pharmaceutical, specialty and industrial chemical and nutrition
industries. The investment was led by the Paris office of European
Capital Financial Services Limited ("European Capital Financial
Services") and supports AXA Private Equity's acquisition of Groupe
Unipex alongside management. ECAS S.a.r.l. has arranged and
underwritten the mezzanine bonds for this transaction.

"We are excited to partner again with AXA Private Equity, a
leading private equity fund in Europe," said Jean Eichenlaub,
Regional Managing Director Southern Europe, European Capital
Financial Services. "Groupe Unipex's distribution business benefits
from strong barriers to entry in diversified and growing niche end
markets. The Company is led by an excellent and ambitious management
team and has established longstanding relationships with top tier
brands owners."

European Capital has invested over euro 1.4 billion (US$2.2
billion) in the last twelve months, euro 318 million (US$494
million) year to date and euro 149 million (US$231 million) quarter
to date. European Capital has assisted in the refinance or
syndication of euro 84 million (US$130 million) of senior debt for
its portfolio companies in the last twelve months and euro 607
million (US$942 million) inception to date. For more information
about European Capital's portfolio, go to
www.EuropeanCapital.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html.

"Groupe Unipex also owns a portfolio of proprietary products
businesses, which offer attractive growth and profitability
prospects," said Etienne Haubold, Director, European Capital
Financial Services. "Groupe Unipex has a strong pipeline of products
for the fast growing anti-aging and skin care markets."

"Groupe Unipex is clearly positioned towards value-added
specialty ingredients as opposed to commodities," said Alexandre
Bruyelle, Manager, European Capital Financial Services. "Since
end-products have mid- to long-term lifecycles and because customers
do not tend to substitute key ingredients, revenues are recurring in
nature."

Groupe Unipex's sales force has longstanding relationships with
leading brand owners for whom it offers a broad product offering and
a wide range of R&D, technical, regulatory and after-market support
services. Portfolio ingredients are either sourced with exclusive
agreements from external suppliers or proprietary active ingredients
that have been developed, acquired or in-licensed. Groupe Unipex
works in a diversified range of growing niche markets within the
cosmetics, pharmaceutical, nutrition and specialty chemicals
industries.

"The management team of Groupe Unipex is very pleased to partner
with AXA Private Equity and European Capital and is looking forward
to expanding the business further with them," said Charles Boulanger,
CEO, Groupe Unipex.

"Management plans to double the size of the Company in the next
five years, mainly in Europe and in North America, through dynamic
organic growth and a focused acquisition strategy," said Eric
Neuplanche, Managing Director, AXA Private Equity. "We rely on
European Capital's demonstrated experience to support the ambitious
development plan of Groupe Unipex."

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 2.4 billion (US$3.8 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

With US$21 billion in capital resources under management(1),
American Capital is the only private equity fund and the largest
alternative asset management company in the S&P 500. 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.

ABOUT GROUPE UNIPEX

Groupe Unipex specializes in the development, manufacture, and
distribution of active ingredients and specialty chemicals for
world-class producers in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, specialty
chemical, consumer and nutrition industries. Groupe Unipex is also
active in the areas of cosmetovigilance and consumer testing through
its cosmetics evaluation services. Its distribution and marketing
network serves more than 50 countries in North America, Europe and
Asia and boasts over 150 employees in five offices in North America
and Europe. Additional information regarding Groupe Unipex is
available at www.unipex.com.

ABOUT AXA PRIVATE EQUITY

AXA Private Equity offers investors a broad selection of high
performance funds for every market segment: Buyout, Expansion
Capital, Venture Capital, Co-investments, Infrastructure, Mezzanine,
Primary, Early Secondary and Secondary Funds of Funds. The firm
manages and/or advises on more than US$22 billion of funds on behalf
of leading international investors. In 2005, European Capital has
invested in mezzanine and equity alongside AXA Private Equity in the
Spotless Group (Eau Ecarlate), the French market leader in laundry
and home cleaning products and three add-on acquisitions.

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.

(1) Capital resources under management is an estimate of
internally and externally managed assets and available capital
resources as of May 31, 2008 and does not include any fair value
adjustments subsequent to March 31, 2008.

Web site: http://www.EuropeanCapital.com
http://www.EuropeanCapital.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html
http://www.unipex.com

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

Contact:
Jean Eichenlaub, Regional Managing Director Southern Europe, or
Etienne Haubold, Director, or Stephane Legrand, Director, or
Alexandre Bruyelle, Manager, or Marie Bal, Communications Manager,
all of European Capital Limited, +33-1-40-68-06-66