ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey, February 18 /PRNewswire/ --
European Capital Limited (LSE: ECAS) ("European Capital") announced today that ECAS 2007-1 Loan BV ("ECAS 2007-1 BV"), an entity consolidated by European Capital, has issued euro 267 million of AAA-rated secured floating rate notes, backed by euro 457 million in loans originated by European Capital subsidiaries. The notes were rated by Standard & Poors. Affiliates of Deutsche Bank AG acted as the arranger and underwriter. The addition of the euro 267 million secured floating rate notes increases European Capital's capital resources to euro 2.5 billion.
European Capital has the following committed debt facilities: EUROPEAN CAPITAL COMMITTED DEBT FACILITIES Total Commitment Multicurrency Secured RLOC euro 900,000,000 Secured Term Notes euro 267,000,000 Multicurrency Unsecured RLOC euro 150,000,000 Unsecured Private Placements March 2007 US$37,500,000 January 2007 US$37,500,000 December 2006 euro 52,000,000 TOTAL COMMITTED DEBT FACILITIES(i) euro 1,421,000,000 (i) US Dollar facilities converted to Euros at 31 January 2008 exchange rate.
"We are happy to have been able to arrange this financing in the current market, bringing European Capital's capital resources to euro 2.5 billion. The securitisation provides European Capital with additional capital, a major competitive advantage especially at a time when European Capital can capitalize on the widening spreads in the leveraged loan market," said John Hooker, Vice President, Debt Capital Markets, American Capital. "This securitisation also makes a very positive statement about the quality of European Capital's assets. Particularly in this environment, Deutsche Bank AG and the rating agency were very focused on credit quality and underwrote every asset in the pool."
"As banks pull back lending, the number and quality of investment opportunities for European Capital are expected to increase," said Tom McHale, Director, European Capital Financial Services Limited. "In particular, our One Stop Buyouts(TM) have become even more important to sellers of companies in this uncertain financing environment. Furthermore, our ability to underwrite mezzanine tranches is in demand from other private equity sponsors, especially because we can provide certainty of close. We are now in an even greater position to meet the financing needs of middle market companies."
European Capital has invested approximately euro 2.9 billion in 79 companies since its formation in August of 2005 and approximately euro 1.6 billion in 49 companies in 2007. For more information about European Capital's portfolio, go to http://www.ecas.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html.
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 2.5 billion (US$3.7 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 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 Simon Henderson or 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), 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 firm 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, 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.
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.ecas.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html
