ACAS American Capital, Ltd.

PARIS, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- European Capital S.A. SICAR announced today that it and a wholly-owned subsidiary have invested an aggregate of euro 42 million ($54 million) in the common equity, convertible bonds and senior and junior mezzanine facilities of Batisante, a leading provider of health and safety services for multi-unit residential buildings. European Capital's investment supports 21 Centrale Partners' acquisition of Batisante. European Capital and BNP Paribas jointly arranged the acquisition financing. The Company's management is maintaining a significant equity investment. "We are very pleased to be working with 21 Centrale Partners, a leading private equity firm, to support its buyout of Batisante. European Capital's widening reputation as an outstanding provider of mezzanine financing led 21 Centrale to select us as their mezzanine provider and equity co-investor for this deal," said Ira Wagner, President of European Capital Financial Services Limited ("European Capital Services"), the sub-investment manager of European Capital. "Batisante, a highly profitable company that distinguishes itself from competitors with its diversified, low cost and superior quality service offerings, is a welcome addition to European Capital's growing portfolio of companies in an expanding range of sectors." European Capital and its subsidiary have invested euro 831 million ($1 billion) in 27 companies since its formation in August of 2005 and euro 655 million ($836 million) in 19 companies in 2006. For more information about European Capital's portfolio, go to http://www.europeancapital.com/our_portfolio/our_portfolio.cfm "Batisante, a leader in building health and safety services, has consistently grown its market share due to its very attractive business model," said Jean Eichenlaub, European Capital Managing Director. "With few competitors of its size offering its four distinct services, Batisante enjoys cross-selling advantages and efficiencies. Batisante, led by a highly successful and committed management team, has a stable and diversified customer base of over 1,000 building managers." "Continuing trends, most significantly the adoption of numerous stringent health, safety and building code regulations, will further Batisante's already robust growth," said Etienne Haubold, European Capital Vice President. "More rigorous requirements in testing for lead, plus inspections for termites and elevator, gas and fire safety, should continue to increase demand for Batisante's existing and evolving services." Batisante was founded as a pest inspection and control company in 1987 and then branched into fire safety, inspection and diagnosis and other businesses. Batisante's primary business is providing inspection and diagnostic services for asbestos, termites and parasites, professional risk, water quality, gas installation safety, paint lead content, elevator code compliance and energy efficiency. In addition, the Company provides pest control and fire safety services. Batisante's customers range from major real estate companies to smaller private building management companies responsible for common portions of residential buildings in France. "We are impressed by the quality of Batisante's management team and believe they have the potential to continue Batisante's growth as a consolidator of a fragmented market," said Gerard Pluvinet, 21 Centrale Partners Chairman of the Managing Board. "We enthusiastically welcome European Capital, with its impressive expertise in middle market mezzanine financing, as a new equity partner," said Antoine Pupin, Managing Partner of 21 Centrale Partners. "Its capital resources, financing flexibility and team of highly experienced investment professionals have proven invaluable in this transaction." ABOUT EUROPEAN CAPITAL European Capital is a buyout and mezzanine fund with capital resources of euro 1.1 billion ($1.3 billion). European Capital invests in and sponsors management and employee buyouts, invests in private equity buyouts and provides capital directly to private and mid-sized public companies. European Capital generally invests from euro 5 million to euro 125 million per transaction in equity, mezzanine debt and senior debt to fund growth, acquisitions and recapitalizations. 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, or Nathalie Faure Beaulieu or Simon Henderson at + 44 (0)20 7539 7000 in London, or visit the website at http://www.europeancapital.com/. ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL American Capital Strategies Ltd. (NASDAQ:ACAS), an affiliate of European Capital, is a publicly traded buyout and mezzanine fund with capital resources of $8.9 billion. American Capital invests in and sponsors management and employee buyouts, invests in private equity buyouts, provides capital directly to early stage and mature private and small public companies and through its asset management business is a manager of debt and equity investments in private companies and commercial loan obligations. American Capital provides senior debt, mezzanine debt and equity to fund growth, acquisitions, recapitalizations and securitizations. American Capital invests up to $350 million per company. ABOUT 21 CENTRALE PARTNERS 21 Centrale Partners is active in the French LBO Mid Market, and invests in industrial and services sectors. 21 Centrale Partners is part of the European private equity group 21 Investimenti, led by Alessandro Benetton and Gerard Pluvinet, which manages or advises around euro 1 billion of assets. Its portfolio companies include Averys, a leading European manufacturer of business storage systems based in France, Germany and Poland; Alltub, a leader in the production of packaging products for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and health care consumer goods markets; and Interflora, the well-known world leader in flower transmission and distribution. This press release contains forward-looking statements. The statements regarding expected results of American Capital Strategies 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 American Capital has made investments. DATASOURCE: European Capital CONTACT: Jean Eichenlaub, Managing Director, +33 (0)1 40 68 06 66, Etienne Haubold, Vice President, +33 (0)1 40 68 06 66, or Brian Maney, Director, Corporate Communications, +1-301-951-6122, all of European Capital Web site: http://www.europeancapital.com/ http://www.americancapital.com/

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