ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey, May 6 /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 euro 28 million in International Electronics and Engineering S.A.
("IEE"), a leading and innovative developer of safety-critical sensing
solutions for the automotive industry. The investment supports Apax Partners'
recapitalization of IEE. ECAS S.a.r.l invested mezzanine debt in IEE, which
was arranged and underwritten by Allied Irish Banks.

"We are excited to once again work with Apax Partners, a leading private
equity firm," said Jean Eichenlaub, Southern Europe Regional Managing
Director, European Capital Financial Services Limited ("European Capital
Services"). "Apax's expertise in technology and its history with IEE make
this a promising investment. We look forward to helping IEE, the leading
player in a specialized sensing systems market, in its development."

In the first quarter of 2008, European Capital invested a total of euro
140 million in six companies, compared to euro 267 million invested in ten
companies in the first quarter of 2007. European Capital raised over euro 520
million in capital in the first quarter of 2008, compared to euro 47 million
raised in the first quarter of 2007 and euro 518 million in all of 2007. In
addition, European Capital realized euro 115 million from investments in the
first quarter of 2008, compared to euro 163 million in the first quarter of
2007 and euro 707 million in all of 2007; a portion of these funds are
available for reinvestment. European Capital has assisted in the refinance or
syndication of more than euro 297 million of senior debt for its portfolio
companies in the last twelve months.

For more information about European Capital's portfolio, go to
www.EuropeanCapital.com/our_portfolio/portfolio.html

"IEE has a proven track record and strong customer relationships with all
major car manufacturers," said Stephane Legrand, Director, European Capital
Services. "The market for IEE's products continues to grow as automotive
safety regulations tighten across the world. As an innovator and first-mover
in its market, IEE is in an excellent position to improve its market share in
both the U.S. and Europe."

"IEE's history of developing innovative applications for the car safety
industry and growing its market share, as well as its impressive financial
record and long-term contractual agreements with OEMs, are strong indicators
of IEE's future growth potential," said Olivia Reveilliez, Manager, European
Capital Services. "IEE's state of the art technological development centers
contribute to its specialized expertise."

IEE is a world leading innovative developer of specialized sensing
systems. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Luxembourg, the Company has
operations in Europe, the U.S. and Asia and employs over 1,200 people
worldwide. IEE is a global leader in automotive safety sensing systems for
occupant detection and classification. The Company offers solutions for
pedestrian protection and is developing sensing systems for advanced driver
assistance applications and for active safety systems. IEE also develops
smart input systems for car interiors. Its LuSense business unit develops and
markets sensing solutions for consumer electronics such as mobile phones and
MP3 players. LuSense also develops foot pressure sensing mats for medical
applications. IEE is entering into markets such as Public and Commercial
Infrastructure, Automation and Logistics and Medical and Healthcare with
unique sensing solutions for people counting, luggage classification, parcel
detection and patient surveillance.

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 2.8 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

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
fund and 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
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.americancapital.com