First Floor, Dorey Court FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
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EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED |
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| 30 Sep 2007 |
31 Dec 2006 | Q3 2007 Versus Q4 2006 |
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| (unaudited) | € | % | |||
| Assets | |||||
| Investments at fair value (Cost basis of € 1,909,041, and € 1,072,938 respectively) | 1,900,947 | 1,077,709 | 823,238 | 76% | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 20,571 | 85,932 | (65,361) | -76% | |
| Restricted cash | 17,404 | 12,913 | 4,491 | 35% | |
| Other | 11,616 | 18,031 | (6,415) | -36% | |
| Total assets | 1,950,538 | 1,194,585 | 755,953 | 63% | |
| Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity | |||||
| Debt (maturing within one year €106,951 and €nil respectively) | 877,246 | 422,414 | 454,832 | 108% | |
| Due to European Capital Financial Services (Guernsey) Limited | 3,776 | 3,568 | 208 | 6% | |
| Accrued dividends payable | 14,087 | 21,750 | (7,663) | -35% | |
| Other | 2,863 | 2,699 | 164 | 6% | |
| Total liabilities | 897,972 | 450,431 | 447,541 | 99% | |
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||
| Shareholders' equity: | |||||
| Ordinary shares (nil par value, authorised to issue unlimited number of shares, 108,364 issued and outstanding) | 1,030,371 | – | 1,030,371 | NM | |
| Preference shares (nil par value, authorised to issue unlimited number of shares, 75,000 issued and outstanding) | – | 737,696 | (737,696) | -100% | |
| Undistributed net realised earnings | 22,966 | 1,261 | 21,705 | NM | |
| Net foreign currency (depreciation) appreciation | (14,609) | 332 | (14,941) | NM | |
| Net appreciation of investments | 13,838 | 5,638 | 8,200 | 145% | |
| Other reserve | – | (773) | 773 | 100% | |
| Total shareholders' equity | 1,052,566 | 744,154 | 308,412 | 41% | |
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | 1,950,538 | 1,194,585 | 755,953 | 63% | |
EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED |
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| Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||
| 30 September 2007 | 30 September 2006 | 30 September 2007 Versus 2006 | 30 September 2007 | 30 September 2006 | 30 September 2007 Versus 2006 | |||
| € | % | € | % | OPERATING INCOME: | ||||
| Interest and dividend income | 45,294 | 20,361 | 24,933 | 122% | 119,256 | 39,904 | 79,352 | 199% |
| Fee and other income | 1,076 | 7,959 | (6,883) | -86% | 6,103 | 8,979 | (2,876) | -32% |
| Total operating income | 46,370 | 28,320 | 18,050 | 64% | 125,359 | 48,883 | 76,476 | 156% |
| OPERATING EXPENSES: | ||||||||
| Interest | 12,066 | 5,103 | 6,963 | 136% | 27,270 | 8,999 | 18,271 | 203% |
| Management fee and reimbursed expenses | 8,945 | 7,971 | 974 | 12% | 29,684 | 21,041 | 8,643 | 41% |
| Incentive fee | – | – | – | NM | 5,115 | – | 5,115 | NM |
| General and administrative | 2,213 | 898 | 1,315 | 146% | 5,573 | 2,351 | 3,222 | 137% |
| Total operating expenses | 23,224 | 13,972 | 9,252 | 66% | 67,642 | 32,391 | 35,251 | 109% |
| OPERATING INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 23,416 | 14,348 | 8,798 | 61% | 57,717 | 16,492 | 41,225 | 250% |
| (Provision) benefit for income taxes | (12) | (69) | 57 | 83% | (191) | (69) | (122) | -177% |
| NET OPERATING INCOME | 23,134 | 14,279 | 8,855 | 62% | 57,526 | 16,423 | 41,103 | 250% |
| Net foreign currency (losses) gains | (623) | 1,406 | (2,029) | -144% | 2,531 | (735) | 3,266 | 444% |
| Net gain on investments | – | – | – | NM | 2,321 | 202 | 2,119 | NM |
| TOTAL NET REALISED EARNINGS | 22,511 | 15,685 | 6,826 | 44% | 62,378 | 15,890 | 46,488 | 293% |
| Net foreign currency (depreciation) appreciation | (16,065) | 237 | (16,302) | NM | (14,941) | (745) | (14,196) | NM |
| Net (depreciation) appreciation of investments | (3,653) | 1,158 | (4,811) | -415% | 8,200 | 2,362 | 5,838 | 247% |
| INCREASE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS ("EARNINGS") | 2,793 | 17,080 | (14,287) | -84% | 55,637 | 17,507 | 38,130 | 218% |
| NET OPERATING INCOME PER SHARE: | ||||||||
| Basic & Diluted | 0.21 | 0.19 | 0.02 | 11% | 0.62 | 0.22 | 0.40 | 182% |
| NET REALISED EARNINGS PER SHARE: | ||||||||
| Basic & Diluted | 0.21 | 0.21 | 0.00 | 0% | 0.67 | 0.21 | 0.46 | 219% |
| NET EARNINGS PER SHARE: | ||||||||
| Basic & Diluted | 0.03 | 0.23 | (0.20) | -87% | 0.60 | 0.23 | 0.37 | 161% |
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING: |
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| Basic & Diluted | 108,364 | 75,000 | 33,364 | 44% | 92,599 | 75,000 | 17,599 | 23% |
| DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE | 0.13 | 0.00 | 0.13 | NM | 0.44 | 0.00 | 0.44 | NM |
EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED |
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| Q3 2007 | Q4 2006 | Q3 2007 Versus Q4 2006 |
Q3 2006 | Q3 2007 Versus Q3 2006 |
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| € | % | € | % | ||||
| New Investments: | |||||||
| Senior Debt | 155,670 | 185,650 | (29,980) | -16% | 167,306 | (11,636) | -7% |
| Subordinated Debt | 212,785 | 129,740 | 83,045 | 64% | 161,481 | 51,304 | 32% |
| Preferred Equity | 13,441 | 63,795 | (50,354) | -79% | 109,341 | (95,900) | -88% |
| Common Equity | 30,181 | 14,031 | 16,150 | 115% | 5,719 | 24,462 | 428% |
| CDO/CLO Investments | 16,973 | – | 16,973 | NM | – | 16,973 | NM |
| Total | 429,050 | 393,216 | 35,834 | 9% | 443,847 | (14,797) | -3% |
| European Capital Sponsored Buyouts | 123,040 | 243,367 | (120,327) | -49% | 259,002 | (135,962) | -52% |
| Financing for Private Equity Buyouts | 184,105 | 148,091 | 36,014 | 24% | 154,021 | 30,084 | 20% |
| Direct Investments | 95,713 | – | 95,713 | NM | – | 95,713 | NM |
| Add-on Financing for Acquisitions | 9,219 | 1,758 | 7,461 | 424% | 30,824 | (21,605) | -70% |
| Add-on Financing for Recapitalisations | – | – | – | NM | – | – | NM |
| CDO/CLO Investments | 16,973 | – | 16,973 | NM | – | 16,973 | NM |
| Total | 429,050 | 393,216 | 35,834 | 9% | 443,847 | (14,797) | -3% |
| Realisations: | |||||||
| Senior Loan Syndications | 42,048 | 122,702 | (80,654) | -66% | 62,391 | (20,343) | -33% |
| Principal Prepayments | 76,916 | 30,306 | 46,610 | 154% | 7,182 | 69,734 | 971% |
| Payment of Accrued Payment-in-kind Interest and Dividends and Original Issue Discount | 4,109 | – | 4,109 | NM | – | 4,109 | NM |
| Sale of Equity Investments | – | 1,357 | (1,357) | -100% | 1,206 | (1,206) | -100% |
| Total | 123,073 | 154,365 | (31,292) | -20% | 70,779 | 52,294 | 74% |
| Appreciation, Depreciation, Gains and Losses: | |||||||
| Gross Gains | – | 1,345 | (1,345) | -100% | – | – | NM |
| Gross Losses | – | – | – | NM | – | – | NM |
| Net Gains | – | 1,345 | (1,345) | -100% | – | – | 100% |
| Gross Appreciation at 7, 2 and 2 Portfolio Companies | 31,191 | 3,678 | 27,513 | 748% | 1,903 | 29,288 | NM |
| Gross Depreciation at 5, 1 and 1 Portfolio Companies | (34,844) | – | (34,844) | NM | (745) | (34,099) | NM |
| Current Portfolio Net Appreciation | (3,653) | 3,678 | (7,331) | -199% | 1,158 | (4,811) | -415% |
| Net Depreciation From the Recognition of Net Gains | – | (402) | 402 | 100% | – | – | NM |
| Net Appreciation (Depreciation) for Foreign Currency Translation | (16,065) | 1,819 | (17,884) | -983% | 237 | (16,302) | NM |
| Net Gains (Losses) for Foreign Currency Translation | (623) | (829) | 206 | 25% | 1,406 | (2,029) | -144% |
| Net Gains, Losses, Appreciation and Depreciation | (20,341) | 5,611 | (25,952) | -463% | 2,801 | (23,142) | -826% |
| Other Financial Data: | |||||||
| Net Asset Value per Share | 9.71 | 9.92 | ( 0.21) | -2% | 6.77 | 2.94 | 43% |
| Market Capitalisation | 938,432 | NA | NM | NM | NA | NM | NM |
| Total Enterprise Value | 1,795,107 | NA | NM | NM | NA | NM | NM |
| Credit Quality: | |||||||
| Weighted Average Effective Interest Rate on Debt Investments | 12.2% | 12.5% | 11.6% | ||||
| Loans on Non-Accrual at Face | 29,000 | – | 29,000 | 100% | – | 29,000 | NM |
| Loans on Non-Accrual at Fair Value | – | – | – | NM | – | – | NM |
| Past Due Loans at Face | – | – | – | NM | – | – | NM |
| Past Due and Non-Accrual Loans at Face as a Percentage of Total Loans | 2.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | ||||
| Past Due and Non-Accrual Loans at Fair Value as a Percentage of Total Loans | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | ||||
| Number of Portfolio Companies on Non-Accrual and Past Due | 1 | – | – | ||||
| Return on Equity: | |||||||
| LTM Net Operating Income Return on Average Equity at Cost | 9.0% | 7.9% | 2.4% | ||||
| LTM Realised Earnings Return on Average Equity at Cost | 9.6% | 7.9% | 2.5% | ||||
| LTM Earnings Return on Average Equity | 9.3% | 9.5% | 2.8% | ||||
| Current Quarter Net Operating Income Return on Average Equity at Cost Annualised | 8.8% | 10.1% | 13.0% | ||||
| Current Quarter Realised Earnings Return on Average Equity at Cost Annualised | 8.6% | 10.4% | 14.3% | ||||
| Current Quarter Earnings Return on Average Equity Annualised | 1.1% | 13.7% | 15.6% | ||||
| Dividends: | |||||||
| Dividend Coverage (Realised Earnings per Basic Share/Dividend per Share) | 1.62 x | 1.48 x | NM | ||||
| Dividend Payout Ratio (Dividend per Share/Realised Earnings per Basic Share) | 0.62 x | 0.68 x | NM | ||||
EUROPEAN CAPITAL LIMITED |
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| Portfolio statistics (1) (9) | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | Aggregate |
| Internal Rate of Return – All Investments (2) (8) | 16.3% | 13.5% | 17.0% | 14.8% |
| Internal Rate of Return – Equity Investments only (2) (8) (10) | 38.3% | 21.3% | 29.4% | 24.5% |
| Original Investments and Commitments (8) | 237,612 | 1,209,653 | 1,297,377 | 2,744,642 |
| Total Exits and Prepayments of Original Investments (8) | 86,151 | 526,263 | 300,711 | 913,125 |
| Total Interest, Dividends and Fees Collected (8) | 30,482 | 79,071 | 23,988 | 133,541 |
| Total Net Gain on Investments | 202 | 3,666 | – | 3,868 |
| Current Cost of Investments | 163,475 | 721,193 | 1,024,373 | 1,909,041 |
| Current Fair Value of Investments | 174,798 | 705,294 | 1,020,855 | 1,900,947 |
| Net Appreciation (Depreciation) | 11,347 | (5,681) | 7,892 | 13,558 |
| Non–Accruing Loans at Face | – | 29,000 | – | 29,000 |
| Non–Accruing Loans at Fair Value | – | – | – | – |
| Equity Interest at Fair Value | 29,895 | 226,667 | 184,788 | 441,350 |
| Debt to EBITDA (3) (4) | 5.1 | 6.3 | 7.4 | 6.8 |
| Interest Coverage (3) | 3.5 | 2.8 | 4.1 | 3.6 |
| Debt Service Coverage (3) | 2.3 | 2.2 | 3.4 | 2.8 |
| Average Age of Companies | 88 years | 93 years | 37 years | 63 years |
| Ownership Percentage | 11.2% | 31.2% | 19.3% | 23.1% |
| Average Sales (5) | 659,700 | 442,249 | 267,310 | 369,549 |
| Average EBITDA (6) | 87,704 | 62,208 | 46,164 | 56,058 |
| Average EBITDA margin (6) | 15.5% | 14.7% | 17.1% | 15.7% |
| Total Sales (5) | 4,554,897 | 15,895,962 | 13,660,229 | 34,111,088 |
| Total EBITDA (6) | 706,051 | 2,333,138 | 2,329,007 | 5,368,196 |
| % of Senior Loans (7) | 10% | 23% | 38% | 30% |
| % of Loans with Lien (7) | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
NM Not Meaningful
NA Not Applicable
(1) Static pool classification is based on the year the initial investment was made. Subsequent add-on investments are included in the static pool year of the original investment.
(2) Assumes investments are exited at current fair value.
(3) These amounts do not include investments in which European Capital owns only equity.
(4) For portfolio companies with a nominal EBITDA amount, the portfolio company's maximum debt leverage is limited to 15 times EBITDA.
(5) Sales of the most recent twelve months, or when appropriate, the forecasted twelve months.
(6) EBITDA of the most recent twelve months, or when appropriate, the forecasted twelve months.
(7) As a percentage of our total debt investments.
(8) Non euro-denominated amounts are retranslated at the exchange rate ruling at the date of original investment.
(9) Non euro-denominated balances, other than those referred to in (8), are retranslated at the exchange rate ruling at the balance sheet date.
(10) Excludes equity investments that are the result of conversions of debt and warrants received with the issuance of debt.
A summary of European Capital's dividend history post IPO and forecast follows. For more information, please visit our website at www.EuropeanCapital.com or call our Investor Relations Department at +44 (0)20 7539 7100.
EUROPEAN CAPITAL'S DIVIDEND HISTORY POST MAY 2007 IPO |
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| Year and Quarter | Dividend | %Change of Dividend over Prior Period |
Total | |
| 2007 | €0.37 | N/A | €0.37 | |
| Q4 Guidance | €0.14 | |||
| Q3 | €0.13 | |||
| Q2 (IPO = 10 May 2007) | €0.10 | |||
SHAREHOLDER CALL
European Capital invites shareholders, analysts and other interested persons to attend the European Capital Shareholder Call on Wednesday 7 November at 14:30 GMT (9:30 EST). The dial in number will be +44 (0)129 648 0100. Callers within the United States should dial +1 (866) 804-8688. The access code for callers is 814 911.
Point your browser to www.EuropeanCapital.com and click on the Q3 2007 Shareholder Call Slide Show button.
BEFORE THE CALL:
REVIEW SLIDE PRESENTATION IN ADVANCE OF THE SHAREHOLDER CALL The quarterly shareholder presentation includes a slide presentation to accompany the call that participants may download and print prior to the call. You may wish to take the time to review the slides in advance of the Shareholder Call.
DURING THE CALL:
VIEW STREAMING SLIDE PRESENTATION DURING THE SHAREHOLDER CALL During the Shareholder Call you may watch and listen to the webcast or listen to the Shareholder Call by phone and step through the slides at your own pace.
AFTER THE CALL:
LISTEN AND VIEW AUDIO SLIDE PRESENTATION AFTER THE CALL The audio of the Shareholder Call combined with the slide presentation will be made available after the call on 7 November on our website www.EuropeanCapital.com.
AUDIO ONLY PRESENTATION AVAILABLE AFTER THE SHAREHOLDER CALL:
There will be a phone recording available from 23:59 GMT Wednesday 7 November until 23:59 GMT Wednesday 21 November. If you are interested in hearing the recording of the presentation, please dial +44 (0)800 032 9687 or +44 (0)207 136 9233. The access code for callers is 18522018.
For further information or questions, please do not hesitate to call our Investor Relations Department at +44 (0)20 7539 7100.
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 €2.3 billion ($3.3 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 €5 million and €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™
Through our One Stop Buyouts™, 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) 91 745 99 63 in Madrid, or visit the website at www.EuropeanCapital.com.
ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL
American Capital Strategies Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS), with $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 $5 million to $800 million per company in North America and €5 million to €500 million per company in Europe.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES
This document may contain "forward-looking statements." By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors beyond European Capital's control or which cannot be estimated precisely. These Factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainties associated with the timing of transaction closings, changes in interest rates, availability of transactions, changes in regional, national or international economic conditions, and changes in the conditions of the industries in which European Capital has made investments. Actual outcomes and results may therefore differ materially from any outcomes or results expressed or implied by any such forward-looking statements.
Performance data quoted above represents past performance of European Capital. Past performance does not guarantee future results and the investment return and principal value of an investment in European Capital will likely fluctuate. Consequently, an investor's shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Additionally, European Capital's current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted above.
Nothing in this document is intended to be a profit forecast.
EUROPEAN CAPITAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LTD.
25 Bedford Street
London WC2E 9ES
United Kingdom
+44 (0)207 539 7000
+44 (0)207 539 7001 fax
Taunusanlage 18
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
++ 49 69 7171 297-0
++ 49 69 7171 297-30 fax
C/Lopez de Hoyos, 35, 1°
28002 Madrid
Spain
+(34) 91 745 99 63
55, Avenue Hoche
75008 Paris
France
+33 (0)1 40 68 06 66
+33 (0)1 40 68 06 88 fax




