Acquisition

HG Capital Trust PLC 05 March 2007 The following is the text of a press release issued by HgCapital, which manages the investment portfolio of HgCapital Trust plc alongside those of other institutional clients. The Trust, which is a listed investment trust giving investors the opportunity to participate in all of HgCapital's investments, will invest approximately £4.8 million in Americana International Limited. HgCapital acquires leading urban streetwear brands Bench and Hooch •Growth in UK and Germany •Will work with management to drive international expansion London 5 March 2007: HgCapital, the European sector-focused private equity investor, today announced that together with existing management it is acquiring Americana International Ltd, owner of the brands Bench and Hooch. Originally known for its strong graphic-based t-shirts and tops, Bench has now developed into a broader urban lifestyle clothing range, while Hooch is targeted at the younger female fashion market. In a deal with a value of £190 million (including debt, equity and rollover), HgCapital is investing alongside existing management to support Americana's plans for growth. This will build on success in the UK market, where Bench has increased sales at a rate of over 20% per annum over the past five years. ISIS Equity Partners, investor since August 2003, is selling its stake in the business. International growth is key to HgCapital's strategy for Bench and Hooch. Sales through its German subsidiary have quadrupled over the past two years and, in November 2006, it opened its flagship concept store in Berlin. The plan is to build on this success in the German market by expanding the brands' presence across Europe. They are currently sold in over 20 countries world-wide, including the US, Canada and Japan. HgCapital is looking forward to working with Americana's existing management team, led by David Brock, the Chairman. David is also Chairman of Phase Eight and Jane Norman, both private equity-backed fashion retailers. In addition, HgCapital is in talks with a number of potential candidates for the position of Group Chief Executive to lead the next phase of Americana's growth. This is HgCapital's second Consumer and Leisure transaction in three months, following the acquisition of Schleich, the global manufacturer of toy figurines, in December 2006. It demonstrates the company's appetite to invest in leading brands with significant growth potential, particularly in international markets. HgCapital's other investments in branded consumer businesses include The Sanctuary Spa (Spa and Spa beauty products) and Sporting Index (world market leader in sports spread-betting). Richard Mathews, Director at HgCapital, said, 'We are delighted to be investing in these brands. Americana's management has delivered tremendous growth over the last five years and Bench is now a brand that has real authority with its customer base. It is a great platform to grow from. We are really excited about working with the team to build on the momentum. This is HgCapital's second Consumer and Leisure deal in three months and fits perfectly with our strategy of investing in great brands and great management.' David Brock, Chairman of Americana, added, 'We had a great deal of interest on this occasion but chose HgCapital because of its experience and focus on international markets that offer us such great potential. We are looking forward to working closely with the team as Americana enters its next exciting phase of growth'. Andy Gregory of ISIS said, 'Americana has been extremely successful in delivering strong organic growth in the UK, Europe and North America; and during our investment both Bench and Hooch have become core brands in their markets. Significant investment has been made in developing a strong operating platform capable of supporting the growth in all trading territories going forward. This is an excellent business and we wish the team well for the future'. For further details: HgCapital Richard Mathews +44 (0)20 7089 7888 Maitland Peter Ogden +44 (0)20 7379 5151 About HgCapital HgCapital makes private equity investments in the European mid-market. We focus on buyout investments in businesses with enterprise values ranging between EUR 50 and EUR 500 million. Our business model combines sector specialization with dedicated, pro-active support to our portfolio companies and the application of significant human resource to each phase of the investment process. We manage more than EUR 2.7 billion for some of the world's most respected institutional and private investors. We exist to generate superior outcomes for our clients, management teams, vendors and intermediaries. For more information on HgCapital please visit www.hgcapital.com. About Americana Americana International Ltd, owner of the brands Bench and Hooch, was founded in 1990 and is a leading branded apparel business. Bench, launched in 1995, takes its inspiration from the Manchester skateboarding and street culture, and is aimed at both men and women in the 16-25 year age group. Hooch is a fashion clothing brand targeted at the young female market. The business has both wholesale and retail operations throughout the UK and Europe and a market-leading sourcing business in the Far East. Based in Manchester, Americana also has significant operations in London, Munich and Shanghai. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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