ITALY - €375m MBO of Seves Group

Ergon Capital Partners, Vestar Capital Partners and Athena Private Equity have signed a definitive agreement to acquire Florence-based Seves Group, the global leader in glass insulators for power transmission and glass bricks for interior design. The company is being acquired from a group of shareholders which includes Athena, Fidia SGR, Intek spa, Interbanca Spa and 3i Plc. In acquiring Seves, the investors are partnering with Luciano Zottola, Chairman, Enrico Basso, Chief Executive Officer, and several other members of the company's management team, who will remain meaningful investors in the company. The €375 million transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2006, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals.