Affiliates of Sun European Partners, LLP Open Offices in Paris and Frankfurt.

LONDON -- Sun European Partners, LLP ("Sun European"), the European adviser to Sun Capital Partners, Inc. ("Sun Capital"), a leading U.S.-based private investment firm, today announced that two Sun affiliates have opened offices in Paris and Frankfurt to support the continued growth of Sun's private equity activities in Europe.

Sun European opened its office in London in July 2004, which currently comprises 20 professionals including 11 transaction and three senior operations professionals. Sun's expansion into France and Germany reflects Sun's commitment to European-based investments and its growing European transaction activity.

Since 2004, Sun European has advised on 22 European private equity transactions for Sun Capital including 12 platform and 10 add-on acquisitions. In the aggregate, Sun Capital's European portfolio companies generate close to EU4 billion in annual aggregate turnover and include 12 companies headquartered in five countries across Europe.

Sun Capital's European-headquartered portfolio companies include:

* Neckermann.de, a leading European multi-channel retailer (mail order catalogue and internet), based in Germany.

* DBA Apparel, a leading French designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded ladies' and men's intimate apparel with such well-known brands as DIM, Playtex, Wonderbra, Lovable, Abanderado, Nur Die, Chantal Thomass and Unno.

* HomeForm Group, a leading branded designer and installer of fully-fitted home kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, including the Sharps, Moben and Dolphin brands, based in the UK.

* Manoir Industries, a French designer and manufacturer of highly-engineered specialty metal components and assemblies for the aerospace, energy, petrochemical, steel, construction, railway and defense industries, among others.

* Veriplast Solutions, a French manufacturer of a large range of packaging products for use in the food, drink, health and home and personal care sectors.

* Lee Cooper, a 100-year old UK designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded jeans, clothing, accessories, and footwear.

* IBP Conex Banninger, a leading UK manufacturer and distributor of copper and brass plumbing products to wholesalers, building products distributors, and retailers.

* Europower, a UK manufacturer of low and high pressure hydraulic hose, hydraulic hose fittings, and hydraulic hose assemblies sold to major OEM customers and to over 400 distributors globally.

* Tyde Group, a business group consisting of: (i) Walbro Engine Management, a manufacturer of carburetors, ignitions, flywheels and other air/fuel management systems for the global small engine market; (ii) Bundy Refrigeration, an Italian manufacturer and supplier of fluid carrying cooling system components for the domestic refrigeration industry; and (iii) Vari-Form, a producer of hydroform-intensive body structural products such as IP beams, front-end structures, and radiator closures for the North American automotive manufacturing sector.

* Init Polymers, a Dutch manufacturer of solid stated PET ("polyethylene terephthalate") resins used in food and beverage packaging for heat-and-serve meals, soft drinks, water, and juice and for the general packaging industry.

Philip A. Dougall, Managing Director, Sun European Partners, LLP, commented, "Since opening its office in London nearly four years ago, Sun European has grown significantly in terms of personnel and the number of transactions in which it has provided advice to Sun Capital. Sun's message, that it can move with speed, certainty and a highly commercial approach to provide both capital and operational expertise, has clearly resonated in the European private equity markets. The new Paris and Frankfurt offices will support Sun's heightened presence and expanded European platform, reflecting its strong commitment and confidence going forward in the European markets."

The new offices are located as follows:

Sun European Partners, SAS(a)
36 Rue Beaujon
75008 Paris, France
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Sun European Partners, GmbH(a)
Bockenheimer Anlage, Frankfurter Welle
An der Welle 4, 60322 Frankfurt, Germany
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

(a) Affiliates of Sun European Partners, LLP

About Sun European Partners, LLP

Sun European Partners, LLP is the European adviser to Sun Capital Partners, Inc., a leading U.S.-based investment firm focused on leveraged buyouts, equity, debt, and other investments in market-leading companies that can benefit from its in-house operating professionals and experience. Sun Capital Partners, Inc. has approximately EU6 billion of investment capital under management. Affiliates of Sun Capital Partners, Inc. have invested in and managed more than 190 companies worldwide since Sun Capital's inception in 1995 in the United States, with combined sales of approximately EU25 billion ($40 billion). Sun European has an office in London and affiliates with offices in Paris and Frankfurt, among others. For more information, please visit www.SunEuropeanPartners.com.