PPM Capital ("PPM"), a mid-market private equity specialist, has acquired SIR Industrieservice GmbH ("SIR"). SIR provides temporary employees and human resource management and is one of Germany's leading temporary work agencies. The transaction is a strategic add-on acquisition for the orizon group, which was acquired by PPM just two months ago. All parties have agreed to keep the purchase price confidential. SIR, based in Cologne, offers a wide range of services relating to the supply of temporary employees and human resource management. With its strategic nationwide presence, SIR is represented in 14 cities throughout Germany. In addition to temporary employment services, SIR also provides highly qualified staff, outplacement, on-site management services and customer support with recruitment and personnel projects. SIR has a particularly strong regional presence in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The company has specialised sector expertise in the areas of steel, automotive, lifts and shipbuilding. SIR was founded in 1988 and was a wholly owned subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Industrieservice Holding GmbH from 1999 onward. For the fiscal year 2006/2007 SIR expects a turnover of approx. ¤28 million with over 1,100 employees. PPM believes SIR is an ideal extension of the orizon group, currently one of Germany's ten largest temporary work agencies (TWA) with over 6,000 employees and 74 offices. The orizon group can now pool the strengths of six TWAs specialising in varying sectors and regions. The orizon group also includes Rolf Plümer GmbH, Plümer Konstruktionen GmbH, Andreas Wust GmbH, PersonnelConsultants HR GmbH and RKM GmbH. SIR is also a good geographic fit for the orizon group, as orizon was previously under-represented in NRW. Dr. Dieter Traub, CEO of orizon AG, welcomed the acquisition: "Within the framework of our multi-brand strategy, SIR represents an excellent extension of the orizon group with regard to its locations and operations. Our newly launched IT system will enable us to quickly and smoothly integrate SIR into the group. SIR will benefit from our centralised administration and will be able to successfully continue its growth strategy. SIR has clearly demonstrated its ability to grow organically, as underlined by the formation of eight new independent offices over the past two years." The successful SIR business will continue to be led by the existing management team. Guido May, Managing Director of PPM Capital GmbH states: "We are convinced that the experienced management team under guidance of Georg Sommer and Thomas Markert will successfully continue the company's growth, thus meeting our expectations for this first add-on acquisition under PPM's ownership of orizon. With our Buy & Build strategy, we invest in companies with growth potential and provide them with additional funds for strategic acquisitions." PPM has already demonstrated the success of its Buy & Build strategy with companies such as the Barracuda Group, Müller & Weygandt / EDP - European Dental Partners and The Astron Group, which grew substantially through acquisitions under PPM's ownership. PPM was advised by Deloitte Corporate Finance (M&A), PwC (Financial/Tax), and Latham & Watkins LLP (Legal). -End- Approved by PPM Capital Limited; PPM is authorised & regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority. For further information please contact: Guido May Managing Director PPM Capital Andreas Holtschneider Associate PPM Capital Tel.: +49 (0)89 2388 96 0 For German media enquiries: Ulf Ziegler fischerAppelt, ziegler Tel.: + 49 (0)40 899 699 0 Notes to PPM PPM Capital is a leading source of private equity finance for mid-market transactions and has more than ¤2 billion of allocated funds available for investment. An established office network operates in London, Munich, Paris and Chicago with 25 local investment professionals. Although PPM's investment portfolio is broadly based, the firm has established a reputation for its expertise in the healthcare, retail, leisure, business and financial services sectors and a number of successful investments have recently been completed. Recent Investments - ¤176.5 million acquisition of orizon AG from GL AG in 2007 - Acquisition of Intradent Zahntechnik AG in 2006 - GBP 107.5 million acquisition of Paramount Restaurants from Starlight in 2006 - GBP 183 million acquisition of Azzurri Communications from 3i in 2006 - ¤230 million acquisition of Histoire d'Or from Apax-Partners in 2006 Recent Divestments - ¤1.3 billion sale (together with Triton) of Phadia to Cinven in 2006 - Sale of BST Safety Textiles to the WLRoss Group in 2006 - Sale of OREFI Participation to Investcorp in 2006 PPM Capital Limited is the private equity arm of Prudential plc. www.ppmcapital.com