Bahrain, February 18 2006 - Investcorp, the global investment group that specializes in alternative investments, announced today that it has acquired Autodistribution, the leading French independent distributor of car, truck and industrial spare parts. 

Autodistribution supplies products to all types of garages including more than 2,600 affiliated garages and body repair shops under the AD and Autoprimo brands, as well as to truck repair shops and truck carriers, fleet managers and industrial customers. It has a network of 130 wholesalers running 600 distribution outlets. On a European level, Autodistribution is one of the core members of the AD International network, an organisation of independent auto and truck parts distributors.

Opportunities to make private equity investments in Autodistribution are currently being offered to a select group of Investcorp's clients in the region.

Investcorp's Chief Operating Officer, Gary Long, said:  "Autodistribution is an extremely attractive investment given its commanding position within the French market. The management team has ambitious growth plans to take the company to new levels of excellence in service to its affiliates and customers, as well as to develop its international presence."

Autodistribution's Chief Executive Officer, Olivier Van Ruymbeke, said:  "Investcorp is the ideal partner for the next stage of our development, giving us the right backing both to consolidate further the French market, and to initiate European consolidation.  Investcorp understands our industry in depth, and so we're excited about the prospects for Autodistribution and the benefits this can bring to our own distributors, our network of independent affiliates, our business partners, staff and other stakeholders."

Private equity is one of four products in Investcorp's alternative investment offering, alongside real estate investment, hedge funds and venture capital. Investcorp announced net income of $110.3 million for the recent fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, an increase of 22 percent over the previous audited fiscal year. Income before operating expenses, at $324.7 million, was a record achievement for the Firm.

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About Investcorp
Investcorp is a global investment group with offices in Kingdom of Bahrain, New York and London.  The firm has four lines of business: private equity investment, real estate investment, hedge funds and venture capital..  It was established in 1982 and now manages total investments in alternative assets of around $9.5 billion.

In Europe, Investcorp and its clients currently own corporate investments that include Polyconcept, the European leader in the development and distribution of promotional gifts, and European leading parking management company APCOA.  In the United States, Investcorp and its clients currently own corporate investments that include automotive claims management company CCC, American Tire, a leading national distributor of tires to the replacement tire market and Source Media, provider of multimedia information to professionals in the banking, financial services and related technology markets. Further information is available at www.investcorp.com.

Issued on behalf of Investcorp by Hill & Knowlton. 

For further information please contact
Jamil Alsharif on
Tel: 00973 17533532
M: 00973 39634358
email: jsharif@hillandknowlton.com.bh

Deborah Botwood Smith
Tel: 0044 2076296600
email: dbotwoodsmith@investcorp.com.

© Press Release 2006