Investcorp to Acquire Leading French Auto, Truck and Industrial Parts Distributor Autodistribution

PARIS, Jan. 6, 2006 -- Investcorp, the global investment group, announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Autodis, the holding company for Autodistribution, the leading French independent distributor of auto, truck and industrial spare parts. Terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Autodistribution is the leading independent distributor of auto, truck and industrial parts in France, through a network of 130 wholesalers running 600 distribution outlets (two thirds owned, one third independent affiliates). The Company also 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. On a European level, Autodistribution is one of the core members of the AD International network (ADI), an organization of independent auto and truck parts distributors.

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 to both consolidate further the French market, and to initiate European consolidation. Our current investors, led by Goldman Sachs, have played a critical and supportive role in bringing about the successful turnaround of the Company. We already know Investcorp well, they understand 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."

Investcorp managing director Yves Alexandre said that Autodistribution was a highly attractive investment, given its commanding position in the French market: "We are supportive of the management team's ambitious growth plans and are committed to taking the Company to new levels of excellence in terms of service to its affiliates and customers, as well as meaningfully developing its international presence."

The transaction is expected to close by the end of February 2006.

Further information on Autodistribution is available at http://www.autodistribution.com/.

About Investcorp

Investcorp is a global investment group with offices in London, New York and Bahrain. The firm has four lines of business: corporate investment, real estate investment, asset management and technology investment. It was established in 1982 and has since completed transactions with an aggregate value of approximately $28 billion.

In Europe, Investcorp and its clients currently own corporate investments that include Polyconcept, APCOA, Hilding Anders and Minimax. In the United States, Investcorp and its clients currently own corporate investments that include American Tire, Associated Materials and SourceMedia. Further information is available at http://www.investcorp.com/.

  For further information, please contact:

  Investcorp:
   Todd Fogarty, Kekst and Company, 212-521-4854; todd-fogarty@kekst.com

  Autodistribution:
   Nathalie Dunoir -- Tel: +33 1 47 49 14 00