J.L. French Overcomes Creditor Objections, Receives Court Approval to Pay Restructuring Agreement, Rights Offering Fees

SHEBOYGAN, Wisc.--March 23, 2006--J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc. ("J.L. French"), a privately-held, leading global supplier of high pressure die-cast aluminum automotive components and assemblies, moved its reorganization forward by obtaining approval from the Bankruptcy Court to pay fees to creditors that are party to the company's Restructuring Support Agreement and Backstop Rights Offering, despite objections from the official committee of unsecured creditors to the fees based on timing and implication that approval of the fees indicated approval of the Agreement.

The Restructuring Support Agreement and the Rights Offering Term Sheet set forth the basis by which J.L. French can achieve its financial reorganization based upon a new money equity investment of between $110 million and $130 million. This equity investment is necessary in order to properly deleverage the company following its reorganization.

Under those agreements and the terms of the Court's order, the company will pay a 1% Restructuring Transaction Fee to the parties that have committed to backstop up to $130 million in the Rights Offering. The Court also authorized the company to pay a 2% fee upon funding of the new money investment, which would occur upon consummation of a plan of reorganization. The Court also approved a maximum 2% "break up" fee due if the company were to receive an offer that it believed were "higher and better" than the transaction contemplated in the Restructuring Support Agreement.

Today's approval of the fees does not signify approval of the Restructuring Agreement or the related transaction.

J.L. French also secured Court approval of agreements with two of its largest customers, Ford Motor Company and DaimlerChrysler Corp., which sets the stage for the company to gain significant new business.

Founded in 1968, J.L. French Automotive Castings, Inc., based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is a leading global designer and manufacturer of highly engineered aluminum die-cast automotive parts including oil pans, engine front covers, engine blocks and transmission cases. The company employs more than 1800 people in its ongoing operations worldwide.

Additional information about the company's reorganization may be found online in the news section of www.jlfrench.com or www.bmcgroup.com/jlfrench. Copies of signed orders will be available electronically at the latter site.