vestarcapitalp

Vestar Portfolio Company Tervita Closes $850M Refinancing

by Kirk Falconer

CALGARY, ALBERTA (February 14, 2013) - Vestar portfolio company Tervita Corporation announced today the closing of a US$650 million offering of Senior Secured Notes due 2018 and CDN$200 million in Senior Secured Notes due 2018 (collectively, the "Senior Secured Notes") in a private placement.

"These refinancings are the culmination of a process that began more than a year ago," said John Gibson, Tervita president and CEO. "We have now refinanced or extended the maturity of a significant majority of all of our debt to 2018-2019, which we believe will support the long-term growth of our business."

The Senior Secured Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of February 14, 2013, by and among Tervita Corporation, the guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo, National Association, as U.S. trustee and Equity Financial Trust Company, as Canadian Trustee.

Concurrently with the closing of the Senior Secured Notes offering, Tervita amended and restated its existing senior secured term loan agreement and entered into a new senior secured revolving credit facility. Tervita has also negotiated certain amendments to its existing senior subordinated notes, including an extension of the maturity of these notes to November 15, 2018 in conjunction with this financing.

The Senior Secured Notes were offered and sold only to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and outside the United States to persons other than U.S. persons in reliance on the "accredited investor" prospectus exemption in Canada and Regulation S under the Securities Act. The offer and sale of the Senior Secured Notes have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and the Senior Secured Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or purchase, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase, or the solicitation of tenders or consents with respect to any security. No offer, solicitation, purchase or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein include statements about our expectations for the proposed debt financing and our ability to successfully effect the foregoing. These statements are subject to the general risks inherent in our business and in the credit markets and reflect our current expectations regarding these matters. These expectations may or may not be realized. Some of these expectations may be based upon assumptions or judgments that prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking statements are only as of the date made, and Tervita Corporation does not undertake any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any obligation to) update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date such statements were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For more information, or to speak to a Tervita representative, please contact:

Richard Brimble
VP, Finance & Treasurer
[email protected]
T: (403) 234-2097
M: (403) 828-9534

Mandy Dinning
[email protected]
T: (403) 718-1221

About Tervita

Tervita is a leading North American environmental and energy services company. More than 4,000 dedicated employees partner with natural resource and industrial companies who share our values, and work with them to create a sustainable future. Safety is our highest priority: it influences our actions, guides our decisions and shapes our culture. We maintain a strategically located network of more than 95 state-of-the-art waste management facilities and a fleet of specialized equipment and assets to help customers address production and operational waste challenges. Our highly effective, convenient and environmentally sound solutions help minimize environmental impact and maximize returns. www.tervita.com

by vestarcapitalp

Vestar Capital Partners Completes Sale of Sunrise Medical

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - December 6, 2012 - Vestar Capital Partners ("Vestar") announced the completion of the sale of Sunrise Medical Inc. ("Sunrise Medical") to funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe.

Sunrise Medical is the leading global manufacturer, marketer and distributor of high-end custom manual and power wheelchairs and technologically advanced and proprietary seating systems. Terms of the transaction, which was previously announced on November 6, 2012, were not disclosed.

"Our teamwork with Sunrise Medical management produced successful spin-offs, turned the company around and brought us to this highly satisfactory outcome for Vestar and its investors," said Dan O'Connell, CEO of Vestar.

"This successful Sunrise Medical transaction is the latest is a series of activities focused on creating portfolio value and delivering on a program of realizations for our limited partners," Mr. O'Connell said. "In just the last year, we have returned approximately $900 million from six investments to our investors. Since 2009, we have returned approximately $2.3 billion from 13 investments."

Sunrise Medical and Vestar received financial advice from Rothschild. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP provided legal counsel and Deloitte Tax LLP provided tax advice. Equistone received financial advice from Hauck & Aufhäuser. P+P Pöllath + Partners and Thompson Hine LLP provided legal advice. Ashurst advised on credit documentation and KPMG provided tax advice.

About Vestar Capital Partners

Vestar Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar’s active funds aggregate approximately $8 billion in commitments. The firm targets companies in North America with valuations of $150 million to $1.5 billion in four key industry sectors: Consumer, Diversified Industries, Healthcare, and Financial Services. Vestar invests and collaborates with incumbent management teams, family owners or corporations in a creative, flexible and entrepreneurial way to build long-term enterprise value. Since the firm’s founding in 1988, the Vestar funds have completed 69 investments in companies with a total value of more than $30 billion. For more information, please visit www.vestarcapital.com

Contact:
For Vestar Capital Partners
Owen Blicksilver Public Relations
Carol Makovich
(203) 940-2257
[email protected]

Jennifer Hurson
(845) 507-0571
[email protected]

by vestarcapitalp

Vestar Announces Sale of Sunrise Medical

MALSCH, GERMANY and NEW YORK, NY, USA - November 6, 2012 - Sunrise Medical Inc. ("Sunrise Medical") today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its global mobility and seating operations to funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe ("Equistone"), one of Europe's leading investors in mid-market buyouts. Terms of the purchase of Sunrise Medical from affiliates of U.S.-based private equity firm Vestar Capital Partners ("Vestar") were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by year-end 2012. Completion is subject to approval by the relevant anti-trust authorities.

Sunrise Medical is the leading global manufacturer, marketer and distributor of high-end custom manual and power wheelchairs and technologically advanced and proprietary seating systems.

Dirk Schekerka, Managing Director of Equistone in Germany, comments, "We are looking at an exciting market with high potential for further development. Together with the company's excellent management team we look forward to support Sunrise Medical's next stage of growth."

"Our partnership with Vestar has helped the company focus its innovation and operating strengths on the mobility business globally," said Thomas Rossnagel, CEO of Sunrise Medical. "The corporation holds a very strong market position and the past three years' financial performance has been outstanding. My team and I are excited about the opportunity to take Sunrise Medical to the next level of performance and significantly expand our global business with support of the new resources from Equistone."

"We have had an extraordinarily productive collaboration with Sunrise Medical," said Dan O'Connell, CEO of Vestar Capital Partners. "We have created value through two successful spin-offs, which allowed Sunrise Medical to streamline and focus its operations and strategy. Thomas Rossnagel has been an exceptional leader and we believe he and his team will continue on their promising path. We at Vestar thank Thomas and his accomplished team at Sunrise for their dedication and excellent performance over the years we have been their investment partner."

In December 2000, Vestar, in partnership with Park Avenue Equity Partners, acquired Sunrise Medical in a going-private transaction. During Vestar's ownership, Sunrise Medical spun out to shareholders its Joerns Healthcare ("Joerns"), DeVilbiss Healthcare ("DeVilbiss") and DynaVox Systems ("DynaVox") divisions. Joerns and DynaVox were successfully realized in 2010 while Vestar continues as the majority shareholder of DeVilbiss.

Sunrise Medical and Vestar received financial advice from Rothschild. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP provided legal counsel and Deloitte Tax LLP provided tax advice.

Equistone received financial advice from Hauck & Aufhäuser. P+P Pöllath + Partners and Thompson Hine LLP provided legal advice. Ashurst advised on credit documentation and KPMG provided tax advice.

The transaction was led by Dirk Schekerka, Marc Arens and Alexis Milkovic at Equistone.

About Sunrise Medical

Sunrise Medical is a world leader in the development, design, manufacture and distribution of manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, motorized scooters and both standard and customized seating and positioning systems. Sunrise Medical manufactures products in facilities in the United States, Mexico, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, and China, marketed under the QUICKIE, SOPUR, ZIPPIE, BREEZY, STERLING and JAY proprietary brands. Products are sold through a network of homecare medical product providers or distributors in more than 130 countries. The company is headquartered in Malsch, Germany with North American headquarters in Fresno, CA and employs 1,600 associates worldwide. For more information, please visit www.sunrisemedical.com.

About Equistone Partners Europe

Equistone Partners Europe Limited is an independent investment firm owned and managed by the former executives of Barclays Private Equity. Equistone acquired the management company of Barclays Private Equity from Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, in November 2011. The Company is one of Europe’s leading investors in mid-market buyouts with a successful track record spanning over 30 years, with more than 350 transactions completed in this period. Equistone has a strong focus on change of ownership deals and aims to invest between €25m and €125m of equity in businesses with enterprise values of between €50m and €300m. The Company has a team of 33 investment professionals operating across France, Germany, Switzerland and the U.K., investing as a strategic partner alongside management teams. For further information, please visit www.equistonepe.com

About Vestar Capital Partners

Vestar Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar’s active funds aggregate approximately $8 billion in commitments. The firm targets companies in North America with valuations of $150 million to $1.5 billion in four key industry sectors: Consumer, Diversified Industries, Healthcare, and Financial Services. Vestar invests and collaborates with incumbent management teams, family owners or corporations in a creative, flexible and entrepreneurial way to build long-term enterprise value. Since the firm’s founding in 1988, the Vestar funds have completed 69 investments in companies with a total value of more than $30 billion. For more information, please visit www.vestarcapital.com

Media Contacts:

For Equistone Partners Europe:

College Hill (UK media enquiries)
Zinka Bozovic
+44 (0) 20 7457 2821
[email protected]

Ira Wuelfing Kommunikation (German media enquiries)
Margret Riedlsperger
+49 (0) 89 2000 30-39
[email protected]

For Sunrise Medical:

Julia Mattern
+49 (0) 7253 980 204
[email protected]

For Vestar Capital Partners:

Owen Blicksilver Public Relations
Carol Makovich,
+1 (203) 622-4781
[email protected]

Jennifer Hurson
+1 (845) 507-0571
[email protected]

by vestarcapitalp

Vestar to Sell Consolidated Container

Atlanta, GA - May 30, 2012 - Consolidated Container Company (CCC), a leading developer and manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging solutions in North America, today announced it will be acquired by affiliates of Bain Capital Partners LLC, a global private investment firm. Terms of the definitive agreement to purchase the privately held business from Vestar Capital Partners and its other investors were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2012.

Consolidated Container Company specializes in customized mid- and short-run packaging solutions serving a diverse customer base in the dairy, water, beverage, food, household chemical, automotive, and industrial chemical markets. With 59 manufacturing facilities and 2,100 employees, CCC has an integrated, nationwide network of manufacturing and service locations to deliver reliable and cost-effective packaging solutions to meet the needs of a wide range of customers and markets.

"We are very proud of the customer solutions we provide, and of our ability to understand and respond to the needs of customers with innovative solutions and reliable processes," said Jeffrey Greene, Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Container Company. "With the support and resources of Bain Capital, we are excited to continue to expand our capabilities and customer base through investment in product development, technology, greenfield facilities and acquisitions."

"We are very excited to be partnering with CCC and its management team to support the company in its future growth," said Seth Meisel, a Managing Director at Bain Capital. "We are impressed by the success CCC has demonstrated in offering solutions that deliver a high level of customer satisfaction, its industry-leading design and R&D capabilities, and its well-run manufacturing network."

"Over the past several years, CCC has made significant progress developing clear leadership positions in its core North American markets," said James P. Kelley, a Managing Director, Vestar Capital Partners. "We are grateful for management's commitment and value our partnership with them. Bain Capital's new investment will enable CCC to build on its progress."

Consolidated Container Company was advised by BofA Merrill Lynch and Barclays, and legal advisors were Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.

About Consolidated Container Company

Consolidated Container Company is a leading developer and manufacturer of rigid plastic packaging, serving a diverse customer base in the dairy, water, beverage, food, household chemical, automotive, and industrial chemical markets. CCC designs, produces, and delivers more than four billion bottles annually that touch the lives of millions of people each and every day. CCC owns and operates manufacturing facilities across North America providing standard and custom packaging solutions to our customers through an integrated network of facilities and technology platforms. From its state-of-the art Panella Engineering and Development Center to our team of manufacturing associates, CCC delivers high performance, cost-effective design solutions to meet even the most challenging container applications. For more information on Consolidated Container Company, visit www.cccllc.com.

About Bain Capital Partners

Bain Capital, LLC (www.baincapital.com) is a global private investment firm that manages several pools of capital including private equity, venture capital, public equity, high-yield assets and mezzanine capital with approximately $60 billion in assets under management. Bain Capital has a team of over 300 professionals dedicated to investing and to supporting its portfolio companies. Since its inception in 1984, Bain Capital has made private equity investments and add-on acquisitions in over 450 companies in a variety of industries around the world. The firm has offices in Boston, Palo Alto, New York, Chicago, London, Munich, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Mumbai.

About Vestar Capital Partners

Vestar is a leading private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar's active funds aggregate approximately $8 billion in commitments. The firm targets companies in North America with valuations of $150 million to $1.5 billion in four key industry sectors: Consumer, Diversified Industries, Healthcare, and Financial Services. Vestar invests and collaborates with incumbent management teams, family owners or corporations in a creative, flexible and entrepreneurial way to build long-term franchise and enterprise value. Since the firm's founding in 1988, the Vestar funds have completed 69 investments in companies with a total value of more than $30 billion. For more information, please visit Vestar's website at www.vestarcapital.com.

Contacts:

For Consolidated Container Company
Richard Sehring
(678) 742-4619
[email protected]

For Bain Capital Partners
Stanton Public Relations & Marketing
Alex Stanton
(212) 780-0701
[email protected]

For Vestar Capital Partners
Owen Blicksilver Public Relations
Carol Makovich
(203) 940- 2257
[email protected]

Jennifer Hurson
(845) 507-0571
[email protected]

by vestarcapitalp

Vestar to Sell Solo Cup

Combined companies to provide greater value to customers and ensure long-term success in a changing industry

March 21, 2012; Mason, Michigan - Dart Container Corporation, based in Mason, MI, and Solo Cup Company, headquartered in Lake Forest, IL, today announced that they have signed a Definitive Agreement under which Dart Container will acquire Solo in a transaction valued at approximately $1 billion. Both companies are in the consumer and foodservice disposable packaging business. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close by the third quarter of this year.

"Our acquisition of Solo will allow us to provide even greater value to our customers in the future," said Dart Container CEO Robert C. Dart. "It will enable customers to purchase a wider range of products, made from a greater variety of materials with varying functional and environmental attributes - all from a single vendor. Both companies have an extensive history in the industry and will bring together valuable experience, traditions and complementary, high-quality products."

"Solo has made great strides over the past several years in improving its operating efficiency, information systems and the caliber of the talent within the organization," said Robert M. Korzenski, CEO, Solo Cup Company. "Dart's leadership team has shown a high level of respect for what Solo has accomplished and I believe we are putting the company in the right hands to succeed and grow going forward."

"Dart Container's acquisition of Solo will accelerate the progress Solo has made to improve its levels of service and customer support," said Dart. "We will use our expertise in running a successful, efficient, reliable and service-oriented company to create an organization that blends the best of both Dart and Solo for the benefit of our customers."

According to Robert Dart, a top priority is bringing together the talents and skills of employees from both organizations to ensure that customers continue to receive exceptionally reliable service.

"These are two companies with strong histories of innovation and quality that have invested in the industry and in their customers," said Robert L. Hulseman, chairman emeritus, Solo Cup Company. "I am very proud of this company's contributions to the foodservice packaging industry and extremely pleased that many of Solo's dedicated employees will have the opportunity to continue making a difference for our customers. This is a positive outcome for everyone involved."

"We at Vestar have had a rewarding and productive partnership with the Hulseman family and Solo Cup's management team during the past eight years," said Kevin Mundt, managing director, Vestar Capital Partners. "Our combined efforts have enabled Solo Cup to become a leader in the foodservice packaging industry and have led to this powerful, strategic transaction with Dart Container, a very positive outcome for Solo, Dart, the Hulseman family, and Vestar."

Regarding the integration process, Robert Dart pointed out that unlike publicly traded companies, where short-term results often are of paramount importance to investors and other stakeholders, privately held Dart Container is able to make decisions and investments that are long term in nature. He said the company has the time, and will take the time, to integrate Solo in a thoughtful, analytical manner to ensure lasting success.

Solo is majority-owned by the family of its founder, Leo J. Hulseman, and is also a portfolio company of Vestar Capital Partners IV, L.P. Dart Container is a privately owned company founded by William A. Dart. The integrated organization will be a private company known as Dart Container Corporation. Dart expects to continue offering products under the Solo brand - including the iconic red Solo cup.

Michigan-based Dart Container Corporation and Illinois-based Solo Cup Company will continue to operate independently until government approval is secured and the transaction closes.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as lead financial advisor to Solo Cup Company on the transaction. Evercore Partners also advised Solo Cup Company on the transaction. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as legal counsel to Solo. Ernst & Young Corporate Finance Inc. was lead financial advisor to Dart Container Corporation and Vinson & Elkins LLP served as Dart's legal counsel on the transaction.

About Dart Container Corporation

Dart Container Corporation is family owned and operated, with 7,600 employees and 20 production facilities worldwide. The company manufactures more than 600 products and has facilities throughout the United States and in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Australia and the United Kingdom. It also has UV-curable ink manufacturing, machinery manufacturing and polymer production facilities. Its headquarters are in Mason, Michigan, where the company was founded in 1960. As a privately held company, Dart Container does not release financial or sales data.

About Solo Cup Company

Solo Cup Company is a $1.6 billion company exclusively focused on the manufacture of single-use products used to serve food and beverages for the consumer/retail, foodservice and international markets. Solo has broad product offerings available in paper, plastic, foam, post-consumer recycled content and annually renewable materials, and creates brand name products under the Solo®, Sweetheart®, Creative Carryouts® and Bare® by Solo® names. The company was established in 1936 and has a global presence with facilities in Canada, Europe, Mexico, Panama and the United States.

About Vestar Capital Partners

Vestar is a leading private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar's three active funds - Vestar III, Vestar IV and Vestar V - aggregate $7 billion of investments. The firm targets companies in North America with valuations of $150 million to $1.5 billion in four key industry sectors: Consumer, Diversified Industries, Healthcare and Digital Media, and Financial Services. Vestar invests and collaborates with incumbent management teams, family owners or corporations in a creative, flexible and entrepreneurial way to build long-term franchise and enterprise value. Since the firm's founding in 1988, the Vestar funds have completed more than 70 investments in companies with a total value of more than $30 billion. With the successful realization of its Solo Cup investment, Vestar will have returned more than $2 billion to its investors over the past two-and-a-half years while deploying $700 million of investments during the same period. Vestar has offices in New York, Boston and Denver. For more information, please visit Vestar's website at www.vestarcapital.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "will," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "predict," "potential," "project," "could," "should," "may," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding the expected closing of the acquisition of Solo Cup Company by Dart Container Corporation, and post-acquisition business strategy, operations, prospects, plans and objectives, are forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect current assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside Solo Cup Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, including the receipt of necessary regulatory approval and fulfillment of other customary conditions required to consummate the acquisition. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the time when made. Except as required by applicable law, Solo Cup Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events, changed assumptions or otherwise.

Media Contacts:

Margo Burrage, Dart Container
[email protected]
(517) 244-2778

Carol Makovich, Owen Blicksilver
for Vestar Capital Partners
[email protected]
(203) 622-4781

Angie Gorman, Solo Cup Company
[email protected]
(847) 444-3503

Investor Contact:

Bob Koney, Solo Cup Company
[email protected]
(847) 444-3201

by vestarcapitalp

Vestar Portfolio Company CCS Rebranded Tervita

CCS Corporation unites former business units and $5+ billion in revenues into new company

CALGARY, AB (March 14, 2012) - One of North America's leading environmental and energy service companies today became stronger by uniting more than a dozen business units under Tervita Corporation -- a dynamic new brand committed to sustaining the life, health and energy of the planet by supporting responsible resource development.

Tervita has been known for the past 25 years by the brands of our predecessor companies: CCS Corporation, Hazco, Concord, Beck, HMI, Prodrill and seven others. This launch heralds the beginning of a new era under a single brand for the privately-held company with $5+ billion in revenues.

"By joining together our individual expertise, experience, assets and services, we will be uniquely positioned to develop integrated project management solutions and provide our customers easier access to our comprehensive range of services," said John Gibson, Tervita President and Chief Executive Officer.

Collectively, Tervita offers the natural resources and industrial sectors a comprehensive suite of services covering every stage of the production lifecycle, from development to reclamation. Through its fluids services, solids services, production services, energy marketing and reclamation offerings, Tervita helps its clients minimize impacts and maximize returns.

"Our vision is to create a better future by growing our global leadership in environmental and energy solutions," Gibson said. "We're developing new technologies and processes to address today's challenges such as water treatment, tailings management and reclamation.

"And in this tightening labour market we're becoming known as a company with a strong corporate culture. Our 4,200 employees are proud of our work, our values and our sense of purpose. In 2011, we hired more than 2,000 employees and we expect our dynamic growth to continue in 2012."

The idea to transition the company to a single brand surfaced long ago, but was developed and delivered in the last 12 months.

"This is a vision that I've had for years, that we should be one brand and one company with one culture," said David Werklund, Tervita's Chairman and Founder.

"This is a compelling moment for us as a team as we've solidified our purpose, to help customers maximize production and minimize environmental impact. For all of us at Tervita, earth matters."

ABOUT THE BRAND

The brand reflects the company's shared commitment to the Earth's energy and its environment. The name Tervita comes from the Latin words "terra," meaning earth, and "vita," meaning life. The glowing orange circle of the logo symbolizes energy from the Earth's core, while the green circle represents the Earth, our healthy planet.

To view our new corporate images, visit: www.tervita.com/news-and-stories/Pages/media-resources.aspx.

For more information, to book an interview with John Gibson, Tervita's president and CEO, or to speak to another Tervita representative, please contact:

Mandy Dinning
Manager, Public Affairs
[email protected] / 403-831-3542/403-718-1221

Stacie Dley
Communications Advisor
[email protected] / 403-860-2512/ 587-233-3227

ABOUT TERVITA

Tervita is a leading North American environmental and energy services company. Our 4,200 dedicated employees partner with natural resource and industrial companies who share our values, and work with them to create a sustainable future. Safety is our highest priority: it influences our actions, guides our decisions and shapes our culture. We maintain a strategically located network of more than 95 state-of-the-art waste management facilities and a fleet of specialized equipment and assets to help customers address production and operational waste challenges. Our highly effective, convenient and environmentally sound solutions help minimize environmental impact and maximize returns.

A privately-held company, we've been known for the past 25 years by the brands of our founding companies: CCS, Hazco, Beck, Concord and others. By joining together our individual expertise, experience, assets and services, we will be uniquely positioned to develop integrated project management solutions and provide customers easier access to our broad range of comprehensive services.

by vestarcapitalp

Vestar Sells Shares of AZ Electronic

LONDON -- March 2, 2012 -- AZ has received notification that The Carlyle Group and Vestar Capital Partners (the original "Major Shareholders") have today each sold their residual shareholding in the Company to institutional investors, through a combined placing of 44,097,548 shares conducted by Deutsche Bank (the "Placing").

The Placing completes the entire sell down by the Major Shareholders of their respective holdings in AZ following the Company's successful IPO in November 2010.

A full notification by the Company, pursuant to the Luxembourg transparency requirements, will be provided upon receipt of full disclosure from each of the Major Shareholders.

For further information, please contact:

AZ
Michael Arnaouti, Company Secretary
+44 (0) 20 8622 3814

FTI Consulting
Edward Bridges / Nick Hasell
+44 (0) 20 7269 7147

About AZ

AZ is a leading global producer and supplier of high quality, high-purity specialty chemical materials, operating in the high growth electronics market. Its materials are used in integrated circuits ("ICs") and devices, flat panel displays ("FPDs"), light-emitting diodes ("LEDs") and photolithographic printing. AZ is a critical partner to the leading global electronic players because our chemical technology allows them to enhance existing processes and enables them to innovate new products. This is critically important in the "digital world" where there is increasing global demand and a drive towards smaller, faster, more powerful and less expensive technology. AZ operates in ten countries, namely China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the USA, France and Germany. It also has corporate and administrative offices in Luxembourg, the UK and Hong Kong, and employs over 1,000 people globally.

This information is provided by RNS, the company news service from the London Stock Exchange.

by vestarcapitalp

Vestar Sells Shares of Duff and Phelps

NEW YORK--February 28, 2012 -- (BUSINESS WIRE) --Duff & Phelps Corporation (NYSE: DUF), a leading independent financial advisory and investment banking firm, today announced the pricing of a public offering of 4,500,000 shares of its Class A common stock at a price of $13.75 per share. Duff & Phelps is offering 3,201,922 shares in the offering and Shinsei Bank, Limited is offering an additional 1,298,078 shares as a selling stockholder. The Company and the selling stockholder have granted the underwriter a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 675,000 shares. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is acting as the sole underwriter for the offering.

Duff & Phelps intends to use the net proceeds it receives from the offering to redeem 3,201,922 units in Duff & Phelps Acquisitions, LLC held by some of its existing unit holders, including approximately one third of the units owned by each of Vestar Capital Partners and its affiliates and Lovell Minnick Partners LLC and its affiliates and units owned by certain of the Company's executive officers. In addition, Duff & Phelps intends to use cash from its balance sheet and borrowings under its revolving credit facility to redeem an additional 700,000 units held by such unitholders.

The offering is being made pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which became effective on October 26, 2009. Copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, telephone: 866-471-2526, email: [email protected], or by visiting EDGAR on the Securities and Exchange Commission Web site at www.sec.gov.

This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any offer or sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, which have or will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Duff & Phelps

As a leading global financial advisory and investment banking firm, Duff & Phelps balances analytical skills, deep market insight and independence to help clients make sound decisions. The firm provides expertise in the areas of valuation, transactions, financial restructuring, alternative assets, disputes and taxation, with more than 1,000 employees serving clients from offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Investment banking services in the United States are provided by Duff & Phelps Securities, LLC; Pagemill Partners; and GCP Securities, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. M&A advisory services in the United Kingdom and Germany are provided by Duff & Phelps Securities Ltd. Duff & Phelps Securities Ltd. is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Investment banking services in France are provided by Duff & Phelps SAS. For more information, visit www.duffandphelps.com. (NYSE: DUF)

Contacts

Duff & Phelps
Investor and Media Relations
Marty Dauer, 212-871-7700
[email protected]

by vestarcapitalp