Mid Europa secured commitments from a number of leading existing and new investors, including Alpinvest, ABN-Amro, GIC, AIG Global Investment Group, AXA, MetLife, MN Services, and Citigroup. Commitments were also secured from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank and the International Finance Corporation. In aggregate, approximately half of the commitments came from pension plans and government-related entities, with the remainder evenly spread among funds-of-funds, banks, insurance companies, and endowments and foundations. European investors provided about 60% of total commitments and US investors 30% with the balance coming from the Asia Pacific region.

Commenting on the fundraising, Thierry Baudon, Mid Europa Managing Partner said: "We are very pleased with the quality and diversity of investors who committed to our second fund, the first one we raised as Mid Europa Partners. The size of this fund reflects the recognition that significant opportunities exist in Central Europe, which is set to enter a new growth phase as integration with Western Europe deepens. We were very pleased with the continued support from existing investors, and are delighted to welcome many new investors, including several that have chosen to commit to Mid Europa as their first relationship in Central Europe".

Mid Europa will continue to take stakes in leading Central European companies operating in sectors with high barriers to entry. The Firm will typically invest between €25 million to €100 million in cash-flow generative companies with enterprise values of up to €1 billion. Mid Europa currently advises and manages funds with committed capital of about €1.1 billion (US$ 1.3 billion).

Thierry Baudon together with partners Craig Butcher and Colin Hewett lead a team of 12 investment professionals operating from offices in London, Budapest and Warsaw that has worked together since 1999. "This successful fundraising, the largest to date by any manager focused on the region, is testimony to the rapidly improving investment climate in which we operate and leaves us better equipped than ever to deliver long-term value creation alongside the management teams of our portfolio companies" said Baudon.

In December 2005, Mid Europa announced an agreement to buy Aster, a leading provider of media and communication services in Poland, from Hicks Muse Tate & Furst. The transaction is expected to close in February 2006.

The Partners of Mid Europa, can be reached at:

Thierry Baudon
tbaudon@mideuropa.com
+44 20 7886 3601

Craig Butcher
cbutcher@mideuropa.com
+36 1 411 1270

Colin Hewett
colin.hewett@mideuropa.com
+44 20 7886 3604

Notes to editors:

About Mid Europa Partners
Mid Europa Partners is the largest private equity firm investing in Central and Eastern Europe. Operating from London, Budapest and Warsaw, Mid Europa Partners advises and manages funds with committed capital in excess of €1.1 billion.

The Mid Europa Partners team has been investing in Central and Eastern Europe since 1999, initially as part of Emerging Markets Partnership ("EMP Global"), but since 2005 independently as Mid Europa Partners.

Current investments include Invitel (Hungary's second largest fixed line telecommunications company) Karneval (the second largest cable TV operator in the Czech Republic) and Estonian Railways. Previous investments include Orange in Slovakia, Aster (the Polish Cable TV operator), Mobifon (the largest mobile telephony operator in Romania) and Oskar Mobil in the Czech Republic.

MEP employs an active, hands-on investment approach and applies the sector knowledge and operating experience of its people to deliver long-term value creation together with the management teams of portfolio companies.

For additional information on Mid Europa Partners please visit:  www.mideuropa.com.