AMBOISE INVESTISSEMENT

Paris, 28 February 2007 – The funds managed by ApaxPartners France, including Altamir and Amboise Investissement, have acquireda minority stake in the Royer Group, alongside the group’s founders, Jacquesand Alain Royer.

Apax Partners’ investment will allow the Royer Group to accelerate itsinternational development, through both organic and external growth.

With over 25 million shoes sold in 2006, the Royer Group is France’sleading wholesaler of shoes under licence, distributing around 30 brands (Converse,Morgan, Von Dutch, Airwalk, Naf-Naf, Paul & Joe Sister, etc.), through bothindependent and mass market retailers.

The group has just entered a key stage in its development, by acquiring Kickers,the famous French brand of coloured shoes distributed throughout the world.This acquisition takes the Royer Group’s revenues to over €210 million.

Jacques Royer, Chairman and CEO of the Royer Group, said: “Apax’sinvestment marks a turning point for our group, which will now be able to accelerateits development, particularly through the acquisition of new licences and outrightbrand ownership. Our new partner will enable us to benefit among other thingsfrom its strong expertise in retail and consumer goods, and its internationalnetwork.”

Jean-Louis Rambaud, Partner at Apax Partners, said: “We are delightedto be associated with such a dynamic group, particularly at a time when it istaking on a new dimension with the acquisition of an internationally renownedbrand. We believe the outlook for the Royer Group is very bright, particularlydue to its strong brand portfolio and its unique know-how in the design, marketingand distribution of shoes in Europe.”

About the Royer Group

Founded in 1945 and headquartered in Fougères (Ille-et-Vilaine), TheRoyer Group is France’s leading shoe wholesaler. It employs 365 peopleand operates 24,000m² of warehouses in Fougères and 46,000m² aroundthe world. With sales of 25 million shoes in 2006, the Royer Group generatedrevenues of €150 million, including 30% in the export market. It has justacquired the Kickers brand.

About Altamir and Amboise Investissement

Altamir and Amboise Investissement are two listedcompanies which were created by Apax Partners respectively in December 1995and at the end of March 2006. Both are designed to co-investand disinvest with the private equity investment funds managed by Apax PartnersFrance.

Altamir and Amboise Investissement leverage Apax Partners’ know howand investment strategy, which involves backing fast-growing companies, at allstages of investment, across its global sectors of Retail & Consumer, IT & Telecoms,Media, Healthcare, and Business & Financial Services.

Altamir is a SCR (S ociété deCapital Risque )listed on the Euronext Paris Eurolist market, Compartment C, Ticker:LTA, ISIN: FR0000053837.
For further information: www.altamir.fr

Amboise Investissement is a SCR (S ociété deCapital Risque ) listed on the Euronext Paris Eurolist market, Compartment C, Ticker:AMB, ISIN: FR0010307348.
For further information: www.amboise-investissement.fr

Press Contact

Apax Partners SA
Agathe Heinrich - Marketing Director
Tel.: +33 1 53 65 01 35
Email: agathe.heinrich@apax.fr