Statement

[Russell]

magicmonkey said:

this one will die on it's backside now the other one is backonline

Oh magicmonkey how see through you are....your first post shows us your intentions to wards this forum ! have you no friends to play with on the other site ???as this one will die on its backside dont you think you should go back to your friends...or are you trying to unsettle this site

Funny you used to spell my name incorrectly on the other site also ;)under your other name ,your postings there were mainly provocative !now you find it necessary to come on this site bringing the same rubbish with you.hiding like a small child scared of the big boys you change your name and hide.

This is exactly why anon posters will ruin this forum as the last .Yes I had a few names on the last one but so did Motters etc .

I would repeat my first statement until I know who is who I shall not talk of blinds on here I am not the only one ! so if you want the magic monkeys bleating out their simple minded posts please continue.

And yes I PMed the fool telling him I would out him if he persists

[specialist]

Will the takeover affect us...I doubt the next 5 year plans are already in place.

[blindmansam]

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NEWS
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 6, 2007

Contact
Giles Cheek, Director, European Capital Services [phone]
Fergus Hall, Investment Director, European Capital Services [phone]
Brian Maney, Director, Corporate Communications [phone]
EUROPEAN CAPITAL INVESTS €337 MILLION IN ONE STOP BUYOUT™ OF
HILLARYS BLINDS

London - June 6, 2007 - European Capital S.A. SICAR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of European Capital Limited (LSE: ECAS), announced today that it has invested €337 million ($454 million) in the One Stop Buyout™ of Hillarys Blinds Limited from Change Capital Partners LLP. Hillarys is the UK’s leading provider of made-to-measure window blinds. European Capital’s investment takes the form of equity, loan notes, mezzanine debt and senior term loans. Hillarys management is investing in equity and loan notes. Post close, European Capital owns approximately 52% of the Company on a fully-diluted basis.

“This is European Capital’s seventh One Stop Buyout™ and the fourth led by our London office. We have again demonstrated our ability to quickly conduct thorough due diligence and close a transaction in a timely manner by providing all of the capital for the transaction,” said Ira Wagner, President of European Capital Financial Services Limited ("European Capital Services"), the sub-investment manager of European Capital, and Chief Operating Officer of American Capital Strategies, Ltd. “We will be refinancing the senior debt in the transaction very quickly".

European Capital has invested approximately €1.6 billion ($2.2 billion) in the last twelve months, €764 million ($1 billion) year to date and €498 million ($670 million) quarter to date. For more information about European Capital’s portfolio, click here.

“We are investing in a rapidly growing company that already has a commanding share of the growing made-to-measure segment of the blinds market," said Giles Cheek, European Capital Director. “We are also supporting a very strong management team that has the knowledge and drive to build further on this excellent platform.”

“The scale of Hillarys’ business is such that it facilitates cost leadership and high margins, while also offering excellent value for money to its customers,” said Fergus Hall, European Capital Investment Director. “The in-home sales, measuring and fitting service that Hillarys delivers to its customers through its advisor network is an outstanding consumer proposition, which has increasingly underpinned the Company’s growth in an ever more service oriented market.”

Founded in 1971, Hillarys is the leading provider of made-to-measure (MTM) blinds in the UK. The Company’s wide range of MTM products includes roman, venetian, roller and vertical blinds. It also provides specialist products including conservatory blinds, shutters and awnings. Hillarys sells direct to consumers through a direct sales force and the web, to trade customers under the brand name Arena and to non-residential commercial customers through a separate division, Hcd. Hillarys is headquartered in Nottingham, UK and has assembly facilities in Nottingham and Washington, UK. It employs over 1000 people and also has a team of over 900 self-employed sales advisors.

“We are delighted that European Capital is investing in Hillarys,” said John Risman, Hillarys Blinds CEO. “European Capital quickly understood the strengths of the business and the numerous avenues for future growth and assembled an unbeatable financing package.”

“We are proud of what we have been able to achieve with Hillarys,” said Steven Petrow, Change Capital Partners Managing Director. “We have successfully sold a fantastic company with a great management team and excellent growth prospects. We identified early on several opportunities to improve the Hillarys business and to further strengthen the Company’s position as market leader and are pleased to have been able to support management in delivering the improvements.”
ABOUT EUROPEAN CAPITAL

European Capital is a closed-end investment company for pan-European equity, mezzanine and senior debt investments with capital resources of approximately €2.1 billion ($2.9 billion). European Capital invests in and sponsors management and employee buyouts, invests in private equity buyouts and provides capital directly to private and public companies headquartered predominantly in Europe. European Capital generally invests between €5 million and €500 million per transaction in equity, mezzanine debt and senior debt to fund growth, acquisitions and recapitalizations.

Companies interested in learning more about European Capital's flexible financing should contact Simon Henderson or Nathalie Faure Beaulieu in London at + 44 (0)20 7539 7000, Jean Eichenlaub at + 33 (0)1 40 68 06 66 in Paris, or Robert von Finckenstein at [phone] in Frankfurt or visit the website at www.EuropeanCapital.com.
ABOUT AMERICAN CAPITAL

American Capital Strategies Ltd. (Nasdaq: ACAS), an affiliate of European Capital, is the second largest U.S. publicly traded alternative asset manager with approximately $11 billion in assets under management (second to Fortress (NYSE: FIG)). American Capital, both directly and through its global asset management business, is an investor in management and employee buyouts, private equity buyouts, and early stage and mature private and public companies. American Capital provides senior debt, mezzanine debt and equity to fund growth, acquisitions, recapitalizations and securitizations. American Capital and its affiliates invest from $5 million to $800 million per company in North America and €5 million to €500 million per company in Europe.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The statements regarding expected results of European Capital and/or American Capital are subject to various factors and uncertainties, including the uncertainties associated with the timing of transaction closings, changes in interest rates, availability of transactions, changes in regional, national or international economic conditions, or changes in the conditions of the industries in which European Capital and/or American Capital has made investments.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities.
This announcement appears as a matter of record only.

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Thanks , Love from Johnny Risbridge (bonus pending!)

[thelloydgang]

HOw comes this post about the new owners has been read 86 times? There's only 25 members and the posts before this have only been read 2 and 4 times.
Just wondering how this works?

K ;D

[specialist]

magicmonkey said:

this one will die on it's backside now the other one is backonline

[thelloydgang]

specialist said:

magicmonkey said:

this one will die on it's backside now the other one is backonline

I don't think either of these sites are doing very well. Not many postings at all which is a real shame!

Why can't you let us know who your are Mr Blind Spot without us having to verify ourselves to you first? This Forum would easily take over the old one if you came out of the closet so to speak! ;D

Karen ;D

[Mr Blind Spot]

thelloydgang said:

specialist said:

I don't think either of these sites are doing very well. Not many postings at all which is a real shame!

Why can't you let us know who your are Mr Blind Spot without us having to verify ourselves to you first? This Forum would easily take over the old one if you came out of the closet so to speak! ;D

Karen ;D

Verification simply proves you are a current advisor (95%) it does not reveal your ID. That is something some on here decide to do themselves. Although most have an anonymous alter ego, so they can play "bad cop, good cop". I am happy, as I have said before, to answer any question, take any action that will prove I am a current advisor.

The other site, has a much bigger question mark hanging over it than this one, and seems to have died a death. This forum is young and has not really taken off yet.

However, maybe we misjudged the need for something like this, and the good it could do, maybe no-one really can be bothered.
Its a shame because then we go back to the old dark days, of Hillarys getting away with "divide and conquer" routines. Having different rules for different advisors, and keeping people in the dark.

If you want it, its here, as we said in the beginning its success or failure is up to you.

[dibs]

This forum looks great.

I hope it takes off, sadly I think the other has broken down.

Its good to have a voice, and the comfort of knowing we are not alone, and can support and protect each other.

Good luck! I will be looking in for sure.

[inkjet]

i am a little disapointed that moderators and the sites owners were playing good cops bad cops on the other Forum and having conversations with themselves.

I find that a bit sad

Possibly intentions were honerable to start a debate and create interest in the Forum, but i am not sure if i can trust any longer

[Mr Blind Spot]

inkjet said:

i am a little disapointed that moderators and the sites owners were playing good cops bad cops on the other Forum and having conversations with themselves.

I find that a bit sad

Possibly intentions were honerable to start a debate and create interest in the Forum, but i am not sure if i can trust any longer

Our intentions for this forum, is that all verified current Hillarys advisors may hold the position of moderator and be actively involved in its management, policing and direction. All verified staff will be consulted and have an active role, in any decisions that are made. Thus the forum is run democratically and all content is open to debate. All current and future verified members can say which boards they would like to see created or deleted, and what the rules are for this forum.

The more members we have in a verified and trusted position, the greater security and overall trust all this sites members can have in its integrity.

If you have a dislike/grudge for someone that has become verified, you have every right to place yourself in an equal position, with the same powers.

Many of the mistakes that were made elsewhere, have no bearing on this site, other than the fact that we are determined to learn from them and evolve to a higher level of service, fun and knowledge for all its members.

As for your accusations of what was said, or done on the other site, by verified members of this site, we honestly don't know if there is any truth in it. It has little bearing on the direction we are taking anyway.

As for us, one made irregular postings on the other site, all under the one name, the other was a member, but never posted as events on there made it prudent/beneficial not to.

We hold no prejudice against anyone, and again, openly invite you/anyone else, to become a verified member. If this is not for you then please stay and enjoy this forum. In an earlier posting you stated you were looking for an ex-Hillarys forum. We have created a board on here, for ex-Hillarys, and you are welcome to post there.

You and any other non-verified member can put forward any proposals for this site. You can expect an answer, from its staff members, after they have all considered its worth. There is a board for those suggestions.

What is there not to trust?

[owl]

It does not matter what went on elsewhere.

We are here, lets use it to stay together and keep informed.
Alone we are vulnerable.

[dibs]

owl said:

It does not matter what went on elsewhere.

We are here, lets use it to stay together and keep informed.
Alone we are vulnerable.

Totally agree.

[inkjet]

What I was not trusting is where aledgely members used different names to post not on this Forum but on the other, and by the sounds of it were senior members. Hopefully it will not happen on here.

I have no grudge against anyone including Hilliary's life is to short.

I do believe in Fair Dealing and everyone being straight forward and honest .

[Russell]

inkjet said:

What I was not trusting is where aledgely members used different names to post not on this Forum but on the other, and by the sounds of it were senior members. Hopefully it will not happen on here.

I have no grudge against anyone including Hilliary's life is to short.

I do believe in Fair Dealing and everyone being straight forward and honest .

Almost all members on the old forum had two names myself included ,In my case it was to hide my identity if I had a gripe against Hillary's or another poster I dont see any difference from that to someone who choses to remain anon .Hopefully this forum will be different and past fallouts shall be forgotten as a collective we have knowledge previously we did not.

[short memory]

May 31, 2007 22:45:54 GMT Mr Blind Spot said:

blindmansam said:

The forum here is a replacement for the departed advisoronline ?

Please state the intention of Hillarys Staff and Management Posting here , Or are they to be Excluded .

All new members should be vetted , if this is the case !

I enjoyed the advisoronline site very much, and read the posts almost daily.

We feel that site has lost its way a little, particularly with the unexplained shutdowns, Motters being no longer a Hillarys advisor and being harassed by them. Our position is as per original statement.

We want this site to be everything that site is/was? and more.

We feel vetting potential members at this stage would be detrimental to its growth.

As far as Hillarys staff posting/reading threads :- catch 22.

If we, collectively are unhappy with something and want action, the only way that it can happen, is, if they know about it. In return we get some disruptive posts (as per the other site) which are quite easy to spot and police. In the early days of the other site, there was some positive interaction, between what is now more commonly referred to as "us and them".

Personally I feel that it would be very difficult to satisfactorily vet those joining. Effective moderation of posts and members would go someway to maintain its purpose. It would be possible to have a second layer of boards/categories with a higher level of security/ vetting process.

The jury is still out on that one, we need your opinions and methods.

We also want this site, to be a fun, and friendly ( well, most of the time) place its members can enjoy.

We also, for all our benefits, old and new, wise and naive, need to heal some wounds.

Did you say "who is Motters " read YOUR above post xxx