For immediate release on 4 December                                        
2009                                                                       
                                                                           
Candover 2008 Fund  - Update on status of standstill agreement             

On 7th October 2009 Candover Investments plc announced that the standstill
agreement relating to the suspension of the Candover 2008 Fund (the "Fund") was
to be extended to 4th December 2009 in order to allow discussions to continue
with Candover Partners Limited, the manager of the Fund, and the Limited
Partner investors with regard to the future of the Fund.

The proposal under discussion would result in the termination of the investment
period of the Fund. In addition the proposal includes the following key
elements:

  * The Fund's sole investment will remain Expro, the oil and gas services
    group.  Candover Partners Limited led the €2.6bn buyout of Expro in July
    2008, investing €195.3 million from the Candover 2005 Fund and €305.7
    million from the Candover 2008 Fund.
   
  * Candover 2008 Fund investor commitments will be scaled back pro rata
    subject to an appropriate follow-on reserve of €100 million, which together
    with follow-on financing from the Candover 2005 Fund, will allow Expro to
    continue to take advantage of market opportunities.  Candover Investments
    plc will not contribute to this follow-on reserve.
   
The effect of this will be to substantially reduce the size of the Fund and
release all investors (including Candover Investmentsplc) from a significant
proportion of their undrawn commitments. 

It has been agreed with the 2008 Fund Advisory Board that a short extension of
the standstill agreement relating to the suspension of the Fund up to
8thJanuary 2010 is required in order to allow these discussions to be
concluded.

Candover Investments plc is confident that these discussions are constructive
and continue to make progress.  A further announcement will be made on or
around 8thJanuary 2010.

Ends.

*Candover means Candover Investments plc and / or one or more of its       
subsidiaries, including Candover Partners Limited                          
as General Partner/Manager of the Candover 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2008 Funds.
                                                                           
For further information, please contact:                                   
                                                                           
Tulchan Communications                +44 20 7353 4200                     
                                                                           
Peter Hewer/Susanna Voyle