Sao Paulo, Brazil – Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group today announced it has closed on two funds totaling  $1 billion in equity to make buyout and growth capital investments in Brazil and South America: Carlyle South America Buyout Fund (CSABF) at $776 million in total commitments, which is a pan-South America fund with its main focus in Brazil, and a fund raised in partnership with Banco do Brasil at R$360 million in total commitments (approximately $225 million), which will invest side-by-side with CSABF in deals in Brazil.

Fernando Borges, Carlyle Managing Director and Head of the South America Buyout team, said, “We are grateful for the support and confidence of our investors. Our ability to raise double our original fund target demonstrates the significant opportunity of the South America market. Broad economic trends, including the rising middle class, make South America in general and Brazil in particular a desirable investment destination.”

David M. Rubenstein, Managing Director and Co-founder of The Carlyle Group, said, “Fernando and his colleagues have done a spectacular job simultaneously raising and deploying capital. South America is a vital part of our broader emerging markets strategy.”

Established in 2008, the Carlyle South America team of nine professionals has already consummated three transactions, two in conjunction with other Carlyle funds, totaling nearly $1 billion in equity: CVC, the largest tour operator in Latin America; Qualicorp, a provider of health benefits management services; and Scalina, one of Brazil’s largest manufacturer and retailer of women’s hosiery and lingerie.

Carlyle has $14 billion in assets under management in emerging markets, including South America, Middle East North Africa and Asia.

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About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset manager with $107.6 billion of assets under management committed to 84 funds as of March 31, 2010. Carlyle invests across three segments - corporate private equity, real assets and global market strategies - in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America focusing on aerospace & defense, consumer & retail, energy & power, financial services, healthcare, industrial, infrastructure, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 990 people in 19 countries. Web: www.carlyle.com