Carlyle : Announces Investment in Cap Vert Finance

In 2014, the company recycled 500 tons of IT equipment
Transaction values the company at €137m

Paris, France - Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG) today announced it has entered into an agreement with Eurazeo PME to take a majority shareholding in Cap Vert Finance, an IT hardware life-cycle management company based in France. The management team will retain a significant minority holding in the business and will continue to lead the company.

Equity for the transaction comes from Carlyle Europe Technology Partners III, a €656m Carlyle fund focused on European telecommunications, media and technology companies. The transaction is subject to anti-competition approval and it is expected to close at the end of July 2015. Further financial details were not disclosed.

Headquartered in Paris, Cap Vert employs around 250 people and operates in more than 110 countries. The company is active across the IT lifecycle management value chain through three areas: maintenance of servers, critical IT storage and networking equipment; hardware recycling and IT asset financing.

The services provided by Cap Vert have been instrumental in ensuring customers achieve a range of sustainability targets, including CO2 footprint reduction, useful life extension and full traceability of electronics equipment as imposed by European Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives. In 2014, the company recycled 500 tons of IT equipment, and has plans to increase this further.

Bruno Demolin, CEO of Cap Vert said: "We are excited to have Carlyle as our new partner, because they understand the technology sector well, and bring a wide range of experience that will help us expand the company. Their support will strengthen our offering in key international markets, including the US, and enable us to continue to make relevant acquisitions."

Pierre Meignen, Associate Director at Eurazeo PME, declared: "Assisting Cap Vert Finance in its international expansion has been a great joy for us. Thanks to the top-notch work of Bruno Demolin and his entire management team, the group demonstrated its ability to be a true European mid-cap company that was open to the world. The group that we will transfer to the Carlyle team, with whom it will be able to pursue its growth path both in France and internationally, is solid and responsible, and strengthened by the development of an ambitious and proactive CSR policy."

Vladimir Lasocki, Managing Director at The Carlyle Group said: "Cap Vert's characteristics make it a strong investment opportunity for Carlyle Europe Technology Partners III, not least its innovative service offering, unique expertise in managing and recycling of professional IT equipment, strong potential for international development, and the total dedication of its management team. We intend to combine The Carlyle Group's expertise and network with Cap Vert's business expertise in order to further the company's growth and to continue the excellent work of the Eurazeo PME team."

Carlyle was advised on the transaction by DLA Piper, Accuracy and Neovian Partners.

About Cap Vert Finance

Cap Vert Finance, a French company specializing in product life-cycle management of electronics infrastructures through a full range of services, from adjustable leases of new equipment to maintenance, repair and operations support, to remarketing (the recycling of equipment and components when contracts expire). Its 250 employees, of whom more than 75% are engineers, are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for all client facilities, in order to guarantee seamless operations and high-quality functioning for users through an approach that includes environmental protection and sustainable development, CVF generates one third of its revenues internationally through 14 foreign subsidiaries and deploys its services in over 110 countries throughout the world. In 2014, it generated €87 million in consolidated revenue.

About The Carlyle Group

The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $193 billion of assets under management across 130 funds and 156 fund of funds vehicles as of March 31, 2015. Carlyle's purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments - Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions - in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,650 people in 40 offices across six continents.

About Eurazeo PME:

Eurazeo PME is an investment firm and subsidiary of Eurazeo dedicated to majority investments in French SMEs with an enterprise value of less than €200 million. Eurazeo PME acts as a long-term shareholder, providing its portfolio companies with all the financial, human and organisational resources they need for a sustained transformation. Eurazeo PME guides its portfolio companies in creating sustained and, hence, responsible growth. This commitment is formalised and deployed through a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy. .

In 2014 Eurazeo PME generated €482 million in consolidated revenues and accompanied the development of nine companies: Dessange International, Léon de Bruxelles, Péters Surgical, Colisée Patrimoine, Idéal Résidences, Cap Vert Finance, Vignal Lighting Group and The Flexitallic Group, as well as Fondis Bioritech as a minority shareholder.

Media Contacts:
Carlyle
Catherine Armstrong
+44 20 7894 1632;
Catherine.Armstrong@carlyle.com

Eurazeo
Elisabeth Auclair
eauclair@eurazeo-pme.com
Tel : +33 (0)1 53 83 81 72