In Europe, Carlyle engages in buyout, technology, real estate and leveraged finance transactions. The firm's success is the result of a disciplined investment approach, consistency of decision-making, and the ability to recruit and retain a team of outstanding investment professionals. Carlyle takes a conservative approach to investing, focusing on industries it knows and in which it has a competitive advantage.

All European assets for buyout, technology and real estate funds are owned and managed from Luxembourg by dedicated teams.

Then, across the region, the firm has recruited to advise the funds investment professionals with a strong reputation in their local market and established contacts within senior business circles. As well as being sensitive to local business issues, investment professionals bring a unique global perspective of markets to bear on new investment opportunities.

Investment professionals aim to uncover investment opportunities in which Carlyle brings strong insight and understanding that can support the development of investments and assets to increase value for all shareholders.

Corporate investments across buyout and technology focus on backing strong management teams rather than Carlyle taking an operational role.

Carlyle Europe Partners I, II and III

The European buyout team advises three funds, Carlyle Europe Partners I, which was launched in 1998 with €1 billion in committed capital, Carlyle Europe Partners II, which was launched in 2003 with €1.8 billion in committed capital, and Carlyle Europe Partners III, which was launched in 2006 and has €5.4 billion in committed capital. The funds focus on partnerships with large industrial and services groups that seek to spin-off or accelerate the development of specific subsidiaries. The CEP team also works with European family businesses seeking to strengthen or grow operations. Investment focuses on the following industry sectors: automotive components, media and publishing, telecommunications, manufacturing, aerospace, building products, consumer, defense and chemicals. The European buyout team operates from London, Paris, Munich, Milan and Barcelona.

Carlyle Europe Technology Partners

Carlyle's European technology fund, Carlyle Europe Technology Partners (CETP), is dedicated to pan-European investment in technology companies. Launched in July 2005, the fund has €222 million in committed capital. Carlyle has a team of 11 investment professionals advising on the fund's investments. The team includes individuals from a large number of European countries and leverages Carlyle's network of European offices to maintain local presence. The fund focuses on investments in the technology, media and telecommunications sector and makes growth capital and small buyout investments.

Carlyle Europe Real Estate Partners I and II

The European real estate team advises two funds, Carlyle Europe Real Estate Partners I, with €436 million in committed capital, and Carlyle Europe Real Estate Partners II, launched in April 2005 with €760 million in committed capital.

The funds target opportunistic real estate investments in Europe. Carlyle's European real estate team invests in a variety of property including office, retail, residential and warehousing that can be repositioned by updating the existing physical structure as well as improving occupancy rates and rental yields. The team adopts a proactive and highly selective approach to acquisitions and asset management, investing in both existing structures and land for development. The fund has a dedicated asset management group working alongside the investment team and both are based in Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, London and Stockholm. This local coverage ensures they are well connected to the key European real estate and corporate communities.

Carlyle European Leveraged Finance

The European Leveraged Finance team currently manages 4 collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) totaling more than €1.6 billion and also manages other innovative fund structures to invest in subordinated debt. The funds are invested predominantly in Euro-denominated senior secured and mezzanine leveraged loans and high yield bonds. The European Leveraged Finance team is based in London.