News Release

The Carlyle Group Names Kunal Soni to Lead West Coast Origination for Middle Market Finance

2015-019

Direct Lending Industry Veteran to Join $2 Billion Platform Within Carlyle Global Market Strategies

New York – Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that Kunal Soni has joined the firm as Managing Director and will lead West Coast origination efforts for Carlyle GMS Finance, Inc., a Business Development Company, as well as its affiliated investment vehicle, NF Investment Corp.  Carlyle GMS Finance, Inc. and NF Investment Corp. are primarily focused on lending to private U.S. middle market companies, many controlled by private equity firms. In aggregate, Carlyle’s middle market investment team advised approximately $2 billion in assets under management across five funds as of December 31, 2014. 

Mr. Soni, 38, joins Carlyle from Medley Management, Inc., where he was Head of Direct Lending for the Western Region.  Mr. Soni began his duties this month and is based in Los Angeles. In his new role, Mr. Soni leads coverage of private equity firms on the West Coast for Carlyle’s Middle Market Finance platform.

Carlyle Managing Director and Carlyle GMS Finance, Inc.’s President Michael Hart said, “Kunal’s deep relationships with private equity firms on the West Coast further enhance our origination efforts as we continue to grow the business.  He brings significant experience in middle market credit with over 17 years in the industry.”

At Medley Management, Mr. Soni was a Managing Director, leading the direct lending business for the Western Region.  Prior to joining Medley, he was a Managing Director of THL Credit, where he led the sourcing, underwriting and account management of direct lending transactions for the Western Region. Earlier in his career, he worked in a variety of roles in the asset management industry, as well as in the Investment Banking Division of J.P. Morgan.  Mr. Soni earned his B.A. from Emory University. 

Carlyle’s Global Market Strategies platform had approximately $37 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2014. The platform includes: mezzanine and energy mezzanine loans; high yield and structured credit; distressed equity and debt; and four hedge fund strategies (long/short credit, emerging market equities, macroeconomic and commodities). The GMS platform has more than 150 investment professionals in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Hong Kong, and London.

* * * * *

About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $194 billion of assets under management across 128 funds and 142 fund of funds vehicles as of December 31, 2014. 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.

Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: http://www.carlyle.com/news-room/corporate-videos_new
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary

Contact:
Elizabeth Gill
+1-202-729-5385
elizabeth.gill@carlyle.com

# # #