News Release

The Carlyle Group decides to launch voluntary takeover offer for German vwd group, a provider of customised information, communications and technology solutions for the securities market

2012-061

Carlyle’s global network and deep industry expertise will fuel growth in regulation and risk assessment and rating products and services 


Frankfurt – Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (CG:NASDAQ) today announced it decided to launch a voluntary takeover offer for all shares of vwd Vereinigte Wirtschaftsdienste AG (vwd group) at 2.80 per share. The offer price corresponds to a premium of approximately 35% on the weighted average market price during the last three months. Shareholders holding more than 90% of the shares in vwd group have already committed to tender their shares to Carlyle. Carlyle is acting jointly with vwd group shareholder Edmund J. Keferstein as well as Philipp Henrich and Prof. Dr. Lutz Johanning, manager and member of the supervisory board at EDG AG, respectively. EDG AG is a subsidiary of vwd group.


Equity for this investment will come primarily from Carlyle Europe Technology Partners II, a €530 million European growth capital fund.


Based in Frankfurt, vwd group is a full-service provider of market data and innovative applications for private and retail banking, and asset and wealth management. vwd group’s applications and services combine the streams of data produced by global financial markets into productive information that can be used for analysis and decision-making.It offers innovative solutions for financial service providers, corporates, media and private clients. Its subsidiary EDG AG (European Derivatives Group) is a provider of risk assessment and product ratings in Germany. vwd group was founded in 1949. In 2011, the group reported sales of €81 million and it has 465 employees.


Dr. Thorsten Dippel, Director at Carlyle, said, “Thanks to vwd group’s range of innovative products, it is well positioned in the market and we see further potential for sustainable and profitable growth in the areas of risk assessment and product ratings. These applications enable vwd group’s customers to comply with investors’ and regulatory requirements. vwd group is also well positioned to benefit from Carlyle’s international resources and our global network in vwd’s planned geographic expansion.”


Carlyle has extensive experience in the management of technology companies. Current investments in this sector include Belgian FRS Global, which specializes in financial regulatory and compliance reporting; ITRS Group, a UK-based provider of trade monitoring technology and services to the financial services sector; US-based OpenLink Financial, a software developer for the commodity, energy and financial services industries; and P&I Personal & Informatik AG in Wiesbaden, Germany, a supplier of integrated software solutions for human resources management.


Since 2002, the Carlyle technology investment team has acquired and invested in 25 small and medium sized companies, supporting their growth, expansion and business transformation initiatives.


 


*  *  *  *  *


Contacts:

The Carlyle Group Germany
Katharina Gebsattel – PN Kommunikation
+49 172 718 68 57
katharina.gebsattel@vub.de 


The Carlyle Group press office
Catherine ArmstrongMedia Relations Manager
+44 (0) 207 894 1632; +44 (0) 7880 006200
catherine.armstrong@carlyle.com


 


The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $156 billion of assets under management across 99 funds and 63 fund of fund vehicles as of June 30, 2012. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Fund of Funds 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, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs 1,300 people in 32 offices across six continents. www.carlyle.com; www.youtube.com/onecarlyle


vwd group
vwd group is a full-service provider of market data and innovative applications for Private Banking, Retail Banking, Asset Management and Wealth Management.  vwd group’s applications and services combine the streams of data produced by global financial markets into productive information that can be used for analysis and decision-making. For 60 years financial market experts and private investors have been using these solutions for their professional decisions on asset protection and growth in wealth. Vwd group brands include: vwd market manager, vwd portfolio manager, finanztreff.de, vwd fonds service, vwd portfolioNet, TradeLink, Tai-Pan and EDG Zertifikate Rating.  www.vwd.com


#  #  #