News Release

The Carlyle Group Enters into Exclusive Discussions to Acquire a majority Stake in Homair Vacances, a Pan-European Leisure Outdoor Accommodation Group

2014-047

Paris, France – Global alternative asset manager, The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG) today announces it has entered into exclusive discussions to acquire a majority controlling stake in outdoor accommodation group Homair Vacances (ALHOM), alongside with Montefiore Investment. These exclusive discussions take place after Homair announced the acquisition of Eurocamp from Holidaybreak, creating a pan-European outdoor accommodation and holiday group. The combined group will operate over 15,000 mobile homes across almost 300 campsites. The campsites are mainly located in France, Italy and Spain, while customers come from all over Europe, notably including the UK, France, Benelux and Germany. Montefiore Investment would retain a minority stake in the combined entity.


Both Homair and Eurocamp are focused on the high end of outdoor holiday accommodation. The combined group intends to leverage their respective strengths to further improve customer experience and broaden its offering in the core French market through partnerships with campsites owners and acquisition of campsites, while accelerating growth in other European countries.


Jonathan Zafrani, Managing Director at The Carlyle Group, commented: “Both Homair and Eurocamp are successful and appealing brands. Homair in particular has demonstrated outstanding performance over the last few years”. Pierre-Olivier Desplanches, Director at The Carlyle Group, added: “We also expect significant value creation from the combining of the two companies through driving their respective best practices and customer experience within the sector.”


Alain Calme, Chief Executive Officer of Homair, said: “We are deeply proud of Homair Vacances’ achievements to date and we believe Carlyle’s support in the future would facilitate growth and our value creation plans. We believe the potential for growth is exceptional, both organically and via further acquisitions. We look forward to working with Carlyle and Montefiore to help us grow our business profitably.”


The equity for the Homair transaction would come from Carlyle Europe Partners IV (CEP IV) and Montefiore Investment. CEP IV is a European fund that focuses on buyout opportunities in the upper-mid market. This would be the second investment by CEP IV.


Carlyle is being advised on the Homair transaction by DC Advisory for M&A, Accuracy for Finance, with Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Landwell & Associés acting as legal advisors.


Further financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.


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About Homair Vacances
Homair Vacances (ALHOM) has specialized in the outdoor accommodation market for over 20 years and is a major provider of European outdoor holidays. It has two established brands (Homair and Al Fresco), nearly 8,600 mobile homes and 100,000 families hosted annually on Homair campsites.


Post-acquisition of Eurocamp, Homair will own over 15,000 mobile homes in almost 300 campsites.
Web: www.homair.com             


About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with approximately $199 billion of assets under management across 120 funds and 133 fund of funds vehicles as of March 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 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 1,600 people in 38 offices across six continents.


Web: www.carlyle.com  
Videos: www.youtube.com/onecarlyle
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary


About Montefiore Investment
Montefiore Investment is an independent private equity firm, with a focus on Service businesses in France. Montefiore actively supports portfolio companies in their growth strategies, and brings to bear its sector expertise to successfully implement new developments. Based in Paris and lead by three Managing Partners, Eric BISMUTH, Daniel ELALOUF and Jean-Marc ESPALIOUX, Montefiore Investment has 500 million euros of equity under management. Among its investments: B&B Hotels, Homair Vacances, Auto Escape, Demos or BVA.


Web: www.montefiore.fr


Media Contacts:


The Carlyle Group
Catherine Armstrong
Catherine.armstrong@carlyle.com
+44 207 894 1632


Homair
THREECOFI
Corinne Haury
Relations Analystes/Investisseurs/Presse
corinne.haury@threecofi.com
T : +33 (0) 6 85 76 05 60


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