The Carlyle Group Names Brett Wyard a Co-head of Distressed Investment Team

Washington, DC – Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today named Brett G. Wyard Managing Director and a Co-head of Carlyle Strategic Partners (CSP), which makes marketable and control-oriented investments in distressed securities. Mr. Wyard comes from Oaktree Capital Management, where he was a Managing Director in the Corporate Opportunities Group. He will begin his duties in October 2005.

Carlyle Strategic Partners invests in distressed debt and securities and leverages Carlyle’s buyout expertise and high yield capability to effect control equity positions at a discount to purchase prices achievable in competitively auctioned situations. Raymond A. Whiteman, Managing Director and a Co-head of CSP, said, "Brett’s distressed trading experience, successful track record and the numerous contacts that he has developed over the last decade will clearly position CSP for continued success."

Michael J. Zupon, Managing Director and Head of the Leveraged Finance group, said, "I am pleased to welcome Brett to the Leveraged Finance group. We expect the current easy money environment will create a significant amount of attractive investment opportunities in distressed securities in the coming months and years. Brett’s extensive experience in this area will enable us to increase our investments in discounted securities and enhance our pipeline of potential control investments."

Mr. Wyard said, "I welcome this opportunity to help grow Carlyle’s distressed investment activities. The fund has a strong foundation and I look forward to working with the team to build upon it."

Brett Wyard

Mr. Wyard joined Oaktree Capital Management, LLC in 1999. He was a senior member of a team that managed $3.3 billion of invested capital in special situation, distressed debt and private equity investments. Mr. Wyard provided the buy and sell recommendations on managed positions and provided the ongoing coverage of those positions as well as fulfilled the workout, transactional, restructuring and corporate governance responsibilities associated with certain positions. Mr. Wyard opened and managed the Frankfurt office since early 2004.

Prior to Oaktree, Mr. Wyard was a Vice President in the Global Special Situations Group at Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. In that capacity, Mr. Wyard provided valuation analysis and trading recommendations on Merrill Lynch’s special situation proprietary investments. He also served on creditor steering committees in restructuring transactions.

From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Wyard was in the Financial Restructuring Group at Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin where he advised on more than $3.5 billion in restructuring transactions and $1 billion in merger & acquisition transactions.

Mr. Wyard is on the Board of Directors of Pinnacle Foods and was formerly on the Board of Directors of NTL Inc.

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