Carlyle Group is nearing an agreement to buy AlpInvest Partners, a Dutch asset manager that has invested more than €40 billion ($52 billion) for clients in private equity funds, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions.
Carlyle may sign a deal as early as next month, the people said, asking not to be identified because the talks are private. Executives at the buyout firm have informed their limited partners about the talks because a takeover of the Amsterdam-based fund of funds may make Carlyle a competitor for some of its investors.
Carlyle agreed earlier this month to buy a majority stake in Claren Road Asset Management, a $4.5 billion long/short hedge fund focused on liquid credit assets, as it seeks to move into new markets and win clients.
AlpInvest has invested with more than 200 private equity managers, according to its website, including TPG, KKR and Blackstone Group, the largest buyout firm.
Iain Leigh, a managing partner for AlpInvest, and Christopher Ullman, a spokesman for Carlyle, declined to comment.
Carlyle is expanding beyond traditional buyouts as it prepares to join Blackstone and KKR in going public. Carlyle may file papers for an IPO late in 2011, people with knowledge of the matter said this month. The stock sale may not occur until the following year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private.
