The Carlyle Group acquires 42% stake in Alamar Foods, operator of Domino’s Pizza and Wendy’s restaurants throughout MENA and producer of food products for the casual dining restaurant industry

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today announced it has acquired a 42% stake in Alamar Foods from the Al Jammaz family of Saudi Arabia, which will continue to hold a majority stake. The transaction closed on December 14, 2011. Additional financial details were not released. Alamar is a master franchise operator of Domino’s pizza and Wendy’s hamburgers for the MENA region (except for Wendy’s in Saudi Arabia ) with 185 restaurants across 11 countries; and a food processor supplying the quick service and casual dining restaurant industry selling under the “Premier” brand. Abdulaziz Al Jammaz, Chairman of Alamar, said: “We are proud of our achievements over the past 20 years. The company has demonstrated excellent performance and growth. Carlyle has a strong understanding of our business and shares our vision. Our mutual priority will be to maintain our high level of customer satisfaction as this is integral to our success.” Walid Musallam, Carlyle Managing Director and Head of Carlyle MENA Partners, said: "The food sector in the MENA region is well-established and growing, especially for popular brands such as Domino’s and Wendy’s. Alamar’s strong market position and clear growth strategy give it great potential. We fully endorse their business model and support their strategy to invest in, and scale up, their Premier food business, while expanding Domino’s and Wendy’s footprint across the region.” The casual dining market in the Middle East shows compelling investment characteristics, including consistently robust GDP growth, extensive business, leisure and religious tourism initiatives and a young and growing population with a high disposable income. The young population is well travelled and exposed to a variety of cuisines and eating habits, while foreign workers and tourists look for familiar, global food options, creating a higher demand for western and European chains and franchises across the region. In Saudi Arabia specifically, these factors have led to significant growth rates of consumer expenditure on food: 6.6% in 2009 and 5% in 2010. Quick service restaurant sales are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% between 2010 and 2014. Alamar has 176 corporate and franchised Domino’s restaurants in 11 countries, including 75 in Saudi Arabia. In 2011, the Company was awarded the master franchise for Wendy’s for the MENA region (excluding Saudi Arabia), and operates nine restaurants in the UAE through a sub-franchise arrangement. Premier, Alamar’s food processing business, was established in 2001 and is also based in Saudi Arabia. Premier is a regional pioneer in the food processing industry catering to international and local quick service and casual dining restaurant chains. Firas Nasir, Managing Director responsible for GCC investments within Carlyle MENA, said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to invest in Alamar Foods and to work alongside its talented management team. The group has built an exceptional company over the years and we look forward to contributing to its future success.” Carlyle’s investment in Alamar Foods underscores the firm’s commitment to the MENA region. Equity for this investment will come from Carlyle MENA Partners, L.P., a $500 million growth capital and buyout fund established in March 2009, as well as from Carlyle MENA (GCC) Partners, L.P., a fund established in June 2011. Previous investments made by Carlyle MENA include: The General Lighting Company, Saudi Arabia’s largest lighting fixture manufacturer, in March 2010; and Medical Park, Turkey’s second largest healthcare group, in December 2009. Expertise in Food Industry Carlyle has significant, global experience in the food industry and in franchise chains including investments in: Dunkin' Brands, Inc., a premier franchisor of quick service restaurant concepts under the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins brands; Babela Restaurant Management Co. Ltd., a fast-growing Italian-style restaurant chain; China Fishery Group Limited, a global industrial fishing company focused on the harvesting, processing and distribution of fish; and DIO F&B Co., Ltd., the largest coffee shop, leisure dining food and beverage chain in China. Commitment to Emerging Markets Carlyle is committed to investing in developing markets. In 2011, Carlyle launched a team to focus on investment opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Carlyle has made over 100 investments in Asia’s Emerging Markets to date, including 55 in China and 25 in India. The firm has formed strategic relationships with the Municipal Government in Beijing and Fosun Group in Shanghai on the formation of RMB funds. Carlyle also invests in Latin America and completed its 7th deal in Brazil in 2011. * * * * * Carlyle MENA Partners Carlyle's MENA team was established in 2007 to invest primarily in healthy, growing companies. Carlyle's team of 10 investment professionals targets investments in Turkey, the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia), and the Levant (Lebanon and Jordan). The team leverages Carlyle's expertise in various sectors, including consumer products, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunication and transportation. The Carlyle Group The Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset manager with $148 billion of assets under management in 89 active funds and 52 fund of fund vehicles as of September 30, 2011. 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 developed 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 more than 1,200 people in 33 offices across six continents. Web: www.carlyle.com Video: www.youtube.com/OneCarlyle Contact: Rosanna Konarzewski +44 (0) 20 7894 1632