Eric Mason Joins The Carlyle Group as Managing Director to Establish Carlyle Leveraged Finance in Asia Pacific

Hong Kong/London/New York - Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today announced that Eric R. Mason will join Carlyle as Managing Director in the Leveraged Finance Group. Mr. Mason, currently Managing Director and Co-Head of JP Morgan Syndicated & Leveraged Finance Asia Pacific, will build Carlyle's Leveraged Finance business in Asia Pacific from his base in Hong Kong. Carlyle's Leveraged Finance Group manages more than US$8 billion in 15 high yield, mezzanine and distressed funds in the U.S. and European markets. Mr. Mason will begin his duties in June.

Mr. Mason comes to Carlyle from JP Morgan Securities Asia, which has an established leveraged finance business in the region. Mr. Mason has been with JP Morgan and its legacy firms since 1995 in New York, Singapore and Hong Kong. Since 1999, based in Hong Kong, Mr. Mason has pioneered many landmark leveraged finance deals across the region. He has been primarily responsible for structuring and leading the execution of financial sponsor related leveraged buy-outs (LBOs), high yield bonds and mezzanine debt. Prior to 1999, Mr. Mason held senior positions at Chase Manhattan Bank based in Singapore in Global Syndicated and Project Finance as well as Global Power Investment Banking.

Mike Ramsay, Managing Director and Head of Carlyle's European Leveraged Finance business said, "We are delighted to welcome Eric to the firm; his energy and expertise will prove invaluable as we extend our successful business model to Asia. Since establishing Carlyle Leveraged Finance in 1999, we have witnessed fantastic growth and opportunity. With a robust infrastructure, proven track record and Eric at the helm, Carlyle is well placed to further develop the burgeoning Asian leveraged finance markets."

Michael J. Zupon, Managing Director and Head of Carlyle's U.S. Leveraged Finance Group said, "Eric brings to Carlyle more than 11 years of experience in Asian debt capital markets. His relationships with financial sponsors and major debt providers are outstanding and he has personally led some of the region's largest and precedent setting LBOs. Carlyle has an exceptionally broad and mature leveraged finance offering, encompassing both high yield, distressed and mezzanine funds. As the Asian market evolves, it is a natural step for us to take our leveraged finance business global."

Mr. Mason earned a Masters of International Affairs with concentrations in finance and Chinese studies from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and International Affairs from the University of Delaware.