Can Deldağ Named Managing Director on New MENA Team; Former Head of M&A at Ernst & Young Will Advise on Investments in Turkey

Washington, DC – Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today announced that Can Deldağ will join the new Middle East and North Africa (MENA) team as a Managing Director advising on investments in Turkey. Mr. Deldağ was previously a Partner at Ernst & Young. He will be based in Istanbul and begins his duties on March 12, 2007.

Managing Director and Head of the MENA team Walid Musallam said, "Can's hiring fills out our senior management team, joining colleagues in Cairo and Dubai. Can brings significant M&Amp;A expertise, sector knowledge and a track record of success in Turkey."

Mr. Deldağ said, "I am excited to help establish the Carlyle MENA team. Carlyle’s entry to Turkey is a strong indicator of increasing confidence of global capital towards the investment environment in Turkey. Private equity investments in Turkey will benefit from the Carlyle global platform and significant sector expertise."

Carlyle’s MENA team will invest primarily in healthy, growing companies. From offices in Cairo, Dubai and Istanbul, the team will leverage Carlyle’s expertise in various sectors, including energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, infrastructure, technology and transportation.

Mr. Deldağ will advise on Carlyle’s investment activities in Turkey. Carlyle recently announced the addition of Hassan El-Khatib as Managing Director in Egypt. Investments are expected to include leveraged buyouts, growth capital, majority and minority stakes in private companies and stakes in public companies.

Mr. Deldağ joins Carlyle from his position at Ernst & Young where he joined in 2002 , following the merger of Ernst & Young and Andersen, as Head of Transaction Advisory Services for Turkey and Head of M&Amp;A Services for South East Europe. Mr. Deldağ worked across sectors specializing in telecom and energy, growing the South East M&Amp;A division to the largest M&Amp;A team in Turkey. Mr. Deldağ was responsible for all transaction advisory services of Ernst & Young Turkey including M&Amp;A valuation, due diligence, project finance and transaction integration. Mr. Deldağ was also a member of the Executive Committee of Ernst & Young Turkey and the Partner Advisory Board of Ernst & Young Continental Western European Area. Prior to this merger, Mr. Deldağ had been heading the M&Amp;A Division in Andersen.

Mr. Deldağ began his career with Arthur Andersen in 1989; in 2000 he was named a Worldwide Partner and Head of M&Amp;A for Turkey and the Balkan region including Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia, and remained in this capacity until 2002.

Mr. Deldağ earned a degree in management engineering from Istanbul Technical University.