The Blackstone Group, L.P. was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in New York, New York. The Blackstone Group L.P. (Blackstone) is a manager of private capital and provider of financial advisory services. The Company is an independent manager of private capital with assets under management of $98.2 billion, as of December 31, 2009. Blackstone provides a range of financial advisory services, including corporate and mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and reorganization and fund placement services. The Company operates in four segments: Private Equity, Real Estate, Credit and Marketable Alternatives, which consists of its management of funds of hedge funds, credit-oriented funds and separately managed accounts, CLOs and publicly-traded closed-end mutual funds, and Financial Advisory, which consists of its corporate and mergers and acquisitions advisory services, restructuring and reorganization advisory services and Park Hill Group, which provides fund placement services for alternative investment funds.

Private Equity is the common term used to refer to a specific type of long-term investment activity. Typically private equity firms take a controlling stake in companies with a view to transforming their performance over a number of years such that they can be sold at a premium to the acquisition price. The private equity investor will generally be represented on the board of the company so that they can actively support management in determining the strategic direction of the business.Private equity investments can be sub-divided according to the size of the company acquired, its development stage and the type of financing provided by the private equity firm. The Permira funds are primarily involved in medium to large buy-outs. This means that they tend to acquire sizeable businesses with a long-standing trading history and a strong market position. In addition, private equity firms traditionally finance their acquisitions with a mix of equity, provided by their institutional investors, and debt.Private Equity ownership is recognised to offer a number of benefits, which stem from its long-term investment horizon and a governance structure which fully aligns management’s and shareholders’ interests for the long-term benefit of a company and its employees. For more details on the industry, please visit our 3rd Party Research section.

Audiolux luxuriates in Luxembourg-based investments -- including a number that deal in audio. The investment outfit takes minority stakes in media and communications companies, especially those headquartered in its own tiny grand duchy. Audiolux invests in both startups and more advanced companies; it has taken stakes in SES Global, RTL Group, and Utopia, among others. In some cases, Audiolux takes an active advisory role as it helps to build the business of its portfolio companies. Financial firm Luxempart owns more than 70% of Audiolux.

Crowell Weedon & Co. was founded in 1932 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California with additional offices in Carlsbad, West Covina, Encino, Newport Beach, Pasadena, San Diego, La Jolla, and Long Beach, California. Crowell, Weedon & Co. (CWC) provides financial advisory and securities brokerage services. The firm’s services include financial planning, fee-based investment programs, customized retirement strategies, investment advisory, corporate finance, preferred and common stocks, and tax-deferred annuities and insurance.

Duke Street is a private equity firm specializing in acquisition, leveraged buyouts and buyins of established middle market companies, consolidation, turnaround, public to private transition, parent company distress, and buy and build investments. It does not invest in start-ups and early-stage companies. The firm prefers to invest in chemical; distribution; corporate services; business services and outsourcing; retail and consumer; food; industrial; healthcare; leisure; Biotechnology, Medical, Chemistry, New materials, and financial services. Within the business services and outsourcing sector, it focuses on public and private sector facilities management; white-collar engineering consultancy, particularly environmental; testing; outsourcing, particularly third party administration; waste management and recycling; and printing and packaging companies with strong intellectual property and significant service element. In the retail and consumer sector, the firm focuses on specialty retailers, chilled food manufacturers, and niche branded FMCG companies. Within the healthcare sector, it focuses on specialized healthcare service providers, producers of pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment manufacturers. In the leisure sector the firm focuses on health and fitness and sports companies, gaming, Continental European hotel groups, and niche tourism related companies.

KBC Ancora SCA is a Belgium-based company that holds approximately 23% of the shares in the listed KBC Group and, together with Cera SCRL, Maatschappij voor Roerend Bezit van de Boerenbond SCRL (MRBB) and other permanent shareholders, ensures the shareholder stability and continuity of KBC Group. KBC Group is a Belgian company that specializes in retail banking, insurance and asset management activities, as well as in the provision of services to businesses, principally in Belgium and Central and Eastern Europe. KBC Group is also active in private banking and services to businesses in other countries in Europe.

School Employees Retirement System of Ohio was formed in 1937 and is based in Columbus, Ohio. School Employees Retirement System of Ohio (SERS) provides pension, survivor, disability, and post-retirement health care benefits active and retired non-teaching public school employees of Ohio. As a limited partner, School Employees Retirement System of Ohio is a public pension fund with $8 billion in assets under management. The fund engages in the following alternative investment strategies: buyouts/corporate finance, international private equity, and venture capital. It has a net internal rate of return target of the S&P 500 + 3%. The fund allocates 1% to 5% of its total assets to alternative investments.

Equity International is a privately held investment company focused exclusively on real estate-related businesses operating outside of the United States. Through our global reach, unique approach and track record, Equity International (EI) is recognized as a leading international investor, operator and partner of choice. Our multi-dimensional capabilities, including accessing the public equity market, have established our strong reputation and brand value. We are a creator and builder of companies, not merely an investor.Equity International was co-founded by Sam Zell and Gary Garrabrant in 1999 with the objective of generating superior investment returns through real estate operating expertise, the creation of enterprise value and exceptional access to capital. We manage risk through co-investment with outstanding operating partners, focusing on scalable platforms and creating multiple exit options. Equity International capitalizes on major trends such as growth of the middle class in emerging markets, monetization of corporate property, and broadening equity and debt securitization. We are an active investor, contributing well beyond our capital, to optimize the value and liquidity of every portfolio company.

Kelso & Company was founded in 1971 and is based in New York, New York. Kelso & Company is a private equity firm specializing in leveraged acquisitions and management buyouts and purchase of significant ownership of private companies, divisions, or subsidiaries of public or private companies; public companies through recapitalizations or going private transactions. The firm also seeks to purchase significant blocks of stock from public or private companies seeking equity capital or persons seeking liquidity. It does not pursue hostile transactions, substantial dismantling or liquidation of companies, and break-up opportunities. The firm invests for a period of over five years and exits its investments through an IPO, recapitalization, or strategic sale. It takes a board seat and usually has control through majority ownership in its portfolio companies. The firm can also make minority investments in conjunction with board representation or other significant shareholders' rights, or may join with other investors as a member of a control group.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. was established in 1978 and is based in New York, New York with additional offices in George Town, Cayman Islands and London, United Kingdom. Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. is a private equity firm specializing in buyouts, acquisitions, and growth capital financings of mature and underperforming companies. The firm does not invest in middle market. It invests in the manufacturing, services, and information technology sectors. The firm invests in companies based in United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy. It also identifies and evaluates potential opportunities in France and the Benelux countries. The firm focuses on non-core divisions of large corporations.

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