The Carlyle Group

What The Carlyle Group does

The Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset manager founded in 1987 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., operating across three reportable segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest (which manages the firm's fund-of-funds, secondary, and co-investment mandates). The firm invests across buyouts, growth equity, credit, real assets, and infrastructure, managing approximately $475 billion in assets under management through 678 investment vehicles and 277 portfolio companies, supported by 2,500+ professionals across 28 offices on four continents. Its investor base is dominated by institutional limited partners — pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and insurance companies — augmented by a growing wealth management channel following the 2026 acquisition of MAI Capital Management and the ABC [ONE] defined-contribution partnership with AllianceBernstein and Brookfield.

Carlyle generates revenue through two primary mechanisms: recurring management fees on committed and invested capital across its funds, and performance fees (carried interest and incentive fees) tied to the realization of investment gains. Q1 2026 results illustrate the model: $750.9 million in total revenue (down 28% year-over-year), $300 million of fee-related earnings at a 47% margin, $327 million of distributable earnings ($0.89 per share), $13 billion of new capital raised, and over $12 billion of U.S. buyout realizations in a single quarter. Recent strategic activity includes the €7.7 billion carve-out of BASF's Coatings business with Qatar Investment Authority, the launch of Carlyle Partners IX (~$15 billion target) and a dedicated $2.5–3 billion defense fund, divestitures of Flender (~$3.5B) and Vantage Group ($2.1B), and platform expansions in healthcare RCM, aerospace and defense, and Asia-Pacific consumer (KFC Korea, Chung Ho Nais).

The firm's technology and operating platform increasingly incorporates AI and digital infrastructure, including the Knack RCM/EqualizeRCM AI healthcare platform, a Climate Risk Framework built with Marsh McLennan, and exploration of blockchain tokenization for fund interests. These capabilities are organized under dedicated digital leadership (Chief Digital Officer Matt Anderson, Applied AI Lead Dean Barr) and are positioned as portfolio enhancement and underwriting-support tools rather than as standalone product offerings. Carlyle is publicly listed on NASDAQ under ticker CG.

Name

The Carlyle Group

Legal name

The Carlyle Group

Website

https://carlyle.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset manager with $475B AUM operating across Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and AlpInvest, serving institutional LPs and a growing wealth channel through 678 investment vehicles and 28 offices worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity and Alternative Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)

SIC

Finance Services (6199), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG), Real Estate Capital Markets Advisory (Debt/Equity Placement, Refinancing) (BPAJANAE)

Keywords

• Private equity investing
• Alternative asset management
• Global credit solutions
• Institutional investment management
• Private market strategies

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices25 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Carlyle earns management fees based on assets under management across its investment vehicles. For Q1 2026, the firm reported fee-related earnings of $300 million at a 47% margin.
2. Performance Revenues / Carried Interest: Carlyle earns carried interest (performance fees) when investment returns exceed specified thresholds. Q1 2026 saw record U.S. buyout realizations exceeding $12 billion.
3. Transaction and Advisory Fees: Fees from advisory services, transaction structuring, and portfolio company services across M&A, divestitures, and capital markets activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Carlyle Group is a global investment management firm managing $475 billion in assets under management across three primary segments: Global Private Equity (corporate buyouts and growth investments), Global Credit (flexible credit solutions across the capital structure), and Carlyle AlpInvest (primary funds, co-investments, and secondary solutions). The firm invests in and operates 277 portfolio companies through 678 investment vehicles, serving institutional investors, financial advisors, and high-net-worth individuals. Carlyle also delivers specialized platforms including Carlyle Aviation Partners, Carlyle Secured Lending (CSL), and wealth management through MAI Capital Management.

Product overview

The Carlyle Group is a global private investment firm that offers investment management services through three primary business segments: Global Private Equity (investing in corporate private equity across industries and geographies), Global Credit (providing flexible credit solutions across the capital structure), and Carlyle AlpInvest (access to private equity primary funds, co-investments, and secondaries through a global network of partners). These are investment platforms and fund management services, not standalone software products. Carlyle does not offer a unified software product with modules or sub-products; rather, it provides investment strategies and vehicles through which institutional investors, financial advisors, and portfolio companies access private markets. The firm's offerings include 678 investment vehicles managing assets across various fund types, strategies, and geographies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carlyle AlpInvest: Private equity primary fund, co-investment, and secondary solutions platform
• Carlyle Aviation Partners
• Carlyle Secured Lending (CSL)
• Carlyle Credit Solutions (CARS)
• Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund (CTAC)
• Carlyle Partners
• ABC [ONE]

Products and services

• Global Private Equity Carlyle's Global Private Equity platform partners with management teams to help businesses scale, transform, and compete, combining deep sector expertise with regional execution to support long-term value creation through buyouts, growth capital, and strategic investments.
• Global Credit Carlyle's Global Credit platform offers flexible solutions across the capital structure, providing borrowers with scale and certainty, while helping investors access differentiated income and risk-adjusted returns through direct lending, credit opportunities, liquid credit, asset-backed finance, and insurance solutions.
• Carlyle AlpInvest Carlyle AlpInvest provides access to investment opportunities and liquidity solutions across a global network of partners and utilizes market intelligence to drive informed value creation through primary fund investing, co-investments, and secondaries.
• Carlyle Tactical Private Credit Fund (CTAC)
• ETAC
• Carlyle Credit Solutions Inc. (CARS)
• Carlyle Secured Lending Inc. (CSL)
• Carlyle Credit Income Fund (CCIF)
• CPEP (Carlyle Private Equity Fund)
• CPEP SICAV
• CAPM
• CAPM SICAV
• CAPS
• CAPS SICAV
• Global Portfolio Solutions
• LP Connect Investor Portal
• ABC [ONE] Turnkey Private Markets Solution
• MAI Capital Management Wealth Management Services
• Carlyle Aviation Partners
• AI-Driven Healthcare Revenue Cycle Management Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• $475 billion AUM as of Q1 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Marsh McLennancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Carlyle developed climate risk framework in partnership with insurance broker Marsh McLennan, enabling portfolio managers to price climate resilience into asset valuations and negotiate better insurance terms.
• Content PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Content Partners and Carlyle Global Credit closed a single-asset continuation vehicle for Content Partners' film and TV content portfolio. Content Partners manages 800+ motion pictures and 3,000+ hours of television content.
• AllianceBernsteincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026AllianceBernstein, Brookfield, and Carlyle launched ABC [ONE], a turnkey private markets solution for defined contribution retirement plans. AB manages overall allocation and private credit, Brookfield handles private real assets, Carlyle manages private equity component.
• Brookfield Asset ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026AllianceBernstein, Brookfield, and Carlyle launched ABC [ONE] turnkey private markets solution for DC plans with dynamic allocation across private credit, real assets, and private equity based on participants' retirement stage.
• Oracle Red Bull RacingcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Since 2025, Carlyle is Oracle Red Bull Racing's exclusive partner in the investment management industry, marking the first partnership between a Formula 1 team and major global private markets firm. Focus on technology, data-driven collaborations, and broadening access to motorsport and private markets.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bain Capital: Major global private equity firm with diversified strategies across buyout, credit, and venture. Comparable scale and product breadth to Carlyle; competes for institutional LP mandates and large-cap buyout transactions across North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Apollo Global Management: Major alternative asset manager with leading private credit franchise and insurance-linked capital (Athene). Closely comparable to Carlyle's Global Credit and Insurance Solutions segments; competes on large leveraged buyouts and hybrid capital solutions.
• Brookfield Asset Management: Alternative asset manager with leading infrastructure and real estate franchises. Direct partner of Carlyle in ABC [ONE] DC plan product; also a competitor for large infrastructure, renewable energy, and real assets deals where Carlyle deploys through its infrastructure and real estate platforms.
• Ares Management: Leading alternative asset manager with a dominant direct lending and private credit franchise. Direct competitor to Carlyle's Global Credit platform and Carlyle Secured Lending (CSL); both firms target similar U.S. middle-market and large-cap credit opportunities.
• TPG: Public alternative asset manager with PE, credit, real estate, and impact investing strategies. Comparable to Carlyle in flagship buyout fundraising and sector-led investing; competes in healthcare, technology, and energy transitions.
• KKR: Global alternative asset manager with comparable three-pillar platform (PE, Credit, Real Assets). Directly competes with Carlyle in middle-market and large-cap buyouts, private credit, and infrastructure fundraising; co-invested with Carlyle in the Nxtra Data round.
• Blackstone: Largest global alternative asset manager with $1T+ AUM across PE, credit, real estate, and hedge funds. Direct competitor to Carlyle in flagship buyout, private credit, and wealth channels; competes head-to-head on the largest global carve-outs and LP mandates.

Regional players

• EQT: European-headquartered alternative asset manager with strong focus on private capital, growth, and infrastructure. Comparable to Carlyle's European PE and infrastructure franchises but with a primarily European LP base and operational footprint.
• CVC Capital Partners: European-led global private equity firm with broad sector coverage across buyout and credit. Comparable platform breadth to Carlyle but with predominantly European institutional LP base; competes on large European buyouts and secondaries.

Others

• Hellman & Friedman: Large-cap focused private equity firm with concentrated North American and European platform. Co-owned Vantage Group Holdings with Carlyle and co-invested in various transactions; comparable in deal size and sector focus (technology, financial services, healthcare) but less diversified by strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OneCarlyle
• YouTubeyoutube.com/onecarlyle
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-carlyle-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/onecarlyle
• Facebookfacebook.com/onecarlyle

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A228 records

Investments355 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Carlyle Group