The Carlyle Group announces completion of NBTY acquisition

Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group and NBTY, Inc., a leading global manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements, today announced that Carlyle has completed its $4 billion acquisition of NBTY.

Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, NBTY's stockholders are entitled to receive $55.00 in cash, without interest, less any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of NBTY common stock owned by them. As a result of the merger, NBTY's common stock will no longer be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Stockholders of record will receive a letter of transmittal and instructions on how to surrender their shares of NBTY common stock in exchange for the merger consideration. Stockholders of record should wait to receive the letter of transmittal before surrendering their shares.

Equity capital for the transaction came from Carlyle Partners V, a $13.7 billion U.S. buyout fund, and Carlyle Europe Partners III, a euro 5.4 billion European buyout fund, and debt financing was provided by a syndicate of banks led by BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse.

BofA Merrill Lynch and Centerview Partners LLC served as financial advisors to NBTY, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as legal advisor to NBTY. Barclays Capital and Credit Suisse served as financial advisors to Carlyle, and Latham & Watkins LLP served as Carlyle's legal advisor.