Washington DC, 9 November 2009 

Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group, OpenLink Financial, and TA Associates today announced that Carlyle has agreed to purchase OpenLink Financial, a software developer for the commodity, energy and financial services industries, from TA Associates. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. 

Founded in 1992, OpenLink is a provider of cross-asset trading, risk management, and related portfolio management software solutions for the commodity, energy and financial services markets globally. OpenLink's blue chip client base of more than 150 customers worldwide includes twelve of the top twenty-five largest commodity and energy companies by market capitalization, eight of the largest financial institutions and eleven of the largest central banks, as well as major hedge funds and public utilities. Headquartered on Long Island, New York, and with offices in New York, Houston, London, Berlin, Vienna, São Paulo, Sydney, and Singapore, OpenLink has more than 785 employees worldwide.

Kevin Hesselbirg, CEO of OpenLink, said, "TA Associates has played a key role in the development of OpenLink, helping us to grow organically and evolve from our entrepreneurial roots. In this next phase of our journey, Carlyle's technology expertise and financial know-how will serve us well, particularly as we expand internationally and through acquisitions. We see a bright future for the continued growth of OpenLink, driven by the persistent expansion of demand in the industries we serve, as we deliver solutions to the world's leading energy, commodity and financial services companies who are our clients."

Kurt Jaggers, a Managing Director at TA Associates, said, "We enjoyed working with the entire management team and Board at OpenLink. This has been a truly successful relationship that has further accelerated OpenLink's growth." Added John Meeks, a Managing Director at TA Associates, "OpenLink is on a path for continued success and we wish them well."

Acquisition financing has been arranged by Bank of America Securities and Credit Suisse Securities. OpenLink Financial was advised by Morrison & Foerster and BofA Merrill Lynch. The Carlyle Group was advised by Alston & Bird and Credit Suisse. TA Associates was advised by Goodwin Procter.

Equity capital for this transaction will come from Carlyle Partners V, Carlyle's flagship $13.7 billion U.S. buyout fund, management, and Founder and Chairman Coleman Fung.

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