Carlyle Buys Stake In Jordanian Food Company Nabil

Private equity firm Carlyle Group LP said on Monday it had acquired a significant minority stake in Al-Nabil Food Industries Co. (Nabil), a Jordanian producer of frozen and chilled foods.

It said the investment was part of a focus on fast-growing consumer-oriented companies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Carlyle raised $500 million in 2007 for its debut fund in the region. The fund now has five companies in its portfolio including Saudi Arabia’s General Lighting Co. and Turkish lingerie and swimwear maker Penti.

Nabil Foods was formed in 1945 by the Rassam family, who will continue to hold a majority stake, Carlyle said in a statement.

Washington D.C.-based Carlyle’s assets under management were $176.3 billion at the end of March, up from $170.2 billion at the end of December. It raised $4.9 billion from fund investors during the first quarter, up from $2 billion a year ago.