Warburg Pincus Closes $2.5 Billion International Private Equity Fund

    NEW YORK, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Warburg Pincus announced the final
 closing of Warburg Pincus International Partners, L.P. (WPIP), a $2.5 billion
 private equity fund that will make venture capital and private equity
 investments in companies located outside of the United States.  WPIP - the
 largest fund of its kind according to Venture Economics - will invest
 alongside Warburg Pincus Equity Partners, L.P., the firm's $5 billion global
 private equity fund established in 1998.
     Warburg Pincus' domestic and international investments are focused in core
 areas of expertise: communications, consumer products and services, financial
 services, healthcare, information technology, the Internet, media and natural
 resources.  The fund will continue Warburg Pincus' long-standing practice of
 investing in companies at all stages of development, from venture capital
 start-ups, to developing companies, to buyouts and recapitalizations.
     Lionel I. Pincus, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said:  "Our new
 fund benefits from both our global network and our substantial expertise in
 specific countries and regions around the world.  As always, our approach will
 be to partner with talented management teams and utilize the skills of our
 professionals in the United States and internationally to produce significant
 long-term value for our investors."
     WPIP is the firm's second international private equity fund.  The first
 international fund, Warburg Pincus Ventures International, L.P., was formed
 with $800 million of capital in November 1997 and is now fully invested.  The
 firm has been making international investments since 1983.
     Warburg Pincus is a global private equity firm with approximately
 $12 billion under management in more than 165 companies around the world.  The
 firm has over 90 professionals with offices in New York, Silicon Valley,
 London, Munich, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Sao Paulo.  Since 1971,
 Warburg Pincus' eight prior funds have invested $11 billion in 420 companies -
 including approximately $3.4 billion invested in more than 80 companies in
 28 countries outside the United States.
 
 

SOURCE  Warburg Pincus