Carlyle expected to seal Tamoil acquisition

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. private equity firm Carlyle Group (CYL.UL: Quote, Profile, Research) is expected to buy Libya's European oil company Tamoil, Britain's The Business newspaper reported on Sunday, citing a source close to the deal.

It said Carlyle Group had beaten Polish tycoon Jan Kulczyk and an investment fund from the United Arab Emirates in the final round of the long-running auction.

The newspaper said the acquisition would mark a change in the scale of Carlyle's European refining interests, which until now revolved around Petroplus, the independent refiner it bought in partnership with US fund Riverstone last year.

"The Business understands that Carlyle's bankers expect to sign a deal this week, after entering exclusive talks the week before last," the report said.

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