These five either sell performance-fee funds or supply capital to the business: American Capital, Apollo Investment Group, Blackstone Group, Fortress Investment Group and KKR.

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Among the likely investment candidates: Cerberus Capital, Apollo Management, the Carlyle Group and the Blackstone Group.

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These include companies like American Capital ( ACAS), Apollo Investment Corporation ( AINV), Fortress Investment Group ( FIG), Ares Capital ( ARCC) and Fifth Street Finance ( FSC).

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