Pharmaceutical Product Development announced the completion of its acquisition by affiliates of The Carlyle Group and affiliates of Hellman & Friedman in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $3.9 billion.

The transaction was approved by PPD shareholders at a special meeting of shareholders held November 30, 2011. As a result of the merger, PPD’s common stock will no longer be listed for trading on NASDAQ.

PPD is a global contract research organization providing drug discovery, development and lifecycle management services.

The Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset manager with over $153 billion of assets under management across 86 funds and 49 fund of fund vehicles (as of June 30, 2011).

Since its founding in 1984, the private equity investment firm of Hellman & Friedman has raised and, through its affiliated funds, managed over $25 billion of committed capital.