UPDATE 1-Carlyle nears $3 bln-plus deal for Illinois Tool unit-sources
February 06, 2014 at 15:13 PM EST
NEW YORK, Feb 6 (Reuters) - nPrivate equity firm Carlyle Group LP is close to reaching an agreement to buy Illinois Tool Works Inc's industrial packaging unit for more than $3 billion, and could announce the deal as soon as Thursday, people familiar with the matter said.