Industry Knowledge

When KKR was established, the concept of a management buyout was poorly understood by institutional investors, corporate managers, and Wall Street. There was limited capital for such transactions and no market for high-yield debt. Although capital for private equity transactions is abundant today, and countless individuals and institutions can run an LBO model, management teams need a partner who has more to offer than deep pockets.

One of KKR’s competitive advantages is deep industry expertise that enables the firm to identify attractive acquisitions and to increase their value though operational improvements. Our investment professionals are organized into nine primary industry groups globally:

• Chemicals
• Consumer Products
• Energy and Natural Resources
• Financial Services
• Health Care
• Industrial
• Media and Communications
• Retail
• Technology

The professionals in each of these groups have developed a network of industry experts and an in-depth understanding of their industry’s economic drivers, inherent risks, and opportunities for value creation. Each team is led by a member of the firm and staffed with three to five other KKR executives.