KKR, one of the world’s largest and most successful private equity firms, has completed buyout transactions that are among the most complex in history. The firm’s investment approach, however, is fundamentally simple: KKR acquires industry-leading companies and works with management to grow and improve them and thereby create shareholder value.

Established in 1976 and led by co-founding members Henry Kravis and George Roberts, KKR has completed more than 160 transactions with an aggregate enterprise value of over $410 billion. As of September 30, 2007, KKR's equity investments were valued at over $86 billion on over $39 billion of invested capital, a multiple of 2.2 times. Our investors include corporate and public pension plans, financial institutions, insurance companies, and university endowments.

The firm's success is based on the depth, breadth, and experience of our investment team – more than 100 professionals who come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from operational roles in major companies to positions as strategy consultants and specialists in corporate finance. The firm's 26 members are supported by an experienced team of managing directors, directors, principals, and associates.

The KKR investment team sources acquisitions, works with senior managers of our portfolio companies to design ways of growing and improving their business, determines the optimal capital structure to support a company’s business strategy, provides access to a global network of resources that strengthen operational execution, and realizes value for investors when exiting a company.

Convinced that creating long-term value requires detailed industry knowledge and operational expertise, KKR organizes its investment professionals into nine primary industry groups globally. The professionals in each group have developed a network of industry experts and an in-depth understanding of their industry’s economic drivers, inherent risks, and opportunities for growth and improvement.

KKR’s relationship with its portfolio companies is generally long term. We commit our own capital to every transaction and partner with senior managers, who invest a substantial portion of their own net worth in their business.

KKR investment professionals are proactive board members who understand that managers need operational autonomy. We want the managers of our portfolio companies to own the results of their decisions.

KKR portfolio companies assume prudent levels of debt that enable them to invest for growth and weather economic downturns. The firm's investment professionals work closely with management to develop operating budgets that support research and development, capital spending, and acquisitions.

A global firm with offices in New York, Menlo Park, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo, KKR operates as a single firm with a single culture. We share common attitudes, values, and practices and have created an environment that promotes teamwork.

Our investment professionals adhere to the highest ethical standards, and our growing global presence is built upon a philosophy that embraces the cultures of the diverse geographies in which we operate.

For a list of KKR industry firsts, click here.