By KKR Mar 04, 2019

On March 1, 2019, Private Equity International (“PEI”), a global industry trade publication, announced its 2018 winners of its annual industry awards. After a record number of votes, KKR earned Large-Cap Firm of the Year in Asia for the fifth time since 2013, Firm of the Year in South-East Asia for the third time and Firm of the Year in China.

“KKR has been vocal in its dedication to Asia and the role it sees the region playing for the firm over the long term,” PEI wrote on March 1. “With $9.3 billion of dry powder to put to work, KKR pulled off some landmark deals in 2018, including Taiwan’s first private equity take-private – of leading specialty chemicals producer LCY Chemical at a market cap of $1.6 billion – and one of India’s largest buyouts, the $510 million acquisition of Ramky Enviro Engineers.”

Ming Lu, Member and Head of KKR Asia, said of the awards, “Asia Pacific is a prominent destination for KKR as a global firm given the region’s diverse investment opportunities linked to trends such as rising consumption and urbanization in select emerging markets, as well as larger carve-out and cross-border transactions in countries such as Japan. We are pleased to have built a leading private equity franchise in the region, and looking ahead to 2019 and beyond, we look forward to expanding our presence across asset classes to even better provide solutions and flexible financing to companies and entrepreneurs. It’s an exciting time to be in Asia.”

Beyond the Asia Pacific region, “KKR – the most prolific winner among GPs for the second year running” also earned Healthcare Private Equity Firm of the Year award for the second time, following “headline-grabbing transactions across the globe last year” such as Envision Healthcare Corporation in the U.S. and SinoCare Group in China.

In addition, KKR received two awards from PEI's sister publications. Private Debt Investor (“PDI”) awarded KKR and others Distressed deal of the year for Gibson Brands. Private Equity Real Estate (“PERE”) awarded KKR for Capital Raise of the Year: North America for KKR Real Estate Partners Americas II.

The awards are voted and decided on by members of the global investment industry.