KKR Completes First 'Asia Credit Fund' Raising... $1.1 Billion 규모

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] Global investment firm KKR announced on the 25th that it has completed the final closing of its Asia Credit Opportunities Fund, raising approximately USD 1.1 billion.

Ming Lu, KKR Asia Pacific Head, stated, "KKR's credit strategy is highly complementary to the equity strategies we have executed in the Asia region so far," adding, "The closing of this fund marks a milestone achievement for us as we continue to provide investment capabilities and capital solutions across asset classes in the Asia-Pacific region."

He further explained, "Asia continues to benefit from favorable macroeconomic trends and long-term growth. However, the financing options available to companies trying to keep pace with this rapid growth remain limited," and added, "KKR believes these factors create an attractive environment for alternative asset managers like us, who can offer more flexible and differentiated credit solutions than traditional lenders."

KKR’s Asia credit platform leverages the alternative investment capabilities and expertise of KKR, one of the world’s largest alternative credit managers, to provide tailored private credit solutions to corporations and sponsors. The KKR Asia credit team utilizes the firm’s regional and global resources to source, diligence, and execute investment opportunities, while offering customized financing, ensuring capital preservation, and supporting value creation throughout the process. The fund primarily pursues private credit investments and broadly seeks opportunities across three main investment themes: senior and unitranche corporate loans, subordinated corporate loans, and asset-based finance investments.

At the time of closing, the fund became the largest inaugural broadly regional credit fund focused on investment-grade bonds. It also emerged as one of the largest inaugural broadly regional credit funds established for the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, the fund attracted strong interest from a diverse group of new and existing investors, including public and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, commercial banks, insurance companies, asset managers, private investment groups, and family offices. KKR and its employees invested over USD 100 million in the fund alongside external investors.

Since 2019, KKR has executed or closed 14 credit investments in the Asia-Pacific region, involving approximately USD 2.4 billion of direct investment and a total transaction value of about USD 4.7 billion. These include acquisition financing and tailored capital solutions for companies and financial sponsors in sectors such as environmental services, real estate, education, infrastructure, and healthcare. KKR conducts credit activities in markets including Korea, Greater China, Australia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

KKR initially established its credit platform in 2004 and made its first private credit investment in 2005. Over the past 17 years, KKR has built one of the world’s largest private credit platforms with the capability to invest across the capital structure and liquidity spectrum. This platform combines proprietary sourcing, capital preservation, and active portfolio management to pursue long-term capital appreciation and attractive risk-adjusted returns. As of March 2022, KKR manages approximately USD 184 billion in credit assets globally, consisting of about USD 102 billion in leveraged credit, USD 71 billion in private credit, and USD 10 billion in strategic investments. KKR employs approximately 170 private investment professionals worldwide, including around 90 private credit investment specialists across nine cities in seven countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.