Company Profile
Founding
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (ticker: KKR) was founded in 1976 by Jerome Kohlberg Jr., Henry Kravis, and George Roberts. Headquartered in New York, it has offices in San Francisco, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.
Global Private Equity Leader
KKR has completed numerous landmark investments over the past few decades, with large investments spanning 25 industries and more than 335 private equity transactions, resulting in a total enterprise value exceeding $500 billion. KKR is known for its large and complex direct investment deals and its commitment to building leading companies across various industries globally. KKR possesses a vast network of resources connecting elites in the financial, business, and political sectors worldwide.
Initial Public Offering
KKR officially went public on July 28, 2008, listing on the New York Stock Exchange through a complex merger plan. The company initially planned a traditional IPO in 2007, but this was postponed due to market conditions. Instead, it established a fund listed in Amsterdam called KKR Private Equity (KPE). The 2008 listing marked the finalization of these plans.
King of Leveraged Buyouts
Most Notable Leveraged Buyouts
Since its inception, KKR has completed numerous landmark acquisitions, including the famous 1989 leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco, which was the largest acquisition in history at the time. Furthermore, its 2007 acquisition of TXU Energy remains the largest acquisition to date. Since 1977, KKR has invested in over 160 companies, guaranteeing at least one investment every year except 1982 and 1990.
Experts in Hostile Takeovers
KKR’s acquisition of Duracell is one of its most successful examples of leveraged buyouts. Its reputation was further enhanced during the acquisition of RJR Nabisco, considered one of the most notorious hostile takeovers of the 20th century.
Acquisitions in China
In China, KKR has long assisted a group of entrepreneurs and senior executives in building numerous industry-leading companies, including Ping An Insurance, Belle International, Nanfu Battery, Shanshui Cement, Hengan International, Mengniu Dairy, and Yongle Home Appliances.
Operating
Current Operating Scale
As of December 31, 2024, the company had completed 770 private equity investments with a total enterprise value of approximately $790 billion. Its assets under management (AUM) and fee-based assets under management (FPAUM) were $553 billion and $446 billion, respectively.
Q3 2025 Financial Results
- Non-GAAP earnings per share were $1.41, exceeding expectations by $0.11. Revenue reached $5.53 billion (up 15.4% year-over-year).
- Fee-related earnings (“FRE”) for the quarter were $1 billion (adjusted earnings per share of $1.15), a record high for KKR. FRE increased by 3% year-over-year. FRE for the past 12 months was $3.6 billion (adjusted earnings per share of $3.99), a 16% increase year-over-year.
- Total operating income (“TOE”) for the quarter was $1.4 billion (adjusted earnings per share of $1.55), a 12% increase year-over-year.
- Assets under management (“AUM”) were $723 billion, a 16% increase year-over-year.
Capital Market Performance
Market Valuation
As of November 28, 2025, KKR’s price-to-earnings ratio was 52.11.
Dividends
As of November 28, 2025, KKR’s dividend yield was 0.61%.
Stock Performance
As of November 28, 2025, KKR’s stock has fallen 18% year-to-date. Since its IPO, KKR’s stock has risen 1162%.
Notable Books Related to KKR
Books associated with Kohlberg-Clavis-Roberts (KKR) include the most famous M&A book in history, “Barbarians at the Gate“, and “The New Tycoons“, a book written by a Bloomberg journalist.
Relative articles
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