KKR closes its largest ever European buyout fund at $8 billion

(Reuters) – KKR & Co Inc on Tuesday said it had closed its sixth and largest European private equity fund at $8.0 billion, a significant boost for the investment firm at a time of market volatility and sinking interest in major acquisitions.

The fund will target investments into developed economies in Western Europe, it said, adding that U.S. law firm Debevoise & Plimpton represented KKR as primary counsel for the fundraising.

Private equity firms have been forced to write larger equity checks for their deals as debt financing for global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) dried up amid rising interest rates, high inflation and fears of a recession in major economies.

Of the money raised for the fund from investors, $1 billion was committed by KKR from its balance sheet and employee commitments.

The firm said it is currently managing a little over $28 billion in assets on its European private equity platform.

“Raising this fund in the current market environment demonstrates the strong investor confidence in our European team and platform, and our long track record of delivering value and outstanding results,” Alisa Amarosa Wood, partner at KKR, said in a statement.

(Reporting by Bharat Govind Gautam in Bengaluru; editing by Jason Neely)