KKR & Co. Inc. - KKR STOCK NEWS

KKR has released its 2025 Global Macro Outlook, maintaining a 'Glass Half Full' perspective for investors despite expectations of lower returns and increased volatility. The report, authored by Henry McVey, highlights several key factors supporting potential gains in 2025: stronger U.S. productivity, favorable technicals, robust nominal earnings growth, and lack of net issuance.

The outlook recommends investing in assets linked to nominal GDP, such as Infrastructure, Real Estate, and Asset-Based Finance. It identifies key mega-themes including improved capital efficiency, private sector market share gains, worker retraining, security initiatives, intra-Asia growth, retirement security, and AI/energy infrastructure investments.

The report emphasizes an asynchronous global recovery, with differing central bank policies across regions, and highlights the increasing importance of earnings growth over multiple expansion.

Aiwyn, a technology provider for CPA firms, has secured a $113M funding round led by KKR and Bessemer Venture Partners. The company currently serves 130 of the top 500 CPA firms with automation software for revenue management. The funding will support Aiwyn's expansion from its current payments and collections suite into a comprehensive practice management platform, including the development of the industry's first universal client experience portal and a new tax solution.

The investment, primarily funded through KKR's Next Generation Technology III Fund, recognizes Aiwyn's strong market position and high Net Promoter Score. The company aims to transform how CPA firms manage operations from CRM to General Ledger while improving client experiences.

Rebel Foods, the world's largest multi-brand cloud kitchen platform, has secured an investment from global investment firm KKR. Founded in 2011, Rebel Foods operates 450 cloud kitchens with over 5,000 internet restaurants across India, UAE, and UK, serving more than two million customers globally.

The investment will support Rebel Foods' expansion in India and the Middle East, along with adding more food and beverage brands to its portfolio. The company's existing brand portfolio includes Faasos, Behrouz Biryani, Oven Story Pizza, Lunchbox, The Good Bowl, Sweet Truth, and Wendy's. The transaction represents KKR's latest investment from its Asia Next Generation Technology strategy.

KKR Income Opportunities Fund (KIO) has announced monthly distributions of $0.1215 per common share for January, February, and March 2025. Based on the Fund's current share price of $13.31 (as of December 16, 2024), this represents an annualized distribution rate of 10.95%.

The distributions will be payable on January 31, February 28, and March 31, 2025, with corresponding ex-dates and record dates on January 10, February 14, and March 14, 2025. The Fund notes that distributions may come from various sources, including net investment income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains, or return of capital.

KKR has reported strong monetization activity from October 1 to December 17, 2024, with total realized performance income and investment income exceeding $725 million. The Asset Management segment's performance was primarily driven by realized carried interest, accounting for over 50% of the quarter-to-date activity. Revenue sources included secondary sales, strategic transactions, dividends, interest income, and incentive fees from Marshall Wace.

The company notes that this update is not predictive of the full quarter's performance ending December 31, 2024, as it doesn't include other income sources, expenses, or potential gains/losses after the release date.

KKR has announced the promotion of 41 Managing Directors across various global offices and divisions, effective January 1, 2025. The promotions span multiple departments including Private Equity, Infrastructure, Credit & Markets, Global Client Solutions, and Global Operations. The newly promoted leaders are distributed across key locations including New York, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, Mumbai, and other major financial centers.

Co-CEOs Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall emphasized that these promotions recognize both professional achievements and commitment to the firm's values and stakeholder delivery. The promotions reflect KKR's continued growth and diversification across different business segments and geographical regions.

KKR announced a strategic partnership with Andrew Williams, former CEO of Halma plc, to pursue new acquisition opportunities in the Industrials sector and across UK businesses. Williams, who led Halma for 18 years and completed over 100 transactions, will serve as Executive Advisor to KKR.

During his tenure at Halma, Williams managed a global portfolio of approximately 50 manufacturing businesses focused on safety, health, and environmental markets. He established Halma's Sustainable Growth Model and fostered an inclusive culture that delivered consistent growth and shareholder returns.

KKR, which has been investing in the UK for 25 years, recently closed its European Fund VI at $8 billion. The partnership aims to implement KKR's broad-based employee ownership model, developed since 2011, in acquired businesses.

KKR and The Baupost Group have formed a joint venture to acquire 33 Marriott International hotels across the UK from ADIA. The portfolio includes 6,500 keys across premium Marriott and Delta by Marriott branded properties in key cities including London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, and Liverpool. Amante Capital, KKR's European hospitality platform, will serve as managing partner, overseeing continued capital investment and operations. The properties feature amenities for business and leisure guests, including conference venues and recreational facilities. KKR has invested over $3.5 billion in UK real estate since 2016, making this acquisition through its European real estate strategy.

Weave Living and KKR have announced a strategic partnership called 'Weave Living Japan Residential Venture I' to invest in multi-family assets in Japan. The venture aims to build a portfolio of over 3,000 residential units, primarily in Tokyo with potential expansion to Osaka. The partnership has already been seeded with 11 brand-new residential properties in Tokyo, comprising 439 units operating at near-full occupancy. This collaboration extends their existing partnership in South Korea and represents KKR's continued investment in Japan's real estate sector through its Asia Real Estate Partners fund.