KKR Announces Plans for Investments in Global Infrastructure Assets
May 16 2008 - 7:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
George Bilicic to Join KKR as Head of Infrastructure NEW YORK, May
16 /PRNewswire/ -- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. today
announced plans to begin a new initiative to invest in
infrastructure assets on a global basis, to be led by George
Bilicic, who is joining the firm as a Managing Director and Head of
Infrastructure. Mr. Bilicic, who will be based in KKR's New York
office, joins KKR from Lazard where he has been a Managing Director
and head of the firm's global efforts in the power, energy and
infrastructure sectors. KKR is building an investment team to focus
specifically on global infrastructure opportunities and will work
with Mr. Bilicic to identify highly experienced investment and
operating executives in support of the initiative. The team, which
will have a presence in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., will
collaborate with KKR's other industry groups, capitalizing on the
firm's considerable experience strengthening the operations of
companies and investing in complex and regulated businesses.
Johannes Huth, head of the firm's European operations, and Marc
Lipschultz and Fred Goltz, co-heads of the firm's energy, power and
natural resources industry group, will oversee the new initiative.
KKR also announced that KKR Senior Advisors John F. Bookout III and
Clint Johnstone will be focused on the infrastructure initiative.
Messrs. Bookout and Johnstone will work closely with Mr. Bilicic
and the infrastructure team to seek, evaluate and oversee
investments. Mr. Bookout was a Director of McKinsey & Company
for 28 years where he headed the firm's North American and European
Energy practices, and most recently was responsible for the firm's
17 global industry practices. Mr. Johnstone was a long-time
executive with Bechtel Group, one of the world's leaders in
developing, managing, and constructing civil infrastructure, where
he served as Chief Financial Officer, President of the divisions
serving the global systems, U.S. infrastructure and global
telecommunications industry sectors, and a Director of the company.
Henry R. Kravis and George R. Roberts, Co-Founders of KKR, said:
"Infrastructure is a multi-trillion dollar global marketplace with
enormous need for private investment. KKR recognizes the important
role infrastructure investing plays in the growth of both developed
and developing economies. This new initiative is a logical
extension of our business, building on the significant expertise we
have established by investing in large, complex and regulated
businesses and our record of driving operational improvements in a
wide range of industries. "We look forward to supporting George as
he builds a team that will partner with private sector businesses
as well as governments around the world to improve and expand the
infrastructure assets and services on which we all rely." KKR's
investment experience in regulated businesses involving significant
infrastructure includes Energy Future Holdings (formerly TXU),
which owns transmission and distribution, electricity generation
and retail businesses; and ITC Holdings Corp., the largest
transmission only company in the United States. Mr. Bilicic joined
Lazard as a Managing Director in March 2002. He recently completed
a term as the Head of Lazard's Midwest Advisory business, in
addition to his work in power, energy and infrastructure, and also
has worked with selected companies in other sectors. Recently, Mr.
Bilicic advised TXU in the acquisition of the company by KKR and
TPG, Duke Energy in a spin-off transaction, KeySpan in its
acquisition by National Grid, the City of New York in PlaNYC, Duke
Energy in its merger with Cinergy, and also advised clients
regarding alternative energy financings. Prior to joining Lazard,
Mr. Bilicic was a Partner in the law firm of Cravath, Swaine &
Moore, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, but also
provided counsel on bank financings, joint ventures, public
offerings, project finance, and swaps and other derivatives. Mr.
Bilicic received a B.A. (summa cum laude) from DeSales University
and a J.D. (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University Law Center.
Mr. Bilicic's senior thesis at DeSales was entitled "The Federal
Role in Infrastructure Revitalization" which, among other things,
considered fiscally prudent measures to address the nation's
decaying infrastructure. About KKR Established in 1976, KKR is a
leading global alternative asset manager. The core of the Firm's
franchise is sponsoring and managing funds that make private equity
investments in North America, Europe, and Asia. Throughout its
history, KKR has brought a long-term investment approach to
portfolio companies, focusing on working in partnership with
management teams and investing for future competitiveness and
growth. Additional funds that KKR sponsors include KKR Private
Equity Investors, L.P. (NYSE Euronext Amsterdam: KPE), a permanent
capital fund that invests in KKR-identified investments; and two
credit strategy funds, KKR Financial (NYSE:KFN) and the KKR
Strategic Capital Funds, which make investments in debt
transactions. KKR has offices in New York, Menlo Park, San
Francisco, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo. More
information about KKR is available at: http://www.kkr.com/ Contact:
Mark Semer / David Lilly Kekst and Company 212-521-4800 DATASOURCE:
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. CONTACT: Mark Semer or David
Lilly, +1-212-521-4800, both of Kekst and Company, for Kohlberg
Kravis Roberts & Co. Web site: http://www.kkr.com/
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