KKR (NYSE:KKR) FY Conference Transcript

KKR FY Conference Summary Company Overview - Company: KKR (NYSE: KKR) - Assets Under Management (AUM): Approaching $700 billion with a 49-year track record [3][4] - Key Focus Areas: Investment acumen, capital allocation, collaborative culture, and leveraging core capabilities across various business segments [3][4] Core Business Segments Asset Management - KKR emphasizes a focused approach in asset management, avoiding the aspiration to be all things to all people [3] - The firm has a strong insurance business through Global Atlantic, which sources long-dated liabilities and leverages KKR's investment platform [4] Private Equity - KKR's private equity deployment strategy has been linear, avoiding overdeployment seen in the industry during 2021 and 2022 [11] - The Americas private equity franchise has distributed twice as much capital as it has called over the past eight years, with a gross IRR of over 20% for its most mature fund [12][13] - Recent fundraising success includes $16 billion for the latest Americas private equity fund [13] Global Expansion - KKR has seen significant growth in its Asia-Pacific business, increasing AUM from $20 billion to $80 billion over five years, diversifying beyond private equity [20][21] - The firm is particularly optimistic about investment opportunities in Japan and India due to their economic conditions [16] Infrastructure - KKR's infrastructure business has grown from $15 billion to $90 billion in AUM over five years, with a strong momentum in capital raising [23] - The Asia infrastructure business is expected to grow significantly due to the high demand for infrastructure investment in the region [24] Credit - KKR's credit business has $260 billion in AUM, with a focus on asset-based finance, which operates in a $5 trillion addressable market [25][26] - The firm anticipates a record capital raising year in credit, driven by strong momentum and returns [27] Market Outlook - The global macroeconomic environment is constructive, with equity markets near all-time highs and low volatility [8] - KKR expects inflation to remain above the 2% Fed target, with anticipated interest rate cuts in the near future [9] Strategic Holdings - KKR has a 20% stake in nearly 20 businesses, generating approximately $4.1 billion in revenue and $1 billion in EBITDA [56] - The firm projects cash operating earnings from strategic holdings to grow from $350 million next year to over $1.1 billion by 2030 [56] Wealth Management - KKR's wealth management franchise is focused on accredited investors, with significant capital raised in the first eight months of 2024 [34] - The partnership with Capital Group aims to build hybrid solutions for clients, expanding KKR's addressable market [37] Global Atlantic Insurance - KKR has shifted Global Atlantic's focus towards longer-duration liabilities and increased exposure to alternatives, aiming to align with industry averages [44] - The firm is optimistic about the trajectory of Global Atlantic, expecting to leverage third-party capital for investment opportunities [46][49] Financial Guidance - KKR maintains a flattish near-term outlook for insurance operating earnings, with expectations for long-term growth driven by alternatives [51] - The firm has set ambitious targets for capital raising, aiming for over $300 billion from 2024 to 2026, with reaffirmed guidance for FRE and A&I per share [58][59]