The fund will address the phenomenal growth potential of the region.

KKR & Co (NYSE: KKR), the global investing heavyweight, has just wrapped up raising Asia’s biggest ever private equity fund. The KKR Asian Fund IV closed with commitments of $15 billion and will focus on private equity investments in the Asia Pacific region. (KKR)

The mammoth fundraise follows on its closings of Asia-focused infrastructure and real estate funds in January – the Asia Pacific Infrastructure Investors Fund and Asia Real Estate Partners Fund raised $3.9 billion and $1.7 billion respectively.

Hiro Hirano, Co-Head of Asia Pacific Private Equity, said that the long-term fundamentals underpinning the growth of the Asia-Pacific region included technological disruption, consumption upgrades, a burgeoning middle class, and rising urbanization.

KKR Asian Fund IV

The fund would look for “attractive, risk-adjusted” opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, it would seek out companies addressing rising consumption and urbanization trends, as well as corporate carve-outs, spin-offs, and consolidation transactions.

The fund received a strong response from both new and existing global investors and exceeded its target size to reach its hard limit.

“The overwhelming response for Asian Fund IV validates our strategic focus and investment discipline, especially given the competitive and current environment,” said Alisa Amarosa Wood, the firm’s Head of Private Markets Strategies Group.

According to Ashish Shastry, Co-Head of Asia Pacific Private Equity, Asia-Pacific companies are well on their way to become national and regional champions, and eventually, global leaders in their industries.

KKR launched its Asia Pacific platform in 2005. Currently, its AUM is more than $30 billion and includes exposure to private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and credit.

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