KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts)
One of the largest global PE firms with $500B+ in AUM across healthcare, retail, and infrastructure
Brands Owned by KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) (15)
Acadia Healthcare
Behavioral Health
Largest standalone behavioral health company with 250+ facilities. NYT investigation revealed patient safety concerns
Bausch & Lomb (KKR era)
Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
KKR acquired Bausch Health's eye care business (Bausch + Lomb) in a partial stake deal as part of Bausch Health's debt restructuring. B+L IPO'd separately in 2022. KKR has extensive healthcare holdings including hospital operators, pharmaceutical companies, and physician groups.
BELFOR Property Restoration
Home Services
KKR has invested in BELFOR, the world's largest disaster restoration company. BELFOR responds to fires, floods, storms, and other catastrophes. Insurers and policyholders have raised concerns about billing practices in the disaster restoration industry.
Benchmark Senior Living
Senior Living & Nursing Homes
Senior living operator acquired by KKR from Welltower for ~$1.8B with 60+ communities in the Northeast
BrightSpring Health Services
Hospice & Home Health
KKR-backed home and community health services provider. IPO in 2024
Envision Healthcare
Hospitals & Healthcare Systems
KKR acquired Envision in 2018 for $9.4B including $7B in debt. Became poster child for PE surprise billing in healthcare. Filed Chapter 11 in 2023 with $7.7B in debt. ~69,000 physicians and staff affected.
Heartland Dental
Dental
Largest dental support organization (DSO) in the US supporting 1,700+ offices
KinderCare Learning Companies
Childcare & Early Education
Largest for-profit childcare provider in the US with 1,500+ centers. KKR-owned since 2015
Laureate Education
Education
KKR and a consortium took Laureate Education, the world's largest for-profit higher education network (over 1 million students), private for $3.82B in 2007. Laureate has faced regulatory scrutiny in multiple countries. KKR took it public in 2017. The for-profit education model has been criticized for exploiting student loan debt.
MyEyeDr.
Vision & Eye Care
KKR-backed optometry chain with 800+ offices in 26 states
PetVet Care Centers
Veterinary
KKR-backed veterinary network with 450+ practices
Quick Quack Car Wash
Car Washes
Fast-growing express car wash chain with 275+ locations. KKR invested $850M in 2024
Things Remembered
Retail & Consumer
Madison Dearborn Partners bought the personalized-gifts retailer for $295 million in 2012; a lender group including KKR took ownership via a 2016 debt-for-equity swap. Things Remembered filed Chapter 11 in February 2019 and was sold to an Enesco/Balmoral Funds unit that kept it operating.
TXU Energy (Energy Future Holdings)
Energy & Utilities
KKR, TPG, and Goldman Sachs took TXU private in 2007 for $45B — the largest LBO in history at the time. Loaded with massive debt, filed one of the largest bankruptcies in US history in 2014. Texas consumers bore the cost through higher electricity prices.
US Foods
Logistics & Supply Chain
KKR and Clayton Dubilier & Rice acquired US Foods (foodservice distribution) for $7.1B in 2007 in a leveraged buyout that preceded the financial crisis. The company carried $4B+ in debt. Sysco attempted to acquire US Foods for $8.2B in 2015 but was blocked by the FTC on antitrust grounds. US Foods IPO'd in 2016.