KKR & Co.: Strategic Positioning in the Heart of Tokyo

The financial giant KKR & Co. is giving new expression to its ongoing expansion in Japan by holding its first board meeting on Asian soil in the vibrant metropolis of Tokyo. This gathering clearly signals the strategic importance of the Japanese market for the globally operating alternative asset manager. Attendees of the two-day meeting, which began on Monday, include KKR founders George Roberts and Henry Kravis, as well as Co-CEOs Joe Bae and Scott Nuttall. KKR has been investing intensively in Japan for nearly two decades and today describes the market as its largest in Asia. The meeting coincides with a time of accelerated business deals in Japan, spurred by corporate governance reforms, persistently low interest rates, and unprecedented investor interest. Private equity-backed transactions reached a volume of $29 billion in the first three quarters of 2025, an increase of 150% year-on-year, according to preliminary data from LSEG. KKR, which has been active in Japan since 2006, notes the increasing significance of the market, which now accounts for 36% of its total investment value in the Asia-Pacific region. Recently, KKR announced the purchase of the Japanese insurance distributor Hoken Minaoshi Hompo Group and previously secured the acquisition of software developer Fuji Soft for $4.1 billion. In addition, KKR partnered with a state-backed fund to acquire the medical device manufacturer Topcon. With the sale of a majority stake in the supermarket chain Seiyu for $2.55 billion, the company achieved a significant profit this year. KKR's board includes notable figures such as Evan Spiegel, Patricia Russo, and Robert Scully, who bring their expertise to the company.