STOCK TITAN

KKR issues unsecured 10-year debt at 5.1%, adding $900M financing

Filing Impact
(High)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

On 7 Aug 2025, KKR & Co. Inc. closed a $900 million offering of 5.100% Senior Notes due 2035. The unsecured notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by KKR Group Partnership L.P. Interest accrues from 7 Aug 2025 and is paid semi-annually on 7 Feb and 7 Aug, beginning 7 Feb 2026. Prior to 7 May 2035 the notes are callable at a make-whole price; on or after that date they are callable at par. A change-of-control triggers a mandatory repurchase at 101% of principal.

The Indenture limits secured debt on subsidiary voting stock and restricts mergers or asset sales, with customary events of default enabling acceleration by holders of ≥25% of principal. Proceeds were issued under an effective S-3 shelf through an underwriting syndicate led by Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, KKR Capital Markets and UBS.

The transaction extends KKR’s maturity ladder at a fixed 5.1% cost, enhancing liquidity but modestly increasing leverage and fixed interest expense.

Positive

  • $900 million raised, bolstering liquidity without immediate equity dilution
  • Fixed 5.10% coupon locks borrowing cost for 10 years, mitigating rate-rise risk
  • Unsecured notes carry a full guarantee from the main operating partnership, supporting creditor confidence

Negative

  • Issuance increases total debt by $900 million, raising leverage and interest expense
  • Change-of-control put at 101% and make-whole call could create cash demands under stress

Insights

TL;DR: $900 M unsecured 10-yr notes boost liquidity but add leverage; neutral credit impact.

The new 2035 notes diversify KKR’s funding and lock a competitive 5.1% coupon versus current BBB-level peers around 5.3-5.4%. Unsecured structure with holding-company guarantee preserves subsidiary flexibility, while covenants are light but standard for investment-grade issuers. Net leverage will tick up roughly 0.1x; however, ample fee and investment income provide coverage. Overall credit profile remains stable; impact rated neutral.

TL;DR: Fixed-rate funding lowers refinancing risk—slightly positive for equity holders.

With rates elevated, securing ten-year money at 5.1% protects earnings against future hikes and supports capital deployment without equity dilution. Optional redemption and change-of-control put give management flexibility while capping downside for bondholders. For shareholders, modest incremental interest cost is manageable given KKR’s scale; improved liquidity supports continued buybacks and investments.

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement Business
The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement Financial
The company incurred a new significant debt or off-balance-sheet obligation.
Item 8.01 Other Events Other
Voluntary disclosure of events the company deems important to shareholders but not covered by other items.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
 


FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 4, 2025

KKR & CO. INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
001-34820
88-1203639
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

30 Hudson Yards
New York, New York
 
10001
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
 
 (212) 750-8300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)


Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
 
Trading symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock
 
KKR
 
New York Stock Exchange
6.25% Series D Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock
 
KKR PR D
 
New York Stock Exchange
4.625% Subordinated Notes due 2061 of KKR Group Finance Co. IX LLC
 
KKRS
 
New York Stock Exchange
6.875% Subordinated Notes due 2065
 
KKRT
 
New York Stock Exchange
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (Sec.230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Sec.240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 

Emerging growth company
          
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.



Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
The information set forth below under Item 2.03 of this Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.
 
Item 2.03
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
 
On August 7, 2025, KKR & Co. Inc. (the “Issuer”) completed the offering of $900,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.100% Senior Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”). The Notes are guaranteed by KKR Group Partnership L.P., a subsidiary of the Issuer (the “Guarantor”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Base Indenture”) dated May 28, 2025 between the Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a second supplemental indenture, dated August 7, 2025 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee.
 
The Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.100% per annum and will mature on August 7, 2035 unless earlier redeemed. Interest on the Notes accrues from August 7, 2025 and is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 7 and August 7 of each year, commencing on February 7, 2026 and ending on the maturity date. The Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuer. The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantee”), on an unsubordinated unsecured basis, by the Guarantor.
 
The Indenture includes covenants, including limitations on the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s ability to, subject to exceptions, incur indebtedness secured by liens on voting stock or profit participating equity interests of their subsidiaries or merge, consolidate or sell, transfer or convey all or substantially all of their assets. The Indenture also provides for events of default and further provides that the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the Notes immediately due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any event of default after expiration of any applicable grace period. In the case of specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or reorganization, the principal amount of the Notes and any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes automatically become due and payable. Prior to May 7, 2035 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes), the Notes may be redeemed at the Issuer’s option in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the make-whole redemption price set forth in the Notes. On or after May 7, 2035 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes), the Notes may be redeemed at the Issuer’s option in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at par plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes redeemed to, but not including, the date of redemption. If a change of control repurchase event (as defined in the Indenture) occurs, the Issuer must offer to repurchase the Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase.
 
The preceding is a summary of the terms of the Base Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture and the form of the Notes, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Base Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this report, the Second Supplemental Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 to this report, and the form of the Notes filed as Exhibit 4.3 to this report and incorporated herein by reference as though they were fully set forth herein.
 
Item 8.01
Other Events.
 
On August 4, 2025, the Issuer and the Guarantor entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., KKR Capital Markets LLC and UBS Securities LLC, as representatives of the underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”), to issue and sell the Notes. The Underwriting Agreement contains certain customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Issuer and the Guarantor, including indemnification of the Underwriters.
 
The Notes were issued pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-279233) and a related prospectus dated May 8, 2024, including the related prospectus supplement dated August 4, 2025 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Underwriting Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the terms of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit.
 
Copies of the opinions of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and the Maples Group, counsel to the Issuer and the Guarantor, relating to the legality of the Notes and the Guarantee are filed as Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2 hereto, respectively.
 
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d)
Exhibits.
 
The following documents are herewith filed or furnished as exhibits to this Current Report on Form 8-K:
 

Exhibit No.
 
Exhibit Description
1.1
 
Underwriting Agreement dated as of August 4, 2025 among the Issuer, the Guarantor and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., KKR Capital Markets LLC and UBS Securities LLC, as representatives of the Underwriters.
4.1
 
Indenture dated as of May 28, 2025 between the Issuer and the Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the KKR & Co. Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2025).
4.2
 
Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 7, 2025 among the Issuer, the Guarantor and the Trustee.
4.3
 
Form of 5.100% Senior Note due 2035 (included in Exhibit 4.2 hereto).
5.1
 
Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
5.2
 
Opinion of the Maples Group.
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File, formatted in Inline XBRL


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
KKR & CO. INC.
     
Date: August 7, 2025
By:
/s/ Christopher Lee
 
Name:
Christopher Lee
 
Title:
Secretary



FAQ

What did KKR (KKR) announce in the 8-K?

It completed a $900 million offering of 5.100% Senior Notes due 2035, guaranteed by KKR Group Partnership L.P.

Is the new KKR debt secured or unsecured?

The notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of KKR & Co. Inc., fully guaranteed on the same basis by its partnership.

When will KKR’s 5.1% notes mature and pay interest?

They mature on 7 Aug 2035 and pay interest semi-annually each 7 Feb and 7 Aug, starting 7 Feb 2026.

Can KKR redeem the notes early?

Yes. Before 7 May 2035 they are callable at a make-whole price; afterwards, at par plus accrued interest.

What happens if there is a change of control at KKR?

KKR must offer to repurchase the notes at 101% of principal plus accrued interest.

Which banks underwrote the debt offering?

Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, KKR Capital Markets and UBS acted as lead underwriters.
Kkr & Co Inc

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