KKR Appoints Kaveh Samie Head of Middle East and North Africa

NEW YORK & DUBAI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (together with its affiliates, “KKR”) today announced that Kaveh Samie is joining KKR as Managing Director and Head of Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”) to support the firm’s growth strategy in the region. Previously, Mr. Samie was a Managing Director and Head of Equities for HSBC Middle East & North Africa. The appointment takes effect on January 6, 2011.

“I look forward to working with Kaveh and leveraging his wide-ranging connections and depth of knowledge about this region as we build KKR’s franchise in this rapidly developing market.”

Mr. Samie will work closely with Ambassador Ford M. Fraker, Chairman of KKR Middle East and North Africa, to expand the firm's presence in the region.

“Kaveh has spent 25 years developing global and local equity platforms and building a strong network of relationships in the Middle East and North Africa. His close ties to investors, as well as his expertise in a multitude of financial products, will be very valuable as we grow KKR’s product offerings and evaluate investment opportunities in the region,” Henry R. Kravis, Co-founder, Co-Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer of KKR, said.

Ambassador Fraker said, “I look forward to working with Kaveh and leveraging his wide-ranging connections and depth of knowledge about this region as we build KKR’s franchise in this rapidly developing market.”

Prior to joining HSBC in 2009, Mr. Samie spent 16 years at Citigroup, most recently as Regional Head of Equities for Middle East & North Africa, covering sovereign wealth funds, government entities, and family offices. Previously, he worked for Oppenheimer & Co., Prudential Securities, and Bank Julius Baer.

KKR established a presence in the MENA region in 2008 and opened an office in Dubai in 2009.

About KKR

Founded in 1976 and led by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, KKR is a leading global alternative asset manager with $55.5 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2010. With over 650 people and 14 offices around the world, KKR manages assets through a variety of investment funds and accounts covering multiple asset classes. KKR seeks to create value by bringing operational expertise to its portfolio companies and through active oversight and monitoring of its investments. KKR complements its investment expertise and strengthens interactions with investors through its client relationships and capital markets platforms. KKR is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: KKR). For additional information, please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com.

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