KKR Capstone Adds Akhil Puri as Director

Akhil Puri has been named a director for KKR Capstone. Puri joins from TPG Capital, and will lead KKR Capstone’s engagements with KKR’s portfolio companies in India, the firm said Thursday.

PRESS RELEASE

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (together with its affiliates, “KKR”) announced the appointment of Akhil Puri as Director for KKR Capstone. Mr. Puri joins KKR Capstone from TPG Capital. Leveraging his extensive operational experience in working with companies throughout Asia, Mr. Puri will lead KKR Capstone’s engagements with KKR’s portfolio companies in India.

KKR Capstone has a 16-member operational team of highly experienced industry executives and functional specialists in Asia. The team works in partnership with KKR’s private equity investment professionals and portfolio company management teams to help businesses maximize their potential. KKR Capstone’s model is one of trusted collaboration — working on the ground with management teams in KKR’s portfolio to drive meaningful, sustainable improvement in core business issues of growth, efficiency and capital allocation. In addition, KKR Capstone leads the implementation of KKR’s Global Green Portfolio program and other sustainability topics such as responsible sourcing — two programs which benefit KKR’s investors and portfolio companies’ bottom lines and employees, as well as other stakeholders, the environment, and society in general.

“We are extremely pleased to add Akhil to our regional KKR Capstone team,” said Scott Bookmyer, Head of KKR Capstone Asia. “His proven track record of helping companies maximize performance throughout Asia will bring a powerful new capability to the value-add KKR Capstone brings to KKR’s India portfolio companies.”

Akhil Puri was a member of TPG Capital’s operating team since 2008 where he supported operational efforts across multiple portfolio companies in Indonesia, China, Singapore, Japan and India. His most recent assignment was as Vice-President, Director and COO of BUMA and Director at Delta Dunia.

“I am excited to join the KKR Capstone team,” said Akhil Puri. “KKR Capstone is a world-class private equity operations team that combines deep local knowledge with proven global resources and practices. I look forward to working with the dynamic companies in KKR’s India portfolio – helping them to grow both domestically and internationally.”

Prior to joining TPG Capital, Akhil held various leadership positions at General Motors in Detroit, USA and Shanghai, China. His last assignment was as Managing Director – Exports and Executive Director in Global Purchasing and Supply function, a role in which he managed a global organization with a budget of more than $13.5 billion.

Previously, he served at Hindustan Unilever, India in various leadership roles in Manufacturing and Project Management. Akhil has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and a Master’s Degree in International Management from Thunderbird, The American Graduate School of International Management.

KKR India has 17 professionals based in Mumbai, focusing both on private equity and non-banking financial services. With over $1 billion invested in India, KKR’s flexible approach includes a portfolio comprised of both majority and minority stakes in companies including Aricent, Avantha Power, Cafe Coffee Day, Dalmia Cement, Magma Fincorp and TVS Logistics. KKR Capstone’s engagements in India include Dalmia Cement and supporting Go Daddy’s business expansion into India.

ABOUT KKR

Founded in 1976 and led by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, KKR is a leading global investment firm with $62.3 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2012. With offices around the world, including in Mumbai, 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 platform. KKR Capstone is not a subsidiary of KKR. KKR is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (KKR). For additional information, please visit KKR’s website at kkr.com.