KKR & Co. Settles DOJ Antitrust Case; Subsidiary to Pay $250M

What Happened

• On August 26, 2026, KKR & Co. Inc. entered into a Stipulation and Order with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve a civil antitrust complaint filed January 14, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint related to certain Hart‑Scott‑Rodino (HSR) premerger notification matters for transactions by KKR affiliates in 2021 and 2022.
• Under the Stipulation (and contingent on a proposed final judgment becoming effective), a KKR subsidiary will pay $250.0 million to the Antitrust Division and the Antitrust Division has notified KKR that it has terminated all related investigations. The proposed final judgment will be filed in the SDNY and is subject to judicial approval under the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act (15 U.S.C. § 16) to determine whether it is in the public interest.
• The company issued a statement saying it disagrees with the Antitrust Division’s characterization, believes it acted in good faith, and that the civil penalty will have no financial impact on the firm, its funds, or investors because it will be fully reimbursed by outside law firms. The filing also notes that the first two paragraphs of the Regulation FD Disclosure were furnished under Item 8.01 (Other Events).

Key Details

• Date of Stipulation: August 26, 2026.
• Original complaint filed: January 14, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
• Settlement amount: $250.0 million to be paid by a KKR subsidiary (contingent on proposed final judgment).
• DOJ status: All related investigations against KKR and affiliates have been terminated.

Why It Matters

• This resolves a high‑profile DOJ matter tied to KKR’s prior HSR filings and removes the risk and distraction of ongoing litigation. For investors, the company states the $250M civil penalty will not affect KKR’s finances, funds, or investors because outside law firms will fully reimburse the amount. The proposed final judgment still requires court approval under the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, so the settlement is not yet final until judicial review is complete.