KKR, together with its co-invest partner, Dundee Partners, the investment office of the Hendel family, has purchased the KMR Music Royalties II portfolio (Fund II) from KCL for approximately $1.1 billion.
The transaction connects the works in the Portfolio with long-term owners who are deeply committed to respecting artists and investing in the longevity and global reach of their music. The transaction has been completed by Chord Music Partners (Chord), a platform established by KKR with Dundee Partners. KKR will also contribute other music assets purchased over the past year to Chord, positioning the platform as owner of a diversified portfolio of music rights representing some of the most iconic musical works from the last five decades. Music strategy firm mtheory was instrumental in the development of Chord.
“We are thrilled to purchase this diverse collection of iconic songs. We look forward to investing in the success of this music and working collaboratively with Kobalt and the artists and songwriters who created it,” says Jenny Box, Partner at KKR. “This transaction positions us with significant scale, which we will continue to grow by providing flexible, creative capital to music rights owners. Across KKR, we are investing in innovative technology, media and entertainment businesses that are connecting fans to music in new ways and we are excited about how this can enhance the value and reach of these songs.”
Kobalt Capital Chief Investment Officer and Kobalt Founder & Chairman Willard Ahdritz, says: “When we launched Kobalt Capital in 2011, we wanted to work with music we loved and would continue to live on for many decades to come. Our announcement today acknowledges this focus, our predicted market development and the great work we have done at KCL. I am also proud that creators and rights owners put their belief in us to take care of their timeless music and represent it well. We are excited to welcome KKR and Dundee Partners as Kobalt Music clients as the new owners of the Fund II works.”
Kobalt Capital CEO Johan Ahlström, adds: “This agreement represents a great outcome for our investors and, just as importantly, the ownership of these copyrights will be transferred seamlessly to new investors who share our commitment to putting creators first and being respectful stewards of great music.”
“Kobalt Music Publishing will continue to act as the core administrator and synch licensing partner for the Fund II portfolio,” says Kobalt CEO, Laurent Hubert. “We are excited to work with KKR, Dundee Partners, and the many songwriters we have partnered with for years as we continue to deliver market-leading service to all stakeholders to grow the reach of the music we all love.”
