KKR has appointed Jaka Prasetya, former managing partner and founder of Leafgreen Capital Partners, as managing director to lead the firm’s Indonesia efforts as well as credit and special situations initiatives in Southeast Asia.
Also joining KKR in the role of director are Rahul Bhargava and Allan So, both formerly managing directors and partners at Leafgreen, a provider of mezzanine and structured growth funding in Southeast Asia.
Prasetya, Bhargava and So will be based in Singapore. The appointments are effective 26 August 2014.
Prasetya will work with KKR’s private equity, credit and special situations teams to enhance the firm’s strategy in Indonesia. In addition, supported by Bhargava and So, Prasetya will also lead KKR’s credit business in Southeast Asia.
“Indonesia continues to be a dynamic market for investment with great growth potential and positive demographics driving opportunities. With our first deal in the market in 2013, we look forward to exploring new opportunities to provide both equity and credit solutions to companies to suit their long-term needs,” says Ming Lu, member and co-head of Asia private equity at KKR. “The addition of Jaka, Rahul and Allan – who have a deep understanding of Indonesia’s local culture and business environment – greatly enhances our ability to partner with Indonesian companies. We welcome them and the experience that they bring to the team.”
Prasetya launched Leafgreen in 2011 to finance mid-cap companies in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Prior to his time at Leafgreen, Prasetya was the managing director and head of principal investments Asia at Raiffeisen Bank International. He previously held senior management positions at United Fiber System and Deutsche Bank.
Bhargava joined Leafgreen in 2013 after 12 years at Henderson Global Investors, where he was a founding member of the Asian private equity business.
Before joining Leafgreen in 2011, So held structured-credit responsibilities at Société Générale, Standard Chartered, Calyon, J.P. Morgan and Centre Solutions in Hong Kong, and Salomon Smith Barney in New York.
