KKR starts infrastructure group headed by Bilicic

PHILADELPHIA, May 16 (Reuters) - Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co KKR.UL said on Friday it would begin investing in global infrastructure assets with a team led by George Bilicic, who joins the private equity firm from Lazard Ltd (LAZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

Bilicic will serve as a managing director and head of infrastructure. He previously served as a managing director and head of Lazard's global efforts in the power, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Bilicic advised TXU in the acquisition of the company by KKR and TPG TPG.UL, and advised KeySpan in its purchase by National Grid Plc (NG.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), and Duke Energy Corp (DUK.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) in its merger with Cinergy.

KKR said it would build an investment team to focus on global infrastructure opportunities and would work with Bilicic to build a team that would have a presence in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.

Johannes Huth, head of KKR's European operations, and Marc Lipschultz and Fred Goltz, co-heads of the firm's energy, power and natural resources industry group, will oversee the new initiative, KKR said. (Reporting by Jessica Hall; editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) (For more M&A news and our DealZone blog, go to here)