The cash and stock deal is expected to be completed this year and upon close, the existing management team of Marshall Wace will continue to manage its business independently. The arrangement gives KKR and Marshall Wace the option to enhance KKR’s ownership interest over time to 39.9%. KKR, a leading global investment firm, said it anticipates the deal to “significantly scale” its offering of hedge-fund products. The latest deal brings the global private equity giant closer to rivals The Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE:BX) Group and The Carlyle Group LP (NASDAQ:CG) in hedge fund investing. KKR’s hedge-fund business includes a fund of hedge...