June 5 (Reuters) - KKR & Co Inc (KKR.N) said on Monday it will buy industrial machinery maker Circor International Inc (CIR.N) in a $1.6-billion deal and take it private, as the private equity firm looks to double down on investments in the flow-control market. Flow-control products help manage and control liquids and gases using equipment or services such as pumps, valves, compressors and meters. Circor, which has about 3,100 employees, makes pump and valve systems for sectors including oil and gas, industrial, aerospace and defense. "KKR will help us expand our presence in the flow-control space," Circor's Chief Executive Officer Tony Najjar said. Evercore, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Ropes & Gray LLP advised Circor, while Citi and Kirkland & Ellis LLP were KKR's advisers.

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Persons: Tony Najjar, Gray, Circor, Ellis, Nathan Gomes, Priyamvada, Savio D'Souza, Shinjini, Shounak Organizations: KKR, Co Inc, Circor, U.S . Department of Defense, Street Journal, Morgan Securities LLC, Ropes, Gray LLP, Citi, Kirkland, Ellis LLP, Thomson Locations: J.P, Bengaluru