KKR's Helix AI Platform Secures US$1 Billion Commitment from Samsung
Samsung has committed US$1 billion to KKR's Helix Digital Infrastructure strategy, lifting total capital pledged to the global AI infrastructure platform to more than US$11 billion. Samsung Electronics will contribute US$500 million, with affiliates including Samsung C&T, Samsung SDS, Samsung SDI, S
Samsung has committed US$1 billion to KKR's Helix Digital Infrastructure strategy, lifting capital pledged to the global AI infrastructure platform to more than US$11 billion as the Korean giant seeks opportunities in delivering data centres, power and related services for hyperscalers. Samsung is making the commitment to Helix's long-duration capital fund, Manhattan-based KKR announced Tuesday. Samsung Electronics will contribute US$500 million, with Samsung C&T, Samsung SDS, Samsung SDI, Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance supplying the balance, according to a separate statement.
Samsung joins a strategy KKR launched in June with backing from the Kuwait Investment Authority, chipmaker Nvidia and US power producer Vistra. The commitment follows KKR's agreement last month to acquire a 29 per cent stake in Seoul-based SK Telecom's new data centre infrastructure unit, extending the US fund manager's ties with Korean companies. “Samsung's commitment is a strong vote of confidence in Helix's strategy and further deepens the long-term capital base we've built to meet the scale of AI infrastructure demand,” said Adam Selipsky, co-founder and CEO of Helix.
Helix said it would explore using Samsung's capabilities in technology, construction, energy storage and cooling to develop AI infrastructure. Samsung Electronics brings semiconductor manufacturing expertise and data centre cooling equipment through FlaktGroup, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning specialist it acquired last year. Samsung C&T provides engineering, procurement and construction services for data centres and power plants, while Samsung SDS designs, builds and operates server facilities and has expanded into cloud services using graphics processing units. Samsung SDI supplies batteries for uninterruptible power systems and server backup units. The announcement did not identify specific supply contracts.
KKR said at the time that it launched Helix that the strategy aims to finance, develop and manage infrastructure for hyperscalers: coordinating data centres, electricity generation, transmission and connectivity through one company. Nvidia serves as a strategic technology partner and Vistra as the preferred power provider, with Helix targeting investments in North America and worldwide. Selipsky led Amazon Web Services from 2021 to 2024, leaving after the cloud business reached a US$100 billion annual revenue run rate. He previously spent 11 years overseeing AWS sales, marketing and support before becoming chief executive of Tableau Software in 2016 and leading the company through its acquisition by Salesforce in 2019.
Helix's chief investment officer, Waldemar Szlezak, also serves as KKR's global head of digital infrastructure. He joined the fund manager in 2019 and has worked on investments including CyrusOne, Gulf Data Hub and Global Technical Realty. He previously oversaw communications infrastructure and real estate investments at Soros Fund Management. Helix draws on KKR's infrastructure platform, which manages more than US$100 billion in assets, with long-duration capital intended to match hyperscalers' lengthy contracts.
KKR funded its anchor commitment through its balance sheet and managed vehicles. Strategic investors may also receive priority or first-look rights to supply goods and services to Helix investments, according to the announcement. In South Korea, KKR agreed in August to acquire 29 per cent of SK Horizon, joining an IMM Investment-Stonebridge Capital consortium in a combined KRW 3.08 trillion (US$2.2 billion) commitment. The Korean consortium will hold 20 per cent of the platform, which is being carved out of SK Broadband, while parent SK Telecom retains control with 51 per cent. SK Horizon is set to encompass eight operating data centres, facilities under construction in Ulsan and Guro and a submarine-cable business, with 318 megawatts of existing and planned capacity.
KKR and Singtel have completed their buyout of ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, paying S$6.6 billion for the remaining 82 per cent in a deal assigning the operator an enterprise value of S$13.8 billion (US$10.9 billion). KKR now owns 75 per cent and Singtel 25 per cent of the platform, which spans more than 100 data centres across Asia Pacific and Europe with 2.3GW of design capacity. The US firm also holds a 20 per cent stake in Singtel's Nxera regional data centre arm after committing up to S$1.1 billion in 2023.
KKR has deployed roughly US$3 billion in South Korea this year, a record annual total, and expects further deals as the country's role in the global AI supply chain fuels demand for data centres and power infrastructure, Bloomberg reported. The tally includes the SK Horizon investment and KKR's US$1.3 billion renewable energy venture with SK Inc, which is to launch with 1.7GW of operating capacity and target 10GW by 2031. The fund manager's Korean activity also extends to logistics, with KKR completing the acquisition of Cheongna Logistics Center in Incheon from Brookfield for about KRW 1 trillion in December. The purchase of the fully leased, 427,354 square metre facility — whose tenants include Coupang and Emart24 — set a record for a single Korean logistics asset.
