KKR launches Helix Digital Infrastructure with $10B plan

KKR has formally launched Helix Digital Infrastructure, a $10 billion data center development firm aimed at building hyperscale facilities with power supply agreements already in place.

The new company brings together KKR, the Kuwait Investment Authority, Nvidia, and power firm Vistra. Helix will be led by former AWS CEO Adam Selipsky.

According to the partners, the company is designed to deliver hyperscale data centers with integrated power supply agreements, an approach intended to avoid the bottleneck caused by a lack of available power for new data center developments that has delayed projects across the US and beyond.

Selipsky said: "Large users of digital infrastructure have an urgent need to reduce complexity and unlock new capacity. Helix combines significant long-term capital with the capabilities and expertise to deliver holistic AI infrastructure solutions with speed and scale.

"Helix is further strengthened by strategic partnerships with Nvidia and Vistra across technology and power, which we believe will enable the company to deliver the infrastructure that will underpin hyperscalers’ AI strategies for years to come."

Nvidia is making an anchor investment and will act as a strategic partner supporting the deployment of its DSX AI factory-aligned infrastructure. The stated goal is to help "maximizing tokens per watt, achieving lowest total cost of ownership and accelerating time to first token for investments pursued by Helix."

Vistra, which operates across 18 US states and has a power portfolio of 50GW, will serve as the preferred power provider for Helix investments.

"Power generation and grid interconnections are critical gating factors for AI infrastructure deployments", said Jim Burke, president and CEO of Vistra. "Helix brings together data center development, infrastructure and power capabilities under a single umbrella, providing a one-stop shop for large load customers."

News that KKR was setting up Helix first emerged last month. The company has not disclosed any sites for its data centers and said it could bring in additional institutional investors.

KKR already owns data center operator CyrusOne alongside BlackRock’s GIP and is backing European operator GTR. It also acquired a 20 percent stake in Singtel’s data center business for $800m in 2023 and is reportedly in talks to secure a larger stake. Alongside Mubadala, KKR owns liquid cooling company CoolIT, though in March it was reported to be looking at options to divest the company.

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