KIPRE to Establish 1 Trillion Won 'Proprietary Capital Investment Platform'

Korea Investment Private Equity (KIPRE), a private equity fund (PEF) management company affiliated with Korea Investment Holdings, is set to establish an investment platform based on proprietary capital of 1 trillion won.

According to KIPRE on September 28, the new platform will mainly target investments in tangible digital and energy infrastructure assets essential for the AI transformation, such as artificial intelligence-dedicated data centers (AIDC) to handle the surging demand for computing power, large-scale power generation facilities, energy storage systems (ESS), and ultra-high-speed communication networks. The company aims to rapidly secure investment opportunities in physical infrastructure to support the AI era by leveraging the broad business foundation and capital strength of Korea Investment & Securities Group—which managed approximately 607 trillion won in assets as of the end of June—as well as KIPRE's GP commitment.

KIPRE has previously proven its investment capabilities by successfully completing large-scale infrastructure deals in Korea. In June 2026, it acquired 49% stakes in both SKUlsan GPS and SK Multiutility for a combined 1.5952 trillion won. Last year, the firm participated as a lead investor in a Hanwha Energy share deal worth about 1.1 trillion won. In 2023, it also provided major growth funding through SK On's pre-IPO investment, solidifying a strong track record in energy and strategic industry investments.

Globally, renowned alternative investment firms such as Brookfield, KKR, and Blackstone have also been expanding investments into AI infrastructure. With the spread of generative AI, there is increasing demand for large-scale capital expenditures (CAPEX) on data centers, cooling systems, and independent power grids, signaling the emergence of a next-generation physical infrastructure investment cycle. The importance of partnerships between strategic investors (SI) and financial investors (FI) is also gaining prominence amid the high interest rate environment and CAPEX burdens.

KIPRE plans to provide customized solutions by combining the business capabilities of major Korean conglomerates like SK and Hanwha with the capital strength and financial structuring expertise of the group. Through this approach, the company aims to maintain domestic capital’s control over core national strategic infrastructure assets and foster a healthy AI infrastructure investment ecosystem.

A Korea Investment & Securities Group representative stated, "In the midst of the paradigm shift to the AI era, an investment platform leveraging Korea Investment Group’s proprietary capital can become a powerful domestic competitor against global asset managers armed with trillions in capital. We will quickly allocate necessary funds in key domestic infrastructure investment areas and actively expand KIPRE’s market influence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.