KB Kookmin Bank Secures Financing Mandate for Korea's First GPU Financing... Supports AI Infrastructure Development

Brookfield, a global alternative investment manager, wins arranging mandate for 12.6 trillion won project

Korea's largest syndicated loan financing arrangement... led by KB Kookmin Bank

"Will promote productive finance and support future growth industries"

KB Kookmin Bank said on November 1 that it had secured the financial arranging mandate for an artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure project worth approximately 12.6 trillion won being pursued by global alternative investment manager Brookfield.

A view of KB Kookmin Bank's new annex in Yeouido, Seoul. Kookmin Bank

The deal marks the first GPU financing in Korea and the largest syndicated loan financing arrangement in the country's history. The project is valued at approximately 12.6 trillion won, of which about 10.7 trillion won will be raised through loans. KB Kookmin Bank will oversee the financing as the lead arranger.

Through a special purpose company (SPC) established by Brookfield, the project will secure AI computing infrastructure, including GPUs, and supply it to NAVER Cloud under a long-term agreement. The funds raised will be used to acquire GPUs and related equipment and build the infrastructure.

KB Kookmin Bank led all aspects of the financing arrangement for the deal, from structuring the financing to negotiating key terms. In particular, it played a key role in enabling the smooth procurement of large-scale funding by creating a customized financing structure that took into account the project's characteristics and phased investment schedule.

Major domestic banks and securities firms, including KB Kookmin Bank, are participating in the financing arrangement. By raising funds based on cash flows generated under long-term supply contracts for AI computing infrastructure, the deal is expected to provide stable funding for AI infrastructure projects requiring substantial upfront investment.

The deal is a model example of productive finance, with global investors and domestic financial institutions working together to provide the large-scale funding needed to expand AI infrastructure. KB Kookmin Bank plans to further expand its financial support for advanced strategic industries, including AI, following this deal.

A KB Kookmin Bank official said, "This financing arrangement is significant because it has opened up a new area of finance as Korea's first GPU financing deal. We will continue to expand financial support for future growth industries and contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of domestic industries by promoting productive finance."

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