KKR invests $400m in Southeast Asia’s OMS Group for digital infrastructure growth

KKR, a renowned global investment firm, along with the parent company of OMS Group, a key player in telecom infrastructure and subsea cable services, today revealed the signing of definitive agreements. Through these agreements, KKR will provide a substantial $400 million investment to OMS Group, marking a significant step in KKR’s investment strategy in Southeast Asia’s digital infrastructure. This initiative reflects KKR’s belief in digitalization’s essential role within the fast-growing internet economy in the region.

Strengthening OMS Group’s Market Position and Growth

Founded in 1988, OMS Group has become a major neutral provider of integrated solutions in subsea telecommunications cable services, encompassing installation and maintenance. The Company is recognized for its over three decades of dedication to delivering mission-critical services to a diverse client base, including large-scale cloud service providers and telecom companies. This investment by KKR is poised to significantly expedite OMS Group’s growth trajectory. Plans include expanding its fleet and capabilities, as well as investing in cable landing stations and subsea cable routes. These initiatives are aimed at meeting the soaring demand for cross-border data transmission and comprehensive subsea cable services.

KKR’s Perspective and Plans for OMS Group

Projesh Banerjea, Director of Infrastructure at KKR, shared his insights on this venture: “OMS Group has established itself as a market leader with a longstanding track record of success and growth in Southeast Asia. As demand for greater connectivity across the region continues to grow, we are delighted to work closely with Datuk Lim, Ronnie Lim, and the highly rated OMS Group team to meet this critical need.” He further emphasized the alignment of this investment with KKR’s recent digital infrastructure ventures and its focus on long-term regional trends like increased data consumption and enterprise cloud requirements.

OMS Group’s Response to the Investment

Datuk Soon Foo Lim, Chairman of OMS Group, and Ronnie Lim, Group CEO, expressed their enthusiasm for partnering with KKR. They underscored the alignment in vision between OMS Group and KKR, particularly in building and maintaining crucial data infrastructure. “KKR’s investment in OMS Group underscores the value of OMS Group’s capabilities, which provides immense economic value to communities, corporations, and countries around the world by constructing and maintaining critical subsea data infrastructure,” stated Mr. Ronnie Lim.

KKR’s Continued Focus on Digital Infrastructure

The investment, primarily sourced from KKR’s Asia infrastructure strategy, adds to the firm’s consistent focus on and success in digital infrastructure investments, both regionally and globally. Previous notable investments by KKR in Southeast Asia include partnerships with Singtel and Pinnacle Towers, as well as significant ventures like CyrusOne and Global Technical Realty globally.