KKR’s $2.9B Infinity sale comes as firm expands equipment finance
Deal expected to close in Q1 2027
KKR‘s planned $2.9 billion sale of railcar lessor Infinity Transportation to Ares Management reflects the investment’s maturity rather than a retreat from equipment finance, according to the firm’s head of asset-based finance.
The deal, which will transfer Atlanta-based Infinity to funds managed by Ares Infrastructure Equity and Ares Insurance Solutions, according to an Oct. 19 KKR release, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2027.
Infinity owns and manages some 50,000 railcars leased to more than 350 North American customers, according to the release. Its book value has increased 150% since 2021 as KKR expanded the fleet.
KKR determined that after 10 years of stewardship, Infinity had reached a stage in which another owner could support its next phase of growth, Daniel Pietrzak, partner and head of asset-based finance at KKR, told Equipment Finance News.
The sale reflects the investment’s life cycle rather than concerns about the lessor’s performance, he said.
Equipment finance expansion
The sale follows KKR’s September launch of Akrapoint Commercial Capital, a mid-ticket equipment finance company backed by a $350 million capital commitment. The platform targets vocational vehicles, specialty trailers and industrial machinery.
Pietrzak said KKR identified an underserved market for Akrapoint and views equipment leasing as an attractive source of diversification for institutional investors.
KKR’s broader asset-based finance strategy manages more than $91 billion in assets and employs approximately 60 people globally, a firm spokesperson told EFN.
Established in 2016, the strategy includes more than 20 captive platforms across consumer and mortgage finance, commercial finance, hard assets and contractual cash flows.
Ares’ equipment finance investments also include Ansley Park Capital, launched in 2024 with $400 million in equity commitments.
Ares plans to support Infinity’s fleet expansion and pursue additional acquisitions, according to an Oct. 19 Ares release.
Pietrzak said growing institutional demand for asset-based finance should create financing opportunities for origination platforms.
“We intend to be in this market for a very long time,” he said.
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