Funds Managed by Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure Strategy Launch Kirkwood Infrastructure Group

Rhea-AI Summary

Blue Owl (NYSE: OWL) launched Kirkwood Infrastructure Group, a wholly owned platform developing and operating next-generation conduit and high-count fiber to support hyperscale data centers and digital connectivity across the U.S.

Kirkwood IG integrates Florida-based SRN’s ~400-mile network and 40 data centers, and is building 200+ miles of new fiber across Louisiana and Mississippi.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Positive

• Launch of wholly owned Kirkwood Infrastructure Group focused on next-generation U.S. digital infrastructure
• Platform targets hyperscale customers, data center operators, carriers, and local communities
• Integration of SRN’s nearly 400 miles of network and 40 near-net/on-net data centers
• Construction of over 200 miles of conduit and high-capacity fiber in Louisiana and Mississippi
• Leadership team with experience deploying and commercializing more than 600 miles of network in five years
• Backed by Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure strategy and supported by Blue Owl-appointed board members

Negative

• None.

What This Means

Blue Owl’s launch of Kirkwood Infrastructure Group, integrating roughly 400 existing network miles a...

Analysis

Blue Owl’s launch of Kirkwood Infrastructure Group, integrating roughly 400 existing network miles and building over 200 more, underscores its push into digital infrastructure while leaving questions around capital deployment, returns, and future deal flow for this strategy.

Key Figures

Network deployed: more than 600 miles Integrated network: nearly 400 miles Data centers: 40 sites +1 more

4 metrics

Network deployed more than 600 miles Network deployment over the last five years

Integrated network nearly 400 miles Florida-based South Reach Networks operations integrated into Kirkwood IG

Data centers 40 sites Near-net and on-net data centers and subsea cable landing stations from SRN

New conduit build over 200 miles Conduit and high-capacity fiber cable across Louisiana and Mississippi

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jul 06 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Jul 06	Sports stake investment	Positive	+5.0%	HomeCourt Partners fund acquired a minority equity stake in Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jul 01	REIT acquisition close	Positive	-1.3%	Funds managed by Blue Owl completed acquisition of Sila Realty Trust in cash deal.
Jul 01	Earnings call scheduling	Neutral	-1.3%	Blue Owl Capital Corporation set dates for Q2 2026 results and conference call.
Jul 01	Earnings call scheduling	Neutral	-1.3%	Blue Owl Technology Finance scheduled Q2 2026 earnings release and webcast.
Jul 01	Earnings call scheduling	Neutral	-1.3%	Blue Owl Capital Inc. announced timing for its Q2 2026 financial results and call.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Strategic transaction news has drawn mixed reactions, while routine scheduling updates have typically seen only modest share-price moves.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Short Interest: 21.63%

Short Interest

21.63% of float

0% 15% 30%+

moderate as of 2026-06-15 Days to cover: 5.33

Reported short positioning appears elevated, which can increase the potential for sharper moves in response to company-specific news and shifts in sentiment.

Key Terms

hyperscale, fiber optic cable, subsea cable landing stations

3 terms

hyperscale technical

"Kirkwood IG serves hyperscale customers, data center operators, communications carriers"

Hyperscale describes the ability of a system or operation to grow rapidly and handle extremely large amounts of work or data. It’s like a massive factory that can quickly expand its production capacity to meet soaring demand. For investors, hyperscale indicates a business’s potential to scale efficiently, often leading to increased growth and profitability.

fiber optic cable technical

"owning, and operating advanced conduit, high-count fiber optic cable, and related"

A fiber optic cable is a bundle of very thin glass or plastic strands that carry information as pulses of light instead of electrical signals, similar to how a clear tube carries water but for data. It matters to investors because these cables form the high-speed backbone for internet, telecom and data services, so their deployment and capacity influence costs, revenue potential and growth prospects across technology and infrastructure businesses.

subsea cable landing stations technical

"nearly 400 miles of network and 40 near-net and on-net data centers and key subsea cable landing stations"

Subsea cable landing stations are shore-side facilities where undersea fiber-optic cables come ashore and connect to land-based networks; they house equipment for signal conversion, power feeding, and routing. They matter to investors because they are critical infrastructure nodes for global data traffic—like an airport hub for internet connections—affecting bandwidth capacity, latency, data-routing resilience, and the commercial value of nearby telecom and data center assets.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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The new venture will help develop advanced conduit and high-count fiber infrastructure to support the rapid
expansion of hyperscale data centers & next-generation connectivity across the United States

CHICAGO, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Funds managed by Blue Owl Capital Inc. ("Blue Owl") (NYSE: OWL), a leading alternative asset manager, today announced the launch of Kirkwood Infrastructure Group ("Kirkwood IG"), a wholly owned developer and operator of next-generation communications infrastructure supporting the continued digital transformation of the United States.

Blue Owl launches Kirkwood Infrastructure Group to power the next generation of U.S. digital connectivity.

Kirkwood IG serves hyperscale customers, data center operators, communications carriers, and local communities by developing, owning, and operating advanced conduit, high-count fiber optic cable, and related communications infrastructure assets. The platform supports the growing demand for connectivity driven by data centers, next generation compute, cloud, and other bandwidth-intensive use cases.

Kirkwood IG will be led by a senior management team of experienced industry executives, including Scott Bergs, Chief Executive Officer; Tim Leighton, Chief Financial Officer; Mike Sevret, Chief Commercial Officer; Chris Pancione, Chief Network Development Officer; and Jason Cohen, Chief Network Operations Officer. Together the leadership team brings decades of combined experience developing and commercializing next-generation network infrastructure, including the successful deployment and commercialization of more than 600 miles of network in the last five years. This includes current and prior Blue Owl-backed fiber development platforms, such as Dark Fiber & Infrastructure (exited) and South Reach Networks ("SRN"). The company will also benefit from the support of Blue Owl-appointed board members Chris Jensen, Luke Gilpin, and Aaron Small.

Kirkwood IG has integrated operations of Florida-based SRN, including its nearly 400 miles of network and 40 near-net and on-net data centers and key subsea cable landing stations. In addition, Kirkwood IG is constructing over 200 miles of conduit and high-capacity fiber cable across Louisiana and Mississippi, spanning from Shreveport to Vicksburg, to support the significant growth of hyperscale data center development in the region.

Scott Bergs, CEO of Kirkwood IG, said, "The digital infrastructure buildout in the U.S. is just beginning, and while a new company, our team has a tremendous track record of deploying industry-leading network infrastructure that enables the next wave of compute requirements and digital transformation. We are excited to continue our hyperscale expansion work alongside Blue Owl and we look forward to expanding our impact together."

With the support of the Blue Owl Digital Infrastructure strategy, Kirkwood IG intends to expand into new markets alongside key data center development partners whose projects push into new regions across the United States. Kirkwood IG will operate independently of Blue Owl's investment in Gigabit Fiber LLC, a leading Texas-based fiber optic infrastructure provider.

Chris Jensen, Managing Director, Digital Infrastructure at Blue Owl, added, "We are thrilled to work with the Kirkwood IG team as they enter this next chapter of growth. The Southeast is a region of incredible opportunity and rapid growth for our hyperscale customers, and we look forward to leveraging Kirkwood IG's proven network development capabilities to unlock new data center markets, accelerate critical infrastructure deployment, and support customer growth across the Southeast and beyond."

About Kirkwood Infrastructure Group

Kirkwood IG is a developer and operator of next-generation fiber networks supporting the digital transformation and connectivity needs of leading hyperscale customers. To learn more, visit www.kirkwoodinfra.com.

About Blue Owl

Blue Owl (NYSE: OWL) is a leading asset manager that is redefining alternatives^®. With over $315 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026, we invest across three multi-strategy platforms: Credit, Real Assets, and GP Strategic Capital. Anchored by a strong permanent capital base, we provide businesses with private capital solutions to drive long-term growth and offer institutional investors, individual investors, and insurance companies differentiated alternative investment opportunities that aim to deliver strong performance, risk-adjusted returns, and capital preservation.

Together with over 1,390 experienced professionals globally, Blue Owl brings the vision and discipline to create the exceptional. To learn more, visit www.blueowl.com or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-owl-capital.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/funds-managed-by-blue-owl-digital-infrastructure-strategy-launch-kirkwood-infrastructure-group-302820482.html

SOURCE Kirkwood Infrastructure Group (IG)

FAQ

What did Blue Owl (NYSE: OWL) announce about Kirkwood Infrastructure Group on July 8, 2026?

Blue Owl announced the launch of Kirkwood Infrastructure Group, a wholly owned developer and operator of next-generation communications infrastructure. According to Blue Owl, the platform will build advanced conduit and high-count fiber to support hyperscale data centers and digital connectivity across the United States.

What type of infrastructure will Kirkwood Infrastructure Group develop for Blue Owl’s digital strategy?

Kirkwood Infrastructure Group will develop, own, and operate advanced conduit, high-count fiber optic cable, and related communications infrastructure assets. According to Blue Owl, this supports growing demand from data centers, next-generation compute, cloud services, and other bandwidth-intensive use cases across U.S. markets.

Who are the key leaders of Kirkwood Infrastructure Group launched by Blue Owl (OWL)?

Kirkwood Infrastructure Group is led by CEO Scott Bergs, CFO Tim Leighton, CCO Mike Sevret, CNDO Chris Pancione, and CNOO Jason Cohen. According to Blue Owl, this team has deployed and commercialized more than 600 miles of network over the last five years.

How is South Reach Networks (SRN) integrated into Blue Owl’s Kirkwood Infrastructure Group?

Kirkwood Infrastructure Group has integrated Florida-based South Reach Networks operations, including nearly 400 miles of network and 40 near-net and on-net data centers. According to Blue Owl, SRN’s assets also include key subsea cable landing stations that strengthen Kirkwood IG’s regional connectivity footprint.

What new fiber routes is Kirkwood Infrastructure Group building in Louisiana and Mississippi?

Kirkwood Infrastructure Group is constructing over 200 miles of conduit and high-capacity fiber cable across Louisiana and Mississippi. According to Blue Owl, the build spans from Shreveport to Vicksburg to support significant hyperscale data center development and regional digital infrastructure growth.

How will Kirkwood Infrastructure Group support hyperscale data centers and cloud growth for Blue Owl?

Kirkwood Infrastructure Group aims to provide high-capacity fiber and conduit infrastructure tailored to hyperscale customers and data center operators. According to Blue Owl, the platform will expand into new U.S. markets alongside key data center development partners as projects move into additional regions.

Is Kirkwood Infrastructure Group related to Blue Owl’s investment in Gigabit Fiber LLC?

Kirkwood Infrastructure Group will operate independently of Blue Owl’s investment in Gigabit Fiber LLC. According to Blue Owl, Gigabit Fiber is a Texas-based fiber infrastructure provider, while Kirkwood IG focuses on broader next-generation communications infrastructure across multiple U.S. regions.