Boston-based mutual fund giant Fidelity will exclusively distribute offerings backed by KKR, according to a statement. Fidelity has 12 million brokerage clients.

"While it's no secret that the IPO market has slowed over the last couple of years, we see signs that it may be picking up momentum," said Mark Haggerty, president of Fidelity Capital Markets, the institutional trading division of Fidelity Investments.

"Our new relationship with KKR gives Fidelity the ability to offer our clients access to new issue equity offerings of KKR companies and the potential for more meaningful allocations in those offerings. We believe that with a portfolio of nearly 50 companies that generate more than $200 billion in annual revenues, KKR will provide a significant source of investment opportunities for our customers over the coming years."

The deal shows how access to private equity investments has opened up in recent years, making it easier for high net worth individuals to make investments in this asset class.

KKR has more than $35 billion in private equity assets under management and more than $12 billion in credit assets under management through various private and publicly traded funds and separately managed accounts.