A consortium led by Blackstone, in partnership with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), is nearing a significant acquisition of Australian data center giant AirTrunk. The deal, valued at approximately A$20 billion ($13.53 billion) including debt, underscores the continued surge in demand for digital infrastructure driven by cloud computing and data storage needs.
Blackstone and CPPIB outmaneuvered a rival bidding group, positioning themselves as the preferred buyers. The rival consortium included major investors like DigitalBridge, GIP, Mubadala's MGX, and Silver Lake. The impending acquisition would transfer ownership from current majority stakeholders Macquarie Group and Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP), who collectively control 88% of AirTrunk, though their individual stakes remain undisclosed.
Negotiations are reportedly in the final stages, with an official announcement expected soon. This acquisition highlights the intense competition and strategic investments within the rapidly expanding data center market, reflecting broader trends towards digitalization and cloud adoption.
The transaction, if completed, will represent a major strategic move for Blackstone and CPPIB, consolidating their positions in the global data infrastructure sector, a space that continues to attract substantial capital due to its critical role in supporting the modern digital economy.
Blackstone and CPPIB outmaneuvered a rival bidding group, positioning themselves as the preferred buyers. The rival consortium included major investors like DigitalBridge, GIP, Mubadala's MGX, and Silver Lake. The impending acquisition would transfer ownership from current majority stakeholders Macquarie Group and Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP), who collectively control 88% of AirTrunk, though their individual stakes remain undisclosed.
Negotiations are reportedly in the final stages, with an official announcement expected soon. This acquisition highlights the intense competition and strategic investments within the rapidly expanding data center market, reflecting broader trends towards digitalization and cloud adoption.
The transaction, if completed, will represent a major strategic move for Blackstone and CPPIB, consolidating their positions in the global data infrastructure sector, a space that continues to attract substantial capital due to its critical role in supporting the modern digital economy.